(Ed. Note: I know how much many of our readers enjoy discovering great new writing talents with whom they will be able to stick through entire series, so it’s a special treat to have the opportunity to introduce novelist Bobbye Terry’s latest — The Marriage Murders — the second in her Briny Bay Mystery series that got off to such a spectacular start with its first installment, Buried in Briny Bay (4.8 Stars on 9 Straight Rave Reviews, Just $2.99 on Kindle). You can start with the first book or, if you’re ready, we’ve got a nice excerpt to get you started on the second. Your choice, but either way, enjoy! – S.W.)
An excerpt from The Marriage Murders by Bobbye Terry:
Copyright © 2011 by Bobbye Terry and published here with her permission
“Well I can tell you one thing for gosh-darned sure, I’m getting sick as all get-out being questioned by our local detectives.” Roxie collapsed on a stool in Trixie’s diner.
“I don’t suppose I should suggest you keep your hands off all murder weapons, should I?” Trixie grabbed for her apron behind the counter. “Whatever happened to poised, controlled, and calculatingly clever? It was more like spastic, spontaneous and spectacularly stupid.”
Turning as she tied it on, Trix glared at her. Roxie swallowed hard. “The gun was right in the way of my checking his pulse. Poor man could have needed CPR.”
Trixie shook her head. “Alex had a bullet right between his eyes. The only thing the poor guy needed was a body bag.”
Roxie refused to look her in the eye. “Another thing I’m getting sick of is my own brother giving me one of those snotty uppity stares like I’m as low as pond scum.”
Leaning forward on the counter, Trixie stared her in the eyes. “Well, I have to say you weren’t exactly floating on the top. Besides, have you ever thought Jack may be fearful of losing his bread and butter? Chief can’t be too pleased his number one officer’s sister keeps being dragged into the station about yet another murder. Pretty soon every man on the squad will be able to recognize your fingerprints”
“Don’t forget you were dragged with me. Again.”
Trixie’s mouth turned into a grim line. “Yeah, talk about things people are tired of. At least I have the God-given good sense not to put my fingerprints where they don’t belong, especially since it now seems your prints were the only ones on that gun except Alex’s.” She cocked her head. “Which, if you remember, we found out only because Jack is our thoughtful brother and leaked it to us. That he did only because he still loves us even though one of us doesn’t have a lick of sense.”
“Oh stow it, and grill some burgers, make coffee, anything.” Roxie leaned her elbow on the counter.
Just then the bell on the door sounded and Greg walked in. “Word has it the two of you have been to the police station again.”
Trixie placed a hand on each hip. “Who has the nerve to gossip about us? We’re usually in charge of that department.”
Greg smirked. “True enough, but Jack was kind enough to fill me in before I got here. Men have a special bond, a true need to stick together, particularly when they have two loose wires in common, like you ladies becoming embroiled in murder cases.”
“Can you keep it down?” Roxie glanced up at him. “It was bad enough Butch’s death made the obits, but once Alex’s is in there, we don’t need any further bad press about Trixie and me being, shall we say, caught red-handed.”
He sighed as he eased down on a stool next to her and patted her knee. “Didn’t you listen when your mother told you to keep your hands to yourself?”
She grinned. “Depends on where I was aching to put them.”
He raised an eyebrow. “That needs to be explored further at a later time. For now, I’m referring to grabbing the murder weapon.”
“Oh that!” Roxie waved her hand in the air, as if dismissing his comment. “Purely circumstantial. Perry Mason would have that thrown out in a heartbeat.”
“Well, believe me, it doesn’t do much for your credibility rating.” Greg cupped her chin in his hand. “Do not, I repeat, do not try investigating this murder anymore. I will work on it with Jack. That’s enough people involved.”
She nodded. “All right. At least you can tell us what you found out from Glynnis.”
He quickly filled them in. “So you see, it may be both men had a gambling issue.”
Trixie gasped. “Do you think the Mafia’s come to town?”
Greg grinned and shook his head. “I doubt it. They wouldn’t have left the bodies in such obvious places. In fact, with the Mafia, many times you never find them at all unless they’re sending a message to someone.”
Roxie’s forehead creased. “You sound like you’ve dealt with that before.”
He exhaled. “Look, my past is behind me. Suffice to say I’ve always been on the right side of the law. Now, what I think I need to check is sources of money, as in Butch’s and Alex’s. Especially Alex, seeing as he was supposed to have inherited a bundle.”
The door opened behind him. Without turning, he waved his finger in front of Roxie. “Remember, no messing with this.”
“Just what is Roxie messing with, hmm, Greg?”
Roxie stared up at Marlowe Malone, her face blistering. She just called him by his first name.
Greg turned on his stool and stared up at the woman. “Never mind. Marlowe, sweetie, I heard you were in town, but I hadn’t seen you yet. You look the same.”
The woman lowered her eyes in a sultry look that could scorch. “You always were good for a woman’s ego. You, likewise, are as handsome as ever. My, my, how quickly you seem to have gotten acclimated in this small town. A lot different than New York, wouldn’t you say?”
He nodded. “But as you remember I was from Raleigh. I wasn’t in New York but for a couple of weeks.”
“Um, forgive me for interrupting y’all’s trip down memory lane, but could you let us in on all these memories?” Roxie poked him in the side.
He turned back to Roxie. “Oh, right. I met Marlowe when I was in New York City for a training seminar. How many years ago was that, Lo?”
Lo? The hair on Roxie’s arm stood at attention.
Marlowe tossed her mane back over her shoulder. “Oh dear, at least ten years ago.” She winked. “It seems like only yesterday.”
That’s where it’s going to stay if I have anything to say about it.
Greg laughed nervously. “Marlowe was still modeling and we met at a hot spot.”
“It was very hot.” Marlowe’s lips curled up in a satisfied smile. “Why don’t we go out for dinner sometime this week and talk about those times long ago?”
He grinned, apparently caught in the woman’s spell. “Yeah, well, we’ll talk about it later, okay?” He patted Roxie’s knee again. “Gotta go right now. Remember what I said.”
Roxie bit the inside of her cheek as he left with Marlowe Malone trolling behind him. Not a chance in hell I’m gonna forget a word.
Continued….
Click on one or both of the titles below to download more from the Briny Bay mystery Series:
Buried in Briny Bay (4.8 Stars on 9 Straight Rave Reviews, Just $2.99 on Kindle)
The Marriage Murders (Book 2 in the Briny Bay Mystery series)