The Deeds of the Deceitful Read online

  The Deeds of the Deceitful

  It’s June in Virginia, and the scent of flowers and the sound of wedding bells are in the air, an unwelcome reminder to Cooper Lee of the long-distance relationship she recently ended. When Cooper and her Bible study group are invited to spend a weekend at a newly renovated historic inn, it’s the perfect chance to get away with friends and put her bittersweet memories behind her—until the inn’s pompous co-owner is murdered and one of the suspects is Cooper’s own mother.

  Certain that someone on the inn’s staff must have done the cruel deed, the Bible study group begins piecing together the clues, only to learn that everyone there has a motive for murder. When they discover that a valuable painting has also been stolen from the inn, they know they’re up against an especially cunning evildoer. Determined to bring the culprit to justice and save her mother, Cooper and her friends devise a risky scheme to trap the killer, because even the Bible study group must sometimes work in mysterious ways . . .

  Title Page

  

  Copyright

  The Deeds of the Deceitful

  Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliffe

  Beyond the Page Books

  are published by

  Beyond the Page Publishing

  www.beyondthepagepub.com

  Copyright © 2020 by Ellery Adams and Tina Radcliffe

  Cover design and illustration by Dar Albert, Wicked Smart Designs

  ISBN: 978-1-950461-83-7

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this book. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented without the express written permission of both the copyright holder and the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  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

  Magnolia’s Marvels

  Books by Ellery Adams

  Books by Tina Radcliffe

  About the Authors

  Chapter One

  “Good morning, Richmond. As predicted, we have ample sunshine and highs in the middle seventies coming our way today. That will repeat itself tomorrow. That’s right. Expect a picture-perfect first Saturday in June.”

  “A picture-perfect day for a wedding,” Cooper Lee murmured. She stuck her head out the window of her Jeep and eyed the sky. Bryant Shelton, the local meteorologist and her friend from the Sunrise Bible Study, was correct. Overhead, a dazzling blue washed the morning sky. Not a cloud could be seen.

  She turned off the radio and stared at her naked ring finger for a moment before wrapping her hand around a covered cup of coffee—milk and no sugar—from Lamplighter Roasting Company.

  Leaning back against the seat, Cooper took a long sip, savoring the dark brewed coffee. One more day, and then she could retreat and hide. Miriam and Moses, her cats, would keep her company, so it wasn’t like she’d be totally alone on what was supposed to be her wedding weekend.

  It had been six months, yet every day she second-guessed her decision to break off her engagement to Nathan Dexter. The plain truth was that absence had not made the heart grow fonder. Their long-distance relationship had fizzled like an open bottle of Dr. Pepper.

  Ending the engagement had been easy compared to ending the wedding preparations. She cringed at how she’d let herself get swept up in her little sister Ashley’s plans for a storybook wedding that was completely not her. Fortunately, she’d never committed to a dress. But losing her portion of the deposit on the venue, flowers and caterer had plummeted her once-healthy bank account to zero. At this rate, she’d be living in the apartment above her parents’ garage forever.

  Cooper pulled her keys from the ignition and grabbed her backpack. Crossing the threshold of Make It Work!, where she was the manager of leasing and maintenance for the office machine sales and repair company, she resolved to leave her personal problems at the curb.

  Fortunately, a new month meant she’d be knee-deep in paperwork distractions for eight hours. When she slid through the glass door, the staff were gathered around the reception desk. Cooper’s glance went to the wall clock. Nine o’clock on a Friday morning. Normally the service repair staff and the team from Document Security were headed out in one of several company vans to start their day’s assignments.

  “What’s going on?” Cooper asked.

  The seas parted, and Angela, the office manager and wife of the company owner, Mr. Farmer, grinned from behind the reception desk. She patted her platinum blonde bob, causing her wedding rings to glint from the sunlight coming into the office. Cooper glanced away.

  “Angela and Mr. Farmer are going to renew their vows,” Brandi, from Document Security, said. “Isn’t it romantic?” The words were accompanied by a dreamy sigh.

  “You are? I mean, yes. Yes, it is.” Flustered, Cooper placed her coffee on the reception desk.

  “It’s been one year since we were married in Atlantic City,” Angela said. She adjusted her silky red blouse over her ample bosom and straightened her pencil skirt. “This time I’d like a wedding with all my friends present, instead of a boardwalk chapel with strangers. After all, a girl only gets married once.” Angela paused and then giggled. “I guess this will make it twice.”

  “Of course, and you deserve the wedding of your dreams, Angela,” Cooper said. She stared at the buxom blonde for a moment. Her quiet boss and the perky receptionist were a match that no one could have predicted. Mr. Farmer was an introverted Danny DeVito look-alike, while the effusive and bubbly Angela channeled Marilyn Monroe.

  “That is so sweet of you,” Angela said, dabbing at her eyes with a tissue.

  Cooper shrugged. It was the truth. Angela ran the office, and with her positive outlook and friendly demeanor, she made Make It Work! a pleasant environment.

  “I’d like you to be my maid of honor, Cooper.” Angela paused and a stricken look crossed her face. “Unless maybe you can’t because of . . .” Her glance went to Cooper’s left hand.

  “Nonsense. Angela, I’m honored you asked me. Although I have to tell you, I don’t know a thing about weddings or being a maid of honor.”

  “You just do everything the bride tells you to do.”

  All heads turned at the comment by Ben, the manager of the Document Security division. He stepped further into the lobby and placed a folder in Angela’s in-box.

  “Men,” Brandi said. “What do you know?”

  “I know it’s nine o’clock.” He shot a meaningful glance at the clock and then back to Br
andi and the rest of his department employees.

  The team scattered at his words.

  “Fine,” Brandi muttered as she did an about-face.

  Angela turned back to Cooper, her expression questioning.

  “Seriously, Angela, I really do not speak wedding. My little sister, Ashley, ran that show,” Cooper said. “I’m sure she’ll help if I ask her.”

  “Do you think so?” Angela said.

  “Absolutely.” Cooper smiled. Ashley Lee Love was a professional volunteer who rubbed elbows with the Junior League elite of her River Road neighborhood. Championing a cause in her community was her forte. Or used to be. With the birth of her daughter, Hannah, Ashley’s priorities had moved away from delegating and saving the world by proxy. Cooper was certain her sister would jump at the chance to get involved again, especially for a wedding. On a positive note, planning Angela’s wedding might take Ashley’s mind off Cooper’s failed event.

  “Oh, Coop, that is so sweet of you,” Angela gushed.

  “Angela, you do so much around here for everyone. I’m glad to help.”

  “Does that mean you’ll be my maid of honor?”

  “I, um . . .” Cooper hesitated. Images of the voluminous sherbet-colored dresses from Ashley’s princess wedding came to mind. For her own nuptials, Cooper had chosen a simple sheath for her two attendants—Ashley, her maid of honor, and Christine, Nathan’s sister.

  Cooper met Angela’s gaze and the hopeful expression on her face tugged at her heart. Angela was her friend. That meant doing the right thing. Even if it killed her.

  “I would be honored to be part of your wedding.”

  “Wonderful.” Angela beamed a moment before her expression changed, and she offered an almost sad smile as she stared pointedly at Cooper’s left hand once more. “Cooper, if you ever want to talk—”

  “I think that’s my desk phone ringing,” Cooper said. She grabbed her coffee and headed to her office. She did not want to talk about Nathan, her canceled wedding, or how she was feeling. All she needed was a little more time to sort things out in her head. And maybe a vacation.

  A long one, far from everyone who wanted to offer advice and condolences at the death of her engagement.

  • • •

  “Of course I’ll help you,” Ashley said as they settled on the couch in her spacious living room. “Though I am bitterly disappointed that we aren’t planning your wedding.”

  “Ash. Please.”

  “It’s the truth, Cooper.” She ran a hand over the surface of the cream-colored nubby sofa and plucked a speck of lint from a velvet pillow.

  “I don’t want to talk about the truth right now.”

  “Coop, it’s been months. You have to talk about it eventually. Nathan dumped you.” She shrugged and waved a hand displaying a perfect French manicure. “So what? That makes him a loser in my book.”

  “Ashley!”

  “Don’t Ashley me. I’m only saying what everyone is thinking.”

  “He did not dump me. It was a mutual decision.” Cooper was well past painting anyone as the bad guy in the situation. Although she couldn’t help the nagging suspicion that she was the problem. After all, two disastrous relationships where she was the common denominator was difficult to ignore. Maybe she wasn’t relationship material.

  An unladylike harrumph slipped from Ashley’s lips, pulling Cooper from her depressing thoughts.

  “Can we please focus?” she asked her sister.

  “Fine.” Ashley paused. “Tell me more about what Angela has in mind for her wedding.”

  “Small and intimate. I was thinking the flower garden at Mama and Daddy’s.”

  “Mama’s rose garden is beautiful in the summer,” Ashley said, her face brightening.

  When a sparkle of inspiration flashed in her sister’s cerulean blue eyes, Cooper sat back, relieved to have the attention off herself.

  “Do you think they’d mind hosting a wedding?” Ashley asked.

  “I already asked, and the idea tickled them. Although the yard still needs spring cleaning. Daddy’s been so busy at work, he’s barely had time to get his garden planted. And Mama, well, all her time’s spent baking.”

  “Maybe we can hire someone,” Ashley said.

  “No. Daddy would never want someone messing with his yard. I’ll get it done. No worries.”

  “Wonderful.” Lips pressed together in thought, Ashley’s gaze pinned Cooper. “What’s our timeline?”

  “Angela would like the wedding sometime in July.”

  Ashley’s eyes rounded. “But this is June!” She pulled out her phone and checked the calendar. “How large is this wedding?”

  “Intimate. Twenty-five at the most. I’m her only attendant, and the guest list is mostly employees and clients of Make It Work!”

  “That will help. Any thoughts on a reception?” Ashley asked.

  “There’s plenty of room for a reception at Casa Grande. They have a party room in the back.”

  Her sister grimaced. “That Mexican restaurant?”

  “Yes. Our office eats there several times a week. They have amazing chile relleno.”

  “I agree, and it’s a fine venue for the rehearsal dinner. However, that is not where we will hold Angela’s reception.”

  “Sounds like you’re on board.” Cooper couldn’t help but grin. She knew the opportunity to command and delegate was more than her sister could resist.

  “You’ll help me?” Ashley asked.

  “You plan and I’ll provide the legwork.”

  “Deal.” She smiled. “And as it turns out, I have a small favor I need as well.”

  Cooper nearly groaned aloud. “How small?”

  “Really, it’s not a favor, it’s more like me giving you a present.”

  “A present?” Cooper immediately tensed.

  “Mm-hmm. Almost as good as the pedicures I introduced you to.”

  Cooper glanced down at her glossy toenails in OPI Passion Pink and couldn’t help but smile. Okay, so who knew such a simple thing would bring her so much joy? But it did. While she’d never become high-maintenance like her sister, she had become a fan of regular pedicures. “Tell me about this . . . present.”

  “Do you remember my college roommate, Mindy?”

  “No.” Cooper regularly blocked out her little sister’s somewhat pretentious college friends from Hollins University, one of the most prestigious women’s universities in the country. One of Ashley’s Hollins friends parlayed an encounter that led to Ashley meeting the man of her dreams, Lincoln Love. This was followed by a royal wedding and the birth of Coop’s eighteen-month-old niece, Hannah. Yes, Ashley had a perfect life, and while Cooper wasn’t exactly jealous, she did long for her own domestic bliss, or at the very least some direction in her life.

  “Are you listening to me?”

  “Sorry. I was trying to recall who Mindy is. All your college friends looked the same to me. What’s her last name?”

  “It was Atwood, and then she got married. Now she’s gone back to Atwood.”

  “I don’t follow.”

  “It’s complicated.” Ashley waved her hand. “What matters is that she is opening an inn right here in Richmond.”

  “How nice for her.”

  “Trust me. Things have not exactly been nice all the way around.”

  “Why do I think you’re withholding information, Ash?”

  Ashley offered a resigned sigh. “This stays between us, Cooper.”

  “Of course. I do not gossip.”

  Her sister nodded. “It’s been a tough stretch for Mindy. First, her husband left her for his secretary. Then her father passed a year ago. Poor Mindy really doesn’t have any other family left.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Me too. But it gets worse. Mindy and her stepmother inherited the historic Atwood Inn, which has been shuttered for five years, ever since Mindy’s mother died. The evil stepmother is pushing to sell the place to a developer. Mindy continue
s to refuse, and has forged ahead with renovation plans to bring the inn back to its former glory. She spent every last penny of her inheritance on the project.”

  Ashley lowered her voice. “This is strictly confidential, Coop, but Mindy is nearly broke. The success of the inn means everything.”

  “If she’s broke, why doesn’t she sell?”

  “It’s her heritage. The inn belonged to her mother. She hopes to be able to buy her stepmother out eventually.” Ashley’s gaze pleaded with Cooper. “We have so much family on both Mama and Daddy’s side of the family. Mindy’s family tree has literally been chopped down.”

  Cooper pondered her sister’s words for a moment. They were blessed to have a healthy family tree that extended from Grammy to little Hannah. She couldn’t begin to imagine what Mindy was going through, nor did she want to.

  “I’m so sorry for Mindy,” Cooper finally said. “But what does this have to do with me?”

  “She needs guests for a soft launch.”

  “What’s a soft launch?”

  “You know, a run-through with friends and family before the grand opening. I thought of your Bible study.”

  “We are neither Mindy’s friends nor family.” She shot Ashley a suspicious glance.

  “Cooper, Mindy truly doesn’t have any other family except her stepmother and a stepsister.” Her eyes lit up. “There is a silver lining here. Mindy is going to let Mama provide baked goods for the inn. So it’s not just Mindy you’re helping, it’s your own family.”

  “No guilt trips there.” Cooper shook her head.

  “This is not a guilt trip. Simply the facts. If the inn is a success, do you know what this would mean for Magnolia’s Marvels?”

  “One step closer to being on grocery store shelves.”

  “Exactly.”

  Ashley had a persuasive argument. There was nothing she wouldn’t do to help her hardworking mother. Cooper met her sister’s pleading gaze. “You have plenty of friends. Why not ask them?”

  “Oh, no. Mindy would never invite people from our circle unless everything was perfection. Thus the dry run.”

  “Excuse me?” Cooper sputtered.