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

“Santa’s Helper?” she said.

He touched his very Christmassy T-shirt. “Oh this? I had to take a very special gift to Thomas first, so this seemed appropriate.”

“And you can tell us about it over dinner, but for now, throw your bag in your room and wash up. Charlie, like to help get the food out there? I think I heard Lewis pull up outside.”

Charlotte shot a look at Trev, who’d frowned. But then warmth filled his eyes. “Sounds perfect, Mum.”

In the kitchen, Rosie did a little wiggle in her chair. One might not know who needs a meal, but Rosie clearly had. Charlotte kept her smile hidden. She deserved happiness.

“All I did was pretend to have a gun from the safety of the trees. I was in no danger, and the bluff worked.” Charlotte stabbed a piece of potato, all too aware of Trev’s steady gaze on her. Rosie and Lewis had spent the last half hour filling Trev in on the recent events in the town. He’d said little. She wasn’t about to look at him.

“Well, I think you are very brave, darling, but would prefer from now on that you do a little less detective work and stay safe.” Rosie put her knife and fork on her plate with a satisfied sigh. “Who’d like some champagne?”

“I’ll assist, if I may.” Lewis stood and then followed Rosie to the kitchen.

“Charlie?”

Here we go.

“Trevor.”

He reached his hand out and gently touched her neck. She knew there were finger-sized bruises and bit her lip.

“You did good.”

Charlotte’s eyes flew to his. That wasn’t what she’d expected to hear.

His face was serious as he sat back. “I feel there’s a whole lot of information missing, no doubt to stop Mum worrying even more, and I thank you for that.”

“There’s no point sharing every small detail.”

“Except those are what add up to a bigger picture. Please take care. Don’t let your guard down around Sid. Or Marguerite.”

“Why? He’s been hounding me since I got here. There’s been comments about the past and you not having jurisdiction here. So, what happened?”

Rosie and Lewis shared a joke as they wandered back.

Trev shook his head. “Sid’s just power hungry. Don’t trust him.”

Charlotte nodded.

“This is the loveliest Christmas dinner!” Rosie settled back at her place and Lewis poured glasses of champagne. “Thank you all for being here to celebrate with me.”

They rose their glasses. Charlotte gazed around with an unfamiliar tightness in her chest. It might be happiness. Rosie, with her grace and kindness. Lewis, so sweet and caring. And Trev. His quiet confidence filled the room.

“To friends and family, near and far, to love and joy.” Rosie made the toast. Mayhem jumped on her lap with a growl and everyone laughed.

At this moment, Charlotte understood what she’d always missed in her life. These wonderful people were what made Christmas real. No matter what might be ahead, she’d never forget her first real Christmas day.

“To Kingfisher Falls!”

Epilogue

The little pine tree was pretty, even without its decorations. Charlotte put the last one into a small box and touched the top of the tree. “Thank you.” She carried the box inside, then made coffee and returned to the balcony.

For the next week or so, the bookshop was closed, so Charlotte intended to spend time painting up here, exploring the back yard, and going through the storeroom in the garage. Something told her the contents of that room held all sorts of secrets.

Kingfisher Falls would return to its sleepy self, now that the Christmas tree thief—or thieves—were under lock and key, even if the mastermind was yet to be discovered.

Charlotte leaned against the railing and stared out over the town. So quiet now, the day after Christmas, but so much intrigue bubbling away beneath the surface.

A car slowly drove toward the bookshop from Rosie’s end of town. Trev, going home to River’s End. He was needed back there. Charlotte made eye contact through the windscreen and waved, and his arm flew out of the window to wave back. Then, he was gone. And a little bit of Charlotte went with him.

There’d been no more talk about Sid, but he was a danger to the town, perhaps to Rosie. If so, then he’d need to come through Charlotte. This was her home now, and no corrupt police officer or council, no vindictive book club ladies, or disgraced shop owners like Veronica would ever disrupt Kingfisher Falls again.

A breeze picked up, blowing Charlotte’s hair about. She glanced the way Trev’s car had gone. He’d be back, and when he did, she’d invite him on a picnic to the falls.

It was time to face the future without fear.

Dear reader,

We hope you enjoyed reading Deadly Start. Please take a moment to leave a review, even if it’s a short one. Your opinion is important to us.

Discover more books by Phillipa Nefri Clark at https://www.nextchapter.pub/authors/phillipa-nefri-clark

Want to know when one of our books is free or discounted? Join the newsletter at http://eepurl.com/bqqB3H

Best regards,

Phillipa Nefri Clark and the Next Chapter Team

Books By Phillipa Nefri Clark

The Stationmaster’s Cottage

Jasmine Sea

The Secrets of Palmerston House

The Christmas Key

Taming the Wind

Martha

Notes from the Cottage

Deadly Start

Deadly Falls

Deadly Secrets

Deadly Past

The Giving Tree

Colony

Table for Two

Wishing Well

Sculpture

Last Known Contact

Simple Words for Troubled Times (non-fiction)

Audiobooks

The Stationmaster’s Cottage (bonus Taming the Wind)

Jasmine Sea (bonus Martha)

The Secrets of Palmerston House (bonus The Christmas Key)

Simple Words for Troubled Times

Author Bio

Phillipa lives just outside a beautiful town in country Victoria, Australia. She also lives in the many worlds of her imagination and stockpiles stories beside her laptop.

She writes from the heart about love, dreams, secrets, discovery, the sea, the world as she knows it… or wishes it could be. She loves happy endings, heart-pounding suspense, and characters who stay with the reader long after the final page.

With a passion for music, the ocean, animals, reading, and writing, she is often found in the vegetable garden pondering a new story.