East Pender Boxed Set: Cozy Mystery Series Bundle of Books 1-14

by Leona Fox

  “We can talk about that later, but you haven't messed up anything. We have a lead. I think we've found the heir, Andy. Her name is Emily Bright. We've called her and she's coming into town!”

  Chapter 9

  The following day Emily arrived. Ellen was there to meet her at the cafe. She was a waif of a woman, with big glasses and a button nose. When she spoke it was like a whisper and her eyes continually darted around. Ellen welcomed her in and offered her a drink, but all Emily wanted was tap water. She certainly wasn't the type of person Ellen could see running a mill, or anything else for that matter.

  “I know this must have come as quite a shock to you,” Ellen said.

  “It has. I mean, this is for real, right? It's not one of those TV shows?” she said, looking around as though she expected to see some cameras.

  “No, it's nothing like that,” Ellen said, chuckling, then relaying the story to her.

  She told Emily all about Charlotte and James, and van De Lay's diary. She also told her about the town. Emily was silent as she listened intently to everything Ellen had to say. It was a sharp contrast to Charlotte’s behavior when she had been in conversation with the cafe owner. It took a while to tell the whole story and by the end of it Ellen's throat was dry, but she could tell the woman was daunted.

  “I know it's a lot to take in,” Ellen added, “but we're only trying to do what's best, and what Michael van De Lay would have wanted. This town is special and the people here are part of a community. I don't know how much your parents told you about your history but Michael van De Lay poured a lot of money and resources into making this town great, and now there is someone who wants to rip it away. We're just hoping you follow in his footsteps.”

  “My parents mentioned something but the family history is all very vague. I only heard rumors. I never really investigated my ancestors. I suppose I should have,” she said, pushing the glasses up the bridge of her nose.

  “Well, I have his diary, which I suppose is as much a part of your inheritance as the mill. I think this will give you some insight into the man,” she said.

  Ellen also took her to the library to show her the clippings from his memorial service. This also gave Ellen the opportunity to talk to Emily about the town as a whole, and show her the place they were trying to preserve. She decided not to talk about Charlotte too much, although naturally Emily inquired about the person who currently was laying claim to the inheritance. All Ellen would say was that that particular person did not have the town's best interests at heart. Emily gazed in wonder at the information offered. She saw the picture in the paper of the pregnant girl, and asked who she was. Even in the old picture there was a clear family resemblance between her and Emily. Kelly retold the story that Martha had told them, and all present were moved by the lengths that Michael van De Lay had gone to for his love.

  “Why don't you take a few moments to read the journal and process this all?” Ellen suggested.

  “I can't imagine what you're going through right now, so just take some time.” Emily moved away and the other three had a quick discussion.

  “She seems nice,” Kelly said.

  “Yes, but whether she'll want to help us or not is a different story. It's a lot to dump on someone,” Ellen replied.

  However, about an hour later, after Emily had been engrossed in the reading material provided, she walked up to the group and announced she would help them. Ellen hugged her, which seemed to take Emily by surprise, but they all were overjoyed and relished seeing the look in Charlotte's eyes when she eventually received her comeuppance. Ellen returned to the cafe to find that Ray and Charlotte were there, among other people, and as always between those two, sparks were flying.

  “I only came here to get a drink. Can't you people leave me alone?” Charlotte cried out.

  “Only when you see the harm you're causing!” Ray exclaimed.

  Ellen quickly intervened and dragged Ray aside, around the corner so they were out of earshot. In a frantic whisper she told him everything was going to be alright, that Emily was in town and the true descendant was going to make things right. However, little did she know that Charlotte had crept close by and overheard every word.

  The next day Ellen was feeling smug, but when Emily came up to her she immediately knew something was wrong. Emily looked haggard, as though she hadn't slept at all.

  “What's wrong?” Ellen asked.

  “I'm s-sorry, but I c-can't help you,” Emily stammered out, on the verge of tears.

  Ellen placed a reassuring arm around her shoulder and led her indoors, where she offered tea. Scampy came and nestled against Emily's feet and this seemed to calm her down. Her breathing slowed to a normal rate and it didn't take long for Ellen to get to the truth. Emily recounted how two people had accosted her late in the night when she had been making her way back to the bed and breakfast in which she was staying. Although they had stayed in the shadows, Ellen had no doubt it had been Charlotte and James. She smiled, although Emily didn't see why.

  “Because it means they're worried. They spent so long thinking they had things under control but they didn't count on us finding you, or your willingness to help us.”

  “I'm not sure I can, Ellen. You've been so kind but I don't want to be attacked. This is all so new to me and I'm not sure I like it. I live a quiet life, you know; I don't want this kind of thing to happen. I don't want to be a target. Michael van De Lay...he didn't mind the public eye but I'm not like that, I'm not like him...” she said despondently.

  “You are like him, Emily. You have his blood in your veins. He was willing to risk everything for the love of that woman, and because of that you're alive. He loved this town. He endured the ridicule of his family for the sake of his dream and in his lifetime he saw it come to fruition. Ever since then the people of this town have tried to honor his memory because we know all that he did for us. It's our home, and we treasure it, just as much as he treasured it, and now people are threatening to take that away from us. Good people have poured their hearts and souls into that mill and we've all done our part to see that that doesn't happen.

  Michael van De Lay would do the same if he was here. He left a legacy behind, not just in this town but in you as well. You are his descendant and it is not only your right to carry on his vision but your duty. You may not think you're special but you are. You have his blood in you. You are as much a part of this town as any of us and, like it or not, you belong here. East Pender is a good town, a hardy town. It's been the beneficiary of your family's love for a long time, and now it's asking for just a little more. Please Emily, please don't walk away from this,” she pleaded, and how could Emily refuse?

  The following day the papers were signed. Ellen and Emily walked into the mayor's office with all the official documents to prove she was a direct descendant of Michael van De Lay. Charlotte protested, of course, loudly, but it fell on deaf ears, and she was forced to leave the town hall with her tail between her legs.

  “Guess she never reckoned you'd be so formidable. Once again your sleuthing skills found the right person,” Kelly said as she stood beside her friend.

  “No, it wasn't just me. I couldn't have done it without you or the rest of this town. We're all in this together,” Ellen said, smiling at her friend. Once the deal was done Emily came up to Ellen, looking a little perturbed.

  “I'm glad all this is over but I have to say I'm kind of worried about this. I never have owned a mill before and I don't really, I mean...I have a life of my own. Am I expected to move here? I don't think I could just uproot myself like that,” she said. Ellen laughed joyfully and put her arm around the nervous woman.

  “Don't worry about that, I actually thought of a solution. Let me introduce you to Ray, and as for moving, well, I'd hope that at some point you'd like to come back and visit us. Oh… and there's one more thing left. Come to the park later. The whole town is going to be there,” Ellen said, and then walked her over to where Ray was standing.


  “Now, this is Ray Finn. He's worked at the mill for a long time and if you were looking for someone to be in charge of it I can't think of anyone who is better qualified.” She left them to discuss the future plans for the mill, and Ray seemed happier than he had been ever since this whole thing started.

  In fact, the entire town was uplifted by the news, and Charlotte was jeered as she left the town, never to return. Ellen was also the recipient of many apologies from people who had taunted her and accused her of being a traitor, which made her feel good. She was relieved her efforts had not gone unnoticed.

  Speaking of going unnoticed, later that day she went to the park where the entire town had gathered to say farewell to Michael van De Lay. Everyone was there, from Martha, who already had attended his first funeral, to Scott and the other children who had discovered the skeleton. Emily was the guest of honor, and after the mayor gave a short speech about how grateful they were for all that van De Lay had done for the town, he introduced Emily. She hadn’t been prepared at all for such an introduction, but after a smile from Ellen she rose to the podium and leaned into the microphone.

  “Thank you for this wonderful gesture. I have to admit I never knew much about Michael van De Lay. My parents didn't delve into the history of my family. It's been only in the past couple of days that all this has come to light, and believe me, I'm going to have a lot to talk about with my mom when I get back home.” This brought a laugh from the crowd, and Emily seemed to relax.

  “I have, however, been getting to know Michael van De Lay from this journal, which Ellen gave me.” She paused for a moment as she attempted to find the right words. “From this I can see he was a man of high ideals. He had many plans for this town, and I am pleased to be carrying on his legacy. I have been in this town only for a short time but I already can see the strong sense of community and spirit. It warms my heart to know you have thought so highly of my ancestor all this time. I never was expecting something like this to happen to me but I'm happy it has since you've given me a part of my history. I will cherish this. Thank you so much, to all of you. And I'm sure that, wherever he is, Michael van De Lay is happy, too, because you've all proved him right.”

  Everyone cheered, and for a funeral it was a surprisingly joyous occasion. After all, it was done mostly to honor van De Lay's memory and to celebrate the fact that the town was going to remain as it always had, and would hold onto what made it so precious. Ellen and Andy stayed for a while but they had their own issues to deal with, and slipped away to return home.

  “I'm sorry about what happened,” he admitted, “I should have handled it better and told you from the start that Lisa was my ex.”

  “Yes, you should have, but I shouldn't have reacted like I did. This is...being so close to you is unfamiliar to me and I suppose I was just a little scared of it ending, but I have to trust in you, and trust in us,” she said, taking his hand.

  “I'm glad you feel that way, but you have to know that nothing would have happened. She's from my past and I've let go of that completely. My life is here now, with you, and I'm perfectly happy with it being that way,” he said. Ellen smiled at him.

  “It's like Michael van De Lay said,” he added, “this place brings people together, it's a true home, and I am completely happy here.”

  He leaned in to kiss her and they lost themselves in the sweet taste of each other’s lips. Years ago, Michael van De Lay had loved a woman and their child followed a path to where Emily was born, and she came back to East Pender to save the day. Andy and Ellen's love was still in its infancy but who’s to say where it would lead them? Only time would tell, as the stars twinkled above East Pender and all the people it held close to its bosom. All of them were happy, but of course there were still mysteries to be solved. Even though the town’s soul had been protected, there always would be disreputable people ready to take matters into their own hands, but Ellen, with the help of her friends, would get to the bottom of the case.

  Volume 6

  The Fatal Fury

  An East Pender Mystery Book 6

  Chapter 1

  It had been another peaceful day in East Pender. After the saga with the mill, Ellen was glad to have enjoyed some quiet moments with her friends. The tension that had pervaded the town after an outsider had threatened to rip out the soul of East Pender by selling off the mill now had dissipated and life mostly had gone back to normal. The new manager of the mill, Ray, who was overseeing things in the absence of the rightful owner Emily Bright, had taken to his new role with aplomb and seemed a natural fit. It was good to see someone rewarded for all their hard work. Ray had been a fixture in the mill all his life, and represented the spirit of the town.

  Michael van De Lay's funeral had turned into a celebration for East Pender and it really had brought the town together. Van De Lay had lived decades ago, and had been responsible for transforming East Pender into the place it was today. Ellen was glad they finally had been able to send him off to the afterlife properly, and lay his bones to rest after they had been laying in a cave since his mysterious disappearance all those many years ago.

  The community spirit was once again in effect. After seeing the town split and give rise to a raging mob it was difficult, but in the end the people had come together and shown what they all meant to each other. It relieved Ellen's soul, for the main reason she had stayed in East Pender was she felt as though she belonged there and didn't feel as lonely as she did in the big city, in which she had spent most of her adult life.

  As she swept the café floor and placed the chairs upside down on the tables, she shouted at Scampy as he scurried across the floor, seeming to think the broom was a game. Ellen couldn't stay mad at the small dog for long, though, and, soon enough, a smile appeared on her face as Scampy growled at the broom, baring his teeth and snarling before yelping away as the wide brush came inexorably toward him. The floor was smooth and his paws scrambled as he scampered away, and Ellen giggled.

  Ellen paused and leaned on the handle of the broom. Looking around the empty cafe she reflected on her life and realized she was genuinely happy. This place had filled her with a sense of contentment and tranquility, and her relationship with Andy made her feel fulfilled. The moon shone outside and the night was clear so all the stars were visible. Sometimes she liked nights like this, nights when she was alone. Although she was a gregarious person and enjoyed the company of others she never had been one to despise solitude. In fact, she welcomed it as a respite from the rest of her life and it was pleasing to take stock of how far she had come.

  When she first had decided to stay in East Pender she didn't have any idea of what she was going to do in the town. It was small and there wasn't the corporate infrastructure she had been used to in the city, which wasn't a bad thing since she had wanted to get out of that line of work anyway. Since her parents had been ill she had been thinking about her life and how empty it was, how there was nothing of meaning in it. She had spent a long time developing her career, but even then, while she was on a good salary it wasn't fulfilling work and she felt detached from everyone else, as though she wasn't really making a difference in the world.

  But being with her parents and being back in East Pender made her realize what she had been missing. The decision to abandon the life she had made for herself in the city was a surprisingly easy one. In one weekend she had shipped out everything from her apartment back to her parents' house, and taken care of them while they had grown weaker and more despondent. When they eventually died Ellen's new life had to begin.

  At first it was difficult to be without her parents in the town where she had grown up as all her memories were tethered to them. Everywhere she looked she was reminded of the two people who had nurtured and cherished her. It was painful, and in the first weeks following the death of her parents she wept constantly. However, she always had been the practical sort and wasn't prone to losing herself to her emotions. So while she indulged them for a little while she soon composed her
self and got on with the matter of living.

  With a cool, analytical eye, Ellen examined her life and asked herself what she really wanted to accomplish from it. She wanted to be around people, to interact with them and be a part of their lives, and in turn share her life with them. When she came upon the cafe being sold it felt like kismet, and immediately she began imagining the things she could do with the place. Before her it had been run by a matronly woman who was rather standoffish. It hadn't taken much persuading when Ellen came along with an offer, but then Ellen did major work on the place to give it a new face. Before it had been a dingy little diner, but now it was a cultured place in which people could feel welcome. The lighting was bright, although that gave way to intimate candles during the evening, and most people in the town flocked to The Chrome Cafe regularly.

  Seeing people enjoying themselves gave Ellen a sense of well-being and she often found herself smiling at the way her cafe had brought people together. She had seen old couples enjoying each other’s company, had seen young lovers enjoy first dates there, and groups of friends spend time talking and gossiping. And then, of course, there was her amateur career as a sleuth. It had happened entirely by accident one day but even since then it had been an important part of Ellen's life. She always had been intrigued by mysteries but now it was greater than that. She had a need to protect the town, to help innocent people find peace and bring those who broke the law to justice. Of course, it wasn't always as simple as that, and she had faced danger many times, yet always had come out unscathed. She had seen a side of East Pender of which she had been completely unaware before. Even in a small town there were people with big plans and darkness lurked in the shadows, and she had taken it upon herself to aid the police and use her skills for the good of the people in the town.