And The Earth Moved: Romantic Comedy Cozy Mystery (Amber Reed CCIA Mystery Book 1)

And The Earth Moved: Romantic Comedy Cozy Mystery (Amber Reed CCIA Mystery Book 1) by Zanna Mackenzie Page B

Book: And The Earth Moved: Romantic Comedy Cozy Mystery (Amber Reed CCIA Mystery Book 1) by Zanna Mackenzie Read Free Book Online
Authors: Zanna Mackenzie
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be asleep and not hear me if I just knock normally,” I attempt to reason.
    “I think the whole of Palstone can hear you,” Charlie mutters as the door is yanked open.
    Tina, dressed in pyjama bottoms and a vest top, stares at us, wide awake, fear in her eyes. “What is it? What’s wrong?” She looks at Charlie. “You’re that guy from the police aren’t you?”
    “Can we come in for a moment?” I ask. “You don’t know me Tina but I’m a friend of your dad’s. My name’s Amber.”
    “What is it?” she repeats. “What’s wrong?” She turns back into the house and then, at the top of her lungs, shouts, “Dad! Are you awake? That police guy is here with somebody called Amber. Dad?”
    I put an arm around her shoulders. “Amber, your dad isn’t at home. That’s why we’re here.”
    She jerks away, her eyes darted from me to Charlie. “Where is he? What’s happened?”
    “He’s going to be OK. He’s at the local hospital,” I say.
    “What? No! What happened to him?”
    “Why don’t you take a seat on the sofa for a moment?” Charlie says, his voice all calm and soothing as though he’s trying to reassure her.
    “Can I get you a drink or anything?” I ask Tina. “A cup of sweet tea might help with the shock.”
    She shakes her head, biting anxiously at her lower lip. “What happened?”
    “It looks as though your dad went for a walk and some thugs set about him,” I answer.
    “He got beaten up? Around here? That doesn’t make sense,” she says wide-eyes looking from me to Charlie.
    I know what she means. I find it hard to believe myself. People don’t just attack people around Palstone. There was a reason for this; it definitely wasn’t random. Just like Joel falling into a quarry, it wasn’t an accident.
    She looks terrified, poor kid.
    “He’ll be fine. Try not to worry,” I say and then realise how silly that sounds in the circumstances. Of course she’ll worry.
    “I want to go and see Dad, but,” she pauses, looking uncomfortable. “I might have had a bit too much to drink earlier at the Dog and Duck, I’m not sure if I’ll be legal to drive.”
    “Don’t worry. Amber and I will take you to the hospital as soon as you’re dressed and ready,” Charlie says.
    Tina is on her feet in seconds. “I’ll go and get changed.”
    Once she’s out of earshot Charlie shakes his head, shoving his hands in the pockets of his jeans. “I hate this part of the job. Having to tell people that friends and family have been hurt or…” He lets the sentence trail off. 
    I walk over and squeeze his arm then slip my own through his, leaning my head against his shoulder. “You really are quite a nice guy aren’t you underneath that tough investigator exterior?”
    Charlie looks down at me, a faint smile on his lips but his eyes still worried. “Don’t go telling everyone will you?”
    I stay in this position for longer than I probably should, enjoying the feel of his jacket against my cheek and the warmth of his body. And the smell of his aftershave.  Fresh and woody with hints of citrus, I think. Nice.
    I force myself to stand upright and step away from him. Is now an appropriate time to be enjoying cuddles and noticing aftershave? I think not.
    Tina appears back in the room, dressed in jeans and a hoodie, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. Dark circles under her eyes suggest a lack of sleep and maybe that she’s been partying a little too much lately.
    “Can we go?” she asks impatiently.
    Charlie nods. “Of course. Just one more thing. Do you think you could help your dad out by throwing some things in a bag for him? You know, stuff he’ll want when he’s awake - pyjamas, comb, book, anything you can think he’ll need.”
    She nods and turns, heading back to the hallway and what we presume to be Bert’s room. A few moments later she’s back with a rucksack, hastily stuffing a grey sweatshirt inside it. “I got some clothes and the book he’s reading and his

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