Murder Exposed: A Naked Eye Cozy Mystery Read online

  Murder Exposed

  A Naked Eye Cozy Mystery

  Leah Burke

  Fairfield Publishing

  Contents

  Copyright

  Message to Readers

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Thank You!

  Copyright © 2016 Fairfield Publishing

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Except for review quotes, this book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the author.

  This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is purely coincidental.

  Thank you so much for buying my book. I am excited to share my stories with you and hope that you are just as thrilled to read them.

  If you would like to know about all my new releases and have the opportunity to get free books, make sure you sign up for our Cozy Mystery Newsletter.

  FairfieldPublishing.com/cozy-newsletter

  Chapter 1

  Another day, another assignment, she thought. I wonder what it will be this time?

  Two weeks ago, Marissa was in Haiti, documenting the restructuring of the cities after a devastating hurricane. A month before that, she was in Mexico, trying to get a glimpse into the world of organized crime south of the border.

  As she got out of bed, her tall, slender frame stretched up, arched back, and made a popping sound. Years of stooping, bending, and kneeling for the perfect shot had taken their toll on her body, but she was still ready for more.

  Downstairs, Marissa glanced at the day’s headlines. Her hair was freshly washed and straightened and her clothes casually hung on her like a warm blanket. Fires in Guatemala, a riot in California… As she clicked through the news stories on her laptop, the headlines made her giddy with anticipation. She was ready for some action. After a quick breakfast of a bagel and coffee, she was out the door.

  “Birds? You want me documenting birds?” Marissa was in shock.

  At the offices of The World of Tomorrow, the writing staff had just finished their weekly briefing. This was the time that Harlan Davis, the editor, would give out assignments. Julie got civil unrest in Egypt, Martin got an oil spill in Canada, and Marissa got birds. Specifically, the Louisiana waterthrush.

  “I don’t understand. Why birds?” Marissa started to get frustrated.

  “It’s not just about the birds, sweetheart,” Harlan replied with his thick Texan accent. “It’s about climate change. The waterthrush is in danger of extinction.”

  “So what exactly am I supposed to do?”

  “Do what you do best. Document and report. I expect a full spread by the end of next week.” Harlan was always the taskmaster.

  “Are you punishing me for something?” Marissa still couldn’t believe the assignment.

  “Look, sweetheart, not everyone gets the assignment they want. If you want to write about things that interest you more, then start a blog or something.”

  “I just can’t believe that you would send your best photojournalist on such a BS assignment.” Marissa scoffed.

  “BS? You don’t think the fate of our planet is worthwhile?” Harlan had a stupid grin, as he always did.

  “Yes, it’s important. But let me document mudslides or rising sea levels or something. I don’t think our readers will care too much about Louisiana Mudslingers.”

  “Waterthrush. And why don’t you let me worry about what our readers want, okay?”

  Marissa could tell that Harlan was done talking about it. Once he made up his mind, it was hard to get him to yield.

  “So, if there’s nothing else, then you have a flight to catch. Tomorrow morning, 10:15 a.m. Can you get a ride to the airport?” Harlan asked.

  “Yeah, no problem.” Marissa grit her teeth and accepted her fate.

  Twelve days in the hot Georgia swamps. All so she could document a few lousy songbirds in their natural habitat. She was better than this. A year ago, she helped bring down a government coup in the Philippines. Now she was a glorified birdwatcher. Harlan had to be punishing her for something, but what?

  As she packed that night, she tried to find some kind of silver lining. After all, she had some great experiences at The World. Perhaps this could be like a vacation or something. Spend the day photographing birds, then spend her nights at the hotel bar. What was the worst that could happen?

  Chapter 2

  As Marissa stepped out from the airport, she was hit with a wave of hot, sticky air. Georgia at the beginning of summer was a wonderful time, if you loved being miserable all day long. Within seconds, her clothes started to cling to her like plastic wrap. This is going to be lovely, she thought. Twelve days of feeling like I need a bath.

  Luckily, when she got to the hotel, it was much more comforting than she expected. Everywhere you go in Georgia, air conditioning is king. Walking through the lobby was like heaven after wandering through the humid air.

  Suddenly, she got a call. “Hello?” she asked. The number was blocked.

  “Hey, did you make it down alright?”

  “Brand? You’re calling me awfully early, aren’t you?” Marissa started to smile. Talking to Brand would make her forget the Georgia heat.

  For the last six months, Brand had been Marissa’s copy editor. He was the liaison between herself and Harlan, and he was gorgeous as heck. Brilliant blue eyes, jet-black hair, and a perennial five o'clock shadow on his soft, supple cheeks. It would be nice if he committed to a full beard, but the stubble would do.

  “Yeah, I just got to the hotel. What’s up?”

  “I just wanted to check in and make sure you got there without any problems. I know that our accommodations aren’t always the best.”

  “Believe me, I’ve had worse.”

  Marissa flashed back to her time in Manila. For three months, she lived in a small apartment with three men. All she had to sleep on was a busted air mattress and the place smelled like beef stew all the time. After that experience, she knew that she could handle anything.

  “I bet you have,” he chuckled. “We have a local guide arranged for you. His name is Thomas and he lives in the area. He can show you where to find the waterthrushes.” Brand was always so helpful.

  “Will he contact me? Or do I need to reach out to him?”

  “He’ll be at the hotel at 5:00 a.m. tomorrow. You’ll meet him in the lobby.”

  “5:00 a.m.? Why such an ungodly hour?”

  “That’s the best time to head out. Unless you want to take pictures during the hottest part of the day.” Brand always had a knack for spinning things in a positive way.

  “Yeah, I guess that makes sense. But that means I have to go to bed early. You know I can’t do that,” Marissa said playfully.

  “I’m sure you’ll manage somehow, Marissa,” Brand responded coyly. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow to see how your first day went. Until then, try to stay out of trouble.”

  “What kind of photojournalist do you think I am?”

  She hung up the phone. As she got to her room, she was smiling, thinking of Brand. Just talking to him made her feel better about the whole assignment. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

  The next morning, her alarm went off with soul-crushing efficiency. N
ever had she been so disrupted out of sleep, including the time she was jolted awake by gunfire in the middle of the night. Just ten more minutes, she thought. As she groggily looked at the clock, she realized that there would be no time to hit the snooze button. It was already 4:30 a.m.

  She yawned as she exited the elevator. Ahead of her, a short, stubby man with a mustache and glasses was waiting furtively in the lobby. He looked at her as if he already knew who she was.

  “Marissa Larkin?” His voice was thick with a Georgian accent. It was also much more nasally than she would have imagined.

  “Yeah, that’s me.” Marissa struggled to keep from yawning, but she couldn’t resist. Her camera bag felt heavy on her shoulder, but then again, everything felt heavy this morning.

  “I’m Thomas, your guide. Are you ready to go?”

  “Can we get coffee on the way?”

  “Of course. There’s a coffee shop just a few minutes from here.”

  “How long will it take to get to the spot where the birds are?” Marissa yawned again, this time popping her jaw.

  “Um, it will take about two and a half hours to get there.”

  “Excellent, I can nap on the way.”

  “Can I help you with that?” Thomas pointed to her camera bag.

  “No, I got it. Just take me to wherever we’re going.”

  Outside, Thomas led her to a beat up old white van. Not the most glamorous transportation, but certainly not the worst.

  Chapter 3

  “We’re here.” Thomas shook Marissa awake.

  She woke up, still clutching her bag as a pillow. Her hair was tousled and messy, but she didn’t care.

  “Where are we?”

  “The Ocmulgee Wildlife Management Area.” Thomas opened the van door for her.

  “The what?”

  “Ocmulgee Wildlife Management Area. We’re a little ways South of Macon.”

  “Sounds pleasant.”

  As Marissa stepped out, she made sure to grab her still full coffee cup. She had taken only a sip earlier, and now it was cold and unappealing. She decided the caffeine was worth it anyway, and gulped it down. Thomas looked revolted.

  Outside, the air was thick and wet. She could feel sweat beading along her back already. Despite it still being early in the day, it was already hot. She could hear the sounds of birds and wildlife all around her. She marveled at the lush, verdant forest that surrounded them. Despite the heat, it was truly beautiful.

  “We have to check in with the ranger’s office before we can head out.” Thomas led the way.

  As Marissa followed, she pulled her camera out of her bag and started to take pictures of the greenery. She couldn’t spot any wildlife yet, but she knew that they were out there, waiting to be seen.

  As they made their way through the preserve, Thomas made sure to point out obstacles as well as points of interest. I’m not dressed for this, Marissa thought. She stumbled and stepped into a puddle. Now her shoes and socks were wet. This is lovely.

  Nonetheless, they pressed on. According to Thomas, the area where the waterthrush usually lived was right by the water. Shellstone Creek cut the preserve almost in half, meaning that there was plenty of area for the birds to reside. However, the best spot was right at the fork where the creek split in two. That meant they would have to walk for a while.

  “So what made you get into birds in the first place?” Marissa spoke disjointedly, trying to navigate her way around the rocks and brush.

  “Oh, I’m not an Ornithologist,” Thomas replied. He was yards ahead of Marissa, patiently waiting for her to catch up.

  “What do you mean? Then why are you my bird guide?”

  “I’m the only guy that your company could afford. I study rivers and creeks, not birds. But I do know what your thrushes look like.”

  “You study rivers? What is that even called?”

  “Potamology. You want to wait and rest for a bit?”

  “How much further is it?” Marissa was obviously winded.

  “About another twenty minutes till we reach the fork. We can rest for a while if you need to.”

  “No, I’ll press on, thank you. I’m not a weak little girl.”

  “I never said you were.”

  “It was implied.” Marissa flashed a wink and a smile to Thomas. He didn’t get dry sense of humor. Not like Brand, at least.

  When they arrived at the fork, Marissa was ready to collapse. She was used to walking on a treadmill, not rough and rocky terrain. For the first few minutes, she couldn’t even enjoy the majesty of the scene in front of her.

  “So, where are these birds exactly?” Marissa still struggled to catch her breath.

  “They should be somewhere around here. We need to find the nests first, then we can wait for the birds to return.”

  “Where are they now?”

  “In the morning, they go out in search for food and then bring it back to the nest. If we’re lucky, we’ll see some eggs, maybe some baby birds.”

  “It’s mating season right now?”

  “Breeding season, yes,” Thomas replied.

  “If only there was something like that for humans, eh?” Marissa joked. Thomas looked at her, unsure how much she was joking.

  “Let me take some pictures first. I want to get some B-shots of the area before we find a nest or anything.”

  “Take your time.”

  Marissa started to snap photos all over the place. The trees, the rocks, the creek, everything. In the distance, she could see what looked like a mattress. “Is that what I think it is?” she asked Thomas.

  “Um, I’m not sure what you are seeing.” Thomas struggled to find what she was looking at.

  “Over there, a mattress?”

  “Oh, yeah, sometimes people will dump stuff out here. There is an old access road not too far north of us. The rangers can’t monitor the gate all the time, so people come in and leave junk lying around.”

  “How wonderful.” Marissa zoomed in and took some shots of the mattress. She wondered what other kinds of “treasures” they would find out here.

  “Okay, let’s look for the nests.”

  As they walked along the creek, the drone of birds seemed to get louder. For all her photos, however, Marissa couldn’t quite get any close-up shots. It seemed as if they were all avoiding her.

  “Here we go.” Thomas stopped and pointed at a fallen log. “This should be a nest right here.”

  Marissa hunkered down on a large rock nearby. She aimed her lens at the log, and zoomed in. Inside, she could just see twigs and mud, nothing really exciting.

  “Are you sure this is a nest?” she asked.

  “Yup, I’ve seen waterthrush nests before. We’ll just wait for a while and see if they come back.” Thomas backed away and sat next to Marissa.

  She kept her lens trained on the nest, waiting for something to happen. “How long do you think?”

  “Depends. It could be a few minutes, or a few hours.”

  She shuddered at the thought of spending hours glued to that rock, but that was what the job asked for sometimes. She remembered back in Mexico, waiting for a drug supplier for three hours in a cramped and sweltering room above a garage. The meeting was supposed to be a secret, so she couldn’t come out because it would have blown her cover. At least in this case, she had plenty of fresh air.

  After a few minutes, the camera started to feel heavy. Marissa took a few shots of the nest itself, then set it down beside her. “So where do you live, Thomas?”

  “I live in Atlanta. You?”

  “New York. You been here your whole life?”

  “Yeah, haven’t really had any reason to leave.”

  “There’s a great big world out there; you don’t want to see any of it?” Marissa kept glancing back and forth at the nest.

  “Maybe, but I don’t have a lot of money for traveling. I’m not lucky like you.”

  “Believe me, you don’t want to live my life. Stuck in some of the worst places on E
arth just so you can get a blurry shot of something happening. It’s not exactly the glamorous lifestyle.” Even as she spoke, Marissa knew that she loved it. But it was certainly not for everyone.

  “So this is one of the worst places on Earth?” Thomas asked with a sly smirk.

  “Oh yeah, definitely more terrible than the slums of the Philippines. By a long shot.” Marissa winked back at him.

  While they were waiting for the birds, Marissa started to take shots of the area again, hoping to find something worthwhile. She found the mattress again, and decided that she would look for more garbage. Perhaps she could work that into her story somehow. Climate change and mankind’s arrogance were killing the waterthrush.

  She zoomed in past the mattress, and found some other choice pieces of junk. A couple tires, a microwave, and an old chair.

  “Psst. Over there,” Thomas whispered.

  Marissa spun around. He was pointing to a branch hanging over the creek. On top of it, a small, brown bird was perched. She snapped a couple photos of it.

  “That’s it? That little thing?” she asked.

  “Shh. You don’t want to disturb them.” Thomas kept his voice low.

  “Sorry. But that’s a waterthrush?” Marissa started to whisper back. She took a couple more images of the bird before it flew off.

  “Yeah, that’s what they look like. If we stay a little longer, she’ll probably go back to the nest.”

  “How do you know that it’s a girl?”

  “I don’t. I’m just assuming. I’m a potamologist, remember?” Thomas smiled.

  “Yeah, right.”

  A few minutes later, two waterthrush came to the nest. They looked like they were bringing back leaves and twigs to shore up their home and make it more inviting.

  “You think they’re going to be making babies soon?” Marissa whispered.

  “Probably. If we find another nest, we may see some eggs.” Thomas stared at the two birds intently.