A Murder In Milburn Book 2 Death Of A Deputy REVAMPED June 2016 SCRIVENER (18 page)

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Authors: Nancy McGovern

BOOK: A Murder In Milburn Book 2 Death Of A Deputy REVAMPED June 2016 SCRIVENER

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Was this it? Did it have to end this way? With Nora and Raquel both dead, killed by the greed of monsters masquerading as human beings?

Milly swung the shovel again, and this time caught Nora on her shoulder. Nora went stumbling forward, rolling as she tumbled down.

I’m sorry, Raquel.
She thought.
I’m sorry I couldn’t save you. I’m sorry I couldn’t save myself.

Maybe she imagined it, but she thought she heard a voice. An urgent, yet loving voice.

It doesn’t end this way.
It can’t end this way. You need to live Nora, and you need to be happy. That’s the only way you’ll make
me
happy
.

Milly straddled Nora and raised the shovel again.

With a sudden burst of energy, Nora struck back. With a strength that seemed to come from someplace other than her tired body, she pushed Milly off her and began running again.

This time, when she ran, there was only serenity. Like a marathon runner, she ran steady, almost in a trance. Behind her, Milly fell farther and farther away, still screaming.

Then, Nora was on the road. Then, it was all over.

*****

Chapter 30

Milly’s arrest sent a shockwave through the town. No one knew what to make of it. For days, people gathered at Anna’s, whispering rumors about how it had happened and what exactly had happened.

Nora had been confined inside her own house, and although the town folk went to visit her, Mrs. Mullally would chase them away claiming that there was no need to be nosey and that Nora would talk when she was ready to.

Milly had been arrested, and her trial would begin soon. Reporters descended on the town, fascinated by the story of an ex-Hollywood actress who had killed a rockstar. The publicity about the reason she killed him drove up the price of the Zany Motts’ guitar even further, so that now, Karen was a multimillionaire.

As for Karen, the town had been shocked into silence when she and Sean made their first public appearance at Anna’s pancake house. They walked in hand-in-hand, very conscious of the stares that followed them, and trying to hide their nervousness behind plastic smiles. To their surprise, the town had welcomed them.

“I always thought you’d make a nice couple,” Betty Manor had said, congratulating them. “Wallis, bless his soul, was a good man, but a bad husband.”

Others had echoed similar sentiments, rushing forward to shake Sean’s hand, telling him they had always believed that he was the right sheriff for Milburn.

“You did well, figuring it out,” Desmond Drakely said to him.

“It was Nora, not me,” Sean said. “I hate to admit it, but she’s the one who caught Milly when she was trying to dig up the Mott’s guitar.”

“So what happens to Milly, then?” someone asked.

“That’s for the courts to decide,” Sean said. “But she’s confessed, and she’s under psychiatric evaluation right now. Personally, I think she’s going to be going away for a very long time.”

Alan Bridges, sulky and alone, sipped a milkshake laced with rum and whispered rumors about how it was all an inside job, but even his old friend Petey didn’t support him.

“Come on, Alan, it was Milly, not Sean. Just admit you were wrong about him.”

As for Nora, she spent a few days recovering from the wounds Milly had inflicted on her. Mrs. Mullally, protective as always, didn’t let a single soul in to see her. So she spent time alone in her room, remembering the weird peace that had flooded over her in the middle of one of her most traumatic experiences when Milly had chased her.

In her mind, she replayed that voice over and over again, trying to convince herself it wasn’t Raquel’s voice when she knew otherwise.

Raquel had saved her. Raquel had told her to live. Raquel had told her she had to pursue every dream she had ever dreamt.

On the second night Nora had locked herself in, she felt her window creak open, and someone sit at the foot of her bed. She blinked her eyes open, and saw Harvey, sitting there with his back turned to her.

“She could have killed you,” he said softly, as Nora awoke. “She could have killed you, Nora, and I would never have forgiven myself.”

“But she didn’t,” Nora said. “I escaped.”

Harvey turned back and put a hand under her chin. “You’re precious to me, Nora. More precious than a million dollar guitar, even. Promise me you’ll never put yourself in a situation that dangerous again.”

“I can’t make promises I might not keep,” she said.

“Then promise me you’ll let me be there,” Harvey said. “Promise me you’ll let me protect you.”

“Harvey--”

“I love you, Nora, and I want to help you. Every way I can. I want it so badly. I can’t bear the thought that…”

“Harvey,” Nora’s voice was quiet, but something in it made him pause and look up.

“I love you too,” she said. “More than you know.”

With a smile, he leaned forward and pressed his lips on her. “Then there’s nothing more to be said.”

THE END

Thank you for reading my story!

I truly hope you enjoyed it!

If so, you can get the 3rd book in this series,
Death At The Library
, On Amazon RIGHT NOW!

Just
CLICK HERE
to do so!

And if you’d like updates, special offers on all of my future books & information on joining my Street Team (through which you’d receive a FREE advanced copy of Book 3), you can
SIGN UP FOR MY NEWSLETTER HERE!

There is also a novella-length Prequel to the series that you can get on Amazon called
Dying To Be Cool.

Get it by
CLICKING HERE!

Please continue for a note from the author…

A RECIPE FOR YOU!

Nora’s Delicious Crepes

Total Time:
30 minutes

Prep:
10 minutes

Cook:

20 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup of flour (all-purpose)

2 eggs

1/2 cup of milk

1/2 cup of water

1/4 teaspoon of salt

2 tablespoons of melted butter

Directions:

1. Whisk the flour and the eggs together in a large mixing bowl. Gradually stir in the milk and water until combined. Add the salt and butter. Beat until smooth.

2. Lightly-oil a griddle or frying pan and place over a medium-high heat.

Pour or scoop approximately 1/4 cup of the batter onto the griddle for each crepe. Spread the batter evenly by tilting the pan in a circular motion.
3. Cook the crepe until the bottom is light-brown, usually approximately 2 minutes.

Loosen with a spatula, flip and cook the other side to a light-brown.
4. Serve hot.

4. Add your choice of fruit, honey and/or whipped cream.

5. Enjoy!

One More Thing…

If you would
RETURN TO AMAZON
to give this book a positive review, I would
really
appreciate it!

Thank you so much!

Please continue for a note from the author…

A Note From Nancy

Thank you for reading this book!

I am still reeling from the response the first book in this series has received so I
really
hope this one met (or, in fact,
exceeded
) the expectations!

Readers from around the world have emailed to tell me how much they loved
Death At A Diner
and that they couldn’t wait to read the second book in the series.

It has been amazing!

It has also been amazingly
stressful
!

I actually had this one written before the first one was released and was putting the finishing touches on it while Book 1 was enjoying its first days in the Kindle Store.

I thought it was only going to take a day or two.

But, once I saw the praise being heaped on
Death At a Diner
, I had to go back over Book 2 to make sure it lived up to the hype!

And I kept going over it…
over and over and over again!

My goal was to get it perfect and I already know I did
not
attain that goal!

But if I did well enough to allow you to have a great time reading it, I will be happy.

And, if you are looking forward to Book 3, then I am
ecstatic!

On that note, I would love to hear your thoughts on this book, this series & the future!

Would you like to read more about Nora Newberry?

Would you prefer a new series?

Would you like more of
something
and less of
another
?

I am all ears!

After all, I am writing for
you
!

So please let me know what is on your mind!