Cloudy with a Chance of Ghosts (Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries Book 4) (15 page)

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Authors: J.D. Winters

BOOK: Cloudy with a Chance of Ghosts (Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries Book 4)

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I hesitated. “Yes, but are you the one who should be able to make that judgment?”

“No,” he admitted. “Of course not. And I’m not doing that here. But it seems to me, if someone is not prosecutable, if there’s nothing you can charge him with, just to smear his name isn’t really fair.”

I sighed, fearing the worst. “Okay, I get it. So you know something but you’re not going to tell me.”

He touched my face, stroked my cheek. “That’s where you’re wrong. I am going to tell you. I just didn’t want to tell a whole table full of people. I think the guy deserves a chance to either release the information on his own, or keep on keeping on, taking his chances.”

“Okay,” I said eagerly, grabbing his hand. “So tell me already.”

“It seems Carlton Hart was once a man named Jerome Prentice. He was born into a family of travelling Holy Roller types. Now there are plenty of those who are legitimate, godly people. Unfortunately, not his family. They trained him to be a phony faith healer and all the other scams along those lines. He was quite a sensation as a teenager. He appeared on television, covers of magazines. The family made millions. But at some point, he renounced the whole con game element and used his money to invest, give to charity, and ultimately, to change his name and leave that past behind. He even got plastic surgery so people wouldn’t recognize him.”

“Wow.”

“Interesting, huh?”

“So mob connections had nothing to do with it?”

“Nope.” He shook his head. “Never listen to rumors. They almost always turn out to be false.”

“So Carlton Hart has been trying to live down a lousy, but lucrative childhood. Huh.”

“Right. And when I get the chance, I’m going to tell him I think he ought to tell the world all the details himself, so he doesn’t fall prey to some nosy journalist again.”

I nodded, thinking of Vince Bianchi. “Good advice. He ought to write his own story, fast--before somebody else shows up to do it for him.”

That earned me another kiss, but he had to go. I walked back into the restaurant feeling a little guilty that I knew something I wasn’t going to tell those closest to me. But all in all, as I looked around the table, I felt happy at how things were turning out. I still didn’t trust Jagger with his wandering eyes and the beautiful women at his beck and call—but that was something Jill was going to have to deal with. Right now, I was just glad we were all safe and about to have some delicious food. In so many ways, all seemed right with the world.

Epilogue

Recipe for Hawaiian Chicken Salad

Also in the Cozy Mystery Series

Also in the Destiny Bay series

ABOUT AUTHOR
It was just three days later that they began to grade for the coming construction of the orchid house. It was planned to be quite a showplace. I was excited to see things taking shape. But when they began marking out the boundaries and exterior walls with bright orange paint from spray cans, I noticed there seemed to be an extra room at the end of the building.

“What’s that for?” I asked Bebe.

She threw me one of her secret smiles and pulled me aside to show me the plans. “You wanted a room for Aunty Jane. I added exactly that. I’m calling it an extra bedroom in case some visiting expert or commercial buyer needs a place for the night. But really, it’s for her.” She sighed. “I only hope she decides to use it. You know how stubborn ghosts can be.”

I stared at her, tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. “Oh Bebe! Oh, thank you so much. I can’t believe it. I think she really needs her own space. And now you’ve given it to her. Oh!” I hugged her tightly. “Oh thank you!”
She had tears in her eyes as well. “You know that I love that lady,” she whispered to me. “She’s been in my life from the beginning. I wish…” She shook her head. “Please take care of her for me.”

I nodded. I would. I promised with all my heart.

“Aunty Jane,” I whispered into the breeze as I walked back to the house. “You’ve got your own room now. Use it wisely!”

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Hawaiian Chicken Salad

This could be the perfect solution to “What do I do with this leftover rotisserie chicken?” or you could cook up some chicken breasts or boneless thighs and chop the resulting meat into small pieces (no skin). You could even use canned chicken in a pinch. About 2 cups ought to do it.

2 cups chopped chicken
1 cup pineapple chunks
1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts
1/3 cup chopped celery
½ cup mayonnaise
½ cup sour cream
(or, skip the mayo and sour cream for 1 cup plain Greek yogurt!)
A squeeze or two from a lemon slice
1 TBSP chopped parsley
1 TBSP chopped basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Mix together lightly and serve on croissant rolls (sliced open, sandwich style) along with a little fresh lettuce and a nice slice of ripe avocado.

Enjoy!

(Try this with 2 cups of cooked shrimp or leftover turkey!)

The Destiny Bay Cozy Mysteries Series…

A Ghost for Christmas

Be careful what you wish for

Mele Keahi wasn't looking for excitement when she came to Destiny Bay. She'd just lost her man, her job and her self esteem, and she needed comfort. Instead, she found herself involved in a murder, sparring with a suspicious detective and coming face to face with a ghost from her Hawaiian childhood. Not what she'd bargained for--but then--sometimes you just have to deal with what the cat dragged in.

Ghost On Duty

The show must go on!

Just when Mele Keahi thinks her new life in North Destiny Bay is settling down, everything turns against her. First she suspects the detective she’s taken a shine to has a new lady on the line, then she finds another body. The police captain is growing suspicious, her ghost is getting pushy, and she rashly agrees to adopt an uncouth parrot. Meanwhile she’s trying to manage a Christmas Pageant. If it all falls apart, the town will go broke. Then--there goes her salary!

A Ghost In Time

Uh-oh, it's magic!

Mele Keahi is desperate to clear her aunt's name, but there's no denying that Bebe's car was the one that mowed down Starflower Moon, a rival cut flower grower. All Mele's newly attempted magic and sleuthing skills may not be enough to save her beloved aunt from jail…or her own life from attack by the real killer.

The Destiny Bay Romances available now!

All Available from my website:
http://helenonthecoast.wordpress.com/

my Amazon page

Destiny Bay Romance-Forever Yours