by Grace York
"I know. But while you're still here…" Addison again wrapped her daughter in a playful hug and wouldn't let go.
"What's going on here then?"
They both turned in the direction of the voice. Addison was surprised to see Isaac here so early for a change.
"Hi Isaac," said Olivia. "Is there anything you can do to get Mum to let up?"
Isaac smiled and shook his head. "Are you kidding? I'm not messing with her." He handed Addison a bottle of white wine. "How are you doing?"
"Almost back to normal around here," said Addison. "What about you?" She let go of Olivia as she took the bottle, and Olivia took the opportunity to race off inside.
"Finished the last of the paperwork today," said Isaac. "Oh, it looks like Malcolm Burchard has changed his mind on that investment."
"Ed will be disappointed," said Addison. Ed Mathieson had been trying to convince Malcolm to invest in a holiday resort just outside of town. The rest of the residents of Getaway Bay weren't too thrilled at the idea, though. Most people felt there was enough tourist activity in the tiny coastal town; they didn't want the bay turning into a high-rise holiday destination.
"He won't let it drop," said Isaac. "He'll find someone else."
"Maybe."
Addison heard her doorbell ring, and wondered who was there. The regular barbecue guests all came through the side gate.
"I'd better get that," she said to Isaac. "Do you want to go through and see if Mrs Jones is joining us tonight?"
Isaac nodded and headed for the gate between the two gardens, while Addison went to answer the front door. The doorbell rang again before she got there.
"I'm coming!" she called out. She opened the door to find a well-dressed elderly gentleman standing there.
"Are you Addison Lake?" he asked.
"I am. Can I help you?"
"My name is Henry Farrelly. I'm a writer, and I'm told you run a boarding house for artistic types such as myself. I've come to enquire as to whether you might have a room available?"
Addison was momentarily taken aback. When she'd pictured the type of artist she'd thought would apply to stay at the beach house, Henry Farrelly was not who she had in mind. He had to be in his seventies, at least.
Addison checked herself. Writers and artists, indeed people, came in all shapes and sizes. She wasn't there to judge, she was there to provide a home.
"I do," she said with a smile. "Come on in, Henry Farrelly. We're actually about to have a few guests over for dinner. It's a regular Friday thing here at the beach house. What do you write?"
"Detective fiction, mostly." Henry stepped through into the great room and closed the door behind him. "I have a series featuring a private investigator character."
Addison knew she recognised the name. "Henry Farrelly. You write the Clyde Jenkins series, don't you?"
"That's the one," said Henry. He smiled. "Not many people know the series, but Clyde's done all right by me over the years."
"Adam will be thrilled to meet you. And you want to come and stay at the beach house for a while?"
"If you have a room, I'd love to. I don't need much, just a bed and a desk."
"I have two rooms available at the moment," said Addison. "There's a smaller one on the first floor, and a larger one on the second floor. You're okay with a few stairs I take it?"
"No problem," said Henry. "I'm happy to take the smaller room. Like I said, I don't need much space."
Addison remembered her and Adam's agreement not to take on boarders without thoroughly checking them out after last year's debacle. But Henry seemed harmless. He was over seventy, for goodness sake. Still, she wouldn't agree to him moving in until the others had at least met him.
"Do you have plans for dinner, Henry?"
"Not especially. I have some leftovers at home I was going to heat up."
"How about staying for some pizza? That way you can meet the other residents of the beach house and we can see if we think you'll be a good fit here."
Henry nodded. "I'd like that. Thank you."
"Excellent. Follow me." They walked through into the kitchen, and Addison handed him a plate of cheese and crackers she'd prepared earlier. "Take that down to the barbecue area," she said, looking through the window. She noticed a few of the guests had started to arrive while they'd been talking. "Introduce yourself around, Henry, and I'll be down in a moment."
Henry did as he was told, and Addison watched as he spoke to each of the guests and then settled into a chair next to Mrs Jones. She couldn't be sure from this distance, but she thought she saw Mrs Jones blush a little.
Adam, Lenny, and Brooke came down from their rooms and stood at the window next to Addison.
"Who's that?" asked Adam.
"Henry Farrelly. He wants to come and stay with us for a while."
"Henry Farrelly? Author of the Clyde Jenkins books? Are you serious?" Adam bounced on the balls of his feet.
"I am. He just knocked on the door."
"Can we keep him?"
Addison laughed. "He certainly seems keen to stay. But I won't take him on unless we all agree," she said.
Lenny and Brooke both shrugged. "Seems harmless enough," said Lenny.
Adam's look of glee indicated his approval.
"Looks like Mrs Jones is a fan too," said Brooke.
Addison smiled. The beach house had felt a little empty since Layla moved out. She'd been thinking of advertising for another boarder this year.
Henry Farrelly might have come at just the right time.
Note from the Author
Dear Reader,
Did you pick the Echo Point killer?
That case might be closed, but the New Year has just begun for the Beach House Murder Club.
The beach house has a new boarder in Henry Farrelly, mystery writer and one of Adam's childhood heroes.
So how are our favourite characters going to cope when Henry is accused of murder?
Isaac is all out of suspects – as far as the evidence goes, Henry is firmly in the frame for the Fatality at the Funeral. Which means Addison and Adam will have to rely on their own crime-fighting talents if they've got any hope of clearing their new friend's name.
The Fatality at the Funeral is the sixth in the popular Getaway Bay Cozy Mystery series.
Download your copy today:
The Fatality at the Funeral
Visit my website to find out more, and sign up to receive a free copy of the first Getaway Bay Cozy Mystery Cookbook.
www.catherineleeauthor.com