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    The Missing Years: Darcy Sweet Mystery, #18.5
    The Missing Years: Darcy Sweet Mystery, #18.5
    The Missing Years: Darcy Sweet Mystery, #18.5
    Ebook266 pages4 hours

    The Missing Years: Darcy Sweet Mystery, #18.5

    By K.J. Emrick

    4.5/5

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    About this ebook

    After solving the mystery of Aunt Millie's death Darcy Sweet is enjoying being a mother and looking forward to the prospect of living life like an ordinary person. Now that the mists have gone and things are quiet that shouldn't be a problem. 

    But she should have known better.

    The Missing Years - Book 18.5 is six short stories covering the five year time period between book 18 and book 19. 

    1. The Purloined Purse - A missing purse and stolen flowers... and the ex-police chief is acting very strangely. What is going on?

    2. A Cup of Blackmail - Someone close to Darcy and Jon is being blackmailed and a misdirected letter sets another mystery in motion.

    3. A Mystery in the Mail - The owner of the bookstore in Oak hollow is getting threatening letters. Darcy and Jon work together to find out who is sending them. 

    4. The Dead Man’s Glasses - Lorne Sommers re-appears in Darcy's life and he thinks that he killed someone. Can Darcy and Jon find out what really happened?

    5. The Angel Cameo - Sergeant Sean Fitzwallis needs Darcy's help. It seems that the killer responsible for a one hundred year old murder has reappeared in the present time. But that's not possible, is it? Can Darcy work out what's going on? 

    6. The Missing Lion - Colby has a new stuffed toy but it has mysteriously gone missing. Colby is upset so Darcy and Jon promise to investigate. What they uncover is more than a missing toy.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSouth Coast Publishing
    Release dateSep 8, 2016
    ISBN9781536501094
    The Missing Years: Darcy Sweet Mystery, #18.5

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      Book preview

      The Missing Years - K.J. Emrick

      Table of Contents

      The Missing Years (Darcy Sweet Mystery, #18.5)

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      COPYRIGHT

      First published in Australia by South Coast Publishing, September 2016.

      Copyright K.J. Emrick (2012-2016)

      This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and locations portrayed in this book and the names herein are fictitious.  Any similarity to or identification with the locations, names, characters or history of any person, product or entity is entirely coincidental and unintentional.

      - From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations.

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. 

      No responsibility or liability is assumed by the Publisher for any injury, damage or financial loss sustained to persons or property from the use of this information, personal or otherwise, either directly or indirectly.  While every effort has been made to ensure reliability and accuracy of the information within, all liability, negligence or otherwise, from any use, misuse or abuse of the operation of any methods, strategies, instructions or ideas contained in the material herein, is the sole responsibility of the reader. Any copyrights not held by publisher are owned by their respective authors.

      All information is generalized, presented for informational purposes only and presented as is without warranty or guarantee of any kind. 

      All trademarks and brands referred to in this book are for illustrative purposes only, are the property of their respective owners and not affiliated with this publication in any way. Any trademarks are being used without permission, and the publication of the trademark is not authorized by, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owner.

      The Purloined Purse

      Chapter One

      Baby’s first steps.  This one was definitely going in the books.

      Darcy Sweet had started keeping journals on her first child the very second she and Jon had brought little Colby home from the hospital.  They were just spiral-bound notebooks, but she made sure to pick out the ones with colorful covers or cartoon teddy bears on the front.  She already had three filled up.  Colby walking from the couch to her mother’s arms was going to be the first entry in the latest book.  Seven months.  Well ahead of the curve.

      Sure, it was only two feet of carpet space, but hey.  One step at a time.

      When her daughter made it all the way and fell into her arms Darcy lifted her up high into the air, making her soar, bouncing up and down on her knees as Colby squealed with glee.  Fly!  Fly little girl!

      For just a moment, an image flashed in her mind.  There was Colby, up in the clouds, flying with the birds.

      Darcy blinked, shaking back strands of her long dark hair to study her daughter.  Colby was looking directly at her, the little girl’s blue-green eyes holding secrets and laughter.  The connection between them was so strong.  It had been since long before her bundle of joy had been born.  Sometimes it was like Colby could read her thoughts.

      Then sometimes, it felt like she was getting glimpses of what her daughter was thinking.  Innocent thoughts, full of love and laughter.  Like flying.

      Most mothers would write those feelings off as foolish.  Darcy knew better.  In her family, there was a special sort of ability that got passed down to the girls, sometimes skipping a generation, sometimes passed directly from mother to daughter.  Her Great Aunt Millie had it.  Darcy had it.  Now she was sure that little Colby had it, too.

      It was in little things that her baby did.  The way Colby would stop cooing whenever Darcy walked into the nursery, and would lay there silently waiting for her mother, even if Colby couldn’t see her yet.  The way her little fingers would fist up whenever Darcy let a troubling thought cross her mind while she was holding her daughter.  And, the way thoughts and images seemed to flow between them at the oddest moments.

      She gave her angel a big mommy-sized hug, and decided it was something she would keep an eye on as Colby grew.  Who knew?  By the time the girl was five she might have developed the gift strongly enough that she would be seeing ghosts, just like Darcy.

      From the corner of the room, Great Aunt Millie shimmered into view.  The old woman’s spirit smiled to watch her great niece and great great niece playing together. 

      Speaking of seeing ghosts, Darcy thought to herself, she couldn’t wait for Colby to meet Millie someday.

      Colby’s eyes wandered over to that side of the living room but they didn’t focus on anything.  Then she went back to smiling at Darcy, raising her arms up for more flying.  She wasn’t seeing ghosts yet.

      Someday, Darcy promised her.  I’ll introduce you to your Aunt Millie someday.  For now, it’s time for Mommy to go to work.  Yes, it is, she crooned, gently shaking Colby’s arms back and forth.  Yes, it is!

      From the corner of her eye, she saw Millie vanish, leaving them alone in the house again.

      Jon was already at his job, which was normal for the Misty Hollow police chief.  That gave mom and daughter a bit of time to themselves.  Maybe tomorrow she would start teaching Colby to read.

      A mother had to think big. 

      She was already dressed in khakis and a sleeveless purple top.  Gathering up her backpack with her lunch and her baby supplies, Darcy put on her spring coat, and then her baby carrier, and settled Colby against her chest.  Once her sneakers were snugged in place she was ready to go.

      Her bookstore wasn’t that far away.  Only a short trip to the end of her road, into town, and then a little bit up Main Street.  Once upon a time she would have ridden her bicycle and been there in a matter of minutes.  Now she walked, thanks to her little companion.  That was fine with her.  It was good exercise, but it meant getting into work took longer.  Of course, she never would want to go back to how things were before.  Sure, her and Jon had been perfectly happy by themselves—with their spirited tomcat Smudge—but she knew she was ready to be a mother.  Her life was more complete now than ever before.

      The Sweet Read bookstore had been enjoying one of its best sales years in a long time.  Darcy was even thinking about hiring a part time employee to help her and her partner, Izzy McIntosh.  Izzy was just as dedicated to the bookstore as Darcy was herself, and she deserved a break now and again.  With how crazy Darcy’s life often was, there had been far too many times when Izzy had taken over watching the shop for days at a time.  Things were quieter now, sure.  There hadn’t been a murder in months and even the busloads of curious tourists had tapered off.  But, just because the town had settled into its role as a typical sleepy New England community, that didn’t mean it would stay that way.

      This was Misty Hollow after all.

      The shopkeepers bell rang when she pushed through the front door of her shop.  It was still early.  They wouldn’t officially open for another half hour yet. The first tourists didn’t usually wander into town until midmorning anyway, after waking up in their hotels over in Oak Hollow or one of the other, bigger nearby towns.  She turned the sign in the window anyway, from CLOSED, THE END to OPEN a good book today, just in case any of the locals wanted to come browse and shop before they headed off to work.

      Darcy threaded her way across the open space where tables waited for those who wanted to sit and read, and where sales racks held shirts and hoodies printed with the store logo The Mysterious is All Around Us. Izzy waved from behind the sales counter where she was tidying up to begin the day. 

      They’d been friends for a long time now, but Darcy was still jealous of the way Izzy could carry off looking attractive in a pair of pajamas at home or a button-up blouse here in the store. She had started keeping her blonde locks up in a tight bun, emphasizing her high cheekbones and pretty mouth.  If she hadn’t been stung so badly by a husband who had gone to prison for his crimes, Darcy had no doubt that Izzy would have found love again by now.  All she’d have to do is bat those eyelashes at the right man.

      Well.  Darcy would just have to try playing matchmaker.  Bouncing Colby in her carrier, she made a mental list of all the most eligible men in Misty Hollow.  The list was thin, but there might be a few...

      Izzy gave her a look.  Stop that.

      Hmm?  What? Darcy asked innocently.

      Don’t give me that.  You’re thinking about finding me a husband again.

      Not necessarily.  She unhooked Colby and lifted her out to hold the girl in the crook of her arm instead.  You don’t have to marry someone to enjoy their company.

      I enjoy your company, Izzy told her, arching a perfect eyebrow.  Let’s call that enough for now.  So.  I was thinking we could reorganize the stacks today like we were talking about.  You know, move the romance novels closer to the front door.  The tourists want a quick read.

      I agree.  We can put the reference books further toward the back.  Did we even sell one this week?

      No.  Izzy smiled at Colby, letting her play a game of grab-the-finger.  I haven’t even bothered ordering any new ones.

      The bell over the door rang again and both of them turned to see who it was.  Even Colby looked around to find the sound.

      Hello, ladies, the elderly woman greeted them warmly.  Fine day outside, wouldn’t you say?

      Evelyn Casey, one of the regulars at Darcy’s book club, hummed a little tune to herself as she threaded her way through the merchandise and displays of audio books offered for rent.  She was dressed primly as always in a neck-to-ankle yellow dress with piping along the shoulders.  In her hand she carried a matching bag to complete the outfit.  Her dark gray hair was curled into neat buns on either side of her head as always. 

      She must have misjudged a step because she bumped into one of the shirt racks, hard, and came away wincing and holding her elbow.

      Oh, Evelyn, Darcy asked her, are you all right?

      Yes, yes, Evelyn assured them.  Just having one of those senior moments.  I am eighty-seven now, you know.

      Really?  Izzy winked at Darcy.  You don’t look a day over sixty.

      Evelyn beamed under the compliment.  I do keep myself healthy.  Try to eat right and such.  I get out as much as I can, too.  It’s amazing what you can hear out and about on the streets of our quiet little town.

      She paused, standing there at the sales counter, leaning in close like she had a secret.  Which was exactly what she wanted them to think, Darcy knew.  Evelyn wanted someone to ask her what she was talking about so she could spread some juicy bit of gossip.  Darcy hated gossip.  Still, she wanted to humor her old friend.

      What’s the latest word around Misty Hollow? she asked.

      Izzy rolled her eyes and found a reason to wander off into the stacks.  She had even less tolerance for gossip than Darcy did.

      You won’t believe it, Evelyn told Darcy, rubbing her hands in glee.  I was down at the café earlier and... oh, hello there, Colby.

      Darcy’s baby girl perked up at the sound of her name.  Evelyn tickled a finger under her chin, as if she’d just noticed her there, and Colby cooed with the attention.

      The bell at the door rang again and two other customers came in.  Darcy recognized Ingrid Poche and Eli Gordon.  Both of them lived in town.  They were chatting about something together, while Eli drank from a take-out cup of coffee from Helen’s bakery down the street.  He was already in his security guard outfit, ready for work.  Ingrid laughed at whatever comment he had just made, swinging her purse by its strap.  Those two had been flirting with each other for months now.  Darcy wished they would just take that leap already, but their daily visits to her bookshop were certainly appreciated.  Romance novels for her, and the newspaper for him.

      Evelyn gave Colby a gentle pinch on the cheek before rubbing her hands together again.  Have you heard, she asked Darcy, lowering her voice, about the stolen flowers?

      Well, that certainly caught Darcy’s attention.  Stolen flowers?  Stolen from where?

      Why, from the front lawn of the Town Hall, of course.  Evelyn tsked like everyone should have heard this by now.  Two nights in a row, they’ve planted new flowers to beautify the Hall.  Mayor Helen asked for them herself, is what I heard.  Both nights they were gone the next morning.  Too bad there’s no one to investigate such a terrible thing, don’t you think?

      She meant Darcy, of course.  Lots of her friends knew that Darcy was always there to help.  They might not know about her connection to the world of ghosts, or how she managed to know certain things, but they knew she had a knack for solving mysteries.

      Darcy had faced down murderers, and avenging ghosts, and all manner of bad people.  Someone stealing flowers seemed a little... well, tame compared to all the other mysteries she had investigated over the years.  At the same time, she could be happy that this was the worst thing that had happened in town for months.  The mists that were always creeping underfoot when trouble loomed, the same mists that had given Misty Hollow its name, hadn’t made a reappearance in all that time.  All things considered, she’d take someone stealing flowers over putting her life in danger, any day.

      Evelyn was nodding like she had even more to tell.  Personally, I think it’s that old grump Roland Baskin.  He hates all things good and pretty.  Every year he’s at the Town Hall demanding they stop the Christmas pageant, after all, and he never gets his way.  I wouldn’t be a bit surprised to know he tore those flowers out just for spite!

      In Darcy’s mind, she tried to picture the elderly Mister Baskin bending over in the dead of night to pull up freshly planted flowers.  Mister Baskin had been old ever since Darcy had known him, and he was older than Methuselah now.  She doubted he could steal anything, let alone rows of flowers.

      I’d like to give that man a piece of my mind, Evelyn muttered.  Well.  That’s the latest news, anyway.  I should be going.  Nice to see you again, Darcy.  You too, precious little Colby!

      Evelyn made her way out of the shop, running into that same rack of shirts again, this time with the other elbow. 

      Shaking her head and trying not to smile at Evelyn’s misfortune, Darcy thought about what she’d just heard.  She knew Roland Baskin pretty well, and she even knew some of the reasons why he’d turned into the crabbiest man on the face of the planet.  As suspects went, he might actually be a pretty good one.

      Then again, she didn’t really know much about these flower thefts.  She hadn’t heard anything about them before now.  Was it possible that Evelyn had gotten some of her facts wrong?  Yes.  Most certainly it was.  She should go right to the source and find out the truth before sticking her nose into this.

      Thankfully, she was connected to all the right sources.

      Chapter Two

      The one-story building used by Misty Hollow’s police force hadn’t changed much over the years.  A few new faces, perhaps, but then there always was.  Darcy remembered when Jon was new to town.  New to the department.  New to her, even.  Now she couldn’t imagine her life without him.

      Colby and her walked down to the police department shortly after Evelyn had left the bookstore.  She couldn’t wait until Colby was old enough to own a bicycle of her own.  She was certainly keeping her girlish figure with all this walking, but it took up a lot of her day.

      Then again, she planned on enjoying every single moment of her daughter growing up.  This was a time to slow down and take everything in.

      The officer at the service window in the lobby of the police station nodded to her.  Everyone knew the chief’s wife.  He buzzed her through the door that led to the main room of the building without hesitation and Darcy waved and said hello to the three uniformed officers working at their desks inside.  Further back, two desks were set close together.  These were for the detectives.  The one belonging to Wilson Barton was currently empty, neat stacks of folders and reports waiting for him to return.

      At the other desk, Darcy’s sister sat tapping away at her computer.  Grace Wentworth kept her dark hair cut short and she had developed an almost permanent scowl over the years, but in every other way it was easy to see the two of them were sisters.  They had a lot of their mother in them.  Physically, anyway.

      When she looked up and saw Darcy coming across the room with Colby nestled in her carrier, the frown on her face was replaced by a proud auntie smile.  Is she asleep?

      Yes, Darcy answered.  Passed out somewhere on the walk over.  I might have to bring the playpen into the bookstore for when I need to pop out like this.  She gets heavy.

      Grace gave her a look.  You can’t tell me you don’t want this little girl with you everywhere you go.

      Darcy smiled down at her daughter’s peaceful face.  Her mouth was parted slightly, and it twitched with each sleepy breath.  Her thick waves of dark hair needed a trim but they just looked so cute all messy and curly like that.  Yeah.  I like it better when she’s with me.  Does that make me clingy? she asked as she stroked Colby’s cheek.

      It makes you a mom, Grace assured her, waving her to sit down in one of the chairs on her side of the desk.  I went through the same thing with Addison when she was born.  Speaking of which, when are we going to get the cousins together for a playdate?

      Soon, definitely.  Oh, hey.  Colby just learned to walk this morning.  Isn’t that fantastic?

      They talked for a little while about baby milestones, and what Darcy could expect, and what Grace and her husband Aaron were looking forward to.  Darcy was glad that Grace had gone through all of this first.  It was nice to have someone to turn to for advice.

      So what brings you down here? Grace finally asked her, typing some more on her computer.  "Sorry, that sounded a bit abrupt.  I’d love to talk with you all day but I’ve got a backlog of cases.  Now someone is stealing flowers from

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