Holidays & Homicide E-Book

Race Lucinda

• Herausgeber: MC Two Press
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Enjoy this clean, paranormal cozy mystery by award winning and bestselling author, Lucinda Race.

Welcome to Pembroke Cove, where witches and murders are multiplying...

With twinkling lights and Christmas trees, the small seaside town of Pembroke Cove, Maine is dressed up for the season. Lily Michaels, bookstore owner and witch, is excited to be going to the Glow and Glide ice skating festival. This year as part of a couple with her new fiancé, Gage Erikson—who Milo, her familiar calls, Detective Cutie. It’s the holidays, what could go wrong? 

After the fun is over from the skating event Lily drives by the rink and is shocked to discover a body on the ice. Archie Dane is dead. Lily's intuition starts to twitch. When she learns there is a discarded mailbag near the body things really go wonky. Archie was a nice guy, but with claims of stolen mail parcels, was he a thief, stealing from his friends and neighbors? 

Suspects and motives are piling up faster than the crisp white snow. What is Archie’s new girlfriend, Noelle, hiding? What about his co-worker flirting with Noelle? With Lily's spell work improving and having escaped death four times in the last six months, will her luck hold while solving another murder? It’s a magical season, but will it be a merry Christmas for Lily and Gage? 

Holidays & Homicide is the fifth novel in A Book Store Cozy Mystery Series, although each book can be read as standalone it is best to read in order. A sweet and clean cozy mystery with a guarantee the culprit is caught. Happy reading!

Leseprobe

Holidays & Homicide

A Paranormal Witch Cozy Witch Mystery

Book Store Cozy Mystery Series

Book 5

Lucinda Race

MC Two Press

Contents

Author’s Note

1. Lily

2. Lily

3. Gage

4. Lily

5. Lily

6. Gage

7. Lily

8. Lily

9. Gage

10. Lily

11. Lily

12. Gage

13. Lily

14. Lily

15. Gage

16. Lily

17. Lily

18. Gage

19. Lily

20. Lily

Leprechauns & Larceny

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About the Author

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Copyright © 2023 Lucinda Race

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Author Lucinda Race.

Editor Kimberly Dawn

Cover design by Mariah Sinclair

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Edition November 2023

Print Edition ISBN 978-1-954520-70-7

E-book ISBN 978-1-954520-69-1

Author’s Note

Hi and welcome to my world of cozy mystery.

I hope you love my characters as much as I do. So, turn the page and happy sleuthing. If you’d like to stay in touch, please join my Newsletter. I release it twice per month with tidbits, recipes and an occasional special gift just for my readers so sign up here:

Lucinda’s Newsletter

and there’s a free cozy mystery when you join!

Happy reading...

**Special note to my readers: My books are drawn entirely from my imagination. AI was not used in the creation or editing of this book.

Chapter1

Lily

QUICK NOTE: If you enjoy Holidays & Homicide, be sure to check out my offer for a FREE bonus at the end. With that, happy reading!

* * *

Tightly closing the door to my bookstore, I hurried down the brick sidewalk in the direction of the police station. But my destination, The Sweet Spot Bakery. Across the street I could see the holiday decorating committee was busy putting the final touches on the decorations around the ice skating rink. The annual holiday Winter Glow and Glide skating party was from seven to nine tonight. This was the first time Gage and I would be going as a couple. I looked at the glove on my left hand, saw a distinctive bump on my ring finger and sighed. We had been engaged for six weeks and it had been the best time in my life. The snow was blowing and creating drifts in the square, and I didn’t want to get pulled into a conversation with the volunteers. The store had been busy with holiday shoppers but I needed a quick pick-me-up, and it was easier to zip down Doenut Drive and past the police station to reach my friend William’s bakery. And if my handsome fiancé’s car, who was also a detective on the force, was in the parking lot, I’d take a quick detour and see if he wanted to join me for coffee. As I rounded the corner I noticed his parking spot was empty.

Pulling the hood of my wool jacket up and tugging on the laces, I braced myself against the freezing cold. The snow was picture-perfect for the holiday season and about time. I thought about how the first storm historically arrived right after Thanksgiving, but not this year. It was mid-December and this was the first measurable snowfall. A sharp toot of the horn caused me to look up, and I waved to Archie Dane, our mailman. His mail truck glided to a stop beside me.

“Hi, Lily, where are you headed?”

Archie’s wide smile always elicited a grin from me as he gave me a friendly wink. “Kinda cold out to be taking a walk.” Bright-red wool gloves were a sharp contrast to his blue uniform jacket which was neatly pressed. His short brown hair was partially covered by a blue knit hat with the USPS logo on the front. He looked as if he stepped from a recruiting poster for the post office. Well, except for the red gloves. They were downright practical for this weather.

“It’s refreshing and hopefully it will bring people out to skate tonight. I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but Robin’s Cafe is donating hot cider and cocoa, and The Copper Kettle and The Sweet Spot are hosting a cookie corner.”

“I’m looking forward to it. I’ve sharpened my skates and am ready to take a few turns around the ice.” He looked at the police station behind us. “Will you and Gage be coming?”

My heart sighed. It was the first year that we’d be skating as an engaged couple after all the years we’d been just best friends. It had taken me almost dying at the hands of some crazy lady, and a few close calls for us to open our eyes and state our true feelings. “We’re looking forward to it. I just hope I don’t spend more time on my backside than my feet.”

He said, “I’ve been walking around my house to practice wearing them again.” A wistful look splashed across his face. “If only I hadn’t lost at the state championship, who knows how far I could have gone in the world.” Tugging on the front of his jacket, he said, “But then I wouldn’t be here making sure the mail arrives on time to my friends and neighbors.”

I wanted to offer him sympathy that all works out for the best, but knew that no real words would comfort him. Never having experienced that type of setback, I decided to ease away from the topic. “Are you bringing someone with you tonight?”

The smile was back. “Noelle Webber. I met her a few weeks ago. She’s a driver at We DOT Shipping. We met delivering a package to the same place, and then I bumped into her again at the Magical Moonshine Pub in Robin’s Pointe—that’s where she lives. I think it was fate.”

I was genuinely pleased Archie had met a nice girl. At least I was assuming she was since he deserved someone special. “I’m looking forward to meeting her tonight.”

Gripping the steering wheel, he said, “I’d better get going. Mail delivery needs to get done so I can get to Robin’s Pointe and back in plenty of time to take Noelle for dinner before the Glow and Glide starts. It’s her first time skating, and I’m hoping she enjoys it.”

“I’m sure she will with you by her side.” If I hadn’t been paying attention, I wouldn’t have noticed the corners of his mouth deepen to a brief frown. “Yes. I need to get my coffee and get back to the store. With Christmas two weeks away, I’m in for a hectic day.”

Saying goodbye, Archie tapped the horn one more time as he pulled away. I watched as the small white vehicle took a left turn on Route One, leaving town and not heading where I thought his route went. I did feel bad for whatever was troubling him. The next time I got the chance, I’d ask him, just to make sure there wasn’t trouble that I could help him fix. I pulled my collar close to my face and hurried down the sidewalk. Winter in New England had finally arrived.

I was getting ready to lock up my bookstore for the day when the front door opened. Milo, my familiar, sat up on the front counter where I was working and said, “Well, look who’s here; it’s Detective Cutie.”

My fiancé was tall and well built, with the dreamiest hazel eyes and light brown hair. I could see from where I was standing his vintage cherry-red pickup was parked next to the curb. He crossed the room with a swagger full of confidence but not cocky. “Hello.” Gage’s deep voice warmed my heart. His voice held the same smile that was on his lips. Leaning in, he kissed me.

“Hello, yourself. I thought you were picking me up at home?”

His finger trailed down my cheek and gently pushed my chin up, tilting my face to him. “I couldn’t wait another minute to see you.”

My heart sighed as this kind of talk could potentially sway me from going skating, but I knew as a shop owner I needed to be at the event to support the town. “I’m glad you did.”

Milo started hacking up a hairball. “People can see you through the window.” He jumped down, trotted to his window seat, and then hopped up and settled onto the cushions.

Ignoring him and looking past Gage as the darkness fell, I said, “Did you see the tree in the square?”

He glanced over his shoulder. “You mean the lobster traps stacked to resemble a Christmas tree?” He smiled again. “It’s hard to miss with all those twinkle lights and shiny baubles.”

Now, I sighed loudly. “I think it’s a wonderful idea, and it will save a tree, and it’s in plain view of my shop so I can look at it until after the New Year.”

Cupping my cheek, he grazed my mouth with his. “I think the view inside is much better. Maybe we should stay in tonight.”

Laughing, I gave him a little shove. “Why, Detective Erikson, are you trying to divert my attention away from tonight’s event?” I knew that was exactly what he was trying to do. The last time there had been a major town event, someone had been killed, and of course, I started investigating. Solving it had been one of my finer moments, but Gage would never agree since I almost became a ghost.

Straightening, he said, “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

I shooed him away from the counter. “Let me finish up, and we can go back to my house and have a quick bite of dinner. I want to get to the rink early. Archie Dane is going to introduce us to his new lady love. He said she’s from Robin’s Pointe.”

He wiggled his eyebrows. “I wonder what she’s like. Any idea how they met?” He took a chocolate kiss candy from the jar next to the cash register, unwrapped it before handing it to me, and then he took another for himself.

“They were both delivering a package to the same place, and they clicked instantly from what he said.” I popped the candy in my mouth, letting it melt on my tongue. I loved the creamy and sweet treat, and Gage indulged with me.

He twirled a finger around my face. “I hope Archie’s girl gets the same expression when he gives her a piece of chocolate.” He pecked my lips and a flirtatious gleam filled his eyes. “Are you sure we can’t skip skating? It’s pretty cold out, and it might snow again.”

“Gage, you’re incorrigible. Now, make yourself useful and either pick up dinner or sit in that wingback chair and wait for me to finish. The more you distract me, the longer this takes.”

Holding up his hands in surrender, he said, “Fine, fine. We’ll go skating, but you’re buying me a cocoa, maybe two.”

I arched my brow and gave him a look that said, really?

“Or I’ll buy.” He laughed. Sitting in the chair, he asked, “How was business today?”

“Brisk, and not a single thing out of the ordinary happened.” I finished putting the cash in the money bag and slid it into my tote. “Okay, I’m ready. I’ll go out the back and meet you at the house.”

“Come on. I’ll drive you home. The roads are slick and we can pick up your car later.”

That was an offer I wasn’t going to refuse. My Mini Cooper was great in the snow because it sat low and wide to the ground, but riding with Gage was more appealing. “Milo, are you coming with us?”

“It’s better than getting wet paws tramping through the snow.” He landed with a soft thud on the floor and waited patiently next to the front door.

I locked up in the back room and grabbed my coat, hat, and mittens. Now I was ready. Going back into the store, I said, “Let’s get this party started.”

After getting cocoa coupons from Gil Akers, Gage and I glided around the outskirts of the rink, holding hands and grinning like teenagers. The turnout was fantastic; it seemed like most of the town was here. I was surprised to see Chet Harvey at the cookie station, helping William pass out sugar cookies. I waved to Aunt Mimi and her husband Nate, my best friend Nikki and her fiancé Steve, and Ellen Pease and her teenage son, Wyatt. I could see my folks looking more like kids than my parents on the opposite side of the ice, grinning from ear to ear.

I poked Gage in the ribs. “Look, there’s Archie with his girl, and he’s wearing his Santa hat. How festive!” He casually looked in the direction I had indicated. I held up my hand and gave them a wave. “Come on. Let’s skate over and meet her.”

Taking the direct route, we made a beeline across the ice to where Archie was helping his girlfriend stand. She seemed to be a little wobbly as her ankles bent in before she straightened them again, showing off the skates with bright red laces, and then promptly sat down on the bench.

“Hello.” Puffs of frozen air danced between us. Extending my hand, I said, “I’m Lily Michaels, and this is my fiancé, Gage Erikson.”

Archie was beaming. “This is Noelle Webber.” He dropped his chin and looked at her with wide eyes. “My girlfriend.”

He frowned and I glanced in the direction he was now glaring. Chet Harvey and Gil Akers were in his line of sight, and Ellen was slightly behind them. I had to wonder what that was all about, but I turned to chat with Noelle. She had long brown hair and bright blue eyes, and from her sitting position, she seemed to be taller than me.

“Hi.” Her voice had a breathy quality, almost as if she was shy. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Archie’s been talking about tonight since we met. He said I just had to come. It is the highlight of the holiday season and all.” When she looked up, her eyes locked on Archie. “So far it’s been fun.”

He pulled her to a standing position and her ankles bowed in again. He slipped an arm around her waist and said, “Don’t worry. I won’t let you fall.”

Smitten was the word that came to mind and it seemed to be reciprocated. “It was really nice to meet you, Noelle. Enjoy your evening, and don’t forget to get a cup of cocoa. Regan, who owns the café, is running the stand and it always hits the spot.”

Archie said, “Thanks,” as he pushed off, holding her tightly to wind their way around the rink.

Watching them for a minute, I glanced at Gage. “Noelle seems nice but quiet, but I think that will suit Archie.” My attention was drawn to Aunt Mimi, who was waving at us to join them. “Come on. I’ll let you buy me a cocoa now, and we can see what my aunt is all excited about.”

We glided to a stop next to the cocoa stand where Mimi and her husband Nate were. “Hey there.” I kissed her cheek. “Are you having a good time?”

Aunt Mimi and I looked very much alike, except she was in her mid-seventies with silver gray hair, but at one time it had been chestnut brown like mine. And you’d never guess her age by her youthful grin and spirit and the mischievous glint in her brown eyes. She was a witch. Now that I knew our family was part of the Pembroke Cove witches, I wondered if that was why she always looked exactly the same She never aged, or maybe it was just good genes.

Nate grinned. “The best time.” He glanced at the sky. “The stars are out and our Christmas tree is stunning.”

“How many of those lobster traps are yours, Nate?”

He beamed with pride. “A good many, and it was fun building it. Not so much fun when we have to deconstruct, but I’m not going to think about that tonight. Right now, it sets the perfect tone for our little seaside community.”

Aunt Mimi said, “I’m having your parents over for brunch next Sunday. Please tell me you’ll come. I’ve already invited Nikki and Steve too and of course Gage’s parents. I just love this time of year and we have so much to be thankful for.”

I wasn’t sure if she was talking about the engagement or the fact that I escaped an untimely death four times in the last six months. Gage asked, “What can we bring?”

“Just yourselves.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Now, you two should take another spin around the ice before the night gets too cold.”

“Yes, Aunt Mimi.” I gave her another kiss and did the same to Nate before taking the insulated cup of cocoa from Regan and slipping my arm through Gage’s. Over the next couple of hours, we made our way around the ice. We chatted with my parents, Gage’s mom and Dad, and Nikki and Steve. They all confirmed they were going to Mimi’s on Sunday. As we made one final turn on the ice, I tipped my head back and looked up at the stars. “It is a perfect night.”

Gage glanced at the thinning crowd. “It seemed everyone had a good time.”

I took his hand. “It’s the holidays. What could go wrong?”

Chapter2

Lily

“Sweetheart, I’m sorry. We should have gotten my car when we left the rink.” Gage was navigating the dark side street with ease as he pulled up behind my blue Mini Coop. “All I was thinking about was my frozen toes.”

He clasped my hand on the seat between us. “I would have come over in the morning and picked you up.”

I gathered up my bag and gloves and kissed him lightly before pushing open the door. “Just give me a minute to get the car started.”

“I was going to follow you home.”

“No need.” I kissed my fingertips and fluttered them in his direction. “See you in the morning.”

“Put your gloves on.” He shook his head. “Drive carefully and call me when you get home.”

I gave him a thumbs-up and dashed to my car. I didn’t want a repeat of frozen toes again tonight. My car started up with a gentle hum, and I buckled my seat belt, pulling on my gloves before I went any further.

I looked in my rearview mirror and saw Gage was waiting for me to pull out ahead of him. I did, and when we reached Doenut Drive, he went right and I turned left. I drove around the perimeter of the town square and noticed a light on near the cocoa stand. That was odd. Everything should be shut down, lights off, and the stands locked up for the night. I slowed the car and pulled to the curb. Sliding my window down, I listened. The night was eerily quiet except for the clock in the old church that was chiming eleven. Turning off the car and pocketing the keys, I hurried across the fresh blanket of snow, my footsteps silent.

“Hello,” I called out as my heart rate quickened. Drawing closer to the cocoa stand, all of my senses were on high alert. I called out again, “Is anyone there?” I exhaled in an attempt to remind myself that not every time I walked into a scene where things seemed amiss, something bad was about to happen. Peeking around the corner, there was no one in sight. Relief washed over me like an ocean wave. Someone forgot to turn off the light. I walked behind the counter and stumbled, righting myself with a steady hand on the counter. As my hand hovered over the temporary switch, I gaze slid across the ice. The relief I had felt dissipated like air from a fast-deflating balloon. Lying in the middle of the ice was a person.

Rushing around the counter, sliding over the ice, I called out, “Hey, are you okay?” I sank to my knees and eased to a spot a foot away. “Archie Dane.” A frozen red river flowed away from his body. He was definitely not okay. I wanted to reach out and check his pulse, but the lack of color in his face had me keeping my distance. Hastily, I withdrew my cell and hit the speed dial number for Gage.

He didn’t even have a chance to say hello when I blurted out, “Come quick. To the ice rink. Archie Dane is dead.”

The siren wail broke the stillness, and I crouched on the ice next to Archie. I took a bunch of pictures on my phone since this would be my only chance to get them. My teeth began to chatter, and I was chilled to the bone, but I wouldn’t leave him.

Dax and Gage skidded over the ice, and he held out his hand, wrapping his arms around me. “Are you alright?”

Nodding, I said, “Yes, but Archie isn’t. He’s dead. As much as I hate to say this, he was murdered.”

Dax was standing next to us. “He could have just slipped and hit his head.”

I looked at him as the sadness washed over me. “Not likely.” I pointed to the woman’s figure skate near him, the blade coated with blood.

Gage tightened his arms around me, but I couldn’t feel the warmth of his body. What were the odds that I would find another dead person in our charming small town?

With my eyes locked on Archie’s lifeless body, I asked, “Are Sharon and Mac coming?” They were two of Pembroke Cove’s finest and were people I trusted. It didn’t hurt that Gage thought highly of them as well.

“Yes. Peabody will pick up Mac on the way here, and it will be up to them to gather evidence and take pictures before we move Archie.” He began to steer me away from poor Archie. “Let’s get you to a bench and you can tell me what made you stop. I thought you were going straight home?”

Before we left the ice, I took a moment to turn in a slow circle as if taking mental pictures to review later. But nothing seemed out of place except for the solitary light at the cocoa stand. I took one last look at the ice, tipping my head from side to side. Why were his hands bare and where his Santa hat? “Gage, his hat and gloves are missing.”

“They’re probably in his vehicle,” Dax said. “We’ll check it out.”

He stayed next to the body as Gage and I walked carefully across the ice and sat down on a bench where Archie was helping Noelle with her skates just a few short hours ago. “Why would Archie have taken his date home and then come back?”

He rubbed my gloved hands between his to get the blood flowing again. “Maybe they came in separate cars, or they had a tiff, and he took her home early.”

My eyes widened. “What if she’s hurt around here and needs help.” I tried to get up, and Gage held me in place. He waved Dax over as Mac and Sharon crossed the ice.

“What’s up? We’re just getting started.”

“Lily wants to make sure that Archie’s date isn’t close by and possibly hurt. Can you have a couple of the uniformed cops take a look around? Just to be safe.”

“Yeah, I can do that.” Dax glanced at me. “Anything else?”

It was amusing that he deferred to me as this investigation was just getting started. But in my defense, we had become close, like a brother and sister. After the haunted house event and being held at gunpoint our bond was forged. It was also when I discovered he was a powerful witch. “Will you let me know if they find a Santa hat and a pair of red wool gloves?”

His eyebrow shot up. “Our victim’s?”

“Yes, he was wearing the hat earlier and the gloves he had on this afternoon. Since they went with the theme, I figured he’d be wearing them too.”

“You got it.” Dax strode across the frozen surface like he was wearing ice cleats and it was easy to guess he had cast a spell to keep himself upright.

I watched as Sharon and Mac moved around the lifeless form of the mailman. Bright flashes of light popped off at regular intervals as they took pictures, documenting everything from all possible angles. “How long before they move him?” I wanted to hang around as long as possible to see if there was any evidence under his body. And the figure skate that was next to him, what was it about that skate that niggled at me? I grabbed his arm. “Gage, the laces are red and not from blood.”

He gave me a quizzical look. “I’m not following you.”

“Tonight, Noelle’s skates had red laces. Remember when Archie was helping her stand and her ankles kept giving out? I noticed her skates then and rentals would have had white laces. So, for someone who didn’t know how to skate, it would have been likely she would have rented them.”

“Lily, maybe she bought them because she was going on a date.”

It was kind of logical but Gage had never been inside a woman’s head when she was getting ready for a date. “Only someone who knew how would go to the trouble of adding red laces. It’s a statement to the world—look at me.” I tugged at his hand. “I need to find Noelle Webber and ask her a few questions.” I tried to hurry across the ice, but Gage’s hand tightened on mine. Turning, I asked, “What?”

He dropped his gaze and took a step closer. “You’re not going to investigate this murder. I appreciate your keen eye, but the way this person killed Archie was violent.”

I nodded. “And personal. To get up close like that, Archie had to know who it was. She, or he, knew exactly what they were doing.”

“Which is why I want you to leave the sleuthing to me, but I know if I have a question that has me stumped, I can ask your advice.” He tapped the middle of my forehead. “You have the best mind I know for solving puzzles, but I wish you’d stick to the New York Times Sunday crossword and let me do my job.”

I looked over my shoulder to where the emergency personnel lifted Archie’s body onto a gurney. “He was my friend and when we talked today, you should have seen how excited he was to be dating someone he believed was very special. I can’t remember a time when he was this happy.”

Gage slipped an arm around my shoulders. We both watched as the white blanket covered the gurney was wheeled off the ice. “He was my friend too and I promise we’ll find the guilty person and arrest them.”

Once the scene was clear, Gage and I crossed the ice to where Dax was talking with Sharon and Mac.

Mac gave me a tight smile. “Hi, Lily. Sorry, you got tangled up in something like this again.”

Sharon gave me a somber look. “You certainly do have a knack for stumbling across crime scenes.” She shot Gage a frown crossed her face. “Sorry, boss.”

“Peabody.”

Why everyone called Sharon by her last name still puzzled me and one of these days I’d ask her about it. But tonight, I was bone-tired and cold, and I wanted to go home. “Will someone be able to clean the blood off the ice before morning? It would be upsetting to people in town to see where Archie was attacked.”

Dax said, “As much as I like to keep crime scenes intact as long as possible in case of new evidence, this might be the exception. With the holidays and it being smack in the center of town, there isn’t any way to preserve it. If Peabody or Mac can meet me here at sunrise, we can do one final sweep, and I can get the ice cleaned before most of the town is aware this happened.”

“Really?” I asked Dax. “Do you think this hasn’t already hit the phone tree? By morning, everyone will know what happened, maybe even more than what you know.” I gave a pointed look from Gage to Peabody and Mac before my gaze rested on Dax. “We’re talking small-town gossip at its best. But there are children to consider.”