Ghostly Trails: Sunnyside Retired Witches Community, #0

By Paula Lester

Zoey Rivers loves her job as the Head of Staff at Sunnyside Retired Witches Community. Even though it means she's often the clean-up crew when mild senility leads to magical mischief.

But when the local police department calls to ask for her help solving a murder with ties to magic, the tables might be turned. Zoey's elderly residents could mean the difference between her solving the mystery and putting the killer away or becoming a victim herself.

This is a short prequel novella for a new witch cozy mystery series by Paula Lester. It introduces the main characters and gives you a quick glimpse into their world. If you love your mysteries cozy with a dash of magic and a big dollop of humor, scroll up and get it today.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paula Lester
• Release date: Mar 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386689140

Book preview

Chapter 1

W hat in the world is going on? Zoey Rivers’ eyes widened, unsure what was happening right in front of them. She’d seen a lot of things in her life, but this was one of the wildest.

Um. I think they’re playing badminton, Steve Grace said, craning his neck and shading his eyes to see better.

But they’re not on the ground. Zoey’s voice squeaked, and she knew it meant panic was hovering close by.

Nope, Steve agreed.

Over the expansive green lawn and delicate landscaping of the retirement home’s backyard, five elderly people and a net floated about fifteen feet in the air. Each retiree held a racket, and they were all leaping, twirling, and somersaulting in the air while chasing and batting at the birdie.

Zoey pressed her lips together and forced her eyes back to the ground, sweeping her gaze to and fro. Who’s doing the incantation? That has to be what it is—a spell wouldn’t do this.

Her eyes came to rest on an elderly woman reclining in a lawn chair. She wore dark sunglasses and seemed to be looking up at the floating players above her. Her mouth was moving slightly but constantly. There, Zoey said firmly, pointing. It’s Shawna.

Of course it is. Steve’s voice was heavy. It’s always Shawna.

Zoey began to march toward the reclined woman. But before she got there, Shawna Belle spilled the glass of lemonade with ice she held all over her lap. She shrieked and leaped off the lawn chair, brushing at her legs. And she also stopped chanting.

All five people in the air began to drop like lead. Zoe whirled around, throwing her hands out and reciting a hasty spell. The falling folks all bounced as though they’d hit an invisible rubber mat and shot back into the air where they tumbled and flipped, their faces covered with shock.

After they’d bounced, lower and lower, a few times, the aerial retirees finally came to rest standing on the ground.

Nice work, boss. That could have been a disaster, Steve said.

Zoey sighed, glancing at the small group of elderly people who stood huddled together, talking in low tones to each other. Whose idea was it to play badminton in mid-air? Zoey demanded in a loud, clear voice.

Shawna, always the ringleader of the group’s misdeeds, stepped forward, chin held high. She was a beautiful older woman. Her gray hair, fixed as it always was in a mid-height, loose bun, set off her ice-blue eyes, which were sharp and undulled by the years. I don’t know who thought of it originally, she said. But we all wanted to do it. We like to be active and do fun stuff. Not the lame-o activities that so-called Social Director you hired plans for us. She seems to want our joints to freeze like rocks while we sit and play card games or watch movies all day, every day.

Zoey sighed. She knew the new Social Director, Courtney Close, didn’t come up with the most exciting activities for the residents of Sunnyside Retired Witches Community. But the young lady was fresh out of college and eager to do a good job. She just needed more time. I’ll talk to Miss Close, she said. But in the meantime, you guys can’t go making your own fun like this. She waved a hand behind her at the now-empty air where they’d been playing. Someone could get hurt.

Shawna chewed at the inside of her cheek but tried to maintain her defiance by straightening her shoulders. The other witches behind her had suddenly become quite interested in staring at the ground and shuffling their feet.

How about you play some badminton on the ground? Steve suggested. Here, I’ll make it easier for you. He adjusted his rectangular, black-rimmed glasses, straightened to his full height of six feet, two inches, and stepped forward, eyeing the expanse of lawn critically. Zoey stepped back and held her arms out from her sides to keep the residents behind her while the man worked. Finally, Steve lifted a hand, mumbled a few words, and gave a snap of his wrist. A huge, thick mat appeared, the badminton net right in the center of it. He turned around, smiled, and waved his hand toward the newly-made court with a flourish. There you go. That will be easier on your joints and muscles and safer if you fall. And you don’t have to hover in the air. Have fun.

The residents murmured to each other, all smiles, as they moved forward and reignited their game, feet now firmly planted on the mat. Shawna frowned a little, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she returned to her lawn chair, brushed it off, and sat down to watch the game.

Thanks, Steve. Holding her clipboard up to see what she was supposed to do next, Zoey turned and headed for the building, her assistant keeping stride. Another crisis successfully averted! she said in her best superhero voice while pumping a fist in the air.

It’s definitely more than a full-time job to keep them safe and out of mischief. Steve rubbed a hand over his close-cropped black hair.

Sure is. I couldn’t do it without you, that’s for sure. Zoey glanced at him and grinned before studying her clipboard again as he held the back door open for her. They entered the retirement home and started down the hallway toward the kitchen. I have to go out and get some groceries. Can you handle things for an hour or so?

Steve nodded. Sure thing. I’ll just take my laptop out to the back yard and keep an eye on them while I work on the monthly bills.

Thanks. Hey, how was your date last night?

Steve shrugged. Okay, I guess.

Zoey studied her friend. He looked like he wanted to