“Because Petey was inside. First, looking at the cameras, watching Birchall on them, leaving those produce cameras all pointing at the doors to the back room. And then disabling all the cameras on his path past the sesame snacks to the back room doors by dairy.”
Clara said, “He didn’t want to say who he’d seen because he truly didn’t want to get them in trouble. Didn’t want to cast suspicion on people for the crime he committed,” Clara said.
“Or, he didn’t want to risk pinning down his timeline too tight and having it reveal he hadn’t been outside the entire time.”
Teague’s comment drew a look of reproach from Clara.
“The way he’d talked about Karen and Lorelei. Almost poetic,” she said. “He had to be thinking of his daughter and grandchildren. Grandchildren he might never see again because the father has custody now.”
Also, because Petey was likely to be in prison for a long time, if not the rest of his life.
No, I didn’t say that. I wasn’t inviting Clara’s reproach the way Teague had.
* * * *
During our phone conversation that night, I cried a little when I told Kit about Petey’s daughter and grandchildren. But not about his being arrested for murder.
It was like we’d told him. He couldn’t get anybody in trouble if they hadn’t done anything wrong.
* * * *
Clara had nearly finished her course in being an author’s assistant. She already was working as the instructor’s assistant.
School was back in session, though Teague hadn’t yet been called to substitute teach.
I’d put aside the romance novel set in the Blue Ridge Mountains I’d been trying to write. I hope to — no, I will — get back to it. But I heard a snippet of dialogue in my head while walking Gracie the other evening and I’ve been following its lead.
The scary thing is it might lead me so deep into the woods I’ll never get out. Or it will be like the yellow brick road in Oz and expose me to trees that throw apples, flying monkeys, poppy fields — a nap does sound good — and lead to a charlatan who isn’t entirely wicked and a witch who is, but eventually home, having made a trio of great friends.
I’m betting lost in the woods.
But I won’t know unless I try it.
What is the snippet of dialogue project about? I’m not sure. It starts with a character coming to a writer and asking her to take him back. I know, I know, characters talking to their writer. Strange. And it’s getting stranger as I write.
The agility area opened on a glorious, sunny day. Hot, but not stifling.
It was happy chaos, made even better because Berrie brought only two of her younger Boston terriers.
Adding to the pleasure for Clara, Teague, and me was the news Kit had delivered the night before that the Jolly Roger board had voted in safeguards against mass firings, along with a fund to help previously fired employees and their dependent children.
I suspected Petey would consider that worth his freedom, which was admirable, and worth Birchall’s life, which wasn’t.
Late in the afternoon, I was sitting on a picnic table in the agility area, chin in hands.
“What’s wrong, Sheila?” Clara plopped next to me.
“I had a thought. A question, really.”
“What?”
“Do you think training our dogs to jump over things, to crawl through things, to walk over things might not be the best idea?”
“What do you mean? It’s agility training. They love it. And it’s so good for them. The physical and mental exercise.”
“Yeah, they love it—”
With a few exceptions. I was remembering the mixed reviews of the weave poles from our three.
Gracie took the weave poles precisely, but at a pace that would have had Queen Victoria in her final days ordering her to get a move on, for heaven’s sake.
Murphy started into the line at a nice clip, then slowed significantly. He appeared to instinctively understand the goal, but wanted to think about it.
LuLu started in after Murphy, following him around the first two poles, then coming head to butt with him when he didn’t move fast enough for her.
He continued at his own pace.
She peeled off to the center of the arena, looking for something more fun.
Clara went after her to try again with lots of praise and cajoling.
We tried having LuLu follow Gracie’s stately progression. LuLu knocked into poles, then took the side exit to run around to the finish and bark at Gracie.
We tried having her follow Murphy again — with more lead time to avoid tailgating. He still didn’t move fast enough for her.
We tried one of us on each side to encourage her to stay there. She found Dodge the Humans a great game and would have endorsed it for the agility curriculum in a heartbeat.
“—and it is good for them,” I added. “But is the behavior they’re learning going to be good for us?”
“Oh, but it’s only here they’ll do these things,” Clara said.
“You think LuLu is going to recognize the difference between the hurdles here at the dog park and the chairs you put in the doorway to keep her out of the kitchen when you leave meat out defrosting?”
She frowned a moment, then it cleared. “I’ll have to plan ahead more so it can defrost in the fridge.”
* * * *
The next day, Teague arrived at my house to settle up.
“The retaining wall repair is complete, holding up your yard against gravity for another good long stretch, job site’s spick and span.”
“Excellent. And the electricity’s fixed — a major bonus. Here’s your check. Next, I was thinking about built-ins in—”
“No.”
“No? You haven’t even heard what I’m thinking about.”
“I don’t care.” He reached out, letting the ends of my hair curl around his finger.
My senses reacted. My brain and mouth muddled along in confusion. “But—”
“I’m taking you out on a date — a real date, not something casual with Clara and Ned — and that’s not going to happen with you as my employer. Assuming you want to go out with me.”
“But—” Yep, brain and mouth still muddling.
“If you want to go, just say yes. Later, if it doesn’t work, I’ll do more jobs for you.” He leaned closer, smiling down at me. “And if it does work, I’ll do more jobs for you. Later.”
I said the only thing I could think of.
“Yes.”
* * * *
For news about upcoming Secret Sleuth books, as well as other titles and news, join Patricia McLinn’s Readers List and receive her twice-monthly free newsletter.
Thank you for reading Sheila’s latest adventure!
After helping to solve some startling murders in otherwise quiet North Bend County, Sheila, Clara and Teague, along with their canine friends, would be happy to have no crimes to solve in their neighborhood. But this time a cold case comes calling. A friend of Clara’s has suspicions about the death of a cousin, and turns to Sheila and Clara to investigate.
Death on Shady Bridge
Sheila, Clara, Teague and friends ask if you’ll help spread the word about them and the Secret Sleuth series. You have the power to do that in two quick ways:
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To me — as an author and a reader — the goal is always to find a good author-reader match. By sharing your reading experience through recommendations and reviews, you become a vital matchmaker.
Other Secret Sleuth cozy mysteries
DEATH ON THE DIVERSION
Final resting place? Deck chair.
Get DEATH ON THE DIV
ERSION now!
DEATH ON TORRID AVENUE
A new love (canine), an ex-cop and a dog park discovery.
Get DEATH ON TORRID AVENUE now!
DEATH ON BEGUILING WAY
No zen in sight as Sheila untangles a yoga instructor’s murder.
Get DEATH ON BEGUILING WAY now!
DEATH ON SHADY BRIDGE
A cold case heats up.
Get DEATH ON SHADY BRIDGE now!
“Move over Agatha Christie, there’s a new sleuth in town. Patricia McLinn has created a fabulous new murder mystery series with … wonderful characters, both human and canine, [and] an interesting backdrop. I highly recommend.”
— 5-star review
“I love McLinn’s Caught Dead in Wyoming mysteries and this new series is just as good! Our heroine, with an unknown name but called Sheila, is a well-written character, one I liked immediately. This series has a type of playfulness in the writing that I simply love. The mysteries are engaging and, as with her other mystery series, the supporting cast of characters add flavor to the book. Looking forward to the next entry.”
—A. Beatty
Death on Torrid Avenue “is told with a lot of humor and the characters are good company. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and am looking forward to the next story.”
— 5-star review
Death on the Diversion “is such an enjoyable story, reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s style, with a good study of human nature and plenty of humor. Great start to a new series!”
— 5-star review
Caught Dead in Wyoming Series
SIGN OFF
Divorce a husband, lose a career … grapple with a murder.
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LEFT HANGING
Trampled by bulls — an accident? Elizabeth, Mike and friends dig into the world of rodeo.
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SHOOT FIRST
For Elizabeth, death hits close to home. She and friends delve into old Wyoming treasures and secrets to save lives.
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LAST DITCH
Elizabeth and Mike search after a man in a wheelchair goes missing in dangerous, desolate country.
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LOOK LIVE
Elizabeth and friends take on misleading murder with help — and hindrance — from intriguing out-of-towners.
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BACK STORY
Murder never dies, but comes back to threaten Elizabeth and the team of investigators.
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COLD OPEN
Elizabeth’s search for a place of her own becomes an open house for murder.
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HOT ROLL
One of their own becomes a target — and time is running out.
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REACTION SHOT
Some cattle rustlers still get a death sentence.
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BODY BRACE
Everything can change … except murder.
“Colorful characters, intriguing, intelligent mystery, plus the state of Wyoming leaping off every page.”
—Emilie Richards, USA Today bestselling author
“While the mystery itself is twisty-turny and thoroughly engaging, it’s the smart and witty writing that I loved the best.”
—Diane Chamberlain, New York Times bestselling author
Mystery with romance
PROOF OF INNOCENCE
She’s a prosecutor chasing demons. He’s wrestling them. Will they find proof of innocence?
PRICE OF INNOCENCE
She runs a foundation dedicated to forgiveness. He runs down criminals. If they don’t work together, people will die.
“Evocative description, vivid characterization, and lots of twists and turns.”
— 5-star review
RIDE THE RIVER: RODEO KNIGHTS
Her rodeo cowboy ex is back … as her prime suspect.
BARDVILLE, WYOMING
A Stranger in the Family
A Stranger to Love
The Rancher Meets His Match
Explore a complete list of all Patricia’s books
Or get a printable booklist
Patricia’s eBookstore (buy digital books online directly from Patricia)
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn spent more than 20 years as an editor at The Washington Post after stints as a sports writer (Rockford, Ill.) and assistant sports editor (Charlotte, N.C.). She received BA and MSJ degrees from Northwestern University.
McLinn is the author of more than 50 published novels, which are cited by readers and reviewers for wit and vivid characterization. Her books include mysteries, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, historical romance and women’s fiction. They have topped bestseller lists and won numerous awards.
She has spoken about writing from Melbourne, Australia, to Washington, D.C., including being a guest speaker at the Smithsonian Institution.
Now living in northern Kentucky, McLinn loves to hear from readers through her website and social media.
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Copyright © Patricia McLinn
Print ISBN: 978-1-944126-70-4
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-944126-69-8
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Did you love Death on Covert Circle? Then you should read Death on Shady Bridge by Patricia McLinn!
A cold case murder heats up
Far from the publishing world that once defined her, Sheila Mackey's plan to escape to a quiet life in small-town Kentucky keeps hitting bumps in the road ... and some of those bumps are dead bodies.
Sheila and her friend, Clara, are in for their toughest inquiry yet, when they take on investigating a death that's colder than a cold case, because few in Haines Tavern, Kentucky, think it was a murder in the first place. Suicide? Accident? Murder? They're determined to bring peace of mind to the dead woman's friends.
At the same time, Sheila is finding it harder and harder to protect her secret past, especially from Teague O'Donnell, who's shifting from a fellow dog-lover to possibly much more.
This whodunit with humor is the fifth book in USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn's cozy mystery series, Secret Sleuth, which begins with a murder on a transatlantic cruise in Death on the Diversion. In Death on Torrid Avenue and later books, accidental investigator Sheila Mackey returns to dry land in the Midwest, where mysteries abound in her new Kentucky home.
Secret Sleuth series
Death on the Diversion
Death on Torrid Avenue
Death on Beguiling Way
Death on Covert Circle
Death on Shady Bridge
Death on Carrion Lane
Death on the Diversion "is such an enjoyable story, reminiscent of Agatha Christie's style, with a good study of human nature and plenty of humor. Great start to a new series!" – 5-star review
Death on Torrid Avenue "is told with a lot of humor and the characters are good company. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and am looking forward to the next story." – 5-star review
More cozy mystery from Patricia McLinn:
Caught Dead in Wyoming series
Sign Off
Left Hanging
Shoot First
Last Ditch
Look Live
Back Story
Cold Open
Hot Roll
Reaction Shot
Body Brace
"While the mystery itself is twisty-turny and thoroughly engaging, it's the smart and witty writing that I loved the best." -- Diane Chamberlain, New York Times bestselling author
"Colorful characters, intriguing, int
elligent mystery, plus the state of Wyoming leaping off every page." -- Emilie Richards, USA Today bestselling author
If you like mystery with romance and a bit of humor, try also:
Proof of Innocence
Price of Innocence
Ride the River: Rodeo Knights (includes cameos from Caught Dead in Wyoming characters)
Bardville, Wyoming series
A Stranger in the Family
A Stranger to Love
The Rancher Meets His Match
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn spent more than 20 years as an editor at the Washington Post after stints as a sports writer (Rockford, Ill.) and assistant sports editor (Charlotte, N.C.). She received BA and MSJ degrees from Northwestern University.
McLinn is the author of more than 50 published novels, which are cited by readers and reviewers for wit and vivid characterization. Her books include mysteries, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, historical romance and women's fiction. They have topped bestseller lists and won numerous awards.
Now living in northern Kentucky, McLinn loves to hear from readers through her website and social media.
Read more at Patricia McLinn’s site.
Also by Patricia McLinn
A Place Called Home
Lost and Found Groom
At the Heart's Command
Hidden in a Heartbeat
A Place Called Home Trilogy Boxed Set
Bardville, Wyoming
A Stranger in the Family
A Stranger to Love
The Rancher Meets His Match
Bardville, Wyoming Trilogy Boxed Set