Sun, Sand, and Suspects (Garden Girls Christian Cozy Mystery Series Book 11)

by Hope Callaghan

  “Yeah,” she yawned and quickly covered her mouth, certain she had the dreaded “morning breath.”

  “Me too,” Paul said. “Nothing like a quiet night in the woods to make you feel rested and refreshed.”

  “I’ll go make some coffee.” Paul flung back the covers, slipped his feet in his slippers and quietly made his way out of the small bedroom.

  Gloria, who was still having difficulty adjusting to her injured leg, slid slowly off her side of the bed and hopped along the edge. She grabbed the crutches Paul had propped against the wall and limped into the small living room. She was thankful the space was compact and it didn’t take long to get from one room to the other.

  Paul started a pot of coffee and then began fixing breakfast. The smell of bacon sizzling in the fry pan filled the camper. Paul, a self-proclaimed non-cook, was doing a good job and Gloria, along with her crutches, shuffled into the kitchen.

  Paul flipped the bacon with a set of tongs he’d found in the drawer and then leaned sideways to kiss his wife’s forehead. “Don’t get used to this,” he warned. “I’m only filling in temporarily.”

  “Ha!” Gloria said. “I think you’ve been tricking me this whole time and you do know how to cook.” She limped into the bathroom, pulled the pocket door shut and made her way to the mirror.

  Her hair was matted on one side of her head and stood straight out on the other side. She turned the bathroom sink faucet on, wet her hands and smoothed it into place.

  Gloria balanced on one foot as she brushed her teeth and then splashed cold water on her face.

  By the time she finished, Paul had set the table.

  In the center of the table was a pile of crispy bacon, a heaping plate of scrambled eggs, along with a small stack of wheat toast and two glasses of orange juice.

  Gloria dropped the crutches. Holding onto the edge of the table, she balanced on one foot and pulled the chair from under the table before easing onto the cushion.

  Paul, who had been pouring coffee, hurried over. “I was going to do that.”

  “Can’t have you spoil me on our honeymoon,” she teased. “Otherwise, I’ll expect it when we get home.”

  Paul placed a piping hot cup of coffee in front of Gloria and then settled into the chair across from her. They prayed over their food and when they lifted their heads, she reached for the bowl of scrambled eggs.

  Paul chewed on a piece of toast and watched Gloria fill her plate with food. “As soon as we eat, I want to track down a golf cart.”

  He went on. “I’ll clean up the kitchen and you get ready. I want you to go with me so you can pick out the golf cart.”

  Gloria had never driven a golf cart but she remembered Liz telling her they were easy to drive. She didn’t really want the added expense but knew if she was going to get around the campground, it would be in the car or at a very slow pace with the crutches.

  “I guess there’s no way around it. Otherwise, I’ll have limited mobility.” She lifted her cup of coffee and sipped. “I wonder how Liz and Frances managed last night.”

  She had been half-expecting some sort of commotion during the night but it had been surprisingly quiet. “What do you want to do after we pick up the golf cart?”

  Gloria gazed out the camper window at the bright sunshine. It was going to be a beautiful day. The last thing she wanted was to be stuck inside.

  Paul smeared strawberry jelly on top of his toast. “A visit to my namesake? Kennedy Space Center?”

  Gloria frowned. How would she get around?

  “I’ll call ahead to make sure they have motorized carts,” he reassured her.

  For the umpteenth time, Gloria wished she had been more careful and not fallen into the hole on Liz’s lot. The fall was beginning to cramp her style…not only that, it was putting a burden on Paul, although he didn’t seem to mind.

  Paul swallowed the last bite of toast, wiped his mouth and dropped his napkin on top of his plate. He reached for Gloria’s empty plate.

  “Let me help,” she said.

  “How? By balancing the dishes on top of your head?” he joked.

  Gloria, determined to do her part, pushed the chair back and stood, teetering on one foot as she reached for the crutches. “I can stand at the sink and wash.”

  Paul knew that once Gloria set her mind to something, there was no talking her out of it. “Okay,” he caved. “But I’ll bring everything to you.”

  Gloria, who was beginning to get the hang of the crutches…swing – hop – swing – hop, made her way to the sink.

  She set the crutches off to the side, eased into the corner of the small kitchen and grabbed the dishcloth. The compact kitchen was perfect and Gloria easily washed, rinsed and dried the dishes.

  After she finished drying the last dish, she swiveled sideways and was able to reach every single cupboard with little movement.

  It was time to get ready. There was no morning shower and she was glad there was a tub/shower combo. Later, she would fill the tub and relax with her leg hanging over the side…somehow.

  By the time she finished dressing, her leg was throbbing so she took a pain pill and waited on the small sofa for Paul to get ready.

  Knock Knock. Two faces peered in through the side window near the door and Gloria motioned Liz and Frances to come in.

  Frances stepped in first and Liz closed the door behind them. “Did you hear the rumbling last night? It sounded like some wild creature right outside our camper,” Liz said.

  Gloria remembered the young girl at the store, Bridget, who told her they had named the resident alligator Rumble because that is what he sounded like.

  The pain medication had kicked in and Gloria was feeling a little loopy. “Oh, don’t worry. That’s just Rumble,” she said.

  “Rumble?” Frances asked.

  “The alligator, but he only hangs out near the swamp according to Bridget, the young girl who works at the campground store.”

  Liz turned wild eyes to Frances. “I-I’m…do you remember seeing a swamp near the camper?”

  Frances violently shook her head. “I have no idea. I haven’t walked back behind the camper.”

  Gloria, unaccustomed to taking pain medication, even aspirin, began to feel slightly nauseous and a little dizzy. She leaned her head back against the back of the sofa. The pain was gone, replaced by a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. “If you don’t mess with him, he won’t mess with you.”

  Liz turned back and reached for the door handle. “I’m going to the office and demand they move us to another camper, one that isn’t near the swamp.”

  Gloria giggled. “Liz. We’re surrounded by water. The ocean that way.” She waved a hand to the left. “And swampy water everywhere else.”

  She didn’t know that for a fact, but she had noticed on the campground map they were given at check in, that there were several mangroves along with hiking and biking trails, which were now out of the question, at least for Gloria.

  Paul emerged from the bathroom. “I thought I heard voices. How did you ladies sleep last night?”

  It was the wrong question for Paul to ask. Liz ranted and raved about wild creatures, alligators and who knew what else.

  “I’m still going to the office to ask if there’s a ‘less swampy’ area we can move to.”

  Liz and Frances headed out. Gloria watched through the window as they crossed the deck and disappeared from sight.

  Paul, noting Gloria’s pale, pinched face, eased onto the couch next to her. “Are you okay? You look kinda pasty.”

  She squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed hard. “I took a pain pill. The pain is gone but now I’m feeling queasy.”

  “A mint might help.” Paul rose from the sofa and returned moments later, mint in hand. He unwrapped the mint and handed it to her.

  Gloria popped the mint in her mouth and closed her eyes.

  The nausea slowly subsided. She opened her eyes. “The mint helped. I’m ready to go.”

  It was a
slow moving hop to the car and Paul waited for Gloria to settle in before closing the passenger side door. He placed her crutches on the back seat and made his way to the driver’s side.

  They passed Liz and Frances on the road and Liz waved them to stop. Paul rolled down the driver’s side window.

  Liz did the same and stuck her head out the open window. “The campground is full. They can’t move us.” She shifted her gaze to Gloria in the passenger seat. “You’re right. We got the lucky campsite and Rumble’s home-sweet-home is right behind our camper.”

  Gloria made a mental note not to go anywhere near Liz’s camper.

  Liz held up a small can. “They sell mace at the store. I figured if he got near us, we would spray him.”

  She went on. “We’re on our way to breakfast.”

  “We’re on our way to rent a golf cart,” Paul said.

  The four agreed to meet up around lunchtime.

  “Good thing we bought lots of groceries,” Gloria said.

  The golf cart shop was not far from the campground and located in front of Sea Breezes Golf Club. Gloria had never noticed it before.

  She waited in the car while Paul made his way inside. While he was indoors, Gloria called her friend, Lucy. Lucy had offered to check on the farm and feed Puddles, Gloria’s cat, while they were gone.

  Luckily, Lucy was home and answered on the first ring. “How is the honeymoon? Where did Paul end up taking you?”

  Gloria rolled her eyes. “We’re camping,” she said bluntly.

  “Camping?” Lucy laughed aloud. Visions of Gloria sleeping in a tent on the ground filled her head. Lucy, the outdoorsy one of the bunch, would have loved to go camping, but Gloria?

  “It’s not bad. We’re actually staying in a very nice camper inside a campground. It’s right on the ocean and they have tennis courts, volleyball and a pool.”

  “So what have you done so far? Do they have paddleboards and kayaks? What about the pool? Have you lounged by the pool drinking frothy tropical concoctions?”

  Gloria grimaced as she stared at her temporary cast. “I doubt I’ll be swimming or playing tennis. If I’m lucky, I might be able to go kayaking.”

  “Why not?”

  Gloria sucked in a deep breath. “I had a little mishap yesterday. I was running across Liz and Frances’s lot, stepped into a hole and broke my leg.”

  “Liz and Frances’s lot? They are staying with you…on your honeymoon?”

  Lucy began laughing hysterically. “Whoa Nelly!”

  “It’s not funny,” Gloria said.

  Lucy continued laughing hysterically. Finally, she stopped.

  Gloria could envision her on the other end, wiping the tears from her eyes.

  “Wait’ll the girls find out,” Lucy said.

  ‘The girls’ were Gloria’s close-knit group of friends, also known as the Garden Girls, all of whom lived in Belhaven, the small town where Gloria…and Lucy, lived.

  “Were you trying to chase Liz out of the park?”

  “No. I was chasing a peeping Tom.”

  “Good heavens. Peeping Tom?” Lucy sobered. “Well, I’m glad you’re okay. You are okay, right?” Gloria had a penchant for getting into both major and minor mishaps. “Poor Paul.”

  “Poor Paul? What about ‘Poor Gloria?’”

  “Had I known Liz was going to show up and spend your honeymoon with you, I would have come along too.”

  Gloria watched as Paul stepped out the front door, accompanied by another man. They stood in front of the store and Gloria caught Paul’s eye. “Paul is coming now. How is Puddles?”

  “He’s great. Jasper and I have gone down every morning and evening to visit.” Jasper was Lucy’s adopted dog. “Don’t worry about Puddles,” her friend reassured her.

  “Thanks for watching him, Lucy,” Gloria said. “Call if you need me.”

  “Will do. Tell Frances and Liz I said ‘Hi.’”

  Gloria disconnected the line. She was certain Lucy’s phone line would be burning up with her best friend calling all the other girls to fill them in on Gloria’s honeymoon misadventures.

  She scrolled through her cell phone searching for her daughter, Jill’s phone number. Jill was taking care of Mally, Gloria’s springer spaniel, and she wondered how they were doing.

  Paul made his way to the passenger side door and opened it. “The sales guy is going to bring a model he thinks will be perfect for tooling around the campground. You want to check it out?”

  Gloria turned the phone off and slipped it into her purse, vowing to call Jill later. “Sure.”

  Paul grabbed her crutches from the backseat and held them near the door as Gloria eased out of the car. He locked the rental car and slipped the keys in his front pocket.

  The store employee pulled up moments later with a two-seater golf cart. While Gloria made her way to the passenger seat, Paul slipped behind the wheel. “We can test drive it here in the parking lot.”

  The employee quickly showed Paul and Gloria how to drive the golf cart. Gloria was relieved it was easy to operate and she could drive it using one foot.

  The two of them took a spin around the parking lot and he stopped the cart near the back of the lot. “Now you try.”

  Gloria started to shake her head but then realized Paul was doing this for her and the last thing she wanted was to have him rent the golf cart and find out she couldn’t…or wouldn’t be able to drive it. “Okay.”

  She scooched across the bench seat while Paul walked around the back and then slid into the passenger seat.

  Thankfully, she had broken her left leg so she was able to use her right foot, her driving foot, to operate the foot pedals.

  Gloria sped up and down the parking lot, successfully pulled into and then backed out of a parking spot. She grinned from ear-to-ear. “I think this will be perfect.”

  Paul, happy to see his wife’s mood greatly improved, patted her hand. “Perfect. Let’s head to the front and I’ll finish filling out the paperwork.”

  She chauffeured him to the front of the lot, pulled into a spot and slid sideways out of the seat.

  The sales rep stood near the front. “Well?”

  “It gets the boss’s seal of approval,” Paul teased. “We would like to rent a four-seater for the rest of the week. Do you deliver? We’re staying right around the corner at Sun and Sand RV Park.”

  “We can deliver the golf cart.” The young man lifted a brow. “Sun and Sand…I think there was some sort of death there not long ago. I’m pretty sure one of the guests at the park was mauled by the alligator.”

  Chapter 10

  Gloria’s jaw dropped. Someone had been eaten by an alligator? Was it Rumble? Why hadn’t the store clerk, Bridget, mentioned that to Gloria?

  Was that how Harry Fisk, the first person who had been killed at the campground, died? The McGyvers made it sound as if someone had killed him. Of course, Gloria could have just assumed that was the case.

  Maybe someone had killed Mr. Fisk and tried to make it appear he’d been killed by the gator. Gloria shivered violently. No way was she wandering anywhere near Liz’s campsite!

  Poor Liz would have a heart attack if she found out. “Are you certain the person had been killed by a gator?”

  “No.” The salesman shook his head. “I’m not 100% certain, but his body was found near the edge of the swamp with the gator not far away. I recall hearing he had bite marks.”

  He waved Paul toward the store. “Let’s head inside to finish the paperwork and you two can be on your way.”

  The hair on the back of Gloria’s neck stood on end as she watched Paul and the man make their way inside the store.

  Gloria grabbed her cell phone, turned it on and pressed the search key. She typed in Sand and Sun RV Park deaths. The search moved at a snail’s pace and it took several long seconds to load.

  When it finally loaded, she scrolled the top of the screen. There were several local news articles and one in particular caught Gloria’s ey
e.

  The article was dated December twentieth.

  Authorities are investigating a suspicious death at Sun and Sand RV Park. Preliminary investigations reveal the victim, seventy-year old Harry Fisk, was viciously attacked by an alligator inside the park. Bite marks to the victim’s head, arms and torso indicate severe trauma.

  Investigators are still looking into several leads including complaints by guests and residents of recent incidents of break-ins at the RV park.

  Investigative News Team 8 has also learned that the owners of the campground, Ian and Victoria McGyver, are under investigation for insurance fraud.

  We will keep you updated if we learn any new information involving this case.

  There was another, newer story about the death of Keith Stevenson, former part-time employee at Sand and Sun RV Park, who had been shot using a stolen 9mm handgun.

  Gloria’s heart began to pound in her chest when she read the second paragraph.

  The weapon was reported missing several weeks ago by Sun and Sand RV resident Harry Fisk, who was found dead due to trauma caused by an alligator. Authorities have ruled Mr. Fisk’s death as suspicious and are still actively investigating the case.

  The gun that killed Keith Stevenson had been reported missing several weeks earlier by Harry Fisk? What if Stevenson killed Harry Fisk and then committed suicide? It was possible.

  It was possible the person who stole Harry Fisk’s gun killed him and then used the stolen gun to kill Keith Stevenson. Had Stevenson stumbled on something and been able to identify Fisk’s killer?

  Was it the McGyvers? Maybe Fisk knew something about them so the McGyvers took him out. When Keith Stevenson, whom Ian McGyver had fired, returned to confront him, the McGyvers killed him, too.

  Gloria remembered Penny Green, the woman who lived next door to where Stevenson’s body had been found. Her camper was also across the street from where Fisk’s body had been found.

  She wondered about the Zortskis. Had they lied about their son’s mental problems? Was the young boy the killer and they were using his reluctance to talk as an excuse to cover it up? Billy Zortski was everywhere, and had even been caught snooping around inside Penny Green’s camper.