Cozy Mystery Ghost Story Collection: The Complete Shannon Porter Mystery Series

by Haley Harper

  The remainder of the drive passed quickly and they pulled into the final pit stop area only a little behind schedule. Shannon wondered if Jemma and her family were already back at the resort. For a moment she daydreamed about what it would be like to be so settled in your life.

  A loving husband, a nice house, a loyal furry friend and a couple of happy kids. Her thoughts stopped abruptly at that point remembering the noise that had erupted from the back seat of the van. Did she really want that? After only a slight hesitation, she nodded happily to herself. Yep, she wanted that too. Throw in an interesting career where she could work from home and she’d pretty well have it made. She shrugged as she whistled for Edgar to come up from the water’s edge. First she’d have to find that special someone, and right now she seemed about as far away from that as she could get.

  Edgar bounded towards her, water flying everywhere as he shook it off, making Shannon jump back to avoid a muddy shower. “Guess you’re the only man I’ve got for now,” she laughed.

  Chapter Three

  An emergency pit stop and an hour of driving later, Shannon began to see signs for Castle Cove Resort. The little town of Castle Cove itself was picture perfect. Most of the houses were small and cottagey with wood siding, window boxes and carefree gardens consisting mostly of long grasses that waved like banners in the late summer breeze. Shoreline was visible from almost every angle and the scent of salt water filled the air. Shannon breathed deeply and instantly felt relaxed.

  The main street was decorated for the upcoming harvest fair. Every lamppost sported a stuffed scarecrow of some description. The local sports shop had stuffed a figure wearing the latest in surf wear and on the post by the bookstore, the stuffed figure of an old man wearing reading glasses and holding an old book greeted customers as they stopped in to browse. Community spirit was obviously alive and well in Castle Cove.

  Deciding to stop in town for a few groceries, Shannon pulled into a parking spot near the end of the short main street. Her eye was caught immediately by a large ghost like figure draped in a soft blue cloth positioned on the porch of a small, darker blue sided house that had been turned into a shop. A carved wooden sign hanging over the door declared it to be “The Blue Lady Arts and Crafts.” Shannon was instantly intrigued and headed inside, leaving a travel weary Edgar asleep on the back seat, enjoying the cool ocean breeze.

  The shop was fairly dark with most of its light coming from candles, lanterns and lights strung around the ceiling. A soft lilting music played in the background and the distinct aroma of sage drifted from an incense burner somewhere. A few customers roamed among the tables and browsed the shelves of homemade handcrafts, all speaking in hushed voices in keeping with the atmosphere.

  Most of the items were reflective of the towns’ oceanfront location. There were painted lighthouses, layered sand sculptures, paperweights and sun catchers made of sea glass and shells, but the most prevalent items in the shop were the ceramic and hand carved statues of the Blue Lady herself. Shannon chose a small wooden one for her first souvenir, and not wanting to leave Edgar too long, headed to a counter where a bespectacled older woman sat quietly reading.

  “Hi,” Shannon said in greeting. “I love your shop.”

  “Thanks, I’m glad you came in. Are you here to stay for a while?”

  “I am. I’ve booked the Boathouse at Castle Rock Resort for two weeks. I’m really hoping to see the Blue Lady myself if I’m lucky!” she said as she placed her statue on the counter. The other woman smiled.

  “Then the Boathouse is definitely where you want to be. I’ve seen her there myself.” Shannon was sure that her mouth dropped open.

  “Really? Wow! Would you mind if I come back while I’m here and chat with you about that? I’m here doing research for a book about ghosts and I’d love to include your story.”

  “Absolutely,” the woman agreed. “If you don’t see me, just tell whoever is here, that you’re here to see Maggie. I live above the shop and I’m usually around.”

  “I’ll be sure to do that, and I’m Shannon. Thanks a lot Maggie. I’ll be back in once I’m settled.” Shannon paid for her purchase and left feeling like she had just made a new friend. Her first impressions of Castle Cove were certainly positive. If the rest of the people she ran into were as friendly as Jemma and Maggie, then this was going to be an awesome two weeks. Hopefully it would be peaceful and productive, unlike her stay at the Buldrew Mansion in England which was anything but.

  She stuffed the little statue in her purse and popped quickly into the grocery mart next to the craft shop. She chose a few staples that would get her through until she could come back, and hurried back to her car.

  Edgar stood to lean into the front seat as she got back in the car. He sniffed at her blue plastic bag in hopes that it might be something edible. “Never you mind,” she scolded him affectionately. “It’s not for you. I’ll feed you as soon as we get checked in.”

  Castle Cove Resort was only a couple of miles out of town and Shannon couldn’t get there fast enough. She was anxious to jot down her thoughts and first impressions while they fresh in her mind. It was only a few minutes before she made the turn onto the Resort’s drive. It was long and winding and Shannon soon came to a spot where the road split in three directions. The sign indicated that the Castle Cove Apartments and Cottages 1-7 were on the right. The Boathouse was straight ahead and reception was to her left. As much as she wanted to race straight ahead, she knew she had to go to register first. She spotted the SUV parked beside the house but the minivan wasn’t there and she wondered absently if it was sitting in a repair shop somewhere.

  She didn’t see any signs of Jemma, the kids or the dog, but she understood how Jemma was able to keep the kids away from the guests. The main house was set well back off the road and obviously a fair distance away from the rental properties. It was white sided with blue shutters, and was meticulously maintained.

  The lawn sprawled out for a good couple of acres and was just as well kept. In one corner of the property a large wooden play structure boasted swings, curvy slides and monkey bars. The lawn swept over a small crest where it eventually met with the sandy shore of Castle Cove Inlet. Shannon sat and admired the tranquility of the setting until insistent whining from the back seat broke her concentration.

  “Okay, pal. Just let me get checked in and then we’ll go for a nice long walk.” Shannon was just adjusting the windows for Edgar when Jemma appeared on the porch. She waved at Shannon and shouted for her to go ahead and let Edgar out.

  “Are you sure?” Shannon called back.

  “It’s fine. Do you think he would enjoy a romp with Boomer?”

  Shannon grinned. “Oh, I know for sure that he would.”

  “Well then let me get my beast while you release yours.” She disappeared into the house and Shannon opened the door for a very eager Edgar. By the time he had lifted his leg on the closest tree, Boomer was out of the house and bounding towards them. “Watch out!” Jemma called. If he runs into you he’ll take you down.”

  “It wouldn’t be the first time!” Both women watched in amusement as the two dogs frolicked and played.

  “Come on in and sign the book. Will Edgar be okay without you for a few minutes? He won’t run away will he?”

  “Are you kidding? He knows where his meals come from!” Shannon followed Jemma inside to sign the guest book and receive some of the supplies that were kept at the main house. The women chatted for a few minutes more before Shannon rounded Edgar up and headed for the Boathouse.

  “Be sure to come down for coffee once you’re settled,” Jemma said through the car window. “I make the best Maple Sticky Buns you’ll find for miles. New England is famous for them you know.”

  “You’re on!” Shannon agreed, waving as she headed back down the lane.

  Shannon had learned the hard way that online descriptions and photographs could be misleading, but that was not the case here. The pictures she had seen of the Boathouse
didn’t come close to capturing its real beauty and charm. It was sided in a soft pale yellow that made Shannon think of butter cream frosting. The trim and shutters were white and the windows gleamed in the bright afternoon sun. It was a bit smaller than she had imagined but that only added to its coziness.

  With the sparkling blue water as its backdrop, the whole scene looked like a painting. It was certainly the least haunted looking haunted house Shannon had ever seen. Eagerly, she grabbed her purse and camera off the front seat and opened the back door for Edgar. She couldn’t wait to get inside. Suitcases could be retrieved later.

  The inside was even more impressive than the exterior. The place had obviously been modernized and decorated by someone who knew a thing or two about interior design. She wondered if Jemma was that someone. The kitchen boasted new stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, white cabinets and a gorgeous harvest table. The great room was all windows on the side that overlooked the bay. A gas fireplace flanked by bookshelves dominated another wall and a bathroom and open staircase leading to the loft area took up the other side of the room. A very inviting sectional sofa floated in the center of the room and large comfy looking chairs flanked the fireplace and bookshelves.

  A complete state of the art entertainment system was hidden discreetly behind the doors on the top half of one of the bookshelves. The doors on the lower half of the opposite book shelf opened to reveal a desk area with convenient plugs and chargers for laptops, tablets and cell phones. Shannon was completely blown away. Yep, it was going to be a great two weeks and there would be no excuse for not getting lots of work done unless it was just the beauty of the place itself!

  Edgar was happily sniffing and exploring every nook and cranny of the room and followed eagerly on her heels as she headed up to the loft. The loft was divided into two bedrooms both with big windows overlooking the water and the cottages next door. They were simply but tastefully furnished with double beds, nightstands and a dresser.

  As Shannon looked out over the bay, she thought about the woman who stood there long ago waiting for the return of a husband who would never come. And instantly she knew that as practical and functional as the desk area was downstairs, this was going to be where she would work. A folding table and chair and her laptop were all she needed.

  She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she didn’t notice that Edgar’s demeanor had completely changed. His ears were flattened against his head and his hackles were standing on end. He hung his head and a low growl rumbled in his throat. Shannon looked around the room, expecting someone to appear in the doorway that she hadn’t heard. But Edgar wasn’t looking towards the door. He was staring directly into the far corner of the bedroom.

  The hair on the back of Shannon’s neck stood on end and goose bumps ran down her arms. The room suddenly felt a lot colder and Shannon shivered in spite of the warm day. There was absolutely nothing out of the ordinary in the room….not that she could see anyway. She reached down to pet Edgar and try to calm him but he wouldn’t waiver from his on guard position. She forced herself to walk in the direction he was staring, encouraging him to follow her.

  “Come on boy. See? There’s nothing to be afraid of. There’s nothing here.” But Edgar was having no part of it. Shannon was pretty sure that her voice wasn’t very reassuring. It was really creepy when your dog seemed to see or sense something that you didn’t. Totally freaked out now and her serene mood shattered, Shannon retreated back down the stairs, Edgar hot on her heels.

  Suddenly she wasn’t so sure she wanted to set up her work area in the loft after all. But then, on the other hand, Edgar might have been reacting to a spiritual presence in the house, which is exactly what she came here to explore. Maybe the closer she was to the action the better. Yes, she would set up her work area there. But first, she had to retrieve all of her things from the car and get some dinner started.

  Chapter Four

  Shannon felt like an easy dinner and finally settled on a tuna sandwich and a salad. She put some kibble in a bowl for Edgar and added the leftover tuna from her sandwich into his bowl as well. She tried to cook homemade meals for Edgar as often as she could, but it was a bit difficult when they were travelling. She settled instead for adding simple fresh ingredients to his kibble whenever possible. He was quite fond of tuna, scrambled eggs and cottage cheese so it was never too difficult to please him.

  They took their supper out to the patio off the edge of the dock to watch the boats going by on the bay. From this vantage point, she could see through the trees to the yard of the cottage next door. A group of guys were lounging in wooden chairs, drinking beer and roasting hot dogs over an open fire. Shannon smiled as she listened to their voices and laughter, thinking what a good time they were having. And although it made her feel very alone, it didn’t make her feel lonely. She was looking forward to her quiet two weeks to work, relax and spend time with Edgar.

  Her break up from her last boyfriend was still close to the surface and she wasn’t looking for a new relationship. As the nearby voices grew louder, Edgar started to grow uneasy. When the men got up and started throwing a Frisbee around, he completely lost it. His barking increased in volume and frequency as their game got wilder. Eventually, they looked over in Shannon’s direction.

  “Shush, Edgar. Enough. Quiet.” Edgar responded to the sternness in her voice and switched from a bark to a low growl. He was clearly not impressed by their noisy neighbors and Shannon just hoped they wouldn’t come over. They were still drinking and goofing around when she decided to head indoors to work for a bit. Edgar was happy to oblige and quickly sprawled his furry form across the entire one side of the cozy sectional. Shannon opted to gather her papers and computer and get her work station set up in the loft. When she headed up the stairs, Edgar raised his head and watched but he made no move to follow her.

  “Thanks buddy,” she called to him over her shoulder. “Glad I can count on you to keep me safe from roaming spirits.”

  The window in the loft was open and the voices from next door carried loudly in the growing darkness. Typically, the more they drank, the louder they talked. Shannon hated to begrudge them their fun, but she knew if their behavior continued like this it was going to be hard to get any work done, especially if Edgar barked every time they got loud. She supposed the noise was likely far enough away from the main house that Jemma and Paul wouldn’t consider it an annoyance unless someone complained. She hoped that someone wouldn’t have to be her. With her laptop booting up and her notes open, she settled in to work.

  Things were progressing nicely, even with the noise from next door until Edgar started barking all over again. This time he stood at the foot of the stairs, refusing to come anywhere near the loft. “Okay, I’m coming. You have to go out?” Shannon headed down the stairs expecting Edgar to start into his usual excited “I’m going out” dance. Instead he remained rooted to that spot, not even glancing in Shannon’s direction as she walked past him. He was once again totally, creepily focused on something in the loft. Shannon turned to look in the same direction and nearly fell over in shock. The loft was in complete darkness except for a soft blue glow, almost like a night light. Shannon knew for certain that she had left her desk light and bedside lamp on when she came down to let Edgar out. For a moment she was frozen in place. As much as she thought she wanted to really have a ghostly encounter, now that things were getting weird, she wasn’t so sure.

  For the first time since she’d left home, she wished her Mom was there. Myra was never afraid to talk to spirits, friendly or otherwise. But her Mom wasn’t there and the creepy blue light was. Finally gathering her wits she stepped on the first stair. Edgar stopped his growling long enough to grab the hem of her t-shirt in an attempt to hold her back, completely freaking her out even more.

  “Okay, I get it. You don’t want me to go up there. But I’m going. So get your teeth out of my shirt. You’re going to rip it.” Shannon bent down and disengaged his teeth from her shirt. W
hen she turned again to go upstairs, the blue light was gone and the loft was just as brightly lit as she had left it. Edgar’s growling had subsided and he made his way back to the couch. Shannon stood for a moment at the bottom of the stairs.

  Clearly, the spirit was gone, and now she wondered if she had been imagining things. Glancing over at Edgar to make certain he was settled, she continued up the stairs. There was no Blue Lady floating around the room but there was definitely evidence that she had been there. Shannon’s books and notes were scattered everywhere.

  Once the shock had worn off a bit, she just felt mad. Everyone had told her the Blue Lady was a friendly ghost. If this was how she was going to behave, Shannon was not the least bit impressed. She set about organizing her things once again wondering if the Blue Lady had a problem with being included in her book. By the time she had everything back in order, Shannon no longer felt like working. Things had apparently quieted down next door, so she decided to take Edgar for his final walk of the evening.

  Instantly awake at the sound of his leash jingling, he jumped off the couch and nearly knocked her over in his excitement to go out. “I know you prefer to walk off leash, but we better use it just in case. Not everybody wants to be greeted by a 100 pound furball licking their face!” Edgar didn’t care. He was going out for a walk and that’s all that mattered.

  The sun was sitting just above the horizon and the sky looked like it had been painted it every shade of pink and purple imaginable. A well manicured trail meandered past the cottages and apartments and followed the shoreline. As she passed the cottage next door, Shannon was relieved to see no sign of the guys who had been partying earlier.

  A few people were sitting on their decks enjoying the sunset and everyone lifted a hand in greeting as they passed. At one cottage a family were sitting around a small campfire singing while a teenage boy strummed clumsily on a guitar. The smaller kids looked over and jumped up at the sight of a dog going by.