Sunshine On A Calm Night: Charlie Green Cosy Mystery, #5

By Samantha Jeffree

Charlie Green is determined to live a quiet life. Since moving back home to Sunshine there's been nothing but mystery, murders and mayhem. It's Spring and the town is hosting its first flower show - hosted by none other than her mum. When things take a turn for the worst, Charlie concentrates on her candle shop and leaves investigating to the professionals. Will she be forced to get involved? Will she manage to steer clear of all the drama?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Samantha Jeffree
• Release date: Jan 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9798223218593

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE – SPRING BLOSSOM

Isighed as I sat out the back of my shop and home and drank a large mouthful of hot coffee.  The birds were singing in the trees, the sun was shining and my big Saint Bernard, Bentley, was sniffing around the grass with his tail wagging happily.

My name is Charlotte Green; Charlie for short.  I'm the owner of The Lamp, a sweet little candle shop in the tourist town of Sunshine.  The town is picturesque, surrounded by mountains, not far from the snowfields and near a beach.  Really we have the best of all worlds.  That is until you start reading the local news and realise we're also known for unsolved mysteries and an unusually high crime rate.

Sunshine used to be a small farming community but as times changed, so did the town and now it's a tourist destination regularly full of visitors.  They visit in winter on the way to the snow, autumn for the Autumn Festival, summer for the beach and short getaway from the city and spring for a change of scenery. 

I spent my teenage years wanting to get out of Sunshine, my early twenties living in paradise and now I'm back in town after a failed relationship and couldn't be happier.  If someone had told me a few years ago I would feel completely happy to live in Sunshine and owned a candle shop I would have looked at them like they were crazy; now I couldn't imagine anywhere else I'd rather be.

I normally go out for a morning run but I'd stayed up late making candles and I was just happy to sit in the sun and drink it all in.  I enjoy running; it's a great way to clear my head and burn off the food I can't bring myself to give up.  And why should I?  There's an amazing bakery in town, a great cafe and a pizza place that's an icon to locals and tourists alike.  Bentley enjoys the run too; my brother Mikey’s a vet who insists I should call him Michael but it's never going to stick. 

I met Bentley when he was a puppy and couldn't stay at Mikey's farm due to his love of inside and dislike of chickens.  Before I knew it my brother had dropped him off at the shop and made a run for it.  You would think a large dog in a small shop would be a dangerous mixture and it is, but I probably break as many glass jars as he does.

My phone beeped nearby and I glanced around to find it.  I sighed when I realised I'd left it on the windowsill outside, just out of reach.  I could have gotten up to get it but it had been a busy few weeks and it was my day off.  Concentrating on my phone, I reached out my hand and used the small amount of magic I have to bring it down to me.

So there's also that... I don't really know how I got my magic or where it came from but it's come in handy on multiple occasions.  As a child I could do the same sorts of things.  At first I tried to convince my parents my magic was real, but as time went on I'd decided it was best to hide it.  Mikey, my best friend and co-worker Tabitha Blackwell and my boyfriend Detective Will Miles are the only ones who know.

I smiled when I read the message from Will, 'Beautiful morning. You and Bentley want to go for a walk on the beach?'

I responded, 'Definitely.  Give me half an hour.'

Will Miles is tall, dark, handsome and a genuinely nice guy.  The first time I met him he accused me of murder, but we've moved on from that.  At first I didn't want to admit to being in a relationship, but it's easier to call him my boyfriend than it is to give a big long explanation about how neither of us are good at talking about how we feel about each other.

We haven't said the four letter word (love) but we're happy.  We have our own lives but also spend time together; it works.

Will's a reasonably fresh import from America and works with my dad as a local cop.  Dad's the sergeant and Will is a detective together with his partner Sebastian Wainwright.  Seb and Tabitha were together for a while but that seems to be over and they seem to be getting along okay.

My phone beeped again, 'Okay awesome.  Meet you at the beach.'

The car park near the beach was busy when I pulled up and went around to the back door to let Bentley out of my car.  I'd had a hatchback, but when my car was destroyed I'd decided I needed a bigger one for Bentley.  I'm not sure if he's fully grown yet but at least with a four wheel drive he can lie down on the backseat.

I looked around for Will's car; he currently has a big car perfect for off road driving.  He and I both had to get new cars after mine was destroyed in a crash involving a sort of ghost and his was so badly scratched with messages of warning and inappropriate words he'd decided it wasn't worth getting it repainted.  I realised there would be no point in Will driving when he lives almost on the beach itself just a little further up the coast and would have thunked my hand against my forehead if I hadn't been trying to get control of Bentley.

He's pretty good on the lead but he gets excited at the beach and it's a little hard to get a dog so large under control. 

Can I help you there? 

I jumped at the familiar voice behind me and turned to see Will grinning down at me.  Will's a couple of years older than me and there's no way around it, he's hot.  He had obviously been swimming because his hair and skin were still damp and he smelled of salt water when he hugged me.

I let out a grunt as Bentley tried to force himself between us to get closer to Will.  Will grinned and let go of me as Bentley tried to jump at him. 

He leant down and greeted him with enthusiasm before taking the lead and smiling at me, Mind if I take him?

I shook my head, Not at all. 

We walked onto the soft sand and I took a deep breath; the morning was amazing and I was more than happy to be with Will.

Will and I both work a lot; me in the shop and him on cases so it's rare for us to have a whole day off together.  I was really looking forward to it.

The waves lapped against the shore as we walked and talked.  He amazingly didn't have any big cases, but there was talk of him going to the city for a few days for training.  We don't live in each other's pockets but I was going to miss him if he did go.  I didn't voice those thoughts.

So can you believe it's so quiet you can go away for training?  I asked in surprise. 

There's almost always something happening in Sunshine and the police can get very busy.

I know.  I feel like something has been happening since I arrived here.  Maybe it's going to calm down for a while now.  Will said.

I winced and looked at him, Don't say that.

He smiled, Why?  Worried I'll jinx it?

Something like that.

We walked in silence for a while as Bentley happily frolicked around us in and out of the water.  Eventually we turned around and headed back up the beach.

Want to head to my house for some lunch?  Will asked, holding my hand as we walked near the car park.

I really did need to get some more candles made, but it was such a nice day I couldn't bear the thought of staying in the dark workroom when I could spend time with Will.

Sure as long as you don't mind Bentley making your couch sandy.  I laughed as we kept walking towards Will's house further along the beach.

When Bentley first visited Will's little cottage we had tried to keep him off the couch but it had been an impossible task and neither of us really had the heart to stop him when he looked at us with those big eyes.  So Will had just resigned to the fact Bentley would make himself at home if allowed in Will's house.

Sunshine might have started out as a farming community but even then little beach shacks and cottages dotted the foreshore.  Will's fortunate enough to be renting one of those cottages and his front gate opens up onto the sand.  It's an amazing location and beautiful little cottage. 

Will isn't big into decorating, but his cottage is sweet in a modern sort of way.  The inside completely contrasts the outside.  A large modern couch, an even larger TV on the wall and a very expensive, comfortable bed that smells like Will's aftershave fill the little place. 

I love spending time at the cottage and keep some spare clothes and toiletries there for when I stay over.

I smiled as I walked through the little gate and took in the garden full of flowers.  I live in the small but well styled (thanks to my mother) apartment above the shop and wouldn't want to live anywhere else, but I'm fairly sure if I couldn't live at The Lamp I would happily live at Will's cottage.  I paused as I thought more about that.

CHAPTER TWO – LINEN FRESH

Igot home late from Will's house.  We'd spent the afternoon gardening then sat around talking, drinking coffee and just relaxing.  Neither of us are great at just stopping, but I was happy with how well we'd done and how great I felt as I unlocked the front door of my shop and Bentley and I headed inside.

The Lamp has been in the little shop for as long as I can remember in various forms.  It has been a variety of different businesses but up until the previous owner's death, had always been owned by the same person.  When I'd told Mum I was moving back home she'd taken it upon herself to organise for the purchase of the building and business on my behalf; she told me when I got home and she handed me the keys.

At first I was hesitant, but it's a truly beautiful old shop that has been decorated in a way that compliments the old wooden shelves and flooring.  Upstairs my apartment is small but practical and I can't imagine being anywhere else.

I sneezed as I locked the door behind me and found my way through the semi-dark interior to the little staircase leading up to my apartment.  As much as I love my shop and the candles in it, they regularly make me sneeze and my eyes water.

I opened the back door and let Bentley outside to have a before bed toilet break and looked around.  Outside the sun had almost set, the birds were settled down for the night and the world seemed so peaceful.  I sighed and stood breathing it all in; this was my life now and I loved it. I was determined to not get drawn into any strange mystery or drama.

I jumped when the shop phone rang and looked at the brightly coloured receiver on the counter.  It was unusual for anyone to call that phone so late in the evening and definitely on a Sunday when all the locals knew I was closed.  I contemplated letting it ring but I was brought up to be polite and I couldn't keep ignoring it.

Welcome to The Lamp, this is Charlie.  I said in my brightest voice, hoping it was a wrong number.

"Oh thank goodness