“I came to talk to you,” she said.
“Can it wait until after the meeting?” he asked. “We were just getting ready to start.”
She pursed her lips and shook her head. “Nope. I don’t think it can wait,” she said.
He looked around as if to say he was sorry and cleared his throat. “If you’ll excuse me,” he said to the small crowd, “I’ll be right back.”
“I want to tell you right here,” she said and pointed a finger toward the floor. She made herself stand up taller and drew in an air through her nostrils, making her chest puff out. “It’s about Blu James.”
“We don’t have time for that here,” Clover said standing up. “Who is this girl?” Clover flapped an arm Tangie’s way. “She doesn’t even live in our neighborhood.”
“I too object,” Andie said. “Although I am remorseful about her death, that’s not something we take care of here in this open format.”
“I want to tell you who killed her,” Tangie said never letting her eyes stray from the detective.
A still came over the room, but only for a few seconds, because the screeching of the folding chairs being pushed across the floor hurriedly and clumsily causing other chairs to tumble over, broke into the silence.
It was Coffey Carling trying to make a mad dash for the door.
“What the . . .” the detective jerked his head from Tangie to Coffey back to Tangie, then yelled, “Hold it,” to Coffey.
“Coffey!” Clover screeched. But he didn’t look back or break his run.
“Get him.” Levi leaned in close and poked me. “Go get him,” he said smiling.
Getting Coffey Carling wasn’t that easy. He weighed a good two hundred and fifty pounds, mostly in his belly. He could use it like a ramrod and push me out of the way and onto the floor, none of my cockiness would do me any good.
Bu I figured I had to try. I took a deep breath, stepped out of my shoes and ran after him. Just as he was about to hit the door, I jumped on his back and wrapped my arms around his neck, and my legs around his waist (what there was of one) and tighten my grip to put him in a choke hold.
He started flinging himself from side to side to get me off, but I had my legs so tight they had mushed into his belly and become one. I didn’t know how long it would take him to start to lose consciousness and drop because he was overflowing with adrenaline.
The he had the bright idea to back up so he could ram me into a wall, smashing me with his body weight. But I was quicker than he was and flew off of him just before he hit the wall. I twirled around so I was now facing him and did an axe kick that hit him right under the chin, making his head snap back and him slide down the wall.
The whole time Clover was screaming and the Detective Wade was telling me to stop. Or Coffey to stop. I wasn’t sure, I just kept hearing the word, “Stop!”
“Why are you doing that?” the Detective said and ran over to me. The people in the room gathered around us, too. “What in the world is going on?”
“I don’t know why he was running,” Tangie said. “Because it was his wife that killed Blu.” She pointed to Clover who hadn’t moved. “Although he was there.”
The detective looked down at Coffey and up at Clover. “What are you saying, Ms. Dumont,” he asked. He acted as he couldn’t believe what she was saying.
“I wasn’t there. I don’t know anything,” Coffey said.
Then we heard chairs being pushed aside again. Everyone looked over and saw Clover running toward the front tables. It was easy to see there wasn’t a door there, so I wasn’t sure where she was going. And it seemed she didn’t know either. She turned around and headed toward us with a look that said she was going to plow right through us.
“Uh-oh,” Levi said to me. “Looks like you might have to take another one down.”
Detective pulled his gun and pointed at her. “Stop!” he said again. Looked like that was the only word in his Police Halt Techniques Guidebook. But it worked.
“She’s a liar,” Clover said out of breath, her face flushed. “I don’t even know her.”
“She knows me,” Tangie said. “I’ve been pawning things she bought to me, but recently I found out that they were stolen. Taken from her neighbors’ houses.”
That caused an uproar.
Everyone in the community center began talking at once and I thought that Detective Wade was going to point that gun in the air and shoot.
“Quiet!” he screamed. “Everyone. Please. Be quiet.”
He backed up and trained his gun on Clover, then to Coffey and back to Clover like he didn’t know which one to keep an eye on. Knowing their proclivity for fighting, I thought it would’ve been better if he had two guns – one for each of them.
“Is any of this true,” Detective Wade asked the Carlings.
“It was her idea,” Coffey said. “We should have waited until dark to go in that house just like we do all the other houses.”
A collective gasp circled the room.
“Shut-up, stupid,” Clover said to her husband.
“You shut-up,” Coffey said. “You never listen to me. I told you to wait to go and I told you not to leave her there. Now look where we are.”
“Don’t pay any attention to him,” Clover said, she looked over at him, her nose turned up, her curls seeming a little limp. “And don’t pay any attention to her,” she pointed at Tangie. “I’m the president of the Neighborhood Watch Group. It’s me you should believe.”
“You’re not the president anymore,” Andie Halliwell said. He pointed to his phone that was up to his ear. “Don’t worry Detective Wade, you’ve got back-up on it’s way.
With all the commotion starting so soon after we entered the community center, I hadn’t had time to speak with Ethan and Swan. But when things had settled, I found them right next to me.
“Oh, Nixie, you were awesome,” Swan said. “You took that guy down with that kick.” She kicked her foot up about knee high.
“I didn’t know you were so good,” Ethan said. “And fearless.”
“Yes, she is,” Levi said. “With her around that detective didn’t need back-up.”
“Yes he did,” I said. “Those two don’t like to give up. They would have puckered me out.”
“Grandpa would be so proud of you,” Levi said.
“Grandpa?” Swan said. “Does he know your grandfather?”
“He talked to him on the phone once,” I said. “But it’s Ava Dewey I want to be proud of me.” I shook my head. “Hopefully, after this. I’ll be able to keep my job.”
“And what?” Swan asked. “Go on another assignment?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Where?” Levi asked.
“Any place where there won’t be a murder.”
The End
A Note from the Author
I’ve got a good and interesting new series. At least that’s what the reviewers are saying. I’m so happy about that, and with this, the second book in the series, I just hope it gets better. Of course, I’ll need you – my readers – to help me. Let me know what you think. Either shoot me an email on leave it in a review. I appreciate the feedback and I love hearing from my readers.
It’s this cozy mystery series is based on my love of HGTV. One show, that honestly I didn’t watch much, but saw lots of advertisement about, was the inspiration. Tiny House.
The amateur sleuth in this one, Nixie Culpepper, is on the go with her Tiny House in tow! She’s a house and pet sitter and you’ll soon discover, no matter where she is, murder seems to follow her. This series will only have four books, but it’ll be different because there will be an ongoing mystery with each whodunit.
I’m very excited about this series. I thought it would be something new and different. And with the publishing of this book, A Merry Branson Murder, I’m halfway through the series.
So go ahead, get to know Nixie Culpepper, her Yugoslavian grandfather Luka Kovac, and her Japanese paternal grandmother Miori Culpe
pper. And be sure to stay tuned and join her on her adventures across the country, but also prepare yourself for something new coming soon.
Thanks to all of those that helped me with this book. Ideas on names and murder victims. And to all the people of Branson. I’ve always added facts in with my fiction, and the crime rate in the book is what I got from the internet. But also from there, I found out about the awesome Christmas shows and the real Dolly Parton Wild West Attraction. I heard that it’s a wonderful place to visit, and am planning on taking my grandkids soon. If you’ve visited, write me and let me know what you thought. Send your recommendations, too.
More good news about my publishing contract with Henery Press. As you may remember, they read a sample of my Logan Dickerson Cozy Mystery series and contacted me! Isn’t that awesome? They said they “love, love, love my voice and humor,” and asked what they could do to entice me to join them. How nice not to seek out validation, and have it dropped in my lap!
The first book in the series, Secrets, Lies and Crawfish Pies will be coming out in June 2018. I hope I can count on your support to make my traditional published debut book a success.
And of course, I haven’t forgotten about Miss Vivee and Logan, the stars of my Logan Dickerson Cozy Mystery series. Look for the last four installments in early spring of 2018.
I appreciate all my reviews and look forward to reading what you thought about my book. Grammatical errors are of course unintended, so if you find any, just email me and let me know what you’ve found.
I love connecting with my readers and look forward to chatting with you soon.
Thank you for taking time to read A Merry Branson Murder. Look for more books in A Tiny House Cozy Mystery series coming soon. If you enjoyed it, please consider telling your friends about it. And don’t forget to take the time to click on the link and post a short review.
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A Merry Branson Murder (A Tiny House Cozy Mystery Book 2) Page 14