Sweet Love and Devotion

Book 14: A Sweet Cove Mystery

by J.A. Whiting

Genres: Literary Fiction; Supernatural suspense; Animal Cozy Mysteries

Synopsis

This is book 14 in the Sweet Cove Mystery series.

The main mystery is solved in each book but you will enjoy the stories more if they are read in order as some character threads run from book to book.

In a few weeks, Angie and Josh will tie the knot and the Roseland sisters and Mr. Finch are preparing for the upcoming wedding. When Chief Martin shows up at the Victorian smelling of smoke, Angie knows that the family will be drawn into another mystery. An arsonist is on the loose setting fires in the neighboring town of Silver Cove and it will take the whole family and two fine felines to find the criminal. Will they stop the fires before the evildoer ruins the wedding plans?

A cozy mystery with recipes !

This story has some mild paranormal elements.

Release date: June 1, 2018

Publisher: Whitemark Publishing

Print pages: 288

Sample

Chapter 1

 

 

The last of the day’s April light filtered into the attic through the small round window at the front of the Victorian mansion and sent a golden ray over the scuffed wood floor. Euclid, the Roseland family’s big orange cat sat in the warmth of the sunbeam as it illuminated the different shades of orange and white in his fur and made him look like he was glowing. Circe, the small black cat with a white patch on her chest, had settled in the light behind Euclid with her paws tucked under her body making her shape resemble a loaf.

 

Angie walked around the space looking for something and when she ducked under a beam, her honey-blond ponytail swung into a spider’s web causing her to brush her hand over the strands to remove the piece of sticky gray-white web. “Bah.”

 

The oldest Roseland sister hadn’t been up in the attic for months and although she had something specific in mind to find, she enjoyed strolling around and admiring the old pieces of furniture, artwork, and boxes that had been left to her by a distant relative who once owned the mansion.

 

Her youngest sister, Courtney, was working at her Main Street candy shop; Ellie, the tall blond middle sister, was downstairs checking in a new guest to the inn; and Jenna, Angie’s twin, was finishing up in her jewelry shop at the rear of the house so she could join her sister in the attic soon.

 

Walking to peek out of the round window, Angie looked down at the front lawn and the street that ran past the house and down to the beach. A few people walked by on their way to the ocean and others headed up the road to the center of town to the stores and restaurants. Looking down from the high perch at the top of the mansion always gave Angie a twinge of vertigo, but she loved looking out over the treetops of the little seaside town of Sweet Cove. When she lifted her hand to shield her eyes from the glare of the setting sun, the diamond on her engagement ring caught the light and sparkled. It was hard to believe, but it was only six weeks to the wedding day when she and her fiancé, Josh Williams, would say I do.

 

“You up here, Angie?” Jenna called from the skinny staircase.

 

“By the window,” she said to her sister.

 

Circe trilled and went to meet the tall, brunette who resembled her fraternal twin not in height or coloring, but in similar facial features and mannerisms.

 

“Did you find it?” Jenna asked as she stepped into the attic and glanced around with a smile. “This space is like a treasure trove. Imagine if we lived in this house when we were growing up? We would have spent hours and hours playing up here. Mom wouldn’t have been able to drag us out.”

 

“I know. I love this attic.” Angie smiled and bent to scratch Euclid’s head. “And, no, I haven’t found it yet.” Walking past some old sailor’s chests, she added, “Are we even sure it’s up here? Maybe we put it in the storage area of the carriage house.”

 

“Ellie said it’s up here,” Jenna informed her twin. “We just have to find it amidst all this stuff.” Lifting a box and setting it down behind her, she said, “The wedding is coming fast. It will be here before you know it.”

 

Angie was rummaging through an old armoire when she stood straight. “Josh and I have had a lot of fun planning the details, but we’re both ready now. It’s time.” She looked over at her sister. “I can’t believe I found someone like Josh.”

 

“He’s the best,” Jenna said. “But if we don’t find this box, you might have to walk down the aisle naked.”

 

Euclid hissed at Jenna’s joke, but Angie said with a chuckle, “I don’t think it will come to that. I’m sure I could find something to wear.” A few seconds later, she let out a whistle. “Here it is.” Her voice was excited as she carried the large box to the center of the attic and set it down on a rug in the middle of the floor.

 

The rectangular box had a plastic front in which to see the bodice of the cleaned and preserved white wedding gown.

 

Jenna knelt next to the box. “Look how pretty it is.”

 

Angie touched her finger to the plastic. “It sure is. I always thought Mom looked like a princess in her wedding day photos.”

 

“Shall we open it?” Jenna looked to her twin.

 

Angie took a deep breath and shook her head. “Why am I so nervous about this?”

 

Jenna reached over and gave her sister a hug. “It’s a big deal. If it fits you … well, this is going to be your wedding gown.”

 

“Okay,” Angie whispered. “Let’s open it. Did you bring the pocket knife?”

 

“Right here.” Jenna held up the small knife in a red case. “This is my first duty as a maid of honor.”

 

“Matron of honor. You’re married,” Angie corrected.

 

“Right.” Jenna frowned. “But that word. Matron. It sounds like some old hag.”

 

With a chuckle, Angie said, “Maybe we can come up with a different title for you.”

 

Jenna flipped the blade from its case and moved it slowly around the edge of the box to break the seal, and then Angie carefully lifted the lid.

 

“Wow. It’s pure white still,” Jenna marveled and carefully touched the lace at the edge of the neckline. “It’s beautiful. Let’s take it downstairs so you can try it on.”

 

Before Angie could answer, Euclid let out a low growl from deep in his chest.

 

“What’s wrong with him?” Jenna looked over to see the cat sitting on an old wooden desk.

 

Angie lifted her eyes and followed her sister’s gaze. “He seems off this evening.” She made eye contact with Jenna. “Have you felt anything … funny, today?”

 

The smile fell from the brunette’s face when she asked, “Funny, how?”

 

“You know what I mean,” Angie told her and nervously pushed a strand of hair from her forehead.

 

“Not really. Well, maybe I felt a little something.” Jenna narrowed her eyes. “Have you?”

 

Angie sat down next to the box they’d just opened. “A little. I guess more than a little.”

 

“There hasn’t been any trouble since Christmas,” Jenna noted. “We’re due.”

 

The corner of Angie’s mouth turned down. “Couldn’t trouble wait another six weeks so we could get through the wedding?”

 

“Maybe it’s nothing. A false alarm probably.” Jenna made an attempt at being hopeful, but really? She’d felt something strange on the air for a few days. “Have you asked Mr. Finch if he’s noticed anything?”

 

“Not yet.” Angie ran her hand gently over her mother’s wedding dress. “I’ve been thinking a lot about Mom.”

 

“Have you?”

 

Angie gave a little nod. “Why do you think she never shows up?”

 

Jenna’s heart began to race. The four Roseland sisters each had a few special skills. One of Jenna’s talents was that she could see ghosts.

 

“Do you ever wonder why sometimes Nana shows up, but Mom never does?” Angie asked.

 

“I guess I haven’t.” Jenna wrinkled her forehead in thought. “It never crossed my mind. Maybe because we know Nana had the same skills we all have, but we aren’t sure about Mom.”

 

Circe padded over to Angie and settled in the young woman’s lap.

 

“I think Mom had abilities, but like Ellie, she had a hard time accepting them,” Angie said.

 

“I think you’re right. She didn’t want anything to do with special skills.”

 

Years ago, the Roseland sisters’ mother had been hit by a car while crossing a Boston street and was killed.

 

With the setting of the sun, the attic had darkened despite a few lamps being on in the space. Something red flashed outside the window and Angie looked over to it.

 

A reddish stream of light came in through the windowpane, ran along the walls like the strobe of a lighthouse beam, and then disappeared.

 

“What was that?” Jenna walked with purpose to the window, but Euclid beat her to it. He jumped up on a high dusty armoire, flicked his tail, and peered out through the window.

 

“What do you see, Euclid?” When Jenna saw what was outside, she turned back to her sister without saying anything, and just stood there.

 

Angie stood up and dusted off her butt. “Shall we go downstairs?”

 

“It’s Chief Martin,” Jenna said softly.

 

“I thought so.” Angie picked up the box that held her mother’s wedding gown.

 

“Why did you think so?”

 

“The red light that came in. I figured it was the light on the top of his cruiser.”

 

“It could have been from something else.” When Jenna started away from the window, Euclid leapt down and raced for the staircase with Circe right behind him.

 

“No, it couldn’t.” Angie’s voice was resigned. “Let’s go see what’s wrong.”

 

The sisters moved carefully down the narrow stairs to the third floor of the Victorian, passed the door to Angie’s and Josh’s new apartment, and headed down the two beautifully carved staircases towards the first floor.

 

“Angie. Jenna.” Ellie called to her sisters from the foyer. “Chief Martin just pulled up out front.” When the cats raced from the stairs into the foyer and to the front door, Ellie shrugged a shoulder. “Oh. I guess they know he’s here.”

 

Opening the front door, Ellie greeted Chief Phillip Martin, a tall, stocky man in his late-fifties.

 

He removed his hat. “Evening, Ellie.”

 

The cats sat next to Ellie waiting for the chief to come inside.

 

“Come in.” Ellie stepped back to let the man enter. “It’s a lovely night.” Catching herself, her face clouded and she tentatively asked a question. “Is it a lovely night?”

 

The chief leaned down to pat the cats, and Euclid turned his face up to sniff the air. “It was … up until about an hour ago.”

 

With the big box encircled by Angie’s arms, she and Jenna stood at the bottom of the staircase, their blue eyes trained on Chief Martin.

 

“We were in the attic. We saw you drive up,” Jenna said. “Is everything okay?”

 

Angie tilted her head slightly to the side. “You smell like smoke.”

 

“Do I?” The chief asked, only slightly surprised. “There’s a reason for that.” The big man sighed. “Care to have a chat?”

 

No, Angie did not want to have a chat, but the family would do anything to help Chief Martin, and knowing they were about to be drawn into something, she tightened her arms around the box and made a silent wish that she sent out into the world.

 

Please don’t let anything happen to any of us.

 

 

 

 

Chapter 2

 

 

Angie, Jenna, Ellie, Chief Martin and the two cats had just entered the family room at the back of the house when they heard the youngest Roseland sister call out from the hall.

 

“Where is everyone?” Courtney walked into the room with Mr. Finch right behind her, carrying a rectangular box. About the same height as Angie and with the same honey-blond hair, Courtney and her older sister looked more alike than the two twins did. “Here you are,” she said when she saw her sisters and the chief sitting on the sofas and chairs. “What’s cookin’? Having a pow-wow without me and Mr. Finch?”

 

Holding his cane in one hand, Mr. Finch carefully placed the box on the coffee table. “Miss Courtney and I have been making some new sweets and thought we could have a taste-test.” Finch glanced around at the others over the tops of his black-rimmed eyeglasses and noticed the somber looking faces. “Perhaps the taste-testing will need to wait?”

 

Victor Finch was an older man who had come to Sweet Cove to track down his mean and hateful brother, but the nasty Mr. Finch had been murdered that very day in his candy store. The good Finch inherited the business and became close to the sisters who “adopted” him into their family. Finch tapped Courtney to be his partner and the two built the sweet shop into one of the most popular stores in town.

 

“I know I can talk and eat at the same time,” the chief said. “It’s been a heck of an evening. Some sweets would hit the spot right now, and I’d be happy to give my opinion on the new items.”