Out Like a Goddess: Surprise Goddess Cozy Mystery, #1

By A.M. Canavan

They say she's a goddess, but she definitely doesn't act like one.

Evangeline Lewis thinks the gods must be crazy. First, they say she's a goddess, and now they've given her a job that almost no one can do: fix whatever the gods of Olympus break.

Soon, Eva takes her first official client and discovers that someone is kidnapping gods…and no one on Olympus cares. Her investigation leads her deep into the inner workings of Olympus, and the gods that call it home. With visions of what's to come, Eva finds herself in a race against time to find and confront the force behind the vanishing gods.

With every disappearance, the stakes only get more dire. When Eva's visions finally reveal the culprit, she's left with a difficult choice: embrace her true nature as a goddess and all the pain that comes with it…or leave Olympus to face total, irreparable destruction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Canavan Novels LLC
• Release date: Jul 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393667766

Book preview

1

What Evangeline Lewis knew about herself could be summed up to the fact that she was cursed. From her earliest memory, absolutely nothing worked out well for her. Even before that, since she had been orphaned the day she was born. That was really the beginning of her bad luck, and it seemed like it would follow her forever.

In the second grade, she tripped over her own feet and broke her arm in three places. In eighth grade, she was locked in the bathroom during her first dance and missed the entire night. At the end of her senior year in high school, she came down with the worst case of mono her doctor had ever seen, and she had never even had her first kiss. What made her feel so unlucky was that she still had no clue who she was or where she came from.

Eva woke up the day before her birthday with a jolt. She'd had dreams more frequently, all of them telling her a story that she didn't understand. It started with little things, like a car running a red light right in front of her. Then she'd go to work, and it would happen. It was the most genuine case of déjà vu that she'd ever encountered. The one she'd just woken up from, though, was crazy.

In the dream, she dropped her keys, trying to open the trunk of her car. When she'd leaned down to get them, she heard a scream. Looking up, almost in slow motion, she saw a girl get hit by a car.

The impact had been what tore Eva from her dreams, and as she caught her breath, she really hoped that she wasn’t about to see someone get hit by a car.

When she walked down to her car later that morning, she was stressed out. The dream was there, right in the forefront of her mind. Her hands were shaking when she reached for her keys, and she dropped them. Just like she had in the dream.

Instead of getting down on her hands and knees to find them, she stood up and turned around, knowing what she’d see.

A little girl, no older than five or six, was running into the street after a bouncing blue ball.

Eva had never run so fast in her entire life as she had at that moment. She dropped everything. Her purse hit the cement with a loud thud and she heard the sound of something cracking, but Eva didn't care. She pushed herself and reached the girl in a matter of seconds. Right as she scooped the child up, a rusted-out old car came speeding down the road and almost hit them.

Oh my God! A woman came out of the house in front of them, screaming. Bailey! Are you okay, baby?

Mom! The little girl, Bailey, started to cry. Eva's heart was racing as she put the child down, obviously needing to get to her mother.

You saved her, the mother said with tears streaming down her face.

Eva didn't know what to say to that because she knew it was true. Instead, she just smiled and started to walk away while mother and child embraced.

She'd helped someone. The dream had given her the chance to really do something good.

All the way to work, she smiled about it. She felt amazing, even later when she was exhausted from waiting tables at the small diner where she served breakfast and lunch.

Of course, it wasn't what she wanted to do with her life, but college was expensive. Once she graduated, she had just stayed where she was comfortable. The tips didn't hurt, either.

It was only later that night when she got off her shift that she remembered the cracking sound she'd heard earlier.

Crap, she muttered as she rifled through her purse, knowing exactly what had happened.

Yep. Her brand-new phone, a birthday present to herself, had a shattered screen. At least she bought insurance on it. Still, it was going to suck having to shell out almost three hundred dollars to get a new one.

It wouldn't even turn on.

Ugh! That's what I get, she said, shaking her head.

It always happened that way, too. She had a dream, tried to change what happened in it, and then something went wrong.

Eva had the best intentions, always tried to do something good, but it never failed. Every time something happened, it was like she was in the wrong place at the right time.

That morning hadn’t been any different either. She didn’t even get a break on her birthday.

Eva woke up from another dream, groaning as she thought about the heat she’d felt. This time, she saw a woman stranded in the desert about fifty miles away, with no water, trying to walk back to civilization.

It was already eighty degrees outside, and it would only get hotter. So Eva did the only thing she could; she went to find the woman.

It wasn't that she couldn't call the police and tell them that there was a woman stuck out there, lost. No, it was the fact that she had no idea where the woman actually was. That's how her dreams worked. She would get close, and she'd feel it in her gut. So Eva loaded up on water and poured a bunch of ice into a garbage bag. She headed out in her tiny little car to find the woman.

She knew the general direction, so when she left town, she took a left. As one hour slipped into the next, it never crossed her mind to call into work and tell them she'd be late. She also didn't question that this is how she was spending her birthday.

Instead, she kept driving and stopped for gas when she needed to. Three hours after she left her house, she got that feeling. So she pulled over and grabbed the pair of binoculars that she kept in the trunk and started to scan the horizon.

It took her a few tries to get them adjusted and zoomed in the right way, but Eva found her.

Blaring on her horn in a rapid-fire succession, Eva checked to make sure the woman had started to head in her direction. She grabbed a bottle of water and took off through the desert toward the woman.

She didn't care if dirt got into her shoes or if branches from some of the bushes scraped her legs. Eva was only worried about not wasting any time in getting to the woman. It was over a hundred degrees outside now, and the woman had been stuck walking through the desert with the sun glaring down on her for hours.

Eva was out of breath by the time she made it to the struggling woman. She was young and dressed like she had been out for a night on the town, but not trashy.

What happened? She put one arm around the girl and handed her the bottle of water to drink from.

P-party, the girl gasped, her throat dry and convulsing.

Drink the water slowly, Eva told her and watched as the girl did just that with wide eyes.

Anyone who spent time in the desert knew that if you were dehydrated, you didn't want to rehydrate too quickly. It would make you sick, nine times out of ten.

Eva took her time, walking slowly back to her car with the woman.

My name's Eva, she said. What's yours?

Mercy, the girl said. Mercy Mathews.

Okay, Mercy. Let's get you back where you belong. Did someone hurt you? She didn't want to ask, but she knew it was important to check.

If someone had hurt that little girl, Eva would have to call the police and get them involved. She already felt like she should, just to be safe.

The guy I've been dating took me to a party. When I refused to sleep with him and told him to take me home, he drove me out into the middle of the desert… told me to walk home.

When was that, Mercy? The girl had been walking for hours already when Eva had dreamed about it. There was no doubt in her mind that the boy had driven her deep into the desert to abandon her.

Like two this morning. He kept my cell phone and my wallet too, so I couldn't call for help.

Eva wasn't a police officer, but she had a sinking suspicion that what the man had done was illegal.

How old are you, sweetie?

Mercy started sobbing. I'm sixteen. My parents are out of town for their anniversary. I thought that he would just take me home. I swear I wasn't trying to do anything wrong. She was crying harder now, and Eva stopped walking to pull her into a hug.

I know you didn't, sweetheart. And she did, too. Mercy wasn't dressed like she was out breaking rules. She was wearing a pair of shorts that went to mid-thigh and a sparkly shirt. Her feet were covered in dirt, but Eva could see what was probably a pair of decorative sandals. It was obvious her feet would be covered in blisters and cuts.

The poor girl had probably thought that her boyfriend was just taking her out for a party to be nice.

I don't want my parents to find out, Mercy said while trying to cover up her sniffles.

I'm sorry, sweetie. But I think you have to tell them. They're going to worry about what happened to you, and I think we need to call the police.

Mercy looked scared, and Eva felt bad for her. Do I have to?

As much as she just wanted to take the younger woman into her arms and say it would all be better and that she didn't have to do anything, Eva knew she couldn't.

I'm sorry. She nodded her head. You do. What if you don't report what he did to you, and he does it again to another girl? A girl who doesn't stop him. You are strong enough to stand up for yourself now, and that will protect another girl down the road.

Okay. Mercy's eyes hardened just a little. I can do it.

Once Eva had her taken care of, dropped safely off to the police and her information provided in case they needed to contact her for any reason, she headed to work. Six hours late.

Crap, she muttered when she checked the time on her phone.

She never answered calls while she was driving, and most of the time it was on silent anyway. While she had been searching for and helping Mercy, she'd missed over two dozen calls from the diner, and she had a total of nineteen voicemails.

Rather than listen to them and take any longer, she just turned her car around and headed to work. She'd deal with whatever fallout happened once she got there.

I'm sorry, Daniel said as soon as she walked through the door. But I can't have someone working here who doesn’t call and no-shows for the majority of their shift. He stood against the counter, holding his beefy arms across his chest, and Eva knew she was in trouble.

Come on, Danny, Eva pleaded with him. I've worked here since high school. Seriously? I've never missed a shift before. There was a girl stuck in the desert and I helped her. You can even call the police if you want; they can confirm that I dropped her off. I had to give a statement and everything.

Danny was a little bit older than she was, at thirty. But he was already bald and sort of pudgy around the middle. That would have worked as an excuse, Eva. If you had bothered to answer your phone and let me know. I'm sorry, but you're fired. He looked apologetically at her, and she knew that it wasn't a decision he had made.

Double crap, Eva groaned. Thanks a lot.

Danny helped her clean out her locker in the back of the diner, where she'd kept a bunch of random stuff ever since she started working there. He told her that he'd try and get her back, but since his parents were the ones who owned the restaurant and not him, there wasn't much that he could do.

She knew it wasn't his fault. Eva should have called. She should have done a lot of things. She couldn't help but think that this is what she got. Yet again, she helped someone else and got screwed over in the process.

Well, she said to herself once she was in her car, holding her last paycheck. I guess birthday drinks are in order.

After a quick text message and a stop at the grocery store, Eva had everything she needed. Iris was waiting for her when she made it home. They didn’t waste any time in starting their drinks.

Do you know, Iris started to ask over their second margarita. I think maybe it’s a good thing you were fired. Now you have a chance to do something you love, something real. You have a degree in creative writing, and you always told me that you wanted to write. Maybe it’s time you did just that.

Eva didn’t answer her, finishing off her drink and grabbing the pitcher for a refill. Once she was topped off and had taken another sip, she smiled. I have no idea what to do with my life, she admitted. You can tell I’m not happy? It’s not like I have family to turn to. Or anyone really. Before she could react, Iris threw a pillow at her and almost spilled her drink. You know I don’t mean you! Iris and her parents were the closest thing to family that Eva had ever known.

Well, you could be nicer about it. Iris pouted and then finished her drink. There’s an entire world out there, Angel. You’ve lived in Amarillo your entire life. I know because I’ve been here for every moment of it.

Iris’ parents had been Eva’s foster family growing up. They talked about adopting Eva so many times over the years. By the time Eva was old enough to decide, she asked them not to. Their family wasn’t well off, and foster kids brought in a little money from the state. It was barely enough to help cover expenses… but still, it meant that they didn’t have to struggle as much financially, and if they adopted her that money would disappear. Not once did Iris’ family complain or make her feel unwanted. In fact, there was never a day that Eva didn’t feel loved.

Eva turned to face the woman that was more her sister than a friend and saw the resigned smile in her eyes. Mom and Dad would understand if you wanted to leave, move to Dallas or something. They just want what’s best for you.

I know, she responded automatically. I can’t fix myself if I don’t know what the problem is, though. She couldn’t stop her mind from wandering as she finished off her third margarita. There’s a part of me that wants to find out where I come from, who I really am. It was hard to admit, especially since Iris had been her family for the last twenty-five years.

Then do it, Iris said, determinedly. You’re not a child anymore. It’s not going to hurt you to look and find out what you can.

You’re right. I just need to find some answers. Saying it out loud gave her the strength to finally admit to herself that she wanted it. She didn’t have any idea where she should start, how long of a journey it would be, or what the process would even entail, but she was ready to begin.

The evening was coming to an end, and Iris stumbled out the door to her waiting taxi about an hour later. She promised to text when she made it home and Eva knew that she would.

After cleaning up she lay down on the couch and turned on Netflix, prepared to binge-watch her favorite show, Supernatural, until she passed out. As Sam and Dean were contending with gods that wanted to stop Lucifer from ending the world, there was a knock at the door. She wasn't expecting anyone, and Iris had already sent a text letting her know that she was home safe. Curious, she pushed herself up from her comfy spot on the couch and cautiously opened her front door.

2

Instead of someone she knew, there was a messenger smiling expectantly at her from the front steps. His uniform was gold and black, with a turtle logo on the pocket. She looked into the most startling brown eyes with a ring of gold around their center.

You, Evangeline Lewis he said with a smile, are the hardest delivery I've had in quite a while. He laughed. I'd say it's been an eternity, in fact. It’s past time you were ready for this. There was something in his tone, a secret that she couldn’t wrap her brain around.

Eva glanced down and in the messenger’s hand was a thick envelope. It was as if he was silently encouraging her to take it. There were a few moments of awkward silence in which she shook the stupor that had somehow taken over her body. Hesitantly, she reached out and grasped the envelope in a shaking hand. It wasn't just thick, it was heavy, too.

Who sent it? Eva didn’t know anyone that would send her an envelope via messenger service. She didn’t even think their town had a messenger service.

Taking her eyes off the man for a second, she tried to see if there was a return address label or any identifying markings on the package but couldn't find anything. It was nondescript, which intrigued her. She tore her eyes from the package, expecting an answer, but the messenger was gone. He'd practically vanished into thin air, leaving her standing alone and bewildered on her porch in the middle of the night.

Muttering to herself about the crazy day she’d had, she closed the door and stared at the strange package. Happy birthday to me, I guess.

Plopping back on the couch, she made short work of tearing open the envelope and letting its lone occupant slide out onto her lap. It was a wooden box that must be older than she was, with various engravings etched into its surface. It was stained by time and the loving caresses from those who had owned it. It didn’t look as though it should be as heavy as it was, but Eva could feel its weight with every part of her being. This box, and whatever it held inside, was significant in some way, and she knew it wasn’t just the margaritas talking.

Carefully, with a hesitance she wasn’t accustomed to feeling, Eva opened the lid and held her breath. Surprisingly, inside there was a single sheet of paper and a key. When she unfolded the paper, she saw that it was the deed to a property. After a quick Google search, she knew exactly where Surprise, Arizona, was located. Looking back at the deed, she saw that she was listed as the new owner and the Three Kings Corporation had apparently granted it to her. Several hours later she knew that the property was a house, and a nice-looking one at that. She still had no idea why she would have anything given to her, let alone a house.

Before she could