by Cindy Bell
Suspects and Surprises
A Dune House Cozy Mystery
Cindy Bell
Copyright © 2015 Cindy Bell
All rights reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and locations portrayed in this book and the names herein are fictitious. Any similarity to or identification with the locations, names, characters or history of any person, product or entity is entirely coincidental and unintentional.
All trademarks and brands referred to in this book are for illustrative purposes only, are the property of their respective owners and not affiliated with this publication in any way. Any trademarks are being used without permission, and the publication of the trademark is not authorized by, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owner.
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
From the Author
About the Author
More Books by Cindy Bell
Chapter One
Dune House was still. It was very quiet. So quiet that Suzie was sure her footsteps were excessively loud. With the phone in her hand Suzie crept around the corner of the hallway and into the dining room which overlooked the beach. She pressed the phone close to her ear.
“Ma'am, ma'am, are you still there?” a woman's voice was asking.
“Yes, I'm here,” Suzie replied in a whisper.
Suzie curved the phone close to her lips. She whispered again into the receiver. “I just want to confirm the flights I reserved,” she explained.
“Excuse me, ma'am?” the voice on the other side of the phone asked. “Can you speak up a little?”
“No, I can't,” Suzie said with a hiss. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure that Mary hadn't stepped inside. She noticed Mary and Detective Wes Brown walking along the beach, hand in hand, she breathed in slightly. “Okay,” Suzie said with a sigh of relief. “Sorry about that, it's a surprise,” she explained.
“Okay,” the woman on the other end of the phone said with a hint of annoyance. “So, what can I do for you?”
“I just want to confirm the flights for two passengers,” Suzie explained. She lowered her voice once more and spoke the names of the passengers. She was doing everything she could to keep this surprise a secret.
“Yes, the flights are reserved and paid in full,” the woman replied politely.
“Wonderful, thank you,” Suzie said before hanging up the phone. She was so excited at the thought of seeing Mary's children, and she knew that Mary would be as well. With them both being in college, she wasn't expecting anything special for her birthday. After all Mary had been through with her difficult marriage, Suzie wanted Mary's first birthday as a free woman to be a great celebration. A few minutes later the side door that led to the beach swung open, and Mary stepped inside. Suzie smiled when she saw her.
“How are you this morning?” she asked.
“I'd rather not say,” Mary replied sullenly and walked into the kitchen.
“Mary?” Suzie asked as she followed after her. Mary was usually always cheerful. “Are you okay?”
“I'm fine,” Mary sighed and started a pot of coffee.
“You don't seem fine,” Suzie pointed out. Then she paused a moment. She remembered how depressed she would get around her birthdays. Suzie didn’t like growing old, and she could understand that Mary might be a little down about turning another year older. “Is it your birthday?” she asked. “You know that you’re only as old as you feel. You’re still beautiful, and you will be beautiful for years to come.”
“Thank you,” Mary said with a small smile. “But that's not it,” she shook her head. “I've never dreaded getting older. Now, especially when I have the chance to start my life over.”
“Then what is it?” Suzie asked with concern. “I know something is wrong, Mary. You know that you can't hide it from me.”
“I know,” Mary smiled fondly at Suzie. “I never have been able to.”
“So, out with it,” Suzie demanded. “What's going on?”
“It's Wes,” she explained hesitantly. “I know that things are different now, than they were when I was dating so long ago. But he just seems distant lately. He's always taking these phone calls. Even now when we were walking, he stopped to talk. He always makes sure I can't hear him when he does,” she sighed. “I guess I thought my second chance at romance, was going to be real romance. You know the kind that sweeps you off your feet. A man who stares deeply into your eyes, and whispers in your ear, not into his cell phone.”
“I'm sorry, Mary,” Suzie said softly. “Maybe he's working on a case,” she suggested. “You know they have to be pretty private about that.”
“I don't think so,” Mary frowned. “I asked him if he had been busy at work, and he said that it had been very slow.”
“Well, I'm sure there's an explanation,” Suzie insisted. “Wes is a good guy, I don't think he would be stringing you along.”
“So, what if he's not?” Mary shook her head. “Then he's just bored with me?”
“Who could be bored with someone like you?”
“Maybe I'm just expecting too much,” Mary muttered and finished her coffee.
“Maybe we just need to have some time out of this house,” Suzie suggested. “We haven't been to the library in some time. I have some books to take back, do you want to keep me company?”
“I'd love that,” Mary agreed with a small sigh. “Maybe I just need a new perspective on things.”
Suzie nodded and patted her hand lightly. As they headed out to the library she kept her eye out for any sign of Detective Brown lurking around the property. She knew that Mary had some of the best instincts she had ever known, and Suzie was highly protective of her. As they drove towards the library, Mary had a vague look of sadness.
“Mary, cheer up, it's your birthday soon,” Suzie said. She turned the car onto the main street of town.
“I know,” Mary sighed. “I'm sure we'll have fun. I guess it's these times of the year that make me feel a little left behind.”
“You're not left behind,” Suzie argued. “You're running your own business…”
“Your business,” Mary pointed out.
“Our business,” Suzie said firmly. “You know the bed and breakfast wouldn't exist without you, Mary. Don't you?” she glanced over to meet her friend's eyes.
“I guess,” Mary replied. “Don't get me wrong, I love Dune House, it's just a transitional time for me.”
“I understand,” Suzie said. She wished she did. Mary's life had always been so different from her own, and yet they had always been able to connect, even when Suzie was off in some foreign country chasing down a story and Mary was debating cloth or disposable diapers. They were more than friends, they were sisters, even if they didn't share blood. “But this could be a good transition,” Suzie pointed out. “You get to choose what comes next.”
“I thought I would love that,” Mary laughed. “It's a lot harder than I expected it to be.”
“You'll figure it out,” Suzie said with confidence. “I k
now it’s just words, but I know that you will find your way.”
“I appreciate that,” Mary said and nudged her arm lightly. “If I get lost, at least I'll have you to snap me out of it.”
“Oh, I will,” Suzie chuckled. “Trust me, I will.”
***
The parking lot of the library was mostly empty. It wasn't the most popular place in the seaside tourist town. The local museum and wide variety of restaurants were much more popular. For that reason it was fairly small. But because of the head librarian, it had one of the best collections of books. Suzie had yet to find anything she couldn't get at the library. She held the door open for Mary as they walked inside. Suzie knew that something was up when she walked into the library. Louis usually had his nose buried in a book, but today he was pacing back and forth. He had a glow in his cheeks. His eyes were shining behind his glasses.
“Hi Louis,” Suzie said as she walked up to the desk. Mary offered him a friendly smile.
“Hello ladies,” Louis said with a wide grin. “I'm so glad that you're here. I have some amazing news.”
“What is it?” Suzie asked, her own excitement building.
“A few months ago a mentor of mine passed away. He and I were good friends in college,” he explained.
“How is that good news?” Mary asked with surprise.
“That's not the good news,” Louis said sharply. “They finally got his estate straightened out. I had no idea he intended to leave me anything. But he did. I might as well have won the lottery!”
“That much money?” Suzie asked, her eyes wide. “What a windfall!”
“Oh, it is quite a windfall, but it isn't money,” Louis smiled. “It's a book.”
“A book?” Mary shook her head. “You're this happy about a book?”
“It's not just any book,” he sighed. “It's a rare antique book, one of a kind. Collectors all over the world fight over the chance to get their hands on this book, and Richard left it to me,” he said proudly.
“Congratulations, Louis,” Mary said warmly. “That really is a treasure.”
“It isn't just the book,” Louis admitted. “It's that Richard chose me to give it to. I didn’t see him for a few months before he died. I tried to visit him, but his family kept him very secluded. It means the world to me that he thought enough of me that he wanted me to have the book.”
“I'm very happy for you, Louis,” Suzie said. “I'd love to have the chance to see it sometime.”
“That would be lovely,” Mary agreed.
Louis stared at them both for a long moment. Then he nodded shortly. He gestured for them both to follow him. Mary and Suzie exchanged confused looks, but they followed after Louis. Louis paused beside the employees’ only door, and looked back at them both.
“Now, this is completely against the rules. I'm trusting you both not to get me into any trouble,” he raised an eyebrow as he looked at them.
“No trouble,” Suzie promised.
“Quiet as mice,” Mary added with a genuine smile.
“Okay,” he sighed and opened the door. Suzie swept her gaze over the large office that they walked into. It was set up more as a living room than an office, with overstuffed furniture as well as many coffee tables. There were piles of books all over the room. On one table, there was a large wooden box.
“Nice place,” Suzie said with a smile. “I had no idea all of this was in here.”
“It's a retreat,” Louis explained. “Just a place where the staff can go to enjoy a book.”
“What's this?” Mary asked as she peered at the box.
“Careful,” Louis warned. “That's where the book is.”
Mary and Suzie raised eyebrows at each other. Suzie thought it was quite a lot of trouble to go to for a book.
Louis carefully lifted the lid of the box. Then he picked up some rubber gloves and slid them on his hands. He reached inside the box and cautiously lifted the book out of the box. Suzie didn't know what to expect, but with all of the fanfare she was thinking it might be jewel encrusted or carved from marble. Instead it was a simple leather bound book that could have been on any shelf. It appeared to be old, but it didn't appear to be special.
“Isn't it beautiful?” Louis asked as he peered at it through his thick glasses.
“It is,” Mary replied wistfully.
Suzie smiled and nodded. She didn't see what the big deal was, but if Louis loved it so much, it mattered to her that it was important to him.
“It's a collection of poems,” he explained. “To be honest I'm not that fond of poetry, but this book has been passed down through generations of families and is one of the oldest books to be in such excellent condition.”
“Amazing,” Mary sighed.
“It looks like leather,” Suzie said and reached out to touch the cover. Louis smacked her hand away before she could touch it.
“Ouch!” Suzie murmured.
“I'm so sorry,” Louis said quickly and set the book back down in the box. “It's just that the oils from your skin might cause damage to the book.”
“Well, then I'm sorry, too,” Suzie said. She was still a little annoyed, but she realized her mistake.
“It's not insured yet,” he explained. “That's another reason why I have to be so careful with it. I tried to get it insured based on the information that came with it, but the agency insisted that one of their valuers had to inspect it.”
“Make sure you keep it safe until then,” Mary said with a smile.
“I plan to, I am taking it home with me today and I actually have a valuer coming out to see the book. It is such a long drive for him to come all the way out here,” Louis explained. “I agreed to arrange accommodation for him so I was hoping maybe he could stay at Dune House for the night,” he glanced between the two of them.
“Of course,” Suzie nodded. “It's no problem at all.”
“Great!” Louis said with excitement. “I bet he will love Dune House. With his eye for detail and history I'm sure he will.”
“We'll get a room ready for him,” Mary offered. “Congratulations, Louis, on receiving such a treasure.”
“I can barely believe it myself,” Louis shook his head. “When I said goodbye to Richard, I never thought I'd be receiving this book from him. It was hard to lose him, but he'd been sick for so long,” he frowned as he swept his gaze over the book. “I guess even more than the historical value of this book, is the sentimental value. A valuer can't put a price on that, can he?”
“No, I don't think so,” Suzie said warmly. “It's nice to have something that will remind you of your friend.”
“Yes, it is,” Louis said with a smile. “Thanks again. The valuer's name is Warren Blasser. He should be arriving around six tonight.”
“Great,” Suzie nodded. “We'll be ready for him.”
As Suzie and Mary walked out of the library, Suzie caught sight of Jason's patrol car rolling down the main street. She lifted her hand and waved to him. He flashed his lights back at her.
“He just loves playing with those lights,” Suzie laughed and shook her head.
“I would, too,” Mary grinned. “And the siren.”
“Wouldn't it be so much fun to take it for a spin around town?” Suzie suggested. “I'm sure Jason wouldn't mind.”
“I'm sure he would,” Mary burst out laughing. “But he'd have a hard time catching us without his car.”
“Let's do it,” Suzie said mischievously. “What's the worst that could happen?”
“We could be arrested by your young cousin and miss the chance to host Warren Blasser,” Mary pointed out.
“Oh Mary,” Suzie sighed with disappointment. “You're always so reasonable.”
“Someone has to be,” Mary said teasingly. “You've been getting me into trouble since high school.”
Suzie offered an innocent smile as they settled into her car.
“Sometimes it's fun to do something completely unexpected,” Suzie pointed out as she started the car.
“Yes, like ice cream for breakfast, or swimming at midnight, but not stealing a cop car, Suzie, really?” she raised an eyebrow. “What's brought on this daring behavior?”
“I don't know,” Suzie said grimly. “I guess that I've been feeling a little restless. With the renovations complete on Dune House and tourist season behind us, sometimes I feel like I'm dusting the same furniture over and over again.”
“That's because you are,” Mary grinned. “But the rest of the furniture could use a dusting, too, you know.”
“Ha,” Suzie smiled at her friend. “I mean, it's great when Paul is here, but he ships out tomorrow for a few days. I feel like while he's gone I have nothing to do with myself.”
“Well, since Wes seems to be otherwise occupied, we can always do something fun together,” Mary suggested. As she spoke her cell phone began to ring. She smirked as she looked at the name on the phone. “I guess he really is a good detective,” she said. “Hello?”
“Mary, sorry I had to take off this morning,” Wes said quickly. “I want to make up for it. Can we have dinner tonight?”
Mary gulped. She covered the receiver of the phone.
“He wants to have dinner,” she whispered to Suzie.
“Make him work for it,” Suzie advised.
Mary nodded. “Well, I'm a little busy tonight,” Mary said mildly. “It is very short notice after all.”
“I know,” he sighed into the phone. “If you're too busy we can do it another time. I was just hoping to get some time with you.”
“I think maybe I could swing it,” Mary said quietly. Suzie winked at her.
“Oh great, how about six?” he suggested.
“Wait just a minute,” Mary said. She covered the phone again. “He wants to have dinner at six, but Warren should be arriving about then.”
“I'll be fine,” Suzie assured her. “It'll be fun to have something to do!”
“All right,” Mary laughed a little. She uncovered the phone. “You can pick me up at six.”