Who Killed Sweet Violet?: A Black Water Whodunit, #1

By Connie Myres

A reluctant sleuth must find a murderer before she becomes one of the victims.

Mandy Malone is on her way to Timber Ridge for a prescribed vacation with Sis and Gramps. When a rogue blizzard strands the bus passengers at Cedar Lake Mansion Bed and Breakfast, the murder of a young woman turns the ski trip into an accusatory nightmare. All the travelers, including the innkeepers, are murder suspects. Mandy reluctantly becomes the so-called detective and must find the murderer before another life is taken.

However, Mandy could not prevent another death nor stop the killer from going after her with the same deadly intention. During the final battle it becomes clear who the murderer is and their motive.

Can you solve the crime before the sleuth? Are you astute enough to tell a red herring from a real clue? If so, then follow along and see if you can solve the crime before the detective does.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Feather and Fermion Publishing
• Release date: Feb 11, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386320425

Connie Myres

CONNIE MYRES, a multi-genre author specializing in horror, mystery, suspense, and science fiction, has been spinning thrilling tales since her childhood in Michigan. From a young age, she captivated her audiences—children she babysat—by weaving them into her suspense-filled narratives, igniting an insatiable love for storytelling. Inspired by the works of literary masters such as Dean Koontz and Stephen King, Connie has crafted her own unique style that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Her vivid, dynamic stories, filled with intrigue and surprise, mirror her own multi-faceted life. Not only a talented writer, Connie is a registered nurse and a developer, showing her knack for both caring for others and creating immersive digital worlds. In the future, Connie plans to join the digital nomad movement, allowing her love for adventure and new experiences to fuel her compelling narratives further. For now, she continues to captivate and inspire from her home base in Michigan, crafting stories that both engage and terrify her readers. Stay connected with Connie through her website at ConnieMyres.com, where you can explore her wide range of books and short stories, and join her on this incredible storytelling journey.

Book preview

Book Description

A reluctant sleuth must find a murderer before she becomes one of the victims.

Mandy Malone is on her way to Timber Ridge for a prescribed vacation with Sis and Gramps. When a rogue blizzard strands the bus passengers at Cedar Lake Mansion Bed and Breakfast, the murder of a young woman turns the ski trip into an accusatory nightmare. All the travelers, including the innkeepers, are murder suspects. Mandy reluctantly becomes the so-called detective and must find the murderer before another life is taken.

However, Mandy could not prevent another death nor stop the killer from going after her with the same deadly intention. During the final battle it becomes clear who the murderer is and their motive.

Can you solve the crime before the sleuth? Are you astute enough to tell a red herring from a real clue? If so, then follow along and see if you can solve the crime before the detective does.

ConnieMyres.com

Who Killed Sweet Violet?

Logo for Feather and Fermion Publishing.

A Black Water Whodunit

Connie Myres

Feather and Fermion Publishing

Copyright © 2017 CONNIE MYRES

Feather and Fermion Publishing

Michigan, USA

https://www.ConnieMyres.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

Who Killed Sweet Violet? / Connie Myres

Dedication

To my family, my friends, and those who have supported me though my journey as an author. I appreciate you.

Contents

Book Description

Dedication

Contents

1 Stranded

2 Murder

3 Questions

4 Don’t Tell

5 Guilty or Not Guilty?

6 Glass Slipper

7 Kissy-Face

8 Hangman

9 Lights Out

10 Tea & Ice

11 Get a Grip

12 Tap Out

13 Matchbook

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About the Author

Visit Connie’s Website

1

Stranded

Code blue, three north. Code blue, three north. The female operator’s voice sounded down the third floor of Black Water General Hospital. Bright white lights flashed on the ceiling and alarms pinged as staff ran down the corridor to where a scarlet red light pulsed above the door of a patient’s room.

Registered Nurse Mandy Malone was in the hallway charting on a mobile computer. She was not assigned to the code team that day so she quickly closed the chart, making herself available to assist them. Then a nurse in blue scrubs rushed up to her. I need to help with the code, can you flush three-twelve’s IV for me? His pump keeps beeping.

Sure, Cathy.

The nurse handed Mandy one of two normal saline flush syringes that she held in her hand. Thanks.

Mandy watched Cathy run down the hallway, then she looked at the transparent plastic syringe and the clear fluid inside. The only thing abnormal about the syringe was that Cathy had already removed the protective packaging. Typically Mandy kept a couple flushes in the pocket of her scrub jacket because they were used so often, but she had already gone through them. Not to worry, she would get more and use one of them in place of the one Cathy had given her. When Mandy looked at the medication room, she saw it crowded with nurses and a pharmacy technician who had been stocking the medication dispenser. The tech was trying to move his cart out of their way as a nurse pushed passed him, grabbed a crash cart and moments later whizzed down the hallway. Going against her better judgment Mandy decided not to add to the commotion, rather she would trust Cathy and the syringe she was handed.

Mandy pushed the computer-on-wheels down the hallway to room 312 and the beeping infusion pump. When she entered the room, she saw a man, probably in his thirties, lying in bed watching television.

He turned and looked at her. This thing beeps every time I move my arm.

Mandy gave an understanding smile and nod as she silenced the pump. Your nurse was on her way to fix it, but she got called away. She asked me to help you. My name’s Mandy.

After placing his drinking glass on the overbed table, he put his arm back on the pillow next to him. My nurse said she could move the IV, but I go home tomorrow and don’t want to get poked again. I’d rather keep my arm straight.

Mandy looked at the intravenous site in the bend of his arm. Other than its location, it was fine. Okay, I’ll just flush it for you.

She scanned his identification bracelet and then walked back to the computer she had pushed into the room. What’s your name?

Eugene Rathbone, he said, apparently tired of answering the same question over and over each time a nurse was about to give him medicine.

When is your birthday?

January thirteenth, nineteen-eighty.

Mandy looked at the electronic chart and then scanned the barcode on the side of the syringe. She had the right patient and the right medication, so she flushed Mr. Rathbone’s IV line.

She reset the pump, and the fluid began flowing normally. No sooner had she disposed of the syringe in the sharps container when Cathy ran into the room, panicked.

Have you flushed the line yet? Cathy said, breathing heavily.

Yeah, I just did.

Mandy was startled when Cathy darted to the IV pump, turned it off, and used a syringe to aspirate the fluid from the tubing. What’s wrong?

No sooner had the words left Mandy’s mouth when Mr. Rathbone began having difficulty breathing. The cardiac monitor on the wall next to his bed started alarming. Then to Mandy’s horror, the patient went into cardiac arrest. She ran up to the bed, pressed the emergency button, and began advanced life support measures.

When Cathy finished calling the code team, she said, I gave you the wrong syringe. It had digoxin in it, and he’s allergic to it.

What? Mandy could not believe what Cathy was telling her as the floor’s other crash cart rolled into the room. 

By the time the code had run its course, it was all over; Mr. Rathbone was dead.

* * *

Mandy. Mandy!

The crossword puzzle Mandy was working on now filled her vision. Her heart raced as she reached up to her chest, gripped the large crucifix underneath her sweater, and tried to slow her rapid breathing. I’m never going to get it out of my mind, Sis.

Tina Malone sat calmly in the charter bus seat next to Mandy. The doctor said a vacation away from things would help you.

Mandy scratched the itchy rash on her neck—whenever she was stressed it would flare up. I’m not so sure a trip to a ski lodge is going to do the trick.

Sis looked down at the crossword puzzle. Stratagem.

What?

Sis pointed at the crossword. Stratagem is the word you want.

Mandy looked down at the puzzle, not surprised Sis had figured it out. Her sister was born with Asperger’s syndrome and was as smart as a whip. She had the ability to focus, even for hours, on things that seemed of little importance to others. However, the tradeoff was being socially awkward; Tina would avoid strangers whenever she could. The trip was as much for her as it was for Mandy. How’s your extraterrestrial program coming along?

Sis refocused her attention to the computer sitting on her lap. My planetary habitability program is showing promise. Based on energy sources as well as geophysical, geochemical, and astrophysical criteria I have found several candidate planets that are class four habitats. I am still working on the probabilistic argument and the average rate of star formation, and those that have planets that can support life. However, I think there is a flaw in the length of time over which civilizations release detectable signals. Do you want me to show you?

Mandy reached into the side pocket of her carry-on bag and took out a tube of extra strength anti-itch cream. No, that’s alright. You can show me later.

I’ll show you when we get to Timber Ridge.

Mandy jumped when she felt a cold hand on her shoulder next to her neck.

Didn’t scare ya did I? Gramps said, leaning forward in the seat behind them. His voice was a loud irritating rasp, like pieces of wet sandpaper rubbing together. The three of them had come