Skeptic in Salem: An Episode of Death
Page 22
“Thanks again for letting us film,” Mia said.
“Take a last look at her in this condition,” Connie said, nodding toward the house. “I got a call from the Salem Atheneum. They funded my project. Starting tomorrow, a construction crew is coming. I’m overseeing the restoration of the house.”
“Congratulations,” Mia said and smiled.
“Lydia will be pleased,” Connie said. “Oh yeah, I’ve got a priest coming to help the other ghosts. He’s going to try and bring them to the light. Fingers crossed!”
“Well, that’s all above my pay grade,” Detective Waite said. “But you kept your word, Mia. You helped put a dangerous man behind bars.”
“My pleasure, Detective,” Mia said and smiled. She liked Charlie Waite, even if he had given her a hard time.
“Now I’ll keep mine. I’ll see you for that interview tomorrow,” he said.
“Come on, Detective Waite,” Connie said, motioning to him. “Time for you to take me and Nutmeg home. Stop by anytime for a playdate, Mia.”
“I will, Connie,” Mia said and whistled for Tandy.
The crew headed over to the Black Cat Inn for a drink.
Mia, Johnny, Sylvie, and Tandy rode together in Mia’s car, relieved to be leaving Swampscott and the Elmswood House in the past.
“You guys have amazing chemistry on screen,” Sylvie said. “I don’t know what it is, but if I did, I’d bottle it and make a fortune.”
Mia glanced at Johnny; there was chemistry there all right. She had no idea what to do about it, but just the mention of it made Mia’s heart race.
“Do you think the cable network will like the show?” Mia said.
“If they liked the other episodes, they’re going to love this one,” Sylvie said.
Mia parked and they all hopped out of the car and walked over to the inn. Tandy trotted behind and Mia thought he seemed happy to put the Elmswood House in the past too.
Inside the inn, the atmosphere was lively. People were laughing. Some of the older regulars were playing darts. The inn’s owners, Nelly Blythe and Billy Cranston, were behind the bar and a table had been prepared with a sign in the center that read Bell, Book, and Candle: Cast and Crew. Graham, Ollie, Jake, and Will were already parked at the table, as Johnny, Mia, and Sylvie joined them. Tandy ran around greeting each member of the crew as they laughed and told stories about the shoot. Mia felt more relaxed than she had for days. All the weirdness of the last past week dissolved and the future of the show looked bright as the producers talked about possible new locations and Mia’s research.
Then the door swung open and Mia was startled to see Hugh Wolfe walk in. He carried a box piled high with homemade truffle potato chips. He walked around to the side of the counter and put the box down on the bar.
The moment he saw Mia, he waved. She smiled and waved back.
Hugh greeted Billy Cranston, who tasted one of his chips and grinned before shaking his hand. Then Hugh filled a basket with chips and brought it over to the Bell, Book, and Candle table.
Tandy’s ears perked up as he saw Hugh headed his way carrying food.
“Can I buy you a round?” Hugh said.
“We’d be delighted,” Ollie said.
Hugh signaled to Billy and grabbed a chair, placing it next to Mia. On the other side of her was Johnny, and Sylvie sat across from her with a “what are you going to do now?” look of humorous concern stamped on her face.
Nelly brought pitchers of ale and glasses and placed them in the center of the table. After they all had poured a drink and were chattering away, Graham lifted his glass.
“To Bell, Book, and Candle! The spookiest new show on cable.”
To Bell, Book, and Candle!” They all cheered and drank the ale, which was sweet and full bodied with a light tang. Mia popped one of Hugh’s delicious truffle potato chips in her mouth. The gourmet chip was garlicky and crisp with a musky aroma. The combination of flavors was heavenly.
“Did your family get off okay?” Hugh said, leaning close to Mia.
“Thankfully, yes,” Mia said. “They loved Café Noir and you, of course.”
“That dinner we had was certainly provocative,” Johnny said teasingly.
“They liked you too,” Mia said and sipped her ale nervously.
“Well, Mia, you seem to have your hands full,” Sylvie said, aware of her friend’s predicament. Mia nodded. The last thing she had expected was to get attention from two men she found attractive, each in their own way.
There are worse problems to have in the world, she thought and sighed.
At that moment, Mia’s phone buzzed. The ringtone was unassigned so she switched her phone off, assuming it was a spam call. She would figure it out later; right now she needed the precision of a Cirque du Soleil juggler to get through the evening.
***
Mia, Tandy, and Sylvie walked up the stairs to the apartment together. Mia’s head was spinning. Somehow she had managed to deftly maneuver between Hugh and Johnny so that they both seemed happy when she said goodnight.
One day she would have to make a decision about them, but tonight she was just going to enjoy the fact that two attractive men liked her.
“Well, no matter what happens, I’ll be here for you,” Sylvie said.
Mia threw her arms around her.
“You’re the best friend I’ve ever had,” she said and meant it.
“Me too,” Sylvie said, smiling. “See you tomorrow, pal.”
Sylvie headed down the hall and into her apartment.
Mia opened her door. She had to admit, she was pleasantly exhausted. Tandy darted inside and beelined for Rose. Once they touched noses, Tandy and the kitten snuggled together on the floor to play the “bat my tail” game.
Mia settled down on the couch and put her feet up.
She noticed a light blinking from the side pocket of her bag. It was her phone and the light meant she had a voicemail, which seemed odd. Usually, the spammers didn’t leave messages. Mia slipped the phone out of the pocket and looked at the number.
A shock worked its way through her system.
She recognized the number. It was the same number Suzy Sharpe the reporter had traced to her real father, Frank Bold.
She pressed the playback button and listened. Then her breath caught in her throat as a familiar voice came on the line.
“Mia honey, I know you followed my trail to the Hawthorne. As instructed, Samuel Reed, the concierge, let me know you came to look for me. I know he gave you my letter. But after all these years, I thought I owed you a call. What I’m about to say is going to be difficult. Don’t look for me, Mia. Please. You won’t like what you find.”
Mia was stunned. Don’t look for me? You won’t like what you find? How could her own father possibly have said such a thing?
With shaking hands Mia dialed the number and waited. A cold robotic voice came on the line and said, “The number you have called has been disconnected.”
Mia put the phone down and sat there. Hearing Frank’s voice again was a shock.
A tear slid down her cheek and she wiped it away. After years of dreaming her father would call her, the strange message he had left was the last thing she expected to hear.
Was Frank in some kind of trouble? Was there a way to help him?
At that moment, when everything she had hoped for seemed to be out of reach, she made a decision. Instead of feeling lost or hurt, a new sense of determination settled into her mind and strengthened her heart.
“I’m going to find you, Dad,” Mia vowed. “And whatever it is you’re hiding, whatever trouble you’re in, no matter how crazy or strange, I can handle what happens next.”
A New Series!
NOW AVAILABLE!
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A KILLER CUPCAKE
(A Beachfront Bakery Cozy Mystery—Book 1)
"Very entertaining. I highly recommend this book to the permanent library of any reader that appreciates a very well written mystery, with some twists
and an intelligent plot. You will not be disappointed. Excellent way to spend a cold weekend!"
--Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding Murder in the Manor)
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A KILLER CUPCAKE is the debut novel in a charming and hilarious new cozy mystery series by #1 bestselling author Fiona Grace, whose bestselling Murder in the Manor (A Lacey Doyle Cozy Mystery) has nearly 200 five star reviews.
Allison Sweet, 34, a sous chef in Los Angeles, has had it up to here with demeaning customers, her demanding boss, and her failed love life. After a shocking incident, she realizes the time has come to start life fresh and follow her lifelong dream of moving to a small town and opening a bakery of her own.
When Allison spots a charming, vacant storefront on the boardwalk near Venice, she wonders if she could really start life anew. Feeling like it’s a sign, and a time to take a chance in life, she goes for it.
Yet Allison did not anticipate the wild ride ahead of her: the boardwalk, filled with fun and outrageous characters, is pulsing with life, from the Italian pizzeria owners on either side of her who vie for her affection, to the fortune tellers and scheming rival bakery owner nearby. Allison yearns to just focus on her delicious new pastry recipes and keep her struggling bakery afloat—but when a murder occurs right near her shop, everything changes.
Implicated, her entire future at stake, Allison has no choice but to investigate to clear her name. As an orphaned dog wanders into her life, a devoted new sidekick with a knack for solving mysteries, she starts her search.
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A hilarious cozy mystery series, packed with twists, turns, romance, travel, food and unexpected adventure, the BEACHFRONT BAKERY series will keep you laughing and turning pages late into the night as you fall in love with an endearing new character who will capture your heart.
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BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A KILLER CUPCAKE
(A Beachfront Bakery Cozy Mystery—Book 1)
Fiona Grace
Fiona Grace is author of the LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY series, comprising nine books; of the TUSCAN VINEYARD COZY MYSTERY series, comprising seven books; of the DUBIOUS WITCH COZY MYSTERY series, comprising three books; of the BEACHFRONT BAKERY COZY MYSTERY series, comprising six books; and of the CATS AND DOGS COZY MYSTERY series, comprising nine books.
Fiona would love to hear from you, so please visit www.fionagraceauthor.com to receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.
BOOKS BY FIONA GRACE
LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY
MURDER IN THE MANOR (Book#1)
DEATH AND A DOG (Book #2)
CRIME IN THE CAFE (Book #3)
VEXED ON A VISIT (Book #4)
KILLED WITH A KISS (Book #5)
PERISHED BY A PAINTING (Book #6)
SILENCED BY A SPELL (Book #7)
FRAMED BY A FORGERY (Book #8)
CATASTROPHE IN A CLOISTER (Book #9)
TUSCAN VINEYARD COZY MYSTERY
AGED FOR MURDER (Book #1)
AGED FOR DEATH (Book #2)
AGED FOR MAYHEM (Book #3)
AGED FOR SEDUCTION (Book #4)
AGED FOR VENGEANCE (Book #5)
AGED FOR ACRIMONY (Book #6)
AGED FOR MALICE (Book #7)
DUBIOUS WITCH COZY MYSTERY
SKEPTIC IN SALEM: AN EPISODE OF MURDER (Book #1)
SKEPTIC IN SALEM: AN EPISODE OF CRIME (Book #2)
SKEPTIC IN SALEM: AN EPISODE OF DEATH (Book #3)
BEACHFRONT BAKERY COZY MYSTERY
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A KILLER CUPCAKE (Book #1)
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A MURDEROUS MACARON (Book #2)
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A PERILOUS CAKE POP (Book #3)
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A DEADLY DANISH (Book #4)
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A TREACHEROUS TART (Book #5)
BEACHFRONT BAKERY: A CALAMITOUS COOKIE (Book #6)
CATS AND DOGS COZY MYSTERY
A VILLA IN SICILY: OLIVE OIL AND MURDER (Book #1)
A VILLA IN SICILY: FIGS AND A CADAVER (Book #2)
A VILLA IN SICILY: VINO AND DEATH (Book #3)
A VILLA IN SICILY: CAPERS AND CALAMITY (Book #4)
A VILLA IN SICILY: ORANGE GROVES AND VENGEANCE (Book #5)
A VILLA IN SICILY: CANNOLI AND A CASUALTY (Book #6)
A VILLA IN SICILY: SPAGHETTI AND SUSPICION (Book #7)
A VILLA IN SICILY: LEMONS AND A PREDICAMENT (Book #8)
A VILLA IN SICILY: GELATO AND A VENDETTA (Book #9)