Shenanigans in the Shadows Read online

  “He was probably just trying to find the rings, knowing Biff had hidden them all along. He even scratched on Biff’s doghouse, yet none of us picked up on it.” Cole turned disappointed eyes on Biff, who whined pathetically and covered his face with his massive paw.

  Cole was the angry one this time, and Jo actually softened, coming to Biff’s rescue. “Awww, he’s just a baby, Daddy.” She walked over to the Great Dane who was so big already it was scary to imagine what he would look like fully grown. Kneeling by his side, she rubbed him behind the ears and then kissed his nose. “He didn’t mean any harm. He just loves his daddy. I do too, buddy, and like it or not, you’re stuck with us both because I love you too.” Her words earned her huge brownie points as a mommy in Biff’s eyes, judging by the adoring looks he was sending her and the kisses he landed on her cheeks. She laughed and Cole couldn’t help but grin.

  “Now, the key is getting him to show us where they are,” I said. “I kind of dropped the bone after I realized it was him. I’m guessing he buried them in a hole, though.”

  “Gee, ya think.” Mitch laughed. “Whatever gave you the clue, Watson?”

  I frowned. “Watch it, Grumpy Pants. You’re not out of the doghouse yet.”

  Epilogue

  “Come on, Tink. I can’t possibly still be in the doghouse?” Mitch asked one week later as he joined me on the back deck that looked out over the yard.

  After literally digging up the entire yard, we’d finally found Cole’s grandmother’s heirloom wedding rings. They weren’t in a hole at all. They were hidden in my flower beds, right where Morty had been looking the first day. I think Biff had been deciding where he was going to bury his bone when he dug the holes, never intending to bury the rings in the first place, the naughty boy.

  I sighed. “No, you’re not in the doghouse anymore, Grump Butt.” I smiled up at him and scooted over to make room on the glider. “You did a great job filling the holes, replanting the grass and fixing the flowers. The yard should be just about perfect by the time I have Jo’s wedding shower.” My mother had wanted it at a classy restaurant instead of my deathtrap of an ancient house with my creepy cat, of course, but I had wanted to have the shower my way at my house. And Jo, sensing I needed to help in at least some way, agreed.

  Mitch slid his arm around me, and I rested my head on his shoulder. “It’ll be amazing, you know,” he said softly.

  “I hope so. I’m the maid of honor, but it feels more like my mother is. I hate competing with her in this way.”

  “She wants to feel needed, that’s all, so Jo’s letting her help with the small details. But you’re the one she leans on for emotional support when those pre-wedding jitters creep in.”

  “I guess,” I said, feeling better.

  “I know,” he said tenderly.

  “How?”

  “Because I know you. And you’re amazing.” He leaned down and kissed me softly, and I melted into him.

  “Any regrets,” he asked after pulling away, and I knew he meant about him moving in with me.

  “Not a single one. You?”

  “None.” Morty appeared out of nowhere as usual, and Mitch startled then chuckled. “I’ll never get used to that, but we’ve come to a real truce of sorts.”

  “I know.” I winked.

  “How?” He blinked.

  “See where he’s standing?” I pointed.

  Mitch eyed me curiously, then looked at my cat. “Yeah?”

  “What’s missing that should be there?”

  He thought about it for a minute, then a light dawned in his eyes and he snapped his fingers. “No shadow. He’s standing there with the setting sun shining right on him, yet there’s no shadow. What does that mean?”

  My smile came slow and sweet, and for the first time since Mitch had moved in, I truly relaxed as I replied, “That the shenanigans are finally over.”

  * * *

  The End

  * * *

  Coming Soon!

  Perish in the Palm (a Sunny Meadows Mystery) - NOVEL - June 2015

  Hazard in the Horoscope (a Sunny Meadows Mystery) - NOVEL - Sept 2015

  Acknowledgments

  As always to my amazing husband, Brian. You keep life interesting and fun. And to the rest of my children: Josh, Matt and Emily. You make life joyful. And to my extended family: the Harmons, the Russos and the Townsends. And to my critique partner, Barbara Witek, who truly is a goddess! And to Kelly Crimi, who continues to rock at covers! And last but never least, to my fabulous agent Christine Witthohn of Book Cents Literary Agency. Love you, doll!

  About the Author

  Kari Lee Townsend is a National Bestselling Author of mysteries & a tween superhero series. She also writes romance and women's fiction as Kari Lee Harmon. With a background in English education, she’s now a full-time writer, wife to her own superhero, mom of 3 sons, 1 darling diva, 1 daughter-in-law & 2 lovable fur babies. These days you'll find her walking her dogs or hard at work on her next story, living a blessed life.

  Also By The Author

  Writing as Kari Lee Townsend

  * * *

  A Sunny Meadows Mystery

  Tempest in the Tea Leaves

  Corpse in the Crystal Ball

  Trouble in the Tarot

  Shenanigans in the Shadows

  Perish in the Palm

  Hazard in the Horoscope

  * * *

  Other Mysteries

  Peril for Your Thoughts

  Kicking the Habit

  * * *

  Digital Diva series

  Talk to the Hand

  Rise of the Phenoteens

  * * *

  Writing as Kari Lee Harmon

  Destiny Wears Spurs

  Spurred by Fate

  Project Produce

  Love Lessons

  * * *

  Comfort Club series

  Sleeping in the Middle

  * * *

  Merry Scrooge-mas series

  Naughty or Nice

  Sleigh Bells Ring

  Jingle All The Way

  * * *

  Lake House Treasures series

  The Beginning

  Amber

  Meghan

  Brook

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