Mystic Lies: A Paranormal Cozy Mystery by Cindy Stark

Author:Cindy Stark [Stark, Cindy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blackberry Publishing
Published: 2025-01-16T00:00:00+00:00

Fourteen

Ashort time later, Nick, Butternut, and I left the inn and headed to my car. The morning sun turned the red rocks behind the hotel to burning copper, giving me a show of one of my favorite things about living in Mystic. If we weren’t dealing with a murder investigation, it would have been a great start to a beautiful day.

Nick and I walked hand-in-hand through the parking lot, maintaining our cover, while he carried Butternut in the crook of his free arm. His warm grip sent tingles through me, and I tried to ignore how natural it felt to have my fingers laced with his.

Once we were inside with the doors closed, I turned to him. “That was intense.”

Nick’s expression was thoughtful as he secured his seatbelt. “And revealing. Carlos practically accused Erica of being involved in both David’s death and Maria’s murder.”

I started my car and put it into reverse, the gravel crunching under my tires as I backed up. “What do you make of that comment about Maria finding something in the wine cellar? That was a little eerie. Do you think that’s what got her killed?”

He shook his head slowly, sunlight playing across his features. “I don’t know. But I’ll look deeper into David’s accident while I’m at the station today. I wouldn’t have guessed their deaths could be connected, but maybe there’s more to the story.”

The morning heat had begun to build, creating shimmering waves above the pavement when I pulled up to the police station. I’d already decided my next move would be to talk to Jenna, who knew just about everyone in town, but I wasn’t ready to confess that just yet. “I guess I’ll see you this afternoon.”

Nick opened his door, but paused before getting out. The concern in his eyes made my heart skip. “Stay out of trouble, Kalie. Focus on your work. Keep a low profile. We’ll talk when you pick me up later.”

I rolled my eyes as I watched him walk into the station, disappearing from sight, but not my thoughts. He was so bossy. I had no clue how I was supposed to manage the stress of being near him for several more days.

The sound of my engine mixed with Butternut’s purr as I pulled away from the curb, and she settled more comfortably in my lap. He does care about you.

Once again, I chose not to respond to her observation. We had a mystery to solve, and I couldn’t let my confusing feelings for Nick distract me.

But as I drove toward the Mystic Shopping Village, it was hard to ignore the warmth lingering inside me from when he’d held my hand.

***

Being back in familiar surroundings bolstered me as I walked through the nearly empty Mystic Village Shopping Center. Butternut cuddled in the crook of my arm as I headed for Blissful Brews, seeming happy to be back in our territory, too. The breakfast confrontation between Carlos and Erica had revealed layers of tension I hadn’t expected, and I needed my best friend’s perspective to help make sense of it all.

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