The Secret of the Blue Mermaid: A Katy Woods Mystery

By Dr. Diana Prince

Katy Woods is on a search for a long lost treasure. As Katy unravels the clues, a hidden love story emerges. Will Katy find the answers to the puzzle before deceit and treachery intervene to claim the treasure?

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jul 14, 2017
• ISBN: 9781546200178

Dr. Diana Prince

Dr. Diana Prince has a Master’s Degree in English and a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from California State University at San Diego. She has a PhD in Psychology from United States International University.

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2017 Dr. Diana Prince. All rights reserved.

Cover Photo: Getty Images

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 07/14/2017

ISBN: 978-1-5462-0018-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5462-0017-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017911053

Contents

Chapter 1 The Legend

Chapter 2 Mermaid School

Chapter 3 The Challenge

Chapter 4 The Mermaid at Hastings

Chapter 5 The Captain’s Diary

Chapter 6 Mystery at the Convent

Chapter 7 The Performer

Chapter 8 The Intruder

Chapter 9 Opening Night

Chapter 10 Clues in the Attic

Chapter 11 The Captain’s Secret

Chapter 12 Catching Up

Chapter 13 The Perfect Mermaid

Chapter 14 The Mermaid Treasure

Chapter 15 Good News

Chapter 16 The Thief

Chapter 17 Betrayal Revealed

Chapter 18 New Plans

Chapter 19 The Unfinished Story

Chapter 20 Finding Abby

Chapter 1

The Legend

I can’t believe summer is finally here, Lyn shouted to Katy. This party tonight here at the cabin will be a great start.

It had been a busy day. The girls had hiked around Lake Bradshaw, and were now setting up tables for the party food.

I can’t believe my Uncle Frank is going to be here. You know how he is always off on his adventures somewhere, Katy said excitedly.

Didn’t he just get back from Madagascar? He’s always off to the strangest places, Lyn remarked.

Jeff, Katy’s ten-year-old brother, lying across the large overstuffed chair intervened. Where’s Madagascar anyway?

Lyn looked up, Well, it’s …well, I don’t know exactly … She looked over at Katy, with a help me out look.

It’s a huge island about 300 miles off the east coast of Africa, Katy answered.

So it’s part of Africa? he persisted.

Well, said Katy, "It was part of Africa more than 40 million years ago, and then it broke away from the mainland."

How do you even remember all those things, Katy? Lyn looked at her amazed.

I remember that because Madagascar is a whole unique world in itself. Most of the animals and plants there are found nowhere else on earth. They just developed there over centuries isolated from the rest of the world. Can you just imagine seeing an animal that no one had ever seen before? It would be like going to a different planet.

Distracted, Katy whirled around to look at her brother. Jeff, get your feet off the arm chair, and stop eating those chips. You know they’re for tonight. And they aren’t that good for you anyway.

Oh contraire, he announced in his semi-sophisticated tone, They’re potatoes. Potatoes! They’re vegetables. Nothing bad about that.

Katy looked toward Lyn and rolled her eyes. It’s a wonder he doesn’t weigh a ton.

Lyn laughed, He never sits still. He’s always doing something, that’s why.

A few minutes later the timer on the stove went off. Great, the meat is ready, Lyn said rushing toward the small cabin kitchen. I’ll slice the beef. And can you do the appetizers while I do the salads?

Katy smiled, observing the elaborate table. Lyn loved to cook and always outdid herself.

Sunset was settling over the lake, as more and more guests arrived. Katy was sorry her parents couldn’t attend, but they had gone to see her aunt in Chicago who had recently been sick. She was glad that Lyn’s parents would be at the party. She had known Lyn since first grade, and her parents had always treated her as one of the family.

Several of their friends from Jefferson High were already sitting in the wooden chairs in front of the cabin to watch the sun go down over the lake and the green hills beyond. Later, as the cooler breeze came up, they migrated slowly into the warm cabin attracted by the hot chocolate and cookies.

It was about this time that Uncle Frank arrived on the scene. His booming voice could be heard as he greeted some of the stragglers who were still sitting outside. Katy rushed over to give him a big hug.

Now the party’s complete, Katy announced, kissing her uncle on the forehead.

Soon, he had a group around him, listening to his animated stories.

Jeff intervened, Tell me about Madagascar. About the animals that aren’t anywhere else on earth but there. Is that true?

Very true, Uncle Frank said, rubbing his hand through his beard. Over 80 percent of the animals – plants too – on Madagascar are found nowhere else in the world.

"Well, are