Nosy Neighbor: All 7 complete Nosy Neighbor cozy mysteries PLUS: 2 short Christmas stories (A Nosy Neighbor mystery)

by Cynthia Hickey

  “You know what this is?” My stomach sank. Had I just found another suspect?

  “Of course. I heard the police talking. This, my dear, is what killed Seth Granger. I found it caught in hairs in the tub drain. Don’t worry, it’s dead.”

  She turned the vial in the light from the bathroom window.

  Floating in a tiny bit of water was a jellyfish no bigger than my fingernail.

  “Want to know the best part?” She grinned.

  I nodded, holding my breath.

  “I also found one of these buggers in the drain of the Boyd suite.”

  14

  When Susan left our cottage, I handed the vial to Matt. He turned it this way and that in the light.

  “Weird that such a little thing can be so deadly. Might have been a beauty before it shriveled up. How in the world did she spot something so tiny?”

  “She said she was cleaning the drain. She must be very meticulous.” Looking for items of value, would be my guess.

  He slid the vial into his pocket. “Maybe I’m wrong about Lawrence Boyd. This sure makes him look suspicious.”

  “Unless someone is setting him up.” I plopped onto the sofa. “Maybe we need to go over the airline manifests again. Someone other than the Grangers went to Australia.”

  “Yeah, the girlfriend.” He sat next to me and propped his feet on the glass-topped coffee table. “We just need to figure out her name.”

  “It’s someone here at the resort. We’re too remote for an unknown person to come on the grounds, kill the Grangers, lock us in the basement, all without being seen.” I chewed my cuticle, staring through the open curtains. “Maybe we need to look at other names. An alias, a middle name, anything but what we’re looking at now.”

  “Come on.” He grabbed my hand and pulled me to my feet. “Maybe you’ll see something I missed.”

  He led me to his cottage. When we stepped inside, my sister and Wayne bolted to sitting positions from the couch.

  I grinned. “Did we interrupt something?”

  “Yes.” Wayne glowered. “I thought you two were investigating.”

  “We are.” Matt pulled a briefcase from under the sofa and withdrew several sheets of papers. “We need to go over these again.” He explained what the maid had found.

  Wayne sighed and reached for the papers. “Give me a few.”

  Angela rolled her eyes and pouted. “I guess I’ll go for my facial.” She grabbed her purse and stormed out.

  For several minutes, the only sound was the rustling of paper. I scanned the list of names, searching for anything that didn’t seem to fit. Nothing jumped out at me. “This is a waste of time. Unless the alias, if there is one, is close to the real name, we won’t find it.” I tossed the three sheets I had onto the coffee table. “We don’t even know if there is an alias.”

  “It’s easy enough to get a fake ID nowadays.” Matt’s papers joined mine. “Let’s go talk to a few more people. Maybe we’ll get lucky again. Wayne, try finding out who the Marshal was on the flight Seth Granger took. Maybe he noticed something out of the ordinary, or a description of the woman he was with.”

  “It’s a long shot.” Wayne leaned forward and opened a laptop. “See y’all later. You might want to pray for a miracle.”

  He was correct. I’d prayed for safety, but not for guidance or wisdom. I needed to slow down and listen. Maybe God had been giving me a nudge that I’d ignored. I stopped on the pathway to Matt’s cottage.

  “What are you doing?” Matt cocked his head.

  “Waiting for a nudge.”

  After several seconds, Evan, the new chef walked by, slapping his chef hat against his leg and muttering words I couldn’t repeat. I smiled and thanked God for the nudge. If Evan was angry with someone, he might be more willing to talk.

  We followed him to the entrance to the path that led to the workers’ housing. “Evan!”

  He turned, frowning when he saw me. “Haven’t you gotten me into enough trouble?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I was informed by my dear aunt that fraternizing with the guests is prohibited. I guess speaking with you while carving your meat counts as that.”

  “You aren’t working now.”

  He sighed. “What do you want?”

  I glanced at Matt who gave me the go-ahead to ask the questions. “I know you’re new here, but you’re bound to have heard about the murders.”

  “Yeah. So?” He crossed his arms and leaned against a fence post.

  “Would you mind sharing what you’ve heard? I know the workers talk about the guests.” I flashed my ID badge. “I was hired by one of the victims, and now that she’s gone, I still feel compelled to solve her death.”

  He glanced around. “Let’s just say this isn’t the sweet resort it looks like. There is a seedy underground that rivals anything you’ll find in the big city. Sex, drugs, you name it, we have it.”

  “Anyone going by a false name?”

  He paled. “Why would you ask that?”

  “Who is it, Evan?”

  “I gotta go. You’re on the right track. Keep sniffing.” He whirled and dashed away.

  “We’re getting close, Matt.”

  He put his arm around my shoulder. “Let’s find that bridesmaid. If Shelby was having a fling with Seth, maybe she kissed and told.”

  We could hope.

  After a few moments of searching, I found her in the sauna. I wasn’t dressed for a steam bath, but I kicked off my shoes and entered the room anyway.

  I couldn’t see or breathe. The tiny room was so full of steam and eucalyptus, it was like stepping into a hot, muggy, cloud that stung my sinuses.

  “You’re supposed to be naked,” Lara said from somewhere in the corner. “Or at least wrapped in a towel.”

  “No time. I got the urge.” I made my way to the bench, stubbing my toe in the process. Talking was going to be difficult. Already, the steam left a bad taste in my mouth. This was not an experience I’d do again anytime soon.

  “Breathe through your nose.”

  I couldn’t talk that way.

  “And make sure you lift your legs when you hear the spray release.”

  “Why?”

  A jet of boiling air hit my calves. Ow! I drew my knees up to my chest. “Is this supposed to be relaxing?”

  “It’s good for your skin.”

  This had to be what hell was like. All we were missing was the smell of sulphur.

  “Mind answering a few questions?”

  “I’ve got ten minutes. Spill.”

  “Has Shelby made a trip to Australia within the last couple of months?”

  “Not that I know of. She would have definitely bragged about it.”

  “How long had she been seeing Seth Granger?”

  “Over a year. Then, he quit Boyd Industries, and she turned her attention to bigger fish.” Her hand clamped my arm. “You need to stop asking questions. That’s how people die.”

  I felt like I was already dying.

  “There was a week that nobody could get a hold of her,” Lara said. “Maybe she was in Australia. I don’t think she killed Seth, though. She doesn’t like to lose her toys, living or otherwise. Seth Granger was a player. He probably had more than one girl in the wings. I’m telling you, Shelby isn’t a killer. A slut, yes.”

  The steam released again. I couldn’t take it anymore. “Would she have gone by another name?”

  “Mason Lereux. She’s from French descent somewhere down the line and likes to play pretend.”

  I caught a glimpse of her rising from the steam like a drenched goddess. I averted my eyes from her nudeness. “Thank you.”

  “Don’t tell anyone I told you anything. I’m not ready to die.” She stepped out of the sauna and left me to follow.

  Cold air slapped me in the face. I shivered and grabbed a towel, wrapping it around me before joining Matt.

  “You’re insane.” He rubbed my arms. “Let’s get you into some dry clot
hes.”

  As we walked, I filled him in on my conversation with Lara. “I saw that name on the manifest. What do you bet Mason is in the seat next to Seth?”

  “Why is everyone so certain Shelby isn’t the killer?” Matt opened the door to my cottage. “All signs point to her.”

  “Too convenient?”

  “Maybe. If we find a Mason on that flight, we’ll go ask Shelby a few more questions.”

  I headed for my bedroom as Matt shouted out, “Bingo!”

  After a quick shower, I dressed in a clean pair of jeans, a purple and black flannel shirt, and tied my hair back into a ponytail. I stepped back into the living room to see Matt and Wayne bent over a notepad filled with names.

  Matt tapped the pad with a pencil. “Here are all the females on that flight. Several of them are within a row or two of Seth Granger. Wayne spoke to the Marshal, who confirmed a woman of Shelby’s description was hanging all over our victim. Another woman, dark hair, and wearing sunglasses she never removed, seemed very interested in the couple. The Marshal said her hair was definitely a wig, and a cheap one, at that.”

  “That could be anyone. Amber?”

  “No. Remember, we found her on a later flight.”

  Right. “So, now what?”

  “We question Shelby. This time, I do the talking.” Matt pulled his badge from his pocket and clipped it to his belt. “Wayne, feel like coming along?”

  “You bet.”

  I wasn’t about to be left behind. I followed them to the main building, hoping we could speak with Shelby without her watchdog fiancé. Not wanting a repeat of getting stuck in the elevator, we took the stairs.

  Matt opened the door at the top, then closed it and stepped back. “Just a second. Lawrence is leaving. We won’t have much time to question Shelby. He doesn’t stay gone long.”

  “How do you know this?”

  “Rusty.” He grinned.

  Of course. Our own personal Peeping Tom, uh, spy.

  I counted to ten before Matt opened the door again. I stayed behind the men, more than happy to let them put on their “detective faces”.

  Matt knocked on the door. When no one answered, he knocked again, louder and harder.

  “Geez. Give me a second.” Shelby, wrapped in a fluffy white towel, answered the door. Her irritation turned to flirtation upon spotting the men. “Why, hello?”

  “May we come in, Miss Richards.” Matt glanced at me with a look on his face that said, “Get me out of here”. I felt the same way when I caught a glimpse of Shelby.

  “Sure.” She stepped back, her towel slipping a bit. “I’m not decent, but I don’t mind if you don’t.”

  I rolled my eyes and followed the men into an apartment strewn with designer clothes. Didn’t the woman ever clean up after herself?

  “Don’t mind the mess. I just got back from the boutique.” She plopped on the sofa, the slit in the towel exposing a mile of bare thigh.

  I wanted to grab something to throw over her. To their credit, the stern expression on Matt and Wayne never slipped. They’d probably seen worse in their line of work. I put on my own impassive face and kept my face averted from toned, tanned thighs.

  “We know that you went to Australia with Seth Granger under the name Mason Lereux,” Matt said. “Mind telling us why you lied?”

  “Can’t you figure that out for yourself? Lawrence would have killed me.” She studied her manicure. “Besides, that’s all spilt…milk at this point.”

  She had to be the most heartless person I’d ever met. “Did you recognize anyone else from the resort on that flight?” I asked.

  “I only had eyes for Seth. Besides, could anyone who works here be able to afford a trip like that?”

  I made a disgusted noise and turned away. My cell phone vibrated in my pocket. I checked the incoming text. Mom.

  Come to the sauna. Now.

  I showed it to Matt.

  He nodded. “Miss Mason, I don’t need to tell you not to go anywhere, do I?”

  She shook her head. “Lawrence will not be pleased.”

  “I don’t give a fig what Lawrence wants.” Matt took my arm and led me from the room. “Call your mother.”

  I nodded, as we passed a stony-faced Mr. Boyd. No, the man would not be pleased. I pressed the number three on my cell phone.

  “What’s up, Mom?”

  “We have a body in the sauna.”

  15

  “Who is it?” I reached around Mom and turned off the steam. Threaded through the door handle was the sash to a white robe.

  “I’ve never seen her before. I noticed the sash and peered through the steam. It wasn’t easy, but you can tell there’s a person lying on the bench.”

  Matt unwound the sash and yanked open the door. He rushed inside. “It’s Susan.”

  “Is she dead?” I asked, my heart sinking.

  “Not yet. Call an ambulance.” He exited the sauna with a limp Susan in his arms. He laid her on a nearby padded bench. “Get me some cool cloths.”

  While Mom dialed 911, I grabbed the nearest towel and soaked it in the sink. No more questioning guests or workers. I couldn’t handle a death on my conscience because I got nosy. We’d been cleared to go home, but wanting justice for my client kept me here, risking the lives of everyone I loved. I was a misguided fool.

  I handed Matt the towel and plopped on a different bench than the one he’d draped Susan over. My father’s unsolved murder drove me to find justice for others. The single-minded determination was going to get me, or another family member, killed. I needed help. Mental help.

  “What’s wrong?” Mom sat next to me and peered into my face.

  “I have to stop doing this.” I blinked back tears. “I can’t solve Dad’s murder, so I feel compelled to put myself, and you, in danger. It has to stop. I’m a writer, not a detective.”

  She put her arm around me and pulled me close. “You’re a wonderful writer and a good investigator. Your kind heart drudges up these feelings you fight against. Let them come. Remember the good you’ve done over the last year.”

  “I keep putting everyone I love in danger.” The tears spilled over. “How long until someone I love dies?”

  “We help you because we want to. Look, sweetie.” She tilted my face to hers and wiped my tears away with her fingers. “I’m fifty years old. Other than the years I was married to your father, I’m having the time of my life. If God calls me home at the hands of a madman, then so be it. If I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t be.”

  “But Angela—”

  “Pshaw. She grumbles, but the excitement gives her something to talk about at work.” Mom leaned back on her hands. “You keep doing good where you can.”

  “I should let the police handle things and throw my PI badge in the trash.”

  “The police can’t do everything. If they could, we would have justice for your father.”

  I would have to do some heavy praying about whether I wanted to keep doing investigative work in the name of research for my novels. I was a best-selling author before true crime romantic mysteries, I would be so without them.

  Cheri, accompanied by Rodriguez and two paramedics, rushed into the sauna.

  Rodriguez took one look at me and shook his head. “If you weren’t with Steele, I’d think you were the perp.”

  “I have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

  Cheri patted Susan’s face. “Sweetie? Open your eyes. It’s me. You’re going to be just fine.”

  “Excuse me.” A paramedic shouldered her out of the way.

  “She’s my employee.” Cheri planted her fists on her hips.

  “You’re in our way and preventing us from caring for her. She could die, ma’am.”

  Cheri exhaled sharply and stepped back. I couldn’t help but feel that she wasn’t as worried as she let on. If I’d ever met an ice queen, she was it, except for the one moment of vulnerability when I’d caught her crying next to the pool, the woman w
as as heartless as a shark.

  She picked up the robe’s sash. “This belongs to Shelby Mason.”

  “How do you know?” I stood.

  “See the pink ribbon along the edge? I’ve seen her wear it plenty of times.” She tossed the sash at Rodriguez. “Are you going to solve these problems or will I have to take matters into my own hands?”

  “Please, don’t do that, Miss Mason. We already have our hands full with Miss Nelson.”

  “Hey! I’m helping.” He soon had not only me glaring at him, but Cheri, too.

  “How are you helping?” He narrowed his eyes. “You leave a path of destruction wherever you go.”

  “That’s enough.” Matt stepped between us. “She’s found out plenty. Which I will fill you in on in private.” He leaned close to me. “I’ll see you back at the cottage when I’m finished here.”

  I nodded and motioned for Mom to follow. Instead of heading back to my cottage, I headed for the workers’ quarters. The one place we’d never snooped in was Cheri’s room. I needed to find out where she stayed and figure out how to get in.

  “Where are we going?” Mom asked, hitching her purse high on her shoulder.

  “To find Rusty.” If I wanted to know anything about anyone, he was always the one to ask. “He’s probably hanging out with the chef.”

  “No, I’m not.” Rusty parted the bushes next to us.

  I screamed and jumped. “How many times do I have to ask you not to leap out at me?”

  “I heard my name.” He stepped onto the path. “What can I say?”

  I wasn’t sure if he was actually asking me what I wanted to know, or alluding to the fact he was being himself and wanted to know what question to answer. “Where does Cheri live?”

  He shuddered. “You don’t want to go there.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  He shook his head. “She’s a bad woman.”

  “I understand that, but this is important.”

  He stood his ground. “You tell Rusty what to look for. I will do it.”