HELL'S HALF ACRE a gripping murder mystery full of twists (Coffin Cove Mysteries Book 2) by JACKIE ELLIOTT (classic literature books .txt) 📗

people who reminded him daily of his power and significance in this little town. Jade apparently didn’t need constant validation, and all her team genuinely seemed to be focused on serving the community.

Well, nearly all, Andi thought as she watched Nadine Dagg appear in the foyer and lean over the receptionist’s desk. Nadine whispered something in the receptionist’s ear, and then leaned back and gave a loud tinkling laugh. Andi couldn’t hear what she said, but the receptionist frowned and tilted her computer screen away from Nadine, not joining in the hilarity.

Andi had heard the rumours about Nadine Dagg and Dennis Havers. Their affair was an open secret. Why hadn’t Jade Thompson got rid of this woman? Her loyalty would be with her lover, not Jade. Every chance she got, Nadine would be running back to Dennis with snippets of information.

For a fleeting moment, Andi wondered if Sandra Havers wasn’t using her and the Gazette to get back at her husband. It would snowball any chance of Dennis getting re-elected, that’s for sure.

Watching Nadine, in her cheap, inappropriate clothes and heavy make-up, Andi couldn’t entirely blame Sandra for wanting to hurt her husband. Sandra might feel guilty about Ricky, but she didn’t deserve the years of humiliation heaped on her from this very public affair.

It made Andi think of her mother. She had endured much the same thing from Andi’s father — a man who loved attention, especially from younger women. When he’d made a name for himself as a writer and journalist in Ottawa, he’d celebrated his fame by having one tawdry affair after another. When Andi was old enough to understand what was going on, she asked her mother repeatedly why she didn’t leave.

“Because I love him,” she would reply, and Andi would stand back, helpless, as her mother starved herself thin, bleached her greying hair and went under the surgeon’s knife in an effort to remain young and desirable for her philandering husband.

Andi realized she was staring at Nadine and dropped her eyes to the magazine she was holding. She felt sorry for Nadine too. After all, Andi knew what it was like to be the “other woman”. Who was she to judge? God, relationships were so complicated. Better to avoid them for a while. At least until she’d got her life straightened out a bit.

“Miss Silvers?”

Andi had been so lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t heard Mayor Thompson approaching.

If Jade Thompson was surprised to see Andi instead of Jim, she didn’t show it. She welcomed Andi into her office and invited her to sit down.

She seemed relaxed and cordial, and happy to talk about the progress she’d made in the last few months.

“It’s been harder than I thought,” she admitted. “Not everyone in the community is happy with the tax dollars being spent. But I believe the new developments will boost real estate values and business revenues for everyone. And we will recoup the initial investment and loans in extra tax dollars.”

Andi was scribbling notes.

“Can you tell me about the Heritage Festival?” Andi asked. “What are you hoping to achieve?”

Andi watched Jade talk animatedly about increased tourism and community participation.

If Jade was hiding a terrible secret, Andi thought, it wasn’t hindering her dedication to Coffin Cove. She really was committed to fulfilling her campaign promises.

Andi was beginning to think she was wrong. Maybe her instincts were off. Maybe Jim was right, she needed more time to heal.

“I do have one question,” Andi said, when Jade finished talking, “about the scheduled events for the festival.”

Jade screwed up her face. “I think I know what you’re going to ask,” she said, and giggled.

For a second, Andi stared at her. It seemed out of character for this serious, almost humourless woman. But then Andi laughed with her.

“Yes, Mayor. Er . . . belly dancing?”

Jade cringed a little. “I know, Andi. But I encouraged community participation, and I understand Nadine and her dance troop are very professional.” She said the last bit with a straight face, so Andi just nodded and made a note.

Jade’s desk phone rang. She frowned but picked it up.

“I’m in an interview . . . oh . . .”

Andi waited. Jade swung her chair round and faced away from Andi.

There was a knock at the door, and it flew open.

“Mayor!” Nadine Dagg stood gripping the doorframe. “Mayor, I have to go . . .”

Andi found herself staring at Nadine for the second time that day. Even under that thick make-up, Andi could see Nadine’s grey pallor. She seemed to have aged twenty years since Andi saw her less than thirty minutes ago. Her swagger was gone, and she clenched her hands together as she stepped forward and opened her mouth again to give the reason for her departure.

Jade Thompson clicked her phone down and didn’t wait for Nadine’s explanation.

“Of course, Nadine,” she said quietly. “I just heard. Go.”

Nadine left in a hurry, leaving the door open.

Andi looked at the mayor. She was white-faced.

“You’ll know soon enough,” she said, “so I might as well tell you. A body, that is . . .” Her voice faltered. “They’ve found human remains near Nadine’s home. Her daughter Katie found them this morning.”

“That’s terrible news, Mayor,” Andi said, horrified. But her brain was working overtime.

“Yes, it is.” Mayor Jade Thompson stood and gestured towards the door. The interview was over.

Andi was certain she and the mayor had the same question: had Nadine’s daughter found Ricky Havers?

Chapter Nine

Inspector Andrew Vega looked at his watch. Old-school, that’s what I am, he thought. Just an ordinary watch that does one thing — tells the time. Not my sleep patterns, or blood pressure, or how many steps I’ve taken today — just the plain old time of day.

He was trying to simplify his life, and one thing he’d have loved to do was disconnect from the damn internet.

Vega hadn’t