by Sonia Parin
Mira patted her hand. “Yes, as a way to show you he meant business. He wanted to get you back for himself. Over my dead body, he said after I showed him the letter Henry had sent me.”
“That’s the part I don’t get,” Jill said. “Why would Henry explain it all to you in a letter?”
“Oh, he rambled a lot. His thoughts came and went. It’s all a shame. He used to have such a sharp mind. Henry used to be my financial advisor. Then he retired and came to live on the island. It didn’t take me long to realize he had a protective way about him. All those years looking after my finances and then the onslaught of his illness left him so confused.” Mira sighed.
“I wouldn’t mind reading the letter,” Eve said.
“Sorry, I had to turn it in as evidence.”
Eve slumped back and brushed her hands across her face. “I’m glad you went away. Just think, what if you’d confronted Richard and he lost his temper with you.”
“He was a bad apple. Henry complained about him not being any good with money and always living above his means. He said Richard had been pestering him about his big plans and how he’d strike it lucky, and that’s why Henry wrote to me. I’m just glad he found a moment of clarity to put it all down on paper and not try to tell me himself. He could rattle on and lose his way.”
Eve shook her head. “Richard had the nerve to say I’d ruined everything.”
“He was the type to blame everyone else for his misfortunes, never accepting responsibility for his actions.”
Eve didn’t want to admit it, but two men had fought over her, and they’d both come out losers. Two wrongs definitely didn’t make a right.
Or did it?
Eve thought about Jack Bradford...
Best to keep her mind on finding something worthwhile to do and well away from any romantic involvement, she thought.
“You know you saved Henry Parkmore,” Mira said.
“How do you figure that?” Eve asked.
“That nice detective filled me in on what happened. If you hadn’t found him that night, then I doubt he would have survived the night outdoors.”
It had been an accident. If she hadn’t taken the dogs out, Mischief would never have picked up Henry’s scent and she would not have gone chasing after Mischief...
“So, what will happen to Henry now?”
“Henry will spend his days in a convalescing home. I’m sure he’ll drive everyone nuts, but I like to think he’ll finally find someone there. He’ll fall in love—”
“Oh, Mira. Do you really think there’s someone for everyone?”
Mira laughed lightly and nodded. “And some people are lucky to find more than one special someone.”
“Please don’t look at me when you say that.”
“You’re too young to be cynical.” Mira rose to her feet. “I have some unpacking to do.”
“Hang on. What did you think of Jack Bradford?” Eve couldn’t help asking.
“I liked him so much, I’m thinking of putting him in my next novel. A swashbuckling pirate who inherits a dukedom.”
“Oh, I can’t wait to read that one,” Jill said.
Mira slanted her gaze toward Eve.
Eve looked away coyly. “I’ll give it a go. But you know I’m not a big reader.” She surged to her feet. “I was going to prepare you a feast but I haven’t had the chance to shop. How about we all go out to lunch. Jill? Do you feel safe enough to be seen with me?”
“What’s that about? Why wouldn’t Jill feel safe?” Mira asked.
“Oh, nothing much. Just that for a while there, we’d all become suspects in an ongoing murder investigation. Now that I think of it, no one suspected you, Mira. And you would have been an ideal candidate. Pretending to be missing and all the while lurking in the shadows and emerging long enough to kill people.”
“You had a lucky escape, Mira,” Jill murmured.
“I take it you didn’t?” Mira asked.
“What are you two talking about?”
“Nothing, dear. How about you both help me with the unpacking and then we can all go to lunch?”
“That sounds like a perfect plan.”
Epilogue
A week later, Eve sat on the front veranda with Mira.
A week of finally breathing easy and relaxing.
“It’s been wonderful having you here.” Mira raised her teacup to her lips. “Have you given any thought to extending your stay?”
“Well, I’m in no hurry to get cracking with my next project because I have no idea what it’ll be. When I first arrived, I felt as if I had this deadline hanging over me and I had to make a quick decision, but the fact is, I can afford to take it easy for a couple of months.”
“That’s good to hear. Does that mean you’re happy to relax here?” Mira asked.
“If you’ll have me, yes.”
“You know this is your home. The door is always open to you.”
“You’ve no idea how good that makes me feel.” Mira’s home had always been the one place where she felt safe, wanted and appreciated for herself.
A seagull hovered in the light breeze, squawked and flew away.
“I noticed Tinkerbelle’s Bookshop is up for sale. You could buy it,” Mira suggested in her usual no-nonsense manner.
“The thought occurred to me but I wouldn’t be any good at it. People would want book recommendations and I wouldn’t know where to start.” She lifted her shoulder. “Something will come up.”
“Then I might buy it as an investment. We wouldn’t want a chain store to take it over and strip it of its uniqueness.”
“That’ll make Abby happy. She’s keen to move on and expand her opportunities to meet someone. And of course, Samantha. I think she loves working there.”
“Well, she could be in line for a promotion. Store Manager.” Mira drained her cup and set it down. “You know I’m going away on one of my cruises.”
“Yes, Helena Flanders mentioned it.”
“I always feel uneasy about leaving the house empty. Do you think... maybe you’d want to stay and look after it?”
Eve smiled. “I’d love to.” Eve wanted to mention the inheritance Richard Parkmore had been so fixated with, but that meant thinking about Mira no longer being around, so she didn’t say anything.
“Oh, look,” Mira said, “We have a visitor. Or at least you do.”
Eve looked up.
Jack Bradford.
“He’s probably here on official business.”
“You can’t be sure of that. I don’t see him holding any official documents.”
“He doesn’t need documents to be official.” He’d said he was always on official business. So, she had no business thinking he’d find another reason to come by.
“Well, we’re about to find out. Despite what you say about my matchmaking ways, my money is on him coming here to see you.”
Eve’s gaze swept around his face taking in the square jaw, the firm mouth, then it drifted down to his broad shoulders. When her gaze dropped further, she could barely keep her eyes away from his narrow hips as he swaggered up the drive toward them. His jeans looked well-worn and hung low on his hips. His plain dark blue shirt was unbuttoned at the neck. His arms swung lightly beside him, but not in a carefree way. There was more purpose to his movements. Maybe he was here on official business after all...
“Hello, detective.”
“Eve. Mira. How are you?”
“We’re very well, thank you. We were both wondering what might have brought you out here...” Eve told herself to shut up, but she couldn’t, “I told Mira you’re always on official business, but the case has already been wrapped up, or so we hear.”
He nodded and came up the steps.
“Have a seat.” She focused on taking five breaths before offering him some coffee.
Deciding it would be safe to leave him with Mira, she trotted off to the kitchen. On the way back, she checked her reflection in the hallway mirror.
Okay, that definitely had to be a sign she was on the mend.
When she stepped out onto the veranda, Mira excused herself saying she’d had a spark of an idea for one of her books she needed to jot down.
“I have some cookies. I’ve spent the last couple of days baking up a storm for Mira. She loves to nibble on something while she writes.”
“She’s very lucky to have you.” He took one and bit off the edge.
“I think so, yes.”
“Any idea how long her luck is likely to run?”
She actually had to think about what he’d said before it clicked. “Oh, I haven’t decided yet. Although, I have actually decided to take a break and not stress about having to make a decision straight away.”
“That’s a lot of decision making.”
“I’m in no hurry. How about you? I suppose you have a lot of paperwork to catch up on and don’t necessarily want to be rushed to your next crime scene.”
“That’s one place I’m never in a hurry to get to.”
“But you do get there promptly.” And thank goodness for that, she thought, not even wanting to imagine what would have happened if Jack hadn’t arrived in the nick of time to save her from Richard’ clutches.
“I assume you got a full confession from Richard Parkmore.”
“He’s been booked.”
“You know I suspected him all along.”
He laughed. “You’d say that.”
“He had that preppy look about him that reminded me of Alex. It’s a particular type I’m trying to avoid.”
Jack looked down at himself.
“Oh, you don’t have to worry. There’s nothing preppy about you.” Jack was the complete opposite, with that rugged, comfortable anywhere but in particular the outdoors, look. Eve had a sudden mental image of Jack chopping wood... bare-chested... looking up at her and smiling... raking his fingers through his thick hair... striding toward her.
“I’m glad to hear you say so. I’d hate to think you wouldn’t be comfortable being seen out in public with me.”
“In public? Where?”
“Somewhere like a restaurant.”
“Are you asking me out to dinner, Jack?”
“Yes, I am. Would you have dinner with me, Eve?”
“How could I say no? It’ll be interesting to see what else we have to talk about.”
“I’ve been doing some reading.”
Eve shifted in her seat. “Reading?”
“I was curious about Mira’s books.”
“Oh.” She’d have to find out which one so she could read it too.
He laughed under his breath. “I guess I just came across as too eager to please.”
He’d read a book... to please her? “Did you enjoy it?”
“Did I happen to mention I was eager to please?”
“Top marks for trying. Don’t worry, we’ll find some common ground. We can always talk about food. I know all about that.”
He took another bite of his cookie. “There’s a complexity of flavors to enjoy here.”
“See, we’re off to a great start.”
Snuffed Out
A Deadline Cozy Mystery - Book 2
Sonia Parin
Copyright © 2016 Sonia Parin
All Rights Reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
If you would like to receive notifications about new releases, please follow Sonia Parin on BookBub
Created with Vellum
Chapter One
“I’m dead on my feet. Honestly, whose idea was it to walk all the way into town? It doesn’t feel so far when you’re driving.” Eve Lloyd flipped the menu over, and continued her search for a tantalizing treat. There had to be some sort of reward for her efforts, and she'd decided she needed to put some in.
She’d been baking up a storm for her aunt Mira, a.k.a. renowned historical romance author, Elizabeth Lloyd, who loved to nibble on a cookie or two while writing. And Eve liked nothing better than cooking for her. However, cooking and tasting went hand in hand and it was beginning to pile up on her.
There weren’t any significant changes to her waistline... Yet. It had been a few months since she’d sold her restaurant and while her first attempt to relax had been sabotaged by a murder on the island, she’d eventually fallen in step with the slower rhythm of the small town. Hence her need for some extra physical activity...
A sugary treat, she knew, would defeat the purpose, but she wasn't willing to sacrifice all just yet. Besides, the long walk really had left her deflated and in need of an energy boost.
“Don’t you have anything to say?" Eve asked. "What’s the point of bringing you along if I’m going to talk to myself?” She set her menu down. “Jill?”
“Sorry, I got caught up in the collective silence.”
“The what?” Eve looked around them. The Chin Wag Café was filled to capacity doing its usual mid-morning roaring trade. It was always as busy as a bee’s hive with conversation buzzing...
Eve’s eyes narrowed.
Everyone had fallen silent.
“What’s going on?” She turned back to Jill who’d dipped her head behind the menu. “Jill?”
Grumbling lightly, Jill emerged from behind the menu and leaned forward. “Dead on your feet?” she whispered.
“Well, yes. Working as a chef, I’ve spent years on my feet. There’s nothing wrong with my stamina, but honestly, I must have stepped on every single loose pebble along the way from Mira’s house into town.”
Jill’s eyebrows curved upward. “Dead on your feet,” she repeated.
“Okay. You’re being blatantly obvious about something. What am I missing?”
Jill huffed out a breath. “The last time you talked about death, or murder or... killing... do I need to say more?”
Eve frowned. “Are you suggesting my choice of words had something to do with inviting a killer to the island?” It had been over two months since the unfortunate incident, which had resulted in the untimely death—
Her eyes connected with Jill’s. Eve slumped back in her seat and glowered at her.
“What?” Jill asked.
“You’ve made me self-aware.”
“Were you thinking about killing, death... murder?” Jill asked.
“You brought it up. My mind was on my sore feet and what I could eat to replenish my strength. The thought of having to trek back to Mira’s on foot made me think this island needs a taxi service. But that was only a fleeting thought because now I’m thinking about...” she flapped her hands, “See what you’ve done? Now it’s all I can think about.” She scooped in a big breath. “All right. From now on, I will avoid all use of that word and all derivatives associated with it. Happy now?”
“You’ll burst,” Jill warned. “I give you an hour and I’m being generous.”
“It’s just a word.”
“If you say so, but when it comes out of your mouth, it seems to gather momentum.”
“You’re being ridiculous and far too pedantic in your observations. You’ll be the—” death of me, she finished silently.
“Yes?”
“I can do this. I can.”
“Would you like to make it interesting?”
“A hundred dollars if I slip up,” Eve suggested.
“A hundred? That’s a bit steep.”
“It shows how serious I am. I can go an hour without mentioning anything related to—”
“Yes?”
“You know very well what I’m referring to. And don’t try to trip me up.”
“Ready to order?” the waitress asked as
she gave their table a brisk tidy up.
Eve hadn’t seen her around before. She and Jill had become regulars at the café and Eve had made a point of being on first name terms with the staff. She looked at the girl’s name tag.
Di.
Eve slanted her gaze toward Jill in time to see her friend trying to stifle her laughter.
She could do this. Eve gave herself a mental nudge and told herself to avoid all mention of that which she wouldn’t even think about... or any words associated with it...
“I haven’t decided yet,” Eve said, “Perhaps you can help me. What can you recommend as a sure-fire pick me up decadent treat?”
“Death by Chocolate Fudge Tart,” Di said.
Jill chuckled.
“Can we have another moment to decide, please?” Eve leaned forward and lowering her voice, said, “How far does this moratorium on anything associated with that which I won’t mention because it’ll cost me a hundred dollars go?”
“Don’t mind me. Do and say as you please. I could do with an extra hundred dollars.” Jill shrugged. “I’ll have the blueberry pancakes and a double shot espresso, please.”
Eve drew in a big breath and looked up at the waitress who’d already returned to take their orders. “I’ll go with your recommendation and a double shot espresso too, please.”
“Double shot espresso,” Di wrote, “And...?”
“The tart you recommended.”
“Which one?” Di asked, “I’ve just served two customers and they asked for recommendations too.”
“I’d like the tart you recommended to me.”
The waitress raised her shoulders.
Eve slanted her gaze at Jill who was pretending to be distracted by the pattern on the tablecloth. “Do you have the tarts listed on a board somewhere so I can point to the one I want? I don’t see it anywhere on the menu.”
“That’s because it falls under the day’s specials.”