by Louise Lynn
Ruth ran up, gave her a big hug, and relieved her of the black cat. “Why did it take you so long to get here?” she whined, though Hazel didn’t know if she was talking to Hazel herself or the cat.
“I slept in. Attacking murderers is hard work,” she said and ruffled Ruth’s hair.
Ruth grinned, showing off the gap in her teeth. “Wonder Auntie! Wonder Auntie! Does everything a Wonder Auntie can,” she sang and twirled in circles around the living room.
“You had better not be telling her anything else about that murder. I swear. You never want me to sleep again, do you?” Esther called from the kitchen.
The scents coming from that room smelt delicious. Eggplant parmesan, if she wasn’t mistaken, and Hazel bit her tongue as she walked in.
A bottle of red wine sat in the middle of the table, and her mother had already poured herself a liberal glass. Her father helped stir one of the pots.
And Esther wasn’t scowling, for once.
“I didn’t say anything about the murders. I said attacking murderers was hard work.”
Esther glowered and didn’t make any further comment.
Her father’s eyes sparkled as he smiled at her. “I’m proud of you, Hazel. And I saw the pictures you shot last night. Good work. Especially in such low light. Nice and crisp.”
Hazel couldn’t help but grin.
Then, he tasted the sauce he was stirring in his eyes widened. “Your own recipe, Esther? It’s perfect. Tastes like the marinara in Naples.”
Hazel saw the beaming smile that Esther tried to control but couldn’t.
There wasn’t much that could go wrong on a night like that.
Until halfway through the meal when a knock sounded at the door.
Hazel felt her heart drop into her stomach and found herself rising to answer it before anyone else. The thoughts of what it could be flitted through her mind. Did Bobby Martin say something about her mother being involved? Sheriff Cross wouldn’t believe that, would he?
When she swung open the door, Sheriff Cross stood there, the air crisp and shrouded in twilight.
“You’re not questioning any more of my family members,” Hazel said.
A smirk twitched at the corner of Sheriff Cross’s mouth. “That’s not why I came. Actually, I wanted to apologize.”
“Apologize to my mother for thinking she’s a murderer?”
It looked like it pained him, but Sheriff Cross nodded. He sucked in a deep breath and let it out. “I’m sorry I didn’t apologize as soon as I realized it couldn’t have been her. Is that good enough?”
Hazel nodded stiffly. It would have to do. “Apology accepted.”
“I saw your pictures on the cover of the Post. I like it even better when you shoot living subjects.”
Hazel shrugged. “I do what I can.”
“Actually,” Sheriff Cross said and leaned forward a few inches. “I’m not sure we would’ve caught Bobby so quickly without your help. Ambrose Angel might’ve died if you hadn’t been there so … thanks. We make a good team.”
The butterfly took flight again, and Hazel wondered what team meant. A working team.
Obviously.
Nothing else.
She nodded. “We kinda do.”
“What are you doing letting all that cold air in? Tell the sheriff to get in here and have some eggplant parmesan,” her mother called from the kitchen.
Hazel felt her cheeks burning. It looked like her mother had forgiven the sheriff before she had. “You heard the woman. Do you want to come in for dinner?”
Sheriff Cross hovered at the doorway before finally stepping in. “I’d love to.”
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Read the rest of the Hazel Hart Cozy Mystery Series!
Hazel Hart is having a terrible day.
A man is murdered in her Wild @ Hart Photo Studio, and the new sheriff in Cedar Valley not only declares it a crime scene and insults Hazel’s fashion sense, but he also suspects Hazel of the murder!
In order to clear her name and restore her shop’s reputation, Hazel must find the real killer. Problem is, the list of suspects and their secrets seem to grow the deeper Hazel digs. Not to mention the mysterious figure who keeps showing up in Hazel’s photos.
Can she unearth the killer before time runs out?
Purrfect Alibi: A Hazel Hart Cozy Mystery Three
Hazel Hart has awful luck.
When the star quarterback goes missing after the local Spring Fling dance, Hazel and her feline sidekick find his body. The young man was murdered, and there are no shortages of suspects—including her best friend’s ex—a man Hazel doesn’t trust.
As she digs for the truth, the mysteries around the quarterback’s life and death multiply. Someone is trying to bury the past, and the danger to Hazel grows with each unearthed secret.
In a race against time, can Hazel find the real killer before she is the next victim?
Coming May 9, 2018
Hazel Hart feels like a walking shadow.
When the Shakespeare festival consumes Cedar Valley, Hazel is hired to photograph the performances and the actors, but she catches something through her lens that no one expected to see live on stage—a murder!
The lead in Macbeth is the victim, and the list of suspects is as complicated as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, including everyone from the actor’s diva wife to the sheriff’s own niece. Good thing Hazel is there to suss out the truth.
But as she creeps closer to the killer, accidents plague the production at every end. Will Hazel unmask the murderer before another life is claimed?
Read the Maritime Teashop Series:
There has been a murder in San Bastion Bay and Olivia Darrow just might be next. Not the best birthday present she could have asked for.
Now a potential suspect in the murder investigation, Olivia must find out who poisoned her least favorite customer and stop the killer from striking again. Unfortunately, her list of suspects includes nearly the entire town and a hooded figure seems determined to ensure the culprit remains hidden. In a race against the clock, will Olivia uncover the truth before it’s too late? Or has she been framed to take the fall?
Maritime Teashop Book 2
A film crew enters San Bastion Bay, and the movie turns deadly when a starlet who hailed from the small town is killed on set.
Olivia Darrow must investigate the murder of the former prom queen turned movie star before the police arrest an innocent man. Unfortunately, the film crew and the town are full of potential suspects and dangerous secrets. In a race against time, can Olivia uncover the real killer before she becomes the next target?
Thank you!
Thank you so much for reading my Hazel Hart cozy mystery! I had such an amazing time writing this book and I really hope you enjoyed Meowsical Death. If you did, please leave a review.
No matter how short or long, I appreciate any sort of feedback. Being an independent author means this is my livelihood, and every review makes a huge difference.
Reviews are the best way to support me, so I can continue doing what I love, which is bringing you, the readers, more mysteries in Cedar Valley.
Thank you for spending time with Hazel Hart and I hope to see you soon!
About the author
Louise Lynn lives in a small town in California, with a host of cats, and loves all things mystery related.
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Copyright © 2017 by Louise Lynn
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, businesses, and events are all products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events, is purely coincidental.