Haunted Homicide Read online

  “Why?” Abel asked. “Why did you want them to get rid of Cody so badly?”

  “He added nothing to the dynamic. Nothing,” Johnathan said with venom. “I would have been a better addition.”

  “So you wanted Cody out and you in,” Gideon said.

  “It should have been me,” Johnathan nodded. “He and Simon didn’t even get along. It shouldn’t have been that big of a deal. They could have been making millions with me. I’d have given them the capitol to go full time. I only wanted one thing in return.”

  “So, when Simon told you to go take a hike, you decided to follow them.”

  “I knew they were going to the Charleston House and it’s not too far from where I live. I paid a lot of money to get us tickets as I know it's difficult to get into the house and I wanted a setting where I could actually work with them. I swear, I only wanted to talk to Simon, Sam and Avery. They were walking away from everything for Cody. Simon recognized me from a picture – he had looked into me from the get-go, the others just went along with him. He confronted me after everyone went to bed. He told me he hadn’t even explained to the others why the investment dropped. I only wanted to talk to him. I didn’t mean for it to get out of hand.” He was still crying as he spoke, but it was hard to feel bad for the pathetic man in front of them. Johnathan was nothing more than a fan who wanted to become part of the group and he had killed one of them because of it.

  “What about the camera?” Abel asked.

  “That’s what we were fighting over when he fell,” Johnathan said.

  “When he fell?” Gideon asked. “You mean when you pushed him.” Johnathan didn’t deny the accusation, but flinched when it was made.

  “When he fell,” he repeated. “I hadn’t noticed he was filming when we started talking. When I realized it was there, I tried to take it. I wanted to show Sam and Avery all that he was hiding from them, what he was making them miss out on. He fought me and went over the balcony.”

  “So you have the camera?”

  “I got rid of it,” he responded too quickly, giving away the lie.

  “I don’t think you did, and when we find it with your belongings, you know what I think we’ll see?” Gideon asked him. Johnathan shook his head no. “I think we’ll see you and Simon arguing and then I think we will see you get upset and push Simon over the banister. I don’t think we’ll see him fall.” Johnathan averted his eyes. He was clearly relying on the accidental death story, but had forgotten to delete the footage that would put him away. Either he had forgotten or he had wanted it to try once more and show Sam and Avery the truth. Make one last desperate attempt to become a part of their group.

  The footage was as damning as Gideon had predicted. It wasn’t even well hidden, his son had found the camera and was playing with it when they searched their house. The footage was there, showing an argument and then Johnathan Anderson pushing Simon from the balcony where he fell to his death.

  “I think we owe Cody an apology,” Abel said after viewing the footage. Gideon agreed whole heartedly.

  “WE’RE HEADING OUT SOON,” Cody announced as he, Sam and Avery entered the deli. “We just wanted to stop by before we left.”

  “You guys are leaving?” Josie asked. She had wanted nothing more than to have them out of her deli the other day, now the idea of them leaving left her saddened. Her companions seemed equally disappointed, but none more so than Cici.

  “We wanted to thank you,” Sam said, more to Cici and Mike than anyone else. “Simon’s killer would have never been brought to justice if it wasn’t for your help.”

  “It was nothing,” Cici said blushing.

  “It wasn’t,” Avery disagreed.

  “Can I make you something before you go?” Josie offered. “On the house,” she added.

  “We’d love lobster rolls before leaving for home,” Cody said. “Can’t get those out in the Midwest. At least not like yours.”

  “Sure,” Josie said with a smile.

  “Are you going to stop making videos?” Cici asked delicately. She’d been dying to know, and hoping they would keep on going, even without Simon.

  “Nothing could make us stop,” Sam assured Cici. “It’s Simon’s legacy.”

  “It might take us a while to get this one up,” Cody admitted. “Simon’s last video.” They had found out what Simon had done for them, specifically for Cody. The three of them felt guilty for how they treated Simon after the investment ended, but they hadn’t known the truth. He could have told them and they would have understood why he backed out.

  “And we’re taking a break for a while afterwards,” Avery added. “But we would never stop the Paranormalists. It would be the last thing Simon would want us to do.”

  “If we ever do get big and hire people, you’re first on our list,” Sam said pointing at Cici who beamed back at her. “You’re a close second,” she said to Mike.

  “Thanks,” Mike replied with a laugh.

  “Can I get you coffees?” Cookie offered.

  “That would be great, it’s a long drive,” Cody said. They sat down to wait for their food and their coffee to be made. They were reluctant to leave, feeling like they found a version of home in the little town, especially in the deli. The door chimed announcing Gideon and Abel’s arrival. Cody stiffened slightly, almost like he was nervous they were going to take him away again.

  “Relax,” Gideon said with a chuckle. “You’re free as a bird and innocent as a baby.” Cody let out a breath and tried to relax, but couldn’t quite get there.

  “That’s why we’re here,” Abel said. “We wanted to apologize for arresting you, we were too quick and didn’t look deep enough. Not to say you didn’t look guilty, because you sure did, but we could have looked past the obvious.”

  “You were the obvious suspect from the beginning,” Gideon explained. “But something told me that you didn’t have it in you. The evidence pointed to you but I still didn’t think you did it. We had to bring you in, but I’m glad we didn’t have to put you away too.”

  “I appreciate that,” Cody said.

  “You already know how sorry I am,” Avery said.

  “I know,” Cody said. “It's already water under the bridge.”

  “Yeah,” Verny jumped in. “I’m sorry I thought you were a murderer too,” she admitted.

  “I didn’t know that you thought so too,” Cody said with a laugh. “But thanks for the apology.” Verny smiled at him, she felt bad for assuming so harshly against him.

  “Now that’s out of the way, three lobster rolls coming up,” Josie said as the smell of fresh bread spread through the deli. Now maybe things could get back to normal she thought.

  “Oh Mom, we have to go shopping for me a prom dress,” Cici exclaimed as she gave Mike a sweet smile.

  Josie saw Verny narrow her eyes at Mike. Well, maybe not quite normal just yet.

  DON’T MISS THE FIRST book in the series:

  A Yuletide Wallop

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  Catalog of Books

  Triplet Witch Sisters Mystery Series

  Two’s Company, Three’s a Coven

  Resting Witch Face

  Bewitched and Bewildered

  THE WITCH SISTERS OF Stillwater

  Hoodoo and Just Desserts

  A Shade of Murder

  That Ol’ Black Magic

  A Whole Lotta Witchin Goin On

  The Beast Cometh

  Secrets and Sorcery
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br />   THE LUCKY DILL DELI Mystery Series

  A Yuletide Wallop

  THE SINISTER CASE SERIES

  The Sinister Secrets of the Snake Mirror

  The Sinister Secrets of the Deadly Summoner

  The Sinister Secrets of the Enchanting Blaze

  THE GRUMPY CHICKEN Irish Pub Series

  A Frosty Mug of Murder

  Treachery on Tap

  A Highball and a Low Blow

  Cursed With a Twist

  A Whiskey Sour Wipeout

  THE CHRONICLES OF AGNES Astor Smith

  The Peculiar Case of Agnes Astor Smith

  The Peculiar Case of the Red Tide

  The Peculiar Case of the Lost Colony

  OLD SCHOOL DINER COZY Mysteries

  Murder at Stake

  Murder Well Done

  A Side Order of Deception

  Murder, Basted and Barbecued

  Murder Ala Mode

  THE CURIOSITY SHOP Cozy Mysteries

  The Curious Case of the Cursed Spectacles

  The Curious Case of the Cursed Dice

  The Curious Case of the Cursed Dagger

  The Curious Case of the Cursed Looking Glass

  The Curious Case of the Cursed Crucible

  THE WE’RE NOT DEAD Yet Club

  Fetch a Pail of Murder

  Wedding Bells and Death Knells

  Murder or Bust

  Pinched, Pilfered and a Pitchfork

  A Hot Spot of Murder

  WITCHY WOMEN OF COVEN Grove Series

  THE WITCHING ON THE Wall

  A Witching Well of Magic

  Witching the Night Away

  Witching There’s Another Way

  Witching Your Life Away

  Witching You Wouldn’t Go

  Witching for a Miracle

  TEASEN & PLEASEN HAIR Salon Series

  A Hair Raising Blowout

  Wash, Rinse, Die

  Holiday Hooligans

  Color Me Dead

  False Nails & Tall Tales

  CAESAR’S CREEK SERIES

  A FROZEN SCOOP OF MURDER

  Death by Chocolate Sundae

  Soft Serve Secrets

  Ice Cream You Scream

  Double Dip Dilemma

  Melted Memories

  Triple Dip Debacle

  Whipped Wedding Woes

  A Sprinkle of Tropical Trouble

  A Drizzle of Deception

  SWEET HOME MYSTERY Series

  Creamed at the Coffee Cabana

  A Caffeinated Crunch

  A Frothy Fiasco

  Punked by the Pumpkin

  Peppermint Pandemonium

  Expresso Messo

  A Cuppa Cruise Conundrum

  The Brewing Bride

  WHISPERING PINES MYSTERY Series

  A Sinister Slice of Murder

  Sanctum of Shadows

  Curse of the Bloodstone Arrow

  Fright Night at the Haunted Inn

  MAD RIVER MYSTERY SERIES

  A Wicked Whack

  A Prickly Predicament

  A Malevolent Menace

  THE MONKEY’S EYEBROW Tea Room Series

  A Tiny Bite of Murder

  Murder on the Ghost Walk