You're Giving Me A Haddock: Trapper Lakes, #3

By Aliyah Burke

If it looks like an accident, it is truly just an accident?

The town of Trapper Lakes has big plans for the Fourth of July weekend. So does Jynx. Those plans do not include finding a corpse floating in the lake while walking with her father. Once again, she is unable to leave it alone and finds herself deep in the mystery of the woman who she found, much to the dismay of temporary Sheriff Jimmy Thayer.

Facts don't add up, other clues are found and she is trying to traverse all of this, her two jobs, crazy raccoon, and deal with her love life. If she can consider herself having one anymore. Her newly labeled boyfriend's ex-fiancée is back in town, and that woman seems to be angling to reclaim a position in Jimmy's life. However, it's not only his ex who shows up, a few locals have begun to show an interest in her too. She refuses to give up and finds herself once again in danger as she tries to put the pieces of this together, before more people get hurt.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sensual Romance Publishing
• Release date: Jul 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201189938

Aliyah Burke

USA Today bestselling author Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She is happily married to a career military man. They are owned by six Borzoi. She spends her days at the day job, writing, and working with her dogs.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Jynx smiled as she watched Pita dash ahead of her. Beside her was her father, Angus Nix. She’d insisted he start walking with her in the morning. Part of her way to watch him and keep him on the mend from his heart attack.

Plus, she loved spending time with him. There hadn’t been a single walk in the past few weeks that didn’t culminate in him giving her some kind of botany, biology, or some other lesson from something they’d passed.

Today’s lesson had been on the difference between a white oak and a water oak. Nothing she would ever need to know in real life, but she would never stop her father from sharing his knowledge with her. Especially when it allowed her to witness the pure joy in his expression as he taught her something new.

They didn’t walk too far and it wasn’t anything that was rushed. Not all the walks were in the morning because, quite frankly, some days it was hard to get him up and moving. She didn’t want to have to rush off to work and make him move faster than he was ready to.

So, right now it was about seven at night. Noises from the lake reached them as they walked along the pathway. Not her typical morning walk path, but one closer to her work and the sweets she bribed him with to get out with her.

Ginny.

Yes, Papa? She stopped searching for Pita once more and gave her father her attention.

I don’t think that is supposed to be part of the local wildlife.

She followed his finger out into the lake, not far but enough that when she realized what she was looking at was a body, she was torn between thinking the killer could still be around and the need to go see if they were okay.

Stay here. She rushed to the edge, not waiting to see if he listened to her or not. Without giving her clothing a second thought, she plunged into the water and slogged out to the one floating there.

Be careful, Ginny, her father called to her.

Papa, she called back. Call the cops. The water came up to her waist but she still hadn’t reached the body yet. The water reached to just below her neck when she got to the body whose only movement came from the ripples she’d made on her way there.

I don’t want to have to touch another dead body. But she couldn’t ignore the fact that perhaps, with some serious stroke of luck, this person was still alive. She wouldn’t ever forgive herself if she’d stayed on the shore watching someone take their last breath knowing she could have at least attempted to save them.

Reaching out, she took a deep breath and turned them so their face wouldn’t be submerged and get them some air. The moment she spied their face, she knew it was too late, the glassy eyes looked to something that had ultimately been their last vision.

The person, she didn’t recognize, was female. Even though she knew there wouldn’t be a pulse, she pushed her fingers against the cold skin, searching for a miracle.

It didn’t come.

Nor did her luck get any better when she heard the sirens and watched as two cop cars raced up along the pathway. Ignoring the scene on shore, Jynx began to move there, towing the incredibly heavy body with her.

Ms. Nix.

Jimmy’s voice penetrated her focused little world with the force of someone smashing through a brick wall.

She looked up and promptly lost her breath. She’d missed him. The incredible chasm between them only growing the longer she was in town. No, that wasn’t far, she had put up her own walls and it wouldn’t be fair to blame a woman who had every right to move to town. Dep…Sheriff. She stopped moving toward the shore, her fingers full of the waterlogged long-sleeved shirt she’d been towing the body with.

His eyes, so perfectly green, held her immobile for a moment.

A splash behind him broke the spell as Officer Harris moved up beside him. Jynx, he said with a small smile.

Her return one came far easier now, Officer Harris.

I got this. He gently nudged her aside and took the woman by the arm and began lifting her from her watery grave. She had on jeans and hiking boots as well.

Jynx didn’t say a word, just edged around Jimmy and climbed up and onto the shore.

Her father waited there along with another officer, Nepra Hollingsworth, who gave her a blanket.

Jynx gratefully wrapped her cold body in it and stepped off to the side.

Dr. Beck hopped out of another vehicle and hurried toward her.

Jynx mouthed she was okay.

The doctor changed direction and headed down to where the two men were with the deceased.

Jynx felt numb as she offhandedly listened to Dr. Beck declare the woman dead. They covered her with blanket then moved her into a body bag. She chewed on her lower lip as Jimmy and Martin carried it to the back of the truck that Jimmy had driven.

Her father had his arm around her, rubbing her back. She hoped she had the energy to make it back to the house.

I’ll do it.

Those words from Officer Martin Harris had her looking up from the toes of her soaked shoes.

The man strode toward her. Sorry you had to find the body.

I’m sure she’s wishing I hadn’t to find her either. I would think she’d be much happier to be alive and breathing. Do you know who she is?

He lifted an eyebrow. I was going to ask you the same thing.

She shook her head. She doesn’t ring a bell to me. Jynx looked over at her father. Papa?

She’s a tourist. Doesn’t smell right to be one of our residents.

Jynx and Martin shared a look.

Smell right, Papa? Jynx asked. She was floating in the lake. She smells like lake water.

Her father shrugged like it didn’t matter. Oh, Pita’s back. He wandered off.

Jynx tracked him with her gaze until he swept up the little reprobate in his arms.

Pita looked over her father’s shoulder at her and put his head down.

Yeah, she could go for just being held by her dad too. It had been years.

Can I give you both a ride home? Martin asked.

You sure you want to do that? Jynx asked him. You know we come with a raccoon and I am dripping wet.

Martin grinned and hooked his thumbs in his duty belt. Hate to break this to you, Jynx. You smelling like the lake is not even on the top ten of the worst things I’ve had in the back of my patrol car.

She grimaced at his comment. "Am I sure I want to be back there?"

Martin put his arm behind her and nudge-led her to his vehicle.

Tossing a peek over her shoulder, she looked for her father but found Jimmy’s stare instead.

His glare was locked on to where Martin touched her.

Come on, Papa. Jynx called to him. Officer Harris is going to give us a ride home.

That’s good. You should cook him dinner as a thank you, Jynx. Maybe he would like some of that braised beef you made. Then again, perhaps he is scared that your boyfriend would be upset.

Somedays her father needed mute button.

No boyfriend, Papa. And I’m sure Officer Harris—

—would love some of that dinner, it sounds delicious. Martin gave her a wink, as he made sure to scoot closer to her and wrap his arm around her a bit more. If I’m not suddenly on desk duty all night. His last statement was for her ears only.

She wasn’t touching any of those statements. Not in this life. Jynx got in the back and just dropped her head against the seat with a sigh.

Why does this happen to me? Why can’t someone else be the one to find a body?

She had to get home and dry her phone. It was water resistant so hopefully, this hadn’t killed it.

Moments later, a familiar weight and heat climbed up to her shoulder and nuzzled her neck.

Hey Pita, she muttered without opening her eyes.

His chatter comforted her. As the car pulled away and turned around, she listened to her father quiz Martin on the proper way to store fireworks. She thought about it. There had been some advanced fireworks last night. Perhaps the woman had been out along the lake to steal a glance.

When they got home, she took a quick shower and fixed a plate for Martin.

He and her father had just sat down to eat when her doorbell rang.

I got it. She held up a hand to stop her father from going. He’d taken his medication and needed the food in his stomach.

Tippi stood there. Her friend’s expression overflowed with concern. "Oh, good, you’re okay. I heard you found another body and I came over as soon as I could. Are you okay? How did you find it? I heard it was in the lake. And you had to walk out and pull the person in. Do we know who it is?’

Jynx placed a hand over her friend’s mouth, stopping her ranting questions. She gave a single shake of her head before she stepped back. Moving her hand from Tippi’s mouth to her wrist, Jynx pulled her in, pausing to close the door. Then at the table, she fixed two more plates and poured both herself and Tippi some wine.

Once she had a few drinks, she breathed out. Okay, Tippi. I’m good. Ask your questions.

αβ

Jimmy swore as he stared at the empty doorway. Rocking back in the old wooden chair that had come with the desk when he’d taken over as sheriff creaked beneath him. He needed to get some WD-40 and fix that.

His gaze flit back to the doorway and he was just as angry as he’d been before that she wasn’t there. Her. Jynx.

No, because she’s having Martin over for dinner.

Jealousy was an ugly thing and right now, it had him in its crosshairs. He pinched the bridge of his nose and rubbed his eyes. He had no reason to be jealous. It wasn’t like Jynx had invited him, it had been her father. Something he did all the time with so many people.

All good and well when he went with the logic surrounding the situation. But he was a man not being ruled by logic.

A wedge existed between him and Jynx and things like this wouldn’t make it go away. His fault? Perhaps more than half. He hadn’t told her about being engaged before and he sure hadn’t expected his ex to show up in town, much less as their new librarian.

He stared down at the report he needed to finish before he could even consider heading out the front door and climbing into his jeep to go home. He’d left two officers out at the scene and with Harris hanging out with Jynx, his force was depleted.

Heard you have another dead body on your hands.

He raised his gaze from the blurred white pages before him.

Sheriff Sommer leaned against the doorjamb. Crutches under her arms.

Jimmy smiled as he got to his feet. Sheriff, good to see you. Are you back?

She shook her head. Not yet. Just stopping by to see if you needed a fresh set of eyes on anything? She made her way to a chair and claimed a seat with a huff. I hate those things. The crutches were dropped beside her as she made her statement.

You sure you don’t want to come back? he asked. I could do for being out on the streets.

Stop trying to saddle me with your paperwork.

He laughed and sat down again. It’s good to see you. How are you doing?

Bored out of my mind. How’s everything here?

Busy. Trying to think how we did this in previous years? It’s crazy how stretched thin we feel.

Tourist season is always stressful, it’s why we’re so quiet the rest of the year. We’re exhausted. She lifted her chin in the direction of his papers. What’s going on with your current, DB?

He rested his arms on the desktop. Not much right now. Dr. Beck is going to perform the autopsy. Right now, it looks like blunt force trauma but he’ll let us know about water in the lungs.

I know Hollingsworth had Doug tow the car back to the garage. Who’s going over it?

Hollingsworth, Jimmy replied. Then we’re having Doug check for any issues mechanically. He was on the fence about the man. Never a fan of anyone who cheated, it didn’t help that Doug had cheated on Jynx’s best friend, Tippi. And he had done so with this woman in front of him.

As he tried to tell himself and as his parents continually told him, it wasn’t his business. And they were right, it wasn’t. But he couldn’t ignore the fact he had his own thoughts on the matter and he felt like he should be loyal to Tippi. Jynx may or may not be playing a part in that decision.

You know you can hire a few more people, just for the season, if needed, Sheriff Sommer suggested. It’s in the budget.

Why didn’t you tell me that before? He pushed away thoughts of Jynx, and how he needed to fix the rift between them, focusing on Sommer.

She rested her head back. Not something we like to advertise, that we’re short on staff in the department. They expect us to protect them and letting them know we don’t have enough people to do it all, tends to incite panic instead of calm.

I get that. I’m not looking to stand up on the bandstand and make an announcement but I could have put something out there to other places. Maybe in there’s some officers who want to get away from a busier place for a while.

She shrugged. Now you know. Look, I know you were thrust into this position but thank you for taking over and doing so well. You know, except for the dead bodies.

He narrowed his eyes at her. You say that like I’m the one out there creating them.

Just sayin’ there are rumors. About you and Jynx.

Don’t start.

I’m not your boss at the moment, I can say what I want.

And I can kick you out of this office.

She laughed and pushed to her feet after picking up her crutches. Fine, fine. I can take a hint.

He arched an eyebrow at her. Can you though?

And here I thought you didn’t have a sense of humor. She hobbled to the door and went through. I’m around if you need help but get that posted and make it easier on yourself. Talk to Tammy. She can get something out for you.

Jotting that down, he was about to go grab something to eat when a call came over the radio for an incident at The Salt Box.

Jimmy groaned and headed for the door, swiping