Murder and Manuscripts by Stacey Alabaster

Author:Stacey Alabaster [Alabaster, Stacey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fairfield Publishing
Published: 2018-08-08T05:00:00+00:00

13

Claire

Sadie worked as a receptionist in the town’s visitor center. As I paced out front, I tried to think of an excuse to go inside. I wasn’t technically a ‘visitor’ to Eden Bay. I had a lease on an apartment. I’d spent ten years in the town, for crying out loud. And yet I did feel like an outsider.

I finally just pushed the door open and walked in with confidence.

“Oh. Claire.” Well, she didn’t have to be so happy to see me.

I smiled at her—a little coldly, I had to admit, which wasn’t part of the plan—and started leafing through a stack of tourist brochures even though all of this information would have been available online.

“Can I help you with anything?” Sadie asked, putting on an overly fake ‘customer service’ voice.

I returned a smile so wide that it hurt. Boy. Pulled some muscles I rarely ever used there. “I was just wondering…” Something came to me. “If there were any cottages for rent in the area.” I pulled a musing face like the idea had just occurred to me. “You know, the kind that a writer could use to finish a book.”

Sadie took a few moments to adjust her face. “Is this…is this for yourself?” she asked.

“It is, as a matter of fact,” I said, leaning over the counter a little. “I’m writing a book.”

Sadie’s smile grew even wider and faker. “That’s wonderful news. Maybe we should exchange notes sometimes. Seeing as you are a fellow writer.” She tapped her nails on the desk. “So have you tried to find a publisher yet?”

I was going to have to lie if I was going to get her true reaction. “Yes,” I said blatantly. “I have a publisher very interested.” I lowered my voice. “But keep that a secret please. It’s just between the two of us.”

She nodded. “Of course.”

“So,” I said, glancing around. “Do you know of any cottages?”

She hesitated a moment. “There is one really wonderful place, down on the cliffs. I have used it myself a few times. There is something magical about the place. It will inspire you.”

Interesting. Was she talking about Simon’s cottage? “And can you give me a contact detail for this magical place?”

“There’s no official brochure. More of a word of mouth thing.” Again, she hesitated before she reached for her own purse and pulled out a business card. I recognized Simon’s number at bottom before she even handed it to me. Before I could take it, she paused and asked, “So, what is your book about anyway?”

I smiled at her. “It’s a murder mystery,” I said. “About the events that have happened recently here in Eden Bay. I am calling it The Bookshelf.” I took the card and left. As I glanced back over my shoulder, I saw her smile slip.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.