Out of the Storm: Miss Fortune World: Wholly Moses!, #14

By Kamaryn Kelsey

A tropical storm blows through Sinful, leaving a mess and a casket in its wake. Ida Belle and Gertie are there to check it out first, but there isn't a body inside--only a diamond ring and evidence that the corpse might not have been alone in the casket. Jo, Minnow, and Mo join forces with Sinful's spunky senior sleuths to figure out what happened. But then the body is put back, Minnow is assaulted, and the body is taken--again. Obviously, someone wants that ring, and it isn't poor little old Birdie Stockton, the deceased. Jo's sure there's a thief on the loose and the investigation leads them to new heights (Mo's hair) and lows (crashing a funeral). 

 

Meanwhile, Minnow and Marc attempt to sort out their relationship while Jo faces her looming housing crisis. Throw in a house fire, late-night confessions, and a midnight mix-up at Mo's... and it's business as usual in Sinful.

 

Author's note: This is Fan Fiction. It is not written by the original author but by a fan who has special permission to create stories using the author's characters and locations. This is book 14 in the Wholly Moses series and is not intended to be a standalone book.

 

Special thanks to Jana DeLeon and J&R Fan Fiction for making this possible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kamaryn Kelsey
• Release date: Oct 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393324669

Book preview

Author's note: This is Fan Fiction. It is not written by the original author, but by a fan who has special permission to create stories using the author's characters and locations. The events/timeline may not coincide with those in the original Miss Fortune series.

This is book 14 in the Wholly Moses series and is not intended to standalone.

This is a work of fiction. Other than Jana DeLeon’s original story elements, the characters and names are creations of the author’s imagination.

Special thanks to Jana DeLeon and J&R Fan Fiction for making this possible.

Chapter 1

Hey, Mo? How do you think Minnow and Marc are doing? It’s their first joint hurricane. Jo Jeffries dropped her magazine and tossed a throw pillow across the room at her half-sister.

It’s not really a hurricane.

It’s close enough, Jo said. And bad enough to send me to your house for shelter.

Mo rolled her eyes. Well, those two create their own storms and I bet they’re far worse than the weather coming our way.

Still, Marc’s a Midwest boy and not used to coastal storms. It could get interesting. Her tone of voice captured Mo’s attention.

"Why, Jo Jeffries, you should be ashamed of yourself! You want them to have another fight, don’t you?"

Jo grinned shamelessly. It’s entertaining to watch our little sister.

And you’re bored, Mo added. Well, maybe you should have gone with Trixie and Ross on the road trip.

Jo spat out a sip of iced tea. Are you nuts? I’d rather be committed than saddled to a motorbike on a trip with those two. It’s a full-time job keeping Trix out of trouble, and Ross only encourages her. No, I think this trek will be an eye-opener for him. Escorting my lively aunt to a senior citizen trike convention in Arizona is just what he needs.

Besides, you don’t have to ride a motorcycle for hours on end.

Jo’s blue eyes twinkled. There is that, she agreed. Let’s face it Mo, you and I just aren’t built for long-haul motorcycle jaunts.

Curvy, full-figured Mo didn’t argue with her near-twin sister. Not only did the bumpy ride cause unnecessary stress on her large chest, but the thigh friction was even worse. She made the mistake of joining Jo, Ross, and Trixie for a ride one Sunday afternoon. She rode half the trip in Trixie’s sidecar and the other half on the back of Ross’s bike. By the time it was over, Mo and Jo agreed they needed salve and a muscle relaxer. She shook her head. Some women rode horses. Some women rode motorcycles. But smart women only rode in vehicles that had four wheels and a roof.

Changing the subject, Mo asked, It’s too bad your realtor license didn’t help you find a house before this storm. Do you think your trailer will survive?

I hope so. I bet the people who bought the trailer park to start an organic farm are praying it gets leveled. But I suspect the ancient trailers have their own root system. Maybe we should take cover in one of those, she joked.

Marc and Minnow might need to, Mo suggested. I’m not sure their house on Elm Street can withstand the storm.

Jo waved it off. They can ride it out at their fitness center.

They might be better off moving there. I know Min has plans for expanding their business. Last week she showed me a line of vegan skincare products she plans to stock.

On hearing the word vegan they shared a grimace of disgust.

I just hope they aren’t packaged as healthy snacks, Jo murmured. In a mocking voice, she added, Try Bunny’s Butt Butter—safe for all that ails your tail. Now with fifteen grams of protein per serving.

Would that be oral or rectal? Mo giggled.

Ask Min. Jo got to her feet and paced, pausing once in a while to look out the window, wondering how Minnow was faring.

***

Minnow Gaines opened a cardboard box and removed a jar to examine the label. She unscrewed the lid, sniffed the contents, and then capped it. She’d sample the new cream later. Then she crooked a brow and raised the jar for Marc to view.

You don’t think anyone’s stupid enough to eat this, do you? she asked.

He glanced at the label and shrugged. I think there’s more stupidity than money in this world, and the fact that you even asked that question proves it. What is it?

Min glared and yanked her hand back. Never mind.

She dropped the sample jar behind the counter and arranged the unopened jars in a pyramid on top of a display unit. A battering gust of wind howled outside and even the sturdy building seemed to shudder. Minnow ignored the weather and moved to examine her display, while Marc anxiously craned his head at the unaccustomed noise.

Are you sure we don’t need more plywood on the windows?

Without waiting for her reply he turned on his heel, preparing to check the storeroom at the back of the building. Min’s arm shot out to stop him.

It’s fine, Marco. Now stop worrying and help me get this display set up before we lose power.

She handed him another small box and pointed to an empty spot on the counter. He tipped the box over and shoved the jars into a pile before handing her the empty container. Min bared her teeth and held her tongue. She’d straighten the display later. Right now she was focused on keeping him busy and his mind off the storm. But it was proving a bigger challenge than she expected and he seemed unusually agitated.

Area law enforcement agencies were working overtime to evacuate low-lying areas and warn residents at risk from the glancing blow the system would deal them. The storm’s outer edge was forecast to brush Sinful and spare them the devastating consequences of a direct hit, but since the forces of nature weren’t always predictable, the wise prepared for the worst.

Outside the building, something crashed and Marc ran to open the rear door. With a sigh, Minnow followed and pulled him back inside, closing the door and standing in front of it with folded arms.

Don’t make me lock you in the storeroom, she threatened. If you want to go back to the house, then go. But I’m not leaving until I get the new products checked in and set up. And I won’t finish if I have to keep chasing you. She finished in a clipped voice and to her surprise, Marc’s concerned expression changed to amusement. After hours of holding her tongue and temper, it caught her off guard and she smiled in response.

What you really mean is that you’re babysitting me, he said lightly, sounding a little ashamed that Min had to look out for him.

I was trying not to say that, she admitted. But my job would go faster if you’d help me. Please. Minnow was working on her quick fuse and sharp tongue and realized she and Marc hadn’t clashed in days. It was almost like they were becoming friends. Her eyes shifted but he didn’t seem to notice her awkward foot shuffling.

Okay, I’ll help but with one condition, he agreed as they walked back to the new shelf unit situated by the counter. Min waited for him to explain and she wrinkled her nose in amusement when he said, Don’t make me demonstrate the products for your clients.

She patted his arm. Thank you, Marky. You don’t have to sell them. But if you could just sample them and write down the benefits you enjoyed, it would be helpful.

Minnow, I’m not reviewing the facial scrub or the lip plumper, he warned.

She handed him the jar she opened a short time ago. How about this one?

Do I have to eat it? he joked. The cream claimed to have many uses, including providing relief for painful hemorrhoids.

Maybe I should change the label and slow the Sinful Wheel of Gossip. I wonder what would happen if the busybodies’ lips shrank.

He returned the jar. Don’t waste your salve. They’d just tap it out in Morse Code.

The inevitable power outage soon brought Minnow’s project to a halt. With the windows boarded over, the long building was dark and she used the flashlight on her phone to move the boxes from the floor so she wouldn’t trip on them.

Meanwhile, Marc donned a rain jacket and checked the exterior once more. Min finished tidying and rushed out to take his arm and pull him back inside to safety. Although slender, she had surprising strength and the weather provided extra incentive to her determination.

They stood just inside the open door as the rain dropped in sheets, with gusty squalls blowing bits of plants and other debris across the parking lot behind their building. Headlights and the flashing strobe of an emergency vehicle flickered along the wet brick building, before slowing to a stop. A figure wearing a bright yellow slicker got out of the cruiser and ran toward them. Marc stepped back and held the door and Carter burst through with a shower of water and wind. Minnow and Marc waited for him to catch his breath, wondering what prompted the busy lawman’s visit. Marc secured the door and followed the others to the front room. 

Minnow offered the weary officer a bottle of water and Carter smiled, the harsh lines of fatigue and stress on his face briefly softening. 

I’ve had plenty, he said, wiping his face. I stopped to see if you need a ride to Mo’s. Before long, the roads will be impassable.

Min appeared puzzled, and Marc’s eyes widened. Isn’t Jo already at Mo’s? Why would we want to go there too?

Carter shrugged and couldn’t help but smile at the horrified look Marc wore. There’s always the school, but it’s crowded and it won’t be comfortable.

Thanks, but we’re headed home. Min thought Carter should do the same. Obviously, he was confused. Her brows went straight when he shook