Killer Closet Case: a Danger Cove B&B Mystery (Danger Cove Mysteries Book 6) by Elizabeth Ashby, T. Sue VerSteeg
Authors: Elizabeth Ashby, T. Sue VerSteeg
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Remembering my mother's greeting, I picked up the handset and bubbled, "Thank you for calling the Ocean View Bed & Breakfast. This is Bree speaking. When can we expect you?"
"This is Detective Lester Marshall with the Danger Cove Police Department. Is this Bree Milford?" His voice was gruff and his tone commanding.
"Yes, sir." I snapped into a staunch, upright sitting position, briefly considering a salute with his military-type attitude.
"Have you heard anything from your parents?"
"No, sir. I promise to let you know if they contact me in any way." I relaxed back against the chair a bit.
"We've tried the number you gave us on numerous occasions over the past few hours. There's no answer. You understand how this makes things appear, correct?"
I sat up straight again. "I understand, but—"
"No buts!" he blurted.
"Yes, but!" I barked back. Maybe it was panic, pride, or just plain stubbornness, but I swear I'd never yelled at an officer before.
Mal pulled open the screen door and rushed to the desk, smelling of fresh-cut grass and speckled with clippings. "Are you okay?"
I put a finger in the air, hoping to keep him there until I was done. I cleared my throat and reverted back to a more respectful pitch, responding to the officer. "Anyone who's known them for longer than twenty minutes knows they never have the stupid thing on."
All I got in response was a heavy sigh from each man.
Focusing back on the phone call, I asked, "What about the older couple who sold the place to my folks? I told the officer earlier today about how they started the renovations up there. Has he even looked into them?" I tried to keep confidence in my voice, but panic eked in.
There was another huge sigh, this time just from Detective Marshall. "You're testing my patience, young lady. Not that it's really any of your business, but they've been checked out." I heard shuffling of papers on the other end of the line during his pause. "After speaking with a relative in Southern California, we found out that the previous owners, the Renauds, were in a fatal car accident shortly after moving to San Francisco. I rather doubt they'd have had anything like that in them, anyway. I knew them well when they lived in Danger Cove."
"I'm, um, sorry for your loss. But if you knew my parents, then you'd know they don't have anything like this in them, either. What about the previous construction company?"
"This is the first I'm hearing of another company. Are you sure?" Even with the slight hesitance in his voice, he still managed to sound like a drill sergeant.
"Positive. Well, according to the guy who's doing it now. We discussed it with the other officer this morning."
"I'll have to review his notes. If you provide me with a name or a company, we will look into it. We really need to speak with your parents though. Are we clear?"
"Crystal."
Thinking I was beckoning her, Cristal bellowed from the upstairs bedroom she'd hijacked, "I'll be right down!"
I dropped my forehead to my palm and muttered into the phone, "I'll see what I can come up with and get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your time."
Cristal descended the stairs in an almost slow-motion flourish, tossing her shiny blonde curls over her shoulder with one hand, the other traipsing down her side to accentuate her curves in the skintight zebra-print dress. I was sure everyone in Danger Cove dressed just like her.
Or not, at least now that my mother wasn't here.
I suddenly felt very underdressed in my jeans and Lakers T-shirt. Mal stared as she hit the landing, a goofy smile on his handsome face.
I cleared my throat, but it still took him a good minute or two to glance my way. "Did you need something?" I finally asked, breaking the awkward silence.
He glanced around the room as though he'd just woken up, blinking rapidly and shaking his head like he didn't know where he was and was searching for his answer. "Oh, aye. I heard you yell. Is everything okay?"
"That was the
"This is Detective Lester Marshall with the Danger Cove Police Department. Is this Bree Milford?" His voice was gruff and his tone commanding.
"Yes, sir." I snapped into a staunch, upright sitting position, briefly considering a salute with his military-type attitude.
"Have you heard anything from your parents?"
"No, sir. I promise to let you know if they contact me in any way." I relaxed back against the chair a bit.
"We've tried the number you gave us on numerous occasions over the past few hours. There's no answer. You understand how this makes things appear, correct?"
I sat up straight again. "I understand, but—"
"No buts!" he blurted.
"Yes, but!" I barked back. Maybe it was panic, pride, or just plain stubbornness, but I swear I'd never yelled at an officer before.
Mal pulled open the screen door and rushed to the desk, smelling of fresh-cut grass and speckled with clippings. "Are you okay?"
I put a finger in the air, hoping to keep him there until I was done. I cleared my throat and reverted back to a more respectful pitch, responding to the officer. "Anyone who's known them for longer than twenty minutes knows they never have the stupid thing on."
All I got in response was a heavy sigh from each man.
Focusing back on the phone call, I asked, "What about the older couple who sold the place to my folks? I told the officer earlier today about how they started the renovations up there. Has he even looked into them?" I tried to keep confidence in my voice, but panic eked in.
There was another huge sigh, this time just from Detective Marshall. "You're testing my patience, young lady. Not that it's really any of your business, but they've been checked out." I heard shuffling of papers on the other end of the line during his pause. "After speaking with a relative in Southern California, we found out that the previous owners, the Renauds, were in a fatal car accident shortly after moving to San Francisco. I rather doubt they'd have had anything like that in them, anyway. I knew them well when they lived in Danger Cove."
"I'm, um, sorry for your loss. But if you knew my parents, then you'd know they don't have anything like this in them, either. What about the previous construction company?"
"This is the first I'm hearing of another company. Are you sure?" Even with the slight hesitance in his voice, he still managed to sound like a drill sergeant.
"Positive. Well, according to the guy who's doing it now. We discussed it with the other officer this morning."
"I'll have to review his notes. If you provide me with a name or a company, we will look into it. We really need to speak with your parents though. Are we clear?"
"Crystal."
Thinking I was beckoning her, Cristal bellowed from the upstairs bedroom she'd hijacked, "I'll be right down!"
I dropped my forehead to my palm and muttered into the phone, "I'll see what I can come up with and get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your time."
Cristal descended the stairs in an almost slow-motion flourish, tossing her shiny blonde curls over her shoulder with one hand, the other traipsing down her side to accentuate her curves in the skintight zebra-print dress. I was sure everyone in Danger Cove dressed just like her.
Or not, at least now that my mother wasn't here.
I suddenly felt very underdressed in my jeans and Lakers T-shirt. Mal stared as she hit the landing, a goofy smile on his handsome face.
I cleared my throat, but it still took him a good minute or two to glance my way. "Did you need something?" I finally asked, breaking the awkward silence.
He glanced around the room as though he'd just woken up, blinking rapidly and shaking his head like he didn't know where he was and was searching for his answer. "Oh, aye. I heard you yell. Is everything okay?"
"That was the
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