Wipe Out: A fun and fast-paced private investigator cozy mystery/beach read (Maggie PI Mysteries Book 3)

by Rose Pressey

  “Is that him over there?” Morton pointed.

  Morton was a man of little words. I was surprised he’d spoken up now. I followed his pointing finger. Jake was across the way fighting with Roland.

  Roland was a large man and I knew he had to be strong. The men were rolling around on the pavement and throwing punches. I took off across the parking lot and reached the area where Jake was still fighting with this guy.

  “Get off him,” I yelled.

  As if the guy would just stop hitting Jake because I asked him to. What else could I do? I reached down and pulled on Roland. He was solid muscle and I didn’t budge him at all. As I grasped his shirt and pulled, my hands slipped and I stumbled backward. Somehow I managed to stay on my feet. It was time for another plan.

  Where were Kevan and Kenneth? Would they show up again? I couldn’t even get one guy off Jake, much less three of them. Had Jake called for backup? I needed to do it right away. I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Dorothy and Morton had joined me in this parking lot too. Now I had to worry about them getting hurt. To my horror, Dorothy ran past me and jumped on the guy’s back, like she was diving onto a beanbag chair. Both men released a groan.

  “Dorothy, get out of there,” I yelled.

  I ran over and tried to get Dorothy off his back. She was just as hard to pull off the pile as the other guy. Morton was pacing back and forth as if he was trying to figure out what to do. I felt the same way. Though I knew that pacing wouldn’t help me. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted movement. Kevan and Kenneth had returned. They saw us fighting and were running over. This was bad. I pulled out my gun and aimed it at them. I would have pointed it at Roland, but I knew he would know that I wouldn’t shoot with Jake there.

  Kevan and Kenneth stopped.

  “Put your hands up.”

  Surprisingly, they did as they were told. Of course Roland didn’t stop struggling with Jake. Morton lunged forward and repeatedly hit Roland. Morton wouldn’t let up until this guy stopped fighting with Jake. After what seemed an eternity Roland rolled off Jake, but Morton didn’t stop hitting the guy with the cane. Roland held his hands up, trying to stop the whacks. I wanted to run over to Jake, but I had to keep the gun pointed at Kevan and Kenneth. They were trying to talk me out of pointing it at them.

  Dorothy and Morton weren’t finished with Roland. Dorothy had pulled out a knitting needle and pointed it at Roland.

  “Put your hands behind your back,” Dorothy ordered. “I know how to use this needle. I’ve knitted hundreds of pot holders. Maybe thousands.”

  Roland laughed.

  “Do as she tells you,” I yelled.

  I was the one with the gun, so he had little choice. Dorothy ran over to the guy and wrapped her purse strap around his hands. I doubted that would keep him from using his hands, but I didn’t tell Dorothy that. She was just trying to help. Thank goodness for Morton and his cane. Jake had managed to get up now and yanked the handcuffs from his back pocket.

  Jake cuffed Roland. I still had the gun pointed at the other men, but my arms shook and I worried how much longer I could hold out. Thank goodness other police cars arrived. Sirens and flashing lights filled the night air. The police jumped out of their cars and arrested the other men. Jake turned to me and I knew I had a lot of explaining to do after what we’d just done. Jake closed the distance between us in two quick steps. He scooped me up in his arms and captured me in a kiss that left my mind spinning. Momentarily, I forgot about my surroundings. I was pretty sure that Jake had as well. After a couple more seconds, he moved back from my face. Words failed me momentarily.

  When I recovered, I asked, “I guess that was a ‘thank you?’

  “That was a ‘never do that again.’” He caressed my cheek.

  “I helped you though.”

  “Yes, and I can’t believe you did that for me,” Jake said.

  I knew that my cheeks had turned a deep shade of red. I was glad that it was dark out and Jake wouldn’t be able to see how much I blushed. Now more than ever I couldn’t deny my feelings for Jake.

  I shrugged. “You needed my help.”

  He knew that it was much more than that.

  “Jake,” Dorothy called out.

  Jake turned his attention to Dorothy and Morton.

  “Are you all right, Jake?” Dorothy grabbed Jake, checking his arms, legs, and head.

  When he looked at me I just shrugged. Jake reached out and shook Morton’s hand. “That was impressive, Morton.”

  “Thank you,” Morton said in his usual soft tone.

  “And thank you, Dorothy. Who knew that a purse strap could hold a big guy like that?”

  Dorothy smiled, proud of her quick thinking.

  “Now we just need to find out why they did this,” Jake said. “We’ll question them as soon as we get them to the station.”

  “Though that doesn’t mean they will confess,” I said.

  “No, it doesn’t mean they will,” Jake said.

  When I looked around I spotted Dorothy talking to the criminals. What was she doing?

  I rushed over to her. “Dorothy, don’t talk to them.”

  “No need for questioning,” she said, popping a mint into her mouth.

  “What do you mean?” Jake frowned.

  “I have all the information. They’re singing like canaries.”

  Dorothy had been watching too many old crime movies.

  “You mean they talked to you?” I asked.

  “Yes, ma’am. Penelope hired Kevan to kill Henry because she thought Henry had killed Skye. Turns out Roland had killed Skye because of a botched drug deal. Penelope found out about Roland killing Skye, so he offed her too.”

  “Skye sold drugs?” Jake asked.

  Dorothy nodded. “Yes, and Skye hired Kenneth and Roland to murder Henry because he had found out what she was doing. Well, at least she thought Henry was close to finding out the truth. She was killed before they killed Henry.”

  “Sounds like they were paid twice to kill the same person,” I said.

  Dorothy continued, “Brett wanted more money for his role in their crimes, so they got rid of him. Penelope had discovered the truth too.”

  Jake and I exchanged a look of disbelief.

  Dorothy shrugged. “I paid attention all those years working with Griffin Thomas.”

  I laughed. “Dorothy Raye, you’re one in a million.”

  The police stuffed Roland, Kenneth, and Kevan into the back of the police cars. Dorothy and Morton walked hand in hand to his car, leaving me alone with Jake.

  Jake wrapped his arms around me and kissed me again.

  “Jake Jackson, why do you always pop up? Sometimes when I need help the most?” I asked.

  “Maggie, I can’t let you get hurt. If I can be here to help you, I will.”

  “Danger goes with the job.” I grinned.

  “I hope your next case is a simple insurance fraud or cheating spouse,” Jake said.

  “What can I say? I’m Maggie, P.I. and I live dangerously.”

  The End

  About the Author

  Rose Pressey is a USA Today bestselling author. She enjoys writing quirky and fun novels with a paranormal twist. The paranormal has always captured her interest. The thought of finding answers to the unexplained fascinates her.

  When she’s not writing about werewolves, vampires and every other supernatural creature, she loves eating cupcakes with sprinkles, reading, spending time with family, and listening to oldies from the fifties.

  Rose suffers from Psoriatic Arthritis and has knee replacements. She might just set the world record for joint replacements. She’s soon having her hips replaced, elbows, and at least one shoulder.

  Rose lives in the beautiful commonwealth of Kentucky with her husband, son, and two sassy Chihuahuas.

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