by Paula Lester
As the director climbed onto the stage, the crowd went absolutely crazy, shouting and screaming until Paige wanted to cover her ears. Her head was still pounding. When he took the microphone and it was obvious he was preparing to speak, a hush fell.
Wilder swept an arm up and then down, and the crowd cheered again. When the noise died down, he said, “Thank you to all who came out for this extraordinary event.”
More cheering. It was similar to a rock concert in decibels.
“I do understand why everyone came here. You followed my clues, which included words like beach, Texas, comfort, and the numbers 2897.”
More cheering.
“You were looking for fame and fortune, and it appears as though someone found it.” He waved a hand at the Hawkes, and the crowd cheered again. All except Pat and Pat, who looked decidedly greener. “Come closer, you two.” Wilder gestured to the geocachers, and they shuffled forward to light applause. “So, you’re the folks who found my treasure?” He stuck the mic in Mr. Hawke’s face.
“Y . . . yes.”
“And you’re not interested in the star acting role in my film Slasher by the Blood Sea, so you’re auctioning it off today?”
Another shove of the mic. Another stammered “Y . . . yes.”
“I see. Well, I’ve come to let everyone know something important: you are both frauds!” He shouted the statement, and the crowd was suddenly so quiet a mouse would have thought that Christmas was the next day. Oz continued in a lower tone, “You didn’t find my treasure in Comfort Cove because it’s not here! It was never here!”
A loud murmur spread, and the Hawkes turned to leave the stage. The three policemen blocked their way. “Officers, please arrest these two.” Handcuffs came out, and soon the Hawkes were being shuffled off the stage and into a waiting police car. Boos and hisses from the crowd followed them.
When everyone quieted down again, Wilder spoke. “Since you all went to so much trouble only to be duped by a pair of cons, I have a surprise for you. I’m going to tell you exactly where the treasure is hidden.” With a flourish of his hand, he continued, “It’s at the Crown Comfort Hotel on Beach Avenue in Dallas, Texas. In room 2897.”
Cheers and whoops erupted from the crowd, and people began pushing and shoving to get out of the area. Soon, the only people left were locals, people too drunk to know what was going on, Oz Wilder and his bodyguards, Jane from Net News, the auctioneer, and Scott. Paige looked around and spotted Jordan talking to Didi.
Marco helped Paige climb up onto the stage toward Scott.
The auctioneer pleaded with Wilder not to press charges on him for anything. “They showed me the paper with your movie role on it. It looked official. I never even thought to doubt it,” he said miserably, wiping his brow with a handkerchief.
Wilder shook his head. “I don’t blame you. I’m not pressing charges. This will actually be the best publicity I could ask for.”
“Except that a man died here amongst this madness.” Paige spoke sharply, causing the director to spin around to face her.
At her words, he swept his hat and sunglasses off. “You’re right,” he said. “That was a horrible tragedy.” The man looked like a totally normal, run-of-the-mill guy with a conscience instead of an eccentric mega-celebrity director. He looked toward Scott. “I hope you were able to catch the person who did it.”
Scott nodded. “We were. And it had nothing to do with the treasure hunt.”
Wilder smiled, clearly relieved. “I have an idea. I’ll donate a percentage of the proceeds from the film to start a scholarship for aspiring actors in Cash Conway’s name.”
Paige’s scowl turned slowly to a smile. “I think that would be mighty decent of you, Mr. Wilder.”
“Call me Oz.”
Scott waved an arm around at all the debris the revelers had left in the bar and out on the beach. “Oz, I might have to charge you with inciting a riot. Do you know how many people are charging full-speed up to Dallas right now?”
Wilder chuckled. He caught sight of Jane, the reporter, who was standing just off the stage. She nodded her head in response. The director looked back at Scott. “That shouldn’t be a problem. Every news outlet in the country is, at this moment, running the story that the treasure has been found.”
“Already?” Jordan asked as he climbed the stage with Didi on his heels. “By who?”
Wilder glanced at Jordan, and his eyes lingered on the actor. “Whom,” he corrected. “And Bucky Grant, that’s who. Very plucky guy. He called me to chew me out about getting arrested down here. I liked his spirit and gave him some serious coaching on where to find the treasure. I wanted him to be my lead actor.” He stepped closer to Jordan, studying him again. “Aren’t you Jordan Rake?”
At Jordan’s nod, Wilder put his hat and glasses back on, threw an arm around Jordan’s shoulders, and started to walk him off the stage. “We need to talk. Let’s step into my rolling office.”
As they headed toward the limo, Didi screeched, “I’m his manager!” and hopped into the car. The limo drove away.
As she stood there on the stage leaning back against Marco, Paige knew this was the biggest spotlight Comfort Cove would probably ever be under. Paige looked over at Scott. “Well,” she said, “I guess this means I need a new assistant. Again.”
SARAH AND LUCY CAME to sit with Paige in the hospital emergency room. Marco had to go back to his uncle’s restaurant to prepare for dinner service. Sarah got up to fluff Paige’s pillow for the fourth time as she lay on the bed with the IV drip. She already felt much better.
“How did you know it was Vanessa?” Lucy asked.
“I first suspected her this morning at the theater. I wondered how she knew that she and Jordan had been cleared. I couldn’t imagine Scott would call her but not Jordan. Then, when we were in Jordan’s Jeep, I smelled gardenias.” She glanced at Sarah. “I remembered what Cash’s spirit told us about smelling them as he was led to the water. Anyway, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off when Jordan and I were at the hotel to see Didi.”
Paige adjusted her hips to relieve a sore spot. There were probably going to be a bunch of aches and pains popping up in the next few days. Still, she knew she wouldn’t be able to just sit in the hospital bed for too long. She was already itching to get back to the shop.
But Lucy and Sarah listened raptly, so she continued. “Then I remembered something else. Jordan threw up the morning he found out Cash was dead. He thought it was Lucy’s apple pie. I remembered suggesting he take sleeping pills like Vanessa, but he said they made him sick. I put it together then, and that’s when I called Scott. I asked him if he had told Vanessa that she was in the clear, and he said no and that the only other person who could have told her that was Audrey. He’d made sure she believed the lie before he let her go yesterday, hoping she’d run straight to the killer. Which she did. By the way, I need to tell Jordan Audrey has his baseball shirt. Vanessa gave it to her, and she was wearing it when she stopped by the shop yesterday evening.”
“So if you believed Vanessa was the killer, how did you know Jordan wasn’t involved?” Lucy asked. “Just because he didn’t actually murder Cash doesn’t mean he wasn’t an accomplice.”
“You’re right, and I had to know for sure. That’s why I gave Jordan a test.”
“Oh my,” Lucy said. “I hope it wasn’t too difficult. That poor fellow isn’t the brightest bulb in the pack.”
Paige chuckled. “Not that kind of test. I asked him if he thought Didi could be guilty. When he expressed doubt that she was strong enough to carry Cash, I was sure he wasn’t involved. Guilty people look for anyone else to hang the blame on.”
“And Didi? How did you rule her out?” Sarah asked.
“When I searched the internet to get dirt on Didi, I found out she had been in a bad car accident during college and had to have rods put in her back. It ended her athletic career. That’s why she went to law school.”
Sarah said, “If
you had figured it out, why didn’t you just have Scott arrest Vanessa at the auction? Then this would have never happened to you.” She pointed to the IV.
“I know. But remember, I’m not a detective or anything. I just wanted to make sure I was right. I needed to smell her to make sure the gardenia perfume had come from her before I accused her of murder. Believe me, I was ready to give Didi the sniff test too if I had to. That’s why Scott and I wanted them to be together when Jordan and I got to the auction.”
“So, who actually solved this case—you or Scott?” Sarah asked with a grin.
“We did it together, I suppose. He set up Audrey and I set up Vanessa. And you two helped, of course.”
Sarah beamed. “I’m so proud of us. The Comfort Cove Coven and Detective Agency.”
“I don’t think so,” Paige said as she touched the sore spot on top of her head. “I wonder which book Vanessa clobbered me with?”
“Didn’t Scott tell you?” Sarah asked. “It was How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”
Chapter 23
Paige stood with Lucy and Sarah in the front lobby of the old Wave Crest Theater waiting to see the debut performance of Jordan’s play.
Sarah was pouting. “I’m not much of a witch, that’s all I’m saying.”
“Because you didn’t dream that Vanessa was the killer?” Paige asked. “But I specifically asked you to dream about Jordan and whether or not I should fire him.”
“And I dreamed of him in handcuffs. Except he wasn’t the killer, so that was totally and completely ridiculous and non-helpful.”
Lucy tsked and patted Sarah’s arm. “I can help you hone your skills more. And, in the meantime, at least you have those gorgeous gardenias to show off.”
“Yes!” Paige agreed. “And if it hadn’t been for that, I might not have been so sure Vanessa was the killer.”
Scott and Marco walked up with glasses of wine. Scott handed some to Sarah and Lucy, and Marco presented a glass to Paige with a radiant smile. “We are on our first date,” he announced, his chest puffing out. “I saved her life, you know. If not for me, she might be floating with the fishes.”
“Swimming with the fishes,” Paige corrected.
Lucy gasped as though she’d just seen a ghost, and in her case, it was always a possibility.
“What is it?” Paige asked.
“Gypsy was right! You were saved by a tall, handsome man.”
Paige chuckled and waved her hand. “Ah, that’s just superstitious nonsense.” Then she gave Lucy a wink.
“You think I’m handsome, Miss Lucy?”
The woman reached for her curls on instinct and giggled.
“And we are not on a date,” Paige added. “We’re just attending this play together as friends.”
Marco grinned. “Friends who might romance each other someday.”
Paige shook her head, but she laughed.
Another woman approached their group. She had short, straight raven-black hair with bangs and wore a tight leather miniskirt and short-sleeved blouse with black heels. Jordan’s mother, Charmaine Rake, had gotten to town earlier that day for the play’s opening night. She’d visited the bookstore and met Paige. Marco, ever the romantic charmer, took her hand, kissed it, and introduced himself. Paige made the other introductions.
“So, tell me, you two,” Mrs. Rake said to Scott and Paige. “What’s been going on in the few weeks since that floozy Vanessa was arrested?” She took a sip of wine. “Now that Jordan has a different manager, I don’t hear from him as often.” She waved a hand. “Not that I mind too much. I have a new boyfriend who’s a dealer at the casino on the reservation. We’re thinking about taking a trip to Las Vegas together. It’ll be nice to have the time.”
“Well, let’s see,” Paige said. “The Hawkes are awaiting trial for fraud. They can’t make bail, so they’re sitting in separate jail cells so they can’t coordinate their stories.”
Scott nodded. “Yeah, and Audrey Lanton was arrested for lying to the police. She swears she didn’t know Flowers killed Conway. We flew her to LA to face charges there too, for breaking Rake’s restraining order.”
“Good. Such a creepy girl.” Mrs. Rake shivered.
Scott continued, “Vanessa will have a trial too, of course, sometime later this year. The case has been so high-profile it might have to be moved to another county for her to get a fair jury trial.”
“Well, I just want to thank you all for the help you gave my son. He says he couldn’t have gotten through everything without you.” She patted Paige’s hand. “Especially you. I’m sorry he can’t be a big, famous movie star and keep working for you. What are you going to do for an assistant now?”
“Oh, I hired someone already. Jordan really had to buckle down in the last few weeks learning his lines, so he couldn’t work much. I found a nice young lady to take his place. She’s a total bookworm who can give great recommendations to customers. But she’s also whip-smart, so I can trust her with the store. She wants to be a writer too.” Paige really liked her new employee, and it seemed like she would have more time to write her own novel. Plus, the store made enough money while Jordan was there that she was able to pay to have the plumbing repaired. “And I’ve made a decision. I’m going to scrap my romance novel and try my hand at mystery instead.”
Marco put an arm around her. “I am all the romance you need.”
Paige rolled her eyes. Mrs. Rake grinned at the two of them. “I hope Jordan finds a nice girl. Now that he’s going to be in that action-adventure movie of Oz Wilder’s, he might not have much time to get out there and date.” She looked sad for a moment but then brightened. “Mr. Wilder doesn’t even mind that Jordan forgets his lines a lot. He says some of the greatest actors of all time had the same problem.”
“Well, we just love your son, Mrs. Rake,” Sarah said, her face a little flushed. “He’s just so . . . sweet. Like when he saved that dog from the fire . . .”
Mrs. Rake scoffed. “Oh, that never happened. That was part of a student film one of his friends was making. Someone put it online, and all those silly women just went crazy.”
Sarah’s jaw dropped.
Paige couldn’t see it, but she was sure Sarah’s heart broke a little too.
The overhead lights flickered. “We’d better find our seats,” Scott said. “Looks like they’re starting.”
They’d barely gotten settled when the house lights dimmed and the thick red velvet curtains parted. The stage was totally dark. Then, a spotlight appeared, shining brightly on Jordan, who stood in the center of the stage all alone.
He was wearing handcuffs.
The End
If you liked Apples, Actors and Axes, you can continue the Beachside Books Magical Cozy mystery series in Grits, Gamblers and Grudges:
Not All Gambles Pay Off In Aces!
Now that Paige Murphy has the beachfront book shop she inherited from her aunt back on its feet, she sets her sights on finding a place of her own to live. And the sooner the better after the plumber finds a dead body buried in the book store’s basement.
Was sweet Aunt Nora a killer? And just who is the person under the pipes?
Paige must roll the dice and bet on herself to uncover the mystery behind this cold case. With the help of her pirate ghost roommate and coven of quirky friends, she hopes to set the record straight on who buried the body in the basement.
Grits, Gamblers and Grudges is Book 3 in the Beachside Books Magical Cozy Mystery Series.
This paranormal cozy mystery (with a cat) is perfect for fans of Charmed and Amanda M. Lee’s books. Get your copy today and join in on the fun.
About Lisa B. Thomas
Sign up for Lisa’s newsletter to receive a free book as well as information about new releases, giveaways, and discounts. Sign up here.
Works by Lisa B. Thomas:
COZY SUBURBS MYSTERIES
Sharpe Shooter: Skeleton in the Closet
Sharpe Edge: Stranger on the S
tairs
Sharpe Mind: Hanging by a Thread
Sharpe Turn: Murder by the Book
Sharpe Point: Needle in a Haystack
Sharpe Cookie: Two Sides to Every Coin
Sharpe Note: Sour Grapes of Wrath
Sharpe Image: Danger in the Darkroom (Prequel Novella)
KILLER SHOTS MYSTERIES
Negative Exposure
Freeze Frame
Picture Imperfect
BEACHSIDE BOOKS MAGICAL COZY MYSTERIES
(Co-authored with Paula Lester)
Pasta, Pirates and Poison
Apples, Actors and Axes
Grits, Gamblers and Grudges
ALL BOOKS AVAILABLE HERE
About Paula Lester
Sign up for Paula’s newsletter to receive information on book releases, other fun information, book recommendations, promos, and more.
You can also join Paula’s Facebook page and follow her on Twitter, BookBub, and Amazon.
Works by Paula Lester:
Beachside Books Magical Cozy Mysteries
(Co-Authored with Lisa B. Thomas)
Pasta, Pirates and Poison
Apples, Actors and Axes
Grits, Gamblers and Grudges
Crystal Springs Cozy Witch Mysteries
(Co-Authored with M.E. Harmon)
Dead Witch Talking (prequel novella)
A Witch Too Late
Sunnyside Retired Witches Community Mysteries
Ghostly Trails (prequel novella)
A Bottle Full of Djinn
Loony Town (coming in June)
Superior Bay Witch Doctor Mysteries
Witch Doggone Killer? (Coming soon)
The Affairs of Witches (Coming soon)
