Silk Whispers

By Cheryl L. Hyde

"Is she dead?"

"Oh yeah. You can't be that color and be alive."

 

Life in a small coastal village is usually very predictable. Best friends and more, Mia and Charlie, own Silk Whispers and usually lead 'normal' lives. That is until they discover a dead body outside their boutique. Suddenly their lives are thrust into the anything but normal realm.

 

What is the dead girl's tie to Charlie?

 

Is a sexual predator/serial killer lurking in this peaceful seaside village?

 

Investigating officers, Livie and Ryder, arrive on scene generating sizzling sexual sparks.

 

Will Charlie and Mia continue their 'and more' relationship or will new love interests spark, ignite, and flame brightly?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Whisper Publications
• Release date: Aug 27, 2021
• ISBN: 9781950598052

Cheryl L. Hyde

I make my home in the beautiful state of Colorado backed up against the Rocky Mountains. I live with my husband Anthony, and my rescue Blue Front Amazon parrot, Riley. I enjoy traveling, writing, painting, fitness, nature, visiting with friends, curling up with a good book, and the awesomeness of every day.Each new day is a blessing to be treasured!One of the greatest joys of writing is losing myself in the story—I may begin the story, but soon it is writing itself—sometimes taking me on a totally different journey than originally imagined. I find myself on a magical ride to new places, or reliving and reinventing places I've visited.I hope you enjoy my stories and please feel free to connect with me. I love to hear from my readers and fans. I feel very lucky to have connected with and made so many friends in this very special world we live.Through social media, especially my Twitter Tribe and Writers Community, I am blessed with a multitude of caring and wonderful friends who support me in so many ways—you are awesome!It is with heartfelt gratitude that I thank my readers and fans around the world. I feel extremely honored to be a part of your reading list.Visit me on Twitter at: @Cheryl_L_Hyde

Book preview

Chapter 01 What the Hell?

SHE feels a ragged scream scrambling up her suddenly dry throat, threatening to choke her, but not a squeak can climb up her throat and escape her open mouth. Her body trembles as her shaking, cold hand seeks, finds, and grips Charlie's in a death grip.

What the hell? Mia finally manages to whisper. Her gleaming eyes are round blue orbs in a face that’s lost all color, as she stares at the sight in front of her.

Oh God, I think I'm going to be sick, Charlie gasps struggling to swallow the rising bile.

They stare at the body leaning against the side of their boutique. The thick, shoulder length blond hair is a dirty tangled mess and dried blood mostly obscures the face, making it absolutely impossible to determine what the young woman may have looked like. Her glazed eyes stare blankly into space, seeing nothing.

Her lopsided mouth hangs open in a silent scream no one heard. Her head sits at an unnatural, uncomfortable angle on her shoulders and her neck looks as if it may be broken. Her hands are bloodied and grotesque purple bruises color her arms and neck. Her too-thin body is a ghastly color of gray and missing most of its clothing.

Mia and Charlie stare transfixed by the site wondering if the body is really real or if some kids are playing an awful and unwelcome prank. Neither has seen a dead body before and are hoping this is a leftover Halloween joke or some other weird antic.

It’s late. The lighting is not great in this alley and Mia and Charlie are bone tired. All they want is to go home and get some rest. It’s already been a stressful and busy day and their brains are mush. Besides helping the unusually large number of customers, including several brides-to-be, they had to complete the dreaded yearly inventory counts after their boutique closed.

They step a bit closer and immediately realize this is no prank. She’s dead, right? Charlie asks.

Oh yeah, Mia assures, covering her mouth and nose, trying not to puke. No way can you be that color and still be alive. She looks worse than those CPR manikins we practiced on last month for our certifications. She shivers. Do you want to call 9-1-1 or shall I?

I’ll call, but let's go back inside the shop, just in case whoever did this to her is still around and looking to cause more grief.

Mia furtively glances around nervously at the deserted alley behind their eclectic lingerie shop, Silk Whispers. Their little boutique features custom designed and made under garments, as well as lingerie designed for bedroom—or any room—play. Nothing like this has ever happened in their sleepy little burg.

Opening the alley door to Silk Whispers, the two young women rush back inside, quickly closing and locking the door. Shaking, Charlie pulls out her phone and with trembling fingers presses the emergency notification alert. She tries to calm her ragged breathing and racing heart, but can't stop her hands from shaking. She locks her knees to avoid falling to the ground.

She quickly, but precisely, explains the circumstances and receives instructions to remain where she is—safely locked inside the shop. She is further informed that two law enforcement officers, a male and a female, will be there shortly, but until then she is told not to open her door for anyone.

I know the cops said not to go outside, but maybe we should cover her with something. I feel badly for her. It’s rather gross the way she is all slumped against the wall, mostly naked, and all exposed.

"Are you nuts No way are we going back out there and definitely we are not going to cover that body. I've watched enough TV shows to know you don't mess with a crime scene, especially when a dead body is involved. That is unless you want to become the number one suspect. Besides, what if whoever did that is watching? Waiting for us to pop back out this door." Mia shudders.

The two friends subconsciously move closer together, standing with their shoulders touching, each naturally seeks comfort from the other. Hands reach for and lock solidly together. The immense quiet of their room seems to envelope them in a falsely protective cocoon. It seems safe but they are not sure anything will be safe again. Eyes are fastened to the door and their hearing is finely tuned to pick up any little nuance in the normal sounds of the shop. Their breaths naturally match each other—both too fast and a little ragged.

Mia and Charlie have been 'best friends and more' since their early days of college. It seemed like fate originally brought them together and they quickly became an item. Following college they became business partners and opened Silk Whispers. For the past couple years, life has been going along rather smoothly for the two.

Outgoing and brilliantly intelligent, Mia received a full-ride scholarship, swimming her way to many wins, state championships, and awards. She was unstoppable in the water, as well as in the classroom and that drive has served her well in business.

Her parents supported her educational endeavors and she never had to worry about money or where her next meal was coming from. She completed dual majors in business and environmental ecology, finishing in the upper five percent of her class. While in school, she spent hours between classes and during the evening in the sewing room of the textile design and merchandising department working on her one-of-a-kind silky, sexy creations. She’s a natural born artist and loves creating fun things to wear around the house.

Awkwardly shy and painfully introverted Charlie majored in business law. She worked her way through college tackling many jobs along the way and never knowing the financial freedom Mia enjoyed. One of her favorite jobs was designing and making costumes for the theatre department. It didn’t pay a lot but she was talented at designing costumes. She spent all her free time in the theatre department’s sewing room designing costumes, bent over a machine or hand stitching her gorgeous creations. She loved the freedom of design when she was given creative artistry by the department.

Charlie minored in textiles and design, which is where she honed her innate raw talent for creating sexy, little underthings and lingerie. Often, upon finishing her work on the various theatre costumes, she would select a piece of scrap silk and work on one of her designs. Her true passion was creating fabulous lingerie that would soon be swept off, or even ripped off, in the heat of passion. She painted wildly wanton images in her head, that she knew she’d never dare participate in, as she drew or stitched her designs.

Freshman year Mia and Charlie met often in their shared classes. A friendship soon blossomed and they discovered their mutual interest for designing sexy lingerie and unmentionables. Mia accompanied Charlie to the theatre sewing room many evenings when no one was around except for them. Charlie was often in the textile and merchandising department's creative room working on projects for her minor. Often Mia was there and the two starting collaborating on ideas. They were becoming almost inseparable.

By the beginning of their second semester, they had finagled their way into being roommates in the dorm on campus, and the 'and more' of their relationship slowly developed. Neither one planned the 'and more' aspect, but neither did they try to stop the development. It seemed like a natural step. They enjoyed being together and their mutual love for each other surged.

The summer following their freshman year, the two young women rented a small two-bedroom house close to campus, which they called home until graduation. Both Mia and Charlie made cute throw pillows, sofa coverings, and window treatments. They used their creative skills to paint pictures and wall hangings. Their natural talents for creativity and color brought cheer and brightness to the otherwise rather drab and dreary little house. They took the small, plain house and made it a cozy home.

They shared a double bed in one bedroom and used the other bedroom as a sewing room to create and design one-of-a-kind silk lingerie and underthings. Sharing vivid imaginations for designing and sewing the sexy little garments, as well as loving to model the erotic pieces for each other, led to further evolution of their personal relationship. It was a natural progression from friends to lovers. They often played games to see how fast they could slip the silky pieces off each other.

However, lately their personal relationship is taking a backseat to the needs of their growing and demanding business. They rarely have time for each other and the fun things they used to do—including a fanciful and fulfilling sex life. Slowly, without realizing it, they seem to be drifting further and further apart, each yearning unconsciously for something more, something deeper, than what they share.

Chapter 02 The Cops

BAM! Bam! Bam! The intruding, loud banging against the steel door breaks into the almost too quiet silence, sending both young women leaping into the other's arms. Mia jumps and wraps her legs tightly around Charlie's waist, her arms folding around her neck. Heart rates explode and breaths are sucked in before finally settling into short gasps.

Charlie’s arms wrap around Mia as an involuntary high-pitched, very feminine, loud, squeak bursts forth. This is immediately followed by a quick, What the fu...

Still snuggled in Charlie's arms with her long legs holding tightly around her friend's waist, Mia turns her head and yells, Who is it?

Officers Carson Ryder and Olivia Pollman, with the Shadow Springs Police Department. You can open the door, comes the clipped, no-nonsense, deep baritone command, cutting off Charlie's barrage of what was sure to be colorful epitaphs.

Thank God they are here! Charlie murmurs, as the police officers announce themselves. She drops Mia and bolts toward the door.

Wait! Mia snags Charlie's arm tightly, pulling her backwards. "How do we know it's really the police? It could be anyone claiming to be the police."

Charlie stops and looks uncertain. Well, what do you propose we do? she whispers.

Mia holds a finger up. We need to see some ID before we open the door. Anyone could say they are the cops. Mia yells through the locked door.

Good idea, Charlie mouths, nodding her head.

This door is solid steel with no peephole and I don’t see any windows back here. How would you like us to show you our IDs? comes the terse, slightly annoyed male reply.

Face the center of the door and step to your right two small side-steps. Hold your IDs up to the little camera and look up so we can see them and your faces. Maybe do it one at a time since the view is rather small.

The officers look at the camera as they comply so their faces and IDs can be compared. Satisfied they are who they say they are, Mia unlocks the door and steps back so the officers may enter the shop. Sorry for the drama, but it has been a rather dramatic, rather unbelievable, and frightening night, she explains, and introduces herself and Charlie as the owners of Silk Whispers.

Introductions are quickly exchanged. Mia can't stop her gaze from traveling up then down then back up the tall, blond, too-ruggedly-handsome-for-his-own-good, Office Ryder’s, body. He doesn't look a typical cop, but instead looks like a badass, kick-some-ass military soldier. His body is all roped muscle but not like the steroid-infused bodybuilders who can barely move. He looks athletic, coordinated, and definitely able to handle any situation. She can't seem to take her eyes off him and is glad he is on the case. She feels safer now.

Finally, sensing his intense eyes boring into her, she slowly lifts her eyes to his face. She has been caught in her perusal of this model male specimen. She feels heat infuse her face and hopes he can't see the vivid blush in the dim interior lighting. She lowers her eyes and shoves her hands into her pockets..

Ryder grins, a totally sexy, totally hot all male grin, complete with two very sexy dimples on his cheeks. He introduces his partner, officer Olivia Pollman.

Officer Pollman nods her head in acknowledgement, taking in their anxious, frightened expressions. She notices the increase in color on Mia’s cheeks when Ryder introduced himself You may call me Livie, she says in her smooth, smoky voice that could calm a raging bull. I rarely use the officer term when talking with people, unless they are giving me a hard time. After 13 years in law enforcement, I am comfortable using first names.

Surprised by the sultry, sexy, polished voice, Charlie snaps her head, pointedly gazing at Officer Pollman—Livie—with a questioning lift of her right eyebrow. Her instincts—which rarely let her down—are on high alert. Her libido has kicked into overdrive and a delicious heat swirls through her system, settling low. Her heart gives a hard thud then a few flutters before finally resuming a normal, although slightly elevated rhythm. Her breath hitches and Charlie has to consciously concentrate to remember to breathe in and out.

What the hell is wrong with me? she wonders. This is no time for my body to go wacky. We have a dead girl outside.

The tall, willowy brunette looks more like a fashion model than an officer of the law and her resonant voice is like that of cultured old money society. Livie is sizing up Charlie with as much interest as Charlie is using, but she hasn’t missed the earlier hand holding between the two, twenty-something females.

She considers herself a pretty good judge of character and figures they are more than simply business partners. She is a little confused because she is sure she didn’t misread the look of raw sexual interest—unfettered, hot, pure lust—passing between Mia and Carson nor has she misread the attraction and interest she is receiving from Charlie. The feeling is mutual, she admits, though not appropriate given the circumstances for our meeting.

Charlie nods and finds her voice, although it sounds a bit husky to her. Okay, she says simply. She looks at Livie again, deciding she must’ve joined the police force at a very young age. She doesn't look any older than Mia or herself. She tries to quietly clear her throat, hoping for a normal sounding voice, Did you say 13 years?

Livie nods. I did. I know. Everybody thinks I am just a kid. Helps with undercover work, but plays hell with my social life sometimes, she chuckles deeply, sexily.

Charlie feels her body respond to that chuckle in a purely sexual, purely inappropriate way, given the devastating events of this evening. Her breasts tingle and her abdomen contracts, as heat pools between her legs. Oh my God, get a grip, Charlie! You just found a dead girl. She chastises, balling her hands into fists.

Chapter 03 Details

OFFICER 'too ruggedly handsome for his own good', Mr Carson Ryder, clears his throat and looks at Mia. In his best 'I'm a total professional' voice he states, You called us about a dead body. We’re here to investigate, if you’ll show us the location.

Mia nods and points nervously outside and to her right. Uh. Yeah. Sure. She’s around that corner outside in the alley, Officer.

You can just call me Ryder, he grins. You’re sure she's dead? Not just drunk, sleeping, or something?

Mia nods. Yeah, we’re sure. Well, I mean, we didn't touch her or anything to check for a pulse or breathing, but, yeah. She is dead. Her color is a ghostly gray-white. Her head is hanging to the side, and her mouth is drooped open. She’s scary looking, she answers. Plus she is pretty much totally naked, except for the blood all over her face. And her eyes, she shudders, are glazed, kind of a bluish-whitish, milky color and just staring off into space.

Ryder nods once. Wait here, he commands. Officer Pollman and I will have a look.

Charlie and Mia grip hands once more, squeezing their bodies closer together. Necks arch forward as heads tilt to get a better line of sight to watch the officers as they approach the body. Then, as if by their own volition their feet begin slowly following the two officers.

Officer Ryder takes one look at the body and confirms what the young women have reported. Better call the ME and the ICT. There's nothing we can do for her now, except catch whoever is responsible for her death. We'll need a complete work-up of this area. Meanwhile, let's tape this section off to keep traffic out.

ICT? Charlie asks.

Ryder jerks his head toward the two women, a scowl on his face. I thought I told you two to wait inside, he grumbles. I swear not one single person ever listens. What is so hard about following a simple instruction? Stay inside, he mumbles then continues, Investigative Crime Team.

Sort of like CSI, except real-life, Pollman adds.

Oh. Thanks.

Was she murdered?

Too early to say for certain, but it definitely looks like foul play could be involved. She has what look like multiple defensive wounds on her hands and arms as well as several contusions. Plus there is the neck issue you mentioned. Looks like it could be broken but that is for the ME to decide. My preliminary hypothesis says she was raped and strangled elsewhere then dumped here, Ryder says matter-of-factly, not looking at either young woman.

Seeing Charlie shudder and hearing her gasped intake of breath, Livie shoots Ryder a disapproving look and adds, Her death could be due to natural causes though. We will know more after the ME gets her into the lab and does a complete work-up.

Do we need to stay? Mia asks.

'Sorry, but yes we need you to stay. We will need you to answer some routine questions and provide whatever information you are able to. You're welcome to wait inside, she smiles reassuringly at the young women. Unfortunately, we are going to be here quite a while gathering any and all evidence that may be in the area surrounding her, as well as adjacent areas. We will also complete a preliminary examination of the body and take crime scene photos, once the ME arrives. How close did the two of you get to the body?"

Mia and Charlie exchange a glance. When we closed the shop, we came out this door, locked it, and headed that way, she points in the direction of the body. We were tired and kind of complaining about the long day we’d had and having had to stay late for inventory.

Yeah, we weren’t really looking around or watching where we were going, Charlie adds.

We stopped right about there, Mia says, indicating a spot about two feet from the body.

We thought at first it was some kind of sick joke but then realized she was real. We just stopped and stared for several seconds before we could kick our bodies into gear and get back inside and call you.

Okay, we’ll get impressions of your shoes so we can rule them out of the evidence we might find. Anything else you might have noticed or heard.

Both young women shake their heads side to side. Seriously we don’t know anything. We didn’t hear or see anything. We simply came out of our shop to go home and found her, Mia cries. She is almost ready to lose control and does not want to appear to be a crying, hysterical female in front of the officers. Her hands are shaking, so she stuffs them in her pockets and stands a little taller. Her knees are knocking, so she locks them firmly into place. She resolves to be tough and strong and pulls her shoulders back, trying to stand up straight.

Charlie decides to try for a lighter, less direct approach, pleading and batting what she hopes are her best puppy eyes at Livie. She tries to use her long lashes to their best advantage but the effect falls a bit short with a chin that is wobbling and eyes that are threatening to leak.

We’ve had a really long day with tons of demanding customers, not to mention having to complete the yearly inventory counts. We are totally exhausted. Couldn't we come by the station tomorrow or something?

Officer Pollman meets her liquid eyes and considers the request. She completely ignores the pleading puppy eyes. "Well, I guess we have your preliminary account and like you said, you simply found her here when you left your shop. So I guess that would be fine.

But, before you can go we need to get your prints and DNA to rule out possible involvement. I'll also need to run your IDs through our database.

You think we had something to do with her death? Charlie asks incredulously, a touch of anger lacing her slightly too high and too loud voice.

No, not at all, Livie quickly reassures the two young women. It is simply police procedure in cases like this, actually in most cases.

Oh. Okay, Mia and Charlie stutter together.

Our IDs are inside, Mia says gesturing.

"I will step in with you and get