A Fatal Visit (A Harbor Cove Cozy Mystery Book 1) by Emily Page Page B

everything to be given to his illegitimate daughter. A daughter that the rest of his family hadn’t even known existed.”
     
    Nichole’s eyebrows drew together. “Would you really call your own daughter illegitimate?”
     
    “Bigger picture, Nichole.”
     
    As she said it, a huge black Newfoundland bounded into the room and onto the sofa, its front paws on Skyler’s lap and the rest of it on the other cushion. Wagging its tail, it dragged a warm, wet tongue over her face.
     
    Skyler grimaced and Nichole chuckled. “Morning, Clue,” she said to it. The dog wagged its tail with more fervor. “Yes, you’re a good girl.” If dogs could smile, Skyler would swear her dog did as she rested her head down on her owner’s lap.
     
    Pulling her phone out one again, Skyler dialed the number for her boss.
     
    “Avery. Do I even need to guess?” he asked, an amused tone to his voice.
     
    “Obviously, you’ve heard the news.”
     
    “And obviously, you have too.”
     
    She smiled. Confidence in her voice, she replied with, “I was on the scene when the body was discovered.”
     
    He sounded genuinely impressed with his reply. “You want the article, then?”
     
    “No one else investigating, or researching it. It’s mine.”
     
    He sighed, but she sensed it was in good humor. “Everyone is clamoring for this story, Avery. News outlets in and out of town are already reporting on it.” He paused. “This needs to be good.”
     
    “Do I ever let you down?”
     
    “Once or twice you have, yes.” He sighed again. “It’s yours, if you want it that badly.”
     
    They said their goodbyes and then Skyler hung up. She grinned at Nichole. “One more case for Skyler Avery.”
     
    Nichole rolled her eyes and stood. “I’ll leave you to it, ace report—”
     
    She was interrupted by the door banging open and smacking against the wall. A middle-aged woman, plump with permed red hair, entered, her cheeks flushed with what was either exertion or anger. She was bedecked in a feather-fringed vest and she slung a sequined purse to the side table, sending a set of keys clattering to the floor.
     
    “I have never been so furious with law enforcement in all my life!” she declared.
     
    “Mom? What’s—”
     
    Skyler’s question was almost immediately cut off with, “The fools! They’ve taken Bryson in for questioning!”
     
    “Your assistant?”
     
    She nodded. “The state of law enforcement in this town is utterly atrocious.”
     
    Skyler’s brows furrowed. “But…I was at the restaurant. I didn’t even see Bryson.”
     
    Nichole scoffed. “Bryson Everett is your assistant? He’s a bum.”
     
    Skyler chimed in with, “Only seasonally. He comes around in the summer. He’s more of a charity case, really.”
     
    “Have some respect!” Both women winced at the reprimand. “He may be a little unkempt, but he’s low on his luck. Bryson is an honest and reliable man.”
     
    A moment of silence followed. The younger women casted their glances away before Skyler spoke. “What was he doing at the restaurant?”
     
    Momma Avery walked into the living room and sat down, offering Clue a biscuit from her pocket. She explained to them that Dustin Cole, head chef at the restaurant, had ordered some uniforms from her but had forgotten to pick them up. So she had sent Bryson to deliver them to the restaurant.
     
    “I told him to get something to eat while he was there.” She paused, and her voice dropped a tone. “The poor dear. He used his one phone call at the station to tell me he’d delivered the package.”
     
    They were silent. A cloud drifted past the sun, turning the room grey.
     
    “He’s going to need a lawyer, Nichole.”
     
    Nichole nodded. “I sensed that was coming.”
     
    Momma Avery continued, “The police have my money. They said I can come for it between 3 and 5 p.m.” She shook her head, her mouth twisted into a frown. “Bryson said it was ‘worse than I