Murder at Redwood Cove

by Janet Finsilver

  “Gotta go. And don’t let anything happen to those horse pajamas. Very cute. ’Bye.”

  He hung up before I could get in a retort. I sipped the coffee, thinking I was already looking forward to the next time we talked.

  The finished breakfast baskets were outside the guest rooms. Back in the kitchen, I placed them on the counter. I toasted some bread and spread it with organic peanut butter and homemade wild strawberry jam. I took a couple of bites and began to put dishes in the sink.

  I heard men’s voices in the hallway. Michael and Daniel entered.

  “Welcome aboard.” Michael gave Daniel a hearty clap on the back.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “No more ‘sir.’ My staff calls me Michael.”

  “I won’t let you down.” Daniel turned to me. “Kelly, do you need me for anything today?”

  “No.” This was his usual day off. “It’s a good time for you and Allie to be together.” I smiled at him. “And congratulations.”

  He beamed and hurried out the door.

  “It’s been quite the few days for you.” Michael sat down on one of the stools.

  “Yep. Do you want some coffee?”

  “Sounds good. You know me.”

  I chose a large mug, filled it, and handed it to him. I walked around the counter and sat beside him.

  “I’m glad you came out of it okay. Your father would’ve never forgiven me.” He took a sip of his coffee.

  “Michael, this was my first assignment as an administrator for your company. I’d like your feedback on how I did.”

  “You did an excellent job. You stepped into an unknown situation, followed company protocol, and used your ingenuity to solve a crime.”

  “Thanks.”

  “More than that, you valued the people of the community and the employees. You respected the Silver Sentinels. Some people would’ve dismissed them. You supported Helen and Tommy, putting them first. Giving them your room. Filling in today.” He paused. “That’s what I want from people in this company—thinking in a big-picture way. It’s a sense of family and working together I want to create. You’ve done that. Your dad will be proud.”

  “Thank you for the compliments.” I turned the mug around and around in my hands. “I know you and Dad are friends and that’s why I got considered for the job as a temporary assistant in Colorado.”

  “Right.” Corrigan looked puzzled.

  “Michael, it’s important for me to be appreciated for myself as an individual and what I can contribute.”

  Corrigan straightened up on the stool.

  I looked at him. “Do I have this job as an executive administrator because of who I am and what I did in Colorado or because of your friendship with my father?”

  He was quiet for a moment.

  “You earned it every bit of the way.” He leaned toward me. “I mean that. It has nothing to do with your father.”

  I took a deep breath. “Thank you. That means a lot.”

  “You’re right about my giving you some special consideration when I hired you in the beginning. I knew about your upbringing and what you did on the ranch. Making you an executive administrator was my decision based on your performance. And what you accomplished here shows me I did the right thing.”

  “Thanks for telling me that.”

  “You’re one of us. You’re part of the team.” He gave me a quick hug. “I have some business I need to attend to today. I’d like to meet tomorrow morning and talk about Daniel taking over.”

  “Okay.”

  “Unfortunately, I’ll have to start searching for another manager in a month or so.”

  I sat up, confused. “What do you mean?” He’d just hired Daniel.

  “The Ridley House came on the market. I’ve been wanting to buy and renovate it for years. I’m meeting with the real estate agent today to put in an offer.”

  “So you’ll be looking for a manager for the new place?”

  “No, I’m going to assign Daniel to it. I know he refers to himself as a handyman, but he’s much more than that. He’s a very skilled carpenter. Daniel also spent a lot of time working for a contractor whom I know and respect. It’s going to need a lot of work. Daniel can oversee the job and do some of the work himself. I’m sending one of my architects out to prepare the plans.”

  “Does that mean you’ll be looking for a manager for this place?” My thoughts flew back to this morning. Thoughts of home.

  “Yep. Back to square one.”

  “Michael”—I swallowed hard—“I’d like to be the manager here.”

  Corrigan put his cup on the counter and stared at me. “Are you saying you’d like to move here and make this your full-time job?”

  I took in a deep breath. Was I sure? “Yes.” The answer rang true in my heart of hearts.

  “This is a very small town, a place where it can take a long time to develop friendships.”

  “I feel I already have some friends. And a small town is what I like, it’s where I belong.” My excitement was building.

  “I was going to give you a choice of two different resorts for your next assignment—one in the Bahamas and one in Florida.”

  I didn’t feel the slightest interest. “I’d like to stay here.”

  “Okay. I’m willing to let you give it a try on one condition.”

  “What’s that?”

  “If it doesn’t work out, you let me know. Don’t let pride get in the way. You can have your current position back.”

  “Michael, thanks!” I wanted to clap my hands together but felt I’d better retain a little decorum. “I even have a horse to ride! Diane at Redwood Stables said I could ride him any time he was available. And we’re going to plan a series of equestrian travel vacations with special meals and events and—”

  “Okay, okay.” He laughed. “We’ll see how it goes.”

  I couldn’t believe how excited I felt.

  “What I’d like you to do is stay here for a month and work with Daniel. Then take a few weeks to go home, pack your things, and move out here.”

  Move out here. Wow! Yay! I’d be coming back to Redwood Cove and all the great people I’d met.

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “See you tomorrow.” Corrigan picked up his briefcase and left the room.

  And he left me walking on clouds. I was valued and respected. I was part of a team. I had a new career. I had a new beginning. I’d found my place and my new home.

  Please turn the page for an exciting sneak peek of

  Janet Finsilver’s next Redwood Cove Mystery

  MURDER AT THE MANSION

  coming in June 2016!

  Chapter 1

  As I straightened out the Jeep after rounding a long curve, Redwood Cove popped into view. White buildings, looking like small squares, dotted a grove of trees. The aquamarine Pacific Ocean crashed against rocky outcroppings on my left, spewing foam and creating swirling mists.

  Redwood Cove. My new home.

  Excitement pushed away the weariness of long driving hours from Wyoming. My heart beat faster and goose bumps rose on my arms.

  “My new home.” I whispered it aloud.

  “My new job.” I spoke it aloud.

  Tiredness slipped away as my mind raced ahead. I kept my foot steady on the gas pedal, remembering the horse trailer I pulled behind me filled with my belongings. I turned off the song Walking on Sunshine playing on the radio, put the window down, and let the salty breath of the ocean pour in.

  I visualized the business cards nestled in a leather case in my purse. “Resorts International” in raised letters at the top. “Kelly Jackson, manager, Redwood Cove Bed-and-Breakfast” artfully displayed in the middle. The cards would rest on the engraved brass holder my boss, Michael Corrigan, had sent me as a welcoming gift.

  I turned off the highway and saw the steeple of Redwood Cove Bed-and-Breakfast standing out against the sky. As I pulled into the driveway of the B&B, I inhaled deeply, struck by the sheer beaut
y of the place as well as the intense sweet fragrance permeating the air. The brilliant array of flowers on the trellised vines created a kaleidoscope of color next to the elegant white sculpted pillars. Gingerbread trim adorned the two-story inn.

  I drove to the back and pulled off to the side of the parking area by the garage. The back door of the inn burst open, and a ten-year-old boy bounded down the stairs followed by a short, heavy-set basset hound.

  “Miss Kelly! Miss Kelly! Hi!” Tommy slid to a stop in front of me. “Welcome back.” His tricolored hound, Fred, jumped up and down next to him, or at least as best he could. His upper torso could only clear the ground by a couple of inches.

  I smiled. “Glad to be here, Tommy.”

  He flew by me with Fred at his heels and clambered up onto the fender of the trailer. “Did you bring a horse? Did you? Did you?”

  “No, sorry Tommy. It’s filled with my things.”

  Helen, Tommy’s mother, had followed him outside. She wiped her hands on her apron and gave me a hug. “It’s so good to have you back, Kelly.”

  I returned the embrace. She looked much better than the last time I saw her, with more color in her face and no longer gaunt and haggard looking.

  “And it’s wonderful to see you, Helen. And Tommy and Fred, of course.” I smiled at her. “I’m excited to hear how things are going.”

  “Why the horse trailer?”

  “I decided this trailer was the easiest way for me to haul my stuff. My parents are going to come for a visit in a couple of months when the weather at the ranch in Wyoming makes California sound good. They’ll take it back with them then.”

  Tommy climbed down and patted Fred, who’d been unsuccessful at jumping up onto the trailer.

  “I didn’t bring a horse, Tommy, but I do have my saddle. Would you like to see it?” The last time I’d been here, Diane at Redwood Cove Stable had offered to let me ride an Appaloosa, Nezi, when the horse was available. I intended to take her up on it.

  “You bet.”

  I went over to the trailer, unlatched the tailgate, and placed it on the ground, forming a ramp. The saddle was on a wooden stand I’d secured to the wall. Tommy rushed into the trailer and began to trace the intricate tooled leather pattern with his fingers.

  “I’ll be doing some riding at a local stable,” I told him. “It’s nice to have my own saddle because the stirrups are adjusted for me and the seat fits.” And it’s part of my family life I’d brought with me.

  “Cool. Did you bring your bridle?”

  “No, the bits used on the bridles are specific to each horse’s needs. There are lots of different types.”

  Tommy reached out and touched my leather belt with the gold and silver championship barrel racing buckle. “Wow.” His eyes were wide.

  I had never heard a one-syllable word sound so long as when Tommy uttered that word. I had wrapped the belt around the saddle horn at the last minute. It wasn’t everyday wear, but I’d ridden with it for years and decided to bring it along.

  Before I could explain, my attention was drawn away to the rattling engine of an approaching vehicle. I looked down the driveway and saw a faded blue Volkswagen bus approaching.

  I knew it well.

  The vehicle parked at the back of the inn and tall, lanky Daniel Stevens emerged, the newly appointed manager of Ridley House, a sister property. His daughter, Allie, appeared from around the back of the bus. They were father-daughter look-alikes with their straight blue-black hair, high cheekbones, and copper-hued skin.

  Daniel gave me a quick, friendly hug. “It’s good to have you back.”

  “I’m glad to be here.”

  Allie smiled. “Hi, Kelly.”

  Tommy called out, “Allie, come look at this cool saddle and belt.” She left to join him.

  “How are the renovations coming?” I asked.

  “Fine. They’re on schedule,” Daniel replied. “Should be done by the end of next week, and Redwood Cove B&B will be ready to open.”

  “Michael asked me to do an inventory of some historic items at a place called Redwood Heights and help out with a festival this weekend.”

  “He told me,” Daniel said. “After acquiring Ridley House a couple of months ago, Michael decided to put Redwood Heights up for sale. It’s a little different from his other properties,” Daniel said.

  A glance passed between Helen and Daniel.

  I wondered what that was about.

  “I’ve been helping with some repairs to get the place ready to sell,” Daniel continued. “Michael’s got an interested buyer. It’s worked out well since I’ve been overseeing the construction on all three places.”

  Helen chimed in. “I’ve been preparing the afternoon appetizers. Since I was available, it made sense to give the cook at the Heights a chance to have a vacation.”

  “What’s the event this weekend?” I asked. “Michael said you’d fill me in.”

  “The whales migrate this time of year,” Helen explained. “And there’s some great whale watching opportunities. Communities up and down the coast host various activities.”

  “What fun!”

  “We call our festival Whale Frolic,” Helen added. “There’ll be a chowder contest and inns around town will have wine and gourmet treats for people to enjoy. Redwood Heights will be one of the places participating. The money from the tickets benefits the local hospital.”

  Daniel watched the kids happily chattering as they examined the saddle and the belt. “There’s a social hour at five at Redwood Heights if you’d like to go tonight,” he said. “That is, if you’re not too tired.”

  “Sounds great. After all the sitting I’ve been doing, I’d enjoy some activity.”

  “We can introduce you to the manager, Margaret Hensley.” He shot Helen another quick look.

  What was going on between these two?

  A creaking noise caused the three of us to look down the driveway. A large motor home was crawling toward us, rocking gently from side to side. It drove by and parked in front of my Jeep.

  Pictures of two larger-than-life beagles covered the side of the RV. One of them wore a pink collar, the other one blue. The slogan emblazoned next to them read, “Bedbugs? Termites? If you’ve got ’em, they’ll find ’em. Call on Jack and Jill. Get the four-legged pros on the job and have a restful sleep tonight.” A phone number was underneath it.

  “Daniel?” I turned and looked up at him. “Is there something you haven’t told me?”

  Little did I know bedbugs and termites would be the least of my concerns in the coming days . . .

  LYRICAL UNDERGROUND BOOKS are published by

  Kensington Publishing Corp.

  119 West 40th Street

  New York, NY 10018

  Copyright © 2015 by Janet Finsilver

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the Publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.

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  First Electronic Edition: October 2015

  ISBN: 978-1-6165-0929-3

  First Print Edition: October 2015

  ISBN-13: 978-1-61650-930-9

  ISBN-10: 1-61650-930-9