by K E O'Connor
The crowd murmured and everyone glanced at me.
“I hope you’ll forgive me for being such a bad judge of character.” Bill’s hand trembled as he lifted his glass to his lips. “I also wanted to take a moment to commemorate the loss of Phil. He was a decent zombie who hadn’t been in Zee Town for long and was looking for a haven. I’m sad to say, because of my nephew, we failed him. I’d like us to remember Phil and how important it is that we keep an eye out for our zombies and make sure they’re always safe.”
The crowd murmured again. A few heads lowered as we thought about the loss we’d experienced.
Bill looked around the crowd. his jaw wobbling as if he was about to lose control. I hurried forward, my half-drunk glass of champagne in hand, and turned toward the crowd, grabbing hold of Bill’s elbow as I did so.
“Thank you, Bill, for those kind words. I know we’ll all remember Phil fondly.” I looked around the pub. “I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped organize today. It’s a lovely surprise. I wasn’t expecting it.”
The people in front of me smiled, and several of them raised their glasses at me.
“I think we’ve waited long enough. There’s an enormous buffet to devour. Please get started and enjoy the rest of your afternoon.” I squeezed Bill’s elbow and guided him to the bar.
“Thank you, Cassie.” Bill sounded choked up. “I got a little overwhelmed with so many faces looking at me.”
“No one blames you for what happened. Get yourself another drink and try to relax. Everything back to normal,” I said.
As I turned and looked around the pub, I realized I was right. People were smiling and happy again. Although we had lost one of our zombies, Zee Town would be fine.
I did a few more circuits of the room, chatting to people and sneaking treats from the delicious buffet Marissa had arranged.
After several glasses of champagne, I was chilled out and basked in the glow of everyone’s kind words. I quite liked this hero worshipping, now I was getting used to it.
Stool limped over as I sat at a table. He placed his head on my lap and gazed at me. “I bet you want your ears scratched.”
He wagged his tail, which I took to mean yes, and happily obliged.
“I should have guessed where he was.” Nick walked over and sat opposite me. “That dog can’t leave you alone.”
“He’s got excellent taste,” I said.
“Maybe he has.” Nick’s smile was wry. “Have you enjoyed your afternoon of being a hero?”
“I’ve had worse afternoons,” I said. “Yesterday certainly makes it into the top five worst afternoons I’ve ever experienced.”
Nick’s smile widened. “And to think, a few days ago, you were dancing with a criminal.”
I frowned. “You don’t need to remind me about what an idiot I’ve been with Grant.”
Nick’s face softened as he looked at me. “You need to be more careful, though. I understand you’re protective of our zombies, but you need to protect yourself as well. It would be a loss to Zee Town if anything bad happened to you.”
I blinked at Nick through a champagne-tinted perspective. “Would you miss me?”
Nick’s eyes widened for a second. “I would. Who would I have to bicker with about cases?”
I smiled. “I suppose I should thank you.”
“For what?” Nick asked.
“For the Valentine card,” I said. “It was you who sent it, wasn’t it?”
Nick blinked rapidly and looked at Stool. “Well, in a way I did.”
“What do you mean?” I took a sip of my champagne.
“I wrote in the card, but it wasn’t from me.” His gaze remained on Stool.
I looked at Stool, who was half-asleep, his head still resting on my lap. “Stool sent me a Valentine card?”
“He’s always chasing after you like some lovesick pooch,” Nick said. “If he could have written it himself, I know he would have.”
I sat back in my seat, unable to decide whether I was humiliated or amused by the fact the only Valentine card I’d gotten in years was from a three-legged dog.
I settled for amused. It was that or plant my face in the cake on the buffet table and sign up for a lifetime of spinsterhood.
“You’re not angry, are you?” Nick asked after a few seconds of awkward silence.
“No, but it’s a sad state of affairs when the only love interest a woman has is a dog.” I stroked my fingers through Stool’s fur, and he grumbled in appreciation.
Nick grinned. “At least you no longer have a love interest in Grant.”
I sighed. “Nope. I’m off guys for good.”
“Really?”
“Don’t sound so surprised. You said yourself, I was dancing with a criminal. I’ll stick to dogs. You can always rely on them.”
Nick lifted his chin. “Not all guys are bad.”
“Where do you sit?”
Nick’s eyebrows rose. “In terms of what?”
“Are you a good guy or a bad guy?” I wasn’t even certain why I asked. I didn’t like Nick, although he did look handsome today.
Nick’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “Would you have liked a card from me?”
I was so surprised by his question that I didn’t speak, deciding instead to take a long drink of champagne.
“When you go silent, I get worried,” Nick said. “It’s such an unusual state of affairs.”
“You’d never send me a card. We don’t like each other.”
“I don’t dislike you,” Nick said. “Although, when you’re breaking the law and chasing after criminals, you’re not my most popular person.”
“I don’t want a sympathy Valentine’s card if that’s what you mean,” I said.
Nick shrugged and looked into his drink. “Maybe it wouldn’t be a sympathy card.”
Before I’d processed Nick’s elusive comment, Jen, Laura, and Selina walked to the table, laden with large slices of cake and more champagne.
“You have to try this.” Jen passed me a piece of cake.
I accepted the cake, my gaze still on Nick. Had he just suggested he liked me?
“Try it,” Jen said as she pointed at the cake. “It’s amazing. Triple chocolate maple.”
I took a mouthful of cake. It was delicious. “It’s wonderful.”
“Now, you need to tell us everything that happened on the beach.” Selina pulled up a seat. “Don’t spare any details. I want to hear all about it.”
“Yes, me too.” Laura moved around the table and sat down.
“There’s plenty of food left over,” Jen said, looking pointedly at Nick. “Make sure you get more before you leave.”
“That’s a good idea.” Nick smiled as he excused himself from the table. “Enjoy the rest of your afternoon, Cassie.”
As Jen took Nick’s vacated seat, I watched him walk over to Alex and exchange a few words. Nick had surprised me recently. He’d helped with our missing zombies, he was fighting to keep Alex’s job, and he was devoted to Stool, no matter how hard he tried to hide it. And then there was the offer of a Valentine’s card. Had I made a mistake about Nick?
“Don’t keep us in suspense.” Selina tapped my hand. “We want to know what happened and how you saved the zombies.”
Nick looked at me and smiled before raising his glass. I smiled back, ignoring Selina’s demands. Was there more to Nick Morton than I’d realized?
“Cassie, stop daydreaming and tell us what happened,” Laura insisted.
I turned to my friends and tried to shut out the confusing thoughts I had about Nick. As I looked around the table at their expectant faces, I had to smile.
Zee Town was an amazing place. I had lovely friends, and although there was always too much work to do, I wouldn’t change a thing about this wonderful, chaotic, brilliant town.
My smiled widened. “So, where shall I begin?”
BOOK 3
MURDER FLING
K.E. O’CONNOR
C
hapter 1
A sharp breeze nipped at my nose as I dashed to Laura’s diner. I pulled my gloves tightly around my wrists and waved my hands as if trying to cast a spell to convince the breeze to disappear.
The heads of miniature daffodils peered up hopefully as I walked past. Much like the flowers, I knew spring was coming. The last signs of winter would soon be gone.
I wore my bright pink gloves as a sign of support for spring as it struggled through the last winter days and forced the sun out again, returning to bathe the beautiful Cornish coastline of Zee Town with warmth once again.
I pushed open the door to the diner and hurried inside. The place was busy, with lots of people enjoying Laura’s delicious breakfasts. Most of the cloth-covered tables were occupied, and several people sat drinking tea at the gleaming counter.
Laura stood behind the counter, sporting a sparkly purple headscarf, a white apron tied around her trim waist. She looked up as I approached the counter, her eyes crinkling at the corners.
“Morning, Laura,” I said.
“What will it be today, Cassie? Tea to go or do you have time to stop and chat? The Spring Fling can manage without you for a few minutes.” She raised her eyebrows, her smile broadening. Laura knew me too well. I was a woman married to my work. Which was just as well, given my single status.
I ran the Tourism and Cultural Center in Zee Town. The town was famous for its beautiful seaside and the year-round events I ran. It was also the only placid zombie refuge in the country and was a huge draw for tourists, who were eager to see how zombies and humans could live happily together side-by-side.
I pulled off my gloves and hopped onto a high stool by the counter, before smoothing my bob back into shape. “I’ve got time to stop for a tea.”
“One tea coming up.” Laura turned away and grabbed a white mug from the back shelf. “Fill me in on the plans for the Spring Fling. I’m looking forward to the event blasting away these winter cobwebs. All I want to do is hide under the duvet or warm my toes in front of the fire and eat too much cake.”
“You’re not the only one,” I said. “I’m nearly out of wood for my log burner.” I lived in a lovely two-bed whitewashed cottage, complete with ancient wooden beams, a courtyard garden, and a log burner in the lounge. It was small but perfect.
Laura placed my tea on the counter. “Have you finished arranging the music? I fancy a good dance.”
I nodded. “The Twisted Zombies are playing this year.” The Spring Fling was an annual event held on the beach in Zee Town. We had the usual fun—dancing, competitions, and an array of tasty treats on offer during the event. It was called a Spring Fling for a good reason: we held a welly flinging contest.
“I hope I win a prize this year,” Laura said. “I need to get practicing my welly throw.”
“You won last year, didn’t you?” I took a sip of my tea, masking my grin.
Laura frowned. “I won the Most Comedic Fling. I hit the Mayor on the head with my welly!”
I couldn’t hold in my laugh. “The picture made front page news.”
“Not one of my proudest moments.” Laura’s smile was rueful. “This time, I’m determined to win something good. I should take up weightlifting to strengthen my arm muscles and give myself more of a chance.”
“You could try for Most Creative Throw, or the Throw with the Most Number of Swings? Don’t waste your time going for the longest throw. That’s all about brute strength.”
“Nick Morton won that category last year,” Laura said, a twinkle in her eyes. “I wonder if he’ll take part this year.” She was convinced Nick was interested in me. It was something I’d strongly denied until recently, when I’d received a Valentine card from him. Well, technically, it had been from his three-legged dog, Stool, but it was close enough to make me wonder. Nick was grumpy and could be mean if you got on his bad side. It was a side I frequently found myself on. Still, he was attractive when he wasn’t scowling.
“He did. He’ll enter again. Nick won’t want his record defeated.” I was undecided about Nick. We spent a lot of time arguing about my interest in police matters. I couldn’t decide whether he liked me or hated me. Most of the time, it felt like the latter.
“Let me know if you need a hand with anything at the Fling,” Laura said. “I’ll make my usual themed muffins and cookies to sell on the day.”
“I should be fine. The Fling doesn’t bring in that many tourists. I’m sure your muffins will be a success.” Laura excelled in making tasty produce to sell during the events in Zee Town. They were very popular, not just with visitors.
“I was thinking a spring flower theme for the muffins.” Laura flapped a cloth over one shoulder. “Iced zombie fluffy chicks will look sweet. Or I can ice everything in pastel spring colors.”
“That all sounds tasty.” The Spring Fling raised money from Zee Town visitors, but I mainly ran it to get residents together after winter and have fun before the tourists flocked in and we got too busy to see straight. That happened every summer.
“I’ll be sure to save you some if you don’t get a chance to drop by,” Laura said. “I know how busy you’ll be with your meticulous planning.”
“That’s what I’m paid for.” I had so many events to plan that if I left everything to the last minute, I’d fall over with exhaustion. Planning made sure that didn’t happen.
Laura’s gaze moved to the diner window. “Isn’t that Stool limping by?”
I swiveled in my seat and spotted a three-legged black and tan dog making his way past the diner. “Is Nick with him?” It wasn’t uncommon to see Stool out on his own. He liked to explore, and, according to Nick, could get out of anywhere he was shut in.
“I didn’t see Nick go by,” Laura said. “Do you want to speak to him?”
I’d been avoiding Nick ever since the discovery of the Valentine card. I had found it funny that he’d sent a card from Stool, but it left me with confused feelings about what to do next.
Nick was terrible about opening up to people. I didn’t know how he felt about me. Or, for that matter, how I felt about him. So, I did what every grown-up woman should do; I tried my best to ignore him. I wasn’t yet thirty. I was allowed to be a little immature when it came to matters of the heart.
“No, there’s nothing I wish to say to our local law enforcement officer.” I downed my tea and stood. “I’d better go and see what Stool’s up to. Perhaps he missed breakfast and is hungry.”
Laura smiled. “You and Nick act like you have joint custody of Stool. He’s your fur baby.”
I shrugged. That was true. I would have loved Stool to be mine, but he was loyal to Nick. I hurried out the diner, quickly catching Stool, whose head was down and his movements determined as he hopped along on his three legs.
“Good morning, Stool,” I said to his rear end.
His head shot up and a doggie smile appeared on his face, his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth.
“Would you like to spend the morning with me? I have new treats for you.” I kept a supply of dog treats in the office and at home, where Stool spent a lot of his spare time.
Stool gave a gentle bark in response. We walked companionably together to the tourism office. I unlocked the doors and opened the shutters, the trinkets I made jangling in the window as I touched them. The mix of stone, glass, and beads cast pretty patterns across the wooden floor.
“I need to make more of those,” I said to Stool. I couldn’t stop making trinkets. It had become a hobby ever since the zombie uprising. I picked up small stones, bits of rounded glass and anything shiny, and formed them into long trinkets for people to put in their windows or by their doors. I’d find myself at the end of a long day, taking out my box of tools and making several trinkets. The pads of my fingers were still sore from last night’s mammoth trinket making session.
I pulled out the dog treats and gave Stool a handful. I stroked his head before leaving him to his food, switched on the office equipment, and heated the beef
broth I kept on hand for my zombie assistant, Zara Warrick.
The bell above the office door rang. Zara ambled in, her gray eyes acknowledging me, her faded red hair sticking up around her head as if she’d been caught in a strong breeze.
“Beef broth is ready whenever you want it,” I said. It was her favorite food if there weren’t any fresh brains to be had.
“Thank you. Windy outside.” Zara poured herself some broth and settled behind her desk.
“It is. Spring’s almost here,” I said. “I saw the first daffodils this morning on my way to work.”
“No more winter. Time for our Fling.” Zara smiled.
I was pleased to see she appeared more animated than usual. Our placid zombies were an odd bunch. Some could pass as human from a distance and had reasonably good social skills. Others faded swiftly, as if everything that once made them human seeped out of them like a deflating balloon. Some rotted fast, while some barely decayed for years.
“Look what I made last night.” I extracted four trinkets from my purse and walked to her desk.
Zara ran a hand down a trinket. “Pretty. Keep us safe.”
“Well, they make the window look nice. I’m not sure about safe. I need to find people to give them to, though. Our window is crammed.” If I hung anymore, people wouldn’t be able to see into the office.
Selina Talbert rushed past the office, her long gray hair waving behind her as she strode along the street. Selina was our doctor, an expert in patching up and assisting the living and the dead, plus medical examiner, and mortician all rolled into one eccentric, clever package. “What’s got our doctor in such a hurry?” I approached the window, seeing her heading toward of her office.
“Zombie lost her head?” Zara asked.
I laughed at her unexpected joke as I returned to my desk. “You never know around here.”
“I like mine,” Zara said. “It’s staying put.” She patted the top of her head.