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

been some kind of business function. Sandra was with her husband Dennis, who was still the mayor. She was in her sixties, but Andi remembered a slender vivacious woman, immaculately made-up and with a healthy glow that suggested regular yoga classes and spa days. Since Ricky vanished, Andi had met Sandra several times. She’d aged. Her hair was thin, as if it were falling out, and Sandra didn’t bother with make-up anymore.

The lady in front of Andi now had deteriorated further. Her skin, once radiant, sagged into a multitude of wrinkles. She was stooped, as if she needed a walking stick to steady her. It shocked Andi. She thought Sandra must have lost thirty pounds since they had last met.

Sandra had been shouting at the officer, but now tears were streaming down her haggard face. She sank to the ground, kneeling in the sand, her bony hands covering her face. Her body shook with uncontrolled sobs, and Andi hurried towards her.

The officer was crouched down, patting Sandra’s shoulder, looking around wildly.

“Ma’am, I’ve radioed for the officer in charge, he’s on his way,” he said to the shaking figure.

He looked up, saw Andi and gestured for her to come over.

“This lady will look after you, won’t you?” He looked hopefully at Andi. “I’ll run up the trail and see if Inspector Vega is on his way.”

“No need, Constable.”

Andi heard a familiar voice behind her.

“Mrs Havers?”

Andrew Vega hovered above Andi and the distraught Sandra Havers.

“Mrs Havers, I’m so sorry. I don’t have any news for you yet. I can tell you that a body has been discovered, but my team has a lot of work to do before we will know anything. I can only imagine how hard this is for you, but I promise you this: as soon as I have any information at all, I will tell you myself.”

His voice was gentle and firm, and Sandra Havers became visibly calmer.

“Mrs Havers, the tide will be in soon. Let one of my officers take you home.”

Sandra Havers raised her head. She had stopped crying, and Andi could see she was trying to regain her composure.

“No,” she whispered. And then stronger, “No, that’s won’t be necessary. I’ll walk back. There’s plenty of time before high tide.”

“Why don’t I walk with you?” Andi asked. “I can make sure you get home safely.”

Sandra looked at Andi as if seeing her for the first time.

“Andi? Do you know anything? Have they told you anything yet?”

“No, absolutely nothing,” Andi said quickly, aware that Vega was looking at her. “Right now, I’m not a reporter, I’m just Andi. And I’ll happily walk you back to the boardwalk. Maybe you need a strong cup of tea at Hephzibah’s?”

Sandra struggled to her feet. She looked at Vega. “You promise you’ll tell me if it’s Ricky?”

Andi thought she sounded like a small child.

“Of course, Mrs Havers, you have my word.” And then to Andi, “You’ll be OK?”

Andi heard the warning in his voice. She nodded at him. “Don’t worry, Inspector Vega. We’ll both be fine. I’ll look after Mrs Havers.” The last words were said pointedly, and Inspector Vega nodded back. He flashed a smile at Andi, and she felt her spirits lift a little. She’d forgotten how handsome he was.

He reached out and squeezed her shoulder. “Thanks, Andi. It’s good to see you.”

Andi held out her arm for Sandra Havers. The heartbroken mother took it and leaned on Andi a little as they made their way back along the beach. She hardly weighed anything, Andi thought, like a frail bird.

But Sandra’s grip was strong.

“Andi. I know it’s Ricky. I feel it. I’m his mother, and I know he’s dead.” Her voice was stronger. She sounded angry. “Why didn’t they damn well do something? Why didn’t they search for him when I asked? I begged them to. My boy would still be here now.” And she broke down again, sobbing and leaning against Andi.

“Sandra, I’m so sorry.” Andi didn’t argue with Sandra. She thought the same. Why hadn’t they searched more thoroughly? It was a question needing an answer.

They reached the boardwalk and Sandra disentangled her arm from Andi’s.

“Will you promise me something, Andi?” Sandra asked.

“If I can.”

“Promise me you’ll do everything to find out what happened to my son? Even if it leads you to Dennis? I have to know, Andi, I just have to.”

“I promise I will do that, Sandra.”

Slowly they walked to Hephzibah’s. Dennis stood in the doorway and beckoned to Sandra. She held out a shaky hand and patted Andi on the shoulder before walking over to her husband’s side.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Andi watched Sandra walk away with Dennis, his arm firmly around her shoulder. She wondered if Sandra was going home with a murderer.

Because one thing was certain. If it was Ricky they’d found, he’d definitely been killed. Why else would Inspector Andrew Vega be in Coffin Cove?

Chapter Eleven

Coffin Cove gravel pit.

Muscle cars, old beaters and souped-up trucks idled and revved up on one end of a stretch of road behind the disused gravel pit, just a mile out of town. There had been plans for an airport right here back in the day, but now there was only this tarmac strip that led nowhere. At the other end, bikers lined up their beasts in perfect symmetry. There was no rivalry. This was no stand-off. There was simply no place else to go.

Here, the testosterone and sweat of Coffin Cove’s bored youth mingled with diesel fumes and the stench of weed. It was sweltering. The bikers had already discarded their leathers and were burning up and down in T-shirts.

Hanging out at the gravel pit was one of two alternatives for Lee Dagg. It was either this or the drive-in movies. But there was