Majestic Cove Mysteries Complete Series Box Set Read online

  Majestic Cove Twelve-Book Cozy Mystery Set

  Meredith Potts

  Table of Contents

  Chocolate, Clues, and Catastrophe

  Pretzels, Problems, and Peril

  Cake, Coincidences, and Casualties

  Truffles, Tirades, and Trouble

  Shortcake, Surprises, and Secrets

  Cookies, Curiosity, and Craziness

  Donuts, Death, and Dread

  Tarts, Tears, and Tragedy

  Honey Cake, Heartbreak, and Hazards

  Cupcakes, Conundrums, and Calamity

  Caramels, Custody, and Cruelty

  Brownies, Bistros, and Betrayal

  Chocolate, Clues, and Catastrophe

  Chapter One

  The life of a private investigator was not a glamorous one. Then again, I knew that going in. I didn’t get into this line of work to chase glory. I did it to help people. To solve mysteries. To uncover secrets. To bring the truth to light.

  Of course, the money didn’t hurt either. After all, a woman had to make a living. Sometimes, that living was harder to come by than others. There were some lean months in this business. On the flip side, my expertise was often in high demand. The clients seemed to come in waves. Then, out of nowhere, I would go weeks without a case.

  That’s why I tried to stock pile my earnings. To squirrel as much money away in savings as possible. I didn’t always succeed. Just like I didn’t always stick to my diet.

  What can I say? I’m not perfect. Far from it. I slipped up every once in a while. I definitely wasn’t like the investigators on those TV shows that did everything right. I have always tried my best, however. My clients certainly appreciated that.

  My latest client, Becky McDavid, sat across from me in my office. Becky looked like she was a wreck. I didn’t blame her. She had come to me a few days before with a nagging suspicion in the back of her mind. Now, I was about to give her answers.

  “So, what did you find out?” Becky asked.

  Becky was a sweet woman. She was engaged to a computer programmer. They were in the middle of planning their wedding. At least, Becky was. She was doing most of the work. Eric Gilbertson had been wise enough to offer support when Becky asked for it, while letting her customize the wedding plans as she desired. The last thing he was interested in doing was stepping on her toes. Especially when it came to planning their nuptials.

  The question became, was Eric being so hands-off because he was a smart man, or because he was busy with having an affair?

  That’s what Becky had hired me to discover.

  “Are you nervous?” I asked.

  “Of course, I am. My entire future is at stake. If Eric is cheating on me, I can’t go through with this wedding. All my planning will be for nothing.”

  “I understand.”

  “So, don’t make me wait any longer. I need to know the truth. Is Eric cheating on me?”

  “I’m happy to report that I have some good news for you.”

  Becky’s eyebrows rose. “Really?”

  I nodded.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “I found no evidence that your fiancé is cheating on you.”

  Becky sat back in her chair and took a deep breath. “Wow. What a relief.”

  “For both of us. I was really happy to see that.”

  Becky put her hand up. “Don’t get me wrong. I’m delighted to hear that he isn’t cheating. I just want to make sure that you have that right. Are you a hundred-percent convinced that he’s been faithful to me?”

  “Ms. McDavid, I was very thorough with my investigation.”

  Becky bit the corner of her lip. “All right.”

  “You don’t sound convinced.”

  “Sorry. I don’t mean to be skeptical. I’m more confused than anything.”

  “About what?”

  “For example, all those nights that he’s told me he’s been working late, has he?”

  “This is where things get interesting.”

  Becky shrugged. “What do you mean by that?”

  “Eric hasn’t been having an affair, but he has been keeping busy at night,” I said.

  Becky squinted. “Doing what exactly?”

  “Are you sure you’re ready for this?” I asked.

  “As ready as I’m ever going to be. Now, tell me, what did you find out?”

  “All right. Here we go. Your fiancé hasn’t actually been working late.”

  “Then what has he been doing?”

  I pulled a folder out of my desk and handed it to Becky.

  “See for yourself,” I said.

  Becky grimaced. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

  “Please just open it.”

  Becky slowly opened up the folder. There were some pictures inside it.

  Becky’s eyes widened as she stared at the photos. “Wait a minute. Am I seeing this correctly?”

  I nodded. “You sure are.”

  “I can’t believe it.”

  “Well, believe it or not, your fiancé has been taking dance lessons at night.”

  “Wow. That is not what I expected. At all.”

  “I figured that,” I said. “Do you know why he would hide something as innocuous as this from you?”

  She nodded. “I have a pretty good feeling about that.”

  “Why?”

  “From the moment I first met him, Eric has been a terrible dancer. We’re talking absolutely dreadful. With our wedding coming up, I get the feeling that he’s been taking these lessons so he doesn’t embarrass himself on the dancefloor in front of all of our closest friends and family members.”

  “You could be right. Perhaps he’s been taking these lessons so he could surprise you on the day of your wedding.”

  “Well, this is definitely a big surprise. A really delightful one too. Of all the ways that this situation could have turned out, this is the best possible scenario.”

  “I’m glad you’re happy.”

  “Talk about peace of mind. I don’t have to keep fretting over this anymore.” She reached across the table and shook my hand. “Thank you so much.”

  “It was my pleasure.”

  “Seriously. I really owe you.”

  “I was just doing my job.”

  “Well, you did great.”

  Chapter Two

  It was rare for an interaction with a client to go that well. Of course, in my line of work, good news wasn’t easy to come by. When someone had enough of a suspicion to walk into my office and hire me, it was typically because they knew something was up. Normally, they just needed me to confirm what they already realized deep down.

  That was what made a case like this so refreshing. Once Becky left my office, I got up and stretched my legs a little. As I stood in the doorway to my office, my friend and co-worker, Lisa Williamson, approached me.

  “Isn’t it great when things work out for the best?” I asked.

  Lisa nodded. “I’ll say. I wish all of our cases turned out like this.”

  “Wouldn’t that be something?”

  “It would definitely make our jobs easier.”

  “And more pleasant.”

  “Unfortunately, the opposite is usually true. I’m so used to things taking a turn for the worse.”

  “You’re not wrong to think that way,” I said. “Let’s be honest. With a case like this, ninety-nine times out of a hundred, it turns out the significant other was cheating.”

  “Melody Jane Clue, will you listen to yourself? This job has really made you jaded.”

  It was rare that someone said my middle name. When it did happen, usually my mother was
the one who said it. Typically, she was only doing it because she was mad at me.

  So, for Lisa to mention my middle name was a little odd. First, she wasn’t my mother. Nor was she mad at me. Lisa did give off a maternal vibe, however. She always had. Maybe it was because she was older and more experienced with investigative work. She knew the dangers of the job, so she was protective of me. I appreciated that.

  As for my first name, if you couldn’t tell, my mother was a big fan of music. In fact, Andrea Clue thought she would become a rock star one day. That didn’t end up happening. She settled for becoming a music teacher.

  My mom had high musical aspirations for me, though. Imagine her surprise when I decided to become a private investigator. In retrospect, with a last name like Clue, it shouldn’t have blown her away to hear that her daughter would want to get into this line of work. Yet, she did a double-take when I told her.

  When I first started out, I spent most of my time thinking about how I could help people. These days, I realized there were good and bad sides to this profession. Apparently, Lisa classified that as being jaded. I had a different term for it.

  I shook my head. “I have just become wiser.”

  Lisa stared me down until I revised my answer.

  “And maybe a little jaded,” I said.

  “Hey, there’s nothing wrong with having a little skepticism. To be good at this job, you need to stay on your toes. To expect danger to be around every corner. If you don’t, it could come back to bite you.”

  “Trust me. I’m well aware of that.”

  “The problem with being jaded is that it can bleed into other areas of your life. Like, your love life.”

  I got playful with my response. “What’s a love life?”

  Lisa laughed. “That’s a good question. I wish I had an answer for you.”

  “It’s a mystery to me too.”

  “Look at us, two single ladies without a clue.”

  “Don’t remind me. I’m not getting any younger.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. You’re only thirty-six.”

  “Make no mistake. In the grand scope of life, I know I’m still pretty young. But when it comes to dating, I’m getting dangerously close to turning forty.”

  Lisa laughed and shook her head. “Four years is dangerously close? Now I know why you didn’t become a mathematician.”

  “I suppose you’re right.”

  “Besides, where does that leave me then at forty-nine?” Lisa asked. “Without a chance?”

  “I didn’t mean it like that. After all, if you think back to when you were my age, you were married.”

  “You’re right. Happily married.” Lisa stared off into the distance. “That was a different time. A more optimistic one. I had my entire life ahead of me. At least, that’s what I thought. In reality, it turned out that I just had a divorce ahead of me.”

  “Lisa, you still have a lot ahead of you. There’s plenty to look forward to. I know there’s someone out there for you.”

  “All of a sudden you’re being pretty optimistic for a jaded investigator.”

  “I’m being honest. You just haven’t found the right man yet. And neither have I.”

  “Well, the universe can bring Mr. Right into my life at any time.”

  “I hope that happens soon. In the meantime, I want some food.”

  Lisa’s eyebrows rose. “Healthy food or a treat?”

  I bit the corner of my lip. I then replied, “Maybe a little bit of both.”

  “I like the sound of that.”

  “Does a chocolate chip cookie sound good?”

  “Are you kidding? A woman never turns down chocolate.”

  “Let’s go then.”

  “I wish I could go with you, but I have work to do.”

  “I’ll tell you what. I’ll pick up a cookie for you while I’m out.”

  Lisa smiled at me. “Thanks. I owe you one.”

  Chapter Three

  Majestic Cove was a scenic town. It was situated right on the ocean. Because of its location, it drew a lot of tourists. Of course, the mild climate also helped. Not to mention, the natural beauty that was all around.

  The town itself was quite pretty as well. It was home to a large collection of mid-century modern homes. There was also a fantastic historic district that featured a number of retail boutiques, antique shops, and restaurants. That wasn’t all. The town was also home to a bunch of Redwood trees.

  My favorite part of my hometown was the scenic vistas. There seemed to be great views around every corner. I was also a sucker for the ocean. I loved dipping my toes in the sand at the beach and watching the waves crash in front of me. When I was younger, I used to do that all summer long. Now that I was an adult, I couldn’t make it out to the beach as often as I’d like. Perhaps my schedule would open up more in the future.

  All told, my hometown was a pretty wonderful place. I was reminded of that as I drove from my office over to Majestic Cove Bakery. It was pretty incredible to think that I had lived here my entire life and haven’t gotten sick of the place. Not even after I discovered what kind of an underbelly existed here. To be fair, infidelity went on everywhere. It was hardly exclusive to my hometown. The same with fraud and other things that I investigated on a regular basis.

  When I entered the bakery, I was greeted by some incredible smells. Very few places in life were as inviting as a bakery. My stomach knew that all-too well. I had been known to indulge a little too much.

  My sweet tooth was constantly causing me weight problems. My scale was kind of all over the place. Some days it would creep up. In response, I would have to put in some serious time at the gym. A few weeks later, after taking the weight off, I would break down and treat myself again. Sometimes, it was to celebrate wrapping up a case. Other times, it was because I would stress eat.

  Was it the best cycle to be caught in? No. But it was just my life, at the moment.

  Some days, I almost thought it would be easier if I accepted the fact that I would always be a few pounds overweight. If I wasn’t busy searching for Mr. Right, I might do that. Since I was trying to find a man to spend the rest of my life with, I wanted to look my best.

  I realized that talking about my health while driving to a bakery made for a strange mix, but welcome to my life. I only had so much willpower. In addition, my best friend in the world happened to own the bakery that I was going to.

  When I arrived at the Majestic Cove Bakery, Kristina Fowler, was behind the counter. My full-figured friend didn’t hesitate to send a wise crack my way.

  “Look who showed up late today,” Kristina said.

  I laughed. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize there was an assigned time for me to show up at your bakery.”

  There were some delicious benefits to being friends with a baker. And let me tell you, Kristina made the best pastries in town. I was so proud of her. Not just for her high standards of quality, but also because she had built this business from the ground up.

  Kristina and I had been friends since elementary school. Back in those days, I had no clue what a successful woman she would become. She had surprised me a lot over the last few decades.

  Speaking of which, it was pretty amazing to think about just how long I had known her. Without a doubt, she was my oldest friend. Truthfully, she was more than that. Kristina was kind of like the sister that I never had. We had been through so much together.

  “Come on, Melody,” Kristina said. “You know that you show up at the same time every morning.”

  “You got me there,” I replied.

  “So, what happened this morning?”

  “I was meeting with a client.”

  “All right. I suppose that’s a good enough excuse.”

  “I hope so. A woman has to make money. My bills aren’t going to pay themselves.”

  “Isn’t that the truth? It’s a shame too. Bills are such a nuisance.”

  “I couldn’t agree more. So, what’s the special of the day?” br />
  “What, seeing a dear friend isn’t special enough?” Kristina joked.

  “You’re in a really sarcastic mood this morning, aren’t you?”

  “I guess, I am. You know me. When I get stressed out, I always turn to humor.”

  “Well, it’s good to see you anyway,” I said. “What are you stressed about exactly?”

  “It has just been a busy morning.”

  “For you and me both,” I said. “Which brings me back to my original question. Any specials for the day?”

  “Actually, I was running around so much that I didn’t have time to try out anything new. I’m afraid you’ll have to settle for the usual cupcakes, cookies, pies, and other baked goods.”

  I looked at the case. “You know, I originally came in here for a cookie, but there’s so much good stuff to choose from.”

  “Take your time.”

  “Oh dear. I could have one of everything.”

  “I’d like to see you try.”

  “You’re a bad influence, you know that?”

  “While you’re making up your mind, there’s actually something else that I need to talk to you about.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I guess you haven’t heard the news then?”

  I threw out my arms. “About what?”

  “Scott Webster is back in town.”

  Suddenly, the items in the bakery display case were the last things on my mind. I turned all of my attention to Kristina.

  “Are you kidding?” I asked.

  She shook her head.

  “Wow,” I replied.

  “I’m surprised that this is the first you’ve heard of it. After all, you’re a professional investigator.”

  “That doesn’t mean I know everything that goes on in Majestic Cove. Do you know what he’s doing back in town?”

  Kristina shrugged. “I don’t know. It’s a mystery. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.”

  “Maybe. If he’s staying for a while. But if he’s only here for a short time, he might leave before I get answers.”

  “Wouldn’t that be a shame?”

  I nodded. “It sure would. By the way, how do you know that he’s back in town? Did he come in here? Did you talk to him?”