Deadly Start by Clark Nefri (summer beach reads .txt) 📕

nephew has been staying with me with his friend. I don’t know why they would, but I’m terribly sorry to say they were stealing from our town.”

“Your nephew?” Abbie walked to Glenys. Darcy was close behind. “That’s so awful for you. Are you alright?”

Glenys burst into tears and Abbie put an arm around her shoulders.

“See, knew they had nothing to do with it.”

Charlotte hadn’t seen Rosie approach and quickly wiped away some moisture that had strangely appeared on her own face. Even Rosie’s eyes were suspiciously bright.

“You sing well.” Charlotte said.

“Me? I’m in the local choir. So is Lewis. And wasn’t that an inspired choice of song to show the Forests how much we love them?”

Inspired indeed. Rosie and Lewis are a good team.

“There’s something I need to tell you, Rosie.” Might as well get it over with and hope the Christmas spirit was going to keep Rosie from having a melt-down.

“Shall we get a drink and food while you tell me? I haven’t had anything since lunch.”

The opportunity passed as more carols were sung and people mingled, ate, and laughed. Darcy and Abbie were the happiest Charlotte had ever seen and even Glenys, although sad, sang along a couple of times. Lachie talked to everyone.

“Does your tree require my expertness to see if it’s an alien?” he asked Charlotte. “If it is, we can call for help. But no returns.”

“But I bought a tree. So, if it is an alien, I might want my money back.”

“No returns, ma’am. That’s the rules.” He ran off to speak to Rosie.

“Charlie?” Abbie leaned a hand on a table, rubbing her back.

“Are you okay? Not going into labour?”

Abbie laughed. “Better not. January baby not a Christmas one. No, just tired and I’m going to bed soon.” She took Charlotte’s hand. “You’re incredible. You made this happen.”

“Hardly. Just made a suggestion.”

“Uh huh. And worked out who the Christmas tree thief is. And gave us this beautiful evening. We’ve been struggling since we moved in.” Her smile faded. “Darcy’s father left things in a mess and with the town against us…well, we didn’t know what to do.”

“The town is behind you now. The three of you can do anything.”

“Oh, what’s happening now?” Abbie looked past Charlotte to the driveway.

Sid’s patrol car, lights flashing, drove into the carpark and pulled up. Charlotte knew he’d come for her. After her antics in the trees, he probably believed she had a gun on her and was going to arrest her in front of everyone. Great timing.

He climbed out. Wearing a Christmas hat. There were a few giggles as he strutted around the door to the backseat.

“Aren’t you lot missing someone?”

With a flourish he opened the door.

“Santa!” Lachie squealed and ran toward the man in the red suit.

“Merry Christmas!” Santa rang a bell as Sid dragged out a large sack from the seat. “Santa’s here with some presents. Now, who’s been nice?”

Santa was led to a stool that Lewis had grabbed from the minibus. Was there nothing he didn’t have lying around? Sid carried the sack over and placed it on the ground, then headed back to the patrol car to turn off the lights.

Charlotte stood back. This was why Sid was here? Was there really a heart beating under all the rudeness and bravado?

“Don’t imagine I’ve forgotten about you, missy.”

She jumped. How had he snuck up on her?

“No idea why Hank was so scared of you. Helped, though.”

“Have they told you why they did it?”

“Both insist they were hired anonymously and paid in cash left at an agreed point.”

“There has to be more to it.”

Sid scowled. “Not your problem.”

“You’re welcome.”

He grunted. “I don’t trust you, doctor.”

Feeling’s mutual.

Santa extracted the baby hamper from his sack and Abbie was again in tears. Darcy grinned at Charlotte and she shook her head with a smile, pointing to Rosie.

“You’ve done a good thing here, missy. But don’t let it go to your head.” Sid leaned closer and Charlotte wrinkled her nose. “Gonna find out exactly what made you come to my town. And what you left behind. Merry Christmas.”

He headed to the table and began loading up a plate. Charlotte waited for the anxiety to rise. For the stone in her gut to make itself known. She touched her wrist. It would take a while to learn not to reach for the bracelet.

Lachie sat cross-legged on the ground near Santa, unwrapping a book. Rosie and Lewis chatted with Doug and Esther. People wandered around. Glenys and Sid were talking, and Charlotte’s heart went out to her. But it was better to know. Somebody began singing ‘Jingle Bells’ and once again, the Christmas tree farm was alive with music and laughter. There was love here in this town.

Love and hope. Charlotte inhaled the heady scent of pine and night air. Love and hope.

Chapter Forty-One

Charlotte stared into the box in the spare room. To one side was a small collection of Christmas cards inside a plastic sleeve. Before she could change her mind, Charlotte grabbed them from the box and returned to the kitchen, where a half-finished cup of coffee cooled on the counter.

She’d slept so well last night. Yes, there were some concerns, mostly around Sid, but those paled against the incredible outpouring of support for the Forest family from so many people in the community.

Now mid-morning, Charlotte had a few hours before heading up to Rosie’s place for dinner. Something led her to open that box again. She wasn’t ready to go through the whole thing, but she wanted to look at these cards. The coffee was awful now, so she made another, then took it and the cards out on the balcony. The little tree sparkled as the sunshine lit up its ornaments.

“I can’t return you, according to Lachie. Guess we’re stuck with each other.”

The tree swayed a little, obviously happy with its home.

One by one, Charlotte took the Christmas cards from their sleeve and made a small pile. She didn’t remember any of them. There were nine