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  OLD FRIENDS AND NEW, ANOTHER MURDER

  A Sheridan Hendley Mystery

  CHRISTA NARDI

  Copyright © 2019 Christa Nardi

  All rights reserved.

  ISBN-13: 978-1-7340907-0-3

  This is a work of fiction. Although some of the locations may be real, others are fictitious. None of these events actually occurred. All characters are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real people is entirely coincidental. Reference to law is general and most closely aligned to Virginia law at the time this was written.

  The reverse engineering, uploading and/or distributing of this ebook via the Internet or any other means without the permission of the copyright owner is illegal and punishable by law.

  Cover Design by Brenda Walter

  Other Books with Sheridan Hendley

  The Cold Creek Series by Christa Nardi:

  Murder at Cold Creek College (Cold Creek #1)

  Murder in the Arboretum (Cold Creek #2)

  Murder at the Grill (Cold Creek #3)

  Murder in the Theater (Cold Creek #4)

  Murder and a Wedding (Cold Creek #5

  Sheridan Hendley Mysteries by Christa Nardi:

  A New Place, Another Murder (A Sheridan Hendley Mystery #1)

  Dogs and More Dogs, Another Murder (A Sheridan Hendley Mystery #2)

  Old Friends and New, Another Murder (A Sheridan Hendley Mystery #3)

  Holly and Mistletoe, Another Murder ( A Sheridan Hendley Mystery #4) – Coming in 2020

  Praise for A New Place, Another Murder

  "...A light read and a very good cozy mystery. I liked the main characters in this book, they feel real and act naturally." Amazon Reviewer

  “This book is as enjoyable as the previous series. I suggest reading it [the previous series] before starting this one.” Amazon Reviewer

  Praise for Dogs and More Dogs, Another Murder

  “This was an entertaining and touching story. I look forward to more of these stories. The characters are well done and the book is well plotted. You feel like you know these people.”

  Amazon Reviewer

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  CHAPTER 27

  CHAPTER 28

  CHAPTER 29

  CHAPTER 30

  CHAPTER 31

  EPILOGUE

  Author Notes

  CHAPTER 1

  C harlie and Bella’s barking and pawing woke me up. Even a little disgruntled, I couldn’t help but smile at the antics of my older Sheltie and the young lab mix. The smell of coffee helped, too.

  A glance at the clock and I groaned. I had overslept. Again. With the weekend over, work beckoned, at least three days a week at my continuing temporary job at Millicent College. That and the joys of getting one teenager up and ready for high school.

  Grumbling to myself, I checked Maddie’s room on my way to the kitchen. She didn’t answer the knock on her door, so I opened it and shooed the dogs inside. She screeched and I chuckled. Definitely not a morning person. Her typical teen concern for her appearance slowed her down even more whenever she had to leave the house.

  “Come on, Maddie. You need to get a move on.”

  In the kitchen, Brett was absorbed in something on his tablet. Although we were no longer newlyweds, nothing was better than waking up to this man, with his hazel eyes, dark curly hair, contagious smile, and dimples. A six-foot teddy bear unless on the job as a State Police detective or in protective mode.

  He quickly shifted the screen on the tablet and smiled.

  “Work already? Anything interesting?”

  “Not really.”

  Maddie stumbled into the kitchen. At fifteen, she was a feminine version of her father, with long, dark hair and hazel eyes. With her last growth spurt, she was almost as tall as me. To her dismay, that made her taller than most of the boys in her grade, including her close friend, Alex.

  “Maddie, stand up straight. You look great. Got all your homework?” Brett handed her a glass of orange juice as he spoke and kissed her forehead.

  “Thanks.” A quick glance at her watch and she emptied the glass. “Gotta run.” She grabbed her coat and raced out the door, her backpack slung over her shoulder.

  Brett shook his head and smiled. “She’s grown up so fast.”

  “For sure, and that learner’s permit is burning a hole in her wallet. In no time, she’ll be driving.”

  His jaw dropped and his eyes widened. “I’m not ready for that. Or boys who drive.”

  The ring tone of his phone interrupted his train of thought. Work. I bustled around the kitchen and made myself a bagel. I waved one at him and he shook his head as he stashed his phone and grabbed his tablet.

  “Fabry. We need to go to North Shore. Something’s come up and we need to check it out.” He leaned over, kissed me, and stole a bite of my bagel. “Later.”

  I nodded. Detective James Fabry was his partner when something bigger than the ordinary assignments locally came up. That “something” often translated to a dead body or major drug bust or similar. Assigned to Division III in Appomattox, Brett and Fabry often caught the situations outside of the immediate area. Like Brett, Fabry had been with the State Police for many years, though he was the older and more cynical of the two.

  Brett and I met when he was assigned to the murder of one of my colleagues in Cold Creek. I smiled as I recalled my time in Cold Creek, meeting Brett, and our friends. Cold Creek wasn’t that far away from Clover Hill where we lived now.

  Charlie’s nose nudged me out of my dreams. Brett had already fed both dogs and I let them out. The temperature had dropped, not unexpected for a fall day. A quick glance at the thermometer of our weather station assured me it was chilly, but not yet cold. I poured myself another cup of coffee, settled the dogs in, and, as usual, was the last to leave the house.

  Like Maddie, with everything I needed was in my backpack. A quick stop at the Starbucks drive through and I was on my way. The ride through the hills from Clover Hill to the college was beautiful, the leaves on the trees beginning to turn. In the winter, the drive got a little tricky with possible black ice, especially on the two bridges. For now, I enjoyed the kaleidoscope of color and sunlight.

  Millicent College was a small liberal arts college like Cold Creek College. Originally, a women’s college that changed in the 70s though no one at the college seemed to remember that earlier time. Least not that I had met. Least not that I had met. This was my second year as a Visiting Assistant Professor and it suited me.

  Unlike my position at Cold Creek College, my only responsibility was to teach assigned classes and attend a meeting or two. Like semi-retirement, though I still had a few years before I reached fifty. This schedule fit my new life style, leaving me with plenty of time for Brett and Maddie, as well as to volunteer at the local dog rescue, Clover Hill Pets & Paws.

  I arrived early for a change, walking in with Dr. Addison, the Psychology Department Head. About my age, he had reddish blonde hair and a m
oustache, set off with blue eyes. His wool trench coat in deference to the weather reminded me of old westerns and made me smile.

  “Good morning, Dr. Hendley. You seem in a good mood this brisk morning.”

  “I am. How are you this morning?”

  “Good. Busy. Meetings and paperwork. Semester seems to be going well. Enrollment is up and the trustees are happy.” He hesitated and added, “Hopefully, the faculty and staff are as well.”

  I smiled as we reached the hall where his suite of offices was located. He nodded and disappeared, and I ducked into the large lounge area and refilled my coffee from the Keurig machine. Coffee in hand, I stopped at my office to drop things off and then was in teaching mode.

  I nodded and smiled at colleagues and students as I made my way back to my friend, Keurig, after class. As usual, the lounge was bustling with activity and noise, students, staff, and faculty alike. It was lunch time and the fast food venues had long lines. I got in line and watched the big screen as I waited.

  A running announcement on the bottom of the screen indicated “Breaking News: State Police make a concerning discovery in North Shore, VA.” That’s it. No details. And then the announcements shifted to report sports scores. Frustrated, I checked my phone but there were no messages from Brett. No doubt he and Fabry were preoccupied with whatever had been discovered. My curiosity was killing me.

  CHAPTER 2

  T he first message from Brett was not unexpected. He was still in North Shore and we should eat without him. I stopped at Seafood Grill and Deli and picked up a wide assortment of salads and sides. Maddie’s favorite and easy enough for Brett to snack on when he got home. Fabry, too, if he came by.

  I no sooner got home and let the dogs out, and Maddie walked in, phone in hand.

  “What?” “Really?” “I haven’t heard.” As she disconnected, she looked at me. “Alex beat me home. He said it’s on the news. A murder in North Shore. Dad’s there, isn’t he?”

  My jaw dropped and I turned on the television to catch the news, choosing KCCX, the Cold Creek station, over our local one. “That’s where he and Fabry were going this morning. He texted he’d be late, but not why.”

  We ate our dinner and waited for more information. It was minimal and to the point. A man was murdered in North Shore and they’d share information as it became available.

  “We know what your dad’s been up to all day. How was your day?”

  “Good, though I have a lot of homework and choir practice two days this week.” She shook her head. “There’s other stuff I want to do, but no time. I thought about track and Coach Kamin coach spoke to me about it, but there’s no way.”

  “Decision time. You have to plan out your week and figure out what you can fit in and then prioritize. I’m not an athlete, but I’d think track would mean practices every day and some meets would be away. That means missing some days of school. Sport is a big commitment.”

  “I think I nixed that one when she mentioned something about the team running first thing in the morning – like before school.” Her open mouth and raised eyebrows communicated just how unbelievable she found that concept. I burst out laughing.

  “Maybe you should stick to choir, then. A couple extra after school or evening rehearsals isn’t quite so painful. And you like singing and performing, right?”

  “Oh, yeah. We’re already planning for the winter concert. Mr. Contralto wants us to come up with an eclectic something or other. What does that mean?”

  “Usually it means a combination of different approaches or perspectives. Perhaps in this case, something classical, something popular, something jazzy, something rap… or some pieces that are wintry and some that are more holiday centered?”

  She nodded and smiled, her eyes twinkling. “That would be better than the same old, same old. Shake things up a bit.”

  She finished eating, helped clean up our plates, and disappeared into her room. I smiled, knowing full well her efforts would be split between homework and Alex and her friend, Nedra. Maddie was a great student and motivated to do well in school. We were lucky.

  The phone ringing interrupted my reflections on Maddie as a teen.

  “Hi, Kim. How are you?”

  Kim Pennzel was my close friend from Cold Creek. We’d worked together for almost six years and stayed in touch when I’d married Brett and moved to Clover Hill. Although a few years younger than me, we shared backgrounds – both psychologists, both divorced. Kim always had a lot more energy than me and sometimes acted on impulse. We talked a lot and often she and Marty would come to Clover Hill or we would go there.

  As usual, she was excited. I shrugged as she began to babble.

  “Is Brett involved in the murder? I can’t believe another murder. You know, he’s welcome to stay with us if he needs to be here overnight. Has he told you anything yet?”

  I’d managed to get involved in a few mysteries along the way, and she was my sidekick of sorts. I chuckled. “Brett and Fabry are in North Shore. All he’s told me is that he’d be late. Thanks for the offer to put him up. I’ll pass it along. What do you know?”

  North Shore is a small town like Cold Creek and only about thirty minutes away from the college. When I lived in Cold Creek, it was sometimes a nice change to go to dinner up there or to Alta Vista, another small town the same distance away.

  “Marty and I were going to go to dinner at the new brewpub up there – Leavitt’s, but when I mentioned it to Chief Hirsch, he said the road was closed. Actually, he suggested we go to Alta Vista instead. The news didn’t say much else, but that one section of the road from Cold Creek to North Shore is closed. The newscaster showed a map of how to get to the center of town going around the main highway. That looked crazy. How long can they keep virtually the only direct road from Cold Creek to North Shore closed? Max is beside himself.”

  Max Bentley was another colleague from Cold Creek, mostly annoying, with big ambitions. A bit like the stereotypic professor, he had black hair, that was perpetually messy, papers always in disarray, and stormed around like he was in charge, yet confused at the same time. More recently, he’d applied to be department head. Kim had shared he was resentful he didn’t get the position and was giving the new person a lot of grief.

  “At least he can’t blame this one on me.”

  Kim laughed. “No, but that didn’t stop the hysteria. He recently moved out of Cold Creek and closer to North Shore. He was ranting and raving with his wife on the phone about security and bad neighbors or something. I think he’s regretting his move. Buying the new house? His way of saving face. The pictures are beautiful. Come to think of it, if the road’s closed, I’m not sure he can get home.”

  “And wait until he finds out Brett is there.”

  We both laughed. Max was intimidated by Brett early on, and though he came to terms with him, they were never going to be best friends. Kim and I chatted for a little longer and she caught me up on the Cold Creek gossip in no time.

  “Kim, Brett just pulled in and it looks like James is with him. I’ll talk to you later.”

  I pulled out more plates, serving utensils, and the food as the men walked in. Brett smiled and nodded as I popped a pod into the Keurig machine.

  Brett pointed down the hall and as Fabry disappeared, he pulled me to him and gave me a kiss. “Nasty situation. Maddie?”

  “Homework in her room.”

  He nodded and headed in that direction. James joined me in the kitchen and I handed him a cup of coffee. “Help yourself.”

  He nodded. “Long day and short on food.”

  He attacked the food like he hadn’t eaten in days. I was glad I’d picked up extra of everything. Just in case, I fixed a hearty plate for Brett. He joined us, Charlie and Bella following, and he let the dogs out before he sat down.

  “How was your day? Anything exciting at Millicent?”

  “Not really. The leaves are turning though and the drive through the hills was awesome. They haven’t peaked yet though,
so I’ll get to enjoy the drive for another week or so.”

  He nodded. “That sounds about right. I bet they’re changing in Sleepy Hollow as well. We may have to go running there next weekend and take it all in. If not there, then somewhere.”

  Fabry cleared his throat. “That assumes we have this wrapped up by then. I’m not so sure.”

  CHAPTER 3

  M y curiosity had been piqued all day, not that I planned on getting involved. I had enough to do here in Clover Hill. “Who was murdered? What happened?”

  The two men exchanged glances and James shrugged. Brett nodded.

  “A call came in from someone who explained they’d been camping up there, near the lake, and on their hike found a man, dead. The caller was told to stay there and wait for the first responder out of North Shore on the closest stretch of road. You remember Tally? He took over after the drug busts there. He responded, but there was no one on the road. A flare had been lit at one spot and that was where he stopped and called for help.”

  “And that would be us and our friend, Jeff - Chief Hirsch - from Cold Creek, and Matt Sutherland, local police from Alta Vista. Only it’s fall and everything is lush, and yes, changing colors. No obvious, well-used path near the flare.”

  “A prank?”

  Brett shrugged. “When someone reports a body in the woods, we search for any signs. And that’s what we did most of the day. Thankfully, it wasn’t hot and the trees provided a lot of shade.”

  “Also meant we had to use flashlights and step carefully.”

  “But you obviously found the body. It’s been on the news.”

  “We spread out on either side of the flare and tried to find some indication of how the flare got there. Whoever called it in – and they’re still trying to track that – apparently drove to where they thought would be the place on the road? Or intentionally made it difficult. We called in the K-9 unit after thrashing in the woods for a while.”