Leprechauns & Larceny E-Book

Race Lucinda

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

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2024

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...

Bookstore owner and witch Lily Michaels has a never-ending list of to-do items as the maid of honor for her best friends’ upcoming St. Patrick’s Day wedding. The last thing she has time for is another mystery. But with a missing wedding dress, the discovery of a pair of leprechaun boots, and a body in a bathtub, she’s ready to mesh her love of puzzles and a little magic to help solve the crime. Even if her fiancé —Gage Erikson of the Pembroke Cove police department— is determined to keep her out of trouble and safe.

Good luck with that.

Lily is going to need more than the luck of the Irish to solve the murder while a group of treasure hunters, friends of the deceased, are in town. Only they’re not grieving. They’re focused on finding a pirate captain’s gold, which—according to legend—the rocky coast of Pembroke Cove keeps hidden…and is only accessible during three days in March.

Will Lily’s luck hold with a wedding in shambles and a murderer skulking in the shadows? She needs to follow the clues to solve the case but can her witchy skills save her when the final clue leads her to the murderer?

Leprechauns and Larceny is the sixth novel in A Book Store Cozy Mystery Series, although each book can be read as a standalone—a sweet and clean cozy mystery with a guarantee that the culprit is caught. Happy reading!

Leseprobe

Leprechauns & Larceny

A Paranormal Witch Cozy Witch Mystery

Book Store Cozy Mystery Series

Book 6

Lucinda Race

MC Two Press

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 © 2024 Lucinda Race

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

Editor: Trish Long at Blossoming Pages Author Services

Cover design by Mariah Sinclair

Manufactured in the United States of America

First Edition February 2024

Print Edition ISBN 978-1-954520-73-8

E-book ISBN 978-1-954520-72-1

Contents

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

Chapter One

A Free Story for You

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Chapter1

Lily

QUICK NOTE: If you enjoy Leprechauns & Larceny, be sure to check out my offer for a FREE novella at the end. With that, happy reading.

I double-checked the time. It was just noon. I added the notebook to my tote bag. It had a never-ending list of to-do items for the upcoming wedding of my best friends, Nikki and Steve. As the maid of honor, I had taken on the bulk of the last-minute details while Nikki conjured up ideas for her wedding cake. As one of the best kitchen witches in our small town of Pembroke Cove, Maine, I knew it was going to be the most delicious cake ever, even if the theme was St. Patrick’s Day and all things Irish. Not that I had a lot to compare it to since I had shied away from weddings. You know the saying, ‘Always a bridesmaid, never a bride’? Well, I thought I was in that category until last fall when my forever crush and I finally made it official. Detective Gage Erikson and I started dating, and even more recently, we got engaged.

“Milo,” I called out to my gray tabby cat, who also happened to be my familiar. He was nowhere to be found. I wandered down the mystery aisle in my bookstore, hoping I’d find him snoozing in the soft kitty bed I had tucked into the corner for him. But it was empty.

“Milo?” He hadn’t mentioned he was going out and I needed to get next door to the Pembroke Cove B & B to start decorating for the wedding reception. The flowers were going to be delivered tomorrow, so things needed to get organized. But not before I knew what had happened to Milo.

I stood in the middle of my bookstore with my hands on my hips and tilted my head back before saying in a loud and clear voice, “Milo, what kind of witch would I be if I left without talking to you?”

“Can’t I get a catnap in without being interrupted?” His deep kitty grumble from behind me caught me off guard. I twirled around, thankful I was wearing jeans and not a long skirt which would have tripped me up, and I’d be on the floor with my familiar.

“There you are.” I scooped him up and crushed him to my chest. “Where were you hiding?”

He tapped his paw, sans claws, to my cheek. “I’m not telling you since I’ll never have a peaceful moment when the store is open if you know where to find me.”

He rubbed his head under my chin so I knew he was just being cantankerous and not annoyed with me. We had come a long way in the last nine months or so when I discovered I was a witch after my family’s book of magic, Practical Beginnings, had clonked me on the head.

Kissing the space between his ears, I set him in one of the wingback chairs at the front of the store. “I need to run next door and see how the tables are set up for this weekend. Aunt Mimi was going to come down and watch the shop but had something else to do. Not that I know what’s more important than this wedding.”

“I assume Nikki is up to her wand in icing?” Milo stretched his body across the chair and got comfortable for his next nap.

I couldn’t help but laugh. He knew her so well. “She’s trying to come up with the perfect flavor combination that not only is fitting for a wedding but will also enhance the theme.”

It was only recently that I had discovered wands and witches were a thing. Much to my delight, I had been to a charming shop in Boston called Wanderlings. It was there I selected my wand, and I took it with me everywhere. Even now, it was safely tucked into the bottom of my tote bag. Not that I was very good at using it yet, but I would be someday.

He rolled over onto his back and gave me a look. I knew what was coming next.

“I will scratch your tummy later. I’m already late.” Slinging my tote bag over my shoulder, I gave him a quick pat. “I’ll be back soon, so keep an eye on the shop.”

“No worries, my dear witch. You can count on me.” He yawned and I chuckled. “Maybe I should invest in security cameras to keep a watchful eye.” I crossed to the door, and my hand was on the knob.

He opened his eyes and looked up again. “Now that’s a great idea, or better yet, find the spell that will give you access to your store whenever you want.”

“That’s a thing?”

He sighed. “Tonight, try asking the book. You’ve made great progress over the winter, but you might need to challenge yourself in the coming days.”

That stopped me in my tracks. “Are you clairvoyant? Is there something specific I need to be ready for?” Since I discovered my powers, we’d had five murders in our sleepy little town and broken up a fraud scheme that had been brewing right under the police department’s nose. My newly acquired skills had come into play along with my love of solving puzzles. Thank heavens, Gage discovered working with me only helped him solve the cases quicker than without me. In the process, a new witch and our friend, Dax Peters, had moved to town and joined the police force.

“Do you remember what Nikki mentioned at Halloween?”

Racking my brain, I couldn’t bring anything to mind except that I had been focused on the haunted house the town put on as a fundraiser, the murder of Mathias Slone, solving said crime, and my almost demise. “You can’t mean the casual mention of other kinds of paranormals coming to town.”

“Anything is possible, and now you need to hurry. You said it yourself—there is much to do before the big day.”

Instantly, kitty snores filled the room. I had to wonder, how did he fall asleep so fast and what did he know that he wasn’t telling me? He hinted at information but never divulged the tidbits, letting me discover things as I got into a bit of trouble.

I opened the door and locked it, then added an extra protection charm around the building and Milo. He had become a part of my heart. Not that he wouldn’t harass me about that later if he knew, but there was no way I could imagine life without him.

I hurried up the walk, and three men dressed like leprechauns grabbed my attention as I slowed my steps. I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but their tones were laced with anger. They approached a dark SUV parked on the street. As the driver got in, he said, “I am not spending any more time waiting for John Bailey. We agreed, and—” The other two men got in, doors slammed, and tires chirped as they pulled away from the curb.

Pushing all thoughts of them aside, I entered Pembroke Cove Bed & Breakfast, and it was like stepping back in time to a home from a hundred or more years ago. A large fireplace dominated one wall of the spacious lobby. There was a small counter for guests to check in, and several tables to enjoy afternoon tea or morning coffee completed the space. Katherine Reese-White, the fourth generation of the Reese family to run the inn, was sitting on a small settee near the crackling fire. She looked up and smiled as I closed the oversized wooden door. She was ageless with her porcelain skin unlined, and her red hair cascading around her shoulders in a riot of curls. I knew she was older than me by at least ten years, but she didn’t look it. What she did look like was an advertisement for an Irish lass.

“Lily, this is a surprise. I didn’t expect you until later. In fact, I just got back from running errands, and I’m taking a few minutes to relax.”

She started to get up, and I motioned for her to stay seated. “Katherine, relax. I came over to move a few tables around in the dining room. Nikki is working on her cake and asked me to fill in for her.”

She pointed to the chair on the opposite side of her. “Join me for a cup of tea first and a cookie from the Sweet Spot. It’s your mother’s special energy blend, and I couldn’t resist stopping to see William this morning while I was out. He has the best selection of sweet treats every day.”

At the mention of tea and cookies, I eagerly accepted. A cup was just what I needed to power through the rest of the day. And even though my mother wasn’t a witch, she had a gift for blending teas that not only fixed what ailed me, but also tasted amazing.

She handed me a delicate china mug, and I placed a small sugar cookie on the saucer before I sipped the hot brew, knowing it would slide through my veins and give me a much needed boost.

As we enjoyed our tea and treat, I could tell the tea was working its magic. “This is just perfect. Thank you, Katherine.” Sitting by the cozy fire and drinking tea was a rare treat. “Do you enjoy a cup every afternoon?”

“I try to in the winter with the days so long and dark. But along comes Saint Patrick’s Day and the days are getting longer, and my days get busier, so there’s less time to indulge.” She smiled over the rim of her cup. “This weekend will be hectic with the out-of-town guests for Nikki and Steve’s wedding, and we also have some folks in town for the annual parade.”

Thinking of a parade with shamrocks and leprechauns wasn’t my idea of fun. “How many people usually come up for the events? I thought Boston or even Portland would be better attended than our little town.”

She waved her hand in a dismissive nature. “The group is always looking for buried gold. History states that a pirate ship crashed on the coast, and the Irish sea captain stashed his gold somewhere in Pembroke Cove. Now the new rumor is the only time it can be found is for three days—March sixteenth through the eighteenth. This year most of the treasure hunters are staying at the motel out on Highway One, but we have four regulars who always stay here. One man, John Bailey, is so enthralled with all things Irish that he stays dressed in costume for the entire event.” She smiled. “It’s quite a hoot, and, of course, it’s good for business.”

“That sounds interesting, but why dress up?”

Her eyes twinkled. “He says it helps him focus in his search for the leprechaun’s treasure. I’m not sure if it does, but it’s all in good fun.”

I was anxious to get into the dining room and start the setup. “Are the reception preparations I’m doing today going to put a crimp in serving breakfast?”

“Not at all. I’m going to put a small buffet in the sunroom for tomorrow morning.”

“Oh, good. Not that we can change the reception venue at this late date, but since you have guests who come year after year, I wouldn’t want to leave a bad taste in anyone’s mouth.”

“It’s a wedding and who doesn’t love love?” She swirled her cup and turned the leaves out onto the saucer. “I missed the chance to have you read my tea leaves at the harvest festival. Any chance you’d like to take a peek now?”

The last thing I wanted to do was a reading since the last time I saw a man’s bad fortune and he ended up dying. “I can, but I’m not very good at it.”

She arched a brow. “That’s not what I heard from a few people around town.”

My stomach clenched. Did people know I had tried to warn Dean before he left the festival? I shook off the memory. “Think of what you’d like to know, and then we’ll look.”

“It’s important for me to know if my business will continue to do well.”

Katherine handed me her cup, I looked and was pleasantly surprised. At the top left of the cup was a cross. At the bottom right, it resembled a cow, and near the handle was a dagger. All in all, not bad.

She scooted forward on the settee. “What do you see?”

I pointed to what I interpreted as a cross. “Here looks to be a bit of trouble, but I wouldn’t be too concerned.” I pointed to the next area. “This symbol is a dagger which represents help from your friends and the cow in the lower right is a sign for good things to come.”

She beamed. “I knew it. When I woke up this morning, I had a feeling that things were going to start going my way for a change.”

I wanted to ask her additional questions since that was an odd statement, but I didn’t want to pry, even if my curiosity was poking at me to ask. “Is business looking good for the season?”

Katherine knew I was referring to the tourists arriving around Memorial Day through Labor Day. Typically, it was absolutely crazy in town every Friday to Sunday. Once the calendar turned to July and August, the tourists multiplied exponentially. The weather for those two months was as close to perfect as one could enjoy in Maine.

Her smile stretched from ear to ear. “I’m booked solid. In addition to the usual guests, I’ve even booked two small weddings about the same size as Nikki’s. Once she shared with me her ideas, I asked if she’d mind if I borrowed them to promote the inn. Being the sweet lady that she is, Nikki even offered to be the caterer and in-house wedding cake baker too. I think it made all the difference for my reservations.”

“That’s amazing.” I wouldn’t be surprised if Nikki had lent a special kind of magical touch to the wedding packages to help Katherine out. She had struggled with the workload the last couple of years since her husband, Donnie, started running treasure hunting charters. He’d be gone for several days at a time, cruising for treasure up and down the coast. He wasn’t around much to help with the B & B. Hopefully, having more guests meant a higher cash flow and the ability to hire more help.

As if reading my thoughts, she said, “When I told Donnie the news, he agreed I could hire additional people to help out since he’s gone so much during the season.”

“Are you looking for more help? I’m sure we could post an ad on the community bulletin board at the town hall or maybe even reach out to the high school.”

“Lily, what a good idea. I’ll stop in at both places tomorrow. With a bit of Irish luck, I might be able to hire a few people and get them trained before the season gets busy. I knew sharing a cup of tea with you would lift my spirits.” She got to her feet, “Now, let’s go check out that dining room and start pulling it together for the reception.”

I was feeling energetic and ready to pull out my wand, but I wasn’t experienced enough yet to use it to create the perfect scene for a wedding reception—or much else for that matter. Right now, my spell casting was good with one spell at a time.

“Lead the way, Katherine.” I slung my bag over my arm and touched the edge of my book, Practical Beginnings. I figured having it with me was a good idea since I never knew when I might need a new spell.

Chapter2

Lily

I pulled out the checklist that Nikki had given me. First, I was going to make sure everything had been delivered and then start arranging the tables. Next, I’d set the tables with the china and gold flatware that Aunt Mimi had provided for the event.

Katherine unlocked and pushed open the double glass doors with enthusiasm. “Ta-da.” The words faded away to a gasp.

Tables were overturned; plates and glasses were shattered. I expected to see a garment bag hanging on the rack just inside the door, but it was empty. When I looked down, I saw the veil had been tossed to the floor. My hand flew to my mouth as I stifled the first impolite word that popped into my head. Stepping over broken dishes, I moved deeper into the room. I couldn’t believe what was right in front of me. Squeezing my eyes shut, I hoped when I looked again, it would just be a nightmare. Unfortunately, when I did, the destruction was still there.

Katherine’s expression was one of horror. “Lily. I have no idea what happened. Nikki dropped her dress by earlier today, and I was going to put it in the bridal suite later. But I had guests checking in and errands to run so I had Nikki hang it up in here and decided when you came in, we’d go up together.”

“Maybe you forgot you took it upstairs?” I knew my suggestion was weak, but I was grasping at straws. In my heart I knew that whatever mayhem had happened in here, the dress was gone. I had to call Nikki and break the news, but I also needed to call Gage. This was a crime scene, and it had to be investigated before anyone else came into the room and inadvertently trampled an important clue.

I glanced at Katherine. “Can you turn on all the overhead lights?”

She went to straighten a chair, but I put my hand out and stopped her. “Don’t fix anything. The police will need to see the room as it is.”

I made a slow walk around, taking it all in. Withdrawing my phone, I began taking pictures of the smallest detail. Once Gage arrived, I wouldn’t have the opportunity, and this was a crime I was going to help solve, especially the missing wedding dress. If it was really gone, and by the looks of the veil askew on the floor, it confirmed my fear it was stolen.

Katherine had snapped on every light switch, and the room was now more like high noon on a summer day. A stack of emerald-green tablecloths was in a heap on the floor near the temporary bar. I crossed the room in a few steps, wondering if whoever had knocked them over left a clue. It was then I took a step back. There was no time to waste. A pair of leprechaun boots sticking out from under the linens changed everything.

Gage was not just a great detective on the Pembroke Cove police force but also my fiancé, and he answered the phone on the second ring. “Hello, sweetheart. This is a nice surprise.”

The sound of his voice brought my heart rate down by at least twenty beats. “Hi. I’m at the B & B with Katherine. I was going to start setting up for the reception. You know Nikki is working on the cake, and I said I’d take care of this for her. Well she stopped over earlier today and dropped off her wedding dress, and then Aunt Mimi and Nate were here too—you know they were happy to let Nikki and Steve borrow the china and flatware.” I knew I was rambling, but since Gage hadn’t interrupted me, he knew this was not headed in a positive direction. “When Katherine let me in the dining room, we discovered the place was a mess, broken dishes and shards of glasses everywhere, and Nikki’s wedding dress is missing. We’re going to check upstairs just to be sure it’s not in the bridal suite, but Gage, you need to get over here and fast. I saw a pair of black boots sporting large buckles.” Finally, I inhaled a ragged breath.

“Are you safe?”

I liked that his first question was for my safety. He was so sweet. “I am and I’m with Katherine.”

“Was the door locked when you went in?”

“It was.”

“Alright, I want you to lock the door with you on the opposite side. Secure it with a spell just to be sure it will stay locked. I’ll be there in a few minutes, and Lily, don’t let anyone in the building, not even a guest until I get there.”

“Okay. Don’t worry. I think it’s just me and Katherine here right now.”

“I’m on my way.”

Gage hung up, and I gestured for Katherine to move into the hallway. “We need to lock the door and wait for Gage. Oh, and he doesn’t want anyone else coming in the building, so we should lock the front and back doors.”

She nodded. It seemed shock had taken away her ability to form a sentence. I headed toward the kitchen where I knew there was a back entrance. “Katherine, what room were you going to use for the bridal suite?”

She held up one finger.

“Is it locked?”

Katherine shook her head.

I changed direction and moved toward the staircase. “I’m going to run upstairs and take a look around. You lock the front door and wait for the police.”

She nodded. Hopefully, the shock wouldn’t last long as there would be questions she’d need to answer when Gage and his team arrived.

I took the stairs two at a time and looked right and left. It seemed the numbers grew to the right so I headed down the narrow hall to the last door on the left. It was standing open. Cautiously, I stepped inside and crossed the bedroom to the dressing room. It connected the bedroom and luxury bath. I pulled open all four of the closet doors only to discover they were empty. No dress. The vibe of the room was oppressive and didn’t match the room’s floral décor.

I shook off a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Hoping to discover the wedding dress hanging in the shower to avoid wrinkles, I moved closer to the claw-foot tub. The white eyelet lace curtain was drawn closed. I eased it back. Recoiling several steps, my breath shuddered as it escaped my lips.

Lying in the tub, with legs and arms twisted in an unnatural position, was a man dressed as a leprechaun, but he wasn’t wearing boots. I leaned a bit closer to see if I could tell who it was, but with a fake full red beard, wig, and hat perched low over his eyes, I could only see the tops of the man’s cheekbones.

I backed out of the room and took note of the few items that I had touched since I needed to be fully transparent with Gage. I had unintentionally contaminated his crime scene. Before I left the room, I took a close-up picture of the victim’s face. He looked as if he were sleeping, so it shouldn’t be disturbing when I asked Katherine if she recognized him.

Once I reached the bottom of the stairs, I glanced around. Katherine was sitting in the chair near the fireplace with her legs tucked underneath her. She was clutching her teacup and just staring at the embers of the fire.

“Katherine?” Before I could show her the picture and ask who the man was, a sharp knock on the front door broke the silence. She didn’t look up. I said, “I’ll get it.”

As I pulled the thick wooden door open, Gage, Dax Peters, Sharon Peabody, and Mac Sullivan were standing on the wide front porch. A police cruiser and Gage’s sedan were parked next to the sidewalk.

Relief washed over Gage’s face, and his gaze skimmed from my head to my toes. I guess he needed to reassure himself that I was really okay. I wanted to give him a hug, but he was working and as far as I was concerned, I too was on a new case.

“Come on in. I did as you asked and locked the door to the dining room but before you arrived, I went up to the bridal suite to see if by any chance Nikki’s dress was there.”

Gage’s face looked grim. “I can tell by the tone of your voice you found something more.”

I nodded. “I may have discovered who the boots in the dining room belong to.” I glanced at Dax before I looked at the stairs. “There is a person dressed as a leprechaun in the bathtub.”

Gage looked at Sharon and Mac. “Peabody, you and Mac take the dining room. And Lily can show you where the boots are.” He turned his attention to the newest member of the Pembroke Cove Police Department. “Dax, you’re with me.”

“Room one. Go to the top of the stairs, take a left and the room is at the end of the hall. The door’s open.”

Gage cocked a brow. “It’s not locked?”

“No. Katherine had said it was unlocked and for the record, there was no dress.” My shoulders slumped. “I have to call Nikki.”

He put a hand out and touched mine. “Give me an hour or so before you do. I want to process both rooms first. Telling her now won’t bring the dress back unless it’s still at the inn.”

Gage was right. Reluctantly, I nodded. Peabody and Mac were walking in the direction of the dining room when I stopped Dax. Dropping my voice to barely a whisper, I asked, “Is there any way you can detect magic in a room after it’s been used?”

“That’s always a possibility. Why?”

“The room held a bad vibe, but it’s not something I’ve learned how to do yet. So, if you could do your thing…” I left the rest of the sentence wide open. I had recently discovered that Dax Peters was a witch, and his coven was based in Louisiana. When he decided to move to our small town after his last case was wrapped up, we welcomed him into our community with open arms. And ever since he saved my life, he had become the brother I never had but always wanted.

His smile was reassuring. “I’ll let you know what I find out.”

Gage cleared his throat. “I don’t want Lily directly involved in solving another murder. The last case we came close to⁠—”

Interrupting Gage, I flung my arms around his waist and held him tight. “My spell casting is much stronger and besides, I have you, Dax, and the rest of our friends and family as backup.” I kissed his cheek. “Now I need to go unlock the room for your officers.”

Gage and Dax turned to the stairs, but Gage paused with his boot on the first step. He nodded in Katherine’s direction. “She hasn’t moved since we walked in. Go on up, and I’ll join you in a few minutes.”

Nodding, Dax marched up the stairs and disappeared from my sight. I hurried after Sharon and Mac and under my breath cast the spell to unlock the doors magically before I used the key Katherine had given me.

Despite the circumstances, excitement skittered inside of me. There was nothing like a mystery to quicken my blood and exercise my brain.

We walked through the doors, and Sharon gave a low whistle. “This is quite a mess. It’s hard to believe there was supposed to be a wedding reception here on Saturday.”

I gave her a sharp look. “There will be a celebration here if everyone we know has to pitch in to make it happen. Nikki and Steve shouldn’t have to postpone their special day because someone decided to become destructo-Joe.”

Mac gave me a sidelong glance. “Who’s that?”

I shrugged and flashed a half-hearted smile. “I just made it up. You know a common name combined with an abbreviated version of destruction. It seemed to work in this instance.” My gaze swept the overly bright dining room. “Where do we start?”

Sharon said, “Why don’t you show me the leprechaun boots.”

I had never mentioned to Gage exactly how they looked, but my guess, the large buckles and time of year had him put two and two together. “They’re right over here, Sharon, and you know what they remind me of?” I was the only person who dared call Sharon by her first name, and for some reason she didn’t seem to mind.

She said, “Do tell.”

“Remember in The Wizard of Oz when the house lands on the wicked witch of the east? Well, it’s not a house, just green linens, but you’ll see the resemblance is uncanny.”