Tourist Trapped: Cozy Mystery (Poppy Pepper's Paradise Cove and Mini Golf Book 4)

by Molly Dox

  “I’m driving. Tell me what I need to know so I don’t get in the way.” She watched his reaction.

  “Poppy, you’re the toughest woman I’ve ever met.” He shook his head and laughed. “You’re so determined, you can’t even see the mess you’re about to get involved in.”

  “What can I say? I’m an adrenaline junkie. And when this is over, you’re coming to my house for dinner. You might as well meet the rest of your extended family.” She winked and stood.

  Chapter 8

  Poppy delivered Christopher a few blocks from where he would plant himself. He had some federal agents and a sniper set up. It took a mad dash to get it all handled, but apparently his partner had already sent an SOS when he chipped himself.

  It took everything inside of her to stay put. What if he couldn’t get away? She should get just a little bit closer. That way if he needed an escape… No. She’d stay put. This is where he wanted her to stay.

  When the gunfire pierced the air, she ducked on instinct. With the shots being fired in the distance, Poppy had no way of knowing if Christopher was safe or not. She was afraid to go into the action and get hurt, but she couldn’t leave him lying there. Poppy turned the ignition on. She’d made up her mind. She’d plow through there and take out the bad guys with the car if she had to. Her pulse was going a mile a minute. Half of her wanted to turn and run away, but the other knew he might need help.

  Poppy floored the car, pushing it to its limit. Covering the few blocks, she saw a madhouse scene. She slammed on the brakes, and squealed her way right into the crime scene.

  Christopher turned toward the noise. He shook his head. He should have known she wouldn’t listen. “It’s okay,” he yelled out to the others, so they knew she wasn’t one of the bad guys.

  A bunch of people were on the ground, their hands cuffed behind them. Poppy took in the scene. Embarrassed, she put the car in reverse and crept backward. As the men were taken away by the Feds, since they’d been crossing state lines in other cases, Christopher and his old friend walked toward the car.

  Poppy watched the men move closer. Her jaw dropped. No. It couldn’t be.

  “Poppy, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine…”

  “Reggie?” Poppy was flustered, looking at the guy she thought she knew so well.

  “Poppy, what are you doing here? You shouldn’t be involved in this kind of stuff.”

  Christopher was confused and looked back and forth between each other. “You know each other?”

  Reggie spoke. “You couldn’t have known. I haven’t seen you in a while. Poppy happens to be my girlfriend.”

  “Wait, what? Is this some kind of joke?” Christopher was perplexed.

  “After Gracie Jane passed, I met Poppy. We’ve been friends for a while, but it’s grown into something special.”

  “I don’t even know what to say.” He was stumped.

  “Reggie? You could have gotten yourself killed!” She was overwhelmed seeing him there. She was out of the car in a shot, going in for a hug.

  “He called me up in a jam. Said he needed a buyer, they were on the verge of a bust. He’s helped me out on a few cases in the past. I knew he did undercover work, but I never knew what he was involved in. I respected his undercover work enough not to ask.” Reggie hugged Poppy.

  The men had to finish their job. Poppy took Reggie’s truck which was parked a few blocks away. Christopher said he’d drop off Reggie later.

  Driving home, it was like life had come full circle. Coincidences were one thing, fate was quite another. She was certain there’d be another new member to her family. She’d happily fill the role of his stand-in East Coast mom when he couldn’t make it home to his own family out in California.

  Chapter 9

  Poppy trudged into the office. Her father was in the kitchen making a sandwich. Whistling, he seemed oblivious to everything that had been going on. “Hey Dad, how are you doing?”

  “Good, good, things are quiet here,” he said and went back to whistling.

  How could things be so crazy in one part of her life, and then so serene on the other. And Reggie? What happened there? He was the last person she expected to see. Hopefully things would quiet down for a while. Panda was off the hook now that the body had been found, her father seemed content and there were no major catastrophes while she was gone from the resort.

  Poppy dropped into her recliner. She wasn’t thinking. She shouldn’t have provoked the man in the station wagon. Maybe things would have been different. Maybe Christopher wouldn’t have been shot at. She was a realist. She knew there was no going back to change the past.

  When Reggie finally walked in, Poppy jumped from her chair. Without a word, she wrapped her arms tightly around him. Reggie embraced her, not wanting to let go.

  She tucked her head against his chest. “You could have been hurt.”

  “You too,” he said, giving her a small squeeze.

  “What’s going on with you two? It’s like you haven’t seen each other in years?” Poppy’s father teased.

  Poppy answered for both of them. “We’ll be back, we’re fine.” She took his hand and led Reggie outside.

  “Do you know how upset I was when I saw you there?” Reggie stroked her hand and spoke from his heart. “I don’t want to lose you.”

  “I’m not going anywhere. It was a strange turn of events. I don’t even know what to say. Seeing you there, it scared me. I realize what could have happened.”

  “Come with me,” he said, guiding her to his camper unit. She’d make it back to the office in the morning. He had plans tonight.

  Chapter 10

  Poppy woke with a smile. She let herself out and headed back to the office. Showered and ready to start the day, she didn’t expect the surprise that walked through the door. “Christopher?”

  “Hey, Poppy! About that dinner, when can I drop by?” He wore a grin. He’d finally accepted her. “You’re a royal pain in-”

  “Hey, watch it!” She laughed. “I’m so happy you’re okay. Now that this is over, you should take some time and heal the right way.”

  “That’s the plan.” He’d given in. He was still hurting.

  “Does six o’clock tomorrow sound good? I’ll make a Low Country Boil.”

  “Sounds great,” he said.

  “Oh, and Chris, just a head’s up. Panda, the medical examiner, is my brother. He’ll be here too. You can explain what happened with the morgue. He’d appreciate it.” She winked.

  “Who don’t you know?” Christopher shook his head. “Hey, thanks for having my back. More than anything thanks for staying with me at the hospital. It meant more than you know.”

  “Anytime,” she said. Poppy gave the undercover officer a gentle hug, sending him on his way.

  THE END

  Thank you for choosing a Molly Dox title. “Tourist Trapped,” is the second book in the Poppy Pepper’s Paradise Cove and Mini Golf series. If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review so others can decide if this is a book they would like. Thank you for your time.

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