Ghost On The Coast: An Adeline Island Cozy Mystery by Judith Jackson

Author:Judith Jackson [Jackson, Judith]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Judith Jackson
Published: 2022-05-23T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Charlotte stood up and gestured with the bag. “Have some gummies. I bought lots.”

“No – thanks.” Izzy looked toward the store. “Didn’t this place just open?”

“Yeah, maybe ten days ago. They’re not fully stocked yet, but what they have is top quality.”

Izzy glanced across the street. A blurred, almost translucent version of Aunt Isabelle was out of the car and standing on the curb. An enormous SUV drove slowly down the narrow street, but Aunt Isabelle didn’t appear to see it. She stepped off the curb directly into the car’s path.

“Watch out!” shouted Izzy, waving her arm frantically.

The driver of the SUV slammed to a halt.

Charlotte looked around. “Who are you yelling at?”

The driver wondered the same thing but was a lot angrier about it. “What’s your problem?” she yelled. “You made me spill my coffee.”

Aunt Isabelle reemerged on the other side of the SUV and headed straight for a nearby bench. “Stop making a scene,” she said in a voice that sounded weak and far away. “I can walk through walls. You think a car’s going to hurt me?”

“I’m so sorry,” called Izzy as the SUV drove away. “I thought I saw something in the road.”

Charlotte shot Izzy an alarmed look. “What’s up with you? You asked me if I saw something the other day when we were in your aunt’s kitchen. Maybe that house is cursed. What if you end up as nutty as Isabelle was?”

“Nutty?” spluttered Aunt Isabelle. “Nice way to talk about the recently deceased.”

Izzy tried to ignore her aunt’s rantings. “I’m jumpy because I had a shock a few minutes ago. Chief Bullock and Andrew Abbott went to see Mom. They’re investigating Isabelle’s death as a murder.”

“You’re kidding? Murder by water hemlock?” Charlotte shook her head in bewilderment. “That’s crazy.”

“You haven’t heard the crazy part yet. The chief thinks it could have been us, my family. Sort of a joint venture so I could get my hands on the house.”

“You didn’t even want it.”

“And I want it even less now. I wish I’d told Mr. Abbott to give it to the town.” She glanced over at the bench. Aunt Isabelle had disappeared. “I need to find out who did poison her, preferably before everyone finds out we’re the number one suspects. Rumors are going to start flying soon. Nothing stays secret on Adeline.”

“No one will believe your family was involved. And Andrew is a detective now. He’ll figure it out.”

Izzy quirked an eyebrow. “Not unless he’s changed a lot since high school.”

“He managed to pass his detective exam. He must know something about investigating murders.”

“I’m not going to pin my hopes on it.” Izzy’s eyes drifted to the bag in Charlotte’s hand. “Archie Gardiner was in the store when you were there.”

Charlotte smiled slightly, a smile that quickly turned into a smirk. “Yes, he was.”

“What’s that look?”

Charlotte glanced around to make sure no one could hear her. “There’s a rumor going around that he and Diane ― she owns the store ― are having an affair.

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