Death on the Coast Read online

  Death on the Coast

  M A Comley

  New York Times and USA Today bestselling author M A Comley

  Published by Jeamel Publishing limited

  Copyright © 2021 M A Comley

  Digital Edition, License Notes

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Also by M A Comley

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Keep in touch with M A Comley

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you as always to my rock, Jean, I’d be lost without you in my life.

  Special thanks as always go to @studioenp for their superb cover design expertise.

  My heartfelt thanks go to my wonderful editor Abby, my proofreaders Angela, Barbara and Jacqueline for spotting all the lingering nits.

  Thank you also to my amazing ARC group who help to keep me sane during this process.

  To Mary, gone, but never forgotten. I hope you found the peace you were searching for, my dear friend.

  Also by M A Comley

  Blind Justice (Novella)

  Cruel Justice (Book #1)

  Mortal Justice (Novella)

  Impeding Justice (Book #2)

  Final Justice (Book #3)

  Foul Justice (Book #4)

  Guaranteed Justice (Book #5)

  Ultimate Justice (Book #6)

  Virtual Justice (Book #7)

  Hostile Justice (Book #8)

  Tortured Justice (Book #9)

  Rough Justice (Book #10)

  Dubious Justice (Book #11)

  Calculated Justice (Book #12)

  Twisted Justice (Book #13)

  Justice at Christmas (Short Story)

  Justice at Christmas 2 (novella)

  Justice at Christmas 3 (novella)

  Prime Justice (Book #14)

  Heroic Justice (Book #15)

  Shameful Justice (Book #16)

  Immoral Justice (Book #17)

  Toxic Justice (Book #18)

  Overdue Justice (Book #19)

  Unfair Justice (a 10,000 word short story)

  Irrational Justice (a 10,000 word short story)

  Seeking Justice (a 15,000 word novella)

  Caring For Justice (a 24,000 word novella)

  Savage Justice (a 17,000 word novella Featuring THE UNICORN)

  Gone In Seconds (Justice Again series #1)

  Ultimate Dilemma (Justice Again series #2)

  Shot of Silence (Justice Again #3)

  Taste of Fury (Justice Again #4)

  Clever Deception (co-written by Linda S Prather)

  Tragic Deception (co-written by Linda S Prather)

  Sinful Deception (co-written by Linda S Prather)

  Forever Watching You (DI Miranda Carr thriller)

  Wrong Place (DI Sally Parker thriller #1)

  No Hiding Place (DI Sally Parker thriller #2)

  Cold Case (DI Sally Parker thriller#3)

  Deadly Encounter (DI Sally Parker thriller #4)

  Lost Innocence (DI Sally Parker thriller #5)

  Goodbye, My Precious Child (DI Sally Parker #6)

  Web of Deceit (DI Sally Parker Novella with Tara Lyons)

  The Missing Children (DI Kayli Bright #1)

  Killer On The Run (DI Kayli Bright #2)

  Hidden Agenda (DI Kayli Bright #3)

  Murderous Betrayal (Kayli Bright #4)

  Dying Breath (Kayli Bright #5)

  Taken (Kayli Bright #6 coming March 2020)

  The Hostage Takers (DI Kayli Bright Novella)

  No Right to Kill (DI Sara Ramsey #1)

  Killer Blow (DI Sara Ramsey #2)

  The Dead Can’t Speak (DI Sara Ramsey #3)

  Deluded (DI Sara Ramsey #4)

  The Murder Pact (DI Sara Ramsey #5)

  Twisted Revenge (DI Sara Ramsey #6)

  The Lies She Told (DI Sara Ramsey #7)

  For The Love Of… (DI Sara Ramsey #8)

  Run For Your Life (DI Sara Ramsey #9)

  Cold Mercy (DI Sara Ramsey #10)

  Sign of Evil (DI Sara Ramsey #11)

  Indefensible (DI Sara Ramsey #12 coming April 2021)

  I Know The Truth (A psychological thriller)

  She’s Gone (A psychological thriller coming July 2021)

  The Caller (co-written with Tara Lyons)

  Evil In Disguise – a novel based on True events

  Deadly Act (Hero series novella)

  Torn Apart (Hero series #1)

  End Result (Hero series #2)

  In Plain Sight (Hero Series #3)

  Double Jeopardy (Hero Series #4)

  Criminal Actions (Hero Series #5)

  Regrets Mean Nothing (Hero #6)

  Sole Intention (Intention series #1)

  Grave Intention (Intention series #2)

  Devious Intention (Intention #3)

  Merry Widow (A Lorne Simpkins short story)

  It’s A Dog’s Life (A Lorne Simpkins short story)

  Cozy Mystery Series

  Murder at the Wedding

  Murder at the Hotel

  Murder by the Sea

  Death on the Coast

  A Time To Heal (A Sweet Romance)

  A Time For Change (A Sweet Romance)

  High Spirits

  The Temptation series (Romantic Suspense/New Adult Novellas)

  Past Temptation

  Lost Temptation

  Tempting Christa (A billionaire romantic suspense co-authored by Tracie Delaney #1)

  Avenging Christa (A billionaire romantic suspense co-authored by Tracie Delaney #2)

  Prologue

  Waves, pushing to run ahead of the incoming storm, broke over the rocks. The spray blew some sixty feet into the air, soaking the scenic coastal path. Another famous nor’easter was due to make landfall on the Maine coast in the coming forty-eight hours.

  Angie lowered her head, pulling the cord of her hoodie tighter. She’d just touched up her hair earlier that morning. If she left it uncovered, the mist would make it frizz as badly as Patch’s gnarled coat. “C’mon, boy. No pain, no gain, as they say. I need to walk off five pounds in a week, or that dress isn’t going to fit.”

  Patch gave her a side-eye look over his shoulder. She chuckled, aware he’d rather have been back in his bed of soft lamb’s wool, by the embers in the grate. That said, for Angie to venture out for such a brisk walk was rare, so he was eager to take advantage of her latest health kick. He barked his agreement, but the wind carried it along with the rain that had begun to fall. His snout snapped as he tried to capture a drink from the rain.

  “Let’s have just another fifteen and then get back to the cottage. Okay with you?” She was just as miserable as she imagined him to be, but there were a half-dozen fudge swirl cupcakes from Sal’s Sweets, languishing on their kitchen counter, a gift from her daughter. Rather than hurting Christine’s feelings, she’d opted to retreat from temptation and go for a walk. She couldn’t eat what was waiting prettily on their paper doilies inside the cut-glass cake stand if she wasn’t in the house with them.

  “Mush!” she called into the wind to Patch, laughing.

  Although he was stout for a miniature schnauzer, she doubted he could pull a baby squirrel on a balsa dog sled, much less her generous body, especially considering the incoming gale.

  Patch tugged on the leash, he stood on his hind legs in an effort to heave her closer to him. At that moment, something hit her hard from behind. Her arms shot out for balance, but the seagrass cliff edge gave way beneath her feet as she scrambled to keep her grip; and she finally let go of the leash.

  Angie shrieked, “Help!” Her legs slid closer to the edge, and she attempted to grasp for a handhold with her freshly manicured gel nails. Then came the bite of gravel against her cheek as her face slammed to the path.

  Patch was barking and intermittently licking her face. She sensed his hysteria. Something tugged at her from behind, but she was too terrified to do anything more than breaststroke in the gravel and seagrass.

  Patch’s tone altered to attack mode, just like it had the day her neighbor’s Doberman jumped over their fence. The tone of his growl changed, indicating his teeth were sunk into something, although she was too occupied to look. That was when she felt it. The rough texture o
f material around her neck, chafing her skin. A slender loop then jerked tight. Suddenly, something strong pushed and then her feet were openly dangling, the momentum already taking its toll.

  “Noooo!” she whimpered, as the rope crushed her windpipe and she realized her impending fate.

  1

  “Which one would you like with your coffee, Sergeant Colt?” Sally asked over the glass cabinet, filled with donuts, that separated them.

  He stared at the cabinet, his stomach rumbling with anticipation. “I think I had the blueberry last time,” Brendon mused.

  Sally nodded, and with enthusiasm, waited for his approval. “And…?” she prompted him.

  He was caught up in the many flavors before him. Absently, he glanced up. “Oh, yes, excellent, as they always are. I think I’m in the mood for cinnamon this morning. Make it three, if you would?”

  Sally blushed with pleasure at his words and quickly scooped three into a bag, folding over the top as she handed it to him. Brendon handed over the bills and noticed her scowl. “What’s wrong?”

  She nodded through the front window of Sal’s Sweets. “That infernal dog. He won’t stop barking. Already had to throw him out once.”

  Brendon frowned. “Isn’t that Patch? Angie Potter’s schnauzer?”

  Sally shrugged. “One dog looks like another if you ask me.” She handed him his change, which he promptly dropped in the cup marked Tips. “I wish she’d come and get him. He’s frightening off my customers.”

  Brendon nodded, picking up his hat and settling it on his head before retrieving his coffee and donuts. He cleared his throat. “Has anyone seen Angie in town? Patch really should be on a leash.”

  The scattering of diners looked up, and a few murmurs broke out, but most of them shook their heads.

  Cecilia James pushed her chair back and threw her napkin to the table. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but that poor little guy is obviously upset. If any of you would put down your Danish long enough to check him out, you just might find Angie at the same time!”

  There was an uncomfortable shifting of chairs as others realized she spoke the truth. Cecilia, a middle-aged, rounded woman, ran the town’s rescue, and her temper was legendary when a dog was abused.

  “Come along then, Cecilia. Let’s go out and see what Patch has to tell us,” Brendon said, holding the door open for her.

  Cecilia immediately bent to pet Patch, but he wouldn’t have it. Barking incessantly, he ran a few steps away and then came back to them, dropping his chest over his front paws to challenge them.

  “Patch, buddy, what’s going on?” Brendon took a sip of his coffee and broke off a piece of donut to give to Patch, who ignored it; his frenzied barking grew louder. Brendon looked at Cecilia. “What do you make of that? I’ve never known a dog to turn down one of Sally’s donuts.”

  Cecilia glared at him momentarily. “You feed dogs donuts? Are you out of your…”

  “Cecilia…” he warned her. “Save the donut lecture for now, eh?” He walked to the nearby corner, searching for Angie who was nowhere to be seen.

  With regret, he popped the donut chunk in his mouth, washing it down with coffee before tossing the rest into the nearby trash receptacle decorated with a Harley’s Hardware logo. He brushed his hands against his uniformed thighs, then pulled out his cell. “Good thing Angie is in my contact list.” He tapped the number and waited. And waited. “Funny, no answer. Maybe she’s lost Patch and is out looking for him, and forgot her phone.”

  Cecilia nodded. “I’ll take him home with me while you find her,” she asserted in the take-charge voice she was famous for. Bending low, Cecilia held out her hand. “Patch, c’mon, boy.”

  Patch crouched and growled and then neatly turned and ran. Cecilia took off, hot on his trail.

  “Cecilia!” Brendon called after her. “Hold on there. Let’s follow him a little and see what has him so upset.” Brendon’s intuition had kicked in. Now that he set aside his aggravation with the uncooperative animal, he sensed there was trouble. He started after Patch.

  The dog, realizing he had finally obtained their attention, galloped down the street toward the park that led to the Atlantic and its scenic coastal path. “Cecilia, do as I say now. Go to Angie’s place and see if her car is there. Maybe Christine is home and won’t answer Angie’s phone. See what you can find out and keep in touch with me.”

  Cecilia’s mouth dropped open. She wasn’t accustomed to taking orders, but Brendon’s tone seemed to break through the growing red mist that highlighted her anger. Nodding, she said, “I’ll call you when I get there.”

  Brendon was already gone, jogging after the excited dog. Patch, if we’re chasing a rabbit, I will cheerfully wring your neck!

  Although he was in excellent condition, chasing Patch was a challenge. The little dog, far more sure-footed than Brendon, scooted over the rocks and seemed unaffected by the stiff wind coming in from the east. When Brendon paused for a few moments to catch his breath, Patch let out another annoying bark. Brendon’s mood grew dark. This escapade could easily have a capricious ending, although the fact that Patch was dragging his leash and seemed intent on running in one particular direction suggested otherwise. To be on the safer side, Brendon touched his shoulder mic and updated the precinct on his location.

  “In pursuit,” he told them.

  “Please specify,” came the response.

  He winced and briefly added, “The dog known as Patch, belonging to Angie Potter, who cannot be located.”

  “Sir? Please verify.”

  “You heard me,” he shouted and renewed his chase, making a mental note that donuts were off of his daily menu for the time being.

  Patch was ahead of him, but motionless. Brendon stumbled along the path until he came to where the animal was now turning circles, his incessant yapping more furious than before.

  “Okay, Patch, what’s so important?”

  The dog ducked its head and with a few leaps, headed into the brush of the forest line where he stopped and appeared to wait for Brendon.

  “I’ve come this far,” Brendon muttered, and with a heaving chest, picked his way into the trees where the dog stood.

  That was when he spotted the body. Brendon dropped to his knees and felt for a pulse. There wasn’t one. He tapped his mic, reported in, and asked for backup to the scene, along with medical personnel. Bending low, he peered into the folds of the victim’s jacket and hoodie to get a look at the face. As he feared, it was the missing Angie Potter…with a blue nylon rope wrapped around her neck.

  2

  Lucy spied a candidate for a walking stick and took a few minutes to break off the unwanted prickling branch nubs. “Next time, don’t leave yours behind,” she chastised herself and tapped the new support into the muddy path, getting a feel for its balance.

  She tugged at the waist of the flowered skirt and frowned at the mud on her shoes. She used her new tool to scrape off the worst of it and then slid them across a tuft of damp seagrass. Then she admired the saddle shoes she’d discovered at the Second Time Around clothing resale shop. Easily the sturdiest shoes she owned, in her opinion. Satisfied, she hummed Where The Boys Are in her best imitation of Connie Francis and proceeded along the coastal path.

  When Lucy took the turn in the path, she heard voices in the near distance. Abruptly interrupting her solo, she paused and pushed her long blonde hair behind her ears, hoping to hear better. Leaning from left to right, she peered between the trees and was instantly curious. Police stood in a cluster, she could sense the tension and stress of the group who were talking using a fair amount of hand gesturing. Invigorated by her natural sense of inquisitiveness, she leaned into her steps to get closer.