Casting a Murderer (Preview)

Chapter One

Fiona Davis heard her nemesis a few seconds before she saw her. If Fiona had had a few more seconds warning, she might’ve been able to hide under her desk. It was a cowardly instinct, but in Fiona’s defense, Caroline Masters was a nightmare. The fifty-four-year-old mother of four had a shrill voice that would grate on a saint’s nerves. It had been a good day up until that point, and Fiona groaned in despair when she heard Caroline.

She immediately dropped her phone into her drawer and sat up straight, as if she hadn’t been watching funny dog videos on the internet. Or, at least, she’d been trying to watch dog videos. The internet at the Restport was criminally weak. It was a miracle if she managed to load a picture, let alone a whole video. When she brought up the poor internet signal to her boss, he grunted something about the lack of internet being part of the inn’s rustic charm. Translation: he was a miserable cheapskate. Nevertheless, Fiona had been hoping to spend some time online for once.

“Oh my, oh my,” Caroline tutted, “this won’t work. It just won’t.”

Fiona squeezed her eyes shut and counted to ten. She had gotten to eight when the door opened, and the little bell went off. Every time a guest walked into the Restport, the door set off a little bell that announced their arrival. That sound haunted her nightmares.

“Fiona, I’m so glad to have caught you,” Caroline gushed, waving her hand emphatically. “You have no idea how little time I have today, my dear. So much to do, so much. It’s exhausting. I wish I didn’t have to do all this work all by myself.”

Fiona smiled politely but ground her teeth in annoyance. Caroline was one of those people who always had to announce how busy they were. The more important their task, the more you heard about it.

“How can I help, Caroline?” Fiona asked when Caroline paused.

“Well, my dear, you know how important next week is for our lovely little town. So important.”

Fiona fought a scowl. Her leg was jumping under her desk, and she didn’t try and stop it. Every conversation with Caroline felt as though she were at the dentist. Over the years, Fiona had tried different tactics to deal with the bothersome woman. The more Fiona got to know Caroline, however, the harder it was to deal with her. Sometimes, no matter how hard one tried, it was impossible to like a certain person. Fiona had long ago accepted that Caroline was her worst enemy and had to be avoided at all costs.

Unfortunately, Caroline was the type of person who couldn’t be ignored and wouldn’t be avoided. Every now and then, Fiona managed to hide under her desk in time or leave the supermarket before Caroline saw her. These were just temporary solutions, however, and Caroline always made sure to find Fiona at a different time. Caroline always seemed to sense when Fiona was avoiding her because when she finally caught up with Fiona, she’d make a snide comment that would make Fiona’s toes curl in shame.

“Of course,” Fiona said, her cheeks beginning to hurt from her fake smile. If she stopped smiling, then Caroline would spread a rumor that Fiona was depressed or having problems at work. Then Fiona would have to deal with sympathetic murmuring and concerned glances from the other residents of Starport. It was one of the downsides of living in such a small town. Everyone knew each other’s business and privacy was a myth.

“Senator Moore and his wife are so excited to come to visit Shady Palms, and we have to make sure that Starport looks its best. After all, now that we have senators visiting us, we can expect a higher class of tourists.”

Tourism was Starport’s bread and butter. Thanks to the town’s gorgeous natural cove and rich history, people streamed to the little oasis every summer. Caroline was the proud owner of Shady Palms, the most exclusive hotel in the area. This was a fact that Caroline never let anyone forget. Ever since a senator confirmed that he would be staying at Shady Palms, Caroline had grown even more insufferable, a feat that Fiona would never have thought possible.

“I’m sure the senator’s visit only means good things for Starport,” Fiona said dutifully.

“I’m glad you feel that way,” Caroline said, reaching out and tapping Fiona’s hand with her long, blood-red fingernail. “I’ve been hard at work beautifying the town. You know, the town council elected me as head of the beautification committee. I don’t know why they keep asking me to do these things… It’s not like I have a lot of free time.”

Fiona felt her skin prickle. Caroline was part of the town council. If she didn’t want to be a part of the beautification committee, then all she had to do was refuse. It was more likely that Caroline had announced her intentions and everyone else had been too scared to deny her what she wanted.

“I can’t imagine how difficult that must be for you,” Fiona said, her voice sounding strained to her own ears.

“I notice you didn’t sign up as a volunteer,” Caroline continued as if Fiona hadn’t spoken. She took a clipboard out of her massive handbag and waved it in front of Fiona’s face. “We could really use your help. Especially, since the Restport is… well, a bit of a problem area, if I’m being perfectly honest. I think it’s a little unfair that the rest of the town is trying to put its best foot forward, while you allow the inn to look the way it does. I’m sure Mrs. Cooper would be turning in her grave if she saw what has become of this place.”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to take this up with Danny,” Fiona said, trying not to let her annoyance slip into her voice. This wasn’t the first time they’d had this conversation.

“Yes, I know. You keep saying that. You know how Danny is though. You need to give him a little push. I’m sure that if you put a little more time and effort into maintaining this place, it would make all the difference in the world.”

As Caroline spoke, Fiona noticed a shiny blue car pull into the parking lot. Her eyebrows rose a little. The Restport was the worst accommodation in town. It was never at full capacity, and mostly attracted truckers, college students, or unsavory clientele who only rented a room for an hour or two at a time. What was such an expensive car doing at a place like this? Maybe they were lost.

“Okay, Caroline, let me get this straight,” Fiona said with a sigh. “You expect me to do something that isn’t my job, and work for free? We both know how expensive it would be to get this place fixed up. We also know that Danny won’t pay me overtime or pay for so much as a lightbulb. Do you expect me to use my time and money to fix this place up?”

“I expect you to do your civic duty,” Caroline said blithely. “If this place looked better, then maybe you’d attract better customers and you could raise your prices.”

“Yeah, I’d love to fund Danny’s drinking habit,” Fiona scoffed, causing Caroline to purse her lips primly.

“My dear, I’m shocked by your attitude. I know your mother would be so disappointed in you.”

Fiona snapped her mouth shut and looked away, stung by Caroline’s comment. Caroline and Fiona’s adoptive mother had been best friends back in the day. Fiona grew up with Caroline coming over for the book club, and the children were raised as friends. Fiona even dated Caroline’s son for a few months when they were teenagers. It didn’t end well, and Fiona had to endure Caroline’s displeasure ever since.

“She would’ve expected better from you…”

Fiona clenched her jaw and looked away. Whenever Caroline brought up Fiona’s adoptive mother, Amanda, Fiona felt like crying. She was well aware that her mother would be disappointed, but to be fair, Fiona had given up everything to take care of her adoptive mother, and later father, when they were on their sickbeds. Everything had to be put on hold while her mother had fought against cancer for years. By the time Amanda died, Fiona was in her late twenties. Her adoptive father never fully recovered from the ordeal and died two years after his wife. All they left Fiona was a house that was falling apart, and a mound of medical bills that needed to be paid.

“Yeah, well,” Fiona muttered, no longer caring about keeping the peace with Caroline. “Every town needs a dump, Caroline. If you think about it, the Restport makes the rest of the town look better by comparison. You should be thanking us.”

Caroline’s mouth puckered as though she’d eaten a lemon and Fiona braced herself for an onslaught of abuse. Thankfully, the sound of the bell interrupted her. Fiona never thought she’d be grateful for that irritating little ‘ding-ding’.

“Welcome to the Restport, how can I help you?” Fiona asked brightly, turning to the guest.

Caroline shot Fiona a warning look, then stalked out of the room. The bell rang angrily as she slammed the door shut behind her. As Caroline walked up the cracked path, Fiona caught sight of a silver car parked by the entrance. As soon as Caroline came into view, the silver car sped off, leaving a trail of dust.

“Yeah, one room, please,” the guest said.

Fiona looked back at her guest and frowned. Although they were used to seeing all kinds of strange guests, this one made Fiona’s eyebrows rise. The guest was wearing a black hoodie, with a scarf wrapped around the bottom half of her face and dark sunglasses that reached past her cheekbones. Even though it was clear the guest was a woman, she spoke in a deep voice that could almost be mistaken for a man’s. Fiona knew instinctively that the guest was changing her voice on purpose. The only question was why would anyone want to go through that much effort to disguise their identity?

“Sure,” Fiona said, giving the guest a strange look before continuing to check her in. She continued to watch the woman as she walked away in search of her room.

The exchange left Fiona feeling wary, but she quickly quashed the emotion. She had learned long ago not to care too much about what went on at the Restport. As she had pointed out to Caroline, Fiona didn’t get paid enough to care.

“Did I hear Caroline’s voice earlier?” a friendly voice asked. Fiona turned to smile at her only real friend in Starport. Kerri Holland was a maid at the Restport and one of the nicest people Fiona had ever met.

“Yeah,” Fiona said, wincing slightly. “You’re lucky you missed her.”

“I may or may not have hidden in the closet when I heard her,” Kerri said, grinning mischievously.

“Great,” Fiona said, balling up a little piece of paper and tossing it at Kerri’s head. “You left me to fend for myself out here.”

Kerri dodged the ball expertly and used the handle of her broom to knock it to the floor. When it landed by her feet, she picked it up and tossed it into the wastebasket with one fluid motion. She lifted her arms in victory when the ball found its target.

“I’m sorry, but you owed me one,” Kerri pointed out. “Remember last time? You totally sold me out.”

Fiona grimaced apologetically. She remembered the incident well. They had been at the supermarket when Fiona had spotted Caroline and ducked into the next aisle to avoid being seen. Kerri had no warning and spent the next half hour listening to Caroline brag about how her youngest child had been accepted to a prestigious university.

“Fine,” Fiona said, holding her hands up in surrender. “But now we’re even. Next time, we’re going to help each other out, okay?”

“Deal,” Kerri said, nodding resolutely. “Although, she left early, what happened?”

“A guest checked in,” Fiona said with a shrug. She looked out the window and bit the inside of her cheek, wondering how much she should tell Kerri about her encounter with Caroline.

“Oh no,” Kerri said slowly, leaning against the reception desk. She picked up a scrap of paper, balled it up, and tossed it at the wastebasket. This time, the ball bounced off the rim and fell to the floor. “I know that look. What did the Queen of Starport say now?”

Fiona shook her head at Kerri’s failed wastebasket attempt and balled up her own piece of paper. She aimed carefully, then threw it with immense confidence. The ball missed the basket by a few inches. She groaned in annoyance.

“The usual,” Fiona said with a sigh. “You know, I should be working harder, my mother would be disappointed. Honestly, she sounds like a broken record.”

“Why does she insist on torturing you like that?” Kerri asked with a frown. “Wasn’t your mother her best friend or something?”

Fiona shrugged casually. The truth was, she’d been bewildered by Caroline’s treatment over the years. After Fiona’s mother died, Fiona desperately needed a job to start paying off medical bills, she hadn’t expected Caroline to offer an office job or anything, but she had expected some form of help. Instead, Caroline had condescendingly explained why she couldn’t hire Fiona at that time. With no qualifications and not much experience, the only job Fiona could land was as a receptionist at the Restport. Five years later, and she was still there.

“Whatever, I don’t care,” Fiona lied.

Kerri gave her a knowing glance, but let it go. Kerri had been in a similar position as Fiona was a few years ago, and the two had formed a strong bond through it all. They usually knew what the other one was feeling without having to ask and had a good understanding of each other’s moods. Kerri knew when to press the issue and when to let it go.

“So, we’ve got a senator visiting,” Kerri said, trying to toss another ball into the wastebasket. By now, there were a few balls lying on the ground around them. The stark white paper contrasted with the old brown carpet, making the carpet look older and dirtier.

“I wonder how that happened,” Fiona said with a frown. “It’s not like he can’t afford to go overseas or something. I mean, Starport is pretty, but it’s not exactly at the top of anyone’s favorite destination list.”

“Okay, hear this,” Kerri said, dropping her ball to the ground and turning to look at Fiona in excitement. “Apparently, the senator’s just had a massive scandal. He’s up for re-election soon, which means that he needs to clean up his image before then. He and his wife usually head off to Europe or something, but the theme of his election campaign is supporting small businesses. So, he had his staff find a good ol’ American town. He’s going to do a whole photo op and everything.”

“He wants to prove that he’s a good, down-to-earth kind of guy,” Fiona said thoughtfully. “How did you find all this out?”

“You know my auntie who works at Frank’s diner? She heard a group of aides talking about it a month ago. Apparently, the senator’s wife is extremely unhappy about the whole thing.”

“I can only imagine. She must be one of those pampered high-society wives. If my annual trip to Europe was cut short in favor of coming to Starport, I’d divorce the man,” Fiona said, leaning forward on her elbows. Her words caused Kerri to chuckle. “Do you know what the scandal was?”

“Of course,” Kerri said, grinning widely. “His poor wife had to do the whole ‘Good Wife’ thing.”

“You’re kidding,” Fiona scoffed. “A sex scandal? How original.”

“It hasn’t been confirmed yet,” Kerri said, holding her hand up. “There are a couple of rumors that the senator was involved with…” Kerri lowered her voice and looked around suspiciously. “Angelica Lorin.”

Fiona’s eyes widened, obviously impressed. Angelica Lorin was the most famous actress in the world. She’d won two Oscars and had been voted the World’s Most Beautiful Woman on numerous occasions. She was a force to be reckoned with and she was only in her early thirties.

“That’s so gross,” Fiona said, her face scrunching up in disgust. “She’s way out of his league! She could do so much better.”

“You’re telling me,” Kerri said with an easy shrug. “I guess she saw something in him that no one else did. Love works in funny ways.”

“None of this has been confirmed, right?” Fiona said, raising an eyebrow. “So, we shouldn’t accept it as fact. I’m sure they’ve both suffered because of these rumors. And the senator’s poor wife! It must be awful living in the spotlight like that.”

“You know what they say, where there’s smoke, there’s fire. Those rumors wouldn’t spring up on their own. There must be a reason everyone’s suspicious.”

“Maybe someone made up a story and ran with it. You know how vicious the media is. Besides, we should be grateful the senator is coming here for a vacation. Well, except for the way it’s gone to Caroline’s head, but we should focus on the positive.”

“You’re such a good person,” Kerri said, patting Fiona’s head playfully.

“What’s going on here?”

Both Kerri and Fiona turned guiltily at the sound of their irate boss. Danny Cooper was a loser. There was no better way to describe him. He was a sluggish man in his late fifties with slicked-back hair and saggy features. He always wore sweatpants and a dirty white wife-beater that showed off his sweat stains and where he messed food on himself.

The Restport had been owned by his family for the better part of a century. His mother had devoted her life to the inn and made it one of Starport’s premier locations. Her influence helped shape the tourist industry in the town. When she died, she left it to her lazy son who promptly ran the inn to the ground. Now, the Restport was only a shadow of its former glory.

Danny’s beady eyes scanned the room, his gaze landing on the paper on the floor. He scowled at the women and shook his head.

“What do I pay you for?” he grunted, aiming his ire solely at Fiona. “Do I need to remind you that I’m doing you a favor by letting you work here? No one else wanted you. I took you in and took a chance on you. Is this how you thank me?”

Fiona looked away, her cheeks flaming with anger. It was clear that Caroline had gotten to Danny and given him the same speech she had given Fiona. Danny and Fiona had that in common, at least. Caroline was able to ruin both their days by reminding them how their mothers would feel if they could see their children now.

Kerri took a step forward and was about to start talking, but Fiona shook her head resolutely. Standing up for Fiona would only make Kerri’s life harder. Kerri needed this job more than Fiona. Kerri’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn’t say anything. It was clear that staying quiet was difficult, but they both knew it was for the best.

“Sorry, Danny, I’ll clean it up now.”

“You better,” Danny growled, “I won’t be patient much longer. And believe me, you’ve got nowhere else to go.”

Fiona struggled to keep herself from rolling her eyes. After glaring at her for a second longer, Danny let out a growl and stomped off. Kerri quietly helped Fiona clean up the mess. There wasn’t anything to say, so they went their separate ways.

When Fiona got into her car at the end of the day, she let out a heavy breath and closed her eyes. Some days were harder than others. Thankfully, this day was almost over. She turned to her passenger seat where her most precious possession was waiting for her. An old camera that she’d gotten as a gift for her high school graduation. It was battered and had seen better days, but it still represented the bright future she’d envisioned for herself.

That day, the sea was especially blue, and the air seemed to be crisper. Life had been difficult after her mother was diagnosed, but Fiona was able to escape to the beach for at least an hour every day. The ocean became her refuge, and she always found something worth photographing. This daily ritual of walking along the coast looking for the perfect shot had kept Fiona sane throughout the most traumatic times of her life.

Starport boasted a natural cove that allowed sailors in the past to dock their ships without much problem. During the American Revolution, French reinforcements were able to land without the British finding out. As a result, the town had rich cultural significance, which drew history buffs from all over the country. All that was left of that exciting time was a decrepit old lighthouse on one of the hills.

Fiona turned her back to the lighthouse and started walking in the opposite direction. She’d taken enough pictures of the lighthouse for one lifetime. As she walked, she spotted a fish eagle diving toward the water. She ran forward in anticipation, relishing her high position on the top of a dune when the sound of someone shouting drew her attention.

To her surprise, the guest she had checked in earlier was arguing with someone at the bottom of the dune. Fiona grimaced and turned to leave. It was none of her business. As she turned, she caught sight of the guest’s face and froze. The guest’s hoodie had fallen off, and her vibrant brown hair flowed down her back like caramel streaked chocolate.

Fiona lifted her camera automatically and snapped a quick picture as the guest shouted and waved her hands in the air emphatically. The man she was arguing with had his back to Fiona, so she was unable to get a clear view of him. Fiona watched as he tried to calm the guest down, his tone pleading and quiet. The guest took a step back from him, her face pale with fury.

Her eyes then flickered up the dune, and when she caught sight of Fiona, her eyes narrowed. Fiona gasped and ducked away, hiding her face with her hand. She allowed herself a second to catch her breath, then hurried back to her car, her heart beating painfully in her chest. When she looked back, she almost expected the couple to have followed her, but thankfully, she was alone.

When she got into her beat-up old car, she quickly looked at the picture she had taken. She bit her lip thoughtfully. If she sold the picture to a tabloid, she could probably get a good price for it. The picture was decent and showed its subjects clearly. The temptation nearly overpowered Fiona. She could really use the money. If she got her debt paid off, then maybe she could go to university and become a real photographer.

Fiona leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She allowed herself to dream what it would be like. No more Restport, no more Caroline, no more guilt. She’d be able to move on with her life. Fiona smiled softly.

When she opened her eyes, she took one last look at the face she had captured by accident. The last time she had seen that face, the guest had been onstage, accepting her second Oscar. Fiona could see why Angelica Lorin had been voted the World’s Most Beautiful Woman. Even when she was caught off guard, she was gorgeous.

Fiona shook her head to clear the dregs of her daydream, and resolutely deleted the picture.

Chapter Two

As soon as Fiona pulled up to the house, her heart sank. It was a simple structure with a pretty garden and a few trees in the yard. She’d received a few offers from realtors over the years, but Fiona wasn’t quite ready to let go of the family home just yet. No matter how depressing it was to come home to a mausoleum at the end of the day.

The pavement was cracked under her feet as she got out of her car, and she could spot paint peeling off the wall closest to the garage. It was only a matter of time before Caroline appeared to criticize how Fiona was treating the family home. Renovating the house was a mammoth task that would take more time and money than Fiona had at her disposal. Any time she considered starting the work, she became so overwhelmed that she lost her breath. Yes, her parents would be disappointed, but they would have to get in line because she was also disappointed by how things had turned out.

Fiona let out a heavy sigh and rubbed her eyes tiredly. Before she could take two steps, she was ambushed by two excited balls of fluff. Her dogs, Sammy and Doorknob, could always be counted on to cheer her up. They had been a gift from a friendly neighbor who was convinced that the twin puppies would help Fiona through her grief. The neighbor had been right, and the dogs soon became the center of Fiona’s universe.

“Hello, hello,” she gushed, getting to her knees and letting the dogs lick her face.

She rubbed their bellies and cooed at their antics. Doorknob had the habit of pawing at her to make sure that he had her attention before turning around in circles to try and catch his tail. If she didn’t give him immediate attention, then he would let out a plaintive whine. Sammy would always patiently wait by Fiona’s side while she dutifully watched Doorknob’s routine. Fiona would then share an amused look with Sammy, who somehow managed to look like she was slightly embarrassed by Doorknob’s neediness.

“Don’t worry, Sammy, all brothers are a little annoying,” Fiona said soothingly, scratching the back of Sammy’s head. Sammy tilted her head in disbelief, and Fiona had to chuckle.

After Doorknob had caught his tail, he triumphantly padded up to Fiona for praise and belly scratches. Only after Doorknob was satisfied was Fiona allowed to go into the house. The dogs followed quietly, knowing that they’d soon get a treat then dinner.

“You’ll never guess what happened to me today,” Fiona said, flicking on the light switch as she walked past. “I met a famous actress.”

Despite the house’s slightly dilapidated exterior, Fiona made sure that the interior was spotless. Her mother had always impressed the importance of cleanliness. As a result, the house was always sparkling. It gave Fiona a sense of pride to walk into her home and know that it was clean. Her weekends mostly consisted of her blasting music through the speakers in the living room and cleaning every inch of the house. It helped her feel as though she had a measure of control over her life.

“Well, I didn’t really meet her,” Fiona corrected herself as she opened the dogs’ food. “She checked in, and I didn’t know who she was at the time. But it still counts! I totally met Angelica Lorin today. I wonder what she’s doing here.”

As soon as the dogs’ food was in their bowl, they attacked it with vigor, their tails wagging furiously.

“I hope I get to meet her for real,” Fiona said thoughtfully. “I enjoyed her last movie, and I think it would be cool to meet such a massive star in person. Bragging rights, you know?”

Sammy looked up at Fiona, her expression almost pitying before plunging her face back into the bowl. Doorknob was already nearly finished with his food and was pushing his bowl around the kitchen with his nose.

Fiona’s shoulders slumped as she watched the dogs finish their food. Suddenly, the empty house seemed oppressive. It was too quiet, and the absence of company made her feel incredibly empty. She looked up and caught sight of a family photograph on the fridge. It was a picture of when she and her parents had gone to Hawaii on holiday. A teenage Fiona was smiling adoringly up at her mother while her father played with her hair.

Her heart cracked a little and she quickly averted her eyes. There had been a time when the house was filled with conversation and laughter. Fiona’s mother had been a chatterbox who could’ve convinced a rock to answer her, while her father enjoyed playing music and dancing around. Sometimes when Fiona least expected it, her father would drag her into a clumsy waltz that ended with the two jumping up and down while flapping their arms. Fiona pretended to be embarrassed by it, but the truth was that she lived for those moments. Her childhood had been a happy one, but the absence of her family meant those memories only caused her pain now.

“I can’t do this,” Fiona decided. She patted the dogs on the head, then quickly picked up her jacket and left the house. There was only one place to go on a night when the silence became deafening.

O’Reilly’s was a refuge for all the citizens of Starport. It was the local watering hole where people came to hide from visitors during tourist season. The owner, Bill Reagan, didn’t have an Irish bone in his body, but after a visit to Ireland almost three decades earlier, he had decided to open O’Reilly’s. According to him, he was honoring an obscure relative. According to his wife, Bill spent most of his time in Ireland in a bar called O’Reilly’s while she went shopping and sightseeing. Whatever the truth was, Fiona was glad he had opened the bar.

There were only a few cars in the parking lot when Fiona pulled up in her car. The sound of laughter and lively conversation spilled out of the entrance, causing Fiona to smile softly. Her skin prickled as she walked up to the door, alerting her to the fact that someone was watching her. Fiona looked up, and to her surprise, a hooded figure was looking at her intently from one of the tables stationed outside. Her steps slowed, as she surveyed the figure.

“Hey, Fiona,” a lilting voice said. The woman lowered her hood, and Fiona was floored to see that it was none other than Angelica Lorin.

“Hi…Uhm,” Fiona swallowed quickly and shook her head. She looked around as if to confirm that Angelica was in fact talking to her. “How do you know my name?”

“You had a name tag on when I checked in earlier,” Angelica said, sounding amused. She patted the table in front of her, gesturing for Fiona to come closer. “I was wondering if you could go in and get me a drink? If I go in there, someone might recognize me.”

Fiona opened her mouth to ask a question, then closed it again. She still wasn’t sure if this was really happening, so she dutifully went inside to order a drink. It was only once she was in the bar that she realized that she hadn’t asked what Angelica wanted to drink.

“Hey, Fee,” Bill called out. “What can I do for you today?”

“I guess I’ll have a beer,” Fiona said slowly. “Hey, Bill, what’s your most expensive drink?”

“Most expensive…” Bill said, narrowing his eyes. “I guess that would be that bottle of wine Noreen bought in the city a few months ago. I don’t know why she thought it would be a good idea, but that’s Noreen for ya.”

“Great,” Fiona said, shrugging slightly. Wine seemed like a safe option. “Could I get a glass?”

“If I open the bottle for just one glass, then the rest is gonna go off while I wait for someone else to buy the thing.”

“Someone else will buy wine, Bill,” Fiona said exasperatedly.

“Yeah, that’s what my wife said, but look where we are.”

“Fine.” Fiona held up her hands in surrender. “I’ll buy the whole bottle. Are you happy?”

“One bottle of wine and one beer, coming right up,” Bill said, shooting finger guns in her direction.

Fiona leaned against the bar and pondered her current situation. It was surreal. Was she really buying a drink for one of the world’s most beloved celebrities? Maybe it wasn’t Angelica, it could’ve been a lookalike. Fiona peeked out the window and saw Angelica had put her hood back on. Every time someone walked past, Angelica would discreetly turn her face away.

“What’s the occasion?” Bill asked, putting the drinks on the table. “Are you on a date?” He stood on his tiptoes to look out the window too but frowned when he saw Angelica’s hooded silhouette. “Who’s that guy?”

“It’s a woman, and she’s a guest at the inn,” Fiona muttered, grabbing the drinks and turning away.

“Why would you bring a tourist here?” Bill called as she walked away, causing her to wince.

“Be cool, Bill,” Fiona hissed at him, before walking out the door.

Angelica looked up expectantly as Fiona approached. Fiona was going to leave the wine on the table and walk away, but Angelica motioned for her to sit down. She reached for the beer, leaving Fiona to shyly take a sip of the strong red wine. The taste exploded on her tongue, and she struggled not to gag.

“So, what’s a girl like you doing in a town like this?” Angelica asked in amusement.

“I could ask you the same thing,” Fiona said, trying not to show how disgusted she was by the wine.

There was something magnetic about Angelica. Some part of Fiona wanted to be liked by this exotic creature. Angelica laughed, a clear bell-like sound that made Fiona smile in response. The movie star leaned forward and rested her chin on her hand, her eyes sparkling as she studied Fiona.

“How did you know about this place?” Fiona asked, fidgeting under the table. “It’s not exactly on the map.”

“I heard this is where locals meet up,” Angelica said easily. “I thought it would be safer to come here. You know, it’s hard to go anywhere when people recognize you. The last thing I need is the tabloids finding out where I am.”

“That sounds rough,” Fiona said, nodding slowly as if being hounded by paparazzi was a common problem. “But, I meant, what are you doing here in Starport? Shouldn’t you be off in the Bahamas or something? I heard Bora Bora is nice this time of year.”

“It’s a long story,” Angelica said, smiling widely and showing off her perfect white teeth. “Let’s just say, I’m looking for something that’s very important to me.”

Fiona leaned back on her bench and took another sip of her drink. She remembered her earlier conversation with Kerri about Senator Moore, and suddenly the pieces fell into place. For some reason, she felt vaguely disappointed that the rumors turned out to be true. It seemed impossible that such a sweet person would be so determined to destroy someone’s marriage.

“I still think Bora Bora would’ve been a better option,” Fiona joked, setting the wine glass back down.

“There’s still plenty of time to go on holiday,” Angelica said, lifting her shoulders delicately. “This is more of a business trip. When I’m done here, I’ll take your suggestion. Amara loves the beach.”

“Amara,” Fiona said slowly. “That’s your daughter, isn’t it?”

Angelica smiled and nodded slowly. She played with the beer bottle for a moment before looking up with a pained expression.

“No matter how long it’s been, I never get used to people knowing more about me than I do about them. Every relationship I have is so lopsided because there’s never a good balance. How can I trust anyone when they know everything about my life, and I didn’t choose to tell them anything?”

Fiona looked down, feeling embarrassed. Her cheeks burned and she wished that she had kept her mouth shut.

“Sorry,” Angelica said, grimacing. “I didn’t mean to attack you. I was just commenting on something.”

“There isn’t really anything I can say that would make the situation better,” Fiona admitted, still not able to meet Angelica’s eye. “Although, living in a small town has given me a little experience with what you’re talking about. I can’t do anything without someone immediately knowing my business.”

“I guess we have that in common,” Angelica said with a secretive smile, taking another swig from her beer.

Fiona frowned. Their situations were vastly different. In no way, shape, or form, was it possible that Fiona could relate to what Angelica was going through. She was about to point that out when she clamped her mouth shut. It seemed to make Angelica happy that they might be able to relate to one another. Maybe it was better to let it go for now.

“Do you have any kids?” Angelica asked, leaning forward on the table.

“No,” Fiona shook her head emphatically. “Well, kind of. I have two dogs. Doorknob and Sammy.”

“Doorknob?” Angelica asked, stifling a smile.

“Yeah,” Fiona said with a chuckle. “When he was a puppy, he found this doorknob. I don’t know where, so don’t ask. He used to take that thing with him everywhere. It was his favorite toy. Whenever I saw him, he always had this doorknob in his mouth, and I guess the name just made sense. The poor dog is stuck with it now, but it doesn’t seem right to change it. I think my parents would’ve gotten a kick out of it.”

Fiona nearly cursed as the last sentence left her mouth. She hadn’t meant to bring up her parents. Angelica tilted her head curiously.

“What do you mean they would’ve gotten a kick out of it?” Angelica asked in concern.

“They’re dead,” Fiona said as casually as possible, then braced herself.

This was usually the point in the conversation where the other person felt awkward and ran out of things to say. Either that or they overcompensated with sympathy.

“Sorry to hear about that,” Angelica said, reaching out and patting Fiona’s hand. “Family is very important. I never thought much about it, but after I had Amara, I realized how much I was missing out on.”

“Kids have a way of changing your perspective,” Fiona said sagely. “I mean, that’s what I’ve heard.”

“Definitely,” Angelica said emphatically. “I’m going to give her everything I never had. I want her to have a big, happy family. You know, lots of cousins and siblings. She’s not going to grow up on her own.”

“That’s good,” Fiona said, not really knowing how to respond.

“What about you?” Angelica asked, staring intensely at Fiona. “Do you have any siblings?”

“No,” Fiona said, playing with a loose thread on her shirt sleeve. “My parents couldn’t have kids, so they adopted me. I asked for a sibling a few times, but they couldn’t really afford it. They said one kid was enough.”

“Did you ever want a big family?” Angelica pressed.

“I guess so,” Fiona shrugged uncomfortably. “Around holidays, I was always a little jealous of the other kids. I haven’t really thought about it lately, though.”

Fiona wasn’t a good liar, but she didn’t see the point in telling Angelica the truth. There was a time when Fiona asked her parents every day if they could get her a sister. She had been a terribly lonely child, and she would’ve given anything for someone to share the burden of what she’d been through. There wasn’t any point in saying something like that out loud.

“So, you’re adopted?” Angelica said, tapping on the table. “What was that like?”

“I don’t know?” Fiona said, scrunching her face in confusion. “They adopted me when I was a baby, so I never really knew anything else. They were good parents.”

“When did you find out?” Angelica asked.

“Now I know how you feel when you’re getting interviewed,” Fiona joked, forcing herself to smile. The memories of the day she found out about the adoption made her stomach drop. It was the last thing she wanted to talk about. She’d pushed that memory so far back in her mind that she barely thought about it anymore.

“Sorry,” Angelica said, blushing and leaning back. “Sometimes I forget how to have a normal conversation. This has been so refreshing that I kind of forgot my manners. If you don’t want to answer that, you don’t have to.”

“Thanks,” Fiona said, allowing herself to relax slightly.

“Tell you what, when I get back from the bathroom, I’ll be as normal as possible,” Angelica said, getting up and smiling down at Fiona.

Fiona sat back and watched as Angelica walked away. She had no frame of reference when it came to talking to celebrities, so she had no idea if this was normal. Her gut told her that it wasn’t.

“Fiona!” A friendly voice called out.

Fiona turned and spotted her friend Brett walking up to her table. She winced, but quickly greeted him. Brett was notoriously clumsy and always managed to leave a mess wherever he went. As he approached the table, he tripped and caught his balance on the table. Unfortunately, he knocked Angelica’s handbag to the ground in the process.

“Oh, Brett,” Fiona sighed as she got up and spotted Angelica’s things lying all over the floor.

“I’m sorry,” Brett said sheepishly. “I didn’t mean to…”

“Don’t worry about it,” Fiona said kindly, “I’ll clean this up and meet you inside.”

Fiona looked toward the bathroom, hoping that Angelica wouldn’t pick that moment to walk out. Along with being the clumsiest person Fiona knew, he also had one of the biggest mouths. If Angelica wanted to keep her presence a secret, then she needed to avoid Brett at all costs.

“Cool.” Brett grinned at her, and to Fiona’s relief, he immediately headed inside.

The contents of Angelica’s purse were covered in dust, and Fiona had to carefully wipe each item down as she picked it up. When her hand closed around a Taser, Fiona was so lost in thought that she nearly didn’t notice what she’d picked up. Her eyes widened, and she quickly dropped the item into the bag as if it was going to go off at any minute.

She quickly put the handbag back on the bench and went back to her seat. Her mind went back to that afternoon when she saw Angelica arguing with a man on the beach. Was Angelica looking for something? Or was she hiding?

---

“Casting a Murderer” is an Amazon Best-Selling novel, check it out here!

Fiona Davis is an amateur photographer and aspiring photojournalist who works part time at a rundown inn. She has spent most of her life in the small town of Starport, and while she may have had big dreams once, she has long since accepted her life as it is. Boring. Little did she know that this is about to drastically change forever… As the summer tourism season starts, Fiona prepares herself for another cycle of entitled guests and endless work hours. However, things take a strange turn, when a mysterious guest checks in and takes an interest in her. Before Fiona can figure out her true intentions, she finds the woman murdered on the beach. As if this wasn’t enough to make things complicated, the victim also turns out to be none other than the world famous actress, Angelica Lorin…

Within a couple of hours, reporters descend on the inn looking for a scoop. The local police force is overwhelmed by the case and asks for the help of a neighboring department. The fact that Fiona found the body, coupled with Angelica’s unexplained fascination with her, lead the police to take a special interest in her. Among those sent to help with the investigation is a jaded detective from the city, who is determined to solve the case no matter where the evidence may point to. Suddenly facing the necessity of proving her innocence, Fiona will now have to carry out her own search for the truth…

As more facts come to light about Angelica’s troubled past, complicated life and fraught relationships, Fiona finds herself stumbling upon information that hits startlingly close to home. Finding answers to questions she had long ago given up on asking will shock her to her very core. Motivated to uncover the murderer like never before, can Fiona prove that she had nothing to do with Angelica’s death? Or will the mounting evidence against her lead the police to arrest her before she can expose the real killer?

“Casting a Murderer” is an intriguing cozy mystery novel of approximately 60,000 words. No cliffhangers, just pure captivating mystery.

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