by
2nd in Series
Setting – A small town in the Rocky Mountains
Independently Published (October 13, 2022)
Number of Pages: ~250
Digital ASIN: B0B6D7BXL4
When a mysterious man walks into class, something about him pulls Jemma into a tangle. Learning Kitty once knew him, Jemma has questions — but her friend is staying mum. Then Jemma goes on an early-morning walk and discovers the man dead.
This time, Jemma’s determined to stay out of the investigation — until she learns that because of a past she’s been hiding, Kitty is the main suspect! Unwilling to turn her back on her friend, Jemma starts looking for a dropped stitch.
Because somewhere, there’s a person with dye on their hands.
I hesitated, unsure I had the energy for the loop. If I
headed back now I could go home and pretend I hadn’t tried, but once I stepped onto the track, that was it. If I turned around after that, I’d be giving up.
Checking the time on my phone, I realized I’d been walking faster than I’d thought. I had plenty of time.
Fine. I’d walk the loop. I wouldn’t want to be a quitter this early in the day.
By the time I reached the top of the loop, my muscles were protesting the abuse. Staying in town instead of exploring the world was making me weak. Maybe I should join Brandon on his trail runs.
About halfway down the other side of the loop, I noticed a log across the path ahead. As I got closer, the log became more clear, taking on familiar shapes. Legs splayed at odd angles, an arm sprawled to the side, and the back of a head.
My stomach clenched, but I tiptoed forward until I could tell the person’s back wasn’t rising with breath. It would have been hard for him to breathe with his face pressed into the dirt and wild grass just off the trail.
I stumbled backward before dropping to the ground. My hands shook as I pulled out my phone and tried to dial Brandon before remembering he was already at work. Then I dialed the next best person.
“Chase.”
I swallowed hard. “Hi.”
“Jemma? What’s up?” Matthew’s voice softened from the bark he’d answered with. There was almost a chuckle in it now. “Did Brandon do something? I could toss him in the drunk tank for a while if I need to.”
Forgetting he couldn’t see me, I shook my head. “Um. I’m out for a walk.”
“Uh-huh. And why do I need to know that?”
“Well, Deputy Chase —”
“Stop. Why are you using my title? You haven’t called me that in weeks.”
I fought down the bubble of hysteria. Last time I’d found a body I’d just called Brandon. That was so much easier — I hadn’t felt like I needed to actually form sentences. “I’m calling the deputy, not the friend.”
He paused. “I’d tell almost anyone else that it was my day off and they should call dispatch.”
“I found a body.”
He was silent for two heartbeats, then he whispered a curse. “You didn’t touch anything, did you? Tell me exactly where you are.”
Rebecca McKinnon enjoys playing with her imaginary friends and
introducing them to others through her writing. She dreams of living in the middle of nowhere but has been unable to find an acceptable location that wouldn’t require crossing an ocean.
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Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for spotlighting and sharing a glimpse into my book!
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