Today I’m welcoming back another of my favorite writers, F. M. Meredith, along with her latest Rocky Bluff mystery, Tangled Webs.
F. M. Meredith who is also known as Marilyn once lived in a beach town much like Rocky Bluff. She has many friends and relatives in law enforcement. She’s a member of MWA, 3 chapters of Sisters in Crime and serves on the PSWA Board.
Tangled Webs
Too many people are telling lies: The husband of the murder victim and his secretary, the victim’s boss and co-workers in the day care center, her stalker, and Detective Milligan’s daughter.
Here is an excerpt from Tangled Webs:
The first chapter introduces a new character—and the murder victim. I always enjoy visiting Evelyn.
Chapter 1
“A dead body my first day on the job. Outstanding.”
Dakota Ayala, the new recruit assigned to Officer Gordon Butler painfully reminded him of how he felt the first day of work as a cop. He hoped Ayala wouldn’t make as many blunders as he had. One positive thought though, Gordon knew he’d be a much better training officer than his had been.
The understaffed Rocky Bluff Police Department, thanks to the new mayor, had been given the okay to hire one more officer and Ayala was it.
Ayala reached over to turn on the siren.
Gordon shook his head. “We’ll turn on the lights to get through whatever traffic there may be, but no need to wake everyone.”
Ayala’s grin disappeared. Obviously of mixed heritage, judging by his black, short-cropped hair, smooth tan skin and surprisingly blue eyes, his handsome face displayed immediate disappointment.
According to the dispatcher, the victim had been found by the next door neighbor when he was leaving for work. He noticed the woman lying on the front porch. He’d gone over to give assistance and found she was dead, and had been for a while.
Not only did Gordon know the neighborhood, he knew the identity of the victim. “Our job will be to preserve the crime scene. We’ll wait for the detectives, and they may assign us some other duties, if not, we’ll go back on patrol.”
Ayala gazed out the window. “Nice neighborhood.”
“One of the older ones.”
The early morning fog from the nearby ocean still kept the sun from shining through, making it seem earlier than it was, and added dampness to the February chill.
Large vintage Victorian houses lined the tree-shaded street, some in better repair than others. Gordon pulled up in front of a two-story light gray home with dark blue trim. A portly man paced in front of stairs leading to the full porch.
Gordon parked beside the curb and before he could get all the way out of the car, the man huffed and puffed over to him. “Poor Melody is on the porch. Looks like she was stabbed to death. Such a sweet lady. I don’t know why anyone would do such a thing.” He waved his arm in the general direction of the stairs.
“And you are?” Gordon asked.
“Giddings, Harvey Giddings. I live next door and when I started to back out of my driveway I noticed her front door stood open. I parked and came over to see if there was a problem and that’s when I found her.”
“Did you touch anything?”
“No. I didn’t need to. I could tell she was dead.” He ran his hand over his gray, thinning hair. “So much blood. Her eyes staring.” He swallowed loudly.
“Do you mind staying nearby until the detectives arrive, Mr. Giddings?”
“Of course. I know who did it. That crazy guy who’s been pestering her. She complained about him all the time.” He blinked his small eyes several times.
Gordon knew exactly who Giddings meant. On several occasions he’d been called to this address by the deceased to confront a man named Jacob Hulsey who had a restraining order against him. Usually Hulsey wasn’t near enough to the house to be arrested, merely close enough that Melody White could see him.
“Did you observe anyone loitering around the neighborhood last night or early this morning?”
“No, but I go to bed early. I have seen that stalker guy hanging around plenty of other times though. Melody told me all about him. He made her nervous. Scared her sometimes.”
While Gordon spoke with Mr. Giddings, Ayala moved closer and closer to the porch steps.
“Thank you so much, sir. The detectives will arrive soon and you can tell them everything you know.”
Gordon left Giddings and shouted to Ayala. “Don’t move any nearer. Stop right there.”
Ayala halted. “Yeah, yeah, I know.”
Marilyn Meredith aka F.M. Meredith’s latest books:
A Cold Death, a Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery
Unresolved, a Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery
