Marion Mysteries: Books 1-3 (A Cozy Mystery Bundle)

by Amy Andersen

  Her friend shook her head slowly, blinking at Marion as if she hardly recognized her. “How can you accuse me of this? You’re my best friend! And besides,” she threw her keys on the desk, “these are just my spares. You’ve got it all wrong!”

  Ruth stood up, slinging her purse on her shoulder angrily. “Marion, you know me better than anyone. That you could even suggest I might be tied up in all this makes me, makes me … okay, I don’t know what to say, but you know what I mean.” She shoved the hard, metal chair away from her. “I quit, by the way. You should have sold that rinky-dink salon a long time ago. You’re an idiot for walking away from all that money.”

  “There’s more.” Marion looked at her good friend and employee and hardened her heart against the tears welling in her eyes. This had to be done. “A few minutes ago I texted a photo of Andy to my friend Alice, the receptionist at The Red Leaf. This is what she texted back.”

  She pulled out her phone and opened the screen to her last conversation, placing it next to the set of keys on the desk. There, at the top of the screen, was the photo of Andy smiling at the camera, giving a thumbs up.

  “Do you recognize this man?”

  “I do. What’s his name?”

  “Andy. Andy Jones. Has he been to your hotel?”

  “Yes, many times. That’s the guy Angela was seeing. I knew I recognized him.”

  Ruth picked up the phone as if it were a dead rat. Slowly, she sat back down into her chair, staring at the damning evidence in her hand. She squeezed her eyes shut and then started taking big, heaving breaths, the tears pouring down her face. “When I found out he was cheating, I just lost it. I didn’t mean to kill her, but she stopped breathing.” Sobbing deeply, Ruth fell forward on the desk, all her strength gone. “It was me. I killed her. And I’m so sorry.”

  Chapter 9

  “Tell me what happened.” Carter pushed the record button on his little Dictaphone and then sat and waited. Marion and Christopher exchanged glances, but said nothing. Ruth took a couple of deep breaths and told them how she came to be a killer.

  “I was working alone. You remember Marion told you she wanted to get going early. Well, I was just cleaning up when at the last minute this woman came in. It was Angela. I really didn’t know her at all, but I recognized her from all the times she’d walked by the window. Anyhow, she was asking for a new look. She wanted that pixie cut, but that’s not a look we usually do. So, we were talking about different celebrities I might know to give me some idea of how she wanted it, but as I was cutting she got really demanding. She had to have it exactly right, so I worked on her for more than half an hour while she kept directing me, not trusting me for a second.

  “Between directions, she started telling me about her life. She mentioned she was moving to New York in a couple of days and that she had successfully sold her business to the highest bidder. I was surprised, because that cafe does a lot of business. She agreed it was a cash cow, but she wanted a change in her life. The strain of running a cafe was wearing on her and she needed an adventure.

  “I’m starting a new life with my boyfriend, she told me. Apparently, he had been making deliveries to the cafe and the two of them fell in love over orders of coffee and pastries. I thought it sounded very romantic and I told her that. She was giggling and blushing like a teenager and I remember thinking I had been the same way when I first met Andy.” Ruth got emotional again, tears pouring down her face. “I love him, you know. We’re not perfect and Lord knows he’s no prince, but I love that cheating bastard. I don’t know what I’m going to do without him.”

  Carter reached across the desk and gently placed his hand on her arm. “Ruth, please, just tell me your side of the story. I need to hear it.”

  She nodded, taking big, shuddery breaths in an attempt to calm herself down. “Okay. Okay. So, she’s going on and on about this new love in her life; he’s so romantic, he’s so thoughtful, he’s my soulmate. I’m thinking, wow, I really feel happy for this girl. She’s living the dream.

  “Finally, I finish this intense haircut and she reaches over to her purse to pay. It was up on my station table and her hand knocked it over. Everything spilled out and her phone slid right over to me. Right there, on the main screen, was a picture of her with Andy, the both of them looking completely in love. And when I saw it, it was like I couldn’t think anymore. This bitch was stealing my husband and there I was, helping her get beautiful for him.

  “I just completely lost it. I started screaming and throwing things at her, I pushed her and she fell. Then, without even realizing what I was doing, I climbed on top of her and wrapped the dryer cable around her neck. I just pulled and held it tight. I didn’t think, I have to kill her. I really didn’t. Maybe I just wanted to scare her. I don’t know. But, once I started, I couldn’t stop. She wasn’t able to call for help, she wasn’t bleeding, but I could feel how weak she was getting and I…” Ruth turned away from the group, squeezing her lips together for a moment.

  “I liked it. I liked knowing that I was taking this chance away from her. No one had ever given me any kind of second chance. Andy is all I have; if I lose him, I’ll never be with anyone else. He’s the only one for me. I couldn’t let her have him. I just couldn’t. Then she went limp. I knew right away that she was dead. I could see it in her face, the way she flopped on the floor.”

  Carter’s face remained placid. He didn’t move, just regarded the woman in front of him and reminded himself to keep her talking and keep her calm. “What did you clean her with?”

  “What?”

  “There were no fingerprints on the body. How did you clean them off?”

  “Oh, right.” Ruth swallowed hard. “I used the blue stuff we keep our combs and scissors in. I was so scared. I checked outside to make sure there was no one outside, then I turned out all the lights. Finally, I pulled her up into a chair so she was sitting.” Once again, Ruth started crying hard. “I just couldn’t stand the sight of her on the floor. I wanted her to be somewhere more comfortable. I needed her to look good.”

  “Why did you lock her up in the salon after you killed her?”

  “I don’t know.” Big, heavy tears rolled down Ruth’s cheek. “I was nervous. I couldn’t think. So, I just did what I would usually do; I locked up and went home like any other night.”

  Carter reached over and clicked off the recorder. There was a long moment of silence while everyone sat in shock. Finally, Christopher spoke up.

  “This is all truly interesting,” he said, shifting in his chair, “but these cuffs are killing me. Any chance I could get these off?”

  Carter unlocked the cuffs from Christopher’s wrists. Moving over to Ruth, he said, “Ruth Jones, you are under arrest for the murder of Angela Burr. You have the right to remain silent...”

  As he spoke, he slid the cuffs onto her wrists. She didn’t fight him, she just went limp and let him cuff her. Marion watched her friend’s face, but a light had gone out. Ruth didn’t see anyone else in the room, just the cell across the hallway that was waiting for her.

  A moment later, Marion and Christopher walked outside, Chris was a free man. “Marion,” he pulled her into a hug, “there are just no words. I can’t thank you enough. And for you to turn in your friend like that; it took real guts.”

  “I couldn’t let you take the fall for her.” Marion stepped back and put a hand on Chris’ arm. “I’m so happy to see you out of that awful place. And who knows,” she looked back at the door. “Maybe one day I’ll walk Ruth out of there. We’ll have to wait and see what happens at her trial.”

  Christopher nodded. “Well, the fact that I’m free is a testament to the old adage that anything can happen. And I mean anything.”

  They hugged one more time and then Christopher said he wanted to walk home. Marion decided to do the same. She wandered out into the streets of Chippingville and smiled as she continued home. The people she passed on the street had no idea she’d just help
capture a murderer, but she didn’t need their accolades. It was enough to know that her town was short one criminal today.

  Chapter 10

  The gelato in Marion’s hand was starting to melt so she licked the sides quickly. It was a wonderful pumpkin pie flavor, perfect for a fall day. She stared out at the ocean and watched the waves crash up on the rocks, the white spray flying into the air. The sound of the ebb and flow of the water was so relaxing, like a little massage for her soul. After everything that had happened, she needed a little treat. She was very grateful Glenn had invited her out.

  Right away, the two of them had a great time. He’d picked her up at her house and they’d walked to the boardwalk. He was determined to keep the mood light and had been teasing her for the past hour. When a couple Marion recognized from the salon passed by, they stopped to talk for a moment and Glenn put his arm around her. She let herself fall into his side where she could feel how warm and strong he was. He wore cologne, but just a little. A person had to be right up against him to smell it.

  Glenn looked especially handsome that day. His sandy hair was a bit mussed as usual and he was in a white shirt that was crisp and pressed with a nice pair of jeans. They visited the gelato shop and then wandered out to the bench to sit and talk. He had been telling her about his education, how he had gone to beautiful boarding schools and learned from some of the best professors in the country. She listened quietly, happy to have to opportunity to think about someone else’s life for a little while.

  She looked at his chest while he talked. It was hard not to look; he had nice, lean muscles that were visible from under his shirt. She wondered what he did for a workout, maybe lifting beautiful women up off of their feet all day? Marion knew that Glenn had a lot of admirers and had been a bit shocked when he wanted to go out, but figured it was a pity date. She’d been through a lot and all of her friends and neighbors were being especially nice to her these days. After spending some time with him, though, she wasn’t so sure. Maybe he really was interested.

  Suddenly, Glenn went quiet and studied her face. “Sorry, I’ve been going on and on about myself. Tell me what’s up with you. How are things at Silver Shears?”

  Marion took a big lick of ice cream, reluctant to take a break from it and start talking. “Well, it’s tough.” She looked into Glenn’s pretty blue eyes. They were so clear they made her feel as if they could see the truth in everything. “Not a lot of people want to come to my place anymore. Michael Browne must be thrilled; he’s inheriting almost all of my clients. To make matters worse, a part of me wants to go and visit Ruth. But I know she’s a killer. Somehow, she’s my friend and the reason I’m struggling all at the same time. She’s this whole different being now.”

  She stared out at the ocean again and imagined having to give up Silver Shears, locking the doors a final time. What would she do if that happened? She honestly had no idea. Glenn reached over to take her chin in his hand, then turned her face so she was looking at him.

  “I hate to see you look so sad. You should be getting a medal for what you did, not suffering for someone else’s mistake. I mean, you caught a murderer! Heck, I might have to order a special award for you: Best Amateur Detective. And no one else is in the running, you’re a lock for first place.”

  Marion laughed and gave him a little shove back against the bench. “Shut up.”

  “You shut up. Hey, the more you talk about the past, the more everyone else will dwell on it. You have to keep looking forward; your salon is great. You’ll get past this, I know you will. I think a little makeover is the right move. Really go for it; all kinds of new things, new wallpaper, paint, toilet, everything. Show everyone you’re not the murder salon, you’re Silver Shears, the place where everyone looks good.”

  Marion nodded, taken in by his vision for her little business and his beautiful eyes again. “So,” she smiled a little at him, “you don’t like to see me sad?”

  He put a hand on his chest as if his heart was hurting. “It does irreparable damage to my already tender heart.”

  “Well then,” she finished her ice cream and turned a bit to face him straight on, “I want you to tell me about how you ended up in Chippingville. You’re too smart and too sophisticated to be the medical examiner for this little burg. Be honest, how did you get here?”

  Glenn handed his gelato over to her and she immediately took a big lick. It was chocolate and extremely rich. She looked at him expectantly.

  “Marion, I want to tell you everything. I have no interest in lying to you. Not ever. I need you to keep that in mind, because the story is a little, well, hard to believe.”

  She nodded, scooting a little closer. He wasn’t kidding. A darkness had fallen in his eyes and they almost changed color completely as he thought back to his past.

  Glenn took a deep breath, let it out, and then turned to Marion...

  An Unexpected Death

  Chapter 1

  Marion Fox’s salon chairs were pristine, the mirrors were spotless and the warm, afternoon sunlight glowed like a lantern through the window. Her broom made a soft shh, shh, as she swept the already clear floor for the millionth time, keeping one eye on the door just in case a passerby decided to brave a visit to Silver Shears, her little salon. She looked around the pristine room with everything in order, desperate to find something to do.

  “This is awful,” she thought. “What I wouldn’t give to have to stay late and clean up this old place.” However, the sharp decline in clients had put an end to her days of working late. These days, she felt lucky to have three people come in for the most minimal of services. Now that the word was out that one of her former stylists had committed a murder right there in Silver Shears Salon, it had been a struggle to pay the bills and keep the doors open. It could be time to lock up her place for good, as much as it would break her heart.

  She put the broom and dustpan away and sat down at the computer for the millionth time. She opened her quick recruiter program once again and wrote a job ad for a new stylist. She desperately needed a new face in here, to show the community that Silver Shears wasn’t dangerous, but so far no one wanted the job. She had even tried offering a ridiculously high wage, a chance to work as a commissioned stylist as opposed to an hourly, but nothing seemed to lure anyone in.

  She looked up to see two teenage gawkers, a boy and a girl, standing outside her window. She waved and motioned them in. They shook their heads and one of them pulled out a phone to take a picture. She couldn’t hear them, but she could imagine their conversation.

  That’s the chair where they found the body.

  That lady must be the killer!

  No, she’s the one who caught the killer. It was her employee.

  No way, she’s a murderer. Just look at her!

  Thinking maybe this would be a chance to turn her luck around, she put a big smile on her face and opened the door to start a conversation. Just as she opened it, the two shrieked and ran away.

  “Oh my god, she’s after us!”

  “She’s crazy! Don’t look back, she’ll memorize your face!”

  The two sprinted away as fast as they could, their adrenaline making their feet pound the sidewalk like startled horses. Sighing, Marion slumped into the doorway and watched her would-be victims run for their lives. If only she were a killer, then at least people would have an actual reason to avoid her.

  She pulled her phone out of her pocket and checked to see if Glenn had messaged her, but once again her screen was blank. She remembered their last date, the day they had sat on the bench and had a gelato. It had been so lovely hearing him tell her to keep her chin up, to stay strong. If only he had been right. She had really connected with him that day. What’s more, she had really believed he was there for her and always would be, but now she wasn’t so sure.

  Their last conversation had been shocking; he wasn’t the guy she’d thought he was. However, she felt he was a good person.

  She pi
cked up her broom again and started sweeping in the same spot she had just cleaned, hoping she was right. Glenn had a father in jail. Some people believed that if a parent was a bad apple, the children were as well. But then again, nothing about Glenn seemed suspicious. She shook her head and put the broom back in its place. She needed to focus.