Hanging by a Thread: The Sisters of Fate Paranormal Cozy Mysteries, #1

By Emory Keller

The murder was supposed to be a warning to me⏤Submit to fate or else! But when the killer threatens my family, I realize that fate is just a game and I'm more than willing to play."

 

I was just doing what I could to take care of mom. Then my dog leads me to a dead body in the woods, and I unearth an eerie connection to a bedtime story me mom used to tell me. I can't rest until I find answers.

 

The police keep telling me to leave well enough alone, but that's not going to happen. Not when the safety of my family is at stake.

 

My friends won't let me do this alone. I'm so thankful for them. A whimsical, silver-haired librarian, a skeptical boyfriend, and an eagle-eyed bestie; they follow me down a rabbit hole of age-old myths and haunting dreams that send us on a fateful race to prevent the next murder.

 

It turns out destiny has an oddly familiar face. Pulling the loose threads take us full circle to discover all the answers tie right back to me.

 

As sure as fate, if we make it out of this alive, none of us will ever be the same again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Emory Keller
• Release date: Feb 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9781962807067

Book preview

1

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He disappeared into the fog. Then nothing.

Herk? Herk! Laney clapped her hand on her thigh and called out to the wall of dense cloud that shrouded her backyard.

Is it stuck under debris? I didn't throw it that hard. Come on back, Buddy! Her heart rate picked up and a chill ran up Laney’s neck. Herk was a responsive dog and fast. He would be back by now. An unsettling pit in her stomach set in.

Herk! She squinted and tilted to one side, making an irrational attempt to see around the fog.

Then, fingers. Out of nowhere a hand reaching A long, disembodied arm gliding through the haze. Lane’s eyes widened in a terror-stricken tunnel vision as she stumbled backward and fell onto the grass. Her hand raised to shield herself as she groped at the fog with her eyes. Emerging over her was the outline of a woman.

Are you all right? I didn’t mean to startle you! Fully free from the clinging mist, out stepped Jill, Laney’s neighbor. She was in running gear, and from the gleam of sweat on her brow, it seemed she’d just finished her morning jog.

Laney threw back her head and erupted in laughter. Yeah, I’m okay. Dear me! That’s where my imagination goes when I can’t see an inch past my nose.

Jill nodded with a chuckle just as Herk came flopping back into view. The ball Laney had thrown was nowhere in sight, but a large stick was hanging from his goofy mouth. Laney breathed easily and grinned at him.

There you are! He wagged his tail and trotted to Jill, nudging his head into her leg to say hi.

It sure is thick this morning! I was having trouble seeing my own feet out on the trail. Sometimes it’s clearer in the woods, but it was almost worse. Jill wiped her forehead with the back of her hand before smiling at Laney with a wave and walking back to her house.

Laney crouched down to kneel face-to-face with Herk and let out a long sigh.

Well, you silly pup, she gave him a scratch behind the ears, That’s enough excitement for one morning. Let’s swing by mom and dad’s before heading to brunch.

Herk communicated agreement with a series of exuberant kisses to Laney’s face.

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Blue flowers on baby yellow wallpaper seemed to dance along the wall as Laney watched them through the steam. Her hands were wrapped comfortably around a coffee mug, the creamy brown liquid warming her from the inside out. This was the first part of her Sunday morning routine; coffee at her parents’ house.

The fog in my yard this morning was pretty intense! Laney called out to her father, swinging her short legs from her favorite stool at the counter of her childhood home.

The blue flowers sent warm, beautiful memories through Laney’s head. Flooding her mind were thoughts of her childhood summers, sitting at this same stool and watching her mother hum and spin around the kitchen as she mixed batter in a bowl. It always seemed like the little blue flowers were listening to the humming too. Laney wondered if they remembered the tune.

Is that so? I only heard that we’d be getting rain. Laney’s dad walked back into the kitchen, interrupting her thoughts of her mother’s song.

She beamed at the thought of rainy weather coming to replace the snow. In her small hometown of Elis, spring was the most magical time of the year. Trees thawed out and began to flower, and the wind dropped in degrees, ushering in the promise of all the spring and summertime activities that came with living in a small town.

If that’s the case, I’ll be sure to pull out my rain boots. Laney finished up her coffee and set her mug in the sink. As she turned to leave, she pointed at the pink box on the counter. Make sure you eat those croissants! They’re best when they’re fresh.

You tell me that every week, darling, her dad’s soft smile was full of admiration.

Well, every week it’s true! Laney grabbed her army green jacket off the coat rack, smiling at her dad as she threw it on in a rush.

You know, you look more and more like your mom every day, Laney-Loo.

Laney smiled at him, subconsciously touching her shoulder-length blonde hair as if she needed to live up to the compliment. She did bear a close resemblance to her mother; pale skin, naturally golden blonde hair, green eyes, and soft freckles on her cheeks. If it weren’t for her nose and toothy smile, no one would be able to tell she was her father’s daughter.

It’s the eyes, she said after a moment, shrugging her shoulders.

Not just the eyes. You see the world like her, full of beauty and adventure. I remember when she was twenty-nine, always in a rush and looking for a thrill. He kissed the top of his daughter's head, and for a second, Laney swore she saw tears brimming in his eyes before he blinked them away.

After squeezing another hug out of her dad, Laney hurried out the door to head back to her apartment. The walk was familiar, just as everything else was in Elis. She knew by heart the song of the wind and could anticipate the dance moves of the trees in response.

Usually, the song and dance of the woods that Laney loved so dearly brought her comfort and peace, but today she felt strange. The song felt eerie, and the trees seemed to sway mournfully instead of with joy.

Laney tried to shake off the unsettling thoughts of her personified forest, blaming it on the low-level fog that had blanketed all of Washington State the night before. The fog made it hard to tell the time of day, leaving Laney feeling like she was stuck in slow motion.

Fool me once, shame on me, she mumbled aloud, directing the words to the fog at her feet.

Once she reached the cobblestone path leading up to her duplex, Laney saw Charlotte and Donny waiting on her porch. They were chatting casually, legs rocking back and forth on the porch swing. Donny, Laney’s boyfriend of about a year, was holding a brown paper bag with the logo from their favorite diner in town.

This was part two of Laney’s Sunday tradition; breakfast with her two favorite people. They made it a habit to meet up before Donny left for work at the police station, and Charlotte and her ventured onto part three: a Sunday hike.

Just another thing that stays exactly the same, Laney thought to herself, the sinking feeling in her stomach growing stronger. It could be attributed to her hunger after getting a whiff of the food Donny brought.

Don’t tell me I’m late for brunch, Laney mused as she walked up to the door, keys jangling in her hand.

What’s more likely? That you’re late or that we both are spontaneously early? Charlotte quipped in return, causing Donny to let out a chuckle.

Laney jokingly rolled her eyes as she smiled, knowing that it was definitely more likely that she was running behind. Laney had a habit of being late, but not because of poor planning. The way Laney saw it, she was only late when the universe had something more pressing for her to see. Some might label her easily distracted, but Laney would describe herself as easily persuaded to follow adventure. When you’re in a slow-paced town like Elis, Washington, you take adventure wherever you can find it.

"I’m going to believe that you’re both spontaneously early just to make me look late!" Laney laughed as they all entered the house.

They were greeted cheerfully by Laney’s dog, Herk. His long tail and floppy ears were flying all over the place as he excitedly said hello to everyone.

Okay, Donny laughed while scratching Herk behind the ears, you think what you like. I’ll just have to start setting your watch back twenty minutes. Then even if you’re late, you’re on time.

Ooo, that’s not a bad idea, actually! Charlotte rubbed her hands together mischievously, her curly black hair bouncing as she laughed. When Charlotte was laughing, Laney could see the uncanny resemblance she bore to her parents. She was truly split down the middle; the warm, deep brown complexion inherited from her mother and the caramel-toned eyes and angular chin from her father.

Once they’d hung up their jackets, the three sat around Laney’s kitchen table and began devouring the contents from the paper bag—blueberry pancakes, hash browns, and bacon; enough for them to share. Sometimes Donny would mix it up and get chocolate chip instead of blueberry, but otherwise, breakfast was the same.

Laney pushed the remainder of her hash browns around her plate, lost in deep thought as the other two continued their conversation about Charlotte’s car issues.

Don’t you think, Laney? Charlotte said as she and Donny turned their attention to her.

Laney looked up from her plate, only half paying attention to the conversation. She wasn’t usually so flighty. She couldn’t shake this feeling that she was stuck in a rut, and it was itching at her brain.

Oh, Laney said, looking back and forth between them, uh, yeah. I agree.

Charlotte squinted suspicious eyes at Laney, a knowing look on her face. You don’t even know what we’re talking about, do you?

No, Laney sighed in resignation, setting her fork against her plate, I’m sorry, guys. I must have zoned out. She shook her head, resting her chin on her palm.

What were you thinking about? Donny furrowed his brow and lightly rubbed his thumb back and forth across Laney’s hand.

Laney realized she must have been more zoned out than she thought since she didn’t even remember him holding her hand in the first place.

I just feel like, she took a moment to form her thoughts into words, focusing her eyes on the scraps of potato and scattered pancake crumbs. "I feel like I’m supposed to be doing something. I feel like I’m standing still; the world is moving around me, and nothing is happening. You know?"

Laney looked up from her plate, moving her eyes back and forth between Charlotte and Donny as she awaited their response. A blush crawled up her neck, and her face grew hot with embarrassment. A goofy grin spread across Charlotte’s face after a moment’s pause.

Of course, I know what you mean! enthusiasm ringing in Charlotte’s tone brought comfort to Laney’s sudden unease.

Me too, Donny nodded with an understanding smile and squeezed her hand reassuringly. Why do you think I left Seattle? I needed to make a move. I wanted somewhere I could actually make a change.

Besides, Charlotte stood, beginning to clear the dishes from the table, Elis is consistent. It’s nice, if you think about it, to be able to grow in a place where nothing ever happens. That is exactly what your twenties are supposed to feel like. Try and find some solace in the fact that now that our twenties are ending, we are finally in a place to take action and change it.

Laney nodded, a breathy laugh escaping her as she and Donny helped Charlotte with clearing up. The heavy weighted feeling eased from her chest slightly, knowing she wasn’t the only one who felt the pressure to break out of this invisible rut.

I thought going to grad school would make me feel like I’m taking action, but for some reason, the routine of it all is making it worse.

Charlotte dramatically closed her eyes and put her hands together. Sounds like we need to go camping or something, get you out of your head and back in tune with nature.

"Char, you hate camping!" Laney let out a laugh, her eyebrows shooting up in surprise.Charlotte was the type that liked to be comfortable. She was not afraid to get her hands dirty, per se, but wouldn’t volunteer to sleep outside in a tent. She liked her sheets a certain thread count and her pillows fluffed.

Yes, but I would suffer through it for you and your wanderlust. Charlotte jokingly pinched Laney’s cheeks, a closed-mouth smile on her face. Laney let out a laugh and swatted her hands away.

She used to hate hiking, too. Now you guys go every week. You converted her, Donny pointed out, zipping his coat as he prepared for his eleven o’clock shift.

Yeah, Laney scoffed, the sinking feeling slowly returning, hiking through the same woods, at the same time, in the same town where nothing ever happens.

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The fog hugged their calves as Charlotte and Laney walked through the duplex’s backyard. They followed Herk, letting him lead them into the woods as they started their hike. One of the biggest reasons Laney decided to move into this house was the yard; it was relatively boring at first glance, but the small clearing of grass was right up against the woods.

That, and the proximity to her parents’ house. Laney didn’t like the idea of being more than a quick drive away. She knew her dad felt lonely sometimes, though he wouldn’t ever want to admit that to her.

When Laney turned ten, something unknown happened to her mother. It was the day after Laney’s birthday; one day, her mom was completely normal, and the next, it was as if she’d gone vacant. The only time she spoke, it was repetitive and vague, usually the same phrase over and over again. Her father remained faithful to his vows, despite the doctors’ inability to provide a diagnosis. They both still lived in the house Laney grew up in.

This fog is something else. Charlotte bent forward and swept her hand through the building mist as it seemed to slowly be swirling higher. Laney shook off the thoughts of her parents and nodded.

No kidding. It’s a good thing Herk has those long, lanky legs, or else I’d worry we’d lose him in the thick of it, Laney joked as Herk ducked his head into the rising fog and popped it back out with a large stick in his mouth.

They both let out a laugh as Herk ran forward with the mossy branch, drool flying from his jowls. Laney adopted the scraggly, dark-haired mutt three years prior following a breakup with her college boyfriend. She thought she’d feel better having someone to talk to and adventure with rather than alone.

She was right in her thinking, and Herk quickly turned into the best adventure buddy she could ask for. He came when called, never ventured off too far, and made Laney feel safer walking alone in the thick woods. He even listened to her ramblings about whatever was racing through her head, and sometimes Laney was sure he understood what she was saying.

The fog began to clear slightly the higher up the slope they climbed. Though they had both grown up in Elis, its natural beauty was something Laney and Charlotte never stopped raving about.

Laney especially; it was why she spent so much time in the woods. She was either outside or had her face in a book. Donny liked to joke that she couldn’t bear a second being away from a tree in some form, whether paper or rooted in the earth.

I’m surprised the ground isn’t muddier with the rain we got yesterday. Charlotte grabbed onto a small tree to get herself farther up the hill.

"Hey, the less mud, the better. Muddy paw prints are hard to get out of my couch cushions." She followed Charlotte’s path, grabbing onto the same branch as she pulled herself up.

Laney was getting her master’s in literature, which happened to be her favorite thing ever. It meant that her time was split in a million different directions, and Sundays were one of the only times she was able to catch up with her best friend. Books had become both what made her crave such great adventure and also what kept her from chasing it.

How’s the big girl job coming along? Laney asked after a moment of them huffing and puffing from the incline.

I’m still getting the hang of things, but it’s definitely nice to be able to work from my home office, Charlotte