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

the back of the café with a view of the beach. She settled in and waited for Hephzibah to join her. The smell of baking took Summer back to her days living in the commune on Hope Island. Women had come from all around Canada to live in the virtually self-sufficient community. Summer’s mind flooded with memories of Greta, Hephzibah’s mother, who had fled from her abusive husband to Hope Island with her baby daughter. Greta had been an expert baker, Summer recalled. When they could get their hands on flour and sugar, usually via a sympathetic fisherman who would drop off supplies, Greta’s baked goods were famous in the commune. Hephzibah had inherited her mother’s talent, Summer thought, as the younger woman joined her with a tray of coffee and freshly baked muffins.

Hephzibah was one reason Summer had stayed in Coffin Cove. Greta died years ago, and just before she did, Summer promised her she’d always watch over Hephzibah. In latter years, it had been the other way around. Hephzibah had supported both Summer and Jade.

She was quite the mother figure to many of the townsfolk, and Hephzibah provided a friendly ear for anyone’s problems. She also heard all the gossip. And that was why Summer was here this morning.

“So the body was definitely Ricky Havers’?” Summer didn’t waste any time with small talk. If Hephzibah was taken aback, she didn’t show it.

“Yes, the police issued a statement. Andi Silvers was in here this morning, heading up to the Daggs’ to get more info from Katie. But I doubt she will. Apparently, the place is crawling with cops.”

“Must be murder,” Summer said flatly.

“Yes. Andi says so. Not official yet, but why would all these police be here?” Hephzibah said. “They informed Dennis and Sandra before the press conference. Can’t imagine what they’re feeling.”

“Guilt?” Summer remarked cynically, and then, “Sorry, totally unfair. Nobody deserves that pain.”

But a place in Summer’s heart remained hardened towards Dennis Havers.

Like all of Coffin Cove, Summer had believed Dennis Havers was corrupt. But there was little that anyone could do to stop the shady real estate purchases, the awarding of city contracts to his inner circle for a price and the collection of extra repair fees from his commercial tenants which amounted to a protection racket. But Dennis owned so much of Coffin Cove and had been one of the major employers for so long, it went against most people’s financial interests to oppose him.

If Dennis had been elected once again, Summer would have been one of his tenants in the trailer park. Dennis was just waiting for the sale price to decrease, as the owner grew more desperate. It had been part of Dennis’s plan, Summer believed, to drive out as many tenants as possible, and squeeze the owner’s cash flow until he could negotiate the sale price he wanted. Setting Ricky up in the marijuana store wasn’t outside the law. Weed was legal. But Dennis had known that Ricky would never be content with selling his official inventory.

Summer had organized a petition against the Smoke Room. It was nothing more than a gesture, really. The city council gave her a few minutes to make a presentation, but Summer could see by the bowed heads and embarrassed squirming that Dennis had “persuaded” the council members to reject her proposal to close the Smoke Room.

Summer was making her own arrangements to move when Jade came to visit. She knew her daughter had been miserable in Coffin Cove. Undiagnosed dyslexia had blighted her early school years. She’d never been part of the in-crowd during her teenage years. It had been difficult for Jade, a quiet bookish girl, and she’d made her escape to college, intending never to return. Summer hadn’t known, until the previous summer, the trauma her daughter experienced at the hands of Ricky Havers.

The thought of it now made Summer clench her fists in rage. Her beautiful daughter. Defiled by that entitled piece of scum. Jade had been strong enough to confront Ricky. Summer remembered that night. But even in death, Ricky was still making Jade pay.

Jade had been very quiet when she came home the previous evening. She’d told Summer about the discovery. She hadn’t mentioned where Ricky was found, except it was on Dagg’s property. When Summer heard that, she felt as if an icy hand was clutching her heart. She said nothing to Jade, except to squeeze her hand and whisper, “Don’t worry. It’s all over now.”

Jade had nodded, but Summer could see the anxiety in her daughter’s face. And she didn’t believe it herself.

Having been lost in her thoughts, Summer lost her appetite for muffins and finished her coffee in silence when Hephzibah hurried off to serve her customers. Summer watched the ocean transform from pewter to blue as the morning clouds scuttled across the sky, and wondered what she could do to protect her daughter.

Even though the sun was out, and the half-hour walk home usually made Summer perspire, she shivered in the breeze, unable to shake a sinister chill. When she reached the gate to the cottage, she stood for a moment looking out over the bay. The ocean was so pretty and calm in the sunshine, but all Summer could see were scenes from the past, playing out in her mind. She and Coffin Cove shared a dark, menacing history.

Summer tried to enjoy the blue sky. She took a few slow, mindful breaths of cool air.

The dark clouds of the past were rolling in.

* * *

As Summer lifted her face to the sun and stretched her palms outwards and upwards, as if worshipping Mother Nature, a man watched her from a distance. He’d been watching the cottage for hours. He’d seen Jade Thompson, the mayor, leave early. Her face was drawn and tense as she drove past him, oblivious to his presence. He’d even lifted his