Feature Presentation: Death - A Short Read: A Moonlight Bay Psychic Mystery, #3

By K.J. Emrick and Kathryn De Winter

Lights... Camera... Action!

It’s not every day that a film is premiered in the small town of Moonlight Bay. So when Miranda Wylder and her friend Sapphire are invited to take part, they are more than happy to accept the invitation. 

But things go terribly wrong when Miranda discovers the body of a murdered woman in the Ladies room. The victim was in a new relationship with Jean-Paul Deveraux, one of her new friends, and he blames himself for her death.

Miranda feels compelled to discover the truth but when her investigation brings her into the killer's path will she be able to stay safe? 

Can she catch a dangerous criminal before things get even worse in this psychic murder mystery?

• Language: English
• Publisher: South Coast Publishing
• Release date: Jun 22, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386920137

Book preview

Chapter

1

O h wow, you look amazing .

Sapphire Moon Flower, Miranda’s closest friend in Moonlight Bay—who was still living, at least—rose to her feet, her hands flying up dramatically to either side of

her

face

.

Look, Miranda said with a laugh, I know I don’t dress up too often, but is such a great show of surprise really necessary, Sapphire?

She was a tomboy at heart, more comfortable with jeans than she ever was in dresses. Her body looked smoking in either, if she did say so herself, but she had to admit the dress emphasized her trim waist and the curve of her hips and her… um… more feminine features. It was an off-the-shoulder slim black number, which highlighted the creamy skin of her neck, and the deep red of her

flowing

hair

.

In contrast to Miranda, everything about Sapphire was long and flowing, and much of it flapped and swished as she walked. Sapphire’s brown hair was long and braided in tight lines all around. Her earrings were long and beaded. Even her dress was long and floaty, patterned in pastel colors that matched the scarf around her neck. Miranda often wondered about the practicalities of such attire, but quickly came to admit that they were simply very different people.

Apparently, her four-footed friend Butter was just as excited to see Miranda in a dress for the first time since he’d come into her life as well. He bounded through the bedroom door and was just about to launch himself at Miranda, wagging tail and slobbering tongue

and

all

.

No, no! Sapphire said as she wrapped herself around the golden retriever’s neck, sliding onto her knees and bringing him to a halt just half a foot from Miranda’s hemline. "Oh, Gypsy, you bad

boy

you

!"

Just in the nick of time, Sapphire, Miranda laughed. But look, now you’re all covered in hairs. And, yes, my dog’s name is still Butter, not Gypsy. She scolded playfully. "I’ll get a lint roller, Sapphire. It always gets the dog

hairs

out

."

Sapphire pouted. Your dog needs a majestic name. A spiritual name. Gypsy suits him so much better than Butter, don’t you think? I mean, you eat butter. You want your dog to think you’re going to put him on toast?

Oh please! Suddenly, Kyle appeared in front of Miranda, a habit that he had recently developed. "As if you would know a spirit if one came up and

bit

you

!"

Kyle Hunter was Miranda’s best friend. He’d been that way in life, and he had remained that way in death. Neither of them understood why he hadn’t moved on to his afterlife yet but he was certainly making the most of being a ghost while he was stuck here with Miranda. He was experimenting with dramatic entrances and exits, despite the fact that most of the time Miranda was the only person who could

see

them

.

Is this woman for real? Kyle asked, hooking a thumb in Sapphire’s direction. Seriously, Miranda, you’re twice the psychic this fraud ever thought of being.

Kyle, don’t be mean, Miranda said to him, in her best scolding voice.

Who is being mean? Sapphire asked, looking about the room. "Oh, is Kyle here? Kyle? Is that

you

,

dear

?"

Yes, he’s here, Miranda confirmed, giving her ghostly friend a glare. He’s just dropped down between us, trying to give me a fright.

Of course, she’d told Kyle not to be mean for a different reason but she didn’t think Sapphire needed to know Kyle’s opinion of her. She could hardly tell Sapphire that her resident ghost was picking

on

her

.

Kyle was rail-thin, tall and wiry, with a sandy brown beard a shade or two lighter than the tousled hair on his head. His visage was blurred by a hazy blue light now that he was a specter, but the one thing that hadn’t changed was his taste in clothes. A loose-fitting button up shirt, khakis, and those same flip-flops that he’d always favored.

Hi Kyle, Sapphire said happily, waving all about the room, not once actually managing to wave in his actual direction.

Hello Peace-Lily-Hummingbird-Flower, Kyle said, mocking Moonlight Bay’s only New Age shop owner.

It’s Sapphire Moon-Flower, Miranda corrected him with a scowl. "And you know that

very

well

."

Yes, it’s me, Kyle, Sapphire went on, as exuberant as ever. "It’s Sapphire. How

are

you

?"

Kyle rolled his eyes. Does she expect me to answer her? Should I scuff a chair along the floor, or something? He sighed, and regarded Sapphire with his head cocked to one side. I suppose she’s all right, really.

With that settled, Miranda went back to preparing for her night. Sapphire, please tell me you have your ticket. She eyed the