Something Old, Something New, Something Foretold, Corpse So Blue (Piper Ashwell Psychic P.I. #13)

By Kelly Hashway

Psychic P.I. Piper Ashwell is hearing bells, and not just because she’s getting married to her partner, Detective Mitchell Brennan. Piper’s having visions of a murder at her own wedding.

Mitchell is convinced she’s getting cold feet, and it’s messing with her abilities. But when a missing persons case turns up, and the victim is a little too much like the man she saw in her vision, Piper is convinced this is a case only she can solve.

But can she prevent a murder and say “I do” at the same time?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kelly Hashway
• Release date: Oct 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005944087

Kelly Hashway

Kelly Hashway fully admits to being one of the most accident-prone people on the planet, but luckily she gets to write about female sleuths who are much more coordinated than she is. Maybe it was growing up watching Murder, She Wrote that instilled a love of mystery, but she spends her days writing cozy mysteries. Kelly’s also a sucker for first love, which is why she writes romance under the pen name Ashelyn Drake. When she’s not writing, Kelly works as an editor and also as Mom, which she believes is a job title that deserves to be capitalized.

Book preview

Chapter One

The second we walk into Marcia’s Nook, the bookstore next to my P.I. office, Marcia’s eyes zero in on the diamond ring on my finger. Despite there being customer’s in the store, Marcia shrieks and runs over to us. Tears are streaking down her face. Her emotions are overwhelming. Thanks to my grandmother on my mom’s side, I have some empathic abilities, but my real strengths lie in psychometry—reading the energy off objects. However, that includes people, and Marcia’s energy is bombarding me like an oncoming freight train.

I step back, and Detective Mitchell Brennan holds up his hand to stop Marcia. Easy, he tells her, while keeping his other hand on the small of my back to steady me. Even though he’s trying to calm down Marcia, Mitchell’s smile is taking over his entire face. He’s been trying to keep his emotions in check, but I know how much it means to him that I said yes when he asked me to marry him last night. He’ll deny it until the day he dies, but he cried. Not a full-on bawling or anything. But he had to wipe the tears from his eyes before he scooped me up into a bear hug. He didn’t let go for a long time either.

I’m still processing everything. Mitchell is the only boyfriend I’ve ever had. My psychic abilities make it very difficult for me to get close to anyone. That didn’t stop Mitchell, though. He’s persistent. He also happens to be intrigued by what I do because his own mother was psychic—a secret only I know. Well, at least to Mitchell’s knowledge. I might have slipped and confided in my own mother to help me better understand Mitchell. Mom would never rat me out, though.

Piper, are you even listening to me? Marcia asks, taking my left hand in hers to inspect my ring, which has three stones, the center being the largest. While the design isn’t uncommon in the least, it’s special to me because my visions of the present are usually the strongest. I still struggle with my visions of the future, mostly because the future can change, which makes the visions more cryptic and symbolic in nature. Piper! Marcia says again.

I think Piper needs some strong coffee, Mitchell says, leading me to a table.

I can feel all the eyes on me. Apparently, we’re making quite the scene. I sit down at the nearest table and try to block out all the inquisitory looks. Is this what my wedding day will be like? If so, we need to elope. I can’t have people staring at me like this. Like I’m a freak. It’s why I try to hide my abilities from people who don’t know me. My breathing gets heavy.

Marcia hurries off to get the coffee, and Mitchell takes my left hand in his. Breathe, Piper. Look at me. He waits for me to meet his gaze, and then he mimics the deep breaths he wants me to take. He learned this trick from my dad on the very first case we ever worked together for the Weltunkin PD. Dad is the best detective this town has ever seen, which is one of the reasons why Mitchell fought so hard to be his partner. The other was to get to work with me since Dad brought me on as a consultant. I own my own P.I. agency, but I never turn down a case for the WPD. It only took that one case for Dad to know he was ready to retire from the police force and leave the cases in Mitchell’s capable hands. Of course, with Dad joining me at my P.I. agency, the three of us still work together quite a bit, so I’m not sure how much has really changed.

Marcia returns with three coffees. Is she okay? she asks Mitchell.

She’s trying to focus on anything else but what’s happening here right now, he explains. She’ll be fine, though. He gives my hand a squeeze before moving it to my coffee cup. That snaps me out of my own head.

I lift the cup to my lips and sip the toasted almond coffee. Thanks, Marcia, I say, already feeling a little better.

You had me worried, she says, placing a hand on my forearm.

Me too. It was a little overwhelming.

She pulls her hand away. I’m sorry. I should’ve realized you’d be affected by my excitement.

I shake my head. It’s okay. I can’t expect everyone around me to change their behavior for my own comfort. I have to learn to deal with this. I have several tricks I’ve learned over the years to do exactly that.

When did this happen? she asks Mitchell.

Last night.

Mitchell had Jezebel help him propose, I say, remembering how she handed Mitchell the little pouch containing the ring. It was adorable.

How did you manage to pull that off, Detective? Marcia asks, resting her forearms on the table.

We practiced it a few times while I took her for walks.

I thought your walks were getting longer, I say.

I’m surprised you didn’t read it off of Jez, Mitchell says. I was sure you’d find out what I was up to.

I imagine it’s not easy keeping a secret from Piper, Marcia says.

I promised Mitchell I wouldn’t read him against his will, and I don’t try to read Jezebel either. Not since she helped me on a case where her previous owner was killed. That’s how she came to be my dog. We bonded, and I couldn’t let her go. She’s an amazing therapy dog, which comes in handy after I have a vision. She can sense my emotions, and she supports me accordingly. Dogs might be better empaths than people are.

Mitchell is smiling at me. I say something really sweet, and you aren’t even paying attention.

Tuning out is my defense mechanism. If I didn’t do it, I might end up shutting myself off from the rest of the world like my grandmother did before she died. Sorry. What did you say?

He said it’s the only secret he’ll ever keep from you, and even though it was a surprise, he still felt guilty about not telling you. Marcia smiles, her gaze volleying between us. I knew you two would end up getting married. I just knew it. Are you going to have an engagement party?

No, I say. I don’t want anything like that.

Mitchell squeezes my hand again. We discussed it last night. We’re going to get married this Saturday. Nothing big. Just close friends and family. No parties beforehand.

This Saturday? As in four days from now? How do you plan to pull that off?

Mitchell has it all planned already. He knew I wouldn’t want a big, fancy wedding. And he might not have come out and said it, but I also know he’s afraid to wait too long to get married because he thinks I’ll get cold feet. He basically wants to get me to say I do before I chicken out. I’d be offended if I didn’t think he was right.

What can I help with? Marcia asks.

We were hoping you’d be willing to cater. We’re only doing coffee and desserts. It will be an afternoon wedding at the park.

Of course. I’ll need to hire a waitstaff, but I have a friend who uses a company for that. I think it’s called At Your Service. I’ll get the number from her.

Great. Send me the bill, Mitchell says.

I’ll get a menu together for you both to approve.

I shake my head. I trust you. Everything Marcia makes is incredible, and it’s one less thing to worry about.

She cocks her head at me but says, Okay.

Oh, and is it too much to ask you to be my maid of honor if you’re going to be catering? I say.

Marcia’s jaw drops, and she presses her hand to her chest. I’m trying to restrain my emotions right now, but it’s really difficult. I’d be honored. She stands up. I have to go in the kitchen before I totally overwhelm you. She hurries off.

I’d say you made her day. Mitchell smiles at me.

I didn’t realize it was such a big deal.

Mitchell laughs. It’s a very big deal when you let people in, Piper. Marcia is extremely touched right now. His phone rings, and he pulls it from the holder on his belt. It’s O’Reilly.

Officer O’Reilly is the newest member of the WPD, though she’s not a rookie by any means. She worked in New York before relocating here. She’s a great cop, but she’s also super rational, which means she finds a way to logically explain how I get my information. She doesn’t believe in my psychic abilities at all. She attributes my success to being a very good private investigator. I’ve learned to be okay with it because she’s not insulting or the least bit mean to me. We just have different ways of perceiving things, but we respect each other’s differences of opinions.

Congratulations, Mitchell says. I can help. If it’s not solved by Saturday, I’ll need to bail on you, though. He pauses and smiles. Piper and I are getting married.

Is it weird that I want to get the ceremony over with so life can go back to normal? I’m going to assume this isn’t how most brides feel days before their wedding.

I’ll bring Piper, Mitchell says. Maybe she’ll get some insights for us to help close the case sooner.

The last time I spoke with Chief Johansen, I told him he should promote Officer O’Reilly to detective. She deserves it, and I know it’s what she wants. But I also requested that he didn’t put Mitchell and me on the same cases as her. Leave it to Mitchell to screw that up for me.

He pockets his phone. Are you up for working a case? I figure you’d rather keep your mind busy than focus on wedding plans.

You figure right.

Great. I’ll go grab us some food, and we’ll hit the road.

I nod, and my phone rings. Mom’s name appears on the screen. Hey, Mom.

Sweetie, I know you’re not big on flowers, so I was thinking we should do tea light candles on the tables instead.

That’s fine, Mom. I rub my forehead, not wanting to think about wedding plans. I want to show up, say I do, and move on with my life.

Okay, what about your dress? We need to go dress shopping as soon as possible. I’m sure there will have to be alterations.

Can’t I wear a dress I already own?

Piper Rose Ashwell, you get married once. You are not wearing a dress hanging in your closet. We are dress shopping. Today. Do you hear me?

Mitchell and I have a case, Mom.

Piper—

I have to go. See you tonight at dinner. I hang up and chug the rest of my coffee.

I knew you’d need another coffee, Mitchell says, handing me a new cup.

That’s why I agreed to married you. You keep me well caffeinated. I stand up and grab the coffee, tossing my empty cup in the nearby trash can.

He laughs. I think that might actually be true. He extends his elbow to me, and I loop my arm through his.

So, what’s the case? I ask as he opens the passenger door of the patrol car for me and hands me the pastry bag.

Missing person. Right up your alley.

It is my specialty, I say before he closes the door. My first case ever, when I was twelve years old and my abilities first surfaced, was a missing persons case. It’s the case that traumatized me and made me briefly as famous as the beloved child actress I helped my dad find.

I eat my scone while Mitchell drives to the station. Why did you congratulate Officer O’Reilly?

Oh, she passed her detective exam. She’s officially Detective O’Reilly now. This is her first case as a detective, so she’s pretty excited about it.

I guess Chief Johansen agreed with me that O’Reilly was ready to be a detective. But why did she call us in on it? If she believed in my abilities I’d understand, but I thought I made her a little uncomfortable.

We’re basically consulting. She’s going to run somethings by us. We’re not obligated to take the case, though. She knows we’re getting married on Saturday. I plan to take time off so we can go on a honeymoon.

Honeymoon? Where? Why does the idea cause such panic for me?

Wherever you want.

I don’t think he’ll accept my couch with a pile of books as an answer.

He turns to look at me for a moment. Have you never gone on a vacation?

I went to that ski resort for Christmas, remember?

Mitchell shakes his head. First, you don’t ski. You went there to get away from everyone for the holiday and hole up in your room for a few days. But being you, you wound up solving a murder while you were there. That doesn’t count as a vacation.

Then no. I hold out Mitchell’s scone to him so he can take a bite. I don’t normally do typical couple stuff like feeding each other, but I’m trying to get him to shut up about this honeymoon idea.

He chews and swallows, and before he can say something else, I shove the scone back into his mouth. He takes a mammoth bite.

You’re trying to finish this as quickly as possible to get back to the topic of conversation, I say.

Nothing gets past you, he says with his mouth full. He pulls into the station.

Hah. We’re here. Discussion tabled for the time being. I quickly get out of the car, handing him the last bite of his scone first.

Mitchell meets me around the front of the car. No worries. I’ll plan it and tell you what to pack. He opens the door to the station, and Officer Wallace bombards us with confetti.

I guess they know, I say to Mitchell.

Harry, Officer Wallace’s K9 partner, walks up to us, tail wagging. Harry is my favorite member of the WPD. Don’t tell Mitchell. I look at Officer Wallace. Can I pet him? I always ask first because Harry is a police dog after all.

Yup. He’s off duty. Officer Wallace smiles at me.

I bend down to Harry. Hi, Harry. I scratch behind both of his ears, which earns me a big kiss on my nose.

Congratulations, you two, Officer Wallace says. O’Reilly told us the news.

And you happened to have confetti in your desk drawer? I ask.

Officer Wallace shrugs. It’s actually from the paper shredder. I improvised.

Mitchell laughs.

Okay, comes Chief Johansen’s booming voice. Congrats to the happy couple, but we have work to do, people. Wallace, clean up this mess. He turns back to his office, but he smiles at me first.

Detective O’Reilly waves us over. "Got the case file for you both to look