Murder on Valentine's Day Read online

  Murder on Valentine’s Day

  A Ridgeway Rescue Mystery

  P. Creeden

  Contents

  Murder on Valentine’s Day

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  About the Author

  Murder on a Cruise Ship © 2019 P. Creeden

  Edited by Laura Martinez of “The Indie Author’s Advocate”

  All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

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  Murder on Valentine’s Day

  Ridgeway Rescue Mysteries can be read in 1-2 hours. Perfect for when you're waiting for an appointment or just want a fast read. Don't miss out on this quick, clean, cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until the end!

  It's Valentine's Day and 20-year-old Emma Wright just wants her crush to take notice of her. But Colby Davidson, the K9 search and rescue deputy only thinks of her as a kid sister. How will she get him to take her seriously?

  When her veterinarian boss calls her to pick up a cat at a potential crime scene, she finds herself at the house of the richest woman in Ridgeway. Her father—the sheriff—and Colby are there. They both dismiss the untimely death as a heart attack, but Emma finds clues that it might be something more. Did the software billionaire die of natural causes, or was it murder?

  Chapter One

  Emma sat in the outdoor café allowing the sun to keep her warm even though it was a cool, comfortable February day. Still, she was glad she wore the extra sweater. Keeping the core warm helped to keep the extremities warm, or so her dad taught her. She was happy to not have to wear jeans or slacks but could wear a nice skirt to match her top instead. And the clear sky overhead helped her feel confident in her classy heels since she didn’t need to worry about rain or snow. She wanted to look pretty. Even though Colby might not be her official Valentine, if she ran into him today, she hoped he’d be impressed, too.

  She waited for her best friend Rachel, and they chose this café for the outdoor area that allowed for Molly, Emma’s foster puppy, to stay with her. The pair hadn’t met up for coffee in a while, though texting meant that keeping in touch was not an issue. It was a little before ten a.m. and Emma spotted Rachel and waved her over to the table the moment she approached.

  Rachel smiled, and set her designer purse on the stone table in front of her. “I haven’t had a decent latte in weeks. This place is amazing. We should come here more often.”

  “Oh, I know, right? They have the best macchiatos!” Emma agreed. Molly stood up and wagged her giant tail back and forth in a bit of excitement.

  Rachel stooped down in her business casual slacks and scratched the Saint Bernard puppy behind the ears. Pleased with the greeting, Molly laid back down as the two ladies sat as well. The waiter stopped in and took their orders quickly before leaving them alone for a moment.

  “So, Thomas told me he wanted chocolates for Valentine’s, and I said that he should bring me chocolates instead,” Rachel joked.

  “He’s so funny. How are you guys? I saw those hiking pics on your profile. The ones from last weekend.” Emma smiled as the waiter came with their coffees and set them on the table along with the dessert sampler they had ordered.

  “We’re great. Thomas is doing much better now that he’s getting out of the house more. I still can’t get him to go everywhere, but he’s loosened up a lot.”

  “That’s good! Maybe you should take him on one of your business trips?”

  “I ask him all the time,” Rachel said, frowning into her coffee before taking a sip in the pause, “but he always comes up with a good reason not to go.”

  “Have you tried ‘accidentally’ bringing him along?” Emma raised an eyebrow at her friend.

  “Not really. I’m not sure I can make that work,” Rachel’s brows scrunched.

  “Sometimes I ‘accidentally’ find myself in situations where Colby is working. I don’t know, maybe it’s just my luck that does that.”

  “I don’t know… you’re very clever. I doubt it’s ‘accidental’ at all,” Rachel joked, picking up a fork and checking out the desserts on their shared platter.

  “Maybe, maybe not!”

  They both laughed.

  “This place makes great desserts,” Rachel said around a bite of chocolate cheesecake.

  “They make chocolates, too… if you want to get some for Thomas after all.”

  Rachel’s eyes widened, “Really?”

  They ordered a sample platter of the assorted chocolates they had in the shop as well. Molly, Emma’s dog, twitched in her sleep at Emma’s feet, causing Emma to reach down and comfort the puppy with a pat before choosing a chocolate to try. The two ladies worked on the sweets and tried explaining the delicate flavors contained inside each of the chocolate candies. Some were salty while others were extra sweet. Emma left the spicy one for Rachel. She guessed her friend wouldn’t mind.

  “And how is it going between you and Colby?” Rachel asked, thankfully avoiding eye contact with Emma.

  Emma sighed. “There’s not much going on there. I keep trying to get him to notice me, but he doesn’t seem to think of me as much more than the same little fourteen-year-old kid I was when we met. It’s like he doesn’t notice I’m twenty now.”

  “He’ll come around.” Rachel laughed. “Men are just oblivious. You have to be really obvious about your feelings for him in order for him to take notice. Have you made the first move yet?”

  Heat rose in Emma’s cheeks. She hadn’t realized how nervous she was about the thought of making the first move until then. “I haven’t asked or told him anything yet. I’m waiting for him to show me that he’s also interested.”

  Molly raised her head to the sky, graciously accepting a pat on the head. It was amazing that the gentle pat could help calm Emma’s nerves so easily.

  “You know, they need more pet-friendly shops like this one. Could you imagine?” Rachel seemed to notice Emma’s reservations and changed the subject.

  “That would be amazing. I could take Molly everywhere!” She smiled down at the puppy “Isn’t that right, Mal-Mal?”

  “You know, maybe you should look into training Molly as a therapy dog, then she really could go everywhere with you. And her calm temperament would be ideal for that.”

  Emma blinked. “That’s not a bad idea, actually I was—”

  A cell phone ring interrupted their conversation. Emma reached for her phone. The old-fashioned ringtone made it stand out, so she knew it was hers.

  “You haven’t changed your ringtone? How long ha
ve you had your phone?” Rachel joked.

  “I just didn’t like the other sounds. This one is mine, hush.” Emma laughed before answering the call. On the line was Emma’s boss, Dr. Lawrence.

  Emma watched Rachel whisper to the waiter while pointing to chocolates on the tray while Dr. Lawrence spoke. “Emma, I need you to go up to the Van Horn’s place. Do you know how to get there?”

  “I’m pretty sure I do.” Emma nodded even though the doctor couldn’t see her. “But if not, I’ve got GPS.”

  “Great. The dispatcher called and said there was a problem at the Van Horn estate.”

  “Oh, no. I hope everything is okay.”

  “Yes, I do too. The elder Mrs. Van Horn’s cat, Julius, is a regular patient of ours. We want to check him over and give him a place to stay until whatever the situation is at the estate. Your father’s dispatcher called us to let us know.”

  “Oh… no,” Emma hesitated. She was allergic to some cats and fine with others, so she tried to avoid them all whenever possible.

  “You should be fine. The cat should already be in a carrier when you arrive.”

  After heaving a big sigh, Emma said, “Okay, I’ll get it done right away.”

  Then she remembered that if her father was at the Van Horn’s place, maybe Colby would be too. Although it was a tragic reason to see Colby, she still had a little flutter of butterflies in her stomach at the thought that he’d be there. She hit the end button on her phone before slipping it back into her purse.

  “Duty calls. I have to go to the Van Horn’s place. Apparently, their cat needs retrieving.” Emma sighed. “Are you allergic to cats? Some seem to affect me horribly, but others I’m fine with.”

  “I don’t think I am? I didn’t know you were allergic?” Rachel empathized.

  “Yea, I love cats. I guess my body doesn’t.” She laughed and started up from the table. Molly stood at attention with her.

  “Do you have gloves or something?” Rachel asked and stood as well.

  “No, but Dr. Lawrence says the cat should be in a tote.” Emma sighed. “I just have to be near cat dander and my sinuses go off.”

  She waved in the direction of the waiter, but Rachel pushed down her hand. “I already paid. My treat this time. You get it next time.”

  It warmed Emma’s heart, and she offered her friend a wide smile. “Did you order Thomas any chocolates?”

  “I got him the spicy chili ones. I’m sure he’ll love them!” Lifting an eyebrow, a sinister look sparkled in Rachel’s eye as she laughed.

  Emma laughed, too, leading Molly to her car. “Hope he likes spicy food.”

  Rachel waved, holding the bag of chocolates and starting for her own vehicle. “He does!”

  The two laughed and headed in their separate directions. Emma opened the hatch to the back of her SUV, and Molly hopped in obediently. She sure was smart for a five-month-old puppy. Were all Saint Bernard dogs like this? She made a mental note to look into therapy training for dogs as she pushed the hatch closed and started for the driver’s side of the truck. It wasn’t too far to the Van Horn estate, and her stomach fluttered again when she thought she might get to see Colby.

  Chapter Two

  Being the wealthiest residents of Ridgeway, the Van Horn’s estate stood at the top of a hill. Emma navigated the long driveway that led up to the amazingly beautiful mansion. The design of the home’s brick structure and the property’s gardening were extraordinarily well kept. Emma parked her SUV near the east side of the home, away from the driveway, unsure whether to bring the Saint Bernard. After eyeing the yard behind the property, Emma decided to leave Molly in the vehicle. Molly would have been a handful with that much playroom. Emma checked her phone for missed calls before cracking a window and filling up a bowl with water. She pet Molly and the dog returned her kindness with a few licks on her palm before she shut the door.

  This was just a pet emergency, as the elder Van Horn lived alone in the mansion as far as Emma knew. The huge structure made her feel a bit nervous. Would she find her father easily in the big place, or get lost? Despite her nervousness, the job was simple. She needed to retrieve a cat and take it back to Dr. Lawrence. She had her objective. Emma told herself repeatedly that cats are nice and it’s not the cat’s fault she’s allergic. The Van Horn’s cat just needed a ride to the vet. She hoped nothing would go wrong.

  Emma walked from one side of the house to the other, surveying it as her dad had taught her. Any time she would go with him on a call to a house, one of the first things to do is secure the location and check for any signs of a break in. The mixture of soft yard and gravel around the property made walking in heels awkward and painful. The mansion was huge. It had at least six bedrooms. Emma didn’t notice any broken windows or objects out of place. However, she did see home security cameras peeking through a few of the windows. They weren’t hidden very well.

  Finding standard yard equipment and the home’s fire logs all arranged normally, everything checked out okay. As she made her way to the front door, Emma noticed the Van Horn’s entrance was missing a deadbolt. The handle on the door was just a normal latch but there was not a second lock. Most doors had two locks, one in the handle and one in the deadbolt. This door had neither. Only the latch handle was visible. That’s strange.

  Tugging on the door, Emma couldn’t open it. The handle and its lever were depressed correctly, but the door was stuck shut. Emma stepped back, refusing to try harder and possibly break the door. Then she skirted around the house, peering in windows looking for the Sheriff or the cat. She rounded the west side of the house and nearly collided with a woman walking in the opposite direction.

  “Oh gosh! I’m so sorry! You scared me,” the woman said, shaking off the adrenaline from the encounter.

  “Oh no! My apologies! I didn’t mean to startle you!” Emma said.

  “Are you visiting?” the girl asked. She was about four or five inches shorter than Emma was, even though she wore heels. Her hair style and clothing were similar in style to Emma’s which made her almost feel that the shorter, stocky woman might be the same age as her but the wrinkles in the corners of her eyes suggested she was a few years older.

  “I work with Dr. Lawrence, the town vet. He sent me here for an emergency collection,” Emma replied.

  “An emergency? What’s wrong?” The girl’s eyes grew wide under her red framed glasses.

  “I’m not sure. Apparently, there’s a cat around here somewhere. My name is Emma by the way. Are you a Van Horn?” Emma wanted to make sure she wasn’t talking to a random stranger on the property.

  “Yes, my name is Denise. This is my aunt’s house. I just stopped by to pick her up for a shareholder’s meeting in Richmond this afternoon.”

  Emma’s heart sank. Denise Van Horn spoke as if she didn’t know about her aunt yet. Emma swallowed. She knew it was standard procedure to let her father handle that situation, but she felt guilty for remaining silent about it. Before she could say a word, Denise said, “Well, let’s get inside. If you’re here for the cat, I’m sure my aunt must be waiting for you.”

  Awkward. But Emma stayed silent again instead of correcting her. The two walked toward the front door and Emma found her tongue. “I think the front door is broken. It wouldn’t open and was stuck when I tried it.”

  Denise laughed. “I know why you might think that. You might not have ever seen this kind of door before. My aunt was ahead of her time. Our family business is in home security. The kind of lock on the door is actually a biometric scanner which only unlocks the door for an authorized palm scan.”

  Emma blinked. It all sounded like a sci-fi novel. In Ridgeway? “For real?”

  Denise nodded with another laugh as she stepped up to the door and demonstrated how it worked.

  “You have to put your palm here.” She placed her hand over a slightly discolored brick next to the door frame. “It scans your hand and unlocks the door.”

  After a click and a beep, the door unlat
ched and opened an inch or so before Denise even grabbed hold of the handle.

  “Wow! That’s amazing!” Emma internalized her questions of how it might work if the power were to go out. Sometimes her mind shot in directions she knew were better kept to herself. Her father taught her that you often learn more by listening than by asking questions before the victim or culprit is done giving up information. And Denise wasn’t quite finished yet.

  The short, stocky woman stepped into the foyer of the house and further explained how her aunt’s whole home was utilizing the latest and greatest security products which her family’s business produced and marketed to the masses. Among the features were a programmable biometric scanner, window frames with open detection built in, and a smart home system that automatically regulated the home air conditioning using thermal results from the many cameras installed. As if Denise were a walking advertisement, she mentioned that “Van Horn Security does not sell the A/C unit, but they do sell the technology to use it properly.”

  Laughing on her way into the house, Emma’s attention was drawn immediately to the clop-clop of her high heels on the wooden floor. Her ankles were sore from walking through the terrain outside. Her head swiveled for a moment as she absorbed the magnitude of the home. So much money was spent on the house and its furnishings, so it made sense that the Van Horns would have used their own security system. The beautiful artwork hung in the main foyer could likely have sold for the same price the family purchased the land for.

  Emma kept her attention focused on finding the cat. The Sheriff was always present when there were troubling events in the town. It was strange she didn’t see his patrol car out front, which reinforced her idea that maybe the cat was the only emergency. She also kept her eyes peeled for him just in case. Denise and Emma continued their tour of the house, checking out each room around the main floor while observing the technology spread around the home with all the promises of security.