A Twisted Fate (An East Pender Cozy Mystery Book 3) Read online

  A Twisted Fate

  An East Pender Mystery Series Book 3

  Leona Fox

  Contents

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Copyright © 2016 by Leona Fox

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Chapter 1

  It was a warm summer's day in the town of East Pender. The sun was shining high in the sky and the temperature was the kind where all anyone wanted to do was sit outside on a porch and drink lemonade. The town, which already had a lazy haze, seemed even quieter than usual as people went about their business in a sleepy manner. The sun seemed to drain the energy out of everyone. Its golden hue shone over the houses and sapped the strength of everyone in the town, including Ellen, who was usually one of the town's most active people. She had been trying to stick to her strict exercise routine all year as it had been one of her New Year's resolutions, which always lasted a few months. This year she was determined to see it through and finally have a resolution that lasted the whole year.

  The winter months had been tough because East Pender had a sharp chill to it, a biting cold that somehow made its way through the thick layers that Ellen wore. This also had the extra effect of making her sweat more, which had led to her losing weight. Everyone in the town came up to her with worried looks, telling her she looked as thin as a skeleton and that she should put on more weight. Ellen wondered when it had become okay to come up to someone and tell them they were too skinny, when if that person had told someone they were too fat there would have been an outcry. But she endured it nonetheless and replied with a forced, polite smile that she had everything under control. The truth was she always had been blessed with a fast metabolism and an endomorphic body so she had never been what anyone would have termed as 'fat.' However, now that she was in her mid-40s it was not difficult to put a little weight back on.

  Mostly she was running for fitness’ sake, and just to keep in better shape. She knew the older she got the more she would have to work to remain active and it was better to start earlier so she was used to it. She had seen too many people relax and end up drifting away in their later years, as though they were simply too exhausted to live anymore. She did not want that fate to befall her. Her mind was too busy and always inquisitive, and she knew it would be hell if her body could not keep up. But there was another reason as well. Ever since she had begun her life as an amateur detective she realized how important it was to keep in a good state of physical fitness. Often she found herself having to chase someone or stay alert for long periods of time and the last thing she wanted to do was run out of breath or concentration. A healthy body equaled a healthy mind and she prided herself on having both working at optimum capacity. Running also gave her an opportunity to work through her thoughts.

  East Pender was a small town, a quiet town, and it afforded her the chance for solitude when she needed it. Had she still lived in the city she most likely would have had to listen to music to try escaping the cacophony of the city's concert but here the ambient noise was peaceful and serene. Although, on this particular occasion she did not have anything to work through because things had been quiet for a while and there had been no cases for her to work on. On the one hand, this made her glad, for it meant people were behaving themselves. On the other hand, it meant she was at a loose end and there were only so many crossword puzzles she could do.

  But at least she had Scampy, and he provided much encouragement, managing to keep pace with Ellen. Somehow she always felt as though she needed to give it that little extra when he was around. It was also beneficial to him as well, because the little black dog was the recipient of many treats in the cafe, despite Ellen's efforts to dissuade people from giving them to him. Everyone was too soft in the heart, Ellen thought, but she always thought it with a smile because she was glad everyone had taken to her dog. In some ways she always was surprised Scampy still stuck with her because animals usually never liked her. Even fish seemed to swim away from her, but that little dog had been the most loyal friend ever since she had taken him in after his original master had been the victim of a heinous crime.

  He looked at her with his big brown eyes and his pink tongue lolling out. His little head tilted to the side expectantly, and Ellen looked at him with weariness.

  “You know it's far too hot to go for a run. You'll overheat,” she said, trying to reason with the dog, who only continued to stare at her.

  Ellen tried arguing with him again but she was arguing against herself. So, although she was hot and sticky, she threw on her running outfit, stretched, and ventured outside. After just her first step into the furnace she knew it was not going to be a day for running. Only going down the street made her sweat and by the time she had reached the middle of town she had used half her water and she was panting heavily, as was Scampy.

  “I told you,” she said, and took a detour into the park.

  The park was looking lush and beautiful in the summer, almost radiant. The grass and trees were deep green and all the flowers were in a bloom, presenting a rainbow for everyone to feast their eyes on. Earlier in the summer a traveling troupe had come through town and put on a few shows for the community, which had gone over with great praise. The shows often went on until late into the night because it was so hot people had trouble falling asleep anyway, and it was a sad day when they had to move on. A few creative types in the town had tried flexing their own theatrical muscles and putting on their own performances but they hadn't gone over as well, and soon petered out. But there had been other events such as huge picnics and concerts put on by the old boys with their brass trumpets. As she watched that with Andy she had to smile and laugh because it felt as though she had traveled back in time, and it was wonderful. It was the kind of thing she never would have seen in the city.

  The park also had been alive with people playing and generally enjoying the summer weather, mostly because they knew it would not last. The book club, led by Jack, often met under a shady tree to discuss the latest book they were reading. Although Ellen never had made a point of joining them she always thought it looked interesting. Perhaps the only downside of it being so hot was the demand for hot drinks went down, and Ellen had to start stocking more ice cream and serving iced tea and lemonade, which always was needed. She had fans running all day as well and people often came into her cafe for a respite from the heat, although it was only a momentary one because the heat never left. Sometimes it was stifling and seemed like an overbearing presence, while at other times it was like a comforting companion, and the mood seemed to shift during the course of the day. Right now, while she was trying in vain to keep a steady pace, it felt like the former and the pressure was just too much for her to continue.

  In the end she gave up completely and made her way to the soft green grass where she lay under a tree, stretched out her limbs, and gazed up at the clear blue sky overhead. Scampy nuzzled into her, trying to get her to move but she moaned and groaned and eventually the small yapping beast gave up and settled by her side. She knew Andy would be disappointed in her not sticking to her routine, for the police chief had a great sense of self-discipline, he needed it for his job. She knew he still had been exercising, ev
en in this heat, although how he powered through she did not know.

  Her best friend Kelly, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. All summer she had been wearing thin, flowing dresses and wide-brimmed hats, acting as though the heatwave was the most dreadful thing ever to have happened. Ellen swore she was starting to speak with a Southern drawl and acting like an Alabama housewife. She claimed it was too hot to work or do anything. Ellen wondered just how she was managing to survive when she hadn't sold a painting the entire season. Whenever she asked about it Kelly would smile at her with faint amusement but never would answer the question. Ellen didn't know if there was a deeper mystery at play or if Kelly simply was being mischievous. Either way, the result was she had become a virtual recluse. Even when she had ventured outside it was such an ordeal to be around her that Ellen hadn't seen much of her during the summer.

  Now that she thought about it, she realized how much she had missed being around Kelly. The two of them were so close and had spent so much time together they were more like sisters than friends, which was an incredible feat since Ellen only had known her since she had moved back to East Pender. It felt like she had known Kelly her whole life, and couldn't imagine her world without her. Working together on cases strengthened their bond and Kelly often had insightful things to add. Her creative instincts allowed her to see things from a different angle, and Ellen was grateful for her help.

  While she lay in the sun, Ellen thought back to some of the cases she had been involved in and almost couldn't believe that the events had happened to her. Most people thought living in the big city was dangerous and that the streets were filled with crime and littered with empty bullet casings after violent gang wars occurred. Actually, her life in the city had been mostly uneventful. In some ways she only considered her adult life to have begun when she had returned to East Pender. That was strange because it seemed as though she had wasted a lot of time in her life, but she was so happy and fulfilled now that it all seemed worthwhile.

  As she thought back to her time in the city she thought about the people she knew there and wondered how they were doing and if any of them had thought of her or if she had just turned into a faded memory. She had considered herself close to only a few people, and when she had returned home she promised them she would come back to visit. They, in turn, had promised to travel to East Pender, but it never had transpired. Was friendship really all that shallow, and only based on location? She tried imagining what would happen if either she or Kelly moved away. Would they make the effort to visit each other? Ellen liked to think so, but the problem with East Pender was that it was so much like a bubble that it was easy to forget about the outside world.

  For a long time Ellen lay there, letting her thoughts drift from the past to the future and back again, crossing over the present on the way. She sighed softly, for she was pleased with her life and how comfortable it had become. She didn't have to struggle for money and she had some good strong relationships with Andy and Kelly, and Scampy, too, she thought, as she cracked her eyes open and looked at the dog. She reached over to scratch behind his ear and smiled as he panted in happiness. She poured out the last bit of water in her bottle into her hands and let him lap it up, smiling as the feeling of his tongue tickled her palm. But she, too, was thirsty and her throat was sore and dry and craving some cool liquid refreshment.

  It took a tremendous effort but she pushed herself up from the grass and trudged over to the winding concrete path that slalomed through the park. She followed it to the huge fountain that was the centerpiece of the entire area. It was an ornate carved fountain with a number of intricate designs and patterns to it, and the crystal water flowed freely for anyone to drink. Sitting on the bottom of the fountain were a number of coins, all tossed in as people made wishes.

  Ellen sat on the edge of the fountain and patted the side to indicate for Scampy to jump up as well. He leaned over and lapped up the water. His legs strained so much Ellen was afraid he would fall in, although she had to admit to herself it would have been amusing had he done so. She held her bottle into the water until it filled up, then took some long gulps before filling it up again. The water trickled down her jaws and her top, and the feeling of it was refreshing. She wiped it away and breathed in deeply as she looked at the peaceful scenery around her. Even though it was the middle of the morning there were only a few other people around and all of them seemed to be minding their own business.

  When she got up, Ellen dug around in her pockets and pulled out a coin. She wasn't superstitious at all but sometimes there was no harm in it, so she tossed a coin in the water and made a wish. The coin landed with a soft plop and sank to the bottom of the fountain.

  “Oh my God?! What?!”

  Ellen's head twisted around to see a girl sitting on a bench with a phone glued to her ear. Her face was drawn with worry and she was sitting hunched forward. Her feet were tapping against the ground and her fingers were playing with her hair in a nervous manner. Ellen continued watching her as the girl, who Ellen estimated to be in her early 20s, so really she wasn't a girl at all but now that Ellen had reached middle age she had formed the unfortunate habit of referring to anyone under thirty as 'boy' or girl', ended the call and sat with a stark look on her face. Her eyes were wide with terror as though she had just received news of something that she simply couldn't believe, and she seemed to be trapped there, frozen, unable to move.

  Ellen approached her quietly and spoke softly.

  “Excuse me, are you alright?” she asked, but the girl appeared to be in a trance and did not answer Ellen.

  So she tentatively reached out a hand and jostled the young girl's shoulder. This was successful in easing her out of her trance and she turned her eyes to Ellen.

  “Are you okay?” Ellen repeated.

  “I...I don't know,” the girl said, and moved her gaze back to the ground. Ellen pressed her lips together and took a seat beside her.

  “What's wrong? Do you need help? Or someone to talk to?”

  “No it...it's my friend. I was supposed to meet her here about an hour ago but she never showed up. She's always like this. I mean, she's always late. So I didn't think anything of it but then I started to get worried because she's never this late and she wasn't answering her phone.”

  “Was that her on the phone? Is she in trouble?” Ellen asked, her own voice starting to sound worried. She knew things had been too quiet in East Pender recently.

  “No, I mean, yes I think she's in trouble but that wasn't her on the phone. That was our other friend. I asked her to go check on Ella but she just called and said that the front door has been kicked in. I mean, it's terrible. What could have happened? Who could have done this?” she said, and as she did so her voice cracked and her eyes filled with tears.

  Ellen placed a hand around her shoulder and told her that it was going to be okay, that she was going to go over there with her and check it out and that she knew someone who could help. As she cradled the girl's trembling body against her she called Andy.

  “I've just run into a girl in the park, I think there's something you should come and see...apparently her friend Ella has had her door kicked in. We're going over there now to check it out,” she said. Then asked the girl for the address, which Ellen passed over to Andy, who readily agreed to meet them.

  Ellen hung up the phone and coaxed the girl away from the bench, then ventured out of the park with a grim look on her face. Everything was so peaceful and beautiful, but there was a malevolent darkness lurking beneath the calm veneer. It was only ever a matter of time before it reared its ugly head, and now Ellen was called into action once again.

  Chapter 2

  As they walked out of the park and onto the main road of the town Ellen tried to comfort the young girl, who seemed shaken.

  “What's your name?” Ellen asked.

  “I'm Beatrice,” she replied, her voice still wavering.

  “I'm Ellen, and I'm sorry if this sounds rude but I don't
recognize you. Are you from around here?”

  “I'm just visiting my grandparents for the summer, Joan and Don,” she said, and immediately Ellen knew who she was.

  “Ohhh, you're Bea?!” she exclaimed, and Beatrice looked a little embarrassed. “They go on about you all the time. Aren't you some hotshot designer or something?”

  “Something like that although, well, I'm taking some time out at the moment. That's why I'm here. I thought I'd escape the city life for a little while. It got to be a little overwhelming.”

  “I know what you mean. I used to live there myself.”

  “Do you ever miss it?”

  “Sometimes, but only occasionally. I don't think I ever could live there again after spending so much time here. What about you, are you going back after the summer is over?”

  “I guess so. I know I should I just...Well, it's complicated.”

  “Let me guess, there's a man involved?”

  “How did you...?” Beatrice gasped.

  Ellen smirked. “There's usually a man involved.”

  “Yeah, he was someone I worked with, well, worked under, and it just...oh, I don't know. The stupid thing is I came here to clear my head but it only made things more muddled. I just don't know anything anymore. I had all my ducks in a row and then he had to go and mess them up and I don't know where I'm going anymore. And now Ella is...is...I don't know. I just don't know anything.”

  Ellen looked at her with great pity and her heart went out to her. She wished she had some magic words to make everything better but the simple fact was nothing she said could soothe the internal anguish that plagued the young girl. Instead, Ellen tried to keep her talking to at least show her she didn't have to get lost in her thoughts.

  “And how did you know Ella? Did you just meet her since you've been here?”