Ring of Lies by Rachel Lynne

Pandemonium on Saint Patrick’s Day!

After a nomadic childhood with a free-spirited aunt, Ivy Michaels is ready to settle in the city of her birth and open her dream café. The decision to return to Savannah created a rift with the woman who raised her, but Ivy is determined to carve out her own path.

The Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations are bringing tourists into the Cosmic Café. The pot of gold is in sight and all of her dreams are coming true; until her estranged aunt is found floating in the Savannah River. Enter ...

   an inherited diamond ring with a shady past
   a handsome ex-cop who can’t let a cold case die
   and a series of burglaries.

Determined to regain her well-oiled life, Ivy, aided by her grouchy cat, sets out to solve the mystery surrounding the hot blue diamond only to end up in the crosshairs of a stone-cold killer.

As the world’s second largest Saint Patrick’s Day parade kicks off, Ivy must stop marching to the beat of her own drum and work with her new love to uncover the secrets of the past before she finds herself buried along with the truth.

 ~~ Available on Amazon. ~~

EXCERPT 

“Ma’am …” The younger man interrupted her. His tone was flat, and his eyes showed nothing but determination. A chill of foreboding ran up her spine.

The older gentleman stepped forward and flashed his badge. “I’m Detective Hallowell with the Savannah PD. This is my partner, Detective Adkins. Mind if we come in?”

Ivy’s euphoric cloud burst. She opened the door wide and motioned for the detectives to enter, before swallowing past a lump in her throat and shouting for Tina to cut the music.

The music died, leaving an uneasy silence. “Hey! What gives?” Tina’s face appeared in the pass-through window. “I thought you said the music kept you movin and gave the joint good vibes …” Her gaze flickered over the men before coming to rest on Ivy. “Uh, everything all right?”

Ivy nodded and forced herself to smile. She didn’t know why the detectives were there, but it couldn’t be good. “These men are with the SPD.”

Tina’s eyebrows rose and she shot Ivy a questioning look. “Want me to join you?”

Ivy shook her head. Until she knew their purpose wasn’t in anyway detrimental to her café, it was better not to involve Tina. Her friend couldn’t keep her mouth shut to save her soul.

Ivy stifled a groan as Detective Adkins took the decision from her. “If you would, ma’am? We just have a few questions.”

Tina was through the swinging door like a shot. She hurried across the room and plopped down onto one of the shiny black wooden chairs. Her face was alight with curiosity as she looked up at them. “So, what’s up?”

Ivy rolled her eyes and flashed an apologetic smile. “How can we help you, detectives?”

Detective Hallowell reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a plastic evidence bag. Condensation beaded the surface and made the contents appear fuzzy, but Ivy would have recognized the tie-dye patterned paper even before he turned it over to expose the fat black letters filled with white stars that spelled out Cosmic Café.

The detective held it up in front of her and asked, “This yours?”

Ivy licked her lips and nodded, remaining silent. From years on the road with her Aunt Fey, she’d learned never to offer any information not specifically requested.

The detective stared at her for a long minute, not bothering to hide his speculation. He cleared his throat then slipped the bag back into his pocket. “Thought so. I know these things are all over town but this one has the name Ivy scrawled on the bottom with an address over on Gwinnet.”

Ivy sucked in a breath. “My … my name is Ivy and I live on Gwinnet.” Her stomach churned. Someone involved in a crime had her name and address. She swallowed hard and forced her voice not to tremble. “What is going on?”

Detective Hallowell held his hand out toward his partner. “We pulled a body out of the river this morning. She had this flyer in her pocket.” Without warning, he thrust a picture under Ivy’s nose. “Do you recognize this woman?”

Ivy gasped and sank into a chair. She raised a shaking hand to her mouth and stared at the photo. Her breath came in short pants and pinpoints of light filled her eyes. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out.

“Ivy!” Tina leaped from her chair and tried to push Ivy’s head between her knees. “Breathe girl, breathe!” Tina slapped the photo away from Ivy’s face. “For God’s sake man, put that away!”

“Ma’am, I’m sorry to distress you but I need to know who this woman is.”

“Leave her alone! It’s obvious she knows the poor woman- “

“No …, no, Tina, it’s all right.” Ivy pulled away from Tina and dragged a shaking hand through her hair. “I, I know who she …” Her voice broke on a sob and tears spilled down her cheeks unheeded. She wrapped her arms around her midsection and rocked in the chair as the truth sank in. It couldn’t be true; she didn’t even live in Savannah.

“Ma’am?” Detective Hallowell prodded.

Ivy looked at the detectives and struggled to rein in her emotions long enough to whisper, “That …, that’s my Aunt Fey.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

*Sweet Tea & Live Oaks heavy with Spanish Moss. *A warm breeze rustling the Spartina. Now, add a cozy little murder & a dash of mayhem! I live in the hauntingly beautiful Savannah, Georgia/South Carolina Low Country area. My Cozy Mysteries feature strong Southern female sleuths, a motley crew of locals, plot twists and a splash of romance all set amidst the splendor of the coastal South.

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GIVEAWAY

1 bundle: Paperback Copies of Book 1 & 2 in the Cosmic Café Series

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