I nudged him with my elbow as we moved across the deck toward the open double doors to the cabin. “Still finding your sea legs, or…?”
He glanced down at me, his eyes far away, then shook himself. He plastered on a smile. “Uh… just feeling thoughtful, that’s all.”
I pinched my brows together. “Mm-hm. If you say so.” What had my normally peppy Peter so down in the dredges?
An older man in coattails stood beside the open doors to the cabin. He bowed as we approached, then held a white-gloved hand out to Peter. “Invitation please, sir.”
Peter slid a hand into the breast of his uniform. He withdrew a scroll of parchment and handed it to the doorman, who unrolled it and peered at the writing. “You are Officer Peter Flint, presumably?”
He nodded.
The older man’s eyes slid from the paper to me. “And this is your date?”
I held up a hand and grinned. “Guilty.”
The man’s bushy brows drew together as his gaze lingered on me for another moment, and then he looked up at Peter, perplexed. “And your partner?”
Peter stepped back and gestured at Daisy, who’d been hidden on his other side. “Daisy. She’s right here.”
The older man gave a dry chuckle. “Very amusing. Where is your real partner, officer?”
I raised a brow. The guy looked completely unamused, if you asked me.
Peter cleared his throat and glanced over his shoulder. A line of several couples had formed behind us. He grinned at the doorman. “I realize it’s a bit… unconventional, but Daisy really is my partner. See—she’s even got her own badge.”
I bit back a grin. “Really?”
Peter bent over and turned Daisy’s navy blue collar until a gold star came into view through her thick, tawny fur. “See?”
The dog held quite still, her nose lifted—a pose of perfect dignity.
I cackled. “Sea snakes! She really does have her own little collar badge.” I threw my head back. “That’s adorable.”
Daisy narrowed her eyes at me and snarled. What are you laughing at? I am an officer of the law. She huffed. I deserve to be shown respect.
I grinned and let out a quiet whine. Yeah, well, you also chase bunnies in your sleep, so…. I lifted my palms like I was weighing scales and Daisy bared her teeth.
“Yes, hm, very well.” The doorman curled up the scroll and handed it back to Peter, then ushered us inside, turning to the couple behind us.
We stepped through the double doors, and I let out a low whistle. “Wow.”
I guess I’d been expecting fancy (it was a masked ball after all) but this was a whole other level. A jazz band with an upright bass and a beautiful crooning singer played on a raised stage in the corner. Couples in masks swayed and twirled before them on the dance floor.
Across the huge space with its white-clothed tables and gently swaying chandeliers, an enormous aquarium took up most of the far wall, glowing blue. Fish, eels, and squids lazily drifted through the space. And in the center of the back wall, a raised podium stood. A banner hung on the wall behind the podium.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OFFICER of the Year, Dylan Davies!
A HUGE, magically moving photograph of the man spanned the wall. The blond with a buzzcut and stern look that screamed “cop” mugged with the best of them. He glared, lifted his chin and looked off into the distance, and pressed a hand heroically to the breast of his navy and gold uniform, cap in hand.
I smirked and nudged Peter to get his attention. “So that’s the Officer of the Year?” I chuckled. “And snakes, does he know it.”
He followed my gaze to the banner and paled. “I need a drink.” Peter spun on his heel and led the way toward the bar in the back. Daisy trotted along after him, sliding between all the glittering attendees.
I frowned at Peter’s back for a moment—what was that reaction?—before gathering up my skirt and following them.
WANT to know what happens next? Read Game of Bones to pull back a villain’s veil today!
Game of Bones is available on Amazon in ebook, paperback and audiobook at https://amzn.to/2Vco46o
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
I’ve always dreamed of being a full-time author, and now here I am! And it’s all thanks to you— my awesome, supportive readers.
I am so grateful to you for reading this book (and any others of mine you’ve picked up) and truly hoped you enjoyed it.
If so, please check out more of my Magic Market Mysteries or the Spells & Caramels series.
Happy Reading,
Erin
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A native of Arizona, Erin loves her new home in the Pacific Northwest! She writes paranormal cozy mystery novels. These stories are mysterious, magical, and will hopefully make you laugh.
When not writing, she’s hiking, napping with her dogs, and losing at trivia night.
You can find Erin on Facebook and BookBub, or email her at [email protected]. She loves to hear from readers!
Copyright © 2019 by Erin Johnson
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Table of Contents
Title Page
Contents
Prequel Novella
1. Front Page News
2. Ludolf's Goons
3. The Case
4. The Spider
5. The Sweatshop
6. The Storeroom
7. The Knockoffs
8. The House of Hahn
9. Spider Silk
10. Model Behavior
11. The Station
12. The Autopsy
13. Chin Beard
14. Under the Catwalk
15. Disguise
16. Undercover
17. The Photograph
18. The Locket
19. Ferdinand D’Lin
20. Spider Bite
21. Poached
22. Madeline
23. Aileen
24. Runaway on the Runway
25. The Confession
26. Peter
27. Told You
Primping
If Looks Could Kill
Policeman's Ball
A Note from the Author
About the Author
Copyright
