Dodgy Dealings (Dune House Cozy Mystery Series Book 5)

  Dodgy Dealings

  A Dune House Cozy Mystery

  Cindy Bell

  Copyright © 2015 Cindy Bell

  All rights reserved.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and locations portrayed in this book and the names herein are fictitious. Any similarity to or identification with the locations, names, characters or history of any person, product or entity is entirely coincidental and unintentional.

  All trademarks and brands referred to in this book are for illustrative purposes only, are the property of their respective owners and not affiliated with this publication in any way. Any trademarks are being used without permission, and the publication of the trademark is not authorized by, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owner.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  From the Author

  About the Author

  More Books by Cindy Bell

  Chapter One

  A swirl in the breeze that carried along the beach made its way up onto the wraparound porch of Dune House. It ruffled the napkins that Suzie was impatiently trying to get settled into place. It stirred the steam rising from the cups of coffee and tea that were set out around a large, circular, wooden table.

  “That looks like a losing battle,” Jason said with a chuckle as he walked towards his cousin with his girlfriend's arm hooked through his. Suzie looked up at him with a slight smile and shook her head.

  “I thought it would be a nice morning for brunch, but maybe I was mistaken,” she sighed and glanced out over the water. She smiled to cover the touch of worry she felt. Whenever her boyfriend, Paul, was out on his fishing boat, she was a little extra sensitive to the water. Jason grabbed a salt shaker and set it on top of the pile of napkins.

  “I think it's perfect,” the woman on Jason's arm smiled. It was hard for Suzie not to think of her as just Dr. Rose, the medical examiner for the small town of Garber. But when she cast her adoring eyes towards Jason, Suzie knew that it might not be long until she was family. This was the first time he was showcasing the fact that he was dating Dr. Rose, and the sight of their shy but happy smiles made Suzie giddy with happiness.

  “I'm glad you could make it, Dr. Rose,” Suzie said with a warm smile.

  “Please, call me Summer,” Dr. Rose said with a faint blush.

  “Summer Rose,” Suzie repeated in a soft voice. “How beautiful.”

  “My parents were hippies,” Summer admitted with a hint of embarrassment.

  “Or maybe they just knew how beautiful you would be,” Jason suggested and pulled her closer to him. Suzie couldn't help but smile as the two shared a light kiss. Jason, who had struck her as shy and a little standoffish when she had first arrived in Garber, certainly knew how to woo a woman. She couldn't think of a better woman for him to woo. Summer truly was beautiful, with long, dark blonde hair, a radiant smile, and warm hazel eyes. But her beauty went much deeper than that. She took her job very seriously, and had always made every effort to help Suzie with anything she needed.

  The town of Garber had not exactly been receptive when Suzie first inherited one of the oldest and largest properties in the area. Known as Dune House because of its perch on a hill overlooking the local strip of beach, Suzie had taken the opportunity to renovate the large structure and turn it into its former glory as a bed and breakfast. It became a project that she shared with her best friend, Mary, who at the time was leaving a terrible marriage. With Mary's help and Suzie's determination the business was running fairly well, but there had been a few bumps in the road along the way. Now, that things finally seemed to be smoothing out, Suzie was happy to see that Jason was head over heels for a woman who clearly deserved and reflected his affection.

  “I've got the bagels!” Mary called out happily as she hurried out of the house with a large tray of bagels and spreads. The sunlight glinted off her auburn hair, highlighting the streaks of gray. Suzie smiled at her friend. Mary had a timeless beauty that she didn't recognize herself, but Suzie appreciated every time she saw her. While Suzie liked to accentuate her features with make-up, stylish haircuts and a youthful, brassy blonde shade of hair, Mary rarely wore a touch of anything and her hair had been the same mid-back length for as long as Suzie had known her. Yet, she always seemed to radiate, to have a subtle glow about her as if the sun sought out her skin. Suzie couldn't have felt closer to her if she had been born from the same mother. They had been through plenty of drama and joy in their lives and no matter how far apart they happened to be they shared every second of it.

  “Those look delicious,” Suzie said as she took the tray from Mary and set it down on the table. “Have you seen any sign of Antony and Daria?” she asked.

  “Not so far,” Mary shook her head. “They may be sleeping in.”

  Antony and Daria were from the nearby town of Parish and had decided to book a room at Dune House for a weekend getaway. They were a young couple who were very friendly when Suzie had greeted them and shown them to their room. But she had barely seen them since they had arrived the day before. As the four settled down at the table, Jason glanced over his shoulder in the direction of the front of the house.

  “Isn't Paul joining us?” he asked when he glanced back at Suzie.

  “He's on a run,” Suzie replied with a mild frown. “He's trying to get a few more big hauls before the weather gets too rough.”

  “Good thinking,” Jason nodded as he spread some cream cheese on a bagel.

  “I think it's so romantic that he goes out there and battles the sea,” Mary said wistfully. Suzie arched an eyebrow and locked eyes briefly with Mary. She had noticed quite a few newly purchased romance novels in her room.

  “I think it's more romantic when he's safe on land with me,” Suzie grinned.

  “Okay, that is better,” Mary admitted with a short laugh.

  “Well, it's always hard when the person you care about works in a dangerous profession,” Summer said with a slight smile. “They are brave of course, but the risk is a little unnerving.”

  Jason glanced over at her with a playful smile.

  “Lucky for you I work in a tiny little town where nothing much ever happens,” Jason said with a chuckle.

  “Enough happens,” Suzie said with a slight shake of her head. “Sometimes the most unexpected things.”

  As if to punctuate her words a seagull swooped down from the sky and nearly slammed into the pile of bagels on the table. “No! No! Shoo!” Mary said sharply and waved her hands at the bird until it gave up and flew away.

  Everyone at the table was laughing as the sliding glass door opened from the main living room of Dune House. Antony and Daria Gable stepped out onto the porch. Each was dressed in casual but fine clothing, light and airy for their time on the beach. Daria's thick, black curls were tied back and floating against the curve of the back of her neck. Antony's glossy,
black hair was combed to the side revealing his flawless olive skin. While Daria was the thicker of the two it was clear that she was muscular and athletic. Antony was slight, and appeared willowy beside his wife, with only an inch or two of height beyond hers. To Suzie they were a perfectly matched pair, especially with the way they smiled at exactly the same time.

  “Antony,” Suzie smiled, laughter still lingering in her voice. “Daria, just in time, please join us,” Suzie said warmly and gestured to the empty seats at the table.

  “Oh, thank you, but we had a very late night,” Antony replied, his arms wrapped snugly around his wife's waist. “I think we're going to take a slow walk on the beach and hopefully some of this sea air will liven us up.”

  “Now, that's the way to enjoy a vacation,” Suzie said with a nod of approval. The couple laughed and nodded in return. As they disappeared onto the beach, Mary and Suzie exchanged sly smiles.

  “And what about you two?” Jason asked as he sat back in his chair and brushed the bagel crumbs from his shirt. “What do you have planned for today?”

  “I have a puzzle that's been calling my name,” Mary said enthusiastically. “It's of the town of Garber.”

  Jason arched an eyebrow. “That sounds thrilling,” he said with just a touch of sarcasm.

  “You've never seen her do a puzzle,” Suzie said with a short laugh. “She takes it very seriously.”

  “I do,” Mary agreed.

  “I might take a walk on the beach, or maybe wander into town and see if there's anything new we need for Dune House,” Suzie shrugged.

  “Sounds good,” Jason nodded. “Summer and I are going to the movies later.”

  “Lovely,” Suzie smiled.

  The waves crashed against the sand, the chatter continued, and Suzie found her mind drifting back to Paul. She was accustomed to being on her own, had spent many years without anything close to a steady relationship. It wasn't loneliness that kept her awake when Paul was out on the water, it was worry. She had seen so much already, and now in her mid-fifties, she found it hard to believe that things could remain so blissful. As was common with most women she knew, she was waiting for the other shoe to drop on the peaceful and fulfilling paradise that her life had become.

  “Suzie?” Jason asked.

  Suzie realized she must have missed a question, and shook her head. “I'm sorry, Jason, what were you saying?”

  “Mary mentioned that Antony and Daria are from Parish,” he said quickly. “I was just wondering why they would choose to stay here instead of going a little further from home. Did they mention why?”

  “They just wanted a local escape,” Suzie said with a mild shrug. “Sometimes it doesn't take going across the country to escape, just a little sea air and some distance from the faces you see each day.”

  “Especially if one of those faces is Detective Brown,” Jason said with a slight scowl. Detective Brown was well-known in Parish, and also well-known to Mary and Suzie. They had gotten to know him under less than ideal circumstances when a crime had been committed that involved both Parish and Garber.

  “Detective?” Suzie questioned.

  “Yes, he got a promotion,” Jason said with a hint of resentment. “Just last week apparently.”

  “Ah, so he outranks you,” Suzie laughed and winked at Jason.

  “Technically,” Jason reluctantly admitted. “But luckily I don’t have to work in the same police force as him.”

  “Yes, that would be awkward,” Suzie said with a slight smile. “Working with your nemesis.”

  “He’s not my nemesis,” Jason argued with a hint of annoyance. “I don't have a nemesis.”

  “But if you did, it might be Detective Brown,” Mary suggested, joining in on Suzie's playful teasing of Jason.

  “Jason, is this true?” Summer asked as she studied him. “Do you have a nemesis?” she inquired in a very serious tone.

  “All right, all right,” Jason laughed and held up his hands in surrender. “I can't say that we get along very well. But I don't know the man in a personal capacity, I can't say that he's not a good guy. I just know he's pretty difficult to work with. But then the entire Parish police department is difficult to work with.”

  “Well, lucky for you, I'm sure he won't be spending a weekend here,” Suzie grinned.

  “I hope not,” Jason groaned. Then he gestured to the table. “Can I help you clean up?”

  “No, leave it to us,” Mary said firmly. “You and Summer go and enjoy your day. I'm sure it's not easy for you to both get a day off at the same time.”

  “It did take a little bribery,” Summer admitted with a wink. “But a girl has to do what a girl has to do.”

  As Jason and Summer left, Suzie began piling up the plates and gathering the mugs. Mary was wrapping up the remainder of the bagels.

  “It's so sweet to see the two of them together,” she said as she collected a few of the mugs.

  “It is,” Suzie agreed. The two made their way into the kitchen to finish cleaning up. “It's always nice to see people genuinely in love, like Antony and Daria. That's quite refreshing.”

  “It seems to be,” Mary agreed with a hint of hesitation.

  “Hmm? What aren't you telling me?” Suzie demanded as she turned to look at her friend.

  “Well, I just happened to overhear a squabble between them last night,” Mary explained with a slight sigh.

  “Even the most loving couples fight,” Suzie pointed out.

  “I know that, I do,” Mary frowned and then shook her head. “But something about the way they were going back and forth. It was just so cold.”

  “Did you hear what they were arguing about?” Suzie asked.

  “No, nothing more than a few words before they settled down,” she shrugged. “I guess it couldn't have been too much of an argument.”

  “Well, that's a good thing,” Suzie frowned. “I hope they’ve worked things out. If you want to finish up in here I'll go check on their room to see if there's anything needed.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Mary agreed.

  Chapter Two

  Suzie walked down the hallway to the room that the Gables were staying in. She knocked lightly, as she always did. It was never worth the risk of walking in on something embarrassing. After unlocking the door she stepped inside. She was immediately confronted with a pungent odor. It was hard to place at first, but it reminded her of rotten fruit. The room was one of their cozy themed rooms complete with a fireplace and extra thick quilts. The walls were decorated with paintings in warm shades of yellow, orange, and red.

  Suzie soon found the source of the odor, a tipped over wine bottle that had created a puddle on the floor on the opposite side of the bed. Suzie frowned and reached down to pick up the bottle. It wasn't the first time that guests had left a room in a mess, but it wasn't something that she had expected from Antony and Daria. After disposing of the bottle and soaking up the mess on the carpet she walked over to the closet where a small carpet cleaner was stowed. As she was about to turn the knob on the closet door, she noticed that the door was already slightly open. She grasped the knob, ready to pull it open, when she heard Mary calling her from downstairs.

  “Suzie, your phone is ringing!”

  Suzie's heart jumped. She hoped it might be Paul saying that he was coming home early. She hurried out of the room to retrieve her cell phone.

  “Hello?” she said warmly.

  “Hello, beautiful,” Paul replied, his voice as strong and steady as always.

  “How is your trip going?” Suzie asked.

  “It's been slow,” Paul admitted. “I'm hoping to come up with a substantial haul tonight.”

  Suzie did her best to hide her disappointment. “I'm sure you'll have better luck.”

  “Sometimes it takes all of my willpower to keep from turning this boat around and coming back to you,” Paul admitted abruptly. Suddenly, Suzie realized that he wasn't just calling to pass the time. He was calling because he missed her.
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br />   “Well, that would certainly save me the swim that I've been contemplating,” Suzie said with a laugh.

  “Sharks, don't forget about the sharks,” he warned and the sound of his soft chuckle was enough to warm Suzie from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.

  “Come home soon,” she murmured.

  “I'll be there just as soon as I can,” he assured her. “Love you, Suzie.”

  “Love you, too, Paul,” Suzie said before hanging up the phone. It still made her heart flutter to say those words. She was so distracted with thoughts of Paul that she almost forgot about the stain on the carpet waiting for her.

  Suzie headed back to the room. As soon as she stepped inside, the hair on the back of her neck stood up. She couldn't pinpoint why, but she was suddenly frightened. After a few moments of standing in the doorway, she realized what was wrong. The door to the closet, that she was certain she hadn't opened, was standing wide open. The window beside it, that she was sure had been closed when she had walked into the room, was wide open. The curtains were blowing lazily through it.

  Suzie couldn't bring herself to move. She felt frozen to the floor, as she realized what might have just happened. The closet door had been slightly open when she had reached for it. Was it possible that someone had been hiding inside? The same person who had spilled the bottle of wine, which had been positioned not far from the window. If someone had climbed in, the bottle could have easily been kicked over.

  With her heart racing, Suzie forced herself to take a further step into the room. Almost immediately she began rationalizing what she was observing. She might have been so distracted by the spilled wine that she didn't notice the window being open. She might have opened the closet door before she went to answer her phone. Maybe she had opened it just enough that the door had swung open on its own or from a gentle nudge of a breeze through the window. She walked over to the window and looked outside to see if anyone was there but there wasn’t anyone to be seen. She closed the window part of the way but decided to leave it open slightly to try and get the smell of the wine out of the room. She turned back to the closet and pulled out the carpet cleaner.