Murder at the Beach Read online

  Murder at the Beach

  A Ridgeway Rescue Mystery

  P. Creeden

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  About the Author

  Also by P. Creeden

  Murder at the Beach © 2019 P. Creeden

  Edited by Marcy Rachel

  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 at the Beach

  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!

  Emma and Molly are on their way to a private island and private beach with Macy, her father, and Colby! Little did they know that it was the perfect location to watch the upcoming lunar eclipse.

  Two social media influencers are on the island, working to get a better viewing of their video posting when one of them turns up dead. Without even entering the scene of the crime, will Emma be able to solve the case before the perpetrator gets away with murder?

  Chapter 1

  The brisk breeze left salt on Emma’s lips, and she squinted against the sea spray, holding Molly’s leash just a little bit tighter in her hands. Seagulls flew in and out of the churning water at the back of the ferry as they travelled along at a good clip.

  “I can’t decide if it’s a better view from the back of the Ferry or the front,” Macy said as she came to stand next to Emma.

  Emma smiled at her stepmother. “I had just the same thoughts, but I think it’s fun to do both.”

  “Agreed.” Macy nodded. The older, half-Asian woman’s hair had been pulled back in a bun, but flyaways danced in the wind around her face.

  Emma’s father, Sheriff Wright, approached them and put an arm around each of them. He wore a Hawaiian shirt and khaki shorts, but somehow his posture still gave off the air that he was a police officer. “How are my two favorite women enjoying the day? Emma, you’re going to love the beach house that Macy and I bought a timeshare on. The walls are mostly glass so you get a fantastic view.”

  “I believe it,” Emma said with a wide smile. “And you said there’s a fenced area out back?”

  He squeezed her shoulder. “Yep. That’s why I said it was okay to bring Molly and Gabby.”

  Colby Davidson, one of her father’s deputies, held the leash of the K9 officer, Gabby, as he approached. Although the rest of them were dressed casually and ready for the beach, Colby still wore a polo shirt and his Ridgeway Sheriff’s Office ball cap. When he met eyes with Emma, he smiled. “It looks like we’re almost there.”

  As a group, they all turned toward the front of the ferry and saw the tire covered pylons designed to cushion the ferry’s landing at the dock. The island itself was covered with greenery beyond the sandy beaches. Excitement filled Emma. It was the first real vacation they’d had as a family in at least ten years. She couldn’t wait to get on the beach and let her toes sink into the sand.

  Molly, the Saint Bernard puppy, wagged her tail and lowered her front end in a playful position as soon as Gabby was close enough. The indignant German Shepherd barely looked the puppy’s way before sitting at attention beside her handler’s leg. It didn’t deter Molly from pawing at Gabby’s face. Gabby, who was only four years old, tried to be an adult dog most of the time, but somehow Molly brought the puppy out in her, and it wasn’t long before the two of them were batting at each other playfully.

  “Since we’re almost there, let’s get back in the cars,” Emma’s father suggested. He and Macy headed for their SUV while Emma and Colby started for her truck. They put both the dogs in the back of the SUV and then Colby took the keys from Emma in order to hop in the driver’s seat.

  For some reason, the driving arrangement made Emma almost feel as though Colby and she were a couple. Maybe it wasn’t true, but she could imagine it well. Her heart fluttered in her chest as she sat in the passenger’s seat and peered over at Colby. Colby removed his ball cap, revealing that his sandy brown hair curled a bit at the ears as it was getting a little long, but the shaggy look would be perfect for the beach. From sheriff’s deputy to surfer boy.

  Emma let out a long, slow breath.

  “What’s wrong?” Colby asked, shooting a glance sideways at her.

  She shook her head. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking how nice it would be to do something like taking a surfing lesson, but I’m not the best swimmer in the world, so it might not be smart.”

  “What do you mean? I’ve seen you swim at the pool before.”

  She nodded. “I’m fine as long as I can feel the bottom of the pool with my feet, and a pool is full of water that doesn’t move around. Being out in the ocean is a totally different experience. In my psychology classes, we studied fears and phobias, so I know it’s all in my head, but sometimes we don’t have control over what we might be afraid of.”

  Colby reached over and took Emma’s hand in his for a light squeeze. “I won’t let anything happen to you out there. Just stick with me. I used to be a lifeguard back before I became your father’s deputy.”

  After Emma’s heart calmed down a bit from the touch of Colby’s hand, she smiled up at him. “Thank you. I’ll try to stick with you.”

  He squeezed her hand once more before reaching to turn on the engine of the SUV. The boat rocked a little as they bumped into the pier and came to a stop at the dock. After another moment’s wait, the front of the ferry pulled down to form a ramp, allowing the eight or so cars on board to exit the ferry single file. On the other side of the road, cars lined up to catch a ride on the ferry back to the mainland. The island off the Outer Banks of North Carolina was a little-known vacation spot, and with only one inn and 2 bed and breakfasts, the number of people visiting the island was strictly limited. Dandier Island had a ferry that only arrived twice a day - at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. making it secluded and cozy. The drive from one end of the island to the other, north to south, was about seven and half miles and from east to west, it was about four and a half. And because they were visiting the timeshare in late summer, her father had been watching the tropics like a hawk to make sure that we wouldn’t be taken by surprise by any tropical storms.

  They drove down the narrow road that skirted right along miles of beach and beach houses. Colby kept a safe distance from Sheriff Wright as they followed him directly to the police station on the island. Once they parked, Colby turned to Emma. “I’ll leave the air conditioner on here while your father and I step inside. It’s just customary to let
the local police know that we’re here and have handguns with us. No reason to upset Gabby and Molly if it will only take a minute.”

  Emma offered him a knowing smile, and Colby hopped out of the SUV with a nod of his head. In the back, Gabby watched her handler through the grate that kept the back of the truck separated from the interior. Molly’s tongue lolled to the side as she watched both Gabby and Colby with interest. Country music played quietly on the radio while the cool air blew across Emma’s arms.

  “Yes I do!” a female voice yelled as the car door slammed next to Emma.

  For the first time since Colby had left the car, the dogs gazes fixed on something different—the woman who’d yelled. Emma blinked at her. She was model-pretty, tall with blonde hair and a pair of designer sunglasses. Her sundress fanned out behind her like she’d just stepped out of a magazine or catalog. The young girl with her cowered a bit, but spoke in low tones and peered around as though checking to see if they were offending anyone. “Shh. It’s a police station. There’s no reason to yell now.”

  “First, you don’t want me to report the incident. Now, you’re trying to keep me quiet. Exactly what kind of friend are you? Don’t you care that we were followed to this island even though it’s supposed to be private?” Slowly the woman’s voice ticked up in volume again.

  From the back seat area, Gabby growled. Emma turned back in her seat and talked to the dogs. “It’s all right, girl. Nothing to worry about. Sit.”

  Gabby’s haunches lowered in response, but she didn’t take her eyes off what she perceived to be a danger. Emma worried that she wouldn’t be able to keep the K9 officer from getting upset, but at the same time, her father and Colby came out of the sheriff’s office and returned to the cars. Relief flooded Emma as she watched the two women who weren’t much older than herself as they made their way into the sheriff’s office.

  Colby leaned forward a bit and peered out the front of the SUV. “Is it just me, or did that woman look a bit familiar?”

  Emma shrugged. “She looked a bit like an actress from one of those blockbuster movies made from the comic books, but with her sunglasses on, I couldn’t say.”

  Colby snapped his fingers. “I think it was her.” He huffed a laugh and shrugged into his seat belt. “They say that some celebrities from New York like to visit this island on occasion. It would be funny if we spotted one, wouldn’t it?”

  “Who knows?” Emma said with a laugh.

  Then the twosome continued down the road, following her father’s SUV to the timeshare house.

  Chapter 2

  At the house, they all settled in. Molly bounded around the room, sniffing all of the furniture while Gabby just watched from where she stood beside Colby, still waiting patiently for any command her partner might give her. Emma smiled at it all. She hoped that someday Molly would mature into a well-behaved therapy dog, but until then, she’d relish every moment of the Saint Bernard’s ephemeral puppyhood.

  Colby grabbed the leashes and handed one to Emma. “Let’s take the dogs for a walk while your dad and Macy go grocery shopping.”

  “Okay!” Emma yelled, excitement building in her chest. Molly woofed in response.

  Footprints and paw prints littered the private beach behind them as they took off their shoes and walked in the wet sand waves left behind. Over an hour later, they returned to the house, happy, content, and exhausted. The dogs lay about the floor, tongues lolling.

  Then Emma’s father arrived from the island grocery store with four bags in each hand and a wide smile on his face. “I got a great deal on some steaks, so it won’t be just burgers and dogs I’m grilling for dinner!”

  Emma couldn’t help but laugh at her father’s excitement. “Isn’t it a bit early for dinner? It’s only three o’clock.”

  “Well, we skipped lunch while we were traveling, and sometimes having an early dinner is good for you.” Her father nodded to Colby. Give me a hand, out back?”

  “Yes, sir,” Colby said with a grin as he hopped up from the couch.

  Macy smiled from behind them. “Emma, will you help me shuck the corn?”

  “Of course,” Emma said before the two of them headed for the kitchen. Once they’d finished getting the side dishes ready, Macy and Emma joined the boys out back on the wide expanse of deck. Just down the hill was the beach and beyond that the great blue ocean. The island had a fantastic view, and Emma wondered how many stars they would see at night once the sun had set.

  “Everyone ready to start with some hotdogs?” the Sheriff asked as he set a plate of hotdogs on the table.

  Macy set to work putting each of the dogs into a bun before setting them back on the plate. Colby reached for one and Emma took another. Then Macy stopped them. “Hold on!” she said, “I just realized that I’d forgotten the condiments.”

  When she opened the door to head back inside, both dogs rushed past her and onto the wooden deck. Emma felt a bit of panic rise as Molly sniffed right at the height of the table. Even though Emma had no doubt that Gabby would behave, she feared that the Saint Bernard puppy wouldn’t be so steadfast in refusing temptation. When Molly’s nose got too close to the plate of hotdogs, Emma said her name in a harsh tone, “Molly!”

  The dog blinked and looked up at Emma then she sat on her haunches, wagged her tail and seemed to give Emma a wide smile. With a point of her finger and an admonishing glare, Emma commanded Molly, and the puppy laid down. Tension Emma didn’t even know was in her shoulders relaxed. And right then, Macy returned with the ketchup and mustard. She blinked at the two dogs. “Oh. Should we put them back inside?”

  Emma shook her head. “I think they’ll be fine now. Thanks for the ketchup.”

  She put a plain flat line of ketchup and mustard on her hotdog and then spooned a bit of relish and onion on the sides. When she peered over at Colby’s dog, she couldn’t help but laugh. “Do you really need that much mustard on it?”

  He shrugged and gave her a half smile. “I like it this way.”

  The two of them laughed together, with Emma wondering if he might have accidentally put that much mustard on his dog, but then he took his first bite and seemed satisfied with his concoction. Mustard remained on the corner of his lip. Her fingers itched with the temptation to wipe it for him, but instead, she just chuckled and pointed to the corner of her own mouth. “You’re such a messy eater.”

  He laughed and wiped the mustard into his mouth with his thumb. The wind picked up and blew a nice afternoon breeze in from across the water.

  Just then, a strange buzzing sound caught Emma’s attention. Both of the dogs who’d been sitting quietly jumped to their feet, their dog tags jingling in response to the sudden movement. Then Emma caught sight of the miniature black drone just as it crashed into Colby’s hotdog. “Whoa,” he cried out as he pulled the hotdog from his face.

  “Sorry! So sorry about that!” a feminine voice called out as a woman with curly red hair tied back in a low ponytail raced up the steps of the deck. “The wind picked up a bit, and I lost control.”

  Colby used two fingers and plucked the four propellered black nano drone from his hotdog. It was small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. He shook his head at the visitor. “No problem. I put a bit too much mustard on this dog anyway,” he said with a chuckle and a wink toward Emma.

  Emma’s heart fluttered at his sudden gesture. She bit down on her lip as she watched him throw away the hotdog and then hand the drone back to the rightful owner with a napkin.

  “Thank you,” the woman said, accepting the drone back and wiping it down. “I was trying to get some arial shots of the island for my YouTube channel. I’m Jenna Jones, anyway.”

  Emma lifted a brow. “Oh, I’ve heard of you. Your YouTube channel’s pretty popular.”

  Jenna, who seemed to be a couple years older than Emma, offered a shy smile. “Thanks. I wasn’t sure anyone over the age of fifteen really would have heard of me.”

  “Don’t be silly,” Colby said. “I don�
��t even watch anything on YouTube, and I’ve heard of you.”

  A pinprick of jealousy stuck into Emma’s heart. Colby was seven years Emma’s senior, and she’d had a crush on him since she was fourteen years old and he first came to work at her father’s office as a Ridgeway deputy. Would he have been more interested in Emma as a woman if she’d been only two or three years younger than him, and pretty, and popular, the way that Jenna was. She let out a slow breath and unclenched her fists. They’d only just met Jenna; why was she feeling this way?

  “You all heard about the lunar eclipse tonight, right? A lot of people are coming to this beach because the moon will be close to the eastern horizon when it comes. Being on one of the most eastern areas of the United States is going to give us a better view than most people have, and because this island has fewer background lights, the sky is going to be gorgeous.” Jenna said as she finished wiping off the drone and scrunching her nose at the mustard as she set the napkin in the trash can.

  “Wow,” Macy said as she stepped up and joined us. “I had no idea that was happening tonight. Right here on the beach?”

  Jenna nodded. “Yep. Well, you all have a lovely lunch. I need to get back to doing my recording.”

  “Are you sure you don’t want to stay for a hotdog?” Emma’s father called out. “We have plenty.”

  “Well, if you’re offering,” Jenna said with a small grin. She had an honest face and kind smile and even though Emma wanted to dislike the woman, she found herself getting along well with the social media influencer anyway. Jenna took the offered hotdog and piled on ketchup and relish, not touching the mustard or onions. “I hate mustard”, she said with a laugh.