Seeing Stars: A Kira Brightwell Short Story: Kira Brightwell Quick Cases

By Jacquelyn Smith

Kira Brightwell might not wear a badge. But she still enjoys the challenge when she unravels a difficult case.

The case of Taylor Christie proves no exception. The social media starlet prepares to shoot a video, when things go wrong. Horribly wrong. With an entire crowd in attendance.

And more than Kira knows stands between her and the truth about what happened.

A twisting, stand-alone story from the Kira Brightwell mystery series by award-winning author, Jacquelyn Smith. If you love a clever detective, who plays by her own rules, grab this book.

This title is also available as part of the Third Round Kira Brightwell Collection.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WaywardScribe Press
• Release date: Jul 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781989650516

Jacquelyn Smith

Jacquelyn Smith writes both epic and intrigue-based fantasy, and mysteries that range from cozy to kick-ass, with independent, strong-willed heroes, in search of their place in the world. These heroes take the problems they face seriously (but never themselves), and are supported by unlikely friendships they forge along the way. Jacquelyn is the author of the World of Lasniniar epic fantasy series, the Fatal Empire fantasy intrigue series, the kick-ass Kira Brightwell mysteries, and the Mackenzie Quinn Canadian cozy mysteries. (She originally published several of the early Kira Brightwell titles under the pen name Kat Irwin, before killing Kat off to eliminate the many awkward questions about having a second identity.) When spending time in the real world, Jacquelyn lives on the suburban outskirts of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with her husband, Mark, and their feline owner, Xena, who is definitely a warrior princess. To learn more, visit: JacquelynSmithBooks.com

Book preview

Seeing Stars

SEEING STARS

A Kira Brightwell Short Story

JACQUELYN SMITH

WaywardScribe Press

Seeing Stars: A Kira Brightwell Short Story

Copyright © 2023 Jacquelyn Smith

Published by WaywardScribe Press

First published in July, 2020

Cover and layout copyright © Jacquelyn Smith

Cover design by Jacquelyn Smith/WaywardScribe Press

Cover art copyright © Arenacreative, Sakorn Singsuwan, Snipergraphics/Dreamstime

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. All rights reserved. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

CONTENTS

Seeing Stars

Ring Girl

A Note from Jacquelyn

About Jacquelyn Smith

SEEING STARS

A Kira Brightwell Short Story

The camera took a moment to focus in the dim lighting. A young woman in her early twenties with long, wavy, blond hair filled up most of the frame as she lounged on a blanket in the grass. The sky overhead was growing dark, but there were festive paper lanterns in red, white, and blue strung along a wooden fence in the background.

The woman’s face was similar to that of a Barbie doll—high cheekbones, full lips, and wide, blue eyes framed with long lashes. She was slim, but not overly so, with just enough of Barbie’s famous curves. She wore a flimsy, white summer dress that left her tanned arms bare and showed off her figure to its best advantage. Her hair was artfully arranged around her shoulders.

The microphone attachment of the professional-looking camera poked out from the side, wearing a fuzzy-looking filter to help with the warm, evening breeze, which carried the scent of freshly mown grass. The filter also helped to mute the murmuring voices of the crowd gathered several feet away.

Ready? the young woman asked with a quirk of her perfectly arched eyebrow.

After an answering nod from the person behind the camera, she took a deep breath and got started.

What’s up, you guys? she said in a perky voice. Her smile flashed in the gathering darkness. It’s your girl, Taylor Christie. Today, I—

A sudden bang filled the air.

The camera jostled and panned away for a moment as the operator let out a breathless curse of startlement.

A second bang immediately followed.

A moment later, the camera whirled from a confused close-up of the grass to focus on the young woman once more.

Taylor was clutching the front of her dress. A crimson stain bloomed from beneath her fingers. Her blue eyes were wide and her mouth gaped open soundlessly.

"Omigod, Taylor!" the person operating the camera blurted in a rush.

The view of the camera surged forward as the operator stumbled toward the wounded woman. The camera shook, but Taylor remained in frame as she started to keel forward. The growing bloodstain was dark and red against the fabric of her dress.

Taylor? the camera operator’s soft voice sounded confused.

A slender hand appeared in-frame to pull Taylor’s clutching fingers away from the front of her dress.

A bullet wound was revealed beneath, only a few inches above her heart.

Omigod, omigod…

The camera suddenly fell away from Taylor’s pale face. It landed in the grass with a dull thump to capture an awkward angle of the edge of the blanket.

The voice of the camera operator continued to curse in panic for a moment before rising in a ragged shout.

Help! Please, somebody help!

I don’t know why I let you talk me into this, Kira Brightwell grumbled as Trevor led her in a weaving path through the crowd to find a good place to stand.

Probably because no woman can resist my charms. Trevor flashed her one of his trademark grins and waggled his eyebrows at her.

Kira rolled her eyes