Nothing To Croak About (Silver Hollow Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series Book 3)

by Leighann Dobbs

  “Not so crazy.” Ember rubbed her chin on the top of Bellatrix’s head. “Silver Hollow is a mecca for our kind, so I’m betting it’s no coincidence. Not with the kind of movies DeeDee said he makes. Maybe he’s looking to find some fresh talent for his next picture.”

  “Whatever he’s doing here, he better watch himself.” Gray cocked his head toward the interior of the juice bar and the Hagrid-on-acid-looking guy glaring out the front window. “Looks like Luigi’s got Mr. Hollywood on his radar already.”

  Glancing inside, Issy spotted Luigi behind the counter as usual, selling slices of his pizza. While he was waiting on customers, he was giving the town’s newest arrival some seriously skeptical side-eye.

  She shook her head and gazed out toward the sidewalk again, only to see Brimstone trotting by. He gave the movie producer a feline stare of disapproval. Seems no one wanted the new filmmaker to come to Silver Hollow.

  “So what else do we know about Jerry?” Gray asked, sipping his Saffron Sunrise. “That’s too bad about what happened to Linda Brewer, by the way. I guess our previous assumption that she might be the killer was wrong.”

  Issy, Ember, and Raine exchanged a glance. “How’d you hear about that already? I just left the scene right before I came here and told Ember and Raine before you arrived.”

  “Myra Bell was in to get her hair done.”

  Issy nodded. Myra was the receptionist for the sheriff’s department and could be fairly loose-lipped with the intel when it suited her purposes. Then again, with the miracles of beauty worked in Gray’s enchanted salon, every woman was susceptible to persuasion. It was one of the things that made Sheer Magic so successful. Well, that and the fact Gray looked like he walked right off the pages of some male fashion magazine, with his long dark hair and piercing blue eyes. All the ladies went gaga for him, including Myra, it seemed.

  Exhaling slowly, Issy forced her mind back to the task at hand. Now they had two murders to solve. She suppressed a shudder as images of Linda Brewer, lying facedown on the blood-soaked bed, flooded her thoughts. “Dex wondered if Jerry working with Linda Brewer had less to do with him studying to be a PI and more to do with him being involved in that murder ten years ago.”

  “Interesting theory.” Raine rubbed Mortimer’s leaves gently, her gaze narrowed. “Was Jerry down in Florida during spring break then?”

  “That would be odd,” Ember said. “He would’ve been a lot older than the college kids.”

  Gray shrugged. “Wouldn’t be the first time some older guy liked dating younger girls.”

  “Ew.” Issy shuddered anew. “What if he’s some kind of paranormal serial killer? Icky.”

  “Well.” Raine stood and tossed her barely touched drink into a nearby trash can then tucked Morty’s pot under her arm. “I need to get back to my greenhouse. We should probably go talk to someone at Holland Mills and find out if Jerry took time off during spring break ten years ago.”

  “Good idea.” Ember settled Endora and Bellatrix in their basket then pushed to her feet as well. “I can whip up a batch of chocolates infused with a loose-tongue charm for my friend Gladys who works in the office over there. The dear woman has to be pushing ninety by now.”

  “If anyone would know, it would be her.” Gray settled back while Cosmo danced and cawed on the back of the chair. “She’s worked for the Hollands forever.”

  “At least fifty years,” Ember said, waving as she followed Raine down the sidewalk. “Issy, text me when you’re ready to head over and I’ll go with you.”

  “Will do.” Issy kissed the top of Bella’s head then put her down and wrapped the little dog’s pink-and-rhinestone leash around her hand. “I need to get back to Enchanted Pets. Hannah will be wondering where I am. Are you staying?”

  “I don’t have another client for an hour, so I figured I’d soak up some sun and enjoy my rare free time.” Gray winked. “Have fun at the paper mill later.”

  “Thanks.” Issy gave Cosmo a goodbye scratch on the head then led Bella back toward the pet store. “I’ll let you know what we find out.”

  19

  “That’s confirmed?” Dex asked as he waited on the corner for the light to change. It seemed weird to be walking downtown in Silver Hollow without his best bud Gordon perched on his shoulder, but he hadn’t had a chance to stop at home after he’d left the crime scene at the motel. “Jerry Blaisdale was accounted for on that flight yesterday?”

  “Yep,” DeeDee said through the phone line. “On his way to Bermuda. I also verified he checked into his hotel down there, and I found out something interesting from the Route Nine Motel manager.”

  “What?”

  “She said she chased off someone wearing a dark hoodie with a white stripe down one arm a few hours before Linda’s body was discovered.”

  “Scott’s girlfriend, Marcy.”

  “I think so. Motel manager said she had long, scraggly hair. Seems that girl is turning up everywhere, and that’s no coincidence. She might have something to do with both deaths, and since Linda is dead and Jerry is in Bermuda, it’s looking like neither of them did, so I say we move Marcy up on the suspect list.”

  “I don’t know.” Dex followed the small crowd of locals and tourists across the street. He’d parked his Buick about half a block away, thinking some fresh air and exercise might help him forget the blood and gore he’d witnessed earlier. Balancing his cell phone between his shoulder and jaw, he searched his pockets for paper and a pen. “Why would she kill Adele?”

  “Maybe she was upset after Scott died and wanted some mementos. She probably knew about the box Adele kept, maybe she went there to get it and Adele wouldn’t give it to her so she killed her. It’s possible Adele’s death had nothing to do with the murder ten years ago.”

  “I agree it’s a lead we should follow. It makes sense. Marcy might have killed Adele by mistake when they were arguing and run off into the woods. That’s why the neighbor didn’t see her. If she ran in the same direction as the other night, she wouldn’t have gone past the neighbor’s house. And then she might have come back and broken in to get the box the other night.”

  “Exactly.”

  “But something still doesn’t seem quite right about this whole thing. I want to be thorough. I’d like to question Jerry myself. Do you have his cell number?”

  DeeDee rattled off the digits, and Dex scribbled them down.

  “Okay, thanks, Deputy.” He shoved the number and his pen back into his pants pocket. “Not that I don’t think you and Owen did a thorough job. I just want to confirm this isn’t some elaborate ruse he’s cooked up to throw us off the trail.”

  After hanging up with DeeDee, Dex punched in the numbers for Jerry Blaisdale’s phone then stopped near the brick wall of the local bank while the call connected.

  “Hello?” Jerry picked up on the third ring, his tone a blend of nerves and confusion. “Who is this?”

  “Mr. Blaisdale, this is Agent Dexter Nolan with the FBI office in Silver Hollow. We spoke the other day at your body shop. I’m sorry to bother you on your vacation, but I’ve got some additional questions I need to ask you.”

  “I’ve already told you everything I know about Adele Brundage,” Jerry said.

  “This isn’t about Adele, I’m afraid.” Dex exhaled slowly. “Linda Brewer was found dead in her motel room today, the victim of an apparent robbery gone wrong.”

  “Linda’s been… Oh crap. I-I don’t know anything about that either,” Jerry said, his words rushed. “I swear. I wasn’t even in town. My flight left early yesterday morning.”

  “Kind of hard to afford a trip to Bermuda on a mechanic’s salary, isn’t it, Jerry?” Dex frowned, playing his hunches.

  “I won the trip. Got it free from my old employer. They’re good to those that worked for them, you know? Even though I parted ways with them years ago, they still put my name in for that monthly prize.” He gave a nervous chuckle. “This is my second time winning too, so I guess I’m doubly luc
ky with them. All I can say is that paper mill really knows how to treat their own.”

  “Unfortunately, Mr. Blaisdale, I’m going to need more than your word that you’re actually in Bermuda right now.” Was Jerry lying about the paper mill sending him on vacation so he could have the perfect alibi?

  “Here.” The muffled sounds of Jerry fumbling with his phone echoed through the line. “I’ll put you on FaceTime.”

  Dex clicked the green camera button on his own phone and up popped Jerry’s face, the hotel room, and white-sand Bermuda beaches and ocean, visible through the windows behind him. It must’ve been windy because the palm trees outside were blowing, their fronds whistling and smacking against the glass doors. From somewhere in the distance a loud bang reverberated, and Jerry ducked then scrambled over to the balcony. Through the video feed, Dex could see a scooter down on the street, the tire blown out.

  “See, Agent Nolan?” Jerry gave him a wobbly smile. “I’m right here, just like I said.”

  Dex sighed. Couldn’t argue with the reality staring him in the face. Regardless of his instincts telling him otherwise, Jerry Blaisdale probably didn’t kill Linda. He was definitely in Bermuda now, and unless he'd somehow finagled the flight times, he’d been there since before her death.

  “What was your relationship with Linda Brewer?” Dex asked.

  “Relationship? We didn’t have one. She was investigating an old case and needed my help.” His tone reflected a smudge of pride. “I’m studying for my private investigator’s license, you know.”

  “I know,” Dex said. “And I know she was investigating the Sarah Landers case. But what I don’t know is what your involvement in that case is.”

  “Involvement?” Jerry’s voice quivered, and Dex heard a tire blow out on Jerry’s end. “I didn’t have one. I mean I knew the killer, Scott. But I wasn’t involved in the murder or anything.”

  “Really? That case happened a decade ago. Didn’t you think it was kind of odd that she was investigating it now?”

  “No. I didn’t think of it,” Jerry said. “I thought it would be a good way to hone my skills for my new PI business. Didn’t really care much if it was an old case or not. I guess maybe I should have asked?”

  “Maybe. But it’s too late now. Thank you for speaking to me again, Mr. Blaisdale. I’ll be in touch.”

  He finished the call and shoved his phone back into his pocket, rubbing a hand over his face. Jerry had seemed like he was telling the truth, but he also could be tied to all three murders. He needed to check out flights more thoroughly and find out exactly why Linda Brewer had chosen this exact week to come to town.

  He wasn’t ready to go back to the office, yet he didn’t want to go home for lunch and sit alone at his kitchen table either. Dex glanced over and saw The Main Squeeze nearby. He’d heard good things about their juices and the pizza sold inside. Maybe he’d try that today instead.

  “Dex?” a voice called.

  A guy waved, and it took Dex a minute to squint through the sun to see Issy’s cousin Gray seated at one of the outdoor tables, motioning him over. Dex hesitated. He didn’t exactly get the impression that Gray liked him, but if he intended to continue to spend time with Issy, he’d have to get on the guy’s good side sometime. Besides, some company might do him good right now, after what he’d dealt with this morning, even if the guy was a hairdresser. Dex still wasn’t sure what to make of that profession, but hey. Company was company.

  “Good to see you again,” Dex said, walking up and shaking Gray’s hand. “Let me run inside and grab a slice and a drink and I’ll be right back. You want anything?”

  “No, I’m good, thanks.” Gray sat back to coo to his pet bird while Dex headed inside the juice bar. The interior was modern yet held onto its original roots by keeping many of the exposed beams and brick and the industrial pipes overhead. He got two slices of deluxe pizza from that huge bearded guy, Luigi, then grabbed a Saffron Sunrise before heading back outside to join Gray at his table. The sun was shining, and it was warmer than usual, making Dex glad he had an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors while he still could.

  “How’s your day going?” Dex asked as he took a seat. “No clients in the salon today?”

  “My schedule’s lighter than usual.” Gray grinned then fed his bird a slice of orange from his drink. “Figured I’d take advantage of the sunshine.”

  “I was thinking the same thing,” Dex said, before devouring a large bite of his pizza. The tomato sauce was amazing—slightly sweet with a hint of spice and garlic—and the salty sausage all but melted in his mouth. He could see why people were raving about this stuff all over the area. “Have you talked to Issy today?”

  “Yeah, she and my other two cousins were here earlier. They left right before you came.” Gray took another sip of his drink. “Too bad about what happened to Linda Brewer.”

  “Yeah.” Dex wiped his mouth with a paper napkin, his spirits sinking slightly. If he’d arrived at the juice bar a little earlier, he might’ve seen Issy again. Not that they hadn’t seen enough of each other today, but it felt like the skies were a little less blue when she wasn’t around. The thought both amazed and scared him. Mostly scared him because even though Issy had seemed quite receptive at his bungalow, he’d sensed a change in her at the motel. No doubt she was having second thoughts about what a lousy boyfriend he’d be if he couldn’t even protect her from stumbling on a dead body connected with a case he was working.

  Might be better not to get in any deeper with the bewitching pet-store owner. Maybe it would be best for both of them if he just moved on. The trouble was, he feared he might have already gotten in too deep where Issy Quinn was concerned.

  “Ember said her friend at the airport confirmed Jerry Blaisdale got on a plane yesterday,” Gray said, breaking Dex out of his thoughts. “Not sure where to, or even if it was him, though.”

  “Yeah, it was him.” Dex finished off his first slice of pizza. “My sources at the Bureau finally came through. I just talked to DeeDee. And I called Jerry to confirm. He’s in Bermuda. He showed me the room and his view on FaceTime and everything.”

  “Huh.” Gray scowled. “Pretty fancy trip for a guy who owns a body shop. I can’t even afford that, and I run the most successful salon in the area.”

  “That’s what I thought too.” Dex took a large gulp of his juice. The juice was darn good too, the sweetness of the fruit the perfect foil to the savory goodness of the pizza. “I asked him about it, and Jerry said he won the trip from some monthly drawing they have for the employees out at the paper mill. Have you ever heard of the contest?”

  “No, but that doesn’t mean anything. I don’t know many people who work there personally. Ember knows a few. In fact, she and Issy were planning to go out there later today to talk to another friend of Ember’s who works there. They think Jerry might be more involved with the murder of Sarah Landers than anyone thought.”

  “Hmm.” Dex started in on his second slice of pizza, swallowing before he continued. “All I know is the guy’s alibi checks out for Linda Brewer’s murder. He wasn’t in town at the time of her death, so it couldn’t have been him. Are you sure it’s safe for the girls to go out to the mill by themselves today?” Dex frowned. “If Jerry was somehow involved in that case a decade ago, that could be dangerous.”

  Gray’s affable smile dissolved into a hard stare. “Jerry’s in Bermuda, and besides, we can take care of ourselves, Agent.”

  Well, crap. Now he’d gone and offended the guy, and he hadn’t meant to. It was just the thought of Issy being at risk and him not being there to help that bugged Dex to no end. He decided to change the subject to smooth things over. He hiked his chin toward the cockatoo currently nuzzling Gray’s ear. “Your bird’s a nice-looking fellow. Reminds me of that one on TV back in the seventies.”

  “This is Cosmo.” Gray tapped the table, and the bird flew over. With his yellow plume feathers raised cautiously, the cockatoo slowly made his way over to Dex. Sl
owly, he lifted his hand to run his index finger over the top of the bird’s silky head. Before he knew what was happening, Cosmo had climbed up on his forearm then quickly sidestepped his way up to his shoulder, where he preened Dex’s hair with his beak. “Friendly, isn’t he?”

  “He likes you,” Gray said, his smile returning. “That’s a good sign.”

  A loud croak sounded, followed by an enormous toad jumping right onto what was left of Dex’s pizza. Nose wrinkled, he pushed the food away. “Guess I’m done with that.”

  “The toads are terrible.” Gray shoved another two aside who’d hopped up onto the table. “And they won’t be getting better until—” Gray stopped and looked at Dex, only then realizing what he was saying.

  “Until what?” Dex asked.

  “Oh,” Gray said, looking away. “Until their mating season is over. That’s why they’re so plentiful right now. They come out for a few weeks like this, but they’ll be gone soon.”

  The slight rise in the guy’s tone told Dex that story wasn’t entirely true, but he had too many other things on his mind right now to worry about the local toad population. Dex just shrugged and chuckled again as Cosmo tickled his ear.

  “You should cut the sides shorter,” Gray said.

  “Excuse me?”

  “Your hair. The next time you get it cut. Tell whoever does it that you want the sides shorter and to leave the top longer.”

  Dex snorted. “I’ll be sure to let my barber know. He just takes the scissors and snip, snip. I’m done.”

  “Whatever.” Gray sniffed then gazed out over the town green. “So, the FBPI, huh? Bet you’ve got some pretty strong views on magic and witchcraft.”

  “Not really.” He narrowed his gaze on the guy across from him. Gray seemed like a nice enough person, and knowing how close Issy was with her cousins, he was probably just looking out for her since he’d seen her and Dex kissing. It was nice, him being protective of Issy. Dex shrugged. “Live and let live, I say.”