Mistletoe and Mayhem (Port Danby Cozy Mystery Book 3)

by London Lovett

  The storm clouds and the tall trees had blotted out any trace of daylight. The deeper I went into the trees, the darker it got. And there was nothing I hated more than the dark. But as much as I feared it, I was more afraid of the tall, vengeful monster I’d just escaped from.

  I’d lost sight of Dayton, but I had no doubt he wasn’t far behind. Rainwater dripped off of me as if I was standing fully clothed beneath an ice cold shower. My teeth chattered from the cold and from fear. The trees were an excellent place to hide, but I badly needed to get to the road and find some form of help.

  I headed in the direction of Beacon Cliffs. Just as I stepped out from the thickest patch of trees, a streak of lightning flashed above, illuminating the entire forest and surrounding neighborhood with nature’s biggest and brightest spotlight. Before the glow dimmed, my gaze swept behind me. My heart jumped right into my throat as I caught a glimpse of Dayton lumbering through the trees and heading straight for me.

  I would never make it clear of the forest and out to the neighborhood without him grabbing me first. I had no choice except to turn back to the trees and hide.

  The forest loam became soft as pudding as I raced between the trees and shrubs. Thunder rumbled overhead, vibrating the ground beneath my feet and shaking my resolve even more. I searched around in the shadows for the biggest tree and managed to dash behind it just before the next streak of lightning.

  I huddled behind the trunk of the tree and tried hard to listen for any sound that might signal Dayton was getting close, but I couldn’t hear anything through the wind, rain and thunder. Rivulets of rainwater began rushing through the forest, carrying debris off and over the edge of the cliff. I shuddered thinking how close I’d come to being thrown off that cliff. And I shuddered again reminding myself that I was still not out of danger. Far from it. And that frightening revelation was followed by the tiniest sound, the snap of a branch being broken under foot.

  Dayton’s angry, terrifying face peered around the tree trunk. A scream caught in my throat as I stumbled back. His hand reached out and grabbed my arm.

  “I’m tired of this of game of hide and seek,” he sneered. But his growling expression faded suddenly. His eyes widened and looked as if they might pop from his head.

  “That’s too bad. I hear hide and seek is sort of a favorite in the state penitentiary.” Detective Briggs stepped out from behind Dayton, revealing that he was holding a gun to the man’s head. “Only, in jail, I think you’ll be the one hiding.”

  Seconds later, red flashing lights lit up the rain soaked forest. “Over here,” Briggs called through the trees.

  Four Chesterton police officers emerged through the shadowy foliage. They reached us and Briggs handed off Dayton. “Get this guy out of my sight.” The officers took over from there. The cold, the exhaustion and the terror had finally caught up to me. My knees turned to jelly and I collapsed right into Detective Briggs’ arms.

  “I’ve got you,” he said in a deep, soothing tone that instantly made the fear drain away. I knew I was safe.

  It took me a few seconds to gather my wits. As much as I wanted to stay tucked there in the security of his arms, I straightened, letting him know I was fine.

  Briggs reached up and pushed a long strand of wet hair off my face. I couldn’t stop gazing at him. He was even handsome soaking wet.

  “How did you find me?” I finally managed to sputter.

  “You can thank Franki for that.”

  The rain dripped off the brim of his hat. He reached for my arm and led me back through the trees. “I headed into the office to look for my phone. It had dropped out of my coat pocket on my way out of the station last night.”

  “I tried to call you this morning, but it went straight to voicemail.”

  “It needed to be charged. What timing. That phone couldn’t have jumped from my pocket at a worse time, it seems. Everything would have turned out differently.” He stopped, and for the first time I’d ever seen, he was visibly shaken. “Lacey, I’m so sorry this happened.”

  His pained expression of regret and his words went right to my chest. “It was my fault. I shouldn’t have stuck my neck out so far. I saw Dayton and I teased him about having a twin.”

  Briggs turned his head sharply, flicking drops of rain off of his hat. “You knew about the twin too?”

  “Figured it out this morning, after I discovered the chemical smell on Ruxley’s sweater was the adhesive contractors use for plumbing.”

  “That’ll be just one more piece of evidence. Although this case looks pretty solid now.”

  We stepped out of the trees and into the clearing. I couldn’t wait to get into his dry car. The Chesterton officers already had the suspect in their car. I couldn’t even glance Dayton’s direction. I was sure his mean face would haunt my nightmares for months to come.

  “I still don’t understand. What did Franki have to do with this?” I asked.

  “She saw my car pull up to the station and ran across the street to find me. She was beyond despair and could hardly get the words out. She said she was taking an order and saw you walking across the parking lot, heading for the diner. She wrote down the order and then looked up and you were gone. You had never stepped foot inside the diner. All she saw was Dayton’s truck speeding out of the parking lot. She knew something was wrong, so she came over to let me know.”

  Briggs opened the car door. I squinted into the wind. “I’m soaking wet,” I reminded him.

  He reached up and placed a gloved finger beneath my chin to stop it from trembling. “And freezing. The car seats will dry. Besides, we need to protect Samantha from a bad cold.” He tapped my nose. “She’s critical to our case.” I slipped into the passenger seat and was instantly relieved to be in a dry, warm place and away from the biting, wet wind.

  Briggs leaned down. “I’ll be right back.”

  I reached up and wiped away the condensation on the passenger window and watched him as he talked to the police officers. His slightly long hair was soaking wet as it curled up on the back of his coat collar. I hugged my arms around myself trying to squeeze away the trembling in my body. If not for Franki and Briggs, the morning might have ended very badly.

  Briggs walked back to the car and climbed into the driver’s seat. He started the motor and cranked up the heater.

  I smiled over at him and realized my face was nearly numb from the cold. “Samantha, eh?”

  He turned his car toward the road. “You always do that little twitching movement when you’re trying to uncover a scent.”

  “Yes, it helps wake up the olfactory cells.”

  “It reminds me of that old, old show, Bewitched. Samantha wiggled her nose when she was about to perform magic.”

  I sat back and thought about the name. “You know something? I like it. And I can shorten it to Sam.”

  The silence of relief washed over us as we headed back to the highway.

  “Miss Pinkerton,” he said quietly.

  “Yes, Detective Briggs?”

  “Don’t ever scare me like that again.”

  “I promise.”

  Chapter 36

  The Annual Holiday Light Flotilla was gone, but the events of the weekend would stay with us, and most especially me, for a long time. I would eventually have to testify in court about my ‘kidnapping’, a word Detective Briggs used in a report and a word that really brought home how serious things had been. I wasn’t sure if the incident would douse my curiosity or love for a good mystery, but in the future I planned to be just a little less bold when I knew someone was a cold blooded murderer. Once I’d revealed the entire story to Lola, she understood how lucky she was that she’d come through it all unharmed. She insisted she would be much more picky in the future, but just like with my plan to be less bold, we both still had to prove ourselves.

  I had arranged a red rose and white lily holiday bouquet for Franki, and Elsie helped me make a small gift batch of chocolate truffles for Detective Briggs. They were ridic
ulously simple gestures for two people who’d saved my life.

  I carried the flowers into the diner. As usual, Franki was busy on the floor, but she stopped for a second to come over and greet me as I placed the bouquet next to the cash register.

  “Oh my goodness, Lacey, it’s beautiful. It really brightens up this place.”

  I shook my head and swallowed to relieve the tightness in my throat. I hadn’t expected to get emotional, but the second I saw her smile, I was overwhelmed with gratitude. “This place is already bright because of you.” I hugged her quickly to not let her see the tears in my eyes. “Thank you,” I said quietly.

  She hugged me back just as tightly. I realized, in that moment, that I was no longer a newcomer in town. I had found a true home in Port Danby.

  I released her and took a steadying breath. “I’ll let you go. Just wanted to get these flowers to you.”

  “They are lovely, and I’m just glad you’re all right.”

  We hugged again, and I walked out of the diner with my gift bag of truffles. Detective Briggs’ car was out front. I was sure he was in his office working on the lengthy report for the case.

  I walked inside. It was still early. Hilda was not behind her desk. The black and white patrol car was not out front, so Officer Chinmoor was out and about.

  Hilda always left a bell on the counter when she wasn’t at her desk. I rang it. Seconds later, Detective Briggs emerged from his office.

  “You look rested,” I said. “I mean you always look fairly relaxed for someone who has your job, but you look even more so today. I’ll bet you’re glad to have this case behind you.”

  “I sure am.” He walked out to greet me. “How are you doing?”

  I smiled. “Thanks to you, I’m alive. So I guess I’m doing pretty well.” I held up the bag. “I made you chocolate truffles.” I tilted my head side to side. “Actually, I helped Elsie make you truffles.”

  He took the bag and looked inside. “These look delicious, but you didn’t need to go through the trouble. It’s my job to keep Port Danby citizens safe.”

  I nodded. “Yes, I know. I was just a Port Danby citizen who got herself in too deep with a murder case. You would have done it for anyone. Enjoy the chocolates.” I turned to walk out.

  “I probably wouldn’t have been scared out of my wits though,” he added.

  I turned around. He stepped a bit closer.

  “I was scared to death that something might happen to you. I was so relieved to see you standing behind that tree, Lacey.”

  “Not as relieved as I was to see you standing behind that murderer.”

  His lopsided smile kicked up on the side of his mouth. He lifted his face and peered up. My gaze followed his. We were standing right beneath the cluster of mistletoe.

  “Do you think that little plant really has kissing power?” I asked.

  “Might be only one way to prove it.”

  My heart sped up as he leaned closer.

  “It’s cold as a polar bear’s nose out there,” Officer Chinmoor blurted as he burst into the station, bringing with him a sweep of frigid air. Briggs straightened again. I was shocked at how disappointed I was that I wasn’t going to get that kiss.

  I pointed behind me. “Well, I better get to the shop.”

  “Thank you for the chocolates, Miss Pinkerton.”

  “Have a good day, Detective Briggs.”

  With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, Lacey ‘Pink’ Pinkerton finds herself caught up in another unexpected murder mystery. Full blurb coming soon.

  Pre-order your copy.

  Melt-in-your-mouth Chocolate Truffles

  View online at: www.londonlovett.com/recipe-box/

  About the Author

  London Lovett is the author of the new Port Danby Cozy Mystery series. She loves getting caught up in a good mystery and baking delicious new treats! (The recipes from each book are available on www.londonlovett.com/recipe-box)

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