And The Earth Moved: Romantic Comedy Cozy Mystery (Amber Reed CCIA Mystery Book 1) by Zanna Mackenzie Read Free Book Online

tell me so come on, out with it.”
    “I’m on the case,” I blurt out. “Charlie has agreed to let me shadow him for the duration of the investigation.”
    “I knew you could do it! Should have just let you work your feminine charms on him in the first place. That’s brilliant news, Amber, thanks so much. I really appreciate it.”
    “Like I said before, anything I can do to help I will. To be honest I’m amazed he said yes. Unsurprisingly he caught me trying to follow him and he knew straight away who I was. He said I couldn’t work with him at first but then he changed his mind.”
    “Probably fancies you,” Ennis says. “Anyway, I’m just glad he’s agreed. So have you been out with him whilst he’s been working today?”
    I nod. “Yes, up at the quarry. Nothing new to report yet though. We met with Liam but I don’t think it was much use.”
    Ennis sighs and pushes a hand through his hair. “Still, I’m grateful, Amber. I know it’s early days but we need to find some answers before the police make their official statement about Joel’s death and the newshounds from hell descend on us.”
    I place a hand on his arm. “We’ll find out what happened, I promise you.”
    “I still can’t believe he’s dead,” Ennis says, slumping into a chair. “I can’t help thinking it has something to do with me. I’m feeling paranoid about going out, about Siobhan being out and about. What if whoever did this is targeting my family?”
    “I’m sure it’s nothing like that.” I pause, wondering whether to say what I’m thinking. “Speaking of family, have you spoken to your parents yet?”
    “No. Mum and Tony are on their holidays this week. I don’t want to ruin it for them. They’ll be back before the news is out there and then I can go and tell them in person rather than over the phone. I don’t want to tell my dad before I’ve told mum so, for now, I’m keeping quiet. I’m praying we’ll have some answers by then as well. I can tell them everything at once.” He looks across at me. “I’m dreading it, Amber. They’ll be devastated and my dad will blame me. Joel died whilst he was visiting me.”
    I step towards him and put my hands on his shoulders. “Of course they won’t blame you.”
    Ennis pushes to his feet and envelops me in a fierce hug.
    “Oh, sorry.”
    We turn to see Charlie standing in the doorway.
    “Didn’t mean to interrupt, I’ll come back later.”
    And with that he disappears.
    “I must have left the back door open when I let you in,” Ennis says.
    There’s the murmur of voices in the hallway and then Siobhan walks into the room. Her expression clouds over at the sight of me. Probably not helped by the fact Ennis still has an arm around my waist. I slowly step away from him.
    “Siobhan,” I smile. “How are you feeling?”
    “I’m fine,” she replies.
    “Good, good, I’m glad. I just called round to tell Ennis that Charlie has agreed to let me follow him around during the investigation.”
    She nods. “That’s good news.”
    “Well, I’d better make a move. I’m working at the pub later and need to go home and get changed first.”
    On the way to my car I see Charlie standing outside the guest wing as though he’s waiting for me.
    “Leaving already?”
    I walk over. “Yes, bit of a flying visit. I have to go to work soon.”
    “Right, working at the pub. So, you and Ennis huh?”
    “What?” I take a step back. “Oh, that hug you just saw in the kitchen? No, you’ve got it all wrong. We’re just friends.”
    “I didn’t mean that hug. I meant about you and Ennis dating when you were at university. You neglected to tell me that little snippet earlier.”
    “So how did you know?”  The pieces start to fall into place. When I just said I was working later he said I would be working at the pub. I never told him I worked at the pub, just the newspaper. I didn’t mention Ennis and I used to be an item, but he knows.
    He’s run a background