Sweet Deceit

Book 4: A Sweet Cove Mystery

by J.A. Whiting

Genres: Animal Cozy Mysteries; Supernatural suspense

Synopsis

This is Book 4 in the Sweet Cove Cozy Mystery series.
Angie and Jenna Roseland accompany their family friend, Mr. Finch, to view a house that has just come on the market and they discover something unexpected in the basement which may be tied to a murder of twenty-five years ago. The Roseland sisters, with the help of their fine orange feline and sweet
black cat, encounter lies and deceit as they work to uncover the
truth.
A cozy mystery with recipes !
The main mystery is solved in each book but you will enjoy the stories more if the books are read in order as some story threads run from book to book.
This story has some mild paranormal elements.
About 212 pages in length in paperback format.

In The Sweet Cove Cozy Mystery series:
1. The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop
2. Murder So Sweet
3. Sweet Secrets
4. Sweet Deceit
5. Sweetness and Light
6. Home Sweet Home
7. Sweet Fire and Stone
And more to come !
Thank you for reading !

Release date: July 5, 2015

Publisher: Whitemark Publishing

Print pages: 214

Sample

Chapter 1

 

 

Angie Roseland rode her bicycle along the street that ran behind her Victorian mansion’s property. She and her three sisters lived together in the eighteen-room house on a quiet, cozy street in the seaside town of Sweet Cove, Massachusetts. The late afternoon sky was a brilliant blue and the air was warm and clear. She pulled over in front of a small, light gray Colonial style house with a “For Sale” sign at the edge of the lawn.

 

A bit of the paint was peeling on the front and sides of the home and two shutters hung slightly askew. The front grass was overgrown with weeds. It made Angie sad to see the home in disrepair. Even though the house’s property line butted up against her own tree-lined back yard, she didn’t know anything about the people who used to live here.

 

The sound of a car’s engine caused Angie to turn to see Betty Hayes, a successful Sweet Cove Realtor, bringing her car to a stop at the curb. Mr. Finch, now a Roseland family friend and a boarder at the bed and breakfast inn that Angie’s sister, Ellie, ran out of the Victorian, sat in the front passenger seat. Angie propped her bike’s kickstand and went to help Mr. Finch from the car.

 

“What a wonderful day.” Finch grasped Angie’s arm and leaned on his cane. He was still wearing the blue apron from the store he owned in town. “The candy store couldn’t have been any busier.”

 

“It’s been a perfect opening day.” Angie smiled as she helped Mr. Finch to the walkway that led to the gray house’s front door.

 

The grand opening of the Finch and Roseland Confectioners was a huge hit with tourists and people from town swarming the store from the moment the doors opened. Mr. Finch had taken an hour break to come and see the house on Willow Street that had just come on the market. Angie’s youngest sister, Courtney, co owned the candy store with Finch and was taking care of business while he hurried off to look at the house.

 

Betty Hayes, dressed in a tan skirt and a black blazer, hustled over to where Angie and Finch stood on the walkway facing the gray Colonial. “I know it’s fallen into disrepair, but I think it has great bones and I think you could nurse it back to health.” Betty batted her eyelashes at Mr. Finch. “Shall we go in, Victor?” She reached for the older man’s hand.

 

Angie still couldn’t believe that these two people were a couple. She wasn’t sure, but she estimated that Mr. Finch was in his seventies and that he must be ten years older than the ambitious Realtor who had caught his eye. The two had been dating for over a month and it was clear that they were smitten with each other.

 

“Here comes Miss Jenna.” Finch waved at the tall brunette emerging from the group of trees at the back of the house.

 

Jenna jogged across the lawn to meet them.  “Did you just get here? I had a customer in the shop and was afraid I’d miss seeing the house with you. I cut through the back yard to save time.” Jenna ran a jewelry shop in one of the rooms at the rear of the Victorian.

 

“We all just arrived.” Angie was a few inches shorter than her fraternal twin sister and had honey-colored hair in contrast to Jenna’s long, brown locks. People always guessed that they were sisters, but never believed that the two were twins.

 

“The listing Realtor just put the house on the market. She had to leave town for a family emergency and she’ll be gone for several months so a new Realtor and I are taking over some of her listings.” Betty pressed the buttons on the lock box attached to the front doorknob. The box’s lid slid back and Betty removed the door key. “We’re the first ones to see the house.” She waved her arm indicating the yard. “It’s a good-sized lot, and as you know, it’s walking distance to the center of town and a few blocks to the beach which makes it a very valuable property.” Betty pushed the door open and stepped into the small foyer.

 

Mr. Finch followed and Angie and Jenna took up the rear. There was a staircase leading to the second floor directly in front of them.

 

“This is the living room on the left and the dining room to the right. There are three large bedrooms upstairs and two full baths.”

 

Both the living and dining rooms had wood floors and there was a fireplace on the far wall, but the place was dusty and smelled of stale air from being closed up for so long. Garish floral wallpaper covered the walls.

 

A strange feeling of unease washed over Angie as she followed the others to the kitchen. The cabinetry was old pine board and the floor was covered with dingy linoleum. The windows were grimy and the light had a hard time filtering into the room.

 

“The kitchen needs work, but it’s all cosmetic.” Betty walked to a door on the side of the space and opened it to reveal a three-season sunroom right off the kitchen. “This is a bonus. Imagine sitting out here on a summer evening with a glass of wine or a cup of tea.” She smiled sweetly at Finch.

 

“It’s a beautiful room.” Finch stood in the center of the space and pivoted, leaning on his cane, taking in the six sliding glass doors. He glanced into the back yard. “Very nice foliage and the trees along the property line provide good privacy.” He winked at the girls. “You never know what kind of neighbors might be lurking back there behind those trees.”

 

Jenna chuckled. “I’m sure the four sisters who live there are nothing but trouble.”

 

Betty led the group into the kitchen and rattled on about how Finch could have the cabinets torn out and replaced, and the linoleum ripped up and wood floors put down.

 

Angie walked back into the living room and stood by the fireplace. Her sense of dread was growing and she couldn’t reconcile her feelings of anxiety with being related to the deteriorated condition of the home. Something else besides the rundown, dated décor was responsible for the panicky pricks itching at her skin. Angie’s heart pounded and her breathing was shallow and quick. She tried to tune in to what her senses were trying to tell her. Her ears buzzed, and even though she could hear Betty’s voice, it sounded hollow and far away.

 

“Here’s the first floor full bathroom on the left, and at the end of the hall there’s a good-sized bedroom that you can use for the master so you won’t need to be climbing stairs at night.”

 

Angie turned away from the fireplace and looked to the hall just as Betty led Mr. Finch and Jenna towards the bedroom.

 

“Jenna.” Angie’s voice had a breathless, shrill edge to it that caused her sister to stop and stare at her.

 

Jenna’s eyes narrowed. She whispered. “What’s wrong with you?”

 

“I don’t know. Something’s not right.” Angie’s face had lost its color. She took three steps forward. “Something’s bad in here.”

 

Jenna moved quickly to her sister’s side and touched her arm. “Should we get out?”

 

Betty and Mr. Finch were entering the first floor bedroom. “It’s very dark in this room.” Betty fumbled along the wall for a light switch.

 

A flash of searing light blazed in Angie’s brain. She screamed, “Stop! Mr. Finch, don’t go in there!” She rushed towards him.

 

Betty’s eyes bugged out as Angie flew into the room and pushed the woman away from the wall. Angie whirled to Mr. Finch, clutched his arm, and pulled him into the living room. “Betty, get out of that room. Don’t touch anything.”

 

In the living room, three faces stared at Angie. She was panting and her shoulders were shaking.

 

“What on earth is wrong with you?” Betty’s forehead was creased. She had a hand on her hip waiting for an explanation.

 

Jenna herded Finch and Betty out of the house. She looked at Angie. “Come on. Let’s get some fresh air.”

 

Outside, standing on the weedy lawn, Betty’s face was bright red and her eyes flashed. “What was that all about?” Annoyance rang in her voice and she flapped her hand in the air for emphasis. Betty didn’t wait for an answer. She pulled out her phone and whirled towards her car.

 

Angie sank onto the grass. Mr. Finch stepped closer and looked at the shaky young woman. Clutching his cane, he leaned down and whispered. “Is there danger, Miss Angie?”

 

Angie lifted her white face to the man. She nodded and turned to Jenna. “Call Police Chief Martin.”

 

 

 

Chapter 2

 

 

Angie was on her feet by the time the chief’s police car turned down Willow Street and pulled into the driveway. Betty was in her car speaking into her phone and gesturing animatedly, as she rearranged an appointment with a client. She’d complained loudly that valuable time was being taken out of her busy day due to someone’s silly “feeling” that something wasn’t right in the house. Although Mr. Finch assured Betty that intuition should always be respected, he knew Angie’s “feeling” was more than a case of simple instinct.

 

Chief Martin crossed the lawn and made eye contact with Angie and Jenna. He was well aware that the Roseland sisters could sometimes sense things and he took their input seriously. “What’s wrong with the house?”

 

Angie shrugged. “We were inside looking around. I got a funny feeling.” She started to dismiss her sensation, but the chief interrupted her.

 

“I would never ignore a warning you’ve experienced. I’m going to investigate the premises.” Chief Martin glanced to the open front door. “Do you want to go inside with me and check it out? Show me where you were when you got the sensation of danger?”

 

Angie’s eyes widened like saucers and she cringed at the thought of returning to the house.

 

Chief Martin picked up on her reaction. “Okay then. No one is to enter the house until it’s been thoroughly inspected. I’ll have two more officers come over and I’ll call the town’s building inspector.” He went to his cruiser and spoke into his radio.

 

“I’m glad we have Chief Martin around.” Jenna watched him making the arrangements to begin an inspection. “He takes us seriously.”

 

“I feel a little silly.” Angie ran her hand over the top of her head to smooth her hair. “It’s probably nothing and I’ve caused all this hoopla.”

 

Jenna gave her sister a serious expression. “Have your sensations ever been wrong?”

 

Angie pondered that for a few moments. “I guess not?” She frowned. “I hope it’s wrong this time. It will just mean trouble. I thought we could just relax for a few months and not have some worry on our minds.”

 

Jenna took a look at the house. “Well, maybe there’s just a dead body in there.”

 

A horrified look washed over Angie’s face.  “A dead body? That will lead to a huge investigation. Who is it? How did they die? Was it foul play? Blah blah.”

 

Jenna sent a text to Courtney at the candy shop and to Ellie at the B and B to inform them of the latest crisis. “But a dead body won’t involve us.”

 

“Won’t it?” Angie muttered as she stood up and brushed pieces of grass from her butt. “Somehow I doubt that.”

 

Mr. Finch approached the girls. “Betty is going to return me to the candy store. I don’t want to be away for very long on the shop’s first day.”

 

“I’m sorry I ruined your viewing of the house.” Angie held Mr. Finch’s arm and walked him to the car.

 

“Not to worry, Miss Angie. If you think I would ever doubt you, you would be very wrong.  Anyway, things were becoming boring.” Finch winked at Angie. “We’ve had an hour or two without a mystery to solve.” His comment elicited a smile from the young woman holding his arm. Taking his seat in the vehicle, Finch said, “Be sure to call me or Courtney if anything exciting turns up.”

 

Angie shut the passenger side door. Finch spoke through the open car window. “You and Jenna can’t have all the fun, you know.” He waved to the sisters as the car pulled away.

 

“Betty left without saying goodbye,” Jenna joked. “I don’t think you’re on her favorite person list at the moment.”

 

Angie rolled her eyes. “What makes you say that?”

 

Chief Martin came up to the girls. “Why don’t you two head home? I’ll text you with any news. No use waiting around here.”

 

“Okay.” Angie nodded. “Let us know.” She and Jenna headed for the tree line behind the Colonial house to cut through the trees to their backyard. Angie looked over her shoulder and called to the chief as she walked away. “Be careful in there.”

 

Angie and Jenna opened the back door of the Victorian and entered the kitchen. Ellie stood at the counter cutting up strawberries, slices of honeydew melon, cantaloupe, and chunks of watermelon to make a fruit salad for her B and B guests. Her blonde hair was plaited in a long braid down her back. “What was the issue at the house?”

 

“They’re investigating.” Angie took a jug of iced tea from the refrigerator and filled a glass.

 

“It’s not going to blow up or anything is it?” Ellie went on with her chopping.

 

Something skittered down Angie’s back. Her eyes widened. She stared at Ellie. “Why did you say that?”

 

“I was just making conversation.” When she saw the look on Angie’s face, Ellie put the knife on the counter. “Oh, no.” She glanced out the back window into the yard. “Are we in danger? Should we go down in the basement? Is it going to blow up?”

 

Tom pushed back the plastic sheet that was draped between the kitchen and the small room he was renovating. He had knocked the wall down between the spaces to enlarge the kitchen area to provide more room to accommodate Angie’s bake shop needs. “What’s going on now?”

 

Euclid, their huge orange cat and Circe, the girls’ black cat with a little white spot at her neck, walked into the kitchen with Tom. The felines jumped on the counter and then up to the top of the refrigerator where they perched listening to the conversation.

 

Jenna carried a cup of coffee to Tom and told him about the latest goings-on. She said to Ellie, “I think it’s just a dead body in the house somewhere.”

 

Ellie fiddled with the end of her braid. “Just? Just a dead body? How long has it been in there?”

 

Angie put her glass of iced tea on the counter. She took a deep breath. “We’re only speculating. If there was a body, there would have been an odor. We didn’t smell anything.”

 

“Really?” Jenna scrunched up her nose. “It smelled bad in there.”

 

“It was because the house had been shut up for so long. It was musty.”

 

Tom leaned against the counter. He took a swallow of his coffee. “So the police and the inspector are checking it out?”

 

Angie was about to answer when her phone buzzed. “It’s Chief Martin.” She raised her eyes from the phone. “He wants us to come back.”

 

Ellie shook her head. “I’m going to stay here. In case the guests need something.”

 

The sisters knew that Ellie’s reluctance to join them was only partially due to her concerns about her guests.

 

“Did Chief Martin say anything else? Give a hint about what they found?” Jenna headed for the backdoor.

 

Angie followed her sister. “Nothing else. He just said to come back to the house.” She called over her shoulder. “We’ll let you know what he says.”

 

“I don’t think I want to know,” Ellie muttered. “Be careful, you two.” She returned to cutting up the fresh fruit.

 

The girls hurried across the Victorian’s backyard and headed for the trees. They ducked under branches and emerged onto the rear lawn of the Colonial house. Chief Martin stood in the driveway speaking with the inspector and when he spotted the girls, he walked towards them. His stride looked a little unsteady.

 

“So.” He dabbed at his sweaty brow with a white handkerchief. The girls wanted him to hurry and tell them what he knew, but he was hesitating. “Angie, was there anything specific you were feeling when you were in the house?”

 

Angie’s heart sank. They must not have found anything. That’s why the chief was questioning her about what she’d felt. She swallowed. “Danger. That something in there was wrong, something was off.”

 

“Specifically?” Chief Martin’s eyes narrowed.

 

“Nothing specific, no.” Her voice was soft. She felt foolish and guilty to have made such a commotion over something she wasn’t even sure was real.

 

“Any place in the house that seemed particularly more … uh, dangerous or worrisome?”

 

“You did find something, didn’t you?” Jenna wondered why the chief seemed to be dancing around whatever discovery they’d made.

 

The chief didn’t reply to her question.

 

“Wait.” Jenna looked at her sister. “You told Betty and Mr. Finch to get out of that room, the first floor bedroom. That’s when you got the most agitated, when we headed for the bedroom. You pulled Mr. Finch out of there.”

 

Angie looked blank. She’d forgotten the details of the experience, but Jenna’s comments drew some things from her memory. “Right,” she said slowly. “It was that room.” She looked towards the house. “The bedroom.” A flood of anxiety rushed through her veins. “When we were in the house, there was a flash … a bright, white light flashed in my head for second. I knew we had to get out of there.”

 

Jenna and Angie repeated what they’d told the chief earlier. Angie had yelled for everyone to get out of the bedroom and Jenna, reacting to her sister’s distress, shepherded all of them out of the house and into the yard.

 

The chief ran his hand across his forehead. “Well, it’s a good thing you sensed something and you all got out without touching anything.” The rate of his breathing seemed quick, faster than normal.

 

Jenna cocked her head. “What did you find?”

 

“The inspector, one of the officers, and myself … we went inside. We looked things over, walked around.” Sweat beaded on his upper lip. “The inspector found….”