The Sandy Bay Cozy Mysteries series Box Set

by Amber Crewes

  “I’m beat,” Jack admitted as he gently tugged on Dash’s leather collar. “But I’m glad we did this. Getting outside is perfect, and the sound of the waves is so relaxing.”

  The dogs ran through the sand dunes. Siesta was chasing Dash, and Fiesta was burrowing into the mix of snow and sand that covered the beach. Meghan loved watching the dogs run around the beach, and she was happy that she and Jack had made it out to enjoy the day.

  “I agree,” she said, slipping her free hand into Jack’s as she held onto Fiesta and Siesta with the other hand. “I can’t believe there’s been another death in town. It’s crazy how much has happened in Sandy Bay since I moved here.”

  Jack looked down at his sandy boots, his bright blue eyes filled with melancholy. “What’s on your mind?” she asked. “You look so upset.”

  “Of course I am upset,” Jack said sharply. “My mentor, my role model, my colleague is locked in a jail cell right now, and to be honest with you, it isn’t looking good for him.”

  Meghan clasped a hand to her mouth. “It isn’t?”

  Jack shook his head. “No, it isn’t. About two dozen witnesses heard Officer Green threatening to kill Chandler after that stupid dart game, and the video footage from the bar shows them arguing. It’s bad, Meghan. It looks like he did it. CCTV footage gotten from a convenience store near Chandler’s residence shows he was in the area right around when Chandler was killed. ”

  She furrowed her brow. “But you know he didn’t….don’t you?”

  Jack sighed. He turned away from Meghan and looked out to the horizon. He adjusted the collar on his winter coat and shivered. “I don’t,” he admitted. “Bradley is a good guy, but he has always been known for his temper. He’s yelled at me a bunch of times, and I know that he’s gotten physical before with some of the guys at the station. I never thought that he could be a killer, but I do know that when he is in a rage, he can be a scary fellow.”

  She slipped an arm around Jack’s waist. “Just because someone has a temper doesn’t mean he is a killer,” she insisted weakly.

  Jack looked at her. “Chandler died from a dart to his neck,” he told her. “The dart hit one of his critical arteries, Meghan. We learn about the arteries in the neck during our police training. We get a refresher course every single year, and we just had our refresher course a month ago. Officer Green would have known exactly where to strike Chandler to kill him.”

  Meghan pulled Jack close to her. She could sense his frustration, sadness, and concern, and she wanted nothing more than to make everything better for her beloved boyfriend. She stood on her tiptoes and leaned up, just barely tall enough to give Jack a peck on his cheek.

  “Hey,” she murmured as Jack leaned into her embrace. “I love you. I am here for you.”

  A wave crashed and the dogs barked playfully. Meghan could taste the salty air, and she waited for Jack’s reply. “Jack?”

  Jack shook his head. “Sorry,” he said. “I was zoned out. What did you say?”

  Meghan kissed him again on the cheek. “I said that I love you,” she told him. “I am here for you. I know this is hard, and I know things don’t look good for Officer Green, but no matter what you need, I will be here for you.”

  Meghan was relieved as Jack wrapped an arm around her shoulder and kissed her forehead. “Thanks, babe.”

  She smiled softly. “I know what could cheer you up,” she said to Jack. “Otis is leading a group workout class at the event center today. It’s free, and it sounded like fun. Do you want to go? I think Karen will be there, and you know she is always in a good mood. It could help things.”

  Jack laughed weakly. “I don’t know if a workout will solve this problem,” he said to Meghan as the smile vanished from her lips. “But if you want me to go, I will. I could probably use a distraction, as well as a good rush of endorphins.”

  Meghan nodded. “I want you to come with me,” she affirmed. “I think it will be good for you. Besides, we’ve hardly ever worked out together, and it could be a fun new thing for us as a couple.”

  Jack raised his muscular arms over his head to stretch. “I get a lot of workouts in on the clock at work,” he told her as he yawned. “Between chasing criminals and training for my role, I feel like I’m always on my feet.” Meghan bit her lip, and Jack continued. “But if you want me there, I’ll go. Otis is a buddy of mine, anyway, and it’ll be a good time, I’m sure.”

  8

  Meghan dressed in her cutest athletic attire for her workout with Jack, a pair of forest green leggings and a matching crew neck sweatshirt. The color brought out her dark eyes, and she skipped confidently down the stairs to meet him when he arrived to pick her up.

  “Hey stranger,” Meghan teased as she opened the door to Jack’s car. “Long time no see.”

  Jack nodded, a serious look on his face. He was dressed in long gray workout pants and a matching jacket. “Hey,” he said distractedly.

  “It starts in fifteen minutes, so we are right on time,” she told him as he pulled away from the curb. “Karen isn’t going to be there after all, but I’m sure Otis will be happy to see us.”

  They arrived at the event center with five minutes to spare, and Jack parked the car, Meghan walked inside to reserve their spots in the workout class. “Hey, Otis!” she cheerfully greeted her friend as he waved to her from behind the registration desk.

  “Hey, yourself,” Otis said cheerfully. “I’m glad you’re here, Meghan. I think you’ll like the class.”

  “It’s honestly perfect timing,” Meghan told him as she signed in. “Jack is here too, and he needs something to get the Chandler thing off of his mind.”

  Otis shuddered. “Chandler,” he murmured. “It has me real shaken up that he’s gone. I didn’t love the guy; you know that he drove me nuts with his carelessness and his antics, but I would never wish ill on the guy.”

  Meghan nodded. “It is crazy,” she agreed. “Jack is pretty torn up about it; Officer Green was arrested, and Jack can’t believe that someone he respects so much could do something so terrible.”

  Otis shrugged. “People do bad things,” he said matter of factly. “Sometimes, people we don’t expect. I’m sorry to hear Jack is upset. Hopefully this class will help cheer him up.”

  “That is what I am hoping,” she smiled.

  “Hi, Otis,” Jack greeted as he walked inside to join them. “How are you doing?”

  Otis shook his head. “I’m okay, buddy. I am just beside myself about Chandler, but who isn’t?”

  Jack raised an eyebrow. “Speaking of Chandler,” he began. “Let me ask you, Otis, did you see anything suspicious on the night of the murder? I know you weren’t at the party, but you live close to the bar.”

  Otis scratched his head. “The only weird thing I saw that night was Jamie,” he said, referring to the town handyman. “I saw Jamie sprinting down the street around ten at night, and I thought it was strange. He’s a weird guy though, so nothing he does surprises me.”

  Jack frowned. “You saw Jamie Cruise sprinting down the street at ten at night?” he repeated as Otis nodded.

  “He was moving real fast, Jack,” Otis told him. “Like I said, Jamie is a weird guy, but it did seem odd that he was sprinting around town at that hour.”

  Jack looked at Meghan, his face serious. “Babe,” he said softly. “I need to follow up on this. I am going to have to go.”

  Meghan opened her mouth, but before she could respond, Jack was gone. “Well, I guess I’m doing the class by myself,” she muttered sadly.

  Otis grimaced. “He’s pretty upset, just like you said. It was all over his face.”

  She fought back tears, and Otis reached out to gently touch her shoulder. “Hey,” he said. “It’s okay, Meghan. We’ll have a good workout today. What do you want to focus on?”

  Meghan sniffled. “I guess I want to work on my coordination,” she said. “I’m pretty clumsy, and I need to get better at being more graceful.”

  Otis stepp
ed back and took a look at Meghan. “May I offer a suggestion?” he asked. “Let’s target your overall fitness for this class; improved fitness can improve coordination, and I think if we focus on your holistic movements, you will find that your coordination can improve over time.”

  Meghan mustered a smile and nodded. “That sounds great,” she told him.

  Otis wrinkled his forehead in thought. “You know, I have someone who you should meet,” he declared. “She’s already signed in and in the class, but I think I should pull her out and introduce the pair of you. She’s an inspiration, Meghan; she started training with me a few years ago, and her fitness levels have improved drastically. The way she moves is incredible. Do you want to meet her? I think she could be a role model of sorts for you in your own health and fitness journey.”

  Meghan bit her lip. “I guess so,” she said nervously.

  Otis chuckled. “She’s a sweetheart, Meghan. Let me go grab her.”

  Otis returned two minutes later. “She’s on her way out,” he informed Meghan.

  “Hey, move your slow bottoms,” a familiar voice screeched. She looked over to see Sally Sheridan, an elderly resident of Sandy Bay, walking down the stairs. She was trying to move past a group of teenagers, and they were in her way. “Move yourselves, young people,” Mrs. Sheridan croaked. “I can’t wait all day.”

  Mrs. Sheridan was notorious for her persnickety attitude, but somehow, Meghan had found herself in Mrs. Sheridan’s good graces; Mrs. Sheridan had finally warmed to Meghan, and Meghan was thankful to be on her good side.

  “There she is,” Otis said with a smile as Meghan peered past Mrs. Sheridan.

  “Where? Mrs. Sheridan is blocking my view,” she told Otis.

  “Meghan,” Otis laughed. “It’s Mrs. Sheridan.”

  Mrs. Sheridan grinned as she approached Meghan. “I hear you want more of my fitness expertise,” she cackled as Meghan’s face paled.

  Meghan thought back to the self-defense class she had taken a few weeks ago. Mrs. Sheridan had unexpectedly been there, and it turned out that she was a master of kungfu, karate, jujitsu, and taekwondo. Mrs. Sheridan had thrown out Meghan’s back during a mock fight, and Meghan had vowed never to workout with Mrs. Sheridan in any capacity ever again.

  “I guess the self-defense class wasn’t enough for you, Meghan,” Mrs. Sheridan laughed. “Well, your sensei is ready to work with you again. I want to take you under my wing, Meghan. Otis tells me that you are going to do the class today, and I want to help you.”

  Meghan raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure about that,” she told Mrs. Sheridan.

  “Oh, don’t be a goose,” Mrs. Sheridan insisted. “Work out with me. It will be fun.”

  Meghan made a pleading look at Otis, but he waved her into the class. “Enjoy,” he told Meghan.

  Meghan begrudgingly followed Mrs. Sheridan into the room. Mrs. Sheridan began to stretch, and she followed her lead. “Good job,” Mrs. Sheridan praised as Meghan leaned down to touch her toes. “You’ll be just as limber as me in no time.”

  “You’re an old lady with a cane,” Meghan thought to herself. “How limber can you be?”

  Meghan looked up as Mrs. Sheridan began another stretch. Cheryl Green walked into the room, and the crowd of participants hushed. The silence was awkward, and Meghan felt bad for Cheryl; everyone was staring at her, and Meghan could see she was uncomfortable.

  “I’m going to go say hello to her,” she told Mrs. Sheridan.

  “That’s fine,” Mrs. Sheridan told her. “But don’t talk too much; the more you speak, the more muscles you’ll use, and the more muscles you use to chit chat, the less energy you’ll have for our little workout.”

  Meghan stifled the urge to roll her eyes, and she made her way across the room. “Cheryl,” she said gently. “How are you holding up?”

  Cheryl’s eyes were red, but she pasted a smile on her face. “Oh, it’s all fine,” she told Meghan. “Bradley is innocent, so we have nothing to worry about.”

  Meghan forced herself to smile back. “That’s good to hear,” she told Cheryl. “I’m sure you’re quite busy, too; Chandler’s funeral is this week, and Jack told me that you are going in Bradley’s stead?”

  Cheryl’s eyes narrowed. “Absolutely not,” she told Meghan. “Why would I go to that hooligan’s funeral?”

  Meghan was shocked by Cheryl’s strong reaction. “Umm...Bradley worked with him?”

  Cheryl shook her head. “My husband may have worked with that scoundrel, but we are not exactly mourning his death,” she told Meghan.

  “What do you mean?”

  Cheryl blinked. “Our relationship with Chandler runs a little deeper than Bradley’s work,” she informed Meghan.

  “Isn’t Chandler from California? I thought you and Officer Green were lifelong Sandy Bay residents?” she asked.

  Cheryl nodded. “We are,” she said. “But three years ago, when Chandler interned at the station here during his master’s program, he dated our youngest daughter, Jessie.”

  Meghan bit her lip. “I didn’t know that,” she told Cheryl. “Jack didn’t say anything about that.”

  Cheryl shrugged. “It’s been awhile,” she admitted. “But Chandler came here for a summer, and then, at the end of his internship, he broke our little girl’s heart. He told her that he wasn’t coming back here, and he ended things with her. We were so angry; Jessie had never been so devastated. It’s a hard thing for a parent to see, Meghan.”

  Meghan nodded. “I can only imagine,” she replied. “But he ended up back here? Did he and Jessie get back together?”

  “No,” Cheryl fumed. “He was assigned a position here by total chance. Jessie was so distraught that she ran away from home.”

  “She ran away?” she asked, shocked.

  “Well, not like a child runs away,” Cheryl said. “But she left home and moved to Taiwan to teach English. We haven’t seen her in two years. If that jerk hadn’t broken her heart and then come back here, she would still be home with us. He hurt her, and then she left home to run away from his memory. It’s been terrible for our family.”

  Meghan could not believe it. She had hoped Officer Green was innocent, but now, it sounded like he had a serious motive. Meghan now understood why Officer Green had been so angry at the bar; he was not only a a man frustrated with his coworker, but a father saddened by the hurt his daughter had experienced.

  “I’m so sorry to hear that all happened,” she murmured.

  Cheryl sighed. “Well, the way I see it now, Chandler got what was coming to him,” she said to Meghan with a gleam in her eyes. “He got what he deserved.”

  9

  “She’s a huge influencer, Meghan! You don’t understand. She has over ten thousand followers, and she recommended our lemon tarts to her followers. This is huge.”

  Meghan laughed. “That sounds like its good news,” she told Pamela as they sat together at a little white table in the bakery dining room.

  “I don’t understand instaphoto,” Trudy complained, snapping her watermelon-flavored gum. “We are really missing out by not using Facebook as much as we should, Meghan. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Facebook is how you connect with the older generations.”

  Meghan yawned. She was nursing her third cup of coffee, and yet, she was still exhausted. She had been up late talking to Jack on the phone, recounting the conversation she had had with Cheryl Green.

  “Jessie left town because of Chandler?” Jack had asked. “I didn’t realize that. I knew that they dated, but I didn’t realize it was that serious.”

  “That’s what Cheryl told me,” she had said. “And it sounded like Bradley and Cheryl had it out for Chandler.”

  “It sounds like I need to question her.”

  “Yeah, I think you should.”

  Meghan had fallen into a fitful sleep, and she had been rudely awoken by Trudy banging on the bakery door. She had forgotten to set her alarm, and her employees were outside in the cold
waiting for her as she groggily wandered to the door.

  The little silver bells chimed, and the three women looked up to find Jamie Cruise standing before them. “Hey, ladies,” Jamie said in his deep, gruff voice. He was dressed in work overalls that were covered in dirt, and Meghan was afraid his soiled clothes would tarnish the clean floors.

  “What can I do for you, Jamie?” she asked.

  Jamie shifted awkwardly. “Do you have any work for me?” he asked sheepishly. “Any odd jobs that need done?”