Murder in Evergreen Read online

  Murder in Evergreen

  A Molly Ryan Mystery

  Jane O’Brien

  This book is fiction. All characters, events, and organizations portrayed in this novel are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons –living or dead—is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright 2017 by Jane O’Brien

  All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.

  Visit my website at booksbyjaneobrien.com

  ISBN: 978-1544764

  Books by Jane O’Brien

  Bristol Falls

  Glenwood Hills

  Cumberland Heights

  Murder in Forest Glen

  The Mystery at Shelby Lake

  The Mystery of Waverly Island

  Murder in Pinewood Bluff

  Camden Corners Collection

  Camden Corners Book One

  Camden Corners Book Two

  Camden Corners Book Three

  Samantha Degan Series

  Murder in Stonehill Manor

  Murder in Lancashire

  Murder in Ashville

  Murder at Seabrook Shores

  Molly Ryan Series

  Murder in Hillsboro

  Murder in Kincaid Towers

  Murder in Evergreen

  Murder at Coventry Hill Inn

  (Introducing Cassandra Cross)

  Cassandra Cross Series

  Murder on The Isabella

  Murder at Channel Two

  Murder in Newcastle

  Murder at Cranberry Creek

  Rebecca Snow Series

  Murder in Oakwood Park

  Murder on Bradbury Hill

  Murder on Applewood Circle

  Finian Frog Children’s Series

  Fabulous Finian Frog

  Finian Frog Falls in Love

  Finian Frog and Farley’s Wishes

  Finian Frog and Froglet Freddy

  Hennessey Hound Tales Children’s Series

  Happy Hennessey Hound

  Hennessey Hound and the Bully

  Molly Ryan Sullivan: Florist and amateur sleuth. Owner of Buds and Blooms Emporium, a floral shop in Kincaid Towers. Thanks to the success of Buds and Blooms, Molly has opened a second location in the Village of Evergreen, a suburb designed and constructed by Kincaid Enterprises.

  Luke Sullivan: Bestselling author and husband of Molly Ryan Sullivan.

  Stephanie Anderson Sloan: Twin sister of Molly Ryan, married to Doctor Adam Sloan.

  Brooke Hartley Kincaid: Good friend to Molly. Married to billionaire, Travis Kincaid.

  Travis Kincaid: Billionaire son of Francis Kincaid who finds money can’t buy happiness.

  Elizabeth Welch Carpenter: Friend and

  employee of Buds and Blooms Emporium

  Brad Carpenter: Husband of Elizabeth.

  Joanna (Joanie) Garretson: Student and part-time employee of Buds and Blooms.

  Prologue

  One year ago:

  “Brooke, I’m so happy we will be neighbors again. I still want to tap on the door of your old apartment but the nerdy guy living there won’t be as much fun as you.”

  “I can see us now, Molly, sipping our chardonnay and watching the waves splash against the shore. It won’t be long before our houses are built and ready to move in. I told Travis I wanted a covered walkway between our places so we wouldn’t get wet when it rains. He thought I was kidding,”

  Molly Ryan Sullivan and Brooke Hartley Kincaid have been best friends since the day Molly moved to Hillsboro. Although in her twenties, Molly lived with her adoptive parents in the small town of Newberry. Molly is a florist and was given the opportunity to manage the Buds and Blooms Floral Emporium in the City of Hillsboro. Brooke, who lived across the hall came tapping on Molly’s door with a bottle of chardonnay and two glasses. Molly’s homesickness all but disappeared and their friendship was born.

  Coincidence led Molly to Stephanie Anderson Sloan, her twin sister, who, like Molly, had been abandoned as a baby.

  Eventually, Molly became the owner of Buds and Blooms on the first floor of the impressive Kincaid Towers building. Molly recently rented space in the village of Evergreen and opened a second shop.

  *****

  “Molly, will Luke make it back to town for your first wedding anniversary?”

  “He hopes to wrap up his book tour before then. It seems an eternity since he was home. I know the tour is great for publicity but I miss him. Not that I’ve had much spare time. Elizabeth will be on maternity leave next week and Stephanie won’t be far behind,” said Molly.

  Elizabeth Carpenter is another friend Molly met through Brooke. Elizabeth became Molly’s right hand at the shop and found she had a knack for floral arranging. Stephanie works at the shop along

  with Joanie, a college student who worked for Molly when she was in high school.

  *****

  “I can help you out, Molly. I’m better at arranging artificial flowers but I’m sure I can handle the live ones too.”

  “I’m sure you can, Brooke. I wouldn’t dream of taking you away from Lucy, she needs her mommy.”

  “I would not say anything, but you know I can’t keep a secret, Lucy will have a playmate in a few months,” Brooke grinned.

  “Brooke, that’s wonderful, I’m happy for you and Travis. I’ll bet he’s over the moon about another child.”

  “He is, he’s looking forward to my pregnancy, He’d carry the baby himself if he could. He missed so much when Adele kept her condition from him. When are you and Luke starting your family? I want our kids to grow up together.”

  “You know Luke, we couldn’t get married until he was sure he could support me on his book royalties and now he wants to be sure the first best-seller wasn’t a fluke and is waiting for the next one to make the list. Don’t forget, I have a second shop I have to get up and running before I can think of having children.”

  “Don’t wait too long, I don’t know what I’d do if Lucy wasn’t in my life.”

  *****

  “Brooke, it’s so beautiful here. I’m happy you and Travis talked us into building a house on the lake. Luke is looking forward to buying a boat and jet skis.” Molly glanced over her shoulder and spotted something sparkling in the water by some rocks. She knelt retrieving a ring with a large stone. “If that’s real, it’s worth a small fortune. Molly, look at the big rock to your left, is that a scarf?”

  Molly waded through the shallow water and lifted the scarf from the rock. “Yes, it is a scarf, the label reads St. John Collection, does that brand sound familiar to you Brooke?”

  “It not only sounds familiar, it sounds expensive and it is, I have two of his scarves and I take them off when I eat.”

  “If I’m not mistaken, there is a blood stain on it; We had better call the police, Brooke. I don’t want to discover the body that belongs to these things.”

  *****

  The police couldn’t find any further evidence of foul play. They told Molly they would investigate but unless someone reported a missing person, there wasn’t much they could do. “We will hold these items and if no one claims them, they will become your property. Check with the department in twenty-eight days.”

  *****

  “I don’t like it, Brooke, I felt a chill when I touched that ring. Something doesn’t feel right, I don’t think it’s costume jewelry, not that I’m an expert on anything but flowers.”

  “Molly, you’re making too much of this. Someone dropped
a ring and scarf on the shore. For all we know they were eating a chocolate ice cream cone, and it wasn’t blood. They will claim their things soon; if not, you will be the owner of a diamond ring.”

  “You’re right, I’m sure it’s nothing. The ring is probably a fake, anyway.”

  *****

  Between work and planning the new house, Molly’s days were filled. She put the ring out of her mind and never visited the police station to check to see if anyone claimed the items she found on the beach.

  Chapter One

  Molly and Luke moved into their new house. The furniture from their apartment was lost in the large rooms.

  “What possessed us to buy this huge house, we will never fill all the rooms. Travis Kincaid doesn’t know the meaning of the word modest.”

  “Calm down, Molly. We aren’t destitute, sales of my book are good and your shops are doing well, we can afford a piece of furniture or two. We’ll have this place filled up in no time. We should work on the nursery right away,” Luke said with a grin.

  “I agree,” answered Molly, “we must hurry to catch up with everyone else.”

  *****

  Molly hadn’t thought about the ring she’d found on the shore since she turned it over to the police. She assumed the owner claimed it months before and a body wasn’t found or a missing person reported.

  She was busy arranging bridesmaid’s bouquets for the wedding of Judge Rambolt’s daughter, Chelsea. The bridal party included ten bridesmaids, two flower girls and a matron of honor. Stephanie and Elizabeth agreed to work in the two shops while Molly finished the flowers for bouquets and the church pews and altar. This order was one of the many that she contributed to Mrs. Pamela Kincaid and the influence she had over the country club set.

  *****

  Detective Dylan Roth opened the door of Buds and Blooms Emporium.

  “Joanie, is that you; Joanie Garretson?” he said in surprise.

  “Hi Dylan,” she replied, “I’m Joanna Garretson, I don’t like to be called Joanie anymore.”

  Dylan was a friend of Paul Garretson, Joanna’s older brother. Paul went to school in Michigan after graduating from high school and is still living there.

  “Joanie, you were a little kid when I saw you last. How is Paul? Is he still in Michigan?”

  “Yes, he’s still there and we don’t think he’ll move back home, he’s married now. Please call me Joanna, Dylan.”

  “Oh, sorry, you will always be Joanie to me. That cute little kid who used to follow Paul around.” It wasn’t Paul I followed, it was you, Dylan. You are even cuter than you were back then.

  “What can I do for you, Dylan, do you need flowers for that special girl?”

  “What special girl? Oh, no, I’m not here for flowers, I came to see Molly Ryan, she works here, doesn’t she?”

  “Molly is the owner of the shop. She’s busy now, is it something I can help you with?”

  “I need to speak with her. I’m with the Hillsboro Police Department. I’m here to give her a ring she found last year. No one claimed it and Detective Wentworth thought it should go to her instead of being auctioned off.”

  “I’ll see if she can break away to talk to you, she has a huge order to fill.”

  *****

  Dylan watched as Joanna walked to the back of the shop. He couldn’t help but admire the way her tight jeans clung to her firm bottom. His memory was that of a skinny kid with a ponytail that always seemed to be askew.

  Detective Dylan Roth was known for his reluctance to commit to a relationship with any woman. Not that he didn’t want to settle down and have a couple kids, he found no one he wanted to be with for the rest of his life.

  *****

  “Hello,” said Molly, startling him from his thoughts, “I’m Molly Ryan, how may I help you?”

  “Ms. Ryan, I’m Detective Dylan Roth. My partner, Abe Wentworth asked me to deliver this to you.” He held out the ring Molly found on the beach one day last year.

  It was wrapped in a plastic bag and she didn’t recognize it immediately.

  “I can’t imagine what Detective Wentworth has of mine,” she said as she reached for the bag.

  A chill went up her spine. “Oh my, this is the ring I found in the sand last year. Does this mean the owner never claimed it?”

  “No, and I don’t know why it took so long to get it to you. It is rightfully yours.”

  “I don’t feel right about taking it although I’m sure it isn’t valuable.”

  Molly watched as her young friend, Joanna stared longingly at the detective. “Joanna, why don’t you pick out a nice arrangement for the detective, maybe something for the receptionist’s desk at the station. That won’t be considered a bribe, will it Detective Roth?”

  “I don’t think so, but to be on the safe side I’ll pay for it. Show me what you have Joanie, I mean Joanna.”

  “Do you two know each other?”

  “Yes, Ms. Ryan, Joanna’s brother Paul was a good friend of mine when Joanna was known as Joanie.”

  “How nice, we knew Joanna by her nickname too until she decided she wasn’t a kid anymore. I like the name Joanna, don’t you, Detective?”

  “Yes, I do, it has a nice ring to it.” Dylan knew Molly was giving him an opening, and he took it.

  “Ms. Joanna Garretson, would you like to have dinner with an old friend this evening?”

  “An old friend?” she said smiling, “I never thought we were friends, you always teased me and yanked my ponytail.”

  “That’s true, maybe I can make it up to you, I could throw in a movie.”

  “No, dinner will be enough, you don’t know how much I can eat.”

  Molly and Stephanie, who were standing behind the door listening to the conversation, came out after Dylan left.

  “Our little Joannie has a grown-up date. No pizza and beer for this guy,” said Stephanie.

  “Don’t tease her, Steph, she had a crush on the detective long before this.”

  “A crush? I was madly in love with the guy. I was devastated when Paul left home and Dylan stopped coming by. Isn’t he gorgeous?”

  Molly and Stephanie laughed. They were old married women but could relate to Joanna and her feelings for the detective.

  *****

  “Let’s look at the ring, Molly, take it out of the plastic bag,” said Stephanie.

  Molly lifted it out of the bag. The stone in the center sparkled when it hit the stream of sunlight coming through the front window.

  “It’s beautiful, what will you do with it? Wear it or sell it?”

  “I don’t know, I don’t have a good feeling about this ring. I won’t keep it and yet I don’t think it’s right to sell it.”

  “If nobody has missed it in over a year, I don’t think they will ever claim it. You should, at least, have it appraised. Maybe it came from a Cracker Jack box,” laughed Stephanie.

  *****

  Molly set the ring in a drawer in her desk and went back to her work. She would be glad when this wedding was over. She’d missed too much precious time with Luke because of it. Designing the bouquets was a difficult task with a fussy bride and even fussier mother of the bride. How would she and Luke make that baby when she fell into bed exhausted at the end of the day?

  The wedding went off without a hitch. The write-up in the newspaper mentioned the stunning floral arrangements by Buds and Blooms Emporium and resulted in more business than usual.

  *****

  Molly opened her desk drawer pulling out the ring Dylan had given her days before. It is beautiful, I suppose I should have it appraised. I don’t want it for myself, but if it’s valuable, I can sell it and give the money to charity. The thing gives me the creeps.

  Elizabeth knocked on her door. “You look deep in thought, what’s that you have there?”

  “It’s a ring I found on the beach. Nobody claimed it and now I must figure out what to do with it. Look at this, Elizabeth, it looks like the initial ‘L’ on one side and ‘A�
�� on the other.”

  “You have a good eye, Molly, I can see it. I know little about diamonds, but my guess is that it’s real. You should have Tony Blake appraise it for you. He’s a nice guy and owns the jewelry store across the street.”

  “That’s a good idea, Elizabeth. I met Tony yesterday, I’ll run over there to see what he says about it.”

  “I have time before the applicant for the job comes in, I’ll be back in plenty of time to meet with her.”

  “Good, I hope she works out, who ever thought we would have so much business here in Evergreen?”

  *****

  “Molly, it’s good to see you, I’m glad you stopped by, as you can see, I’m not overwhelmed with customers.”

  “I’m sure it will pick up, Tony, you’ve only been open since Monday,” Molly reminded him.

  “I hope you’re right. What can I do for you?”

  “I have a ring I found in the sand last year. I turned it over to the police and, to be honest, I put it out of my mind. A detective brought it by this morning and said it hadn’t been claimed, therefore, it belongs to me. I’d like you to appraise it for me, I doubt it’s worth anything.”

  “I’ll be glad to look at it.”

  Tony took the ring in his hand and glanced at it. His eyes widened as he reached for his jeweler’s loupe to examine it.

  “Molly, this is an exquisite piece.”

  “You mean it’s not a zircon?”

  “Far from it. It’s a perfectly round diamond, valuable. Gustave Bossart designed this ring. He owns a small jewelry shop in downtown Hillsboro although he is no longer active in the business. His signature engagement rings always show the first initial of the couple’s names interwoven in the band. It is a technique Mr. Bossart mastered when he was a young man in Switzerland. I have only seen two others like it and never held one in my hand before today.”

  “Maybe I should return it to Mr. Bossart.”