Margari-Ta-Ta!

By Patti Larsen

Becks knew the high-level volleyball tournament would dredge up old hurts from the past, reminding her she’d lost her shot at the Olympics when her father died. But she had no idea the drama wouldn’t stop there and that meeting one of her heroes would end in murder! With her friend Jasper wrapped up in the investigation and Chief Allie Crown asking for her help again, Becks wades into the seedy behind-the-scenes of the top-level sport while balancing worry about her mastiff, Bruno, and Dr. Carter Wilson’s too-friendly fiancé, Rachel. Can Becks stay focused long enough to find out who the killer is before the death ends in more tragedy?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Patti Larsen
• Release date: Aug 13, 2023
• ISBN: 9781998948086

Patti Larsen

About me, huh? Well, my official bio reads like this: Patti Larsen is a multiple award-winning author with a passion for the voices in her head. But that sounds so freaking formal, doesn’t it? I’m a storyteller who hears character's demands so loudly I have to write them down. I love the idea of sports even though sports hate me. I’ve dabbled in everything from improv theater to film making and writing TV shows, singing in an all girl band to running my own hair salon.But always, always, writing books calls me home.I’ve had my sights set on world literary domination for a while now. Which means getting my books out there, to you, my darling readers. It’s the coolest thing ever, this job of mine, being able to tell stories I love, only to see them all shiny and happy in your hands... thank you for reading.As for the rest of it, I’m short (permanent), slightly round (changeable) and blonde (for ever and ever). I love to talk one on one about the deepest topics and can’t seem to stop seeing the big picture. I happily live on Prince Edward Island, Canada, home to Anne of Green Gables and the most beautiful red beaches in the world, with my pug overlord and overlady, six lazy cats and Gypsy Vanner gelding, Fynn.

Book preview

Margari-Ta-Ta!

Canary Key Cozy Mysteries: Four

Smashwords Edition

Patti Larsen

Copyright 2023 Patti Larsen

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Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please return to the vendor and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Chapter One

The serve went foul almost from the moment the receiving player touched it, the shrill call of the referee’s whistle barely loud enough to pierce the roar of the unhappy crowd that called out in protest at the bad play.

I was one of the voices in that crowd, though my enthusiasm was more for the thrill of the game than any opposition to the actual players or their actions. It had been years since I’d watched a live volleyball game let alone being front-and-center to a tournament, the thud of the ball, the hiss of it hitting sand or sliding down the net, the cries of the young women in their tiny suits throwing themselves with abandon at the hard, white ball all triggering memories I thought long buried, only to be roused and revived again in the hot Florida sunlight.

I caught sight of my friend, Jasper Dunlop, lurking near the far corner of the court, seeing his grin of happiness as he chatted with another tall, handsome someone who looked enough like the Lord of the Key that they could have been brothers if I didn’t know Jasper was an only child. My gaze snapped back to the resuming play at the sound of the server’s grunt, the strike of the ball, the answering call of the fans, wondering vaguely if I’d managed to thank him yet for arranging this.

You know, I don’t think I did, but I was going to correct that as soon as this game was over.

Someone shuffled across the bleacher seats to my side, Police Chief Allie Crown making room for herself between me and a larger man who took one look at her uniform and gave way. She settled beside me, handing me an icy bottle of water that was already dripping condensation, grinning as I shot her a happy smile back.

How’s it going? Allie’s question was drowned out by the roar of approval from the rest of us as I surged to my feet when the outside hitter on the serving team dove for the ball and connected with both cupped hands, sending it up and over the net. The amazing save was more than enough to catch the opposing team off guard and despite their best effort, it cleared the net and landed just inside the rubber curb lining the sand, marking the edge of the court, and making the ball’s touch down legal.

I sat again, laughing and delighted by the amazing play, though I winced when I watched the player stand, limping a little on her right knee, shaking her head, however, and waving off help and concern from her teammates. That was the life of an athlete, I was well aware, and considering she was their captain, even more so.

Okay, that part I didn’t miss.

I sucked back half of the water Allie had given me while the teams lined up again for another serve, the ball switching sides. "Wasn’t that awesome?"

The former LAPD homicide detective chuckled and shrugged. I have no idea what’s going on, she said, but sure. She waved me off before I could try to explain because it was obvious that she didn’t really care. I tried not to be offended. Not her fault she didn’t like volleyball, or that I’d missed out on my chance to play in the Olympics because my father died while walking his beat. A gold medal winner himself, he’d taught me to box—his specialty—and encouraged me to Olympic dreams of my own. And while it had really been more his passion than mine that I find myself under our flag someday, I realized now I missed it more than I let myself believe, despite the fact I’d been fifteen when I’d abandoned my chance at that life to take care of my brother and sister after Dad died and Mom fell apart.

Sure, I’d dabbled a little in rec leagues in New York when I was in college, but the competition level wasn’t enough to keep my interest and studying—then helping solve serious crimes—became my focus. This was the first time in twenty-six years the twinge of regret showed up.

Not that I was going to let it ruin my fun, mind you.

You should play, Allie winked at me, then laughed. We’d already had this conversation last night at my bar, Off Key, when a couple of the young players came in for a beer. It hadn’t taken much to remind myself that I wasn’t fifteen anymore, or even in my twenties like they were, and that a career was so far out of the question despite the small pro league that had sprung up here in the US I might as well have suggested becoming an astronaut.

Besides, as I sat back when the timer ran out, the blue team winning with a remarkable 16-6, I accepted the fact I would never feel comfortable playing in the itty-bitty suits the women wore, not anymore.

I should stick to what I’m good at, I said, giving her my full attention now that the teams were shaking hands and the court was being reset for another game. The stands began to empty as I checked my phone, hissing at the time. Speaking of which, I have to get back to Off Key. I’d arranged for my weekday bartender, Joey Arnold, to pitch in with my star, Pika Sato, for the weekend to give me a chance to see a few games, but it was almost 4PM and with the matches winding down for the evening—there were only two left—Off Key would be swamped in short order.

I’ll walk you out. Allie stepped down and waited for me as I paused for a pair of young women who cut me off to stop giggling and get moving. When it was clear they’d be hunching over their phones for at least another few seconds, I threw caution to the wind and hopped over two levels of seats, swinging down the side of the bleachers instead of taking the steps. Allie laughed at me when I landed. You sure you don’t want to play?

Okay, maybe I wasn’t that far out of shape, but I had no illusions. Yeah, I took care of myself and was naturally athletic, but any longing I had to jump into the volleyball court was paired with the desire to go back in time and be young again. And not for the reason you think, either. I had no problem getting older. The only benefit to being fifteen?

My dad would be alive. I still missed him every day.

Things a zoo around here? Spectators had begun arriving early this morning, the first day of the tournament very well attended to my surprise. And though there was little by way of accommodations available on Canary Key—we were just too small to host more than the players and coaches in the selection of hotels available—the neighboring keys had been more than accommodating from what I understood.

Not so bad, Allie said, sauntering along with her thumbs in her gun belt, Aviator mirrors reflecting back my features to me as she turned to face me while we followed the crowd away from the beach and past the barricades to the main road, Fancy Street. Could use another deputy or two, but it should be all right. Unless you convinced that sergeant friend of yours to come visit for the weekend. She laughed and waved off my protest. I’m teasing, she said. How is Sergeant Borden doing?

Why did the mention of his name make me want to blush? She loved to torment me, though honestly, thinking about Jamie had me smiling. We’d never met in person, had been talking over the last few weeks more than I expected. What I’d thought might peter out, in fact, had gone from every other day to almost daily conversations over the phone while I set up Off Key in the mornings, and a few video chats late at night when I got home. I’d refrained from digging too deeply into his past, aside from the usual lookie-loo out of curiosity and adored what I saw.

Including his sweet face with the dark auburn hair and hazel eyes, his handful of large freckles across his nose that gave him a youthful appearance, though I knew from his stats he was a big boy. The retired Navy SEAL turned Chicago PD suggested to me more than once he was tired of law enforcement, threatening to come and crash on my couch more and more frequently.

Since the offer was open, I’d hoped he might show up sometime. Then again, for all I knew, he was just bored and filling time. I know, for my part, that was the last thing on my mind. But I’d spent my entire adult life single by choice aside from a few brief entanglements, so I wasn’t even sure what having a boyfriend would feel like.

There I went, jumping ahead of myself again.

He’s fine, I growled when I realized I hadn’t answered her question.

That only made Allie laugh again. I might have been convinced to laugh along with her, was on the verge of it because how high school was