The timer went off just as the simple syrup on the stove began to boil. Singing along softly to the staticky radio, Olivia went over and flipped off the stove burner. Then she opened the oven and pulled out the cinnamon buns. There was no reason to make anything, no special occasion. But Mia was […]

Cleo took a breath, then hit Call. She held the phone up to her ear, then waited as it rang. Andrew rarely had great service at Olivia’s house, but if he was at work right now, maybe he’d answer. Or maybe he’d see it was Cleo and decide not to bother. There was a click, […]

“So, good news and bad news.” Hugh raised his eyebrows. “That kind of meeting?” Olivia was just coming out of a two-hour one-on-one meeting with Bret. Normally he spent as little time at Keegan’s as possible, but she got the suspicion that he was trying to wrap things up as much as possible here so […]

With everything going on, Iris woke up a few mornings later and realized she was just about due to renew her business license in New Winslow. As much as she hated the idea of being around Town Hall right now, knowing what she knew, she couldn’t afford to draw attention to herself by having an […]

“Hey.” Hugh stopped in the doorway of Keegan’s back room and looked over at Olivia. The smile that he flashed made her knees weak, and she was tempted to just follow him wherever he was headed. But that was the problem. “Listen,” she started. His smile faded. “I think I know where this is going.” […]

Alicia Perez wasn’t at the desk when Iris walked into the New Winslow Public Library the next morning. With a silent sigh of relief, Iris ducked past the desk and went straight over to the local history alcove. She could see Ruby, the elderly volunteer, shelving books at the far end of the room. And […]

Another evening, another research session at The Countess. The late October air was beyond crisp and into cold as Iris arrived. She’d been seeing snow in her dreams the past few nights and now, looking up at the clouds hanging heavy in the sky above her, it seemed like the visions might be more significant […]

“So.” Iris wasn’t quite sure what she intended to follow that greeting with, but the woman from the other day didn’t seem to mind as she turned slowly in Iris’s direction. “Oh, hi,” she said, her voice warm and cheery. “Hi,” Iris replied quickly. “So you said you’ve talked to Evelyn Harbinger?” The woman shrugged. […]

Celine wasn’t expecting him home for a while and he wasn’t in the mood to carry on with their fight, so Roman just wandered through downtown New Winslow for a little while. He walked through the old cemetery, weaving through the graves. This was one of those cemeteries that seemed to be as old as […]

“Hey.” Roman looked up as Celine walked out the back door. “Oh, hey.” “I made onion dip. Want some?” “I’m good.” “Gonna grill burgers later when Jamie gets home from hockey.” “Thanks.” Celine sat down beside him on the steps. “Doesn’t take a psychic to know what’s wrong,” she said. He laughed, a short huff […]