Sunshine On A Deadly Night: Charlie Green Cosy Mystery, #1

By Samantha Jeffree

When Charlie Green moved back home to the small town of Sunshine she was expecting a quiet life with familiar faces.  But when the Autumn Festival begins, bringing with it tourists and an unexpected face from her past, things take an ugly turn.

 

Will Charlile survive long enough to solve a murder?  Will she work it out before it's too late?  Will she ever get used to the smell of the candles in her new candle shop?

 

A cosy mystery full of hot chocolates, cinnamon, intrigue and just a touch of magic.

 

The first book in the Charlie Green Cosy Mystery series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Samantha Jeffree
• Release date: Jul 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9798664085198

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE – BERGAMOT AND LAVENDER

My name is Charlotte Green; Charlie for short. I was born and raised in Sunshine; a town known for its artistic history, quirky residents and unsolved mysteries. We made it into the country's 'weird and wonderful places to visit' list this year and many of the local businesses are embracing it.

I am not one of those businesses.

I'm the owner of The Lamp; a quaint little candle shop on Main Street that makes me sneeze - a lot.

Growing up in a small town was nice but once I hit twenty one I decided it was time for new beginnings, packed up and moved to a tropical island where I worked as a receptionist for six months, a tour guide for three months and a mini bus driver for a week. I was terrible at being a receptionist and it turns out you need better spatial awareness than I have to park a mini bus full of angry tourists (the anger possibly had something to do with the crash, I can't say for certain).  But despite all of that I moved to the mainland and got a job working for a local wedding photographer as his assistant.

For the next few years I worked in the tropics with the man of my dreams while he took photos of happy, smiling wedding parties and drinking cocktails by the pool.

Josh was amazing, brilliant, artistic - he was also a hopeless romantic - problem was he was hopelessly romantic with every second bridesmaid he met. Come to think of it, perhaps romantic isn't the best word for him.

By the time I realised he was no good we were engaged and planning a luxury wedding. The wedding I ended up paying off in instalments after everything went pear shaped.

So, six years after deciding I didn't need the little town I had grown tired of, here I am. Back in that same town. With the same people. Doing the same thing. Okay, a bit of an exaggeration. The town is beautiful. It's leafy, green, friendly and familiar. The hardest part of all was coming home with my tail between my legs and a huge debt.

My dad is a local cop in town. Unlike what they say in movies, he's always been fair with me.  Having said that, I’ve always been more interested in reading than going out partying so I guess he didn't really have a reason to be tough with me. My older brother on the other hand was a different story. He's a vet now and lives on a farm just outside of town with his wife and baby but it was touch and go for a while there.

And how did I end up with The Lamp you ask? My dear old mum put in a good word for me, helped me finance the loan and then told me upon my return what she'd 'done for me.' She's not actually old at all. I scrub up okay but she has a natural beauty that will never fail.

I love my mum. She's kind, thoughtful and I think potentially hyperactive. She used to work as a teacher's aide but lost her job when the local school lost some funding and now has decided she's going to become a social media influencer. I'm not sure how many brands she has on board yet but I don't doubt she's getting there; once she puts her mind to something there's no stopping her.

The Lamp has been around for as long as I can remember; in various incarnations. It was once a bookshop, then a sewing centre and now a candle store. It's kept the same name throughout all the changes and I'm not even sure the locals notice it keeps changing the products it sells. Margaret Peters owned the shop forever - at least that's how it felt. While I was away she died, leaving the shop to rot due to the lack of family. It's rumoured her money went to the local church but I don't know how much she actually had left. Whatever the reason and however it happened, I am now the official, slightly reluctant owner.

My mum's family is one of the originals in town which also means she's never been low on cash; which also means she has the time to 'help' me in the shop regularly and not so subtly hint at what I'm doing wrong. She means well, but some times it's tricky. The plus is she has amazing taste and the decor in The Lamp is perfect; I've owned it for three months and I think I'm starting to fall in love with it.

I jumped as the bells above the door jingled and dropped the glass candle jar I had been holding; instinctively reaching out my hand, I caught it without touching it and stared as it froze mid fall and hovered above the antique floorboards. Shocked at what I was doing and knowing I should never do it when others can see, I panicked and broke my concentration and winced as it shattered all over the floor. So there's also that. For as long as I can remember I've had these abilities. I'm not Superman; I'm definitely not Wonder Woman, but for whatever reason I can do little things like catch something mid air or open a door without touching it.

When I was little I told Mum and Dad but they thought I'd watched too many magic shows and were impressed with my slight of hand. As I got older I stopped telling them and it instead became a family joke - Charlie's magic. The thing is, I think there's some truth to that.

Ouch! I gasped and stared at the sliver of glass sticking out of my finger.

Oh! Sorry. You okay? I straightened and looked at the man who had come into the shop.

I know most of the locals but didn't recognise this one. He had dark blonde hair, deep brown eyes and an impressive jawline. He was dressed in an overcoat which didn't really fit in to the surroundings but he looked comfortable enough with himself.

He was a lot taller than me, a couple of years older and really hot. I felt my cheeks redden, Yeah I'm fine. I either need more coffee or less; I haven't decided yet.

I waved my hand around trying to look like I wasn't bothered about the giant chunk of glass that had just taken a gash out of my finger and surveyed the damage.

I smiled awkwardly, Someone as clumsy as me should not be allowed around so much glass.

He smiled uncertainly, Um. Actually I think you should let me have a look at that.

I shrugged, Really, it's just a glass jar. No way to salvage it now. No amount of glue can fix that! I laughed awkwardly then spotted the blood running down my arm from the finger I was pointing with. Oh. I see.

The stranger grabbed a nearby apron with The Lamp written on it and wrapped it around my finger. Leading me to the seat behind the counter, he ordered me to sit and looked more closely at the cut.

Honestly, I'm fine. I'll just pull it out and grab a band aid. I'm a bleeder. I'm used to injuring myself; I regularly have unidentified bruises and cuts.

I yelped as he pulled a surprisingly large piece of glass out of said finger and placed it on the old wooden counter.

The bleeding had slowed and I was about to tell him I was fine when he asked me where the first aid kit was. Reluctantly, I pointed to it nearby and sat patiently while he cleaned the cut up and expertly bandaged it.

I could glue it but I think it will heal nicely on its own.

I looked at him blankly, Glue it?

He smiled as he washed his hands in the basin behind me, You know. Instead of stitches. Now, where's your broom?

I froze; just because I can do a few party tricks doesn't mean I fly on a broom. Before I could respond he found it, cleaned up the mess and stood on the other side of the counter smiling at me.

Um. Thank you.

I didn't know what to say.

So are you always a knight in shining armour? I smiled, trying hard not to ask him for his family history.  Growing up in a small town pretty much negates your right to privacy so I'm used to automatically knowing all about a local person or family.

He grinned at me, A knight in shining armour who scared you into dropping that jar in the first place.

I smiled back, Well yeah but you know, that happens more often than you'd think. It's like customers think they're welcome to come in and browse when I'm clearly in my own little world.

The door opened and closed with the same jingle and I braced myself for what was coming next. Jacqui Green; perfectly dressed, perfectly poised and perfectly my mum.

Charlie! What happened? She asked when she saw the blood on the apron and the stranger smiling down at her, Alex what did she do to herself this time?

The stranger named Alex smiled at Mum, She's okay. My fault. I've patched her up.

Oh thank goodness! It's so nice to have such a handsome and kind doctor in town. She patted him on the shoulder, I don't think you've met. This is Doctor Alex Baker. He just returned to us after a few months away. He was filling in here for a while but now he has taken up permanent residence in Sunshine. He's also single.

I was too stunned and embarrassed to answer.

Look, she's gone into shock. I'd better make her a cup of tea. Mum smiled at me as she made her way down to the back of the little shop and into the staff kitchen; all the while making signs at me behind Alex's back.

I don't drink tea Mum.

Nonsense Sweetie, everyone drinks tea.

I rolled my eyes and smiled awkwardly at Alex, So you're the doctor in town these days? I used to see Doctor Marsh but he seemed ancient when I was little so...

Alex nodded, Yep. Like your mum just said, Alex Baker. Nice to meet you. He reached out his hand and shook mine, avoiding the neat little bandage.

He was smiling but had the common courtesy to not straight out laugh.

He let go and nodded at my finger, Keep it elevated, if it bleeds through the bandage come and see me. I'll be at the surgery all day if you need me.

I nodded a thanks, Sorry, did you actually come in here for something? I smiled, realising he had come into my shop for a reason.

Yeah. It's my aunt's birthday and I want to send her something nice. I hear The Lamp is the place to come for gifts.

I smiled and tried to ignore the throbbing in my finger, Thank you. I'm just following on from Mrs Peters' success.

Alex left a few minutes later after organising for an extra large gift basket with lavender and bergamot candles, chocolates and a few other bits and pieces to be sent interstate to his aunt. He told me again to come and see him if I needed to, I thanked him for helping and smiled as he left.

My mum reappeared without the tea a few minutes later, He's nice isn't he?

Yeah, he seems to be.

Cute too right?

Well yeah... Wait, weren't you making tea? I