The Sandy Bay Cozy Mysteries series Box Set

by Amber Crewes

  “What is going on?”

  Jack gently tucked Meghan behind him and turned to Henry. “Mr. Truman, I am going to see what’s going on,” he said as he surveyed the scene. “It looks like a crowd of homeless folks is rioting. Meghan, stay with your father. I will be right back.”

  Jack returned moments later with a weary look in his blue eyes. “What happened?” Meghan asked her boyfriend as he shook his head. “Jack?”

  Jack sighed. “One of the homeless fellows is dead. That guy we saw last time with the Santa beard? I just cleared the area, and he was lying on the ground. I took his pulse, but he’s gone. I called for backup and an ambulance, so it’s about to get pretty busy here. I have to stay on the scene, for a few minutes, but then I can drive you all back. Henry? Will you please keep an eye on Meghan? I don’t want anything to happen to her.”

  Henry nodded. “Of course I will keep my baby girl safe,” he declared. “Come on, Meghan. Stay close to me. This place is brimming with trouble.”

  6

  “I’m so upset, I can hardly think straight,” Rebecca lamented as Jack silently wound through the snowy streets to take the Trumans back to their hotel. “First a riot, and now, a man is dead? Meghan, what kind of town is this?”

  Meghan said nothing. She stared at the window, and shivered as she saw two homeless men outside of Spark. She wondered how they were staying warm in the frigid evening, and she pulled her coat tightly around her.

  “Well, here we are,” Jack announced as he turned onto the circular driveway outside of the hotel. “I’ll walk you in.”

  “I’ll wait in the car,” Meghan told her parents as they unbuckled their seatbelts.

  “Not a chance,” Henry said. “There was a riot and a death tonight….you are coming inside with us.”

  Meghan frowned, but obeyed her father. She stepped out of the car and sidled up to Jack, looping her elbow through his.

  “I am just flabbergasted,” Rebecca complained as they entered the luxurious hotel lobby. “Meghan, I do not feel comfortable with you living in such a place.”

  “Let’s discuss this later, Mama,” Meghan grumbled as Lewis Templeton, the hotel manager, hurried over to the Trumans. In his fitted white suit and pointed leather shoes, Lewis was the epitome of elegance; he was known in town for having fine taste, and while Meghan didn’t know him well, she sensed there was more to him than met the eye.

  “Good evening,” Lewis cooed. “You must be the Trumans, my newest guests? It is a pleasure to serve you at our finest establishment. I’m Lewis Templeton, the manager of this hotel.”

  Henry nodded brusquely. “Thanks,” he told Lewis.

  Lewis leaned in and took Rebecca’s hands. “Mrs. Truman? You look upset, and we never want our dear guests to feel upset in our hotel. Is there something I can bring for you? A coffee? A vitamin water? A scone?”

  Rebecca shook her head. “Forgive me,” she said to Lewis. “I’ve had the most upsetting evening.”

  Lewis wrinkled his forehead. “Oh? May I ask why?”

  Rebecca scowled. “Those homeless men….they were camped outside of Luciano’s, and...”

  Lewis’ face darkened. “Were they causing trouble again? I had a group of them with the nerve to stay outside of this hotel. You can bet your bottom dollar I had them sent away. I am so sorry you were disturbed, Mrs. Truman. I’ve told the mayor a million times that we must take care of our homeless problem in Sandy Bay!”

  Rebecca smiled weakly. “I appreciate your concern,” she breathed. “Mr. Templeton, it was a pleasure to meet you. Henry, take me upstairs. I need a stiff drink, and I need it now.”

  The next day, Meghan met her mother at Crumpet, a tea shop on the west side of town.

  “I just think you should consider your safety, Meghan,” Rebecca lectured as the mother and daughter sipped tea together. “You are a young woman living on your own in a town filled with trouble.”

  Meghan disagreed. “Sandy Bay isn’t filled with trouble,” she told her mother. “It’s filled with kind, caring people who are passionate about making our little town the best it can be. Look! Over there. It’s Kirsty Fisher. She is one of Sandy Bay’s biggest philanthropists and organizers. You should meet her, Mama. Kirsty!”

  Kirsty smiled her perfectly white teeth at Rebecca and Meghan and flitted over, an organic green tea in her hand. “Meghan, what a pleasure. I was just going over plans for that poor homeless man’s funeral with the junior leader of the City Committee. There’s no one else to plan it, and we feel everyone in Sandy Bay deserves to be honored when they pass.”

  Meghan gritted her teeth. She did not want to discuss the death with Kirsty and her mother; she had hoped Kirsty’s enthusiasm for Sandy Bay could sway her mother, and she tried to change the subject.

  “That’s nice, Kirsty, but tell me, what other projects are you working on for the city these days?”

  Kirsty bit her lip. “Well, my charity is partnering with the local department store,” she told Meghan and Rebecca. “We scout out people to play Santa during the holiday season.”

  “How lovely,” Rebecca cooed. “That sounds like great fun.”

  “It is,” Kirsty agreed. “But it’s a bit sad this year; we work with the homeless population to find the perfect Santa; the department store offers one lucky person employment as Santa for the season, and then they receive a twenty-five thousand dollar prize to help them get back on their feet after the holidays are over.”

  “Twenty-five thousand dollars?” Meghan exclaimed.

  Kirsty nodded. “It’s such a sweet opportunity for someone to turn their life around. It’s just tinged with sadness this year; that man who was killed? He was one of our finalists this year. He came to the audition with a Santa beard and such a wonderful spirit. He received a standing ovation, and he was down to the top three in the competition. The selection committee was very pleased with him, and rumor was that they were going to announce his selection this week. Now, we’ll never see him rise up; I’m planning his funeral instead of his congratulatory tea.”

  Rebecca cocked her head to the side. “I don’t believe we’ve met,” she informed Kirsty. “I’m Meghan’s mother. And, you are?”

  Kirsty flashed her perfect smile at Rebecca and tossed her blonde hair. “I’m Kirsty Fisher,” she said to Rebecca. “I live for Sandy Bay events; I adore this town with all of my heart, and Meghan has been such a doll in helping with several of my affairs.”

  Rebecca studied Kirsty, and then, she smiled at her. “I enjoy your passion,” she told Kirsty. “Now, sit down. Let’s chat. Tell me more about the man who died?”

  Meghan cringed. She knew her mother was prying in order to persuade Meghan to leave Sandy Bay, and she wished Kirsty would stop discussing the deceased homeless man.

  “It’s terribly sad,” Kirsty lamented as Rebecca listened with raised eyebrows. “His name was Roger Williams, and he used to be quite the successful Sandy Bay resident. He was a business owner, and from what I hear, an avid volunteer in the community.”

  Rebecca ran a hand through her blonde hair. “How did his life spiral out of control?”

  Meghan gasped. “Mother! That’s so rude.”

  “What?” Rebecca asked. “I’m just asking. Obviously something had to have gone wrong to have a successful businessman lose everything and end up on the streets.”

  Kirsty bobbed her head up and down. “From what I’ve been told, Roger’s life took a tumble; he went through a nasty divorce, and that just sent him barreling downhill. Roger became paranoid and crazy, and he went in and out of mental hospitals for years. His poor ex-wife finally took his children and left town. Roger then ran out of money, and a few years ago, he was in jail for robbing a grocery store. The authorities determined he was only stealing food and they let him out after a few nights. From what I’ve been told, he went back to the mental hospital, was given the proper medication, and then, he had a good few years.”

  “Then what happened?” Meghan asked,
caught up in the story.

  “He was given a free apartment to live in, as well as a part-time job,” Kirsty explained. “But then, it all went downhill again, and he spiraled out of control. Word on the street is that he finally got help a few months ago, which is the only reason why we could have considered him for the part of Santa. He had a social worker, a therapist, and a case manager, and he was finally doing well.”

  “And now, he’s dead,” Meghan whispered sadly.

  “He’s gone, and we’ll have to use our second-choice Santa,” Kirsty said in disgust. “Oh, I didn’t mean it like that,” she said, seeing Meghan’s look of horror. “It’s just that Roger was so wonderful, and I thought he would do a great job.”

  “I’ve been auditioning for forty-seven years, and I’ve never been selected.”

  The three women turned to see Mrs. Sally Sheridan hobbling toward them on her cane. Mrs. Sheridan was an elderly woman who had previously loathed Meghan, but after she had come to Mrs. Sheridan’s side during a town protest, the pair had become friendly. Mrs. Sheridan was still known for being fussy and hard to please, but Meghan’s heart was softening toward the old woman.

  “Mrs. Sheridan,” Kirsty greeted her as she maneuvered her way to the table. “It’s lovely to see you.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” she grumbled. “I heard you three talking about the Santa auditions. I’ve been auditioning for years, and I feel like I’ve never been given a fair shot.”

  Kirsty pursed her lips. “The role is for Santa Clause,” she explained patiently to Mrs. Sheridan. “Santa Clause is a man, Mrs. Sheridan, and you are not a man.”

  Mrs. Sheridan glared at Kirsty. “That just doesn’t seem very progressive of you,” she argued. “I’m sure my Santa voice is better than any man’s, and I sure have a big belly for the kids to sit on. Just look at it.”

  Rebecca gasped as Mrs. Sheridan stroked her large, overweight belly. Meghan and Kirsty were used to Mrs. Sheridan’s occasional crass remarks, but prim, proper Rebecca Truman did not know how to handle Sally Sheridan.

  “Look,” Kirsty said to Mrs. Sheridan. “I’m sorry you haven’t been selected. I truly appreciate your eagerness to participate and make the children happy as Santa.”

  Mrs. Sheridan rolled her eyes. “I don’t care about the children,” she explained to Kirsty. “I care about the money, as well as gaining exposure as an actress. I was born for the stage, Kirsty.”

  Kirsty sighed. “You are the most dramatic woman in town,” she muttered.

  “What?” Mrs. Sheridan roared. “Do I need to turn up my hearing aid?”

  Kirsty slapped a smile back on her face. “No,” she said gently. “Just keep trying out each year, Mrs. Sheridan! You never know what can happen.”

  Mrs. Sheridan grumbled as she hobbled out of the tea shop. Kirsty looked to Rebecca. “She is an odd duck,” Kirsty said apologetically to Rebecca. “But it isn’t just her; others have gotten bent out of shape because of the silly Santa competition.”

  Meghan raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

  Kirsty shook her head. “We get so many complaints during the round where we make cuts,” she explained to Meghan and Rebecca. “When we send out the notices to tell people that they didn’t make it to the next round, they get so angry. We’ve gotten threats before! It’s wild. People would kill for the role of Santa.”

  Meghan bit her bottom lip. “Kill for the role of Santa, huh? I’m sure it’s fun to play Santa, but I’m sure that twenty-five thousand dollar prize attached is something people would be a little more inclined to kill for. I wonder if that had anything to do with Roger’s death. You said that he was known to be a top finalist?”

  Kirsty nodded. “I hadn’t even thought that the contest could be connected to his death,” she said to Meghan. “Oh my. How terrible to think of.”

  Rebecca narrowed her eyes at her daughter. “This charming little town seems a little darker after hearing this, Meghan. I’m just not quite sure how I feel about you staying in Sandy Bay, especially after this information. I think it’s time you come home to Texas, and I don’t want to hear another peep of an argument about it!”

  7

  The next morning, Meghan was pleasantly surprised to find Jack at her doorstep before the bakery opened. She wasn’t expecting him, and as she peered out the window to see him smiling back at her, she hoped that her messy hair and sleepy eyes wouldn’t dissuade him from giving her a good morning kiss.

  “Hey there, handsome,” she cheerfully greeted her boyfriend as she unlocked the doors. “This is a surprise.”

  Jack leaned down to kiss Meghan softly on the lips. Meghan felt a shiver run up her spine; she and Jack had been dating for several months now, but it still felt magical when he kissed her.

  “To what do I owe this pleasure?” she playfully asked as Jack pulled away. “Would you like some breakfast? It’s well before our opening time, but you know I would happily whip something up for you.”

  Jack shook his head. “I just got off my night shift,” he told Meghan as she noticed the dark bags under his eyes. “There’s been a break in the case; we have a few suspects, but a new addition to the suspect list has me shaken.”

  Meghan’s dark eyes widened. “Who is it?”

  Jack sighed. “Mr. Luciano is on the list,” he informed her. “The police think that maybe he was just tired of all of the homeless folks outside of the restaurant. You heard how upset he was that day we had dinner with your folks.”

  Meghan gasped. Mr. Luciano had always been kind to her, and she could hardly believe that he was an official suspect. “Are you sure? Do they know how Roger died, yet?”

  Jack frowned. “That was the other disturbing news of my night shift,” he muttered. “Roger died from something he ate; how easy it would have been for Roberto to throw out some food for those people to gobble up, and now...someone is dead.”

  Meghan bit her lip. She recalled the conversation she and her mother had had with Kirsty the day before, and she wagged her finger in protest. “I don’t know, Jack,” Meghan said. “It just seems too crazy. Mr. Luciano didn’t want his restaurant to be plagued with crowds of homeless people out front, but I don’t see him killing someone. What about one of Roger’s friends? The group of people there looked pretty rough; what if another homeless person killed him?”

  Jack shrugged. “I brought that up to Chief Nunan,” he murmured. “You said yourself when we spoke last night on the phone that Roger was set to win that department store gig; perhaps someone was angry about it and killed him.”

  Meghan nodded. “That’s what I think. I think rumor was that Roger was going to win the role as Santa, as well as the money, and some sore loser decided to take away the opportunity permanently.”

  “I floated that idea to the Chief,” Jack breathed. “But she wouldn’t hear it; she is fixated on Roberto right now. Anyway, I wanted to let you know the news. I need to head home and get some sleep.”

  Meghan turned on her heel and dashed to the kitchen, returning with a large disposable cup filled with steaming coffee. “For you,” she announced as she presented the coffee to Jack. “A large caramel macchiato made with my special homemade whipped cream.”

  Jack accepted the cup and bent down to kiss Meghan on the forehead. “You are an angel,” he told his girlfriend. “Thank you for taking such good care of me.”

  Meghan reached out to give Jack a playful swat on the bottom. “Now get out of here,” she ordered him with a smile on her face. “You need some sleep, Mister!”

  *************

  “That isn’t your color, Meghan. Didn’t you listen earlier when I told you that?” Rebecca chided as Meghan stepped out of the dressing room at Spark.

  Jackie nodded in agreement. “I think she’s right,” she told Meghan. “That bright orange just doesn’t work with your hair.”

  Meghan politely smiled at her mother and friend, but as she retreated to the dressing room, she scowled. She had been convinced by her mother to
go shopping for the afternoon, and while she had at first thought that bringing Jackie along would soften her mother’s harsh comments, she was incorrect; Rebecca and Jackie had bonded instantly, and they were constantly teaming up against Meghan.

  “I can’t believe she chose that sweater,” Meghan heard her mother murmur to Jackie. “She and I are just built so differently, and she doesn’t seem to understand that with those...womanly looks, she needs to gravitate toward the neutrals.”

  “I agree,” Jackie told Rebecca and Meghan’s stomach churned. “Meghan has such a pretty face, but you cannot wear orange with those curves. I wish she would hit the gym with me every once in awhile. I ask her, Rebecca, but she usually turns me down.”

  Meghan marched out of the dressing room in her black camisole, her arms crossed across her chest. “I can hear every word you two are saying,” she told her mother and Jackie as she shivered, the hair on her arms sticking straight up. “Mama, I wish I were itty bitty like you, but I am not. I know I’m not the most stylish, but I try.”