Necktie: An Avery Barks Dog Mystery (Avery Barks Cozy Dog Mysteries Book 8)

by Mary Hiker

  NECKTIE

  By

  MARY HIKER

  Copyright © 2016 MARY HIKER

  Published By: AWESOME DOG

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  About the Author

  Copyright

  © 2016 MARY HIKER

  All rights reserved.

  Published by: AWESOME DOG

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission of the Author. Your support of author’s rights is appreciated. All characters in this novel are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Cover by StunningBookCovers.com

  CHAPTER 1

  What a beautiful morning.

  I angled my face toward the soft breeze as I rocked in the wooden chair outside the gift shop on the corner of Main and Broad. My Golden Retriever rested on the sidewalk next to me, enjoying the cool shade while watching the little birds hop around looking for crumbs. Chevy loved animals almost as much as I did.

  The giant clock on top of the red brick courthouse read nine forty-five. Good. Don should be here soon so we could head straight over for the perfect brunch of burgers and triple-thick milkshakes at Rocky’s Grill. Just the thing to get the day started off right. I visited the retro style diner whenever I found myself within ten miles of Brevard, North Carolina.

  The road trip to our annual fundraising event brought us past the small mountain town and qualified for a little side trip. Since the place had a fifties style ice cream shop, it was easy to talk Don into meeting me too. That man could eat ice cream around the clock.

  The scent of potpourri interrupted my thoughts as a middle-aged woman exited the gift shop behind me. Chevy jumped to his feet, offering a heartfelt greeting and an offer to check her purchases for any sign of dog treats. Fortunately, the early shopper was a dog lover and not opposed to some slobber on her gift bags. The two spent a minute or two becoming quick friends before the woman continued on her way.

  I closed my eyes and inhaled a deep breath of serenity.

  The early morning tranquility was blown to oblivion when the dog leash pulled taut in my hand as Chevy scrambled to his feet and lurched forward. I opened one eye before jolting upright the second I recognized the hulking figure towering over me. The dark t-shirt stretched across over-sized biceps was accompanied by faded blue jeans with an American flag belt buckle at his waist. A ball cap sporting an oversized fishing hook attached to its meticulously curved brim shaded the face of the last person I wanted to see – ever.

  Jackson Blade.

  “Get away from me.” The words came out of me like a bullet as I shifted in the chair.

  “You should really be more aware of your surroundings,” Jackson said in his gruff, always trying to sound tough, alpha male voice. He even had the audacity to reach down and pet my dog. “I drove right behind you for forty miles. Ever since you left your driveway.”

  I squeezed my eyes tight, wishing him away. It didn’t work.

  He leaned in close, the smell of dirty sweat nearly gagging me as he whispered, “I need your help.”

  “Forget it.” I blinked, willing myself not to give in to guilt while bracing for a manipulative attack. Jackson had a way of twisting any situation to fit his own needs.

  The last time I’d seen this jerk was the day he stabbed me in the back - literally. I even had to drive myself to the hospital to get stitches - fourteen of them - if I remember right.

  “Are you still mad about the knife thing?” He snorted. “Avery, you know that was an accident. There’s no grudges allowed for accidents.”

  “Sounds like you need a sheriff’s deputy,” I scoffed as my fingers gripped the armrest on the rocking chair. “Good thing my boyfriend’s one. He’ll be here any minute.”

  “Avery…” His voice was softer, and there was worry in his eyes, something I’d never seen before in Jackson Blade’s baby blues. Things must’ve really spun out of control this time.

  Chevy’s tail went into overdrive as he pulled on the leash and let out an excited bark. I followed my dog’s gaze and waved at Don as he jogged across the street, his dark hair freshly cut and his late summer tan looking good. I hadn’t seen him wear his dress clothes in a while.

  “Here comes my favorite deputy now,” I said and couldn’t stop a grin. “Ask him for some help.”

  There was no response.

  I glanced back and saw nothing but sidewalk. Jackson had disappeared in a hurry. No surprise there.

  “Hey.” Don grinned and leaned down to give me a soft kiss.

  Chevy wasn’t about to be left out and jumped on Don’s leg, leaving a swipe of golden fur across his dark dress slacks.

  “Good to see you too, buddy.” Don laughed and gave my dog a scratch on the head.

  A sigh escaped as I finally let out a deep breath.

  “Hey, are you okay?” Don glanced down the street, then back at me. “Was that guy bothering you?”

  “You could put it that way.” I rubbed my forehead as Chevy put his front paws on my lap and tried to lick my face.

  “Let me handle-”

  “It’s nothing important.” I got up, found a smile, and slid my hand into Don’s. Jackson Blade was not about to ruin my morning. “Let’s go eat a burger.”

  “Who was that guy?” Don’s face tightened, not letting me change the subject so easily.

  I blew out a breath and looked up at the heavens. “My cousin.”

  “Cousin?” Don’s eyes widened as his head jerked back. “Why’d he run away?”

  “If history is any indication,” I muttered, “he’s up to no good.”

  CHAPTER 2

  “I’ll be glad when this is over.”

  He called to tell me that? I lowered the cell phone from my ear as I followed Don’s truck up the scenic driveway to the Diamond Song Resort valet parking. His nerves must really be kicking in.

  The poor guy had been appointed to give a short presentation and introduce the guest of honor at the annual fundraiser for our search and rescue team. The audience would be filled with people who had enough money to fund our search and rescue missions for another year. Or not.

  We exited our separate vehicles with our dogs in tow. “You’ll do great.” I patted his shoulder, thankful I wasn’t in his shoes.

  Don pulled at his collar and stopped abruptly. “Oh no, I forgot my tie.” He groaned as the valet handed him a ticket. “I bought the thing just for this afternoon. It has a cool dog design on it and everything.” His black Labrador offered a soft whine and pawed at his leg in support.

  “Let me get the silent auction table set up, and I’ll run back for it,” I offered as we walked inside the spacious entrance. The dogs lifted their heads to catch the new and expensive scents as we got our bearings. “There’s still plenty of time to drive out to your place and back before everything gets started.”

  “Thanks, Avery.” His shoulders relaxed as he handed me his valet ticket. “You can take my truck.”

  We turned d
own the hall to the left and headed toward the wing with the banquet hall. My assignment was simple - set up the displays now, then attend the event later this afternoon as moral support. As I watched the staff prep the dining tables, I hoped my appetite would return before the fundraiser dinner. My belly was plumb full from our burger brunch. Good thing I wore my loose fitting black knit pants.

  Dressing up and spending time at the exclusive Diamond Song Resort wasn’t the norm for anyone on our search and rescue unit, but it was Miss Maya’s favorite place for a party. Since the sweet-natured ninety-year-old was our biggest benefactor, we always held our annual fundraiser here and did our best to host a fun event for her friends.

  Most volunteer search and rescue teams rely solely on donations and small grants to function. Our team was blessed to have Miss Maya’s support. If this event was a success, we wouldn’t need to do any more fundraisers for the remainder of the year. We couldn’t afford to mess it up.

  Don rolled up his sleeves and prepared the computer and audio visual for his presentation while I watched the dogs and unpacked a set of oversized Rubbermaid tubs, placing auction items next to the appropriate bid envelopes on the table covered with white linen.

  Miss Maya acquired several high dollar items for secret bid this year. There were limited edition bottles of Dom Perignon, a luxury golf weekend in Florida, cashmere blankets, diamond pendants, his and her Rolex watches, and the like. I smiled. She was a master at donation collection.

  I tucked my good shoes inside one of the empty boxes under the table. The block heel pumps were just too uncomfortable for me to wear all day. I’d gladly endure the pain for a few hours later on, once the show started.

  “Have you seen the backpacks?” I asked Don as I crawled further under the table, checking every nook and cranny.

  “No.” Don glanced up for just a second. “They might have the shipment at the front desk.”

  “I hope so.” I backed out from under the table, having no success in my gear search.

  One of our generous donors ordered new backpacks and radio harnesses for the entire team and we planned to surprise the unit during dinner.

  “Are you feeling hot?” Don pulled at his collar as he fiddled with the laptop.

  It was plenty cool, but I wanted to be supportive. “Let me go ask if they’ll turn up the air.” I rifled through the manila envelope Miss Maya had given me, looking for the business card of our assigned contact. I found two – those of Edward Cortese and his older brother Carson - the resort owners.

  I grinned. Even the Cortese brothers bent over backwards for Miss Maya. Her generosity lined a lot of deep pockets, including theirs.

  “I’m going to leave Ace with you, okay?”

  Don nodded while his eyes fixated on the white presentation screen. His dog was going to be a big part of the show. People loved to see the SAR dogs in person, and Ace loved to “shake hands” with strangers, especially if there was a treat involved. It was a win-win for everyone.

  Chevy’s toenails clicked on the marble tile as we approached the pretty young woman at the registration desk. “Is Mr. Cortese available?” I asked, not really having a preference between the brothers.

  “Edward Cortese is here today.” The woman brushed back a stray strand of blonde hair. “Carson goes out of town on the weekends to check on other properties.”

  “I’m sure Edward could help me.” I handed her the paperwork for our banquet contract. “I just wanted to check on the room temperature for this afternoon.”

  Her eyes widened as she glanced through the paperwork, and she immediately picked up the phone. After a short conversation, she looked up and murmured, “Mr. Cortese is on the way.”

  “Can I help you?” a smooth, masculine voice purred over my shoulder.

  The woman blushed as she looked past me. I turned, following her gaze, and blinked, surprised at the level of sophistication of the dark-haired man standing next to me. He looked like he stepped off the cover of GQ magazine. The man had more fashion sense in his left pinky finger than I possessed in my whole body.

  “Mr. Cortese, this is Avery Barks,” the girl stuttered. “She’s with the search and rescue people.”

  Edward, I assumed.

  “Ah, a treasured friend of Miss Maya.” The man’s presentation was as polished as his looks. “Welcome to Diamond Song.”

  His deep brown eyes glanced expectantly at the receptionist who didn’t hesitate to confirm, “Mr. Harris is meeting with Deputy Donaldson in the banquet room and will make the required airflow adjustments.”

  Edward Cortese gave a slight nod. “Thank you, Alexandria.”

  A soft whoosh of air blew behind me as the young woman sighed with relief.

  “If there is anything you need, please don’t hesitate to call me personally.” Edward reached inside his suit jacket and handed me his business card. His attention was so focused on me it felt like we were the only people on planet earth.

  “Thanks, I will,” I said, feeling a bit uncomfortable as I took the card.

  Edward turned with a smooth motion and glided through the lobby with an effortless, masculine stride. The slight smirk on his face revealed that he relished the way the female employees reacted as he walked past, a jumbled combination of fear and attraction. This was his domain. Well, this and twenty-four other resort properties across the nation.

  The man made his way down the hall, waving to someone inside our banquet room before heading through a door nestled within a wall of glass that led to a beautiful veranda decorated with plush outdoor furniture and exotic looking flowers.

  The receptionist forgot I was standing there as her eyes followed Edward Cortese through the glass wall. He strode across the veranda, stopped, then ran a hand through his hair like he knew all eyes were on him before disappearing into a private building on the property that housed the owner’s offices and suites.

  The Cortese brothers were smart, setting up their private penthouses on the far side of the property, away from the five-thousand dollar a night guest suites and the stares of the female staff members.

  I guess everyone needs a little privacy.

  CHAPTER 3

  It took exactly thirty seconds for Chevy to become the most popular visitor at Diamond Song.

  Several housekeepers converged just outside the laundry room to greet him after he lunged through the doorway to say hello. The youngest one, a teenager with a bright face and freckles, passed out dog treats to the ladies so they could each offer one to my dog. Chevy, of course, wasted no time partaking of their hospitality.

  “You’d never know it, but he does get food at home,” I said, causing the ladies to giggle.

  “He needs to work with me today.” A thirty-something housekeeper said as she loaded up her cart.

  “He’d pull all the pillows off the bed for you.” I laughed. “But he wouldn’t leave them in one piece.”

  “Oh, Chevy.” The woman laughed as she straightened a row of mini shampoo bottles.

  “Is there a place I can walk him before we leave?” I asked.

  “If you go around the trail on the outer edge of the property, no one will care,” the teenager said as Chevy gingerly took a dog cookie from her hand when she wasn’t watching. “My dad walks it every morning when he drops me off at work. It’s two miles around the entire loop.”

  “That’s why we’re thankful for these golf carts,” an older woman said. “It’s a big place.”

  “Thanks, that sounds perfect.” I let Chevy take one more cookie for the road before we headed out for a little walk. The trail was essentially deserted, and we only ran into a couple people as we meandered past the restaurant’s garden to a scenic overlook. Once we passed the employee parking lot and reached the west side of the property, I decided to quickly cut through the owner’s private area so I wouldn’t get in a time crunch with Don’s tie retrieval.

  The area was buffered by a beautiful stand of bamboo that towered at least twenty feet high. It fel
t like I’d stepped into a different universe as we walked down a dirt path, listening to the bamboo creak as it rocked back and forth overhead, and watching the blue sky peek through far above our heads. Eventually, we popped out into a secluded cove of lushly landscaped vegetation and gorgeous flower gardens. No wonder the owners decided to make this their private section. I immediately felt guilty for invading their private space and turned to go back when I heard a soft but rough voice beside me.

  “What I wouldn’t do to be that guy.”

  I glanced to my right and saw a short, older man kneeling next to a wheelbarrow and working amongst a vast number of tall colorful flowers. His sight was set on the second-floor balcony of a bungalow nearby. An extraordinarily beautiful brunette stood at the railing, her hair falling over her shoulders in lazy waves. A dark haired man stepped up behind her, wrapping strong arms around her midsection and kissing her neck. Edward Cortese. Except, he’d lost the suit jacket and his shirt was already half unbuttoned. The brunette slowly turned, and Edward pulled her into the private suite.

  The gardener peeled his eyes away from the couple, and they widened when he finally noticed me.

  “They meet up there every Saturday at one o’clock.” His face turned a soft shade of red. “Edward’s never late.”

  Chevy pulled on his leash, wanting to meet the man, but I didn’t allow it. The guy gave me a weird peeping tom vibe. I bet he planned his work schedule to make sure he was under the woman’s balcony every Saturday.

  Soft sobs broke the awkward silence, forcing me to hurry past the peeper and follow the sounds to a cottage behind a small stand of pines. One of the housekeepers we’d met earlier sat on the front porch in a small chair, holding a paper grocery bag on her lap. She was gripping the front of her light green Diamond Song uniform shirt, her hair mussed from rubbing the top of her head.

  “Sophia, what’s wrong?” The peeping gardener must’ve followed behind me and seemed genuinely concerned. “Did the man hurt you?”

  “No.” The woman shook her head.

  The gardener frowned. “Then what’s wrong? What are you doing back here?”