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  Murder On The Sapphire Bay

  The Soul Seekers: Book Six

  Alice J. Black

  Copyright © 2019 by Alice J. Black

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Edited by Maria Pease & Ashley Conner

  Designed by Shayne Leighton

  The Parliament House

  www.parliamenthousepress.com

  Contents

  1. Murder On The Sapphire Bay

  About the Author

  A Request from Peyton

  Also by Alice J. Black

  The Parliament House

  1

  Murder On The Sapphire Bay

  “Remind me again why I’m doing this,” Olivia grumbled as we left the platform for the final time that weekend and stepped on board the train that would accommodate us for the next two nights.

  “Jeez, Olivia.” I pushed her forward and boarded the train, shaking my head. “Do you always have to be such a buzzkill?”

  “I’m no buzzkill.” She turned to face me, hand raised, palm flat. “I just want to know what on earth possessed you to think that staying on a train with a bunch of strangers for an entire weekend would be a good idea?”

  “Well, by the end of it they won’t be strangers, will they?” I raised my brow. “Now come on, let’s find our compartment and get settled in.”

  Olivia huffed, hoisting her overnight bag into the crook of her elbow as she stared at the signs overhead. “What number are we again?”

  “Eleven,” I said.

  “This way.” She led us to the left and down a narrow passageway.

  The train was made up of compartments, three per car, and there were four cars. If my maths skills were right I figured there’d be a lot of people on board this train.

  We squeezed past a stout man who inspected our tickets too briefly to have seen the information printed on the strips of cardboard and then motioned for us to pass. As we shuffled by, his stomach protruded too close for comfort. Then after a while of stop-start walking while searching for our compartment, Olivia announced we were there. The door rumbled loudly as she slid it aside, and our accommodation for the weekend came into view.

  “This isn’t as bad as I thought it would be,” Olivia mused. She stepped inside, dropped her bag onto the side that would presumably be hers, and then bounced on the seat a couple of times testing to make sure it was adequate.

  Eventually, she shot me a satisfied smile, and I sighed, glad for the reprieve in her complaints.

  I crossed the threshold and parked my rear end opposite Olivia as I set my bag on the floor. The seat was more comfortable than it looked, and I hoped that was foreshadowing for the night ahead when it transformed into my bed.

  “Are you happy now?” I raised my brow again.

  The woman was as prickly as a pineapple at times and didn’t have a problem voicing her opinion but she was still my best friend, and I wouldn’t change her for the world.

  “For now.” She shrugged. “We’ll have to judge by the bathroom and the standard of food, of course.”

  “Are you ever happy?” I tilted my head.

  “I’m happy when I’m at home in my own bed, yes.” She nodded. “So I’ll ask again, why are we here?”

  I sighed and shook my head, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

  “We opened Soul Seekers a few months ago now, and neither of us has have had a break since we started. So I think it’s about time we take some days off. We’ve had two official cases, not to mention those few initial investigations that didn’t amount to anything.”

  “You’re right. As if someone could believe there’s a haunting because of an electrical fault.”

  I shrugged. “Some people aren’t as tuned into the spirit world as we are, Olive. Something like that could look terrifying to someone who doesn’t know. Anyway, we’re here because we deserve a break. The ghosts will be there when we get back.”

  “So, let me get this straight. We take time off from our job, a job where we work together and travel together, to come away on holiday together?”

  “Are you trying to tell me something? Because if you’re sick of my company, just say so.” I crossed my arms and fell against the backrest, feeling the cushion spring under my weight.

  “Take it easy, Peyton. You know me. If I was sick, you’d know by now.” She flashed her catty grin. “Besides, if I was going to bail out of this friendship, it would’ve been when you were vomiting all over me during withdrawals.”

  “Well, that makes me feel better.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  There was a knock on our room window, and I turned to glimpse a woman standing outside, clipboard in arms, smiling. She slid the door to remove the barrier between us, and her foot kicked in and held it open as she grinned down at both of us. She looked at her clipboard and then back at me. “Peyton?”

  “That's right.” I nodded.

  “And you must be Olivia.” Satisfied after marking us present, she hugged the board to her chest.

  “I certainly am.”

  “Great to have you both on board. I’m Pam, and I’ll be your host for this weekend. Have you ever experienced a Murder Mystery Tour before?”

  “No, we haven’t,” I shook my head, “but we’re looking forward to it.”

  I hoped Olivia would keep her mouth shut considering her earlier comments.

  “Great.” She grinned, showing her pearly white teeth. “The more you put into it, the more you get out. Get yourselves settled for now. We’re all meeting in the dining cart in an hour. We’ll debrief then and answer any questions. Plus, it’ll give you a chance to meet the other guests participating in the experience.”

  “Thanks, Pam.” I waved as she stepped back, but she was gone long before the door shut, on to the next compartment to welcome another set of guests.

  “Well, she’s smiley.”

  “Olive,” I scolded.

  “Fine.” She held her hands up. “I’ll quit. But if this weekend sucks, I’ll hold it against you forever.”

  “Fine.” I nodded. “I’m willing to bet you’ll enjoy this way more than you expect.”

  An hour later, we had unpacked as best we could, given the small amount of storage space in the cabin. Olivia insisted on taking up more of the room so that she could keep her dresses from being ruffled. Four dresses for two nights seemed a little excessive to me. I had to console myself with the leftover drawer space. I wasn’t exactly a girly girl, and I’d only brought enough to last the weekend, so it was fine as long as she didn’t encroach on my bed space, too.

  I glanced out of the window and saw that we were passing a whole load of greenery, which scrolled past in a blur. There were two pull-down blinds that would contain our privacy.

  “What time is it?” Olivia asked as she touched up her makeup in a handheld mirror.

  I checked my phone. “I think it’s about time we head to the dining cart or we’re going to be late.”

  Olivia looked up with a deadpan expression. “Aren’t we eager for the first day at school?” She raised a brow, and her mouth turned up into a catty grin.

  “Don’t be so mean. If we don’t listen to the rules, we won’t know how to play.”

  She slipped her phone into her bag, stood up, and straightened her dress. It flowed gracefully on her thin form and petered out mid-thigh. I glanced down at my own choice of outfit—skinny jeans and a black tank top. It had become my general clothing of choice for its comfort and versatilit
y, but I was beginning to think that maybe I should vary my wardrobe choices. At least it had a little bit of sparkle around the neck line. Tomorrow would be different when the real show began.

  Finally ready, we left our compartment. The corridor was narrow, and I could see the countryside through the windows opposite as the train thundered along. Olivia locked the door and dropped the single key into her handbag before pushing the straps over her shoulder.

  “Come on then, lead the way.” She motioned for me to go first.

  Back when I was drinking, I avoided anything that would’ve drawn attention to me, and that included walking into a room full of people. Now, while being a central figure wasn’t my preferred status, I at least had enough confidence to hold my head high for long enough to fend off the glances.

  Pam had pointed the way to the dining car earlier, and it didn’t take a genius to work out where it was. All I did was follow the smell of roasted coffee grounds. I salivated as I realised it had been a few hours since my last fix, and I sped up a little, anticipating the coffee to come.

  We entered the dining cart to find that it was already almost full. If it wouldn’t have caused a scene, I might’ve given Olivia the I-told-you-so look, but as it was, I was eager to join the party.

  As the door shut behind us, Pam turned to face us with that same smile. She hurried towards us, heels clicking against the thin carpet. “Hi, ladies. We’re all here now. Help yourself to coffee, and we’ll get started.” She motioned towards the boiler at the bottom of the cart.

  It was like a beacon, and even though Olivia tugged on my arm, urging me to just sit down, I shrugged out of her grip and made for the caffeine. I felt eyes on me, and a few people whispered their initial thoughts about me—something I was beginning to realise was for some reason a natural part of life—and then I finally reached the canteen.

  I made two cups, strong and sweet, and carried them up the cart, one in each hand, with expert precision, then plonked them down on the table I was sharing with Olivia and two guys. I flashed a quick smile over at them before sipping my drink, and then a few seconds later, Pam clapped her hands together, drawing all attention.

  The small talk stopped. All attention now on the woman with the clipboard. I noticed that she had pink gel nails, and her makeup had been immaculately applied. Because of how well she was put together, I knew she was going to do a stand-up job with this weekend’s Murder Mystery Tour. I took another sip of my coffee and leaned back, ready to take it all in.

  “In case you don’t know, I’m Pam Evans, and I’m one of the event organisers for the Murder Mystery Tours.” She glanced around the carriage, hand pressed against her chest. “This weekend is about letting our hair down and having some fun. The murder mystery is a traditional dinner party, followed by a murder, and you, our guests, must solve the crime.”

  A few oohs and aahs went up around the carriage. I grinned at Olivia, who just rolled her eyes. In front of me, the two guys grinned like fools and then looked back at Pam.

  “You’ll be given cards that detail your character.”

  “What do you mean?” yelled the guy next to the window, sharing our table.

  “Well, Tom,” she said, “you have to become the character given to you. It’s how the game works. You become the character and you have to chat with other characters and at the same time figure out who murdered our victim.”

  “Okay.” He nodded. “I think I get it.”

  “I’ll keep you right.” His friend slapped his arm gently, and Tom continued to grin like a buffoon.

  “Does anyone have any questions?” Pam asked.

  “How long do we have?” asked a woman from the back of the carriage.

  “The murder happens shortly after dinner. You’ll find out the circumstances of the murder, and then you have until the same time tomorrow evening to come up with a solution.”

  “So do we work together?” someone else asked.

  I glanced up the cabin and saw a woman with her arms crossed over her chest, wearing a bored expression. Clearly, she had been dragged here, too.

  “Yes. That’s the point of the game. If you don’t work together, you won’t figure out who the murderer is. I would advise you to carry your character cards at all times in case you forget. It’s important to stay in-character. Each character has a vital piece of information, or a clue that could lead to either false accusation or apprehension of the culprit.” Pam beamed, casting her eyes around the train. This whole weekend had been planned out really well and I, for one, was looking forward to it.

  I did the same as Pam, taking a look around the carriage as everyone digested the information. I saw a group of women leaning together over the table, already in deep conversation. I wondered what the topic was; maybe they were planning their strategy. Another table was occupied by two couples, with the girls on one side and the guys on the other. A little further down, there were a group of guys sitting in two booths, the sound of beer bottles already loud and clear. There were a few other tables, too. Some families, some friends. Some people looked excited, while others looked bored or apprehensive. Then there was our little table with Tom and his friend. It was certainly going to be an interesting event.

  “Dinner will be served in this cart in an hour. Formal dinner attire is required. And it helps a little with the game.” She grinned, and her body vibrated. “But for now, here are your character cards.”

  As she moved down the list on her clipboard, she strode around the train in a seemingly random fashion, handing out envelopes. There were muted whispers and giggles coming from several people. When she set mine down, it read, Peyton – Evie.

  “Come on, Peyton.” Olivia shuffled along the seat until she was practically sitting in my lap. “Let’s go get ready.”

  “Someone is keen.” I grinned as I stood and picked up the envelope. “And by the way, it’s Evie.”

  “Okay, Evie. I’m Ginny.”

  We hurried away from the booth, down the length of the train, to our compartment, where I pulled down the roller blind as soon as we entered.

  “Which dress do you think? The mini or the mid-length?” Olivia held up the two black dresses.

  Both had spaghetti straps and either of them would look amazing on her.

  “Whose eye are you trying to catch, Ginny?” I winked as I appraised the choices.

  “Hey, if you’re dragging me into this mess, I’m going to at least have some fun.”

  “Someone has changed their tune.” I grinned. “Go with the mini. You have great legs.”

  “Thanks.” She beamed. “What are you wearing?”

  “Well, I only brought one dress.”

  “Which is?”

  “This one.” I held it up, straps hooked around my fingers.

  It, too, was a black dress with spaghetti straps. It was low-cut, but that didn’t bother me, as my cleavage wasn’t exactly much to stare at, and it stopped mid-thigh, with a slight flare. It was the only dress I had in my wardrobe, except for the one I wore at Olivia’s brother’s wedding. The pastel hadn’t been my choice, and it reminded me too much of what happened that night. The bar, the drinks. Jake. And the rest.

  No. I’d wanted something simple, understated, and this little black dress was just that.

  “I like it.” Olivia nodded her approval as she cast her eyes down the length of the material. “But after this, we need to do some serious shopping. You need some new wardrobe choices.”

  “Hey, don’t mock my dress.” I pulled my tank over my head and dropped it into a ball on top of my jeans.

  “Not by any means. But you can’t wear the same dress for every occasion.”

  “The occasions I happen to go to are few and far between, so it works in my favour.”

  “Peyton.” Olivia planted her hand on her hip. “You need some colour in your life. You do realise you have a mostly black wardrobe.”

  “And what’s wrong with that?”

  “Nothing if you want to look lik
e Morticia.”

  “Ha-ha,” I shot back, shaking my head. “Listen, I’m all grown up now. I can make my own wardrobe choices.”

  “You looked lovely in—”

  “Say that pastel dress, and I’ll kill you.”

  “Fine.” She held her hands up. “But would it kill you to go shopping? We can make a day of it.”

  “Fine. We can shop. But I’m not promising anything.”

  Olivia grinned. “That’s all I ask.”

  I slipped the dress on over my head and felt the soft material against my bare skin. I pulled up the zip on the side and straightened it out. I grabbed Olivia’s handheld mirror and held it up, shimmying it up and down until I got a brief overview of the effect, though I’d already decided to suggest that the cabins needed mirrors installed.

  I brought the mirror back to my face and took a second to look. With a little mascara and maybe some blush, I’d be good to go. Go back a few months, and I would’ve looked like a ghost of myself, and I was proud of how far I’d come.

  “Give me that.” Olivia bumped her hip against mine and knocked me out of the way, plucking the handheld from my grasp.

  “Chill, Olive. You look fine.”

  “Fine isn’t good enough. Pass the makeup bag.”

  I did as she asked, keen to keep her happy. After all, this was my idea, and if it went badly, I knew she’d make me pay.

  Eventually, after Olivia spent way too long on her makeup, we were finally sorted and left the compartment. Stepping into the narrow corridor, I felt a pang in my chest and my stomach tightened at the clinking of cutlery. Dinner service was already underway, and we were late.

  “Olivia!” I scolded. “You made us late. I told you your makeup looked fine.”

  “Since when do you care about being late?”

  “Since it involves food.”

  “Fair enough. Come on.” Tightening her hold on her bag, Olivia stepped up her pace, and the click of her heels echoed down the small corridor.