“Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Fraser snapped. “This is my case.”
“We’ll talk about that a little later,” Jake countered. “For now, Jenny Finch is being booked for assault on Avery and her grandfather. That’s more than enough to hold her indefinitely.”
“So … what? That’s it?” Fraser rolled his eyes to the sky, as if he was asking someone from up above to help. “Are you saying that you solved this?”
“No.” Jake’s smirk was small but evident. “I’m saying Avery solved this.”
“I helped,” Grandpa interjected.
“You did indeed.” I nodded and grinned. “You saved the day. Kept your pants on and everything.”
“Yeah, that’s the only part of the story I don’t like,” Grandpa noted, downtrodden.
Fraser rolled his eyes until they landed on me. “So you got your way again, didn’t you? I thought you were taken off this story. A new guy showed up at the state police outpost today. He’s even more annoying than you.”
“Oh, I think the word you’re looking for is ‘douchier,’” I corrected. “As for sending Duncan, that was part of the plan. We wanted you to think I was no longer on the case, because you seemed to be freaking out over it.”
“I don’t freak out.”
“Then you do a very good impression of freaking out and should consider a second career as a horror movie actor,” I suggested.
“Avery.” Jake’s voice was low and full of warning as he shook his head. “Don’t push things.”
“Fine,” I grumbled, grimacing when the paramedic began wrapping my ankle with a medical bandage. “This is really going to cut down on my shoe options. I’m not happy.”
“At least you’re alive,” Eliot said, pressing a quick kiss to my cheek. “You’re still in trouble. You were supposed to wait until I arrived.”
“I had Grandpa for backup.”
“Yeah, she had me for backup,” Grandpa echoed. “We had everything under control.”
“You’re both injured,” Eliot argued. “I don’t think that’s having things under control.”
“I can’t even look at you.” Grandpa held up his hand and shoved it in Eliot’s face. “You’re ruining my happy day.”
“Well, that’s the first good news I’ve heard in hours,” Eliot muttered.
“What about the fact that he’s decided not to swim naked in our pool any longer?”
“Stop talking,” Eliot ordered. “I need a few minutes of quiet.”
I pursed my lips, agitation taking over. I didn’t need to be treated this way. I solved the bloody case, for crying out loud. People should be applauding my hard work. Speaking of work … . “Where is my phone?”
“I thought I told you to be quiet?”
I ignored Eliot’s petulant expression. “I need to file a story before deadline. I’m going to have to call it in.”
“Wait a second,” Fraser exploded. “You can’t file a story on this. I’m not releasing any information.”
“I don’t need your information,” I reminded him. “I survived the actual incident and heard the confession myself. I don’t need information from you because I have all of it already.”
“But … .” Fraser was flabbergasted, his cheeks flushing with color as he turned to Jake for help. “Are you going to allow her to do this?”
Jake shrugged. “It’s her story. She’s allowed to do whatever she wants. Besides that, I think she’s earned it. She put in the most legwork on this one. She deserves her moment of glory.”
“My moment of glory,” Grandpa corrected. “You’re going to make sure I come out looking good in that story, right?”
I nodded. “I won’t mention your outfit.”
“Why not? This outfit is prime.”
I had no idea where he’d heard that term, but I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. “I’ll consider mentioning your outfit,” I conceded. “I need my phone, though. I can have this story filed in thirty minutes.”
“And then we’re going home,” Eliot said. “You’re injured, and the nice paramedic here says you need to take things easy.”
That sounded boring. “I was hoping we could finally get that dinner at Red Lobster and then I would wow you in the pool. That’s my idea of taking it easy.”
“I’m sitting right here,” Grandpa complained. “I don’t need to hear about your deviant nature.”
“Says the guy who shows up naked in our pool whenever the whim strikes,” Eliot muttered as he stood. “Okay, Red Lobster and naked swimming it is.” He hooked his hands under my armpits and helped me stand. “But you’re going to be quiet after that.”
He was right. After that I would sleep. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Eliot helped me toward the street, but I stopped as we passed Jake. He looked relieved. He also looked exhausted.
“Get some rest,” I suggested. “You’ll feel better in a few days.”
“I will.” Jake smiled, leaning forward to give me a brief hug before separating. “Do what Eliot tells you to do. He wants to take care of you. Let him.”
“I’ll consider it.” I moved to start walking again and then stilled once more. “When you’re feeling better, I’ve found a new girlfriend for you. She’s Avery-approved and everything.”
Jake arched an eyebrow, amused. “Are you telling me, in addition to everything else you’ve done this week, you also found me a girlfriend?”
“She’s awesome. She watches horror movies and hates the Kardashians. She’s perfect.”
Jake snorted. “I think I’ll be on a dating moratorium for a bit. But thank you for the thought.”
“Oh, no.” I shook my head. “You’re dating her. If you don’t, I’m going to have to. She’s just that great.”
“Oh, well, I think my head just imploded,” Eliot muttered, briefly pressing his eyes shut.
“Mine, too,” Grandpa grumbled.
“I’m not letting you pick out a girlfriend for me, Avery,” Jake argued. “I adore you – most of the time – but I draw the line there. I’ll pick out my own girlfriend.”
“We’ll see.”
“No, we won’t.”
I let Eliot drag me toward my car, waiting until I hit the sidewalk to get in the last word. “You’re dating her or I’ll make you cry until you do. I’m right about her. I’m always right. You’ll do what I want and you’ll like it.”
Jake heaved out a sigh and shook his head. “We’ll talk later.”
I left the conversation at that. I’d already won. I knew it. That’s all that mattered.
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About the Author
I want to thank everyone who takes the time to read my novels. I have a particular brand of humor that isn’t for everyone – and I know that.
If you liked the book, please take a few minutes and leave a review. An independent author does it all on their own, and the reviews are helpful. I understand that my characters aren’t for everyone, though. There’s a lot of snark and sarcasm in my world – and I know some people don’t like that.
Special thanks go out to Heidi Bitsoli and Phil VanHulle for correcting the (numerous) errors that creep into a work of fiction.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Books by Amanda M. Lee
An Avery Shaw Mystery
Who, What, Where, When, Die
If it Bleeds, it Leads
Buried Leads
Shot Off The Presses
The Preditorial Page
Misquoted & Demoted
Headlines & Deadlines
Misprints & Mistakes
Bylines & Skylines
Off the Record
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Mystery
Any Witch Way You Can
Every Witch Way But Wicked
Witching You Were Here
Witching on a Star
Something to Witch About
Witch Me Luck
Life’s a Witch
Charms & Witchdemeanors
The Trouble With Witches
Murder Most Witchy
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Short
Careful What You Witch For
Wicked Brew
On a Witch and a Prayer
You Only Witch Once
The Christmas Witch
Bewitched
A Solstice Celebration
Witchdependence Day
Happy Witchgiving
Merry Witchmas
Four-Leaf Clover
Thistle While You Work
Landon Calling
I Dream of Twila
A Wicked Witches of the Midwest Fantasy
Witchy Tales
A Witch In Time
Make A Witch
An Aisling Grimlock Mystery
Grim Tidings
Grim Offerings
Grim Discovery
Grim Reunion
Grim Expectations
Grim Holiday
Covenant College
Awakening
Whispering
Conjuring
Waxing & Waning
Graduating
Living Covenant Trilogy
Rising Covenant
Dark Covenant
Eternal Covenant
Dying Covenant Trilogy
Haunted Covenant
Desperate Covenant
Everlasting Covenant
A Mystic Caravan Mystery
Freaky Days
Freaky Lies
Freaky Hearts
Freaky Games
A Charlie Rhodes Cozy Mystery
The Bigfoot Blunder
[Avery Shaw 11.0] Unwritten & Underwater Page 29
