Murder at a Reunion Read online

  Murder at a Reunion

  P. Creeden

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Epilogue

  About the Author

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  Murder at a Reunion © 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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  Chapter 1

  Emma Wright knew she never should have started watching the romantic movie she found while she was surfing through Netflix. It always ended the same way for her. She sat on the couch of her small apartment, hugging a pillow with tears running down her cheeks as the happy couple on the TV found love and got married. By the time they began to say their vows to one another, Emma was a sobbing, blubbering mess.

  But Molly, the Saint Bernard puppy couldn't have that. She rushed over at the first sound of Emma's cries and jumped on the couch with her. The harder that Emma cried, the more Molly tried to come in between Emma and the pillow she held to her chest. Molly wiggled her way in, almost climbing on Emma's shoulder, which she was much too heavy to do at a hundred pounds.

  A groan escaped Emma's lips. “Molly, come on. I'm fine. Look. I stopped crying, okay?”

  She wiped at her face and shut off the television which only displayed the credits of the movie she'd been watching. Molly was hardly convinced, though, and continued to lick Emma's arm in long strokes while she leaned against her. Emma couldn't help but smile. The empathy that Molly showed proved again that the puppy's career of therapy dog was the right choice. As she ran her fingers through Molly's long, thick fur, her heart rate calmed and she could nearly feel the healing in her heart from the dog's loving touch.

  How did people ever live without pets?

  Especially people who lived alone, the way Emma did. As she sighed, her phone trilled against the wooden top of her coffee table. But the more Emma tried to lean to get the phone, the more Molly leaned back, pinning her to the couch. She struggled under the weight of the Saint Bernard, and Molly decided it was a game and wiggled on top of Emma. It brought a bubble of laughter up from Emma's chest, and soon she was laughing so hard that tears leaked from her eyes again.

  The phone stopped ringing before she could answer it.

  With a sigh, Emma succumbed to her dog's weight and just lay, flat out on the couch while Molly continued to lay atop of her, panting. Moment's later, a knock sounded on the door. And with that, Molly finally jumped off the coach and freed Emma.

  “Finally,” she cried out. Relishing in the comfort of having the huge weight off of her chest--literally. She hopped up from the couch and swiped her phone off the tabletop. As she headed toward her door, she clicked the home button on her phone to see who had called. Her heart stuttered in her chest when Colby's name came up.

  Colby Donaldson, the hot K9 officer and sheriff's deputy, had been Emma's crush since she was fourteen years old. For six... almost seven long years, she'd been pining for the one man who treated her like a kid sister rather than a potential girlfriend. She prepared to call Colby back when the knock sounded at her door again. Molly stood in front of the apartment doorway with her tail wagging back and forth like a large white flag.

  After putting the phone in her pocket, Emma made a mental note to call Colby back later and called out toward the door, “Coming!”

  A moment later, she pulled open the door only to have her heart nearly stop in her chest as her stomach twisted. Colby Donaldson stood on the upper deck over the cafe below, his back turned toward the doorway as he looked out over the railing. His dark hair was covered with a K9 officer cap. His hands remained in the pockets of his jeans, and the navy blue polo shirt he wore told her that he wasn't on duty today.

  She swallowed down the lump that had formed in her throat. “Colby?”

  He turned toward her and flashed that killer smile of his, a dimple appearing on his left cheek. “Emma! I wasn't sure if you'd be home, since you didn't answer your phone.”

  Then his eyes traveled down her form with a look of amusement growing on his features. Suddenly, Emma became acutely aware of the way she must have looked. She'd been wearing a tank top and boxer shorts. Her long brown had been pulled up in a messy bun, and she wore no make up. What if her eyes were red from sobbing a moment before? One of her arms crossed over her chest as she realized she wasn't even wearing a bra. The urge to hide struck her and she pushed the door partly closed.

  But Molly nudged it open and rushed out onto the deck, rubbing her side against Colby like a giant cat and then looking up into his face with her droopy smile. Immediately, Colby laughed and knelt down toward her, scratching her a bit behind the ears. “Good girl, Molly. It's good to see you too.”

  After a moment of letting him sweet talk the puppy, Emma finally asked, “Is there something you need, Colby? Why did you call?”

  Looking a bit chagrined, he stood slowly and rubbed the back of his neck. “Actually I came to ask you a huge favor.”

  She furrowed her brow at him. “Really? What's that?”

  “Do you have any plans tonight?”

  Her eyes went wide as her heart leapt. Was Colby really going to ask her out?

  “Umm... No,” she said in barely more than an exhale. “I don't have any plans tonight.”

  “I hate to ask,” Colby said, avoiding her gaze just a bit as he looked down toward her bare feet.

  Out of shyness, she covered one foot with the other. Was he noticing that she'd painted every other toe a different color out of boredom the other day?

  Colby sighed and looked up at her, meeting her eyes. “I need a date for my tenth high school reunion. Would you go with me?”

  In the back of Emma's mind, it felt as though angels were singing. In her ears, she only heard ringing. But her lips remained silent, because she couldn't really believe what she'd just heard. After all this time, Colby Donaldson was, in fact, asking Emma out on a date.

  Chapter 2

  But Emma only stood there in the doorway speechless. What could she say when the only words she could think of were “Are you for real?” Was there a catch? How was it that Colby was showing up on her doorstep suddenly and asking her out? She gaped at him.

  Finally, he looked up at her again, his eyes filled with uncertainty. “I know it's last minute, since the reunion is tomorrow. But it's a party at the hotel, and I don't want to miss it, but everyone is expected to bring a 'plus one.' For most, that means a wife or a girlfriend. But since I don't really have either one, I wanted to ask you. As a friend.”

 
And there it was.

  The last three words Colby said pierced Emma's heart. As a friend. Of course that was what he meant. What else could he have possibly meant? She huffed a laugh, suddenly feeling embarassed for taking the offer as seriously as she did. She offered him a self-depricating smile. “Of course. I'll be your date. I don't have any other plans for tomorrow.”

  Her words were shaky, but she tried to keep her disappointment out of them. The last thing she wanted to do was make Colby feel bad for asking. He shouldn't. They were friends, and she would do anything to support him. It wasn't his fault that she wanted something more. That she hoped their friendship would blossom into something where he would call her his girlfriend... or wife. Her heart leapt at the thought, but she needed to calm herself. She was getting way too far ahead of where they were now. Right now she needed to keep her mind on track with what Colby actually needed.

  “Thank you so much, Emma,” Colby said with a wide smile. “I knew I could count on you.”

  His smile and words were like a balm to her heart. Even though her feelings were still hurting, his words soothed her. She could contiue to love him like this if she had to. She sighed. “What should I wear? Is it casual, formal... semi formal?”

  “I think you could just wear whatever you would to a nice restaurant. A dress or something.” Colby shook his head, wrinkles forming in his brow. “I really don't know. I'm wearing a suit.”

  She nodded. “I've got a simple black dress I could wear. I'll get my hair and makeup done.”

  “You wear makeup?” he asked, raising a brow.

  A smirk ticked up her lip. “Occasionally.”

  He shrugged. “I guess I never noticed before.”

  “That's kind of the point in makeup, right?” she asked with a laugh. “You're not really supposed to notice it much.”

  He laughed with her. “That's true.”

  “So what time are you picking me up? Or should I meet you?”

  He shook his head. “I'll pick you up here at five-thirty tomorrow night, if that's good? The reunion and dinner is at the hotel restaurant and ballroom at six.”

  “Okay,” she said, nodding, but her mind was already busy making a list of the things she'd need to get done beforehand. “Would you like to come in?”

  His eyes went wide for a tic and then he shook his head. “No. I really should go. I'm supposed to meet with your father.”

  Even though his words said he was leaving, Colby stood on the raised deck outside and lingered. His eyes searched hers and made her feel that he would really liked to have come in and take her up on the offer. She wasn't sure how to read his reaction. Her heart rate sped up as she looked at him and she found herself holding her breath. Lately, he'd been showing her more affection than he'd had in the past. But he was holding himself back. She could tell that he was. If only there was some way to encourage Colby to stop holding back. But she couldn't think of anything she could do that might not also drive him away.

  “All right then,” he finally said, taking a step away. “I'll see you tomorrow night then.”

  Emma let out the breath she'd been holding. “All right. Tomorrow night.”

  Then she watched Colby hop down the steps toward his K9 unit SUV, where Gabby stood, looking out the back window. Molly snuggled up against Emma's leg. Absentmindedly, Emma scratched the puppy behind her ears. After Colby opened his driver's side door, he peered up toward her and waved just before ducking into his vehicle. His genuine smile warmed Emma right down to her toes. She'd fallen so hard for her school-girl crush, that she didn't ever even think about other men. If only Colby could see her the same way.

  Emma really wanted everything to be perfect, so she chose a long, black maxi dress that she'd never had a chance to wear, and then had her hair and makeup done at the beauty salon in the mall downstairs from her apartment. At a little after five p.m. she stood in front of her fridge in that black dress and heels, wanting to eat something light before dinner so she wouldn't get hungry later, but was also afraid that she'd look bloated in her dress. Molly's nails clacked across the kitchen floor as she approached.

  Over the top of the fridge door, Emma eyed her. “I know you want cuddles, but you're going to have to keep your distance right now. Colby will be here soon and the last thing I need to do is worry about long white hairs all over my black dress.”

  Molly whined in response.

  Emma closed the fridge door and sighed, then bent down and called the puppy over. Happily, Molly crawled across the floor and then rolled on her back, exposing her belly. Emma couldn't help but snuggle her. “Fine. I love you, and who could resist that pouty face? I guess that's what lint-rollers were made for, right?”

  She let out a laugh as Molly licked her exposed toes.

  Just then, a knock sounded at her door. She glanced at the clock on the microwave, and saw that it was only five-fifteen. Even though it was a bit early, she'd never known Colby Davidson to be late for anything, and knew that he was often a bit early. She called out toward the door as she stood, “Hold on a moment! I'm coming.”

  Molly remained on the floor looking up at her, still confused as to why Emma looked and behaved so differently from the way she normally did. Taking a deep breath, Emma grabbed the lint roller out of the basket to the side of the doorway. Quickly, she ran it over her skirt, watching the little white hairs disappear off her front and sides. She'd had her father install a full length mirror in the small closet next to the doorway where she hung her coats. After turning around and glancing at herself over her shoulder, Emma was assured that she didn't have further white hairs on her backside. Letting out a slow breath, she slipped into her high heels and opened the door.

  Colby stood there, peering toward his car, in a sharp navy suit and tie. His hair was brushed back off his forehead and styled differently than the ball cap or boyish look he had day to day. Emma's heart stuttered in her chest. She'd never seen him dressed so nicely... not even for her father's wedding. Then he turned toward her slowly, his eyes going wide and jaw dropping as he looked her up and down. Heat rushed to her cheeks at his perusal of her. Then that dimple appeared in his cheek as he smiled wide and met her eyes. “I've never seen you look more beautiful, Emma.”

  Chapter 3

  Molly rushed past Emma, out the door, and wiggled around Colby's legs. He smiled down at the pup and pat her on the top of her head. Even though Emma loved the affection that the two showed for each other, right then, all that she could think about were the white hairs that were sticking to Colby's pants legs. She reached over into her side table basket and pulled out the lint roller, then she stuck it into the small bag she was taking with her. It certainly wouldn't hurt to be prepared for anything.

  “I still need to take Molly over to my dad's house,” I said with a tilt of my head. “Sorry I hadn't been able to make it there yet.”

  “No problem,” Colby answered with a nod. Then he reached out a hand to help her down the last few steps.

  When she placed her hand in his a tingle ran up her arm like a jolt of electricity from the light touch of his skin. She swallowed hard. It wasn’t like they’d never touched before, but somehow, this time, her nerves were especially sensitive to his nearness. Everything felt different somehow. And yet, it felt so perfect. Was it really okay for her to think of this as her first date with him?

  When she reached the bottom step and sidewalk, he released her hand and took Molly’s leash from her. Then he stepped over toward the SUV and opened the passenger door for her. He didn’t normally do that. Today definitely felt different.

  “I’ll put Molly in the back with Gabby,” he said as she settled into the front seat of the SUV. “Be back in a minute.”

  He closed the door gently and then started to the back of the vehicle. Emma could hardly keep her eyes off of him. He looked dashing today instead of just handsome. And when he wasn’t looking at her, it was easier to study the lines of his face and the way he’d done his hair. She turned a bit
in her seat to watch him while he worked with the dogs in the back. After a moment, of patting them both on the head, he closed the hatch and came around to the driver’s side door. The whole time, Emma’s gaze followed him.

  When he opened the car door, he smiled at her again. “I’m taking Gabby over to your father’s too. He promised to watch her for the night as well. I’m sure she and Molly will have a great time playing this evening.”

  Emma returned his smile and nodded. “I’m sure they will.”

  Soft country music played on the radio once he started the SUV and soon he was backing out and heading for the main road. The silence between them had always felt comfortable before, but this time, it felt heavy and oppressive. Not quite awkward, but not as relaxed as usual.

  Emma sighed. “So, why did you need a date tonight all of a sudden?”

  He peered over at her and gave her a shy half-smile. “I’m sorry to say that it was because of a threat posted on social media. The head of the reunion committee threatened to play matchmaker with anyone who came without a date.”

  Huffing a laugh, Emma shook her head. “You’re not interested in being matched with anyone from your class?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. I’m really not interested in being matched with anyone at all. I don’t want to spend the evening trying to make awkward conversation with someone I knew a decade ago. I know I’ve changed a lot in the past ten years. I’m sure everyone else has, too. I’d rather just relax and have fun with old friends rather than worrying about the feelings of a blind date.”

  “What made you ask me?” It was the question she’d been dying to ask since he’d invited her to come with her.