The Sandy Bay Cozy Mysteries series Box Set

by Amber Crewes

  Jack nodded. “He’s a problem at the office,” he told Meghan. “He’s unruly and crass, and no one really likes him.”

  “I can see that Officer Green isn’t a fan,” Meghan confirmed as she watched Officer Green point a finger in Chandler’s face.

  “That’s for sure,” Jack agreed. “There’s some tension at the office between the police staff and the IT crew; the IT crew makes double what the officers make, and it seems like the officers keep getting slashes to their paychecks while the IT group keeps getting raises. The IT group also seem to have terrible attitudes most of the time, and they don’t like to lend a hand to the officers.”

  Meghan shook her head. “That sounds frustrating,” she said.

  Suddenly, there was a commotion by the dart board. “If you aren’t gonna leave, then I guess we’ll start the darts competition now,” she heard Officer Green declare. “If we win, then you’ve gotta go, Chandler.”

  She saw a smirk on Chandler’s face. “This seems like trouble,” she murmured to Jack, her dark eyes wide.

  The crowd rushed over to the dart board, and the two teams huddled together. The IT team, led by Chandler, fist-bumped, cackling as they picked up their darts and went to their spots. The team of officers, led by Officer Green, solemnly assumed their positions as the game began.

  “If you don’t stop that laughing, Chandler, I’m going to strike you with one of these darts,” Officer Green shouted over the music as the game began.”

  Chandler puffed up his chest and rolled his eyes. “You’re retiring, old man,” he laughed as Officer Green glared at him. “Why don’t you save your energy for some shuffleboard?” Or maybe get a cane to help you with your darts game?” Officer Green glowered at Chandler. He picked up a red-tailed dart, and the game began.

  ____________________

  “I’m sorry it was a little crazy at the party tonight,” Jack apologized as he walked Meghan to her car. “I didn’t expect Officer Green to get so fired up. He really let Chandler get to him, didn’t he?”

  Meghan shook her head. “It was one thing when they were fighting early in the night, but Officer Green was so upset when Chandler and the IT guys won the darts tournament.”

  Jack sighed. “Officer Green gets intense,” he admitted. “I’m sorry you had to see that. I can’t believe he spoke to Chandler like that.”

  Meghan frowned. “It didn’t seem right for a police officer to be threatening someone,” she said to Jack. “When Officer Green threatened to kill Chandler after the IT guys won the darts game, I was pretty upset.”

  “Retired police officer,” Jack corrected playfully. “Anyway, let’s just pretend like we didn’t hear it. It was his retirement party, and we want to remember Officer Green in a good light. Remember, he was my mentor, Meghan. I know he messed up tonight in the way he treated Chandler, but he’s a good guy. I really look up to him, even after what he said.”

  Meghan nodded. “I understand,” she said as Jack’s phone began to ring. “We all mess up sometimes.”

  Jack held up a finger to indicate Meghan pause the conversation. He answered the phone call, and Meghan watched the color drain from his face. “Just now?” Jack asked. “Are you sure?”

  She raised an eyebrow. “I’ll be right there,” Jack said, and then hung up the phone.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, seeing the panicked look on Jack’s face.

  “It’s Chandler,” he replied.

  “Chandler? What does that jerk want?” she asked.

  “Nothing,” Jack answered. “He’s dead.”

  5

  “I think Officer Green did him in,” Trudy announced gravely as she, Pamela, and Meghan huddled together in the bakery, three cups of tea in front of them. “Meghan, you said Officer Green threatened to kill him after the game of darts? It sounds like he made good on that promise.”

  Pamela shook her head vigorously. “There’s no way he did it,” she insisted, her face wrought with worry. “Officer Green is such a nice man. When my grandmother fell down in her condo, he was the first to arrive on the scene. He helped her, and he was so sweet to her when she was scared and shaken up from her fall. There’s no way he did it.”

  Trudy looked at Meghan. “You were at the bar last night before Chandler died,” she said. “What do you think? Do you think Officer Green could be a killer?”

  Meghan bit her bottom lip. She thought of how wound up Officer Green had been during the darts game, and how frightened she had been when he had gotten in Chandler’s face at the end of the evening. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I would like to think not; Officer Green is a huge role model to Jack, and Jack is a good judge of character.”

  Trudy rolled her eyes. “You always see the best in people,” she told Meghan.

  “I think that’s a good thing,” Pamela declared. “Meghan gives people chances!”

  Meghan shrugged, taking a sip of her chai tea. “It’s not my place to say what happened,” she told the ladies. “All I know is that Jack received a phone call only moments after it happened. He had to run back inside and get to work on the investigation. I’ve barely heard from him since we said goodbye last night, so I don’t have any information besides what they have been saying on the news.”

  Pamela looked sternly at Trudy. “They are saying a dart killed him,” she said. “And that Officer Green has a solid alibi.”

  Trudy sighed. “His wife is his alibi,” she said. “That doesn’t count; she’s on his side.”

  Meghan held up her hands. “Let’s stop speculating,” she ordered. “This is a sad day; even if Chandler wasn’t the nicest guy, it is sad that he died. We should be more respectful of the situation and stop talking about it so casually. Anyway, let’s change the subject.”

  “I know what we should talk about,” Pamela said. “We need to update our user options for our Instagram page, Meghan. Can you help with that? Since you are the owner of the bakery, I think you should make the decisions about the page.”

  Meghan’s eyes widened. “Ummmm,” she sputtered. “I checked out some books on SEO, but I thought Instagram was your area of expertise, Pamela?”

  Pamela shook her head. “I’m only a teenager,” she laughed good-naturedly. “I can’t add the business information without your approval, Meghan.”

  Meghan nodded, her face turning red. “I think I will need some help with it,” she admitted to Pamela and Trudy. “I know our internet marketing is important, and I want to grow the business. I need some support to do so. Chandler isn’t available anymore, so….”

  Pamela grinned. “Meghan, remember that day at the library? You said you bumped into Chief Nunan and she had a contact at the station who could help you!”

  Meghan smiled. “You are right,” she agreed. “She did say she had someone in mind. I am going to swing by the station later to drop off lunch for Jack...maybe Chief Nunan will point me in the direction of someone who can help with my tech needs.”

  A few hours later, Meghan ventured over to the Sandy Bay Police Station with a healthy meal she had prepared for Jack. She knew that with Chandler’s death, he likely had not had a moment to rest or eat, and she made sure to include a variety of delicious treats in the package as well. She left the lunch on Jack’s desk with a sweet love note attached, and then went to Chief Nunan’s quarters.

  “Chief?” Meghan said as she knocked on the door. The Chief answered, a grim look on her face.

  “Jack isn’t in here, Meghan,” the Chief told her.

  “I’m so sorry to bother you, but I have a question,” she said.

  “I haven’t slept, and I have a meeting in ten minutes,” the Chief sighed. “Please make it a quick question?”

  Meghan nodded. “That day at the library,” she began. “You mentioned an IT wizard here at the station. Can you point me in their direction? I need some help.”

  The Chief gestured with her chin toward the left. “Molly Owen,” she answered. “Her office is right next door to the left
. I think she’s in there right now.”

  “Thanks,” Meghan said as she ducked out of the office. “I’ll get out of your hair.”

  Meghan walked to the door next to the Chief’s and knocked. “Come in,” a female’s voice called. She stepped inside.

  “Are you Molly?” she asked as the woman nodded. “I’m sorry to bother you, but I was looking for an IT person, and Chief Nunan sang your praises.”

  Molly Owen smiled shyly, nervously twirling her strawberry blonde hair between her fingers. She had pale skin and a face filled with freckles, and Meghan thought she couldn’t be any older than twenty-two years old.

  “That was nice of her to say,” Molly said softly. “Who are you, exactly? How can I help?”

  Meghan smiled warmly. “I’m Meghan, Jack Irvin’s girlfriend?”

  “Oh, Jack,” Molly nodded. “I’m new here, and Jack has been so nice. He showed me around the first day.”

  “He’s a good guy,” Meghan agreed. “That doesn’t surprise me. Anyway, I’m having a little issue with my website and social media pages, and I need some assistance. I own and operate a bakery in town, and I’m trying to expand our internet marketing. Do you know anything about Instagram?”

  Molly bobbed her head up and down. “Of course,” she told Meghan. “Sit down with me, and we can chat.”

  An hour later, Meghan was feeling confident about her ability to manage her website and social media pages. Molly had explained the Instagram issue slowly and patiently, and she appreciated her gentle demeanor. “You are the best,” she told Molly. “I would never have made it through this issue without you. You are so much better than some of the other IT people I’ve met.”

  “You mean Chandler?”

  Meghan watched as Molly’s face fell, and she knew she should not have made such a callous comment given Chandler’s death. “Oh, Molly,” she whispered. “I should not have said that.”

  Molly’s eyes filled with tears. “I know that Chandler was hard to take,” she admitted. “But he knew his stuff, Meghan. He also taught me a lot about coding and programming. I’ve been at the station just over a month, and he really took me under his wing professionally.”

  Meghan nodded. “I shouldn’t have said anything,” she repeated. “I didn’t mean to be rude, Molly.”

  Molly wiped a tear from her green eyes. “It’s okay,” she said. “I get it. Chandler was not an easy guy to deal with, and I know how he could be.”

  Meghan forced a smile onto her face. “Let me make it up to you,” she told Molly. “I didn’t mean to upset you, and I want us to be friends. Why don’t you stop by the bakery sometime? I owe you for your time today, and I would love to have you over for some desserts and tea. Please! It would be my treat! Literally!”

  Molly laughed. “That would be truly sweet of you,” she kidded as Meghan giggled. “Get it? Truly sweet!”

  6

  Meghan’s head turned as she heard the little silver bells attached to the front door of Truly Sweet chime. She had only opened the bakery moments ago, and with the unexpected snowfall the night before, she was not expecting many customers as the road conditions were treacherous.

  “Nice to see you, Meghan,” Officer Green greeted her as he walked in the door with Cheryl, his wife.

  Meghan was shocked to see Officer Green, and she dropped the cup of hot chocolate she was holding. “Oh no,” she muttered as she tried to brush off the steaming liquid.

  “Let me help you,” Officer Green said as he rushed toward her.

  “I’m okay,” she insisted. “Give me just a moment, and then I will come help you.”

  Meghan fled to the back and removed her stained apron. She dabbed cold water onto her jeans, frowning as she examined the spill. “I am so clumsy,” she lamented as she put on a fresh apron. “I just need to get myself together.”

  She returned to the dining area with a smile on her face. “All better now,” she told Officer Green and Cheryl. “How many I help you today?”

  Cheryl smiled at Meghan. “Two teas, please,” she asked. “And perhaps a blueberry peppermint scone?”

  Meghan nodded. “Of course.”

  Cheryl leaned up and kissed her husband on the lips. “Isn’t it nice to be able to do this?” she asked Officer Green. “Tea dates in the morning together without any distractions? I’ve been looking forward to your retirement for the last two years, dear, and I’m looking forward to more quiet mornings like this together. No more sirens, no more emergencies, and no more late nights away from home.”

  Meghan’s heart warmed as she watched Officer Green and Cheryl choose a table and sit down together. Officer Green slipped his hands across the table and take Cheryl’s, and she imagined herself and Jack later in life, spending quality time together as they settled down and retired.

  The little silver bells chimed again, tearing Meghan from her daydream. She looked up and was elated to see Jack and Officer Kim, one of his colleagues.

  “Babe!” she cried joyfully. “What a surprise. What can I get for you?”

  Officer Kim looked down at the floor, his face grim. Meghan noticed an equally distraught look on Jack’s face, and she reached across the counter for his hand. “What’s wrong?”

  Jack, dressed in his uniform, shook his head. “I’m here on business, Meghan,” he informed her in a serious voice as her dark eyes widened.

  Jack turned to Officer Green, who had risen from his table and was walking toward Jack. “Bradley Green,” Jack stated flatly as he looked into Officer Green’s eyes.

  “What’s up, my man?” Officer Green asked jovially. “This is a good surprise. I retired two days ago, and here we are, together again.”

  Jack narrowed his eyes at Officer Green. “I don’t want to say this,” he muttered under his breath as Officer Green’s expression changed into a look of confusion. “But Bradley Green, you are under arrest. You are being considered a person of interest in the case of Chandler Washington’s murder, and I have been instructed to take you down to the station.”

  Officer Green’s jaw dropped. “What?” he shouted. “Are you serious? Jack, come on. Is this a joke?”

  Officer Kim silently removed the handcuffs from his belt and approached Officer Green. Officer Green shoved him away. “Get off of me, Brian Kim,” he bellowed. “What on Earth do you think you are doing?

  Officer Green tore away from Officer Kim, and Jack grabbed him by the arm. “Irvin!” Officer Green yelled. “Get off of me, or you will be sorry.”

  Meghan cringed. She had seen Officer Green’s temper at the bar when Chandler had antagonized him, and she was worried that he would get out of control.

  “Bradley,” Jack warned in a stern voice. “Just do this the easy way, man.”

  Officer Green turned to Cheryl, who was sobbing at the table. “It’ll be okay, dear,” he told his wife as he held out his wrists. “I know that I am an innocent man. The system will come through for me. Don’t you worry.”

  Officer Kim snapped the handcuffs on Officer Green, and Jack took him by the shoulder. “I’ll take you out to the car,” he told him.

  “Don’t you take him!” Cheryl screamed, rising to her feet and dashing to her husband. She beat her delicate fists on Officer Kim’s chest. “He is an officer of the law. He is a good man. How dare you accuse him of such a heinous crime?”

  Officer Kim looked down at Cheryl. “Ma’am,” he said. “You are assaulting an officer of the law. I suggest you take your hands off of me, or we can press charges.”

  Cheryl took her hands off of Officer Kim, but she did not stop crying. Her wrinkled face grew red, and she collapsed onto the floor as her husband was led outside and put into Officer Kim’s car. “Meghan, this is an outrage,” she cried as Meghan knelt to join her on the wooden floor. “My husband wouldn’t hurt a fly. He talks big, that is true, and he gets riled up sometimes, but I know that he would never do anything as terrible as kill a man.”

  Meghan pursed her lips. Her heart ached for Che
ryl, and she gently stroked Cheryl’s back. “It will all be okay,” she promised her as Jack walked out of the bakery. “They’ll find the answers, Cheryl, I promise. They’ll find out who killed Chandler, and then justice will be served.”

  Cheryl wiped her eyes and hiccuped, her makeup smearing as she retrieved a handkerchief from her handbag and dabbed her face. “They had better,” she gasped. “Because my husband is innocent, and I will move Heaven and Earth to prove it.”

  7

  The next day, the sun was shining in Sandy Bay, and despite the cold temperatures, it was a beautiful afternoon. Meghan and Jack decided to take their dogs for a long walk on the beach; Meghan had proposed the idea after hearing that Jack had been working a fifteen hour shift, and she knew he needed some fresh air when his workday was through.