Read Online Murder at the Azalea Festival by Ellen Elizabeth Hunter - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Ellen Elizabeth Hunter
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Chesterton's been sedated. She's taking this pretty hard."
Of course, she is, I thought.
11
Saturday evening found Jon and me dancing at "Shaggin' on the Cape" at the Hilton Riverside pool area. The riverfront was in a party mood. Beach music filled the twilight. Out on the river, lights from flower-bedecked barges and sailboats, and all manner of small craft twinkled in the dusk. Earlier there'd been a shag contest but now the dance floor was open to all.
Jon didn't yet know that Mindy was dead. I'd been sworn to secrecy, and although it went against my natural inclination, I hadn't breathed a word. Jon, however, had not forgotten about Mindy Chesterton's medical emergency. "What do you think happened to her?" he asked, projecting his voice over the music.
"Bee sting," I said loudly. Nick and Diane had cautioned me not to discuss our conversation.
At that moment someone tapped Jon on the shoulder, and he moved aside so quickly it was as if he had been expecting the interruption. Nick! I looked from Jon to Nick as he stepped in close and slipped his arm around my waist.
"You guys set me up!"
"Do you mind?" Nick asked.
I looked into his warm hazel eyes and knew I was a goner. "No," I murmured.
Jon gave us a wink and walked off.
Nick's smile was wide and adoring and showed off his cute dimples. "When I saw you this afternoon, all I could think about was this. Holding you. Being near you."
I melted. "You're not off the hook yet," I warned, but I pulled him closer.
This was the first time we'd danced together, and Nick didn't so much dance as he kind of swayed while embracing me. Oh, shoot, I thought. What am I going to do with this man? I can't stay mad at him. My heart and defenses turn to mush when I'm with him.
"Let's go somewhere and talk," he said in my ear.
I let him lead me off the dance floor. As we strolled away, I caught sight of Jon, dancing with Tiffany. Jon has a bad habit of picking women too young for him and then getting his heart broken. Oh, who was I to preach? Just see the trap I'd stepped into--joyfully.
We left the music behind, starting up the hill toward my house. Nick slipped his arm around my shoulders and I wrapped mine around his waist, and it was like the past three months and three days had never been and we were back where we left off.
"I must have a big sign on my forehead that says 'Doormat. Wipe feet here.'"
Nick reared back and barked out a laugh. "You! A doormat? Ashley, you're the feistiest woman I know. You're always on guard, always ready to fight. You're as scrappy as a bulldog."
I pulled away. "Nick, I haven't heard a word from you in three months, and then you show up, dance with me, and immediately we're all lovey-dovey. So, yes, I'm acting like a darned fool doormat."
"I know I owe you an apology. I was just about to make it." His expression grew serious. "I'm sorry, Ashley. Believe it or not, I thought about you every day. You were never far from my thoughts. But the case I was assigned to . . ." He shook his head. "Well, I've never had to deal with anything so difficult, and I pray I never have to again."
I believed him. And I accepted his explanation. We stopped for traffic on Front Street. "Do you want to tell me about it?"
He shook his head. "Too hard. I can't speak about the details. In general terms, I was assigned to an unsolved case involving a serial killer who'd abducted and murdered children."
"Oh, no," I murmured, "how awful for you." Under his tough cop exterior, Nick is a sensitive and compassionate individual.
He thrust his palms up and outward as if to ward off evil. "I never want to get a kid case again. We worked eighteen-hour days, seven days a week, trying to catch that monster. When I did have a few hours off, I spent them with the department shrink, it was that bad."
"I'm sorry, Nick." I took his hand as we strolled under trees, past pretty townhouses on Ann Street.
"I was in such a state I couldn't talk to
Of course, she is, I thought.
11
Saturday evening found Jon and me dancing at "Shaggin' on the Cape" at the Hilton Riverside pool area. The riverfront was in a party mood. Beach music filled the twilight. Out on the river, lights from flower-bedecked barges and sailboats, and all manner of small craft twinkled in the dusk. Earlier there'd been a shag contest but now the dance floor was open to all.
Jon didn't yet know that Mindy was dead. I'd been sworn to secrecy, and although it went against my natural inclination, I hadn't breathed a word. Jon, however, had not forgotten about Mindy Chesterton's medical emergency. "What do you think happened to her?" he asked, projecting his voice over the music.
"Bee sting," I said loudly. Nick and Diane had cautioned me not to discuss our conversation.
At that moment someone tapped Jon on the shoulder, and he moved aside so quickly it was as if he had been expecting the interruption. Nick! I looked from Jon to Nick as he stepped in close and slipped his arm around my waist.
"You guys set me up!"
"Do you mind?" Nick asked.
I looked into his warm hazel eyes and knew I was a goner. "No," I murmured.
Jon gave us a wink and walked off.
Nick's smile was wide and adoring and showed off his cute dimples. "When I saw you this afternoon, all I could think about was this. Holding you. Being near you."
I melted. "You're not off the hook yet," I warned, but I pulled him closer.
This was the first time we'd danced together, and Nick didn't so much dance as he kind of swayed while embracing me. Oh, shoot, I thought. What am I going to do with this man? I can't stay mad at him. My heart and defenses turn to mush when I'm with him.
"Let's go somewhere and talk," he said in my ear.
I let him lead me off the dance floor. As we strolled away, I caught sight of Jon, dancing with Tiffany. Jon has a bad habit of picking women too young for him and then getting his heart broken. Oh, who was I to preach? Just see the trap I'd stepped into--joyfully.
We left the music behind, starting up the hill toward my house. Nick slipped his arm around my shoulders and I wrapped mine around his waist, and it was like the past three months and three days had never been and we were back where we left off.
"I must have a big sign on my forehead that says 'Doormat. Wipe feet here.'"
Nick reared back and barked out a laugh. "You! A doormat? Ashley, you're the feistiest woman I know. You're always on guard, always ready to fight. You're as scrappy as a bulldog."
I pulled away. "Nick, I haven't heard a word from you in three months, and then you show up, dance with me, and immediately we're all lovey-dovey. So, yes, I'm acting like a darned fool doormat."
"I know I owe you an apology. I was just about to make it." His expression grew serious. "I'm sorry, Ashley. Believe it or not, I thought about you every day. You were never far from my thoughts. But the case I was assigned to . . ." He shook his head. "Well, I've never had to deal with anything so difficult, and I pray I never have to again."
I believed him. And I accepted his explanation. We stopped for traffic on Front Street. "Do you want to tell me about it?"
He shook his head. "Too hard. I can't speak about the details. In general terms, I was assigned to an unsolved case involving a serial killer who'd abducted and murdered children."
"Oh, no," I murmured, "how awful for you." Under his tough cop exterior, Nick is a sensitive and compassionate individual.
He thrust his palms up and outward as if to ward off evil. "I never want to get a kid case again. We worked eighteen-hour days, seven days a week, trying to catch that monster. When I did have a few hours off, I spent them with the department shrink, it was that bad."
"I'm sorry, Nick." I took his hand as we strolled under trees, past pretty townhouses on Ann Street.
"I was in such a state I couldn't talk to
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