Heavenly Corners

 
Heavenly Corners
(An Annie Ryan Cozy Mystery)
By Marianne Spitzer
© December 2014


 
This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to persons living or dead, events, locations, or organizations are purely coincidental. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced without the written consent of the author.
 
Acknowledgements
There are many people I would like to thank for their help and understanding while I wrote this book, but first and foremost, I want to thank God for all His blessings. I also wish to thank my family and friends for their patience when I disappear into my writing world especially my son, Lance, for his unwavering support. Cover designed by the talented Laura at LLPix Designs.
 


Dedication
 
This series of books is dedicated to my mom, Anna (aka) Annie, her BFF and partner in crime Georgie, and my Aunt Irene. Mom and Aunt Irene were like two peas in a pod. All three of these wonderful women have passed on, but still hold a large place in my heart.


              Heavenly Corners
Chapter One
I parked my car in the small lot behind the shops that fronted Main Street. I slid my key into the back door of Heavenly Books and felt the warm air encircle my face. It was early April, and mornings were still a bit chilly. I shrugged off my jacket and hung it on the old coat rack I found at a rummage sale and put on a pot of coffee. It would be nine o’clock soon and hopefully today I would have a few customers.
I might not have customers, but I would have a lot of gossipers. Why? Besides the Heavenly Grill at the edge of town and the Heavenly Diner a few doors down, I have the only shop with a couch and chairs. The furniture is meant to give my customers a comfy place to leaf through a book while they decide if they want to buy it. However, the residents of Heavenly Corners have been using them for years as a quiet place to gather and gossip.
I should introduce myself. My name is Annie Ryan, and I own the Heavenly Corners Book Shoppe. It belonged to my mom until three years ago when she and my dad decided the Wisconsin winters were too cold and moved to Arizona. It has been in the family since it first opened its doors back in the nineteen forties. I love owning the bookstore, and it gives me something to do since my only child, Laci, left for college in August. She’ll be home for the summer next month, and I’m excited.
I’m not ready for all of today’s gossip. I know much of it will be morbid. Why? I’m sure most people will be discussing poor old Inga Kelleher. She was ninety-one. I suppose her death might be expected, but in the middle of the City Council meeting it was a shock. I’m getting ahead of myself. You don’t know about last night’s City Council meeting.
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I have lived in Heavenly Corners all my life. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. It’s a small town with small town values. That doesn’t mean the population of just over 6,000 isn’t progressive, but they need to be prodded in the right direction from time to time. That’s why I love to attend City Council meetings, and I’m a darn good prodder, if I say so myself.
I met my best friend, Georgie, outside city hall at six forty-five. We went to high school together, were college roommates, stood up in each other’s weddings, and had daughters a month apart. No one would ever dream of calling Georgie by her given name of Georgianna except her husband, Paul, but only when he’s extremely frustrated.
“Hey,” said Georgie. “I hope I’m not late. We had an unexpected rush of dinner customers.”
Georgie and Paul own the Heavenly Grill, and she did not look as if she had been rushing around serving customers just a few minutes before she arrived. Her short ash blonde hair looked as if she had just stepped out of the beauty salon.
“Right on time,” I said. “I can’t wait to get in there tonight.” I placed my hands on my hips and said, “I’m going to fight for a new population sign to go with the ‘Welcome to Heavenly Corners’ sign.”
“Not again,” Georgie laughed and rolled her blue-gray eyes at me.
I stomped my foot and said, “I have a better reason tonight. C’mon let’s go in, and I can make my point.”
I marched into the meeting room with Georgie at my heels. I took an aisle seat directly behind Inga Kelleher. She turned and smiled at me.
“Hello, Annie. Don’t forget to call me when a new mystery book arrives. You remember my niece, Mags, and my nephew, Douglas.” She waved her hand in their direction while looking at me.
“Of course,” I said. “Nice to see you again Mags and Douglas.” I held out my hand.
Douglas nodded, and Mags took my hand and said, “It’s Margaret.” She flashed a bored smile.
“Sorry, I’ll remember from now on.” I smiled back and dropped into my chair.
Georgie stifled a laugh and rolled her eyes again. It was her favorite reaction to people that annoyed her.
I grimaced and poked her in the ribs. I hoped Inga hadn’t noticed. She was my best customer. She rarely left her home these days, but when a new mystery arrived at the store I called her and if it interested her, I’d drop it off at her home. Inga lived in a house referred to as Heavenly Mansion. It sat on the lake adjacent to the camping and picnic area she allowed the city to use for tourism. Truth be told; Inga owned nearly all the property surrounding the lake and the lake rights. The mayor bent over backward to keep her happy. Using the lake for free was an incredible gift to