“The one where you say my aunt and I shouldn’t be doing this. We’re just ladies who bake cookies and pick apples. We don’t know what we’re doing, we could’ve been in real danger and Teeny is a wildcard liability. Etcetera, etcetera.”
“I wasn’t going to say any of that,” Wayne said. “You and your aunt are decent detectives. Not real detectives with the twelve years of training I have, mind you. But I can’t argue with results.”
“Oh. Well. Thank you.” I smirked. “Twelve years, huh? Shouldn’t you be chief of police by now? What do you do on that computer all day, play solitaire?”
“More of a hearts man, actually,” Wayne said.
I laughed. “By the way, how did you figure out Noreen was behind all this?”
“I didn't. But I've had a tail on Dennis since Linda's funeral.”
“So that's how you ended up at the dry-cleaners the minute after he did.”
Wayne nodded.
“I guess that means we were working the case from different angles. And we both turned out to be right.”
“That's one way to look at it,” Wayne said. “Another way is, I saved a couple of amateur sleuths from being gunned down at a local business. Thereby also saving a lot of nice clothes from being ruined by blood spatter.”
“I thought you said we were decent detectives," I protested. “Besides! You did not save us. I saved us by karate-kicking Noreen’s legs right out from under her. Have you not heard about my mad karate skills?”
“Oh, I’ve heard,” Wayne said. “I’m going to have to check out Master Skinner’s dojo for myself. He trained you well. Seems he's quite the sensei."
“He is. If he managed to mold my uncoordinated limbs into blue belt shape, imagine what he could do with your um...” Stunning physique? Masculine splendor? Ginormous muscles? “Your uh...the body...the limbs you have.”
Wayne laughed and stood up. “Wait here. I'll get KP.”
Moments later, KP emerged from the holding area clutching a small plastic bag with his personal effects. He actually looked pretty good, like he’d gotten a little rest and all those potatoes were agreeing with him.
“Are you ready to go home, KP?" I asked. "Or do you want to stay another night?"
“There is something nice about that cell. But my flight to Hawaii leaves in under 36 hours. I gotta get packing.”
I laughed. “I hope you're hungry. Miss May’s throwing a party in the event barn in your honor. A sort of welcome home/sendoff combo. An aloha party, I guess.” Hello and farewell in one.
“Oh, I can always eat.” KP patted his stomach. “But I thought you did your mystery wrap parties at Grandma’s? Isn't Teeny going to be offended?”
“She's swamped at the restaurant. Pete took over the kitchen. He’s cooking up this fancy organic stuff that people are loving. Grandma's has been so crowded that Teeny barely even had time to throw a fit about missing the big arrest again!”
KP chuckled. “Good. I want to get back to the orchard anyway. Spend some quality time with that little horse of mine. Poor See-Saw. Probably dying of lonesomeness.” KP looked from me, to Wayne, then back to me again. “I'll be in the car.”
I watched KP leave then looked over at Wayne. “How about you? Hungry?”
Wayne smirked. “You want me to come to KP’s party?”
“Just wondering if you're hungry.”
“Maybe I'll stop by,” he said. “I mean, if you’re asking me out. It’d be rude to say no.”
I gave Wayne a playful shove. “Whatever.”
“Hey. You're assaulting an officer of the law. That's a federal offense.”
I grinned. “So lock me up.”
KP’S ALOHA PARTY WAS a smash hit. The bash was even more well-attended than the Candy Apple Hoedown. Maybe it was because people were happy that KP had finally been freed or — more likely — because Miss May gave a complimentary candy apple to everyone who showed up.
Whatever the reason, people showed up in droves, and KP’s wrongful incarceration and subsequent release turned out to be great for business. Miss May booked dozens of apple-picking appointments and pre-sold lots of Christmas trees for the winter.
Plus, Liz's Gazette article about the unfortunate fates of the Manhattan Turtles had been picked up and reprinted in several regional newspapers, so we even had some first-time visitors to the orchard. And each one of them was eager to meet the famed local sleuths who had cracked the case open wider than the Commerce Street pothole.
Oddly, it seemed like the string of murders in Pine Grove might be turning our town into a popular destination in the area. People’s curiosity brought them in, and Pine Grove’s charm and hospitality made the newcomers stick around for a few days. Some even stayed the weekend at the Dragonfly Inn. I had the feeling that our slow business was about to speed up.
After the last guest left, I convinced Miss May to get off her feet and go to bed, and I promised to clean up the barn by myself. So I was sweeping up alone when Wayne arrived.
“Party over?” Wayne asked.
I wasn’t expecting to hear his coarse voice in the dark barn, so when he spoke, I shrieked and almost jumped straight out of my party outfit. Wayne laughed, but I played it off like I was totally calm.
“Been over for a while now,” I said. “You must have just finished the world’s longest game of hearts.”
“Hercules needed help down by the pothole. Twisted his ankle and couldn't get up.”
“That is the most pathetic thing I've ever heard.”
Wayne laughed and strode toward me. “Can I help clean up?”
“I'm almost done here.”
Wayne came right up to me and stopped when he was only inches away. He placed a hand on the broom handle. “Please. I insist. I missed the whole party.”
Just then, a romantic ballad blasted from inside the farmhouse. I blushed and shook my head. “Miss May must be watching from inside.”
Wayne turned and waved up at the farmhouse. The lights in the house switched off but the music stayed on.
He chuckled. “I think your aunt wants us to dance.”
Wayne gently pried the broom from my hands and set it aside. He turned back and extended a hand to me.
I smiled and took his hand. He wrapped his arm around my waist. I leaned in toward him, stepping awkwardly at first and out of time with the music. It was a slow song, but time seemed to be in fast-forward, and I couldn’t persuade my legs to move at the right speed. But Wayne guided me, keeping a steady rhythm and being chivalrous enough not to protest when I repeatedly stepped on his toes.
I looked down, closing my eyes and surrendering to the feeling of comfort I had in Wayne’s arms. It was the first time I had relaxed since the moment I had met Linda Turtle. I let myself sink into Wayne’s solid chest, relishing our first dance. Nothing could ruin this moment.
Then my phone rang.
I grumbled and checked the ID. You guessed it. Mike.
“You can take that,” said Wayne. “If you need to.”
“I think... Maybe I do.”
I fumbled for the phone but dropped it. The plastic case clattered against the barn floor. You cannot live a plastic life, I thought. I looked back at Wayne.
“You want to keep dancing while we talk?”
“Your hand-eye is already pretty strained,” Wayne said, but wrapped his arm around me as I answered the phone.
“Hello,” I said. I could tell Mike wanted to talk, but I didn’t give him much attention. “Yeah. I can't talk. No. As it happens, I'm slow-dancing with a handsome police officer." Mike didn’t love that. “No. I don't want to talk about it. And I don't want to talk about what happened. I don’t think it’s a good idea. Not now. Not ever. Bye!”
Wayne raised his eyebrows after I hung up. “Who was that?” He asked.
“Telemarketer. I think he’ll stop calling after tonight.”
Wayne spun me under his arm, then I twirled back toward him. We kept dancing even after the end of the song. And I forgot all ab
out the murders and everything else bad in the whole wide world.
Until I discovered the next body, that is. But that's a story for another day.
The End
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DON'T MISS BOOK FOUR in the Apple Orchard Cozy Mystery Series... Berried Alive.
It's the week before the 4th of July and Pine Grove is in a frenzy.
The Big Parade is less than a week away. No one is prepared.
And worst of all?
The town's famous "Uncle Sam" died of a heart attack right after his first rehearsal. Plopped his head right into a big berry pie.
The police are more than happy to chalk the death up to natural causes.
But Chelsea and Miss May suspect foul play.
Could a parade-hating business owner have killed Uncle Sam?
What about Uncle Sam's brother, the hermit who lives in the woods?
And will this book where Wayne and Chelsea finally kiss?
Find out in Book 4 of the Apple Orchard Cozy Mystery Series... "Berried Alive"
You'll love this book because it's light and clean, and everyone loves a cozy that keeps you laughing.
This book does not contain bad language or graphic violence. But it does include a cute tiny horse named See-Saw!
Get Berried Alive Today
Did you enjoy this sneak preview of Berried Alive?
Are you looking forward to more Wayne and Chelsea romance?
Book Four is available for preorder on Amazon.
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A Note from the Authors
DEAR READERS,
Hi! We're married writing team Chelsea and Matthew Thomas, AKA “Chelsea Thomas.” And we appreciate you reading this book! We know you have tons of options when it comes to cozies, and we're grateful that you decided to join us for a little while in Pine Grove.
When we started writing our first cozy mystery, we were living in Los Angeles, 3,000 miles from our families and most of our friends. It's been a few months since then, and we are happy to say we've moved back to East Coast and we're loving it.
Our journey started with a cross-country drive from Los Angeles to Florida. We stopped in Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida. There's so much America out there to see, and it was a privilege to experience.
We got to spend the next month living in a small town in Florida with Chelsea's parents. Chelsea got to spend Thanksgiving Day with them for the first time in over ten years, and we enjoyed every moment of our time there. Including trips to a cozy Irish pub, local theater, and plenty of shopping trips around the neighborhood.
Oh! And we wrote a lot of this book – "Candy Apple Killer" – during our time in Florida. Easily one of our happiest writing experiences. And one of the warmest, too.
After our Florida visit, we drove up to Pennsylvania to meet our new nephew, Teddy. We arrived in Pennsylvania on a Thursday night. Matt's parents and sisters arrived the next day. And his oldest sister gave birth to Teddy at around 2 AM Saturday.
We may be biased...but Teddy just might be the cutest baby on the face of the universe. We are a proud Aunt Chelsea and Uncle Matty, and we can't wait to spend more time with him.
After spending some quality Teddy time, we drove up to NY, and that's where we've been for the last couple weeks. The town Matt is from in NY is one of the coziest, especially in the winter.
We're writing this from a coffee shop as big, fat, fuzzy snowflakes flutter to the ground outside. The snowflakes look like they're in slow motion (or should we say snow-motion). That's how big they are.
Seriously, though. It's great to be in NY, and not just for the big snowflakes. Matt has lots of family up here. Parents, sisters, aunts, and uncles. Plus his 'baby' cousins are headed to college next year! We're both happy to get to spend quality time in the great white north while we can.
Not a day goes by that we don't take a moment and reflect on how lucky we are. We get to write for a living, first of all. That's a dream come true. And we get to write from all over the country and spend time with our friends and family in the process.
You, the readers, are a huge part of what makes that possible. So thank you for reading! And if you feel inclined, please don't hesitate to leave a review on Amazon. Even short reviews help a ton, and we'd love to know what you thought of this book.
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Until next time,
Chelsea and Matt
CHECK OUT THESE OTHER titles by Chelsea Thomas. Available for purchase or pre-order on Amazon...
Apple Die (Book 1)
Cooking the Books (Book 2)
Berried Alive (Book 4)
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Table of Contents
Title Page
Candy Apple Killer
1 Manhattan Turtles
2 Decorations and Disasters
3 Old Friends, New Enemies
4 Hoedown Homicide
5 Know When to Hold ‘Em
6 Fighting Back
7 Free KP
8 Turtle Power
9 Crystal Ball
10 Psychic Surprise
11 Fifty-Five and Over
12 Flower Power
13 Hawaiian Horror
14 Speculation and Spam
15 Late Summer Storms
16 Reginald's Rainy Day
17 Turtle No More
18 Tripping the Alarm
19 Teeter Totter, See-Saw
20 Fixture Fixation
21 Farm to Table
22 Long Island Bound
23 Breaking and Entering, Again
24 Ashes to Ashes
25 Potholes in Paradise
26 The Big Reveal
27 A Clean Getaway
28 The Plot Gets Chunky
29 Jailbird, Jailbreak
A Note from the Authors
Don't Forget to Join the Secret Recipe Club
Candy Apple Killer Page 17