Reunion with Murder: A Whisper Ridge Cozy Mystery by Maisie Diamond

Author:Maisie Diamond [Diamond, Maisie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2025-01-29T00:00:00+00:00

13

Hidden Agendas

Sophie moves cautiously down Main Street. Cooper trotting at her side, his sharp eyes scanning every shadow. The chill of early evening wraps around her like a damp shawl. Seeping into her bones despite the picturesque charm of Whisper Ridge. The cobblestones glisten faintly under the dim streetlights. But the beauty of the scene is lost on her. Tension tightens her chest, an invisible thread tugging at her instincts. Someone, or something, is out there.

It’s subtle. A flicker of movement in her periphery. A faint scuff of a shoe that halts when she does. Her heart hammers as she throws a quick glance over her shoulder. Nothing but empty sidewalks and closed storefronts greets her. Still, the feeling won’t leave her, the prickle of unseen eyes, the weight of being watched.

Stop letting your imagination run wild, Sophie, she tells herself. But it’s not her imagination, not this time. She knows the difference. Years of chasing stories others wanted buried have honed her instincts to a fine edge. And right now, they’re screaming at her.

Her grip tightens on Cooper’s leash as he sniffs the air, his ears twitching. “You feel it too, don’t you?” she whispers, her voice barely audible over the breeze. He glances up at her, his tail low, as if to confirm her fears.

Her eyes dart to the warm glow spilling from The Perk’s windows up ahead. Safety. Or at least, the illusion of it. Her feet quicken, the soft padding of Cooper’s paws keeping pace. She ducks inside, her pulse thrumming in her ears.

The moment she crosses the threshold, the change in atmosphere is like stepping into another world. The warm scent of cinnamon and coffee wraps around her like a comforting hug. So starkly different from the biting cold outside. The bell above the door jingles, breaking the spell of her thoughts. For a moment, she just stands there. Letting the familiar coziness wash over her, as if she can shed the unease clinging to her like a second skin.

But even as she exhales and forces herself to relax, her gaze flickers to the window. The street outside is still, the shadows unmoving. Maybe she’d imagined it after all. Or maybe he is still out there, waiting.

“Hey, Soph!” Sadie calls from the corner booth.

Sophie forces a smile and makes her way to the booth. “Hey, Sadie. I, uh… need a breather.”

Sadie frowns. “You okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Sophie hesitates, then leans in closer. “I think someone’s following me.”

Sadie’s expression hardens. “Are you sure?”

“No, but it feels… off. Like I’m being watched. Every time I turn around, there’s nothing there. But I know it’s not my imagination.”

Sadie glances out the window, her brows furrowed. “You need to be careful, Soph. You’re stirring up a lot of dust by asking about Harper.”

“I know,” Sophie sighs, her shoulders sagging. “But I can’t stop now. I’m getting close to something, Sadie. I can feel it.”

Before Sadie can respond, the bell above the door jingles again. Julie strides in, carrying a large cardboard box.

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