Read Resorting to Murder (A Darcy Sweet Mystery Book 11) Online
Authors: K.J. Emrick
Resorting to Murder (A Darcy Sweet Mystery Book 11) (13 page)
Donnie's smile faded just a bit. "Well, I suppose that's so.
Five people dead, one of them the previous Sheriff, one of them the man who was mayor after my pops. No way to make that sound anything other than horrible. On the other hand, you helped us get rid of a serial killer that had been living in our midst. You helped find that poor boy and rescue him. We owe you a lot."
Around them, officers in different uniforms rushed back and forth. News vans had been parked out on the street for hours. This was a big deal for a sleepy little town, and Darcy had to admit that Donnie was right. Without Jon and Darcy's interference none of it would have happened. JoEllen's son might have died as well. Other people might have fallen victim to the Sheriff's insane killing spree. Probably worst of all, from Donnie's viewpoint
at least, one of the victims might have been him.
"Anyway, the Town Board wants to say thank you," Donnie continued. "We want to extend the use of our ski lodge to you for the rest of the year. Any weekend you want to stay here, just call and let us know. You two are always welcome."
"Three of us, don’t you mean?" Jon asked him. "JoEllen saved my life, sir. You owe as much to her as you do to us."
"Right.
About that." Donnie scrubbed at the back of his neck. "Weird thing. We had the State Police run her name through their system. Now, don't be upset by that. It was just routine as far as their Captain told me. Some interesting things came back, though. Seems JoEllen Meyers is suspected in some very bad things. There's more than a few deaths around her. You two wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"
Darcy shrugged and looked away. Jon's gaze didn't waiver. Bo
th of them wanted to protect JoEllen'ssecret. They owed her a lot.
"You'd have to ask her," was Jon's response.
"I'd love to ask her." Donnie nodded to himself with an uncertain smile. "If I knew where she was. Seems her and her son have both disappeared. They're
gone. Can't imagine why they would have up and run away. Considering what your official written statements say, it doesn't seem like she did anything wrong. I did read them correctly, didn't I?"
"Yes, sir," Darcy and Jon both said at the same time.
"Hmm." The mayor smiled at them again and lifted his hands in a that's-it-then motion. "Guess we'll never know, then. If you guys happen to hear from her can you give her my personal thanks? I doubt this town will ever be the same again. Just hope it changes for the better. You know, Jon, we'll be looking for a new Sheriff. Bear Ridge is a great place to live. Nicer, now that we're rid of that psychopath Rockwood. Maybe you'd consider moving here?"
Letting go of Darcy's hand, Jon stood up. Darcy watched him with a moment's panic. It wouldn't be the first job offer he'd accepted where a promotion was involved. And Sheriff of an entire department, even one this small, would be a great temptation.
He extended his hand out to Mayor Wasson, and they shook.
Darcy sucked in a breath.
"Thanks, Mister Mayor," Jon said, "but I've got a home. Misty Hollow has been good to me. I've got a job there I love, and friends, and I'm going to stay there. With Darcy."
He reached back for her, and she took his hand again
to stand up next to him. She felt like killing him for making her worry like that. At the same time, she couldn't love him any more than she did in that moment.
"I understand," Donnie said to them. "Well. I've got to get back to it. The news people can't get enough of this story, and the Town Board is clamoring for answers, and I've still got to
call my wife and tell her it's time to come home." He winked at Jon. "Nothing like the love of a good woman. Am I right?"
"I couldn't agree more," Jon said to him. They shook hands again, sharing some secret guy moment that Darcy only sort of understood.
After the mayor walked away Darcy turned Jon toward her, looking up into his blue eyes. "So, what were you going to ask me? It seemed kind of important."
"It did?" he teased.
"Well, you mentioned my mother and my sister, so yes it seemed kind of important. Come on, don't leave me in suspense."
He pulled her to him, held her close, and buried his face into her long hair close to her ear. "Darcy Sweet," he whispered, "will you marry me?"
Later, she wouldn't be able to remember what her answer was. Really. She knew she said something clever and witty, and she knew that her heart had never beat so fast in her life. Whatever she said, it came from her heart and her soul, and it meant one simple thing.
Yes.
***
Jon took them out by the back door to avoid the news cameras. A few minutes after that, they were back on the road to the ski lodge and their cabin. They didn't have to leave until tonight to make it back to Misty Hollow by morning and that meant a little more time in the cabin for them.
In the trunk of the car was the box of the books Carson Middlemiss had given Darcy, including the ones he had autographed. It made Darcy sad to think he had died. She was going to fulfil her promise to him and sell the books. She'd set up a display in her bookstore and make sure everyone knew what an amazing author he had been.
She'd be sure the money went to a worthwhile charity.
When Jon parked the car in the parking lot, they took a moment to hold each other and share a few gentle kisses. "We have our whole life to look forward to now," Jon said to her. "What should we do first?"
"Take a nap," she suggested with a tired smile.
"I second that." He reached for the doorhandle and went to open the door.
His cell phone rang, startling them both. He fished it out of his pocket with a long sigh. "Naptime has to wait, I guess. Hello?" he said as he put the phone up to his ear.
Darcy watched him as he listened to the caller. Then he was handing the phone over to her. "She wants to talk to you."
"Who?" she wondered.
He didn't answer. He just waved the phone at her.
Taking it from him, eyeing him suspiciously, Darcy looked at the smartphone's display. The number was blocked. When she put it up to her ear, she hesitated before saying, "Who is this?"
"Darcy. It's me."
JoEllen didn't say her name. She didn't have to. Darcy recognized her voice easily, and she understood immediately why she didn't want to give her name. You never knew who was listening.
"Hi," Darcy said. "It's good to hear your voice. You know
there's people looking for you."
"I do. Kind of the reason I left like I did. Why don't you have a cell phone of your own?"
Some time ago Darcy had gotten rid of her cell phone and never gotten another. It turned out spirits could text message people from the other side. Once they got Darcy's number, they never stopped. Her overage charges had been insane.
"It's a long story," she told JoEllen. "Are we going to see you guys again?"
"Probably not," was the quick answer. "But you never know. Life's funny that way. Right now, we have some things to figure out. Some grief to work through."
Darcy understood that by "we," JoEllen meant her and Connor. The poor kid would have to come to terms with the sad fact that his dad had been killed.
It was a lot for anyone to handle. Probably even more so for a ten year old who had been kidnapped and held in a hole.
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Darcy asked her.
There was a sound like laughter mixed with a sigh from the other end of the call. "You don't think you and Jon have done enough?"
"It was you who saved our lives. We owe you."
"Let's call it even, then. I just wanted to call and say, you know. Thanks."
The call ended before Darcy could say anything more. Still, it left her with a smile and a good feeling inside. Would they ever see JoEllen and Connor again? Only God knew the answer to that one. Darcy had enough to keep herself busy.
For now, she was just looking forward to getting some sleep, and then getting back to Misty Hollow. Back home with Jon.
***
Hi everyone. This is Darcy Sweet.
I hope you enjoyed this story, as well as the other stories in my series.
As you can see, ghost stories are a large part of my life.
How about yours?
The e-mail address I gave Carson Middlemiss in this story really does belong to me. If you have a ghost story to share, I'd like to invite you to send it to me. I'd love to read about your experiences with the other side.
Spirits can be funny, scary, sad, amazing. I've had more than a few brushes with ghosts and the dearly departed. Now it's your turn to tell me what you've seen. You might even see your stories used in one of my books…with your permission, of course.
Anyway, send me an e-mail. I'd love to hear from you.
--End--
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Strongly influenced by authors like James Patterson, Dick Francis, and Nora Roberts, Kathrine
Emrick is an up and coming talent in the writing world. She is a new Kindle author/publisher and brings a variety of experiences and observations to her writing.
Based in Australia, Kathrine has wanted to be an author for the majority of her life and can always be found jotting down daily notes in a journal. Like many authors, she loves to be surrounded by books and is a voracious reader.
In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and volunteering at the local library.
Her goal is to become a bestselling author, regularly producing noteworthy content and engaging in a community of readers and writers.
To find out more please visit the Kathrine's website at
kathrineemrick.com
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