Murder by Page One by Olivia Matthews (read aloud txt) 📗

car?” Floyd held my gaze. “Because I don’t think your snake got into your car by itself. I think it had help.”

“I know I locked my car.” I faced Floyd again. “It’s a habit.”

Adrian returned at a brisk jog. “The person could’ve used a car key jammer.” The trash container was now thankfully empty. “It’s a device that blocks the radio signal from your car remote and prevents your car from locking. I read about it in one of my true crime novels.”

My mind was almost overwhelmed by the implications of what Floyd and Adrian were saying. Someone had deliberately put a snake in my car and had planned how to do it. A foggy memory settled over my mind and struggled to take shape. Bobby was fascinated by snakes. He liked them enough to have them tattooed on his forearm in brilliant colors that almost matched the one I’d found on my car seat. Could he be behind this?

“I don’t usually drive to work. How could he have known I drove today—and which car was mine?” I spread my arms, indicating the crowded parking lot. The after-work patrons were arriving.

“It’s obvious.” Floyd sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Someone’s been watching you, Marvey. And we all know why. Are you sure you want to continue this investigation?”

Chapter 23

My first four months in Peach Coast had been quiet. Now, in less than a week—we’d only been investigating Fiona’s murder for five days—the stuff had hit the fan: a snake in my car, my sabotaged office chair, and the intruder who’d been sneaking around my home in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

I’d thanked Floyd and Adrian for their help again—they really had gone above and beyond to help me—before making a beeline to the general store for the snake repellant. I was anxious to get home, check on Phoenix, and then…think.

The general store was huge with lots of aisles and even more people. It seemed to be another town hot spot, like On A Roll. In fact, a few of the café regulars were in the store. They hailed me as I hurried past, slowing just enough to exchange a wave and well wishes before speeding on. I didn’t want to spend too much time in the store. I couldn’t risk that another snake would turn up in the parking lot and somehow or another work its way into my car. Random, frightening thoughts like that would probably stalk me for days if not weeks until the fright from my snake encounter dissipated.

A helpful clerk pointed me in the direction of the camping section for the snake repellent. After a quick trip through the checkout lane, I was back outside. The shadows had started to lengthen. The weather had cooled, but it was still warm enough to be comfortable without a jacket. The slight breeze carried the scent of the nearby coast.

I spotted my little sedan across the parking lot. From this distance, it seemed snake-free. Still, I prepared myself to enter the vehicle with caution. I glanced to my left before stepping off the sidewalk.

“Watch out!” a female voice screamed from behind me.

At the same time, a flash of movement in my peripheral vision claimed my attention. My head spun to the right. My brain rushed to verify what my eyes couldn’t believe. A dark mid-sized sedan was zooming straight toward me. There was no way the driver couldn’t see me. It wasn’t that dark. They never swerved, never blew the horn. Never. Stopped.

Were they targeting me?

I jumped back up to the sidewalk. As the sedan sped past, a gust of wind slammed into my back. I went cold. The car had been so close. Too close. It could’ve run me down. My legs quivered like Jell-O before giving out altogether. I crumbled onto the sidewalk. Disjointed thoughts spun around my head: Phoenix, a dark sedan, and an out-of-state license plate.

“Are you all right?” A petite older woman rushed to my side. She pressed both of her hands onto my shoulders as though offering support.

I tilted my head to meet her eyes. She looked almost as panic-stricken as I felt. “You saved my life. Thank you.” My voice wobbled in the middle and at both ends.

My guardian angel’s brown eyes widened. Her thin black eyebrows flew up her forehead. “Oh, honey, don’t think like that. Are you hurt?”

I tried to shake my head, but my whole body was still trembling. “I don’t think so.”

“That was crazy.” Anger pulsed in her voice. “Some people are so selfish. They think they’re the only ones allowed to move in the parking lot.” She glared in the direction the car had flown. It had disappeared without a trace.

“‘Selfish’ is one way to describe it.” Homicidal was another. I struggled to push myself to my feet.

“Careful. Don’t move too fast.” My rescuer braced my left arm to support me.

“Thank you.” More than anything, I appreciated her just being there after my scare, the second one in less than two hours. “I’m Marvey Harris.”

“Sharon Hirose.” She looked up at me, cradling my arm as though afraid to let me go. “Do you want me to take you to the hospital?”

“Oh, no. I’m fine.” My teeth still chattered, though. “Thank you again so much for calling out to me and for checking on me. You’re truly a good Samaritan.”

Sharon’s pale cheeks pinkened. “Anyone would’ve done the same.”

Being a New Yorker, I wasn’t sure about that. “I’m grateful you were nearby.”

She accompanied me to my car. We checked the parking lot twice to make certain it was clear before we proceeded. “Be careful on your drive home. Do you live far?”

“No, but I’ll be careful. And, please, you do the same.” I smiled down at her before deactivating my car alarm. “Thanks again.”

“You’re welcome. Good night.” She turned to leave.

“Sharon?” I waited until she turned back to me. “Did you happen to notice the car’s license plate number?”

She gave me an apologetic shrug. “I’m