The Girl With The Secret: A Collection Of Riveting Mysteries by Skylar Finn

Author:Skylar Finn [Finn, Skylar]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-02-09T22:00:00+00:00

Day Moon was located in a cute shopping center smack in the middle of suburbia. Mid-priced minivans and crossovers littered the parking lot while the soccer moms who owned them craned their necks to see over the blockade of cop cars around the yoga studio. The entrances to the bakery and the boutique on either side of Day Moon were closed off too.

I parked as close as I could and approached the scene. For anyone else, the flashing lights and crowds of officers might be overwhelming, but a sense of calm stole over me whenever I got a new case. It reminded me I had a purpose.

As I ducked under the crime scene tape, a county officer stepped in my way. “Whoa! Excuse me, miss. This is a crime scene. You can’t be here. It’s not safe for civilians.”

I flashed my badge. “Detective Alex Ryder. I’m working this case. Mind stepping out of the way, Officer?”

He tripped getting out of my way. “I’m so sorry. You don’t look like a detective. You kind of look like one of the moms who keep trying to get in here to see the yoga schedule.”

“Wow, thanks. Keep it tight, Officer. I’m going to go inside and do my job.”

“Yes, sir. I mean—yes, ma’am.”

An argument broke out between Day Moon and the neighboring bakery. Angela, still a part of our patrol division, was attempting to calm down a woman with flour in her pores and batter on her arms.

“I understand your concern, Miss Bailey,” Angela was saying, “but I’m afraid we can’t let anyone into this area until we sweep and clear the crime scene.”

“My bakery isn’t a part of your crime scene.” Miss Bailey’s arms flung flour and dough like vanilla-scented fireworks as she gesticulated her frustration. “I’m losing time and money here. My customers can’t come inside because of all this hubbub. All I’m asking is for you to move the crime scene tape.”

Angela assumed resting cop pose. Shoulder-length stance, hands on her belt, and a practiced air of nonchalance. “I can’t do that, ma’am. I’m sorry, but we have rules.”

Miss Bailey crossed her arms. “Do you plan on reimbursing me for the business I’m losing due to this investigation?”

I stepped between the two women. “I have an idea. When we catch the person responsible for the crime, we’ll bill them for your lost business. Sound good, Miss Bailey?”

She looked me up and down. “Who are you?”

“Detective Alex Ryder,” I said. “You’re officially interfering with a homicide investigation. I could have Officer Pennacchi here arrest you for that. Or would you rather step back inside and let us do our jobs so we can make sure your business isn’t interrupted by other murders in the future?”

Miss Bailey clapped her hands together and sent a cloud of flour up as she disappeared into the bakery like a confectionary magician. Angela let her shoulders slump.

“Thank you,” she said. “I hate working homicide, man. It’s worse than a customer service job.”

“Speaking of which, how’s Jess?”

“She’s fine,” Angela answered.

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