A Dastardly Death in Hillbilly Hollow (Ozark Ghost Hunter Mysteries Book 3)

by Blythe Baker

  I crept back onto my bed and I threw my head back, staring at the ceiling. I felt a pit of sadness deep in my stomach. “I’m sorry Prudence,” I whispered quietly. “I am so sorry.” I had visited everyone I could think of, asked every question I had, and still I was no closer to the truth than I was before. I had let Prudence down.

  Just as sleep was beginning to creep up on me, making my eyelids feel so very heavy, I had an overwhelming urge to grab Prudence’s Diary. I frantically flipped through the pages until I landed on the one I was searching for.

  P.S - Check state records. History? License? CANNOT BE TRUE!

  P.S. Why did that sound so familiar? P.S. I flipped back through the diary to the first Saturday of September. P.S. in blue ink with the little red heart just as I had remembered it. Of course! How could I have been so blind?

  I was so caught up in the feud with Ambrose Snodgrass, that I had forgotten that P.S could be initials. Peter Snipes! But why did Prudence feel the need to check state records on Peter Snipes? What could she mean by ‘cannot be true’?

  I reread the short sentence. I never knew one sentence could be so important, could hold all the answers to such a huge question. When she mentioned the license, was Prudence possibly talking about Peter’s mortician license? What made her question everything? As my own questions grew larger, so did the implications they held.

  I pulled out my laptop and searched Peter Snipes again. I recalled he had been a mortician at a larger chain in Kansas City. I found the name, then did a quick search. I had assumed he had simply left the business, so I was surprised to see he had actually been terminated.

  I tried to find the specific details, but the only comment that had been made about his termination was, “unethical practices”. I wondered what could have led Prudence to needing to find this information out, and what practices could Peter have been performing.

  The sound of my phone ringing nearly made me leap out of my skin. I glanced at it to see that Suzy was giving me a call. Why is she up so late the night before her wedding?

  I picked up right away.

  “Hello?” I answered tentatively.

  “Hey, Emma.” Her voice was tired.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  “Huh? Oh, nothing really. I mean, nothing at all, actually. I just can’t sleep. I’ve got nervous jitters.”

  “Of course you do. You’re marrying the man of your dreams tomorrow!”

  I heard Suzy let out a small giggle.

  “I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve again. You remember how much fun we used to have together on Christmas Eve?”

  “Of course, it was one of my favorite times every year,” I said cheerfully.

  We would stay up at Suzy’s house, Billy and I, drinking hot chocolate, watching Christmas specials, and trying to guess which gifts each of us would receive the following morning. Our guesses were never right. We would end up saying things we hoped for, rather than what we really got.

  Although Suzy had been adamant one year that she would receive a car. Her enthusiasm was so contagious that I would have believed it too, if only Billy hadn’t been such a skeptic.

  “I miss that.” Suzy’s voice seemed full of nostalgia.

  “I do too. We’re all grown up now. Suzy, it’s getting pretty late. Don’t you think you should try and get some rest?”

  She sighed. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Thanks for chatting with me. See you tomorrow!”

  With that, the phone clicked to silence. I held it in my hand for a moment longer.

  Suddenly, a loud noise echoed up through the house. It sounded like the back door slamming. I jumped up and quickly made my way downstairs. I ran outside to see Grandma in her nightgown crossing the lawn toward the chicken coop. She stopped just a little distance short of the coop and I caught up to her. I gently touched her arm.

  “Grandma, what’s going on this time?”

  She looked at me with glassy eyes. “It’s Nancy. She’s starting an argument with Pat tonight!”

  I took her elbow and slowly led her back toward the house.

  “Wow! Pat is just up to all kinds of drama lately. First Dolley, now Nancy. I wonder what has gotten into her.”

  Grandma made a small pfft sound and pointed a finger. “She’s tired of being bossed around, that’s what. Serves ‘em right if you ask me.”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle as we met Grandpa at the back door.

  He grabbed her hand and spoke to her softly. “Come on, Dorothy. We’ve got a wedding to attend tomorrow and you wouldn’t want to be too tired for that.” He looked at me. “Same goes for you, Emma. I’ll take her from here.”

  I smiled and made my way back to the attic. Grandpa had always loved Grandma so much. He treated her with such kindness and tenderness, even during her funny spells. I could only pray I would find a love like that one day.

  As I cuddled into my blankets, the events of the day played over and over in my mind. I was still not sure what had happened to Prudence but the pieces were beginning to fall together. I thought of Suzy, and how gorgeous she would look tomorrow on her big day. I thought of Mr. Gentry and how nice it was to catch up. I thought of Peter Snipes and wondered for a moment if he could have been the attempted murderer, or if it was Cindy or Ambrose. I played this question in my mind a few times as I drifted off to sleep.

  Chapter 19

  The next thing I knew, my grandma was gently stirring me awake. I couldn’t even remember falling asleep.

  “Good morning, Emma. Today is the big day,” she said with bright eyes and a smile on her face.

  I sat up with a yawn, stretching my arms out behind my head. “Guess it’s show time,” I giggled groggily.

  All throughout breakfast I felt giddy. It wasn’t even my wedding day, but I still felt like a happy teenager. Grandma had really outdone herself. Fried eggs, big, fluffy pancakes, and grits to top it all off. It was delicious and my spirits were high.

  “Oh, Ed, don’t you just love weddings?” Grandma’s voice was sickly sweet, and she had both hands propped up on the table, holding her chin.

  Grandpa only nodded in response, too busy shoveling grits into his mouth.

  “Ah, it reminds me of when we were young and in love,” she continued.

  I smiled at the fondness in Grandma’s face. “How did Grandpa propose to you, Grandma?”

  She grinned. “Now that is an interesting story…” She seemed to be recalling the events, as if she didn't want to skip a single detail.

  “It was an unusually warm October day. I remember because we were on our way to have a wonderful little picnic in the park. I was carrying the basket and Ed had the blanket wrapped up in his arms. We talked about our dreams and goals on the walk down to the picnic area. The sun was shining, birds were singing, and the breeze was so gentle that even the leaves on the trees were completely still. When we reached the picnic area I dug around in the basket for the lemonade while Ed laid out the blanket. When I turned around, he was kneeling on one knee, holding a blade of grass he’d tied together into a ring, and he asked me to be his wife.”

  I giggled. “A blade of grass?”

  Grandma nodded and laughed. “Yep! He didn’t want to waste money on a ring that would eventually never fit anyways. Besides, as he said, it’s not the ring that matters but rather the love we share together.”

  I looked over to see Grandpa nodding slowly, a tiny smile on his lips.

  Suddenly, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Suzy.

  SUZY: Where r u? I need my maid of honor

  ME: Eating breakfast. Whats up?

  SUZY: Bridal emergency. Need u.

  ME: On my way

  “I’ve got to go. Suzy needs me,” I said as I hugged Grandma.

  “Oh, go on ahead then. Calm her down, and remind her what this is all about. I know the feeling of cold feet all too well,” she said with a laugh.

  “Thanks, Grandma,” I said.

  I grabbed my things and ran outside to
my truck. It suddenly dawned on me that I didn’t have a clue where Suzy was. I pulled out my phone and sent her a quick text.

  ME: Where r u?

  SUZY: At church

  ME: Already? 4 hours until show time

  SUZY: I was nervous. Needed to make sure everything was being handled

  That was just like Suzy. While most brides would love to sleep in and let the wedding party do all the setting up, Suzy had to be sure everything was going according to plan. I smiled to myself.

  ME: Ok. Be there soon

  SUZY: Hurry pls

  Chapter 20

  I got to the venue as quickly as I could. The church was breathtakingly beautiful. The grass outside was freshly mowed and people were already beginning to show up for the final preparations. Small herds of workers were scurrying around adding the final decor touches. It was coming along unbelievably quickly. The ceremony was not for another three hours, but everything seemed so put together already.

  I scurried inside, stopping a woman holding a small decorative flower in her hands.

  “Excuse me, do you know where the bride is?” I asked.

  The young woman’s blue eyes stood out sharply against her pale skin. Her bright pink lips pulled into a small frown. “She’s in the back. Bless her heart, she’s having a meltdown.” She shook her head. “Nothing like cold feet on the day of the wedding.”

  I thanked the woman for her time, then made my way towards the back. Suzy was sitting on a small love seat in her dressing room, head resting between both hands.

  I gently placed my hand on her back. “Maid of honor reporting for duty.”

  She looked up and her cheeks were bright red and tear-stained. “Oh, Emma!” she exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around me. “I think I have made a mistake.”

  I pulled back from her. “What are you talking about, Suz?”

  She wiped her arm across her face, drying the tears just in time for them to be replaced by fresh, new ones. “How do I know he’s the one?” she asked. “How can I guarantee I want to spend the rest of my life with him?”

  I had heard of people catching cold feet before, but this seemed so shockingly unexpected. “Suzy, this is Brian we’re talking about. The same Brian that you, the bossiest person I know, let take control of your honeymoon plans. You wouldn’t allow just anyone to do something like that.”

  Suzy sniffled and placed a hand on mine. “Yes I know, but it’s just such a huge commitment, and with all the excitement and giddiness and wedding planning, I guess it never really had time to sink in until now.”

  I wrapped my fingers around her hand. “Suzy. You remember what you told me the other night when I walked in on your, er, meditation?”

  She giggled at the memory. “You were so scared.” She sighed. “I don’t remember what I said, Emma.”

  I looked into her eyes seriously. “You said it’s all about marrying Brian. It’s about the two of you standing up and saying you want to be together forever, and when you said those words I know you meant it, Suzy. I have never seen you wear a bigger smile than in that moment, but I know you will be wearing an even bigger smile today when you finally say those vows.”

  Suzy’s eyes were filling with tears once more, and for a moment I feared I had only made things worse. Then she wrapped me up in another hug and laughed. “I don’t know what I would do without you. You are the greatest friend I have, and I would be lost without you.”

  Now it was my turn to tear up. “You’re my best friend in the whole entire world, Suzy. I will always be here for you.” We hugged for a few more moments, then Suzy wiped her face once more and jumped to her feet.

  She clapped her hands together three times. “Now, chop chop. We have a wedding to tackle, and you, my dear maid of honor, need to get your makeup done. You look completely exhausted. I mean, seriously, did you wrestle a hen last night?”

  I laughed. “Uh, something like that.”

  The next couple of hours were a blur. From makeup, hair, and everything in between I felt like I was spinning my wheels.

  Later, I was sitting on the small loveseat catching my breath when Suzy came running into the room.

  “It’s ruined!” she exclaimed with a small stomp of her foot. “I can’t believe it!”

  I stood up and decidedly ignored Suzy’s small bridezilla moment. After all, this was her big day and she deserved everything to be perfect. “Suzy, look at me. Breathe,” I said.

  She stared at me and nodded her head as she grabbed my hands.

  “Now tell me, what happened?”

  She breathed in, then let the words fall out in a frenzied mess. “Everything was perfect, but now the whole thing is ruined! The photographer can’t make it, says he is sick – the flu or something. If he thinks he’s keeping the deposit, he is so wrong. I can’t believe this. Seriously, on the day of my wedding? I don’t even have time to find a replacement now. This is a disaster!”

  I nodded my head. “Well, to be fair, it’s not like he can choose whether or not he gets sick. I’m sure he’s just as disappointed as you are, but I agree this is a disaster.” I glanced down at my phone. There was still one hour left until the ceremony. “But I think I might have a solution.”

  Suzy raised an eyebrow. “Oh really?”

  I smiled as I opened my messaging app. “I have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

  ME: Hey. U said i could get some of those pics anytime right?

  BILLY: I’ll have to talk to the photographer but i think i can work something out

  ME: I dont want the pics. Want the photographer.

  BILLY: Huh?

  ME: Long story. Suzys photographer is a no show. Need a new one

  BILLY: On my way.

  ME: Thx billy

  I added a smiley face to the end of the message and put my phone back in my pocket. I looked up at Suzy with smile. “It’s all taken care of.”

  She seemed skeptical. “What did you do?”

  I grinned from ear to ear. “You remember that old camera Billy used to play around with?”

  “Yeah, how could I forget? He practically terrorized us with that thing,” she said with a laugh.

  I said, “Turns out he still uses it. When we had dinner last night I saw some of the photos he took. I think he has real talent. He will bring his camera and take pictures of the ceremony, and the best part? You will get a free photographer. That’s if you don’t mind losing him as an usher. I figured photographer was a more important role.”

  Suzy grinned. “Emma, you are such a life saver!”

  “Well, you didn’t just make me your maid of honor for no reason,” I teased.

  “What would I do without you?” Suzy asked as she hugged me again. “I’m so sorry for being such an emotional roller coaster today.”

  I pulled back. “Hey, it’s your wedding day. I think you’re allowed to have a few break downs. In fact, I think it’s actually kind of expected.”

  “Thank you, Emma. Also, I hope you know you’re not off the hook just because it’s my wedding day. Later I wanna hear all about this ‘dinner’ you two had last night!”

  We both laughed, then Suzy gave my hand a squeeze before she rushed off to finish a few more minor details before the ceremony.

  Chapter 21

  The next hour was a blur. Billy showed up and tapped my shoulder while I was sipping from the water fountain inside the church. I turned to him and smiled. His hair was slicked back and he was wearing a nice tan suit with a tan vest to match. He looked so handsome, I glanced away awkwardly.

  “Wow, Emma. You look amazing. I guess all that talk about being bloated last night was just that. Talk.”

  I smiled nervously. “Well, if I would have taken you up on that slice of cake you might not be saying that.”

  He grinned. “Hey, so about last night, what I was trying to ask you was –”

  “Billy! I have never been more happy to see you in my whole entire life than I am in this moment.” Suzy came running up to him
and gave him a quick hug.

  “Wow. Suzy, I am at a loss for words. You look so –”

  She cut him off and did a little twirl. “Beautiful? Amazing? Perfect?”

  Billy laughed. “All of that and more.”

  Suzy smiled, then revealed a small piece of paper with a string attached from behind her back.

  “This,” she said as she hung the string around Billy’s neck, “is for you.”

  The paper read PHOTOGRAPHER in big, bold letters.

  “I don’t want any confusion on who is the photographer, I mean honestly, I should not have to explain to Aunt Deirdre that just because she owns a phone with a camera application, it does not make her a photographer.”

  Me and Billy exchanged a look. This was so typical of Suzy, being her usual bossy self. It put a smile on both of our faces.

  “Yes, captain,” Billy responded jokingly.

  Suzy rolled her eyes. “That is yes bride to you. Today is my wedding, after all. Now come on! We have to take pictures of the wedding party.” She turned to me. “And that includes you, Emma.”

  The wedding party pictures were hectic and a bit crazy. I felt bad for Billy being run around so much by Suzy, but I had to admit it was slightly entertaining. Everything went by so quickly, and before I knew it, it was nearly time for the ceremony to begin.

  I was watching the herd of people slowly calm, when I felt a gentle tap on my shoulder. I turned to see Mrs. Bostic smiling at me. Her brown eyes looked even darker with the circles she was sporting underneath them. She was normally a plump woman, but it appeared as though she had lost a few pounds since Todd’s passing.

  She said, “When Gentry told me you were in town I just couldn't believe I hadn't seen you for myself yet! You sure know how to hide, Emma.”

  I found myself feeling guilty yet again. “I guess I have been a little busy. I'm sorry for not seeing you earlier. I was sorry to hear about Todd. He was a great man.”