The Mystery of the Pink Aura Read online

  I also thought it would be a lot easier if there was something that both Jaxson and I could do together. I’m sure if I discussed it with him, he could come up with something. “I’ll figure it out. The key here is that I would need to cut down on my hours waitressing when needed.”

  “Of course. I always knew this waitressing job wasn’t a career for you.”

  I thought it was, despite knowing deep in my heart that I had more potential. “Thank you for understanding.”

  “Of course, dear. I want what is best for you—and Iggy, of course. What did your parents say? I bet they were excited.”

  Since they always wanted me to have a career, I’m sure they would be. “I haven’t mentioned it yet, but I will. I need time to think.”

  “No rush.”

  After we finished talking about my problems, I wanted to find out about Aunt Fern’s upcoming hot date. “Have you seen Bob lately?”

  “No, he called yesterday, but he said he was busy at work.”

  “Two more days until the big event!”

  “Don’t hold your breath. I’m having second thoughts. He’s no Harold.”

  My heart ached for her. “I know, but he doesn’t have to be. Think of him as a new adventure. Go out with him and have a good time. If it doesn’t work out, all you’ve gained is—”

  “A few pounds?” Aunt Fern laughed. “Yes, that is good advice. If I recall, I’ve given it to you a few times.”

  I smiled. “So you have.”

  She stood. “I need to get back downstairs. Good luck with your decision.”

  “Thanks.”

  When she left, I sank back against the sofa, needing to figure out the next step in my life. Even though Iggy tried to convince me to be an amateur sleuth, all I saw were hurdles.

  What if I failed? What if no one ever asked for my help again?

  Going for a walk might help clear my head. As I stood, someone knocked on my door. The strength of it implied a man. Only a dreamer would think it was Steve Rocker coming to ask me to help solve a case he couldn’t.

  The knock sounded again. “Glinda? It’s Jaxson.”

  I blew out a breath. He was here to convince me to do this crazy adventure. “Coming.”

  When I opened the door, he rushed in carrying a laptop. “I know what will convince you to join forces with me.”

  This I had to see. “What is it?”

  He turned around and grinned. “I made a spreadsheet with all of the pros and cons.”

  At that moment, I knew we’d be perfect partners.

  Glinda’s special Cranberry Sauce

  [kind of looks like Cranberry Jelly]

  Prep Time: 15 minutes.

  Makes: about 1 1/2 cups

  Ingredients

  1 1/2 cup dried cranberries

  3/4 cup cranberry juice

  1/3 c. sugar

  1/4 tsp salt

  For the roux

  2 TBL Cornstarch

  4 TBL water to mix into the cornstarch to make the roux

  Directions

  1. Add all ingredients (except for the cornstarch and water) to a pot. Bring to a boil.

  2. Reduce heat to a simmer until cranberries plump up. (Maybe 10 minutes). Add the cornstarch slurry slowly while stirring until it thickens.

  3. Let it cool a bit and then place in a blender. Blend for 60 seconds.

  4. Put in a small container and place a piece of parchment paper onto top to keep the skin from forming.

  5. Put into refrigerator until ready to scoop it out!!

  Glinda’s special Yam Casserole

  Makes six servings

  Ingredients

  A 29 oz can of Yams in heavy syrup

  A 1-8 oz can of Pineapple-preferable crushed, but chunks are okay if you are willing to dice them.

  One small box of raisins

  1/6 cup Sugar

  1/4 cup Butter

  1/4 cup Brown sugar

  1/2 cup of small Marshmallows

  Directions

  1. Cut up the pineapple into small pieces with the knife

  2. Put the butter in the pot and start melting on the stove

  3. Open the can of sweet potatoes and strain away the juice #

  4. Empty the sweet potatoes into the mixing bowl

  5. Mash up the sweet potatoes with a fork

  6. Pour the melted butter into the sweet potatoes and fold in with the fork

  7. Add the sugar and brown sugar and fold in with the fork

  8. Add the raisins and pineapple and mix with the mixer

  9. Put it in the baking dish

  10. Bake for 35 minutes at 350°

  11. Put marshmallows on top just before serving

  Enjoy!!

  I hope you enjoyed seeing more of the townsfolk of Witch’s Cove, and experiencing the life of her familiar, Iggy. Opening her own Pink Iguana Sleuth company with Jaxson Harrison brings a whole new dimension to her life.

  Check out Sleuthing In The Pink (book 4 of A Witch’s Cove Mystery.) Buy on Amazon or read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited

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  Here is a chapter one of Sleuthing In The Pink.

  “What do you think?” I held up the new wooden sign that my new partner in crime, Jaxson Harrison, promised he’d mount outside our new office tomorrow.

  Penny Carsted, one of my best friends and fellow coworkers, raised her glass of wine in a toast. “It’s amazing. To Glinda Goodall and The Pink Iguana Sleuths!”

  I leaned the wooden plague against my sofa, grabbed my glass, and touched my drink to hers. “To the Pink Iguana Sleuths.” I inhaled the joy, only to let reality seep in. I sighed.

  “Is something wrong?” Penny asked.

  Darn. I hadn’t wanted to share my insecurities with her tonight, because she seemed so happy, but what were friends for?

  “What if I’m making a mistake by starting my own firm—and with Jaxson, no less?” I slipped next to her on the sofa. “I mean, I’ll be cutting down my hours significantly at the Tiki Hut. Not only will I miss talking and sharing things with you, the loss of income will put a serious dent in my savings.”

  “Since when have you ever worried about that kind of thing?” Penny asked.

  “All the time?”

  Penny took another sip of her wine. “That’s nonsense. Staring your own firm is what the universe has always had in store for you. You’re organized, focused, and determined to help others. Besides a few loss tips, it won’t cost you much. Didn’t you say that Drake isn’t charging you any rent for the office space?”

  Drake was my best male friend who owned the two-story Howl at the Moon Wine and Cheese Emporium two buildings over from my second-floor apartment above the Tiki Hut Grill—make that my rent free apartment. I did have the best aunt in the world. He also was Jaxson’s younger brother.

  “Yes. I know it’s perfect. Drake was using the second floor of his building as a storage room, but being the doll that he is, he straightened it up for me—more or less.” I don’t know why I was worried. “The best part is that our new office has an outside staircase, a small bathroom, and even a tiny kitchen—one that currently is stacked with empty wine boxes.” As I said, the place was more or less cleaned up. “I’m pretty sure he would have charged me if his brother wasn’t part of the deal.”

  Penny lifted a shoulder. “That could be, but since Drake wants his brother to be happy, he’ll to do whatever it takes to make it happen. Besides, I think this new adventure will help both of you.” She reached out and squeezed my hand.

  “You’re right.”

  Jaxson Harrison had come to town a few months ago after staying away from Witch’s Cove for eleven years. Why that long? His hometown had accused him of a crime he hadn’t committed. As a result, he’d served three years in jail for robbery. Thankfully, he was able to move forward wit
h his life—kind of—by going back to school. Not only did he study some law, he earned a degree in computer science.

  When he returned to test the waters, Witch’s Cove was anything but friendly, thanks to the crooked sheriff and his deputy son. When the truth came out about out Jaxson’s innocence—partially because of yours truly—his record was expunged. Ever since then Jaxson’s outlook on life had improved greatly.

  “I know I’m right,” Penny said. “Now drink up.”

  I wanted to believe her worse than anything. “Jaxson told me that he was feeling a bit restless working in Drake’s back room, but I hope he isn’t just joining forces with me because I helped clear his name.”

  “Nonsense. I haven’t spoken to him recently, but from what you’ve told me, he seems to like working on cases.”

  If anyone had told me a few months ago that I’d be partnering with Jaxson Harrison, I would have laughed in their faces. Not only hadn’t he been my type when I was fifteen, Jaxson was even less my type when he returned home. He was angry. So angry.

  After everyone learned that the sheriff had lied about Jaxson being the guilty party in the liquor store theft, his personality had totally transformed. It improved even more last week when the courts deemed Sheriff William Duncan—or rather Duncan Donut—guilty of lying on the stand. He received three years in jail, followed by three years probation, and a three thousand dollar fine. It wouldn’t give Jaxson his time back, but it did help his mental state.

  “I hope so, but the truth is, I worry about going into business with him,” I said.

  “I don’t see why?” Penny finished off her glass of wine. “Jaxson seems great. And he treats you well.”

  “He does. For now. But what if he becomes too controlling? Being protective is one thing, but if he insists we do things his way, it might be a problem.”

  If we ended up fighting all the time, it could be a deal breaker, which was why I promised myself to avoid arguing at all costs.

  “He won’t do that. He knows you’re the witch.”

  “A witch with few powers. Every spell I’ve done of late seems to mess up things even more.”

  Penny set down her glass and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Stop obsessing.”

  “Obsession is my middle name.”

  She laughed. “That is what will make you a successful professional sleuth.”

  “You think?”

  She smiled. “I know so.”

  “Thanks.” It helped having the support. My aunt was on board with this new adventure, but my parents? Not so much. They’d been hounding me forever to find a real job that would use my math degree, but being a sleuth was too dangerous in their minds. Oh, well. I couldn’t please everyone. It was what I wanted, so it was what I was going to do.

  Penny sat back up and refilled her glass with the bottle I’d left on the coffee table. When the two of us got going, we could plow through one in no time.

  “I really love the name of your new company—and the pink signage.”

  Penny was clearly trying to change to subject to cheer me up, and I appreciated that. I chuckled. “Well, that is the only color I wear.”

  “And I’m pink,” Iggy said, lifting his chest. He’d been sitting quietly—a rarity—on the edge of the coffee table for a while.

  Iggy was my pink iguana familiar—make that my talking pink iguana. Anyone who hasn’t been around Witch’s Cove for long, might not know that when I was twelve, I went into the Hendrian Forest and conjured him up by doing a spell. Sure, I was hoping for a black cat—what twelve-year-old girl wouldn’t wish for one—but I got Iggy instead. He claims he was born green, but when I came along, my obsession with wearing pink must have changed his color. Trust me, he hasn’t let me forget it in the last fourteen years.

  I will have to say that of late, he hasn’t been complaining about it as much. It might be because I recently tried to do a spell to return him to his natural green state, but the spell went wrong—really wrong.

  I inhaled to push aside my rather maudlin musings and smiled. I wanted Iggy to know how much I loved him. “Yes, everyone will flock to our company to ask for our help regarding their investigative needs, because I have the best pink iguana detective in Witch’s Cove.”

  “I’m the only pink iguana in Witch’s Cove or in all of Florida for that matter.”

  “True.”

  Poor Iggy. Ever since his new girlfriend refused to give him the time of day, he’d been a bit depressed. Then again, Aimee was a cat, so it was understandable.

  “Is Jaxson okay with the firm’s name?” Penny asked. “I thought he wanted Goodall and Harrison.”

  “He did at first, but the name wasn’t exactly catchy. After we discussed it—and Iggy chimed in—Jaxson agreed with the new name mostly because he conceded that the firm is mine, and that he is still merely the muscle.”

  “I love it,” Penny said. “And he is all muscle. I have to say, it takes a secure man to work at a company with that name.”

  “Jaxson is very sure of himself.”

  “Do you know what I think about the sign?” Iggy asked moving forward a bit, careful not to knock over the almost empty wine bottle.

  I knew what he was going to say. “The best part is the pink iguana wearing the Sherlock Holmes’ hat?” That and the name.

  “Yup. And the magnifying glass implies I’m really smart.”

  I laughed. “You are smart, magnifying glass or not, but I thought it was a nice touch too. Putting your image on the sign was actually Jaxson’s idea.”

  Having Jaxson Harrison as a partner—at least part time—was what convinced me to get into the amateur sleuth business in the first place. Would anyone actually pay us for our help? Only time would tell.

  One thing for sure, if pursuing someone required me to carry a weapon, I’d have to turn the information over to Sheriff Rocker and let him handle it.

  Our lawman was already aware that Iggy and I could communicate with one another, as well as the fact I was a witch with some abilities. It had taken work to convince him that the occult was real, but now that he was a believer, it would make providing my sources much easier. I no longer had to worry that he’d dismiss me, because I was some crazy waitress turned sleuth.

  Buy SLEUTHING IN THE PINK on Amazon or read for FREE on Kindle Unlimited

  A WITCH’S COVE MYSTERY (Paranormal Cozy Mystery)

  PINK Is The New Black (book 1)

  A PINK Potion Gone Wrong (book 2)

  The Mystery of the PINK Aura (book 3)

  Sleuthing In The PINK (book 4)

  HIDDEN REALMS OF SILVER LAKE (Paranormal Romance)

  Awakened By Flames (book 1)

  Seduced By Flames (book 2)

  Kissed By Flames (book 3)

  Destiny In Flames (book 4)

  Box Set (books 1-4)

  Passionate Flames (book 5)

  Ignited By Flames (book 6)

  Touched By Flames (book 7)

  Box Set (books 5-7)

  Bound By Flames (book 8)

  Fueled By Flames (book 9)

  Scorched By Flames (book 10)

  FOUR SISTERS OF FATE: HIDDEN REALMS OF SILVER LAKE (Paranormal Romance)

  Poppy (book 1)

  Primrose (book 2)

  Acacia (book 3)

  Magnolia (book 4)

  Box Set (books 1-4)

  Jace (book 5)

  Tanner (book 6)

  WERES AND WITCHES OF SILVER LAKE (Paranormal Romance)

  A Magical Shift (book 1)

  Catching Her Bear (book 2)

  Surge of Magic (book 3)

  The Bear’s Forbidden Wolf (book 4)

  Her Reluctant Bear (book 5)

  Freeing His Tiger (book 6)

  Protecting His Wolf (book 7)

  Waking His Bear (book 8)

  Melting Her Wolf’s Heart (book 9)

  Her Wolf’s Guarded Heart (book 10)

  His Rogue Bear (book 11)

  Box Set (books 1-4)


  Box Set (books 5-8)

  Reawakening Their Bears (book 12)

  PACK WARS (Paranormal Romance)

  Training Their Mate (book 1)

  Claiming Their Mate (book 2)

  Rescuing Their Virgin Mate (book 3)

  Box Set (books 1-3)

  Loving Their Vixen Mate (book 4)

  Fighting For Their Mate (book 5)

  Enticing Their Mate (book 6)

  Box Set (books 1-4)

  Complete Box Set (books 1-6)

  HIDDEN HILLS SHIFTERS (Paranormal Romance)

  An Unexpected Diversion (book 1)

  Bare Instincts (book 2)

  Shifting Destinies (book 3)

  Embracing Fate (book 4)

  Promises Unbroken (book 5)

  Bare ’N Dirty (book 6)

  Hidden Hills Shifters Complete Box Set (books 1-6)

  MONTANA PROMISES (Full length contemporary Romance)

  Promises of Mercy (book 1)

  Foundations For Three (book 2)

  Montana Fire (book 3)

  Montana Promises Box Set (books 1-3)

  Hart To Hart (Book 4)

  Burning Seduction (Book 5)

  Montana Promises Complete Box Set (books 1-5)

  ROCK HARD, MONTANA (contemporary romance novellas)

  Montana Desire (book 1)

  Awakening Passions (book 2)

  PLEDGED TO PROTECT (contemporary romantic suspense)

  From Panic To Passion (book 1)

  From Danger To Desire (book 2)

  From Terror To Temptation (book 3)

  Pledged To Protect Box Set (books 1-3)

  BURIED SERIES (contemporary romantic suspense)

  Buried Alive (book 1)

  Buried Secrets (book 2)

  Buried Deep (book 3)

  The Buried Series Complete Box Set (books 1-3)

  A NASH MYSTERY (Contemporary Romance)

  Sidearms and Silk(book 1)

  Black Ops and Lingerie(book 2)

  A Nash Mystery Box Set (books 1-2)

  STARTER SETS (Romance)

  Contemporary

  Paranormal

  Author Bio

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