Halloween Hiccups: A Mercy Mares Cozy Mystery Novella by Ava Mallory Read Free Book Online

There's a couple of empty places here. Have you told him that?” Margie asked.
     
    I hadn't and I hoped that she wouldn't either. It was bad enough that Charlie was now going to be living in the same town as me; the last thing I needed was for him to live in my small community. I'd never be able to handle that. One step at a time.
     
    “No, I think he's looking for a house on the other side of town. Something closer to the lake. He likes to fish.” I explained.
     
    “And, your grouchy friend, what's his story?” Margie asked, referring to Nubbin.
     
    I thought about it for a second. “I don't really know. I hadn't gotten around to asking him why he'd decided to come along for the ride.”
     
    Margie started jogging again. “When you're ready to tell me something, let me know, dear. I can see that you're not ready to talk.”
     
    “What? What do you mean?” I asked.
     
    She sped up her pace a little, remembering that she'd promised to make me work harder this week.
     
    “I've kept my questions simple. Eventually, you'll have to tell me what it is about Halloween that bothers you so.” Margie said to my surprise.
     
    “Who said I have an issue with Halloween?” I asked.
     
    “Mercy, how long have we known each other?” Margie asked. “I'll tell you. I've known you long enough to know that every Halloween you shut yourself off from the world and hide out in that house of yours. Why?”
     
    I didn't know how to answer her. I didn't see it to be a big deal. I actually felt silly about the whole thing.
     
    “I didn't think you'd noticed.” I said, feeling guilty.

Chapter Eight
                  “Are you out of your mind, Acura?” Nubbin didn't have the foggiest idea what the word 'whisper' meant.
     
    I put my finger to my mouth, indicating for him to lower his voice.
     
    “You're going to get us caught.” I warned him.
     
    “And, you're going to make sure I spend the last days of my life in the pokey.” Nubbin quipped.
     
    I put my arm out in front of him to keep him from moving forward. “Shh! Did you hear that?” I asked, listening intently for noises other than our own.
     
    Nubbin spoke in his megaphone watt voice. “How can I hear anything if you keep yapping, Corsica?”
     
    I held my breath, willing myself not to answer back. After all, I was the one who got Nubbin involved. The least I could do was try to remain calm.
     
    After a moment, Nubbin resigned himself to follow the game plan. “What do you want me to do here? I can't stand around twiddling my thumbs.”
     
    “Just keep an eye out while I get everything all set up here.” I said.
     
    I had sunk to a new low. First, I didn't listen when Ruby asked me not to get involved. Next, I promised Hank that I'd tell everyone what my hang-up with Halloween was and then I only told people – the people I love the most in the world – half the truth, right in front of his face. Now, I have an elderly man sneaking around in a corn maze with me, in the same exact spot where a man was killed just a couple of nights ago. What was wrong with me?
     
    “For someone trying to be discreet, you sure do make a lot of noise, Cadillac.” Nubbin groaned, moving himself in front of me as if he was in charge of this operation. “What are you mumbling about anyway? If its because your boyfriend has decided to up and leave his home and the people who raised him, then, it's too late for that. You should have thought about that before you started batting those long, dark eyelashes at him. On another note, what color is your hair? I swear every time I see you, it's a different color! Are you running from the law?”
     
    Nubbin never ceased to amaze me. No one, other than Ruby, had noticed that I dyed my hair or if they did, no one made mention of the fact that it had gone from my signature jet black color to a much more subdued auburn color. I figured since it was fighting really hard to go gray, it was time I fought back. Maybe, if