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

by Leona Fox

  “You have caused us quite a bit of trouble,” Andy said, shaking his head at the young man.

  Chapter 9

  Ryan was being held in an interrogation room when Ellen arrived. He was sitting with his shoulders slumped forward, shaking and trembling with the guilt and shame at what he had done. His eyes were raw and wet from all the tears he had shed and, although he had the frame of a man, they all were reminded of just how young he was from the way he acted and carried himself.

  “He looks pretty shaken up,” Ellen said.

  “Yeah, he's been like that ever since I found him. He keeps apologizing over and over again. It's difficult to get a straight answer out of him,” Andy admitted.

  Ellen sighed and rubbed her temples. Why wasn't anything ever easy? The two of them entered the room and, as soon as they did so, Ryan pleaded with them for mercy, continually apologizing.

  “Let's try to calm down and start from the beginning, shall we?” Ellen said, sliding into a chair opposite Ryan.

  Andy did the same, and both of them tried to give Ryan the chance to calm himself. He took a couple of deep breaths as Ellen asked him why he did it. When Ryan began speaking his voice was quivering. It wasn't long before he burst into tears again, and Ellen and Andy had to strain to understand the words through the sobbing.

  “I didn't mean to hurt anyone; I didn't want to do it I just...I thought this was the best way. At least people wouldn't be hurt, you know, and I didn't think of it as stealing, really, but I couldn't face it on my own, all the responsibility.”

  “The responsibility of what?” Andy asked.

  “The farm. It's my father. He's ill, and the medications he needs...he was taking more than he should have and it all just ran out. I didn't even realize before it was too late, I had so much else to worry about. And the farm barely is surviving as it is. I knew if I wasn't able to pay for his medication then he was going to die and...and I wasn't ready for that. He's my father, I couldn't let him go like that, but we needed things to make the machines on the farm work and I didn't have enough money. I'm just so, so sorry that it came to this. I never wanted to do this. I just...I didn't see any other choice.”

  Andy and Ellen glanced at each other. They knew of the farm but weren't close with Ryan or Jonathan, and they had no idea Jonathan had been ill. Instead of a need for justice the two of them were filled with pity for the young man, especially Ellen, who knew the pain of seeing her parents ebb away before her eyes.

  “Why didn't you ask anyone for help?” Ellen asked softly.

  Ryan sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve. The young man cut a pathetic figure but the two adults looked at him with sympathy. It would have been hard enough to care for the farm at such a young age, let alone when coupled with having to look after his father.

  “We've never really looked to the town. You know what it's like, we're all the way out there. We never really feel like we're a part of the community. Sure, people are nice to us when we come in and deliver supplies, but it's not like we ever come here to spend time with people. We're too busy. The farm has been in our family for generations and it's always been the same. Used to be that there was a big clan but over the years it has just dwindled until only the two of us were left. We're used to taking care of our problems by ourselves.”

  Ellen looked over at Andy and they were so in tune with each other that they knew what the other was thinking.

  “You are a part of the town Ryan, and you shouldn't suffer in silence. Look, what you did is wrong, there's no arguing about that. I think you are going to have to make amends to a lot of people in the town because, while you didn't actively harm anyone, you did inconvenience a lot of people, and more than a few of them were scared,” Ellen began.

  “But,” Andy continued, “there were no direct victims of this crime and, given the circumstances, I think we'd prefer to try helping you and your father. Like you say, the farm has been in your family for generations and if anything were to happen to it then it would be a detriment to the cultural value of East Pender. And more than that, we're sorry you don't feel like a part of the community. Perhaps we should see this as an opportunity for you and your father to come back into the fold and be a part of this town again.”

  Ryan barely could believe what he was hearing and he looked at Ellen and Andy in turn, blinking in disbelief.

  “You really mean it?” he asked.

  “Of course. We're not monsters Ryan, and people make mistakes. But you have to promise you'll try making it up to the people in town. And I do have to warn you, it's not going to be easy. A lot of them are very angry,” Ellen said.

  “But I think if we had a little fundraiser we could make some money for your father and hopefully that should ease your minds a little bit.”

  Ryan was unable to help himself as he rushed around the table to give them both strong hugs. It was unusual for a case to turn out this way but Ellen and Andy wanted more than anything to help the residents of East Pender. This evidently had been a cry for help. Ellen was true to her word and news soon spread about the fundraiser. Initially people were skeptical. They grumbled about the fact Ryan hadn't been served justice, but the young farmhand tried his best to make it up to everyone. He offered to do odd jobs, and his earnest manner won them over, as did the plight of Jonathan. It made them all look at each other, as they often were proud of the community spirit they had fostered in the small town. Yet, in this instance, a couple of people had been struggling and nobody knew anything about it.

  Ryan and Jonathan were welcomed into the cafe with open arms and everyone was in a joyous mood. Ellen was glad things had been resolved fully, and the crowd was jubilant. Scampy, as always, was barking and yapping playfully. Jonathan looked a little overwhelmed, as did Ryan, as the two of them hadn't been used to much social interaction in their time. But Ellen played the perfect host and soon had them chatting with a few people. When she left Ryan he had been in deep conversation with a pretty young girl. Ellen thought to herself that perhaps the family-run farm still had hope of another heir, and new blood would see it flourish once again.

  To see everyone in such good spirits warmed Ellen's heart and it put to rest the ugly memory of the crowd that had gathered in the square. It proved to her once again that East Pender was the finest place to live. Paul came to say his goodbyes, and shook Andy's hand, declaring that he hoped he would be able to do the man justice in the film. Ellen and Andy were rather icy toward him given everything that happened, but the rest of the crowd were sad to see him go. They all made sure to talk with him before he left, knowing there probably never would be anyone like him coming to their doorstep again. Only two people were missing from the event: Kelly and Matthew. Ellen still had not heard from her best friend and she was beginning to get worried, as Kelly never had been out of touch for so long. However, Kelly came waltzing through the door with a smile on her face and grabbed Ellen's hand, leading her to the side of the room.

  “I'm surprised to see you here,” Ellen said.

  “I know, and I'm sorry for shutting myself away like that,” Kelly said.

  “I'm just glad you're okay...you are okay, right?”

  “Yes, I'm wonderful, and I have something to ask you.” As Kelly spoke she clutched Ellen's hands tightly, “Will you be my maid of honor?”

  Ellen's eyes widened as she processed the news. After a moment of initial shock had passed she embraced her friend tightly, overjoyed at the news.

  “So the two of you are back together then?” Ellen asked.

  “And then some!” Kelly replied.

  “I only came in to ask you this. Me and Matthew are...going to have a quiet night in together and catch up on some of the time we missed,” Kelly said, with a coy expression. Ellen squealed with delight.

  “You have to promise to fill me in on everything that happened!” Ellen called out after Kelly had left, and Kelly did indeed promise that.

  The fundraiser was a success and by the end of it everyone w
as friendly with each other. The smile on Jonathan's face made it all worthwhile. Sometimes it was nice to remember that not all crimes were the morbid kind.

  Ellen and Andy returned to his house and cuddled up together, glad that the matter of the gas bandit had been resolved.

  “I bet you're glad Paul's gone,” Ellen said. Andy grunted in reply.

  “I know you didn't like it but thank you for actually trying,” she continued.

  “It means a lot to me that you would accept that it's happening and try helping him. I'm sorry if I pushed you toward it, by the way. I just thought it might help you forget about everything that happened. It'll be interesting to see what happens when the movie comes out. I know you won't want to watch it but I think I'll have to check it out, just to see what Paul does with the role.”

  Ellen spoke a little more until she fell fast asleep, the rigors of hosting a party had tired her out. Andy looked down at her and smiled. He was a fortunate man, and he thanked the stars every day that he was in such a position with her. However, the past played on his mind and, once again, a sleepless night beckoned. It was in the small hours of the morning when he was hit by the urge to wake up again. He went to his study and opened the file, reading through the letters once more, losing himself in the mystery of the person writing them. The moonlight streamed in through the window and a small lamp billowed out a sphere of light. Footsteps sounded in the hallway as Ellen approached and yawned.

  “What are you doing?” she said, half-asleep. Andy looked down at the papers and exhaled deeply, then looked back at Ellen, who rubbed her eyes.

  “Nothing,” he said in a hollow voice, and stuffed the papers away, then went with Ellen to their bed.

  But he still couldn't get the letters out of his mind, no matter how hard he tried. It was clear something dark, something dangerous, was coming. Sooner or later he would have to tell Ellen the truth. But who could have been sending the letters? Was it just a matter of time until they revealed themselves or would they continue with this charade for a while longer?

  Volume 8

  A Dangerous Snag

  An East Pender Mystery Book 8

  Chapter 1

  The day began brightly in East Pender. Ellen opened the cafe with a wide smile on her face. Scampy bounded by her feet, the small black dog yapping loudly.

  “Yes, I know, I'm happy, too!” Ellen said.

  She wiped down the counter and took a moment to breath in the moment. This was the time of day she loved the most, the morning, when everything was fresh and new and the entire day was waiting for her, unwritten. What surprises would find her? What new experiences would unfurl as they day continued? She did not know, but she couldn't wait to find out. The previous night’s fundraiser had gone smoothly and the issue of the gas bandit had well and truly been put to rest. She was glad that when it counted the town had rallied around those who needed aid. She only hoped Andy would be able to relax more now that Paul Diamond had left the scene. The Hollywood actor had caused quite a stir in the small town, even with Ellen, especially with his admission that he was attracted to her. When she was younger she always dreamed of falling in love with a movie star, but she was more than happy with Andy and appreciated what the two of them were building. It was something of trust, honesty, and mutual respect, and it was the best thing in her life.

  The sun was shining in through the windows and the empty cafe looked homely. Ellen glanced around with pride at what she had built, and felt a great swell of satisfaction. When she first had opened the cafe she had done so because she had the opportunity and needed something to give her purpose in life. Little did she know what it would lead to. Without it she never would have begun working with Andy in solving crimes, and so much of her life would have been different, as would the lives of the people in East Pender. The small tables were arranged neatly and the menus stood tall on each of them. The smell of freshly-brewed coffee filled the air, as did the sweet scent of baked treats that Ellen laid out on the counter. Breathing a sigh of contentment, she was happy with the world, and was looking forward to everything the day would bring.

  When Ellen heard the low droning sounds of the bell in the clock tower that signaled nine o'clock in the morning, she opened the door and let the crisp morning air inside. Already people were coming in, regulars who enjoyed chatting with her about the goings-on in the town. Never averse to a bit of gossip herself, and wanting to lend a friendly ear to these lonely people, she welcomed them in and became involved in their lives, giving them advice on all manner of things. The cafe soon was filled with happy chatter. Ellen moved in between the various tables, serving them breakfast and coffee. As usual, she had to keep a keen eye on Scampy, for he had an annoying habit of begging for scraps of food. Not that he had to beg very hard, since most of the customers were all too eager to toss him a little treat.

  Newspapers rustled in the front of the cafe and bacon sizzled in the back. The morning passed swiftly, and before Ellen knew it her stomach was rumbling, too. When she got a moment she served herself up a crispy bacon sandwich, with a few pieces of fruit. In the middle of the afternoon, in the post-lunch lull, she was doing a bit of cleaning when Kelly arrived, breezing through the door with a wide smile on her face. As soon as she entered, Ellen dropped what she was doing and rushed to greet her with a tight embrace. The two women gripped each other tightly, and the hug went on for so long that the people left in the cafe looked on with curiosity. For those who had not been at the event the previous night this display of excitement would have seemed strange since the two of them were firm friends and saw each other regularly. Yet this embrace was as though they had not seen each other in years.

  “Let me see it again,” Ellen said.

  Kelly raised her hand, showcasing the glittering jewel that rested in the gold band atop her finger.

  “I'm so happy for you,” Ellen said, hugging her again.

  The two women took a seat at a table in the corner and excitedly spoke of plans for the future.

  “Thank you, I'm happy, too. I just feel like an idiot that I waited so long,” Kelly said, running a hand through her long blonde hair.

  She seemed even prettier than usual, radiant almost, And Ellen looked upon her with envy.

  “Everything takes its time. I'm just glad you two managed to work things out. I've never been a maid of honor before, I'm quite looking forward to it.”

  “There was no one else I had in mind for the role. Have you had a chance to think about the wedding yet?”

  “You only told me last night, give me a chance! Besides, it's your wedding and you call the shots. I'm just here to support you and make sure you don't go crazy.”

  “I think that ship sailed long ago,” Kelly said with a wry smile, “but I want your input as well. You are the host and, well, I was kinda hoping we could have the reception here.”

  “Of course! Whatever you need, although are you sure you don't want something that can have a bigger crowd?”

  “No, we just want to keep it small. I don't have that many people to invite anyway and Matthew already has had one wedding, I think we both just want to get to the married part as quickly as possible.”

  “Whatever you like, although I'm still going to do my best to make the day memorable and special,” Ellen promised.

  “So what time frame are we looking at here? I'm guessing we'll need at least a few months to get everything ready--”

  “Actually,” Kelly interrupted, “we're thinking of doing it as quickly as possible. Like I said, we don't want anything fancy. I don't have a big family and neither does he. We just want to get married and get on with being together. That's what this really means, the rest of our lives. The one day of the ceremony isn't that much of a big deal when compared with that. So we're actually looking at a date a few weeks from now, while it's still sunny, so we can get married in the park. Don't you think that will be wonderful?”

  “I do...but is that going to give us enough time to organize ev
erything?” Ellen asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

  “Of course! It all will be fine,” Kelly said waving away the problems with her hand.

  Everything was always so blasé with her, and often Ellen envied the way she was able to approach life with such a laid-back attitude, but this was her wedding!

  “If you're sure,” Ellen said.

  “And, of course, your plus one will be Andy. How are things between you two? I don't suppose there's any chance we could have a double wedding? That really would be something.”

  “Even if you were getting married next year I don't think that would happen. We're content taking things slowly. Why rock the boat, you know? I don't think marriage is a big deal for either of us. We both know where each other stands and right now I don't see that a wedding would change anything.”

  “It would give me a chance to be a maid of honor for you.”

  “I'll keep that in mind for the future. Right now we're still getting over the whole movie thing.”

  “Oh yeah, how is it now that the actor has gone?”

  “Better, I think, he just hates being reminded of his past. I hate it, too, to be honest, because there's nothing I can do to help him. No matter how hard I try to make him see he's not that person anymore there's a part of him that always is locked back there. I just want him to be able to enjoy life again. He's carrying around all this guilt because of one case that he didn't solve and I totally understand it but it's not doing him any good.”

  “Yeah,” Kelly said with sympathy, reaching over to clutch Ellen's hand.

  Ellen smiled at the gesture. “I'd like to say I hope he has a lot of work to keep him distracted over the summer but I'm hoping it'll be quiet in East Pender so nothing will interfere with my wedding.”

  “Why would you jinx things like that!” Ellen said. Kelly scoffed and laughed dryly.