Hunting Lodge: Deadly Marriage Series, #2

By Amanda Lawrence Auverigne

A New Year's Murder….

Carrie and Ted are happily married. They visit their old hunting lodge for a New Year's celebration.
Carrie finds out too late that her husband plans to celebrate the New Year with her murder!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amanda Lawrence Auverigne
• Release date: Feb 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201605902

Amanda Lawrence Auverigne

Amanda Lawrence Auverigne writes horror, humor and dark fantasy fiction. She lives in the United States. Read short stories, watch book trailers and find out about new book releases. Visit Amanda's website.   http://auverigne.com

Book preview

Deadly Marriage Series

When Happily Ever After Ends with MURDER...

––––––––

Deadly Honeymoon

Hunting Lodge

Deadly Vow

Dangerous Marriage

Incident

A Small Case of Indigestion

Dead Mother In Law

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1

I love this city during the holidays, Carrie said.

Yes they do decorate the buildings and the streets nicely, Lauren said.

Lauren and Carrie walked slowly across the snow-covered sidewalk.

They passed dozens of brightly decorated shops, boutiques and stores during their trek forward.

The sidewalk was filled with an assortment of slow walking pedestrians.

The loud ring of a nearby handbell echoed in the chilly air.

The streetlights had been decorated with twisted lengths of bright green holly and large red velvet bows.

Huge brass horns were attached to the top portion of the lamp posts.

The buildings in the area were decorated with heavy wreaths and twinkling lights.

The window displays of many of the shops possessed holiday scenes filled with smiling snowmen, tall twinkling trees and brightly wrapped gifts.

Carrie and Lauren gazed at the cheerful scene around them.

Both women carried several holiday shopping bags in their grasp. They slowed their leisurely walk to pause in front of store windows to admire their displays and comment on their wares.

I'm getting a little cold, Lauren said. How about a hot chocolate stop?

I could really go for a bite to eat. Like a sandwich, Carrie said hopefully.

Lauren made a scant face and said, I thought you were on a diet. I thought you wanted to get slim for you and Ted's anniversary.  You brought that lovely dress and I thought you wanted to look I don't know. Fitter and younger.

Carrie swallowed with great difficulty and when she looked into Lauren's striking gray eyes she managed a carefree smile.

I have been on a diet these last three months. You know that Lauren. And I have lost twelve pounds, Carrie said.

Wow. Twelve pounds. You are going to look wonderful in that dress.  So where are you and Ted going for your anniversary? It is on New Year's Eve after all, Lauren said.

Well I wanted to go to a party but Ted wants to keep it simple. We're going to his family's old Hunting Lodge near the lake, Carrie said.

That old place? Lauren asked.

You've been there before? Carrie inquired.

Yeah and you have to remember? It was back in college. Our second year and we all were bored at home after Christmas and we wanted to do something exciting for New Year's. So Ted suggested we all go to his family's lodge.  It was a lovely place. Then.  There's like a fifty acres of land and there's a lovely little pond that we all used to skate on. Don't you remember? It was when I was dating Ted and you were seeing Morris. I think.  It was all so long ago. Ten years. We were all so young then. And look at how our lives have turned out.  You married Ted.  And I married Anthony and divorced him and now I'm single again, Lauren said flatly.

Carrie touched Lauren's arm.

You'll meet someone really special.  And then we'll plan your wedding, Carrie said.

Yes we can hope, Lauren said. Come on I'm getting cold too. Let's get some of that chocolate.

2

Carrie entered the foyer of the large house.  She removed her coat and hung it inside of a nearby closet.  She tossed back her long brown hair before she removed her boots.  She slid on a pair of slippers and rubbed her hands together as she walked through the first floor of the house.  She moved through a long hallway and smiled when she heard the murmur of her husband's voice coming from his office.

Carrie slowed her stride and she listened.  She could not make out the words and she sighed.  She walked faster and paused in front of the opened door of her husband's spacious home office.

Ted was seated behind a massive wooden desk.  

Three large computer screens had been placed on the desk in front of him.

Ted was holding his cell phone against his right ear.  He stared worriedly at the computer screens in front of him while he spoke in a low voice.

He tapped at the keyboard in front of him lazily before he looked up at his wife.  His face registered surprise before his features relaxed and he smiled.

Carrie giggled and she entered the room.

I'll call you back with all of the details, Ted said.  He pulled the cell phone from his ear and placed it on his desk.

Carrie rushed to Ted and she pulled him into a tight hug.

Ted returned Carrie's embrace.  He pushed her away from him gently. He looked up at her.

Hello my darling, Carrie said.

"Hello Carrie. And how was