Shear Madness: An Annie Addison Cozy Mystery, #4

By Molly Dox

Annie Addison needs a vacation. Due to her budget constraints, she's forced to settle on a long weekend. Either way, getting away is exactly what she needs. That is until the woman on the hammock beside her turns up dead. Annie's close proximity to the woman makes her witness number one. Forced into a swirling mess of murder and mayhem, Annie's own life becomes threatened. Can she solve this catastrophe before it's too late? (Clean read, no blood, no foul language)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Molly Dox Books
• Release date: Feb 28, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507069585

Book preview

Chapter 1

Annie flopped into the wide, string hammock. Charlotte was right, getting away was a great idea. She needed a break from the drama at home. With all the crazy things that had happened lately, Annie was ready for a break. When the pool bar waiter came by, she ordered a diet soda and then opened her book. Quiet, rest, and no madness sounded delightful. She would have loved to have been able to afford a drawn out Caribbean vacation, but settled on a long weekend in Florida instead. It met her budget. She chose a hotel littered with palm trees and a gorgeous pool, hammocks, and lounge chairs. It was like a tropical paradise on concrete.

Annie noticed the woman beside her. She wore a string bikini, a large floppy straw hat, and was happily sunbathing. That’s the kind of relaxation Annie needed, a few days of nothing but soaking in the sun.

It didn’t take long for Florida to offer an afternoon shower. Dark clouds were rolling in. Not far in the distance, she could see lightning. Annie noticed the woman beside her was sleeping and unaware of the impending storm. Excuse me, Annie started. She hated to wake the woman, but hated knowing she’d be caught out in the storm more. Annie tried again. Excuse me.

No response. She reached over to tap the woman and froze. Her skin felt stiff and waxy to the touch. Annie’s heart lurched. Miss, she said, trying to shake the woman gently. No response. Annie closed her eyes, drew a deep breath, and reached over to lift the woman’s hat. No. No. No. Help!

Thunder rumbled closer. Annie felt dizzy, her head spinning. She clutched her belly, as the nausea churned. No, this can’t be happening again. Time stood still.  Annie forced herself to take in air. Her voice rose louder this time. Help!

A woman, the bartender, answered her call. Annie pointed.

The bartender scratched her head. All she saw was a woman sunbathing. What?

Annie gasped, barely a whisper. Call 9-1-1.

She lost track of time. There were sirens, police, and yellow strips of caution tape all over. Then were questions, so many questions to answer.

After an officer took her statement, he asked her to stay in the area so they could speak with her again. ‘She was right beside the woman... Did she see her talking to anyone? Did anyone interact with her? Was she awake when you got there, and did she notice anything suspicious?’ Over and over, the same things, wondering if she’d drip one more piece of information out that she’d previously forgotten.

‘And this guy she spoke of, the waiter... there were no guys working this shift, even though she was adamant about a guy waiting on her and delivering a diet soda. What about him? What did he look like? Did he look like he belonged? Was he wearing a uniform? Did she see him speaking to the dead woman at all, or was he anywhere near her?’ They’d get an estimated time of death from some details, but until there was an actual autopsy, they wouldn’t have all the details they needed.

The officer asked for any video the hotel might have that pointed at the pool area, hoping to find some clues about the woman’s death. They couldn’t rule out natural causes yet, as there were no obvious entrance wounds, no gunshots, no knives, and toxic substances would have to wait on autopsy reports.

When they finally released Annie, one of the investigators gave her his card. Call me if you think of any small detail you may have overlooked. I don’t care how small it is, I want to know about it.

Annie nodded, feeling like she was outside of her body looking in. How was this even possible? She was trying to get away, get relief from the craziness in her life, and now like a bad joke it followed her.

Standing at the bank of elevators in the hotel lobby, she waited. With a ding, one of the elevators slid open, inviting her inside. Annie stared at the buttons, forgetting what floor number she was staying on. Closing her eyes, she forced herself to focus. Nothing. Defeated, she got out of the elevator and went to the front desk.

You look like you’ve seen a ghost, the receptionist at the front desk said.

Annie