HELL'S HALF ACRE a gripping murder mystery full of twists (Coffin Cove Mysteries Book 2) by JACKIE ELLIOTT (diy ebook reader txt) 📕

flames leaped into the air, the smoke a dark, choking black. Doug held his shirt over his mouth, remembering Art had bottles of chemicals in the cabin.

Summoning his courage, Doug ran towards the fire, knowing he was crossing into Hell.

Days later, what was left of the cabin was still smouldering. The police had come and gone. They’d wandered into the old net shed, which miraculously suffered only minor damage, searched the site and declared Art Whilley dead.

The bikers never returned. Wayne was gone. Dennis Havers acted as if he’d never known Art Whilley. It was as if he’d never existed.

One morning, Doug walked up to Art’s place. He’d never called it Hell’s Half Acre. When he got there, he saw a woman standing by the ashes, her head bowed, as if in prayer. It was Clara Bell. Doug raised his hand to wave, and she looked up. She gave him a stiff nod and walked away.

Doug hauled away the burnt-out Mustang. It was the last time he ever went there. He’d thought it was all over. But now, he had a sinking feeling he couldn’t shake off.

Doug finished his cigarette and turned to go back into his workshop. Hearing vehicles approaching, he waited to see who it was. An RCMP cruiser and a dark sedan passed his house and headed towards the Daggs’.

This was it, then. Doug looked upwards and sent a silent prayer and apology to his mother.

Chapter Thirty

Lee slumped in the uncomfortable metal chair in the interview room. He had no idea how long he’d been there. An unsightly film was forming on the surface of the mug of tea in front of him.

An officer, one of those who’d driven him to the detachment, had placed the mug on the table.

“Someone will be with you soon, sir,” he’d said, and with a gesture of sympathy, had gently squeezed Lee’s shoulder before leaving him alone.

That was a while ago. Maybe an hour? Five? Lee didn’t know.

Time wasn’t important right now, except he knew Katie would be worried. Thank God she had Terri. Terri had been like a mother . . .

The thought caught on his emotions like barbed wire.

Mother. Motherless. Katie was motherless. Officially.

Lee almost laughed at the absurdity of it all. All these years he’d wished Nadine would either mother her daughter or just move along and let them be . . . Well, that’s what they say, isn’t it? Be careful what you wish for?

Is this my fault? he’d wondered, sitting in his living room earlier that day. He had his arm around his daughter. He was confused. He was trying to understand what the two RCMP officers had just told him.

He must have said it aloud because he saw the officers exchange glances.

“How did she . . . ?” He couldn’t say the word out loud. It was inconceivable Nadine was dead.

Look around, he wanted to shout at the officers. See this couch? Nadine bought it. And these cushions? We argued about these fucking cushions. Now you’re telling me she’s not coming back?

The officers explained a little. It still didn’t make sense. She was belly dancing. For fuck’s sake. At the Fat Chicken. All the people there knew her. They knew she was a flirt. They knew everything about her. She’d grown up in this town.

“She’s an administration officer at the city,” Lee had said. “She works for the mayor.” He didn’t know why that seemed important to him, but he wanted these officers to know Nadine was a serious person. She wasn’t just some flaky middle-aged woman who liked to dance in fancy dress. She was . . . more.

“Yes, sir,” they’d said respectfully. And then, “Is there someone who could look after your daughter?”

Lee had become aware of Katie clinging to him, her body heaving with sobs.

“Go to Terri’s,” he’d told his daughter. “Go there and I’ll be back soon, I promise.”

“Come with us now, sir.”

He’d obediently walked out to the waiting car and got in the back.

He didn’t know why, but he thought they’d take him to see Nadine. But instead, they arrived at the detachment. And now, he was waiting.

Lee was aware of activity and noise outside the room. They must be busy, he thought distractedly. And then remembered why.

Lee laid his head on his arms and started to cry.

* * *

Katie watched in disbelief as the RCMP cruiser took her father away. Her legs wouldn’t hold her up. She sank to her knees on the porch.

Her mother was dead? And they thought her father killed her?

A voice came from a long way away, and she noticed a police officer speaking to her.

“Katie? Is there someone who can stay with you? I’m afraid we must search the house now.”

Katie looked up and managed to whisper, “Terri.”

“It’s OK, officer,” she heard a familiar voice boom, “I’ll take Katie to my wife.”

Katie held her hand out, but Doug South ignored it and put his arms around her, as if she were a small child.

The officer was talking again, something about keys, and Katie realized they would pull the house apart. She cried again.

“Shh, it’s OK, Katie. They have a job to do. They’ll find out your dad has nothing to do with any of this. He’ll be home before you know it.”

Katie nodded. She felt in her pocket for the door keys and a piece of paper fluttered to the ground. Doug bent down to pick it up.

He turned the card over and over in his hand and then hugged Katie tighter.

As he helped Katie home to Terri, who was waiting for her with outstretched arms, Katie didn’t understand why Doug kept whispering to her, “I’m so sorry, Katie.”

Chapter Thirty-One

Jade was having the strangest dream. She was laughing with Summer about an old black-and-white movie. They used to watch them all