Murder In Oakwood Park Read online

  Murder in Oakwood Park

  A Rebecca Snow Cozy Mystery

  Jane T 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 2018 by Jane T 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.

  ISBN: 9781728864426

  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

  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

  Prologue

  “Rebecca, thank heaven you’re at home. I need you,” cried Carolina Bloom in her overly dramatic way.

  “Carolina, calm down, nothing is as bad as you seem to think. Tell me what you need from me.”

  “They’re going to replace Carolina Bloom in the Morning with an old sitcom if I can’t get someone to fill in for me while I recover from the flu. I told them you would do it.”

  “Fill in for you; Carolina, why me? Hosting a live television show is out of the question; isn’t there someone with experience who would be a better choice?”

  “Rebecca, you are wonderful in the dramas at the Oakwood Park Community Playhouse. I’m desperate. If I can’t find someone by tomorrow morning’s show, I’m done.”

  ***

  Thus, began Rebecca Snow’s career in local television. Carolina’s flu continued while Rebecca hosted her show.

  Those who knew Carolina tried to convince her to see a doctor for the lingering effects of her illness that kept her down and feeling dreadful.

  Although she knew it was temporary, Rebecca enjoyed hosting the show. She never called it her show, always reminding the audience that she was filling in for the one and only Carolina Bloom.

  On a Sunday morning, Andy Snow placed the Oakwood Park Chronicle on the kitchen table without noticing the headline. Rebecca filled his cup with freshly brewed coffee, and while pouring her own, glanced at the front page of the paper.

  LOCAL TALK SHOW HOSTESS

  DEAD AT FORTY-FIVE

  Carolina Bloom, popular local entertainer and hostess of Carolina Bloom in the Morning, has died after a lingering illness. An autopsy is scheduled to determine the cause of death. Foul play is a possibility.

  Chapter One

  Rebecca Snow is a forty-something empty nester living with her husband, Andy, in the home they have shared since they returned from their honeymoon over twenty years ago.

  Rebecca is the youngest of five daughters born to Susan and Mitch Wilson and the last of the Wilson girls to marry.

  Each wedding had taken a toll on Susan and Mitch financially as well as physically.

  “Rebecca, we will give you a large wedding if that’s what you and Andrew want, or you can have the money as a down payment on a home of your own.”

  Rebecca and Andy didn’t have to think about it. They began looking for a house the very next day and found the home of their dreams.

  ***

  Now that the children are grown and on their own, Rebecca and Andy talk about moving to a smaller place but it never goes further than talk.

  In high school, Rebecca was a member of the drama club along with her classmate, Carolina Bloom. Rebecca caught the acting bug and often fantasized about being a movie star. Carolina, however, had more talent than Rebecca and her fantasy was more apt to come true.

  After graduation, Rebecca went to the local University where she met Andrew Snow, the two were inseparable and Rebecca knew she would never leave her hometown or Andy. Carolina enrolled in acting school and soon realized the competition in New York was greater than in Oakwood Park Senior High School.

  For the next few years, Carolina was cast in minor roles in plays on and off Broadway. She met Gavin Lancaster, a fellow actor. They married three weeks after their first meeting. Life was good for Gavin and Carolina although they lived on a shoestring. They continually auditioned together and separately and most often were cast in non-speaking or bit parts. Six months after they vowed to love each other forever, Gavin was offered a part as a leading man in a new play on Broadway. The couple celebrated over champagne, a rare treat for them. Unfortunately, the play closed shortly after the opening, but not before Gavin fell in love with his leading lady.

  Carolina was crushed, she had dreams they would one day move to California and become the most famous couple Hollywood had ever seen.

  ***

  The would-be Broadway sensation returned to Oakwood Park to think about her life choices. After receiving little sympathy from her mother who thought acting was a waste of time, Carolina sought out her old friend Rebecca.

  ***

  “I wish I could settle for a life like yours, Rebecca. Don’t you wonder what it would be like if you’d followed your dream instead of spending your days dusting furniture and changing diapers?”

  Rebecca didn’t recall having a dream she wanted to follow but didn’t think it was worth arguing with her former classmate. Her life was full, she actually enjoyed being home with her baby. She didn’t mind housework and loved to cook and bake for Andy.

  “Carolina, if you are planning to stay in Oakwood Park, you should check out the new Community Playhouse. It’s scheduled to open in a couple of months.”

  “Community Playhouse? It sounds like a bunch of amateurs. You forget I’m a professional, it would be disastrous if I lowered my standards by joining with no-talent locals.”

  Rebecca held her tongue and didn’t remind Carolina that although she was a professional, she was an out-of-work professional.

  “Maybe you should try again in New York or California, a break in your acting career could be just around the corner.”

  Carolina listened to her friend’s encouraging words and decided to try Hollywood again.

  Two months later, Carolina met Milton Harrington, a successful director. She was cast in a film as a school teacher who becomes the victim of a serial killer. She was only on screen for the better part of four minutes but landed the role of Milton Harrington’s wife.

  Carolina’s happiness was sh
ort-lived when she discovered Milton wanted to direct every aspect of her life.

  After years of misery in her marriage, she found Milton collapsed on the marble kitchen floor suffering from an apparent heart attack. He died before the paramedics arrived and left Carolina a rich widow.

  Carolina quickly learned money could get her the parts she felt she deserved. For the next fifteen years, she had parts in several unexceptional movies.

  Eventually, Milton’s money ran low. Carolina was nearing forty and although the surgeon had removed the signs of age, she knew her career wasn’t producing the success of her dreams. She remembered Rebecca Snow mentioning some silly community playhouse in Oakwood Park. It had been years since the opening, would it still be around? There was only one way to find out. She’d place a call to her good friend, Rebecca.

  ***

  “Carolina Bloom, is it really you after all these years? Andy and I have seen many of your movies.” She didn’t mention how mediocre the movies were. “Your mother is very proud of you, she can’t stop talking about her daughter, the movie star.”

  “My mother talks about my acting career? That’s a switch. How is the old bat, I haven’t spoken to her since I left town years ago?”

  “Oh dear, I didn’t realize you and your mother are estranged, I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Don’t be! I’m calling to see if the local playhouse is still in existence. It was about to open when I visited with you before I made it big in Hollywood.”

  Rebecca winced at Carolina’s words. Everyone knew she’d married a much older man and when he died, he left her a bundle.

  “Yes, Carolina, the theater is very popular; why do you ask?”

  “I was thinking of coming back to Oakwood Park for an extended visit. I thought I could lend my talents to the community.”

  “I’m sure you would be welcome although we are only a community theater, nothing like the Broadway productions and Hollywood creations you are accustomed to.”

  “It sounds like you are a part of the theater, Rebecca, did the acting bug bite you again?”

  “I guess you could say that. When the children were young, I worked behind the scenes, now that they are grown and I have more time on my hands, I do act when they need me.”

  “How fun,” Carolina responded in a condescending tone. “I’ll be in town on Tuesday, set up a meeting with whoever’s in charge, don’t make it too early, I don’t do mornings.”

  Rebecca couldn’t imagine what was behind Carolina’s interest in the Oakwood Park Community Playhouse.

  Before she hung up, Carolina said, “By the way, Rebecca, I hear Brad Pickett is coming to town to sell his mama’s house.”

  Rebecca’s mouth dropped open. Brad was coming to Oakwood Park? He didn’t come home when his father passed away five years before and didn’t show up for his mother’s funeral six months ago. He’d hired the local funeral home to make arrangements for both services.

  Rebecca’s face burned as she remembered her humiliation thanks to Brad Pickett years before.

  Chapter Two

  Prom was the only thing Rebecca Wilson and her friends could talk about for weeks. They’d planned for this special day since the Christmas break. The prom was held three weeks before graduation.

  Rebecca was dating Brad Pickett, the handsome captain of the football team. She found herself doodling Mrs. Bradley Pickett, in her notebook pages as she dreamed of her wedding day. “I’m the luckiest girl in the world,” she would tell her friends; never noticing the skepticism that showed in their eyes.

  Rebecca found the perfect prom dress, her sisters helped with her make-up and hair. Her mother and father both had tears in their eyes as they watched their youngest daughter glide down the stairs like a princess.

  Brad arrived looking handsome in his tuxedo, he placed a corsage on her wrist and she pinned a boutonnière in his lapel. Rebecca finally had to tell them to stop taking pictures or they would never make it to the dance.

  Mr. Wilson reminded Brad that Rebecca must be home no later than two o’clock in the morning. The look on his face told Brad he expected him to act like a gentleman the entire evening.

  ***

  Rebecca was having a wonderful time dancing and laughing with their friends. The band played a number everyone liked and they all got up from the table to dance. Rebecca was left by herself wondering where Brad could have gone.

  After what seemed to be an eternity, her friend, Stephanie, told her date to check the men’s room, thinking Brad might be ill.

  “He’s not in there, Rebecca,” said Adam Reynolds. “I checked outside and his car is gone.”

  “

  Rebecca looked around the table and saw the pity in the eyes of her friends. It was a look of pity but not one of surprise.

  “Adam and I will drive you home, Rebecca,” said Stephanie.

  “No, I’ll call a cab, you guys stay and have fun.” Rebecca didn’t know how much longer she could keep the tears from flowing.

  Adam got up, walked around the table and took Rebecca by the arm. “Let’s get you out of here,” he said.

  Rebecca made it to the front door of her home and fell sobbing into her mother’s waiting arms.

  ***

  Rebecca cried herself to sleep that night and the next morning her four sisters greeted her. Each had a story to tell about a mortifying experience they’d had in high school.

  ***

  “Rebecca, we are going to take you to New York City. Mom and Dad have given permission for you to miss school on Thursday and Friday. It will be a pre-exam week vacation.”

  Rebecca didn’t think she wanted to go anywhere or do anything for the rest of her life but her sisters were so excited, she smiled and said it sounded like fun.

  That afternoon, her friends came to see her to offer sympathy and tell her the jerk wasn’t good enough for her. The pain of a broken romance was still there but it helped to have understanding friends and family. The one person she didn’t hear from was Bradley Pickett.

  Monday came and she had to force herself to go to school. Being dumped was one thing, but being dumped in front of the entire senior class was agonizing. She passed Brad in the hall, he looked sheepish but said nothing.

  ***

  The Wilson girls left for New York City. Rebecca’s sisters always made her laugh, she’d all but forgotten Brad and the disastrous prom. They saw the sights of the city, shopped in the stores on Fifth Avenue and watched the Today show from the street. Al Roker interviewed them on live television. Susan Wilson taped the show in case they made it on. When the sisters returned to Oakwood Park, Rebecca invited her friends to a viewing party and they watched as she announced to the world that she and her sisters were in New York to celebrate her being dumped at prom.

  ***

  Her friends thought Rebecca was a natural in front of a camera and said she should show the tape at graduation. They all laughed uproariously at the thought.

  ***

  Thinking back to that time put a smile on Rebecca’s face. Most of her friends from high school had gone off to college but returned to Oakwood Park to marry, settle down and start their families. Rebecca was happy she wasn’t married to Bradley Pickett, but couldn’t help but hope, after all these years, he was overweight and bald.

  ***

  Stephanie and Adam are still together and the parents of three. Adam is mayor of Oakwood Park and Rebecca still remembers the way he took care of her the night of prom.

  “He’s a great guy, Stephanie, you are lucky to have him.”

  “Your Adam will come along, Rebecca,”

  Stephanie was right. Her Adam came in the form of Andy Snow.

  ***

  Rebecca had succeeded in putting prom night out of her mind through the years but it suddenly occurred to her that she hadn’t seen Carolina Bloom on the dance floor after Brad disappeared. All those years ago. and now she was figuring out who was with Brad. Carolina, you traitor, I’ll have to remember to
thank you when I see you again.

  Chapter Three

  Rebecca’s cell phone sounded as she was about to leave her house.

  “Rebecca, you’ll never guess who is in town, Brad Pickett,” said Mary Lou Franklin, a former classmate who is now a real estate agent.

  “I heard he was in town, Mary Lou, I hope you have the listing for Mrs. Pickett’s house. It’s a beautiful home, it should sell quickly.”

  “Yes, it’s my listing but it’s in need of repairs. Brad ignored his mother’s house as well as ignoring his mother. He wants me to sell it ‘as is’ so he can get back to civilization, as he calls it. Gosh, was he always a jerk?”

  “Satisfy my curiosity, Mary Lou, is he fat and bald?”

  “I wish I could tell you he is ugly, if anything, he improved with age.”