Doggone Honeymoon E-Book

Diane Wing

• Herausgeber: Modern History Press
• Kategorie: Krimi
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 189

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

Beschreibung

In Doggone Honeymoon, newlyweds Autumn and Lieutenant Ray Reed's romantic getaway quickly turns into a chilling mystery when a lifeless body interrupts their Pocono Mountains tranquil retreat. With their loyal canine companions, Chrissy and Ace, by their side, they find themselves swept into a riveting murder investigation. As secrets unravel and suspicions mount, Autumn and Ray must navigate treacherous terrain--not only in the scenic mountains but also within the relationships of those living in the small town of Stroudsburg. Will they uncover the truth behind the ominous discovery at the dock, or will the shadows lurking in this idyllic setting threaten to shatter the community? Join Autumn, Ray, Chrissy, and Ace in this gripping tale of love, loyalty, and unexpected twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page.
BONUS: "Recipes Inspired by the Tall Tree Inn", "Book Club Questions", and a reprint of the debut book chapter!
"Together, Ray and Autumn face recent crises when a missing person situation becomes a complex series of mysteries and whodunnits. A bit of honeymoon sweet stuff and a whole lot of craziness-and, of course, Chrissy and Ace: their majestic and fabulous pet companions."
--Molly G. Hamblin
"I really enjoyed meeting new characters and following the plot twists. Whenever a new character was introduced, I thought, "Oh, he/she is the killer!" only to find out I was wrong. I also suspected a few innocent characters and was truly surprised when the true murderer was revealed. I highly recommend this cute, cozy mystery."
--Terri Chalmers, New Jersey
"I absolutely love Doggone Honeymoon, the fifth installment in Diane Wing's cozy mystery series. Grab a cup of tea, a soft blanket and set aside a Sunday afternoon to enjoy the suspenseful, jaw-dropping, intriguing plot twist with the lovable, huggable characters of Autumn, Chrissy, Ray and Ace."
--Annette Sadelson, Maryland
"A killer is loose at Moonlight Lake. Diane Wing takes her Chrissy's Mysteries series to new heights in Doggone Honeymoon, a fresh and highly entertaining read with twists and turns that will surprise and confound even the most experienced reader's inner sleuth."
--Maxine Ashcraft, California
Book #5 in the Chrissy the Shih Tzu Mysteries
From Modern History Press

Leseprobe

Doggone Honeymoon: A Chrissy the Shih Tzu Cozy Mystery

Copyright © 2025 by Diane Wing. All Rights Reserved

Learn more at www.DianeWingAuthor.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, businesses, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Thanks for indulging me in taking artistic license within the fictional town of Knollwood, Pennsylvania.

ISBN 978-1-61599-848-7 paperback

ISBN 978-1-61599-849-4 hardcover

ISBN 978-1-61599-850-0 eBook

                               Published by

Modern History Press

www.ModernHistoryPress.com

5145 Pontiac Trail

[email protected]

Ann Arbor, MI

tollfree 888-761-6268

Distributed by Ingram (USA/CAN/AU), Bertram’s Books (UK/EU)

To my incredible husband and two snuggly fur babies. I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by so much love.

Books by Diane Wing….

Cozy Mysteries with Chrissy the Shih Tzu

Attorney-at-Paw

The Dog-Eared Diary

Trick-or-Doggy Treat

A Winter’s Tail

Doggone Honeymoon

Dark Fantasy

Coven: The Scrolls of the Four Winds

Thorne Manor and other bizarre tales

Trips to the Edge: Tales of the Unexpected

Forest of the Dead: Stories of Transformation

Non-fiction

The True Nature of Tarot: Your Path to Personal Empowerment,10th Anniversary Ed.

The True Nature of Energy: Transforming Anxiety into Tranquility

The Happiness Perspective: Seeing Your Life Differently

Contents

Dramatis Personae

Doggone Honeymoon

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Book Club Questions

Recipes Inspired by the Tall Tree Inn

Excerpt from “Attorney-at-Paw”

Chrissy's Mysteries

Dramatis Personae

Locals on the Scene

Amy Armstrong—Loretta Armstrong’s mother.

Barry Armstrong—Amy Armstrong’s husband.

Loretta Armstrong—Victim, Madison’s sister, Amy Armstrong’s daughter.

Madison Armstrong—Loretta Armstrong’s sister.

Cathy Bailey—Loretta Armstrong’s roommate.

Monica Bailey—Cathy Bailey’s mother.

Danny Cole—Bartender at the Log Cabin Bar and friend of Loretta Armstrong.

Lily Harding—Loretta Armstrong’s co-worker at the Tall Tree Restaurant.

Miguel Lopez—Owns canoe and kayak rental business on Moonlight Lake.

Bobby Ringbottom—Loretta Armstrong’s boyfriend.

Harley Waters—Loretta Armstrong’s boss at Harley’s General Store.

Local Law Enforcement

Ross Adams—Detective with Knollwood police.

Officer Christine Campos—Law enforcement in Stroudsburg.

John Conroy—Detective with Stroudsburg Police.

Officer Alison Williams—Law enforcement in Stroudsburg.

Autumn Clarke Reed’s Family and Friends

Kirby Galloway—Local dog groomer.

Autumn Clarke Reed—Chrissy’s pet parent and wife of Ray Reed.

Ray Reed—Lieutenant with Knollwood police, husband of Autumn Reed, and pet parent of Ace.

Maureen Roberts—Autumn's Realtor.

Ace—Ray’s retired police dog (German Shepherd Dog).

Chrissy—Autumn’s dog and pet detective (Shih Tzu).

Missing Persons Report—Knollwood, PA

Loretta Armstrong, 28, was reported missing by her mother, Amy Armstrong, after she didn’t come home from a night out with friends. She was last seen at the River Café in New Hope, PA on May 6, 2024, wearing a red plaid flannel shirt and jeans. Her mother expected her home afterward. Loretta came down from her home in East Stroudsburg, PA to visit her parents for the weekend. She was driving a silver 2019 Toyota Corolla. Loretta is Caucasian, with long black hair and blue eyes. She’s 5’ 6” with a medium build. Please call the Knollwood Police Department at 215-555-9147 with any information.

- 1 -

Waiting five months to go on their honeymoon was an exercise in patience. In the meantime, Autumn Reed busied herself with building her bed-and-breakfast business and researching rental properties close to home in the Pocono Mountains. Her husband, Lieutenant Ray Reed, worked at the Knollwood police department conducting criminal investigations and overseeing detectives and officers. He told Autumn to choose the place. He didn’t care where, as long as they were together. Ray had punctuated this statement with a deep kiss that sent chills down Autumn’s spine. She smiled, remembering the moment, feeling her love for Ray bubble up.

Autumn knew the primary criteria was a peaceful getaway with their dogs, Chrissy, a Shih Tzu, and Ace, a German Shepherd Dog, who was Ray’s retired law enforcement partner. The couple took their dogs with them ninety-eight percent of the time. There were few occasions that required Chrissy and Ace to stay home, such as a formal dinner event, which Ray was sometimes required to attend for official reasons. As a lieutenant of the Knollwood police department, the mayor and other political officials in his township, and sometimes in neighboring jurisdictions, expected him to schmooze and to bring his wealthy wife. No dogs allowed.

With their busy lives, and the fact that they were newlyweds, Autumn and Ray looked forward to time alone to snuggle, talk about their dreams and hopes for the future, and to have as many intimate romantic encounters as they could over their two-week vacation. And, of course, play with the pups.

Not having much luck online, she called Amy Armstrong, a long-time friend of Autumn’s mother, Stella Clarke, who checked on Autumn from time to time after Stella died in a car accident. Amy had a vacation house in Stroudsburg, so she called her for guidance on a rental property. Luck was with them. A rental had just come up, and Amy knew the owners. It was a great pet-friendly cottage with ample space, floor to ceiling windows, and a private dock right on Moonlight Lake in East Stroudsburg, a neighboring town to where Amy’s house was. After seeing photos, Autumn and Ray booked the place for May, thinking the spring weather would be nice around that time and it was before the tourist season officially started.

Autumn was packing for the trip when the phone rang. Caller ID showed it was Amy Armstrong.

“Hey, Amy,” Autumn answered, and then listened.

“She’s missing?” Autumn asked, feeling the worry of Loretta Armstrong’s mother at the other end of the phone line.

“I saw her last night before she went to meet friends at the River Cafe for dinner,” said Amy. Now she was the one who needed support.

“Have you notified the Knollwood police?”

“Not yet. It hasn’t been twenty-four hours. I was hoping Ray could ask around for me.”

“The waiting period is a myth. Call the police right away and give them all the information you have, including the names of the friends she was meeting last night.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll let Ray know you’ll be calling. Keep me posted.”

“I will, dear. Thank you.”

They disconnected the call, and Autumn dialed Ray to give him the news.

Chrissy, Autumn’s gray and white Shih Tzu, trotted into the kitchen and looked up at her mommy. A purple satin bow held the topknot in place, keeping the hair out of her eyes. That face made Autumn’s heart melt every time. She lifted her up and snuggled her close.

“We need to help Amy find Loretta,” she whispered in Chrissy’s ear and kissed the side of her face. “Let’s take a ride.”

It was in the upper sixties and clear, nice weather for early May in Eastern Pennsylvania. Chrissy stepped into her harness and waited for Autumn to clip the leash to the metal loop. Autumn lifted her fur baby into the doggy seat secured to the backseat of the SUV. With her seatbelt fastened, she looked back at Chrissy to make sure she was comfortable, and headed to the River Café to see what she could find out.

She drove cautiously in case something triggered her posttraumatic stress reaction from the car accident that killed her parents. Therapy and Chrissy’s diligence in keeping her grounded cleared much of the anxiety, but her careful nature compelled her to be a safe driver.

The tree-lined road heading toward the restaurant was full of deer and other animals, so Autumn stayed vigilant in case any of them darted across the street. Even in daylight, their behavior was unpredictable, and, sadly, plenty of them met with a speeding vehicle. They’d be especially hard to see in the dark until the last minute. Maybe Loretta swerved to avoid a deer and hit a tree. God forbid. She looked side-to-side in case Loretta was walking home. Maybe she had car trouble or, worst case, an accident. But wouldn’t she call her mother for a ride if that were the case? Unless her battery was dead. Or she was unconscious.

Autumn turned her mind toward more optimistic scenarios and kept on the lookout for movement. In the rearview mirror, Chrissy looked enthralled by the scenery moving past the window. If she saw Loretta, Autumn was certain she’d bark.

They arrived at the River Café and spoke to the hostess, who admired and petted Chrissy as Autumn held her. She remembered a group of people from last night, because they were loud, laughing and drinking, until one of them, a female fitting Loretta’s description, strode past the hostess station, angrily talking to someone on the phone. She told whoever was on the other end that she’d be home in a couple of days, then stomped back to the table. The hostess saw the woman’s friends trying to comfort her, rubbing her back and leaning in to hear what happened. They left about ten o’clock.

Autumn and Chrissy got back in the car and called Ray to give him the update.

“I’m going to drive farther north to see if I can spot her car.”

“Be careful, please. We don’t know what happened or if there may be someone else involved.”

“Okay,” Autumn assured him.

“There are a couple detectives on the case, so let them do their jobs. I don’t want anything to happen to you and Chrissy. Besides, don’t you want to pack for our honeymoon? Five months is long enough to wait.”

“Agreed. It’s long overdue. I can’t wait to be alone with you. We don’t leave until tomorrow, so I have the afternoon and evening to finish packing.”

Autumn traveled about four miles before she spotted Loretta’s silver Toyota Corolla on the side of the road. She parked and looked inside, not touching anything. No one was in the car. She didn’t test the door to see if it was locked, in case the police could get fingerprints and other evidence from the vehicle.

After giving Ray an update, she left a message for Amy Armstrong while she waited for a police officer to arrive. To her surprise, Ray and Ace arrived at the same time as the patrol car and pulled up behind him. Autumn walked Chrissy over to greet them. Her tail wagged furiously when she saw them.

“Nice to see you in the middle of the day,” said Autumn. She admired the way his suit fell across his muscular, lean body and took advantage when the patrol officer turned away, planting a solid kiss on his lips. Even though they were married, she showed respect for his position as lieutenant. “I left a message on Amy’s phone letting her know we found Loretta’s car. She may be out looking for her.”

“I can’t imagine what she’s going through,” said Ray, petting Chrissy’s fluffy head, avoiding the purple satin bow.

Ace came over to sniff Chrissy, who wagged her tail. Autumn scratched Ace behind his ears.

“I’m going home to pack. I hope you find Loretta.”

“Me, too. We’ve already notified law enforcement north and south of here. I’ll call when we’re on our way home.”

“It’s close to dinnertime. How about I take Ace home with me and feed them?” she said to Ray, and then to Ace in a sweet voice, “Want to head home with me and get some dinner?”

Ace pounded his tail on the ground and trotted over to Autumn’s car. Ray smiled.

“He’s so smart, it’s scary sometimes.”

“That’s my boy,” said Ray in his proud papa voice.

Autumn’s phone rang on the way home. It was Amy.

“Thanks for finding Loretta’s car, Autumn. No sign of her, though, right?”

“Unfortunately, no. Ray is working with multiple jurisdictions to keep an eye out for her.”

“Maybe she went back to her apartment in East Stroudsburg. I just wish she’d call me. Barry and I are heading to our place up there, just in case.”

Autumn had met Amy’s husband, Barry, only once and tried to remember what he looked like. She’d likely meet him when they were in the mountains.

“Ray and I are leaving to go up there tomorrow, so we’ll be nearby if you need anything.”

“You’ve both waited so long for this. I don’t want to intrude.”

“Finding Loretta is what’s important right now.”

Autumn thought about Amy’s missing daughter. She had a bad feeling about this, but until they found her body, there was hope she was alive.

Watching the early morning mist on the lake behind the cozy mountain cabin Autumn and Ray rented was exactly what she needed. A few cottages dotted the shoreline across the lake. Tucked into the maple, oak, and pine trees, they looked like a painting. The morning air had a touch of crispness, perfect for shorts and a cozy sweater. She took a sip of steaming black tea and sighed.

Their wedding had been perfect. Marrying the man of her dreams and being accepted into his loving family was everything she ever wanted. She felt her parents were there in spirit. They would have loved Ray. And now their delayed honeymoon, with two darling fur babies, in a picture-perfect setting was the whipped cream and a cherry on top of a hot fudge sundae. How did she get so lucky?

Chrissy stared at the water from the comfort of a fluffy pink dog bed set on a waterproof tarp they brought down to the dock. She looked, unfazed, at the squirrel flipping his tail in a red maple tree.

A few feet from Chrissy, Ace sat at attention; his gaze unwavering from the lake. In this unfamiliar environment, a day hadn’t been long enough for him to relax. Autumn wasn’t sure that Ace ever let his guard down. Between his training and protective instincts, she always felt safe with him around. Ace stayed alert to potential threats until he was certain his family was safe. It was the nature of German Shepherd Dogs to be vigilant and protective. Autumn was glad he kept vigilant, so she didn’t have to. Ace sniffed the air. A canoe with a single passenger floated by, too far to pose a threat, yet Ace’s intimidating stare followed the boat, warning it not to come closer, until it was no longer a danger to his family.

The sound of the sliding door opening and closing turned Autumn’s attention to Ray, bringing out a tray of the thickest French toast she’d ever seen.

“That looks scrumptious!” Autumn said, as she made room for the tray on the table.

Ray set it down humming the tune Truly Scrumptious from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, wrapped Autumn in his arms, tilted her backwards, and kissed Autumn so she felt it down to her toes. He righted her, smiled and winked, and sat down. He scanned the lake and took a deep breath. Spring was a peaceful time in the mountain community of East Stroudsburg. Driving up to the Poconos was Ray’s idea and, despite their last misadventure in the mountains of Pennsylvania, Autumn agreed.

“I can’t think of a better place for our honeymoon. Quiet,” said Ray.

Water lapped the dock and the tiny pebbled beach.

“Two weeks of bliss. I’m glad we waited to go on our honeymoon. If we really like it up here, we can always buy a cabin. It’s easier vacationing like this than flying someplace with the pups.”

Ray nodded, chewing a piece of French toast. “And we could leave our clothes, dog beds, and other stuff without having to pack every time we want to get away.”

They ate breakfast in comfortable silence. The lake’s beauty, the gentle sounds of nature, the scent of leafing trees and decaying pine needles, and the lovely surrounding hills filled their senses. Chrissy hopped out of her doggy bed and trotted over to Autumn. She stared until Autumn lifted the sweet pup onto her lap.

Ace let out a low growl, his warning tentative as he assessed the situation. He stood, his head stretching toward the lake. Ray stood to see what Ace was reacting to.

“What is it, boy? A fish?”

Ace let out a loud bark of alarm, making Chrissy and Autumn jump. Chrissy’s pink satin bow went wonky on her head, so Autumn unclipped it and tossed it on the table. Ray jogged down to the dock where Ace stood to get a better look. Something floated about fifteen yards away. Squinting, Ray couldn’t make out what it was. Ace was on full alert, his barking more urgent.

“Okay, okay.”

Ray stepped into the canoe so he could get closer. Ace jumped in behind him.

Autumn squinted and held Chrissy close. She watched as Ray paddled away, Ace no longer barking but still on high alert.

Ray pulled up alongside the mass and poked it with the paddle. Ace was practically on top of Ray, looking over his shoulder. A cloudy blue eye glinted from beneath long, dark hair littered with pine needles and twigs. Looking back at the lovely little cabin, his beautiful wife, and sweet furry pup, he knew their serene honeymoon had just turned into an investigation. He looked up at Autumn and shook his head as he reached for his cell phone to dial 911 and then called the detective he left in charge in Knollwood.

Local News, East Stroudsburg, PA—Body found in Moonlight Lake

The body of Loretta Armstrong was found this morning, May 8, 2024, floating in Moonlight Lake. Her mother reported her missing a week ago in Knollwood, PA. If you have information regarding this case, please contact the East Stroudsburg Police.

If anyone told Autumn that their honeymoon would include a dead body, she would have waved them away as being silly. Despite all the corpses that had entered her life in the last year, she assumed the universe would act in her favor and her honeymoon would be off limits. But she’d been wrong before.

Ray and Ace stayed in the boat next to the body for the twenty minutes it took for uniformed officers to arrive on the scene. Autumn met them out front. With solemn expressions, they introduced themselves as officers Christine Campos and Alison Williams. Both wore their hair in tight buns. Officer Campos’s brown skin and dark hair contrasted with her partner’s fair skin and medium blonde hair. They came across as polite and capable. Autumn was glad to see female law enforcement officers and hoped that Ray would hire more in their hometown of Knollwood.

She and Chrissy escorted them to the lake and showed them to a canoe. The officers expertly maneuvered themselves into the boat despite the extensive array of weapons and accessories on their belts. Autumn was familiar with the stiff posture resulting from the heavy body armor under their shirts and was used to seeing the impressive way officers navigated the equipment that kept them safe.

The officers pulled their canoe next to Ray, and Autumn could read his lips, introducing himself as Lieutenant Reed and watched them shake hands. She heard car doors slamming at the front of the cabin and went to see who it was.

The Scranton crime scene investigation unit sent two investigators. A detective from Stroudsburg arrived right behind them in another vehicle. They walked with Autumn to the lake and assisted Ray and the officers to get the body to shore where a stretcher waited.

Autumn kept Chrissy away from the body to ensure her hair or other debris didn’t contaminate any evidence. It was likely that the water probably did a good job of washing away most of the clues either way. They sat on the upper deck away from the water, watching the experts process the scene. Chrissy had seen her share of dead bodies, and Autumn wanted to spare her another one. It figures one would show up while they were on vacation.

The local officers, crime scene investigators, and the detective petted Ace and treated Ray with respect as they discussed how and when Ace discovered the bloated body. Officer Campos recognized the woman dressed in a red plaid flannel shirt and jeans as Loretta Armstrong, a server at The Tall Tree Inn. Loretta’s feet were bare and toenails adorned with blue, sparkly polish to match her fingernails.

“She’s been missing since last week,” said officer Campos. “Her roommate, Cathy Bailey, described her clothing and nail polish when she made the report.”

“Loretta Armstrong’s mother reported her missing in Knollwood about a week ago. She disappeared after having dinner with friends at a local restaurant. How did she get all the way up here?” said Ray.

“She was driven or drove herself. We’ll need to look for her car,” said Officer Williams.

“It was a 2019 silver Corolla. Autumn found it about four miles from the restaurant where she was last seen,” Ray offered. “If her roommate also reported her missing about the same time as Loretta’s mother, Cathy Bailey has some explaining to do.”

“We’ll interview Ms. Bailey after the medical examiner’s report is complete,” said Detective John Conroy.

They promised to call Ray after the coroner examined the body. Ray knew a thorough exam would provide more details. Still, he knew the high likelihood that the water and aquatic wildlife inhabitants of the lake had destroyed important evidence.

“I’ll contact my department and inform Detective Ross Adams. I believe Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong are staying at their house in Stroudsburg,” said Ray, taking a card from Detective Conroy. “Will you be contacting them?”

Detective Conroy nodded somberly. There was nothing worse than notifying the family that their loved one was deceased.

Ray’s mind raced with questions: How long had she been in the water? Did she drown, or was there another cause of death? Was it the result of foul play or accidental? So much for his vacation. He could still manage the investigation from here. No need to go back to Knollwood. Part of him wished their vacation was the tranquil, romantic respite they had planned. The other part of him felt more alive with a mystery to unravel. He’d do what he could to balance the situation and make it special for Autumn.

“Thanks, everyone,” he said, shaking hands all around. “If anything else floats up, I’ll let you know.”

“Sure thing, Lieutenant,” said Officer Campos. “In the meantime, we’ll be combing the lake and surrounding areas for evidence.”

He liked a powerful grip when shaking hands. Her firm handshake displayed confidence and authority. He knew how hard it was for female officers to come up through the ranks and earn acceptance by the men, especially women of color. Officer Williams had a solid grip as well. Ray observed them to be confident and formidable, traits he looked for in his officers back home.