The next best news was that Mrs. Freeman’s jewels had been recovered. After they’d been stolen they had been stuffed into the base of the heavy-duty Hobart mixer that had originally belonged to the Brightwater Resort Bakery, and then sold to Daisy as old equipment. When Officer Bell had gone into the not-yet-opened coffeeshop after they’d already apprehended Edgar, he discovered the heavy mixer pushed over on its side and the bottom plate unscrewed. A quick search of Edgar’s pockets revealed that he had already retrieved the jewelry, and was all set to make a quick getaway until Claire found him.
Mrs. Freeman had seemed a bit confused about the jewels, but she’d already said that she would be happy to sell all of them except for one piece she remembered her grandmother wearing. Her mind was muddled, but it seemed like the earliest, oldest memories were the clearest, and she had a rare smile when she cradled the little ruby brooch in both hands. It turned out that Mrs. Freeman had a cousin in Oregon who had been an excellent trustee of her money in the past and who had power of attorney. After Darryl had talked with the cousin, it had been decided to sell some of the jewels, with the trustee promising she would hire a housekeeper who could also keep an eye on Mrs. Freeman. There was enough money to stash for any future needs Mrs. Freeman might have, and plans were put in place to pay for a brand-new roof for her cottage, as soon as it could be installed. The thought that Mrs. Freeman would have heat and a safe place to live, with someone making sure she didn’t go hungry, seemed to be just one more way that the good folks of Brightwater Bay made sure to take care of their own.
Edgar was still in the hospital with a concussion and a set of new stitches in his scalp, courtesy of Scott and his intervention, but it hadn’t taken him long to spill the details of what had happened and why he had attacked Claire. It turned out that Edgar had been Orrin’s accomplice in the jewel theft, but when Orrin started searching for the bakery equipment, trying to find out where it had all wound up, Edgar had methodically followed behind him. When he’d seen Orrin walking up to Daisy’s rental cottages, he’d confronted him, quietly shoving a gun in his back. When Orrin refused to tell him where the jewels were, they’d argued. Finally, Edgar had shot him and then fled. No one knew where Dexter was, but according to Edgar, he didn’t think he had anything to do with the robbery or Mrs. Freeman’s jewelry.
One of the surprises of the day was that Claire had received a couple of presents. Molly had stopped by on Christmas Eve with two big bags of Chinese takeout food, and had presented her with a pair of mint green, handknit mittens, at least a size too big. Claire loved them instantly and gave her new friend a big hug. She’d spent the day making fudge on the little stove in the kitchen, and was happy to give Claire a nice-sized box as a present.
The second gift was also a surprise. When Scott had come by to pick her up for the Christmas lunch the next day, he’d whistled when he bounded up the front steps, a wrapped package in his hand. Claire had kept repeating to herself that he was just a friend and that she didn’t need to be nervous, but he looked especially handsome in a sportcoat and new shirt, and she had to admit that she’d taken more effort than she normally did on her makeup and hair. When she’d opened the front door for him, his appreciative look let her know what he thought of her appearance, even if he never said a word. She’d ripped the wrapping paper off the gift he handed her with a sense of childlike glee, and revealed a hardback book that detailed the history of the area, including the nearby islands. Flipping through it, they had exclaimed over the amazing, old photos, and how much the area had changed.
It had been an amazing day. As Mrs. Applegate walked around, chatting with all her guests and delivering slices of cake and pie to everyone, she made a special effort to check in with Claire.
“Are you having a good time, honey?” she asked, her expression hopeful, and Claire was happy to tell her she was.
“Oh, I’m so glad,” the older lady said with a warm smile. “It’s been such a blessing to have you here this year. We’ll be really sorry to see you go.”
Claire hesitated, the question she wanted to ask sticking in her throat. Mrs. Applegate waited, as she could tell Claire had something to say to her.
“Um, is that job offer still open?”
AUTHOR NOTES:
Oh, I’m LOVING getting to learn about all the mysteries of Brightwater Bay, and it’s so fun to meet a whole new set of friends! The San Juan Islands are one of my favorite places in the whole world, and since I only live a few hours away I’ve been there many times. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to showcase such a beautiful area in this new series. Please follow along with us as we find out what mysteries lie in the San Juan Islands, and what Claire, Scott, Daisy, and the rest of the crew will be doing in their next adventure.
If you liked what you read, please consider leaving a review. Being an independent author means this is my own small business, and I appreciate any feedback you can give, so other readers will know if my writing is their cup of tea or not Thank you for stopping by!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR – Carolyn L. Dean
I've been writing and making stories in my head as early as I can remember. In third grade I came home, set my lunchbox down, and told my mother I wanted to be a writer. Luckily, Mom was supportive.
I've been a published author for a few years now, under different names and genres, but the thought of writing about a small coastal town in Oregon, and about its loves and mysteries and holidays and people has been with me for years. To be honest, I am always a bit scared to dump those ideas onto the written page, but hope you'll enjoy getting to meet the people who inhabit my imagination.
In real life, I'm married with kids, live on the West Coast of the US, and own a hobby farm just outside of my favorite small town. I’m a full-time author. I love to travel, and can often be found strolling down a windy beach, holding onto the string of a high-sailing dragon kite.
Other Carolyn L Dean books:
Here are my other books in the Brightwater Bay series:
#1 - A LITTLE TASTE OF MURDER (you just finished reading this one)
#2 – A TINY DASH OF DEATH
#3 – A SWEET SPOONFUL OF CYANIDE
If you like Brightwater Bay, check out Ravenwood Cove, a sweet little town on the Oregon Coast with some unforgettable characters!
#1 – BED, BREAKFAST, and BONES
#2 – DUNE, DOCK, and a DEAD MAN
#3 – MISTLETOE, MOONLIGHT, and MURDER
#4 – SEA, SKY, and SKELETON
#5 – TIME, TIDE, and TROUBLE
#6 – SUN, SAND, and SECRETS
#7 – ROCKS, ROSES, and RIPTIDES
#8 – FRUIT, FLOWER, and FLAMES
#9 - TEA, TREATS, and TERROR
A Little Taste Of Murder_A Brightwater Bay Cozy Mystery Page 10