Sweet Fire and Stone

Book 7: A Sweet Cove Mystery

by J.A. Whiting

Genres: Animal Cozy Mysteries; Supernatural suspense

Synopsis

This is book 7 in the Sweet Cove Mystery series by USA TODAY Bestselling Author J A Whiting.
It is October in Sweet Cove, Massachusetts and the Roseland sisters and Mr. Finch are enjoying the fall season until Police Chief Martin asks them to come to the town common to see something that might be a threat to the family. Newcomers to town add to the mystery of who wants to harm the sisters, Mr. Finch, and their two fine felines. Danger is brewing and the family must discover who and why before it's too late.
A cozy mystery with recipes !
This story has some mild paranormal elements.

Thank you for reading !

Release date: February 5, 2016

Publisher: Whitemark Publishing

Print pages: 235

Sample

Chapter 1

 

 

Josh Williams sat on a stool and leaned forward with his elbow on the counter. His hand wrapped around the steaming white mug of coffee as he dreamily watched Angie Roseland bustling around the new bake shop. The usual morning chatter from the early customers filled the space. An occasional burst of laughter punctuated the conversations and discussions that bounced in the air.

 

The old pewter chandelier from Angie’s previous shop had been salvaged and now hung from the new café’s ceiling and its pieces of cut glass and crystal sparkled and glimmered over the people gathered at tables and the customers standing in line at the counter. The shop, located in part of the Victorian mansion that Angie had inherited and now shared with her three sisters, had been open for two months and business was booming.

 

Angie had her honey-blonde hair pulled into a high bun and a tiny loose strand framed the side of her face. As she reached for a blueberry muffin in the glass case, she caught Josh staring at her and she stood straight and cocked her head.  “What?”

 

Josh shook his head slowly, his blue eyes twinkling at his girlfriend. “Just enjoying the view.”

 

Angie’s cheeks flushed and a little smile played over her lips. A tingle of warmth spread through her body.

 

“Leave Angie alone.” Courtney winked. Angie’s youngest sister placed a warm carrot muffin onto the small white plate that sat on the counter in front of Josh. “You’re interfering with her ability to work.”

 

“I’ll tell Rufus the same thing about you when I see him lurking around in your candy store,” Josh joked.

 

Courtney’s face lost its smile and a gloomy expression darkened her eyes. Walking into the kitchen, she pulled the pale blue apron over her head. She’d worked for two hours at the bake shop to help with the early rush and had to get to her candy store in the center of town to open for the day.

 

Josh looked blankly at the youngest Roseland sister and then turned to Angie for help.  “What did I say?”

 

Angie stepped closer and whispered. “Rufus is going back to England soon and Courtney isn’t very happy about it.”

 

Courtney’s boyfriend, Rufus Fudge, had been interning at Sweet Cove attorney Jack Ford’s office for several months and in a week he would be returning to England for his final term of studies.

 

“Oh, right.” Josh glanced towards the kitchen with a sympathetic look. “I forgot Rufus was leaving this month.”

 

Angie carried a takeout cup of coffee over to one of the customers. “Here you are, Professor Tyler.” Professor Michael Tyler was tall and slender with a full head of white hair. He had been into the bake shop several mornings in a row and had chatted with Angie on each visit. He was a retired history professor from New York City and was visiting the seacoast towns on the North Shore of Massachusetts. The man had written extensively on the Salem Witch hysteria of the 1600s and was conducting research on how nearby towns were influenced and affected.

 

“Thank you, Angie.” The professor had the same thing each morning, a black coffee and a chocolate croissant and he took a coffee away with him when he left. “Your croissants are the best I’ve ever had and I’ve traveled extensively all over the world.” He lifted his cup to her in a salute.

 

Angie chuckled. “That’s very high praise. Thank you.”

 

“Tell me. Might there be a room available here at the inn? The resort is fine, but I do enjoy staying at bed and breakfasts and historic homes.”

 

“I’m not sure. It’s been busy. My sister, Ellie, is still serving breakfast in the B and B dining room if you’d like to go by when you’re finished and ask her.” Angie smiled. “Tell her I sent you in.”

 

The man paid and left the bakery promising to be back the next day. As Angie was clearing the table, an elderly couple entered the shop and Louisa, Angie’s employee, greeted them and helped them to a table by the windows. The gray-haired man wore a heavy wool black coat that hung on him as if it were several sizes too big. The woman had pasty skin and slits for eyes. Her shoulders drooped forward as if they’d had enough of years maintaining straight posture and had given up. The man said something to Louisa and she shut the window for them.

 

The early October light filtered softly through the glass. Louisa had worked at a café in Coveside for a few years and needed a change. Angie was happy to have such an experienced worker join her at her new bake shop.

 

Angie walked to the cash register to ring up another customer. As the older couple settled in their chairs, she made eye contact with them and gave a welcoming smile. They turned away so deliberately that Angie was taken aback.

 

“Angie?” Betty Hayes, a Sweet Cove Realtor, stood in front of the counter.

 

Angie shook herself. “What can I get you?”

 

Betty gave her order and chattered nonstop with Josh while she waited for her takeout mocha latte. The busy Realtor usually sat and talked with the bake shop regulars, but today she had an early appointment and couldn’t linger. Angie was still wondering about the older couple’s behavior.  She snapped the lid on the extra large mocha and carried it to Betty.

 

“Don’t turn around,” Angie said, “but do you know the couple who came in right before you did and sat down by the window?”

 

Betty almost turned her head, but she stopped herself. She handed Angie a ten dollar bill and leaned forward. “The grouchy ones?” Betty didn’t wait for a response. “I know them. I recently rented them a house over on Greenhill Road. They were not easy to work with, but they paid cash for six months rent up front, so I put up with them.”

 

Angie handed her some change. “They’re new to town then?”

 

“They are.” Betty sniffed. “And not a welcome addition.”

 

Josh swiveled on his stool with his coffee in his hand and nonchalantly looked over the crowd of people sitting at tables. When he spotted the couple by the windows being served by Louisa, he swiveled back. “Those two have been staying at the resort. They’re always complaining, never satisfied. I can’t say we’ll be sorry to see them go.”

 

“Exactly.” Betty picked up the takeout cup.

 

“Where did they move from?” Angie started down the counter to wait on other customers.

 

“They must have told me.” Betty’s forehead scrunched up in thought. “I can’t recall. See you later tonight. I’m bringing a mashed potato casserole.” Betty whirled and headed for the exit.  She was dating Victor Finch, a family friend of the Roseland sisters, and tonight was “family” dinner night at the sisters’ Victorian mansion.

 

Betty’s answer about not being able to recall where the elderly couple had moved from caused a skitter of nervousness to flit over Angie’s skin. She couldn’t understand why two grumpy new customers were bothering her so much. When she finished filling multiple takeout orders, she slid back to stand at the counter in front of Josh. He noticed her faraway look. “What’s wrong?”

 

Angie let out a little sigh and kept her voice low. “I know it’s silly, but for some reason, that couple makes me really uneasy.”

 

Josh smiled. “They’re just sullen and unhappy. Some people are miserable. Try not to let their nasty moods bother you.” He reached his hand across the granite surface and Angie squeezed his fingers. She made eye contact with her boyfriend and warmth flooded through her body. Josh always made her feel better.

 

“Are you coming to dinner night?” Angie still held the handsome man’s hand.

 

“I wouldn’t miss it.” Josh smiled. “I’d better get back to the resort. Davis will be tapping his toe waiting for me.” Josh and his older brother, Davis, owned the Sweet Cove Resort, among other properties, and were also real estate developers. The two brothers did not share the same outlook on life. Davis Williams was all-business and Angie couldn’t remember ever seeing a smile on his face. Josh believed in hard work and setting and achieving goals, but he also understood the importance of enjoying life with someone he loved. Josh kissed Angie’s fingers and headed out the door of the bake shop just as Ellie Roseland came out of the kitchen and strode over to the pastry case.

 

“That new guest is driving me crazy.” She peered into the case, her long blonde hair falling over her shoulder, and removed a slice of chocolate mousse cake from the shelf. Ellie ran the Victorian’s bed and breakfast inn. “He is so demanding. I wish I didn’t rent the room to him for so many weeks. Imagine … chocolate mousse cake for breakfast.” She shook her head and straightened up, and then she froze in position for a moment staring off into space.

 

Angie gave Ellie the eye just as her fraternal twin sister, Jenna, hurried by carrying a tray of dirty dishes. The diamond of her pretty engagement ring sparkled under the light of the bake shop’s chandelier. Jenna paused on her way to the kitchen, cocked her head, and stared at Ellie. “What’s wrong with you?”

 

Ellie blinked. “I don’t know. I felt something funny.” She reached for a small tray, placed the plate with the slice of mousse cake on it, and hurried back towards the main kitchen. “It was nothing. By the way, Mr. Finch said the cats have been causing a ruckus trying to sneak into the kitchen and get out here all morning.”

 

Jenna and Angie shared a worried look. Along with the mansion, Angie had inherited a huge orange Maine Coon cat and a few months ago, a stray black cat showed up on their doorstep and the sisters took her in. Since they’d all been together, the two felines had a hand, or paw, in helping the Roselands solve several mysteries. Angie’s throat tightened as she wondered why on earth the two cats were so determined to come into the bake shop.

 

A customer approached the counter and when Angie turned to take the order, she caught the older couple sitting by the window scowling in her direction. They quickly averted their gazes, but the expression on their faces sent a shudder down Angie’s back as if an icy cold, bony finger was tracing along her spine.

 

Ever since the summer, things had been quiet in the seaside town of Sweet Cove, Massachusetts. Angie got the feeling that was about to change.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2

 

 

Angie came down the carved wooden staircase to the foyer of the Victorian. A round polished wooden table stood on a burgundy, green, and cream colored rug and a cut-glass vase of orange and yellow Gerbera daisies had been placed in its center.

 

Courtney was in the dining room setting the table and without looking up, she said, “What’s cookin,’ Sis?”

 

“Not much.” Angie yawned and stretched. “How was the candy store?” Courtney and Mr. Finch owned a candy store together in the center of town.

 

“Busy. Even though it’s October, things are going strong.”

 

“People are traveling to see the fall foliage and they stop here along the way. The B and B isn’t showing any signs of slowing down either.” Angie went to the buffet and opened a drawer to remove the silverware. She started around the table placing forks, knives, and spoons beside each of the plates. A ceramic pumpkin filled with colorful fall flowers sat in the center of the dining table.

 

Mr. Finch, leaning on his cane, entered from the hallway and greeted the sisters. Euclid, the orange cat, and Circe, the black cat, trailed behind him. Finch carried a platter of cookies in his hand which he set down on the side table. The older man was dressed in a pale orange shirt and tweed jacket. He wore a black bow tie with tiny orange pumpkins printed on the fabric.

 

“You’re looking dapper, Mr. Finch.” Angie smiled at him.

 

“A bow tie?” Courtney eyed the man’s choice of neckwear.

 

“It is in honor of Jack’s birthday.” Finch straightened his shoulders. “I have the very same bow tie wrapped in a gift bag for the young attorney.” Ellie’s boyfriend, Jack Ford, was known for always wearing a bow tie.

 

The sisters had started a new tradition of having their boyfriends, Mr. Finch, and Betty to dinner once a month and since Jack’s birthday was coming up, they decided to celebrate the occasion at tonight’s get-together.

 

“But Jack told us no birthday gifts.” Courtney placed wine glasses at each setting.

 

“I am an old man, Miss Courtney.” Finch’s eyes twinkled. “I now have the liberty to do what I think appropriate.”

 

The cats jumped up on the China cabinet and settled down to watch the evening’s festivities. Angie eyed the animals. “Ellie said the cats were trying to get into the bake shop this morning?”

 

Mr. Finch sat down in one of the dining chairs. “They were most adamant about it. When I came in for breakfast this morning, they were both standing at attention at the doors to the commercial kitchen howling. I peeked in there to see if an emergency was taking place.” Finch lived in the house behind the Roseland’s Victorian and he often had his meals with them or came over to have coffee in the kitchen and read his newspaper. When the mansion was being renovated to house the bake shop, the large kitchen space had been designed so that the commercial side could be closed off with pocket doors to keep it separate from the family side of the space.

 

“Did the cats settle down once you came in?” Angie asked.

 

“It took some time for them to stop carrying on. I wondered what they were going on about.” Finch made eye contact with Angie. “I found it unnerving.”

 

Angie sat down next to Finch and told him about the elderly couple who visited the bake shop early in the day and how they made her nervous. “Betty said that they’ve recently moved to town.”

 

Finch had his hands closed over the top of his cane. He glanced up at the cats.

 

Courtney placed some candles next to the ceramic pumpkin centerpiece. “Sometimes people just have an aversion to somebody. It’s a personality conflict or whatever.”

 

Finch and Angie didn’t say anything which caused Courtney to look up. Seeing their expressions made her eyebrows shoot up. “Oh. You think something’s up?”

 

The cats hissed.

 

Ellie carried a birthday cake into the dining room and stopped short. She took a quick look up at the cats, faced Courtney, and frowned. “What do you mean something’s up?”

 

Angie reminded Ellie how she’d had a funny feeling when she came into the bake shop. She told her sister about the older couple and how their presence had bothered her.

 

“My feeling didn’t mean anything.” Ellie tried to brush it off. “I get feelings all the time.”

 

“Really? All the time?” Courtney narrowed her eyes.

 

“Well, sometimes.” Ellie put the cake on the buffet table.

 

“What did you feel?” Angie looked nervous. She clasped her hands in her lap to keep them from fidgeting. Since moving to Sweet Cove in the spring, the four Roseland sisters discovered that they each possessed some paranormal powers which they were trying to adjust to and incorporate into their lives … some of them with more success than others.

 

Ellie turned and swallowed. Her brow scrunched up in thought. “I don’t know.” She crossed her arms over her chest in a defensive posture. “Like … something dangerous was in the air.” She gave a shrug. “But that was silly, it didn’t mean anything. You shouldn’t pay any attention to it.” She lowered her voice. “I’d been complaining about the new guest who’s staying with us. He’s a pain. He follows me around and asks me a million questions, but when I ask him anything he replies with something vague. He makes me uncomfortable. Maybe that was causing me some anxiety and I confused it with a sense of danger.” She dismissively batted the air with her hand. “Not everything is a warning of impending doom.”

 

Angie and Finch exchanged skeptical looks.

 

As she turned to head back to the kitchen, Ellie said, “Your Professor Tyler stopped in. Another guest checked out unexpectedly so I was able to give him a room.”

 

Finch asked about Professor Tyler and Angie filled him in on the new guest and his research into the Salem Witch Trials. She glanced at the hallway to be sure Ellie wasn’t in earshot. “I think Ellie needs to pay more attention to her feelings.”

 

Finch nodded.

 

Courtney moved around the table so she could take the water glasses out of the China cabinet. “The cats seem to be agitated so I’m inclined to ignore Ellie and lean towards thinking that something is up.”

 

inch gave a little tap on the rug with his cane. “Time will tell.”

 

“We should be careful though.” Courtney carried two crystal goblets to the table. “We need to be on guard just in case.”

 

Anxiety swirled through Angie’s body. Lately, everything had been going so smoothly. There had been no murders or deaths in Sweet Cove since the summer so it hadn’t been necessary for the police to call in the sisters and their abilities to consult for any cases. The bake shop was doing well. The October days had been warm and pleasant. Angie wished things could stay as they were, but she knew deep down that something was brewing. “I want to find out more about that older couple who visited the shop this morning.”

 

Finch agreed. “Miss Betty will probably be able to tell you a bit about them since I believe she worked closely with the couple to find a house. She complained about their unpleasant personalities to me. It must be the same couple who visited your bake shop this morning.”

 

As if on cue, the doorbell rang and Betty opened the front door and rushed into the foyer carrying a casserole dish. “I was afraid I was late.” She pushed the dish into Angie’s hands and nearly crushed Mr. Finch in a bear hug. She kissed the top of the man’s head. “You look so handsome in a bow tie, Victor.” She batted her eyes at him. “Maybe you should wear one more often.” Finch blushed when Betty gave a girlish giggle.

 

Courtney stared at the woman and shook her head. Finch, a gentle and kind man, was slight and unsteady due to an injury of long ago while Betty, who carried some extra pounds, was like a force-five hurricane hitting the room. The sisters were still amazed that Betty and Finch were a couple, but the two were practically giddy in each other’s company and the girls loved that the older man and the successful Realtor were in love.

 

“I need a sip of wine.” Betty hurried to the sideboard and poured some merlot into a glass. She looked sweetly at Finch. “Would you like a glass, Victor?”

 

“I’ll wait until dinner, thank you.” Finch beamed at the woman.

 

Angie stood to help Courtney finish setting the table. She addressed Betty. “What do you know about the couple you rented the Greenhill Road house to?”

 

Betty scowled. “They were royal pains. They complained about everything. I never thought I’d find them a house they wanted.” She took a gulp from her glass and topped it off.

 

Courtney eyed Betty. The woman seemed distressed discussing the older couple. “Were they just the usual pains or was there something else about them that bothered you?”

 

Betty stared at the youngest Roseland sister. “What do you mean?”

 

“You seem nervous talking about them.”

 

Euclid stood up on the China cabinet and listened intently to the discussion.

 

Betty’s cheeks went red. “I’m not nervous.” She blinked. “Why would I be?”

 

“What specifically did they complain about?” Angie asked calmly.

 

Betty bustled over to Mr. Finch and sat next to him. “The house was ugly … the garden was wrong … the house was too close to town … the house was too far from town. I couldn’t get a handle on what they wanted.”

 

“Where did they come from?” Angie’s eyes were like lasers.