Murder at the GeoCache: Citrus Beach Mysteries, #3

Prologue

Saturday

It wasn't supposed to be like this. Today was supposed to be full of fun, adventure, and sharing good times with friends in Citrus Beach. Megan had had enough scary times in the beginning of the summer, and she was looking forward to the new season starting out smoothly, normally, and with no extra excitement.

Instead, she was looking in horror at the body of an old friend crumpled at her feet with a bloody gash on the back of her head. Why in the world would anybody want to hurt this quiet recluse who was happier spending time with her farm animals than she was with people? It made no sense at all.

Megan grab Aiden’s hand, who stood beside her, as if to reassure herself that she wasn't dreaming. Silent tears running down her face, she looked at him and then looked back at the body.

We better call Sheriff Green, he said.

Chapter 1

Sunday, the week before

Megan Cassidy tapped her foot impatiently and looked at her companion sitting patiently in the car while she paced outside. Glancing at her watch once again, she gave an exasperated sigh as she looked at the open road behind her.

Well, Barney, he's late again. I'll bet any money he got lost.

Her companion didn't seem too upset about this news. Instead, he wagged his tail and stood with his head out the window, waiting for attention. Megan smiled at the sweet beagle who was her constant companion and gave him the scratch behind his ears that he was looking for. Hearing the beep of a horn, she looked up and saw the car she was waiting for turning into the driveway.

The rental car pulled in beside hers. Opening his door, the man behind the wheel swung his legs out and climbed out to join her.

I know, I know, I'm late—lost again.

Oh, Aiden. How can you possibly get lost in this small town? Really, Citrus Beach is not that big, laughed Megan

You're right, it's not that big of a town, but every street is named after some kind of citrus and when you don't know a Mandarin from a Honey Bell, well, it all gets confusing. I had no idea there were so many types of citrus. Aiden laughed along with Megan, making light of his trouble finding his way around the small town.

He walked over to the pretty redhead and gave her a kiss on the cheek. At the same time, he gave the dog a small treat he had in his pocket.

You’ll spoil him, Aiden. If you’d agreed to look at an office on Main Street, we wouldn't be out here in the middle of nowhere trying to find this building. Dorothy and Don Ross have plenty of open rentals that would be perfect for your needs. Tell me again why we're out here, away from town and away from potential customers.

Aiden just smiled at her and took the key out of his pocket that the agent from Ross Realty had given him to the rental they were going to look at. Holding his hand out to take hers, he led the way to the front door. Unlocking it, they went inside. As they entered, Megan felt like she was being attacked by dust bunnies and quickly put her hands to her nose to try to block the sneeze that was forming as she inhaled the dusty, stale air. Looking around them, it was easy to see that nobody had been in this office in a long time. The grime on the windows made it hard to see outside. The thick layer of dust on every surface was like an invitation to write on. Aiden looked around in dismay, not only at the dirt and dust, but at the layout of the office and the disrepair that it was in. It would take a lot of work just to get this building cleaned up, let alone functional. He did a cursory walk around the perimeter, shaking his head as he went.

Okay, I guess we need to check this one off the list and go to the next one, he finally admitted.

I'm sorry, Aiden, I understand you want to find the right office, but I really don't think you can find one out here in the boonies. You need to be closer to town.

From a business standpoint you're absolutely correct, Megan. But because of the type of business I’m in, I need to be in a location that’s discreet. I mean, let's be honest. How many people are going to openly walked into the front doors of a private detective office on Main Street, especially in this small town? It would be like announcing that you have a deep dark secret that needs to be solved. I’ve only lived here a few months and, I'm perfectly aware of just how hard it is to keep a secret in Citrus Beach. Some people in this town consider gossip a form of art that needs to be perfected at every opportunity. Aiden’s shoulders shook with laughter as he answered her.

Okay, I'll give you that, Aiden. There aren’t too many secrets that can be kept in this town, and that can be good or bad. I'm just glad you decided to move here and open your own office. With your background as an FBI agent and consultant, you have the skills to help many people. And being able to fly wherever you need to meet with your clients and do background work is an added bonus, she said, referring to the airstrip on her property.

Well, there were plenty of incentives to stay here in Citrus Beach, and I think you know what I mean. Plus, with my contacts at the FBI, I won’t be short of clients. I'm sure they'll be sending plenty of referrals my way. Your airstrip will certainly make my coming and going easy.

All right, Aiden, hand me that list. You’re just going to have to trust my judgment. I know this town like the back of my hand, and driving to all these godforsaken spots is just senseless. You need to be in town where you can have access to proper phone lines and Internet service. If you want something a bit more discreet and off the beaten path, let’s work on this together. I don't know how you ever talked the Ross’s into just giving you a list of everything available.

Aiden had to admit she was right, and he sheepishly gave her the list of potential rentals. As Megan looked over the list, he couldn't help but to admire the view in front of him. At 45, Megan had a fit body of a woman 10 years younger than her. Her skin had a healthy glow from hours spent in the Florida sun, and her red curly hair had lighter streaks due to spending so much time near the beach. He had known her for a little over four months. They had been through a lot together and their friendship was developing—and he hoped it would develop into something more than just a friendship. However, Megan wanted to take things slow, which that was fine with him. Developing a strong friendship before a romance was always a good idea.

Megan followed the list with her finger, mumbling as she looked at the properties in front of her. She hesitated over a couple of sites and then kept reading. Finally, she got a huge smile on her face, looked at Aiden, and said, Trust me, I’ve found the perfect place for you.

Without discussing it with him, Megan called to Barney, who was wandering around the office, and she walked out the door, calling over her shoulder, Aiden if you follow closely, you won't get lost. I think this spot will be perfect for you. It’s on is a side street and it’s quiet, so you don't have to worry about nosy neighbors. Your potential clients will be able to come and go at their own discretion.

Aiden followed her, locking the door behind him. Getting behind the wheel of his car, he trailed her back towards town. As he drove, he couldn't help but admire the surrounding beauty. Huge oak trees draped with Spanish moss formed canopies over the roadway. This far west of Citrus Beach, the area was primarily farms and horse ranches. The paddocks were framed in with alternating white or rough wood fencing and the fields were a lush green from the recent rains. Mixed in with the ranches, were acre upon acre of citrus groves. Come November, harvest would begin. February was when the sweet scent of citrus flowers would perfume the air.

As they drove closer to town, the landscape became more tropical, palm trees and exotic flowers were planted in the median of the roadway. When they pulled on to Main Street, off to the east he could clearly see the Citrus River. They drove their cars through the business district into the older section of town. Megan turned onto a side street that ran parallel to the river. Here, Aiden saw older businesses, the type that had established clients and did not need the bold frontage of a Main Street location.

Megan pulled up in front of a one-story, freestanding building. It was clean and well kept, the older landscaping meticulously manicured. The sidewalk led up to three stairs and a small porch. On either side of the door were two large windows that currently had their blinds closed. The building had at one time, long ago, been a small residential bungalow. Now it served as a commercial site. Aiden looked around him. A smile started to spread across his face as he realized the potential of this building. While he was looking around, Megan went right up to the door and lifted the welcome mat, pulling out a key from underneath. Inserting the key into the lock, she opened the door and with the bow, welcomed Aiden into his potential new office.

Aiden proceeded her into the office, shaking his head at the casual way the key was left under the mat. He had yet to get used to the small-town philosophy of trusting everyone. Coming from a big city, it was something that he wasn’t used to. His smile widened as he looked around him. Megan was right. This was a perfect location; he should have trusted her to begin with. Barney circled behind them and began sniffing the corners of the rooms. Aiden and Megan, each with their own agenda, began looking the building over. Aiden's FBI training kicked in, and he looked around for back doors and all access points into the building. He only found the back door. Most of the windows were small and could easily be fitted with a good security system. The main office even had a few pieces of furniture in it, a huge old oak desk and some old-fashioned wooden file cabinets. Compared to the last place, this office was in pristine condition and would take little effort to move into.

Megan joined him in the main office, Barney following closely behind, and she looked at him to see if he approved of her choice.

Well, you've done it again, Megan, this is perfect. How about if I go meet with the realtors to finalize the paperwork, and then I'll take you out to lunch?

That sounds wonderful, Aiden. While you're at the realtor’s, I’ll run back to my office and check on things. Let's make it a short lunch, I need to meet with Carol Bloomquest and Charlotte Potter about a charity event we’re working on to kick off the fall season.

Aiden agreed with her plan and gave her a quick hug, thanking her. Once again, Megan had stepped in, showing him the right direction. It was obvious that she would need to guide him quite a bit as he got used to life in the small southern town of Citrus Beach.

Chapter 2

Wednesday, the week before

It was mid-week before Megan and Aiden had the chance to get together again. Aiden had signed the paperwork and was in the process of moving into his office with the help of Lucy, Megan's best friend and cousin by marriage. Megan was tied up with meetings and planning for Citrus Beach’s annual fall kickoff. Besides, Aiden was in good hands with her best friend, Lucy. Lucy’s keen sense for decorating wouldn’t lead Aiden astray. She’d recently decorated her own home in an easy, Key West style that pleased her husband Paul and reflected their lifestyle.

Megan did her share, too. By using her business connections and her own staff at Citrus Beach Concierge, she got Aiden's office cleaned up and ready for moving in. Her cousin, Paul, Lucy's husband, was a high-end builder, and using his crew from Citrus Beach Builders, he was able to make a few additional changes to the office that Aiden requested. Now, a week later, the final steps were being taken to officially moved Aiden in. Megan had even managed to prepare a welcome get-together at Aiden's new office.

Megan had just picked up a gourmet dinner from her friend’s catering service. Megan often used her to cater dinners and couldn’t wait to dig into the sure-to-be mouthwatering food. She was on the way to set things up at Aiden's office, and her company van was filled not only with wonderful aromas from the food, but also a few indoor plants to warm up the interior of the office as well as a small bistro set she’d found for the back porch. Friends and family would all be meeting there within an hour. Carol Bloomquest was in charge of getting Aiden to his new office. Carol was not only a customer of Megan's, she was also a mutual friend of her and Aiden. Lucy and Paul were already at the office completing the finishing touches, including hanging a sign that Paul himself had made over the front door, which said, Confidential Inquiries.

Megan had finished setting everything up and was putting the final touches on the food table when the first of the guests arrived. Soon Aiden’s office was full of well-wishers and it wasn't long before Aiden and Carol themselves pulled up. Aiden received congratulations from everyone and heartily thanked those who'd helped him not only establish his new office, but had also made him feel so welcome in his new home. Walking over to Megan, he hugged her and gave her a tender kiss.

Thanks for doing all this, Megan. I saw my little table out back and couldn't help noticing that there's only two chairs. I hope that means that you’ll be sitting in one of them often.

Oh, I couldn't resist picking up the set. It was perfect for back there. And knowing you’re such an early morning person, I'm sure they’ll get a lot of use when you enjoy your morning coffee. I saw that espresso machine from Charlotte Potter—I wish you luck trying to figure out how to use that, but I will be here to taste test your first cup.

They laughed together, and then Aiden was pulled off in another direction to talk with other well-wishers. As Megan had anticipated, the food was good, the company was great, and it was a wonderful evening that ended all too early. Before she knew it, Lucy and Janice, her office manager, were cleaning up the food and debris, and people were saying their goodbyes. Soon it was just Megan and Aiden standing at the front door, waving the last of them off. Grabbing her purse out of the bottom drawer of Aiden's desk, Megan told him she should head home, too.

Hang on, and I’ll follow you out, seeing as how we’re going in the same direction, he laughed.

I have to admit I'm glad you're still renting the apartment over the garage. It's nice to have you on the property with me. Plus, it will give you time to get your business up and running without having to worry about looking for a house.

You're right. Plus, there are a lot of added benefits to living out on your property.

That's sweet, Aiden, but I told you, I want to take things slow for a while.

Oh, I don't just mean the fact that you're right there. There’s the added benefit about the landing strip and the fact I can just hop on one of Carol's private planes and head out wherever I need too. Just a phone call to her pilot to come and get me is all I need, teased Aiden.

Well, I guess I've been put in my place. Seriously, Aiden. You're welcome to stay in the apartment as long as you need. There’s no rush to find a new place. With 10 acres out there, there's plenty of room for the two of us. But we really have got to do something about getting you out of these rental cars. Everyone you rent looks like a government-issued vehicle. You need to get a car with personality, laughed Megan.

Aiden joined in her laughter and locked the door behind them. Soon they were heading west to Megan's home. Megan had bought her original home years before when she and her daughter, Emma, first moved to Citrus Beach after the death of her husband. She enjoyed her country-style home for a few years. Then the opportunity came up to buy the land adjacent to her property, which added up to 10 acres total. She’d convinced her cousin, Paul, to invest with her and they came up with a plan to incorporate both of their businesses on the property. With a two-story house, two large barns, the small airstrip, and even a few outbuildings, it was a perfect solution for both of them.

Paul and his employees converted the buildings to meet the needs of both companies, updated Megan’s house, and, to her complete delight, turned the smallest building that was closest to her home into a private office just for her use. With Megan’s landscape skills, she added beautiful gardens and meandering paths throughout the property. Paul even constructed a wooden bridge over a small creek that ran through both properties, making Megan's walk from her home to her office easier. They brought the landing strip, which circled a spring-fed pond in the center of the new property, up to code as well. Since most of the buildings on the property were adjacent to the paved landing strip, they purchased a few golf carts to travel from one part of the property to another.

Traffic was light, so it took just 15 minutes to reach the front gate of Megan's property. Megan opened her window and punched in the code to open the electronic gate that guarded her land. As she waited for the gates to open, she couldn't help but admire the beautiful, wrought iron sign in the shape of a C circled by the symbols of the south that adorned it.

The sign was a new edition, design by her daughter and built by her cousin, Paul. They had installed it on the gate after Hurricane Arlene. They’d suffered only minimal damage, but the hurricane had left a lot of areas needing some touch-up painting. The front gate was one of those. As long as they were painting, Emma thought that it was a perfect time for the property to adopt a logo and announced it to the world.

Once both cars pulled into the driveway, they separated. Megan pulled in front of her home, while Aiden followed the pavement to the converted barn and the apartment above. They had made plans to meet in the morning for breakfast. Aiden walked up the stairs to his apartment, mentally detailing his next day; he was an extremely organized man and liked to know his agenda ahead of time.

Meanwhile, Megan opened the front door to her home, greeted by the excited barks of her beagle, Barney, and her daughter’s old Basset hound, Fred. Emma had been out-of-state for college the last two years, and old Fred had been left behind. Recent events that had put her mother in danger convinced Emma to transfer back to Florida and continue her studies at a local university. She’d found a small apartment she was sharing with a friend, Taylor Jamison. Unfortunately, the apartment did not allow animals, so Fred was stuck with Megan. He had to make do with constant visits from Emma. They were all hoping that soon the two girls would find a larger home that would allow animals and give the girls more freedom from rules and regulations.

Picking up one of the two cats that wandered to her side to find out what all the commotion was about, Megan saw the blinking light on her answering machine and walked over to listen to her messages. She smiled, hearing the voice of her daughter.

Mom, hope everything went well at Aiden's party. I'm really sorry that Taylor and I couldn’t make it. We’ll be back in town tomorrow, and I’ll have the final information we need for the fundraiser. Can we all meet out at Charlotte's tomorrow around 2:00? I want to show you what we came up. I can't believe it's this weekend. Until then, give Fred a hug for me. I love you, Mom. See you tomorrow.

Megan sighed at Emma's reminder of the weekend’s plans. There was still so much to do, but she had plenty of helpers. The fundraiser differed completely from anything Citrus Beach had ever done in the past, but she was sure that everybody would enjoy it and get behind it 100%. After all, she’d already sold all the advertising spaces to the local merchants for the event. They had enough pledges of donations to reach their intended goal. Not wanting to bother Emma with a phone call, she simply sent a text, confirming she would meet her at Charlotte's the next day.

Wide awake after the message, Megan grabbed the keys to her office and called to both dogs to go for a walk. It wouldn't hurt to go over her notes one more time, just to be sure everything was covered on her end. The two dogs were thrilled to get in one extra walk for the night and Barney ran ahead of her towards the office. Fred followed