Maddy Everton inserted the key into the lock of the house that had once belonged to her sister, Allison. Tears sprang to her eyes. Only a month had passed since Allison’s murder, her body discovered in Lake Misty, and the house already smelled of mildew.
“Don’t worry, little sister. I’ll find out who did this to you.” Maddy headed back to her car to unload the suitcases from the trunk.
When she’d received the call from the Misty Hollow police department that her sister’s body had been discovered, she’d quit her job in Oak Ridge and taken a teaching job in Misty Hollow. She hadn’t thought twice about coming to find out what had happened to Alli.
Who would want to kill such a sweet girl? At twenty-three, her sister had come to this town on a quest for independence. A town where she could forge her own life. The last time Maddy had spoken to her, Alli had been over the moon about her new job at the local library. She’d used her inheritance from their parents to purchase the little two-bedroom house in town that would now be Maddy’s home for however long it took.
She heaved the largest suitcase from the trunk and glanced around. On each side of her was a white house with a wraparound porch. Country charm that belied a town that housed evil. Oh, she knew of the troubles Misty Hollow had had in the past. She’d done her research before coming. Sweet and peaceful, seemingly calm, but this hidden little town could be a cauldron of trouble.
A quick glance at her watch alerted her that she’d arrived later than she’d wanted. That was her, Miss Perpetually Late. Meet the teacher night at the school started in four hours, and she still hadn’t prepared her classroom. She slid the suitcases just inside the front door, then sped to the local elementary school.
“You must be Madison Everton.” A smiling woman a few years older than Maddy pulled a box from Maddy’s trunk. I’m Susan Snodgrass. I also teach fifth grade. You’ll want to check in with the principal and secretary before heading to your room. Meanwhile, I can ask the maintenance man to unload your car for you.”
“Really?” Maddy grinned. “That would be great. I’ve just arrived in town.”
“Wow. You’re really pushing it.”
“Yep.” She rushed into the building, greeted everyone she needed to greet, then got hopelessly lost trying to find her room. “Ah. Room 105.” As promised, all her boxes sat in her room. She wouldn’t have time to set up the room exactly as she wanted it, but she’d make a good effort.
A man in navy-blue coveralls leaned against her door frame. His eyes narrowed. “Everton? You related to the girl the police just found in the lake?”
Maddy stiffened. “I’m her sister. You are?”
“Gene Howard. Site specialist. Welcome to Misty Hollow. I hope you find what you’re looking for. But I also hope you aren’t bringing trouble with you.” Before she could thank him for bringing in her boxes, he left.
Despite his greeting, she didn’t feel welcomed in the slightest. She quickly slid books into bookcases, slapped up a few encouraging posters, and set out a few personal items on her desk. That’s the best she could do. Tomorrow would be more productive as long as meetings didn’t fill up all her time.
“Folks are arriving. You ready?” Susan poked her head into the room.
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” Maddy fought to control her racing heart. She should’ve arrived in town yesterday, but it had taken longer to find a renter for her apartment in Oak Ridge than she’d thought. She took up position outside her classroom door and pasted on a welcoming smile. As a second-year teacher, she knew the drill.
A handsome man strolled the halls. What made him stand out was the fact he didn’t have a student with him. Had the school asked for extra security for that night?
He caught her watching and headed her way. “Hello. You’re new.”
“Maddy Everton.”
A flicker crossed his eyes. “Family to Allison Everton?”
“Her sister.” Maddy hitched her chin. “I’m here to find out what happened to her.”
His smile faded. “That could be very dangerous, ma’am.”
She shrugged, keeping her smile in place as she turned to greet a man and young boy. “Will you be in my class this year? I’m Miss Everton.”
The boy nodded.
“Speak up, Danny.” The man with him placed a hand on the boy’s shoulders. “I’m Ryan Maxwell. This is my nephew, Danny. He lives with me.” His gaze flicked to the other man. “Bundt. I didn’t know you were working tonight.”
“Last minute.” Deputy Bundt smirked. “With you off for this event, we’re left a bit short-handed.”
“Mr. Maxwell, perhaps you and Danny would like to see the room?” she intervened. The tension between the two men could be cut with a chainsaw.
They stepped into her room. Maddy motioned to the seat Danny would be occupying. She’d placed a new notebook and pencil at each desk.
Mr. Maxwell asked the same question everyone else seemed to ask. “You related to Allison Everton?”
Maddy exhaled heavily. “Yes, sir. I’m her sister.” Her gaze clashed with his dark one. “I’m here to find out who killed her.”
~
Was the woman insane? He started to say something to that effect but stopped as Danny glanced their way.
When Danny browsed through the books on the shelf, Ryan lowered his voice. “Your sister was murdered, Miss Everton. Let the police handle finding out what happened.”
“We know what happened.” She crossed her arms. “Someone murdered her after keeping her hidden for a few days, then dumped her in the lake like fish guts.”
A harsh but effective analogy. “If you get in the way of the sheriff’s department, you will be arrested.” He gave her a firm nod, then called for Danny to follow him.
“I think my new teacher will be nice,” his nephew said. “She’s pretty. Don’t you think so?”
Blond ponytail that hung to her waist and flashing hazel eyes? Yes, she was very pretty. She also looked very much like her deceased sister. “I’m sure you’ll like it in Misty Hollow.”
“Won’t you?” Danny glanced up at him. “It’s smaller than Langley. You won’t get shot at as much. I like the mountain and the lake. It’s nice here.”
Ryan ruffled the boy’s hair. “Good point.” Hopefully, the reason Ryan accepted the position with the Misty Hollow sheriff’s office would prove wrong. But with the death of pretty, blond Allison and the circumstances surrounding her death, he didn’t think so.
They ran into Deputy Bundt again when Danny wanted to see the multi-purpose room. The lawman was speaking with a man in blue coveralls. Another man leaned against a far wall, his sharp gaze on everyone that came into the large room.
Where was that man’s kid? Ryan narrowed his eyes, everyone a suspect. Against another wall, someone had set up a long table with cookies and lemonade. Danny made a beeline for the snacks and struck up a conversation with a boy around his age.
The man lounging against the wall looked interested when Miss Everton entered, but the boy Danny spoke to called him, diverting his attention. Ryan shook off his suspicions. The new teacher was beautiful. Every man in the place glanced her way. That didn’t mean one of them was a killer.
Except his belief the killer lived in Misty Hollow had brought Ryan here. He’d bide his time and pray he was wrong.
Miss Everton marched toward Bundt. From her posture, he guessed she was asking questions about the investigation into her sister’s death.
“I’ll be right over here, Danny. You can see me.”
His nephew rolled his eyes. “I’m not a baby.”
“No, you’re not. Sorry for treating you like one.” Ryan joined Bundt and the teacher in time to hear him say he couldn’t divulge that information.
“Miss Everton.” Ryan squared his shoulders. “I understand your drive to find answers, but you should know that the authorities can’t give you much information.”
Her lovely eyes darted from one lawman to the other. “I feel as if I’m being ganged up on.”
He frowned. “How so?”
“Deputy Bundt and I were having a conversation, then you come over and start issuing orders.”
“He is the captain,” Bundt said with a smirk. “I’m the grunt, along with Deputy Miller.”
Ryan knew why the other man disliked him so much. He’d heard how Bundt had been handling the duties of captain before Ryan arrived on the scene. Now, he answered to Ryan, and they’d be spending time together solving the murder of a young woman well-liked by most in Misty Hollow.
“Are you staying in your sister’s house, Miss Everton?” He glanced at the teacher.
“Yes. Please call me Maddy. Everyone does. Only the students will call me Miss Everton.” She tilted her head. “There’s no reason for me to stay anywhere else when my sister’s place is vacant.” A shadow crossed her features. “There might be something there to help me find out who killed her. Isn’t it usually someone who knew the victim?”
“Not necessarily.” Especially if Ryan’s suspicion was right. Serial killers didn’t usually know their victims.
“I’ll let you two argue. Have a nice evening, Miss…Maddy.” Bundt strode from the room.
“Is he the school resource officer?” Maddy asked. “Otherwise, why would law enforcement be here tonight?”
“Nothing better to do.”
She arched a brow. “Things seemed quite hot this time last year.”
“You’ve done your homework.”
“Of course. Then, before that, the sheriff and his present wife had their own adventure. Misty Hollow isn’t the charming small town people think it is.”
“All towns have their share of trouble.” This woman was going to be trouble. He had no doubt.
~
His hands itched to grab the pretty new teacher. But, he’d have to bide his time. He already had a woman to love and three days to convince her to love him back. He’d taken her from the grocery store two hours ago, then came here.
Not to show up on Meet the Teacher Night would look suspicious. Everyone in town came. The start of a new school year was a party to most of them, even those without children in the school. The people of Misty Hollow grabbed at any chance to break the monotony of routine. From his shady spot in the parking lot, he waited and watched until the blond teacher headed for her car. He’d follow her home, watch her go inside, then head to where his new woman waited for him.
- Publisher : Winged Publications
- Publication date : January 2, 2022
- Language : English
- Print length : 240 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1956654194
- ISBN-13 : 978-1956654196