by CeeCee James
Polly continued, cutting through my musing. “Anyway, we heard through one of our good friends who knows the attorney representing Sam that Sam is going to plead guilty.” She sighed. “It’s just such a tragic story.”
“I agree. But maybe the fact that Sam is pleading guilty shows that he’s finally on the right path.”
“Yes.” I heard furtive whispering, and Pam urged, “Tell her! Tell her!”
Polly took in a deep breath. “Chelsea, you know I don’t want to upset you, especially at a time like this, but there was something we thought you should know.”
I tensed. “Okay.”
“Remember the name you said that Sam called you? And I told you that it rang a bell? Well, I asked Polly and she reminded me that was the name of Sam’s girlfriend. His late girlfriend.”
“I know about it. I found the story online.”
“And did you read it?”
“I sure did.”
Polly hesitated. In the background, Pam encouraged her again. “Anyway, we think we know why he called you that. Polly still has the actual clipping, and honestly you look an awful lot like his girlfriend. It’s quite remarkable.”
“I noticed that as well.”
“The likeness is so similar that we’ve actually had a few people ask about you.”
“Okay.” I wasn’t sure where this was going, but suddenly I didn’t like it.
“So, we both think it would be best, Pammy and I, if you took a tiny leave of absence. Just until this whole thing with Sam is cleared up. We like a bit of notoriety, but this seems like it might be over our heads.”
“Why? What’s happening?”
“We’ve had people wonder if poor Denise is haunting our place or if this is a case of reincarnation twenty years later. We wouldn’t mind so much but business has been down.”
I wondered if business wasn’t really down because Mayor McDaniel put the out word for everyone to avoid the thrift store. After all, look what happened between me and the mailman. Still, I wasn’t going to argue with them. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Just for a week or so. You probably need some time to sort yourself out, as well. And really, if you haven’t seen the picture, you need to look it up.”
We said goodbye and ended the call. I rubbed my temple. Honestly, I felt about as low as one could get. Did I still have a job? Was I about to be run out of town? Was having a resemblance to a woman dead twenty years ago really enough to warrant this kind of treatment?
Outside, Rosy mooed, and the goats bleated, and I was once again reminded that I needed to get my chores done. Emma was going to be home any minute. Real life was crashing my pity party.
I found my purse from where I’d flung it a life-time ago when I’d seen the vet was here, and pulled out my wallet. That empty, needy feeling gripped me as I searched for the photograph of my mom and me sitting in front of the mirror. I slid it out and carefully unfolded it, ignoring the dirt rimmed edges of my nails from my scramble over the log earlier to leave the woods. I traced over my mother’s face. I had to talk to her.
Crossing my fingers and closing my eyes in a silent prayer, I dialed her number.
She answered on the second ring. Immediately, like all the other times, her voice conveyed warmth, safety, and a rock-solid strength.
“Chelsea, the cell coverage is horrible. The storm is here now. Are you okay? Just say yes or no in case the phone call drops.”
“I’m okay!” Then, as fast as I could, I filled her in on the events of the day.
“Chelsea Lawson! You’re going to kill me one day! I knew you should have never moved there. I always had a bad feeling about Cedar Falls.”
“Well, there’s more. They linked me to this picture taken over twenty years ago. To a girl named Denise. Mom, she looks just like me. I’ll send you the picture.”
I heard her suck in her breath, but she didn’t respond.
“Mom?”
Her voice came out in a low moan. “Lord have mercy. Now?”
Goosebumps crawled up my arms as if left by invisible icy fingers. “What do you mean? Mom, you’re scaring me.”
Instead of answering me, I heard her sob. “Chelsea, we need to talk.”
I stared at the photo of the two of us. Something flickered in the back of my mind. Something that I should have always remembered, but I still couldn’t quite grasp. “Mom, why do you hate the picture of me when I was a little girl? You know, the one you threw away. Where I’m sitting next to you looking into a mirror.”
“Oh, sweetie, please don’t do this to me. I—” The line filled with static. And then, “Not now.”
“Mom? Please….” She was keeping something from me. I had to know.
Her groan was lower, like an animal in pain. When she spoke again, it was almost to herself. “I’ve told so many lies, kept so many secrets. There was—”
Static interrupted her and I didn’t hear the last thing she said.
“Mom? What do you mean? You’re cutting out.”
“There wasn’t any mirror, Chelsea.”
“Mom, what are you saying?”
“She wasn’t a reflection. That is your little sister, Nikki.”
The phone cut out again.
“Mom? Mom? I can’t hear you.”
“I’m —sorry. Reception here. I’ll— in the city next week.”
“Mom?”
It was over. My phone indicated call failure. I couldn’t believe it would end this way. Did I hear her right? Did she say something about a little sister?
I dialed back immediately, only to have it go to static silence.
And just like the day when the airplane crashed, destroying the life I once knew, the world erupted around me once again. Only this time the sound wasn’t a roar. This time the sound heralding destruction was soft and comforting, one I’d always relied on. This time it was my mother’s voice.
The End
Turn the page for a preview of book two, Farmer in the Dead.
Chapter 26
Thank you for reading Mooved to Murder. The sequel continues in-
Farmer in the Dead
Trouble seems to follow Chelsea like baby ducks follow their mama. This time around, Chelsea's best friend Tilly has been accused of murdering her ex-boyfriend, Adam. When Adam's fiancé points the finger at Tilly, the police dig up a secret motivation that make things look really bad for Tilly.. and she has no alibi.
There has to be a way to clear her friend, but Chelsea is running out of ideas.
Meanwhile, Chelsea is chasing her own demons as a mystery surrounding her family comes to light. The more she learns about her past, the less sure she is of the future. Has everything in her life been a lie?
Here are more series by CeeCee James.
The Flamingo Realty Mysteries— Meet Stella O'Neil, retired FBI agent Oscar O'Neil's granddaughter. She's got a lot on her plate, trying to figure out her crazy, stubborn family, the hidden secrets that caused her grandfather's estrangement from her dad, and starting out as a realtor. Throw in a dead body found in what used to be the town's "royalty" family's manor, and she's neck deep in a mystery.
Mind Your Manors
A Dead Market
Home Strange Home
Duplex Double Trouble
MidCentury Modern Murder
With Killer Views
Baker Street Mysteries— Join Georgie, amateur sleuth and historical tour guide on her spooky, crazy adventures. As a fun bonus there’s free recipes included!
Cherry Pie or Die
Cookies and Scream
Crème Brûlée or Slay
Drizzle of Death
Slash in the Pan
Terror on Top
Oceanside Hotel Cozy Mysteries—Maisie runs a 5 star hotel and thought she’d seen everything. Little did she know. From haunted pirate tales to Hollywood red carpet events, she has a lot to keep her busy.
Booked For Murder
Deadly Reservation
Final
Check Out
Fatal Vacancy
Suite Casualty
Angel Lake Cozy Mysteries—Elise comes home to her home town to lick her wounds after a nasty divorce. Together, with her best friend Lavina, they cook up some crazy mysteries.
The Sweet Taste of Murder
The Bitter Taste of Betrayal
The Sour Taste of Suspicion
The Honeyed Taste of Deception
The Tempting Taste of Danger
The Frosty Taste of Scandal
And here is Circus Cozy Mysteries— Meet Trixie, the World’s Smallest Lady Godiva. She may be small but she’s learning she has a lion’s heart.
Cirque de Slay
Big Top Treachery
