Cold Murder and Dark Secrets
By Angela C Blackmoore
Copyright 2017 by Angela C Blackmoore, All Rights Reserved
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real persons, events, or places are purely coincidental. All rights reserved.
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Table of Contents
Cold Murder and Dark Secrets
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
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Excerpt for Dark Secrets and Dead Reckoning – Book 3 of the Red Pine Falls Cozy Mysteries
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Authors Notes
Chapter 1
Hazel Morgan held her tea up in front of her like a shield and gave the Sheriff her very blandest expression. Abby could tell the Sheriff was getting frustrated, but no matter what question he asked of her, Hazel only gave him the very shortest answers that didn’t really explain anything. It was all doubletalk and avoidance which boiled down to the fact that Hazel didn’t remember anything about her brother’s death.
To Abby, it could only mean one of two things. Her grandmother didn’t know anything about it, or she knew far too much. The Sheriff seemed to be coming to the same conclusion because he finally stood up with his bushy eyebrows thunderous over his face. For a moment, Abby thought the man was going to arrest Hazel right there in their living room, but instead, he took a deep breath and shook his head.
“All right, Hazel,” the Sheriff drawled in his slow, deep voice. “I think I’ve got enough questions answered, or unanswered, as the case may be. I can’t help but believe there’s more to the story that you’re not telling me, but I’ll leave it alone for now.” He picked his hat up from where he had placed it on the couch but didn’t put it on. Instead, he turned to Abby and tilted his head toward the door. “Can you show me out?”
Abby looked at her grandmother who simply took a sip from her tea and refused to meet Abby’s gaze. She stood and walked with the Sheriff to the doorway and then out onto the large porch that overlooked the large clearing in front of their house.
For just a moment, Abby couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of the trees which surrounded the property. In the distance, she could hear the faint move and flow of the river that passed on either side of the small island. It was a good counterpoint to the wind blowing through the branches far above. She wished she could stand at that moment forever, but reality intruded when the Sheriff cleared his throat.
Abby suspected she knew what was coming but didn’t feel like being lectured. She knew she’d stuck her nose into the last investigation when her best friend, Becky, was accused of killing a local land developer. He had been poisoned by mushrooms and had the misfortune of being known to eat lots of omelets at Becky’s café. Becky was accused of the deed, but it turned out it was someone else.
The culprit had been a young, abused woman who had simply been trying to defend her family in the only way she knew how. Unfortunately, that way had been murder, and the young lady was currently in county custody for evaluation to see if she could even stand trial as a competent adult. Abby had figured out the mystery before anyone else, just in time to save her grandmother and Mr. Wilberson, the handyman who lived above the garage, from an equally foul end. Though it had helped at the time, the Sheriff had not been pleased. And now here he was once again investigating someone close to Abby.
The Sheriff put his hat on his head as he collected his thoughts before squinting at her. “I suppose you know what I’m going to say, so do I have to say it?”
Abby peered at him feeling her stubbornness rise. She knew what she should say. Why yes, Sheriff, I will indeed stay out of your investigation, but in reality, she wasn’t going to let her grandmother fight this alone. “No, you don’t have to say it.” And then she just looked at him.
They stayed like that for several moments until the Sheriff blew out a breath and shook his head. “Okay, Mrs. Morgan, have it your way. I can’t say I wouldn’t do the same but just so we’re clear; I will be keeping an eye on you and won’t be shy about pushing you out of the way if I have to.”
Abby stayed on the porch and watched the Sheriff as he walked to his car, got in, and drove away. The fall leaves swirled in his wake as if in counterpoint to the hurricane that had just entered their lives.
Abby closed her eyes before turning and walking back into the living room. Her grandmother sat in the same place and held her tea in the same position as when Abby left. One hand holding the saucer and the other holding the teacup. Her grandmother did not look at her when she returned.
Abby sat and thought about what she could say, but nothing seemed right. Not after the questions the Sheriff had asked. Did she remember when she’d last seen Rob? Did she remember who he was with or what he might have been doing? Why did the police file have her telling everyone he’d left for Portland to find work?
At least the Sheriff had been willing to talk to her in her home with Abby present. Deep down, she knew he hadn’t had to give her that kindness. Especially with Abby sitting right there and listening to everything he asked. She knew he’d made it harder on himself, but she was grateful for it. Still, this didn’t make the next few minutes any less terrifying.
In the end, she decided not to say anything. There was nothing to say nor any questions to ask. She would be here for her grandmother, no matter what the truth was. Almost as if reading her mind, Hazel looked up and gave the faintest smile to Abby.
“Thank you,” was all Hazel said, and that was all Abby needed to hear.
She wouldn’t ask her grandmother. It was evident she didn’t want to talk about it, or if she did, she would do it in her own time. But there was a whole town full of people who might have things she would be interested in hearing. She was going to have a busy day tomorrow.
Chapter 2
Her first stop the next day was obvious. Becky’s café. Not that her friend was old enough to remember twenty some odd years ago since she would have been about somewhere between eight and twelve, but she might know something. Abby was still new in Red Pine Falls, and while she had some ideas, Becky probably had better ones.
All of that went out the window when she pulled up and parked. There was a large crowd out on the front lawn, with Becky standing at the front staring forlornly at her cafe. Abby couldn’t tell what was wrong, but everyone she could see looked either horrified or disgusted. Cheerio bounced out of the car and dashed over, wagging his tail happily a
s he nuzzled Becky’s hand before working the crowd for more petting.
“What’s wrong, Becky?” Abby said as she walked up.
Becky threw her arms out to the side and breathed out forcefully, but didn’t say anything. Instead, she walked toward the front door, pulled it open, and held her nose.
Almost immediately, the most hideous, stinking smell wafted out, making Abby reel back. Cheerio barked, moving away from the front door with his tail between his legs. She had never smelled anything like it, and she immediately adopted the same horrified and disgusted face as most of the people.
“What the heck is that?”
Becky closed the door and joined Abby a healthy distance away before finally answering. “It,” She said dramatically, “is a skunk. One that apparently has no fear of humans, and decided today was the day it would walk into the back door I’d propped open so I could get something from storage. Of course, it meandered into the middle of the dining room before deciding it was offended, resulted in this disaster!”
That’s when Becky broke down and cried, hugging Abby tightly. Abby patted her on the back while craning her neck to see if she could see the offending animal through the front glass of the café. By the time Becky wound down, most of the customers had decided they weren’t going to stick around and had begun to wander off. All except for an older couple who stood by nervously.
“I’m sorry,” Abby asked them, trying her best to put on an apologetic face while trying to comfort Becky. “Is there something I can help you with?”
The man gave Abby a pained look before nodding toward the café. “Myrtle forgot her purse. I…well, we need to get it, and I’m not quick enough anymore to dodge a skunk.”
Becky just sobbed a little louder before breaking away from Abby and turning toward the café. “Just great. Okay, I’m responsible. I’ll run in and get it. Might as well smell like the disaster I am, right?” She moved toward the front doors, but Abby grabbed her arm while she pulled out her phone.
“Hold on, Becky. Stop being dramatic. We have our very own animal whisperer we can call on, you know.”
Becky stopped dead in her tracks while the idea struck her. “Gabe?” she asked. “That’s right! Ugh! Why don’t I think of these things?”
Abby grinned and pulled her phone to call up the handsome forest ranger. “That’s why you have me around. Now shush and let’s hope he’s not out running down a bear or something.”
“I did that last night. The rest of them are too terrified of coming out of their dens, so I’m clear this morning,” came the voice from the phone. It was warm, vibrant, and despite not seeing his face, Abby could hear the grin he usually wore. “What can I do for you today, Mrs. Morgan?”
Mrs. Morgan. A month ago those words would have sent Abby’s thoughts racing back to her now-dead husband. Loss and guilt would war equally with each other, but since she had come to Red Pine Falls, those moments had begun to fade. Relief from depression was what she’d come here for, but it had come from unexpected places.
One of those reasons was Becky. Friendly, fiery, and an excellent person to gossip with, but the other was Gabe. A forest ranger she’d met while researching mushroom hunting. His relaxed manner and warmth had slowly chipped away at Abby’s defenses. She couldn’t help but think of his steady hands or hearty chuckle after he told one of his stupid jokes, and the deep dimples didn’t hurt either.
There was definitely a mutual attraction, but he was comfortable simply being friends now. Abby was thankful that he wasn’t pushing because she had a feeling it would trigger things she was hoping to put behind her. As it was, when she’d first come to the town, she had a hard time even considering the idea of another man in her life.
Now, that feeling was easing. Abby had no idea how much longer she needed to get over her disruptive feelings, but at least she could see the light at the end of the tunnel. One which she hoped had Gabe standing within it when she emerged.
“Hello Mr. Wilson,” Abby said playfully. “I was wondering if you might tear yourself away from that whiskey you are drinking to help Becky with a little problem?”
Gabe gave one of his quiet chuckles. “Well, I suppose. These single malt’s don’t drink themselves, but I guess my early morning drinking can wait. What’s the issue? No mushrooms, I hope?”
“No,” Abby said, watching Becky as she looked anxiously at her café. “It’s not something I would say is particularly deadly, but we could use your help. Apparently, a skunk got into Becky’s Café.”
There was a moment's silence on the other end of the phone before Gabe spoke again, and Abby could clearly hear the note of amusement. She also noted the fact he’d raised his voice so others near him could hear. “A skunk. In Becky’s café? Wow. Where is it? It didn’t spray did it?”
Abby sighed, picturing Gabe’s cohorts clustering around. “Yes. In the dining room.”
Gabe chuckled and then repeated what she’d said. “In the dining room.” She could hear several other voices laugh along with him in the background. Abby went quiet and waited Gabe out. After a few more moments, she heard him take a deep breath before continuing. “Okay, Ben and I will swing by and take care of it. I’ve got some ideas. We’ll be there within half-an-hour.”
Abby covered the phone and half-whispered to Becky. “They’ll be here soon.” Back on the phone, she resumed talking to Gabe. “We’ll see you then but the sooner, the better. There’s a couple here who left their purse in the dining room.”
“We’re on our way,” Gabe said, then hung up the phone.
Becky gave her another hug before turning to the couple whom Abby didn’t know. “Thank you so much for your patience, John, and Myrtle. I am so sorry about this.”
The man smiled and patted her on the arm. “It’s Okay, Becky. We understand. We’re sorry to be a pain. We would come back later, but Myrtle has an appointment over at the clinic later today, and she needs her ID.”
“Is it with Charlie?” Becky asked, her voice lightening considerably from moments before. “I mean, Dr. Bennard?”
Myrtle nodded and smiled. “He’s a good man. He’s the one that finally figured out what was causing the pain on my left side. It seems I’m allergic to wheat if you can believe it.” Myrtle got a sad look on her face. “Who would have thought I’d have to do that gluten free thing at my age.”
“Next time you come to eat, let me know,” Becky said. “I have some recipes I can make that should help.”
“Oh, you are such a sweetheart, though you’ll have to forgive us if we wait a few days,” Myrtle said, looking nervously at the café.
Becky nodded and returned to looking glum. Abby gave her another hug as they all contemplated the small building and hoped Gabe got there as soon as possible.
Chapter 3
Gabe and another ranger, presumably named Ben, pulled up in a big truck to the obvious relief of Becky. Cheerio charged Gabe, leaping up and barking happily while Gabe laughed and grabbed the dog’s ears, ruffling them. Gabe was empty-handed, but Ben had a large tub with several items inside of it he carried up to the small group standing in front of the café.
“Morning ladies and gentlemen,” Gabe said before giving Becky and Abby a hug. He gave John a handshake but only tipped his head politely at Myrtle since she didn’t seem inclined. “I hear you have a bit of a skunk problem. Do you know where the little rascal is?”
Abby didn’t since she hadn’t gotten close enough to the building after her first encounter with its smell, but Becky walked up to the windows and pointed toward one of the corners. “Last time I saw him, he was over there in that corner. I think the little dark splotch is him, but it’s hard to tell because of the tablecloth.”
Gabe put his hand up to block some of the light while he peered inside. “Yeah, I think I see him, too. We’ll try to drive him out of the back door where he came in. Otherwise, I’ll have to set a trap overnight. Hopefully, it doesn’t come to that because if he sprayed, you'd want to take care t
hat as soon as possible.”
“This is just my luck,” Becky said as she wrung her hands. “It couldn’t have been a raccoon; it just had to be a skunk. Who even has issues like this in the middle of the town?”
“You?” Abby said from behind them. “Honestly, this is the first time I’ve ever even seen a skunk. I didn’t know they were adventuresome.”
Gabe stood up straight and turned toward the two ladies. “They’re usually not. Red Pine Falls isn’t that big of a town, but it’s still a town. I’m surprised a skunk made it this deep in as well. Anyway, Ben and I should get to work.”
“Oh, there is one other thing,” Becky said. “Can you get Myrtle’s purse? She needs it for an appointment later today.”
“Do you know where it is? I don’t want to upset our little guest any more than he already is.”
Becky turned to John and Myrtle. “Which table were you sitting at?”
John pointed to the other side of the dining room from where the skunk apparently was hiding. “That one.” He said. “I know it’s not close to where the skunk is, but I broke a hip a few years ago.” He shrugged as if it weren’t a big deal, but Abby could tell the man didn’t feel right about it. She was pleased when Gabe came to the rescue once again, playing off the weakness as much as he could.
“Don’t worry, John. I run around in the forest and roll in the dirt all day. A little skunk smell won’t hurt me. I’ll be happy to go get it for you.” With that, Gabe walked over to the front door and opened it. Cheerio followed him over until he opened the door before retreating, looking at Gabe as if he were insane. They all watched Gabe grimace as the smell struck him, but it didn’t stop him for long as he walked into the dining room and went over to grab the purse as if there was nothing at risk.
Abby was busy watching him, and the corner where the skunk was hiding just in case it decided to leap out and attack him, but that would have only happened in the movies. Instead, the small furry animal kept itself safe and hidden. A moment later, Gabe was standing back outside with them and handing the purse to a very grateful Myrtle.
Cold Murder and Dark Secrets, A Red Pine Falls Cozy Mystery (Red Pine Falls Cozy Mysteries Book 2) Page 1
