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    Whispers of Murder: Murder Novella Series
    Whispers of Murder: Murder Novella Series
    Whispers of Murder: Murder Novella Series
    Ebook104 pages48 minutes

    Whispers of Murder: Murder Novella Series

    By Cheryl Bradshaw

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    About this ebook

    From New York Times and USA Today best selling mystery author Cheryl Bradshaw:

    It was Isabelle Donnelly’s wedding day, a moment in time that should have been the happiest in her life…until it ended in murder.

    Three women, three motives to kill:

    --A jealous sister
    --A company CFO
    --A newfound friend

    But which one is plotting against her? Which one wants her dead?

    Think you know who did it? Think again.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCheryl Bradshaw
    Release dateJan 16, 2012
    ISBN9781502295675
    Whispers of Murder: Murder Novella Series
    Author

    Cheryl Bradshaw

    Born and raised in Southern California, Cheryl Bradshaw became interested in writing at a young age, but it was almost two decades before she put pen to paper. In 2009 Bradshaw wrote Black Diamond Death (Book One: Sloane Monroe series). Within six weeks it entered the top 100 in two different categories and remained in the top 100 for over a year. Since that time, Bradshaw has written three additional novels in the series, and is now hard at work on the fourth. In 2013, Bradshaw introduced a new pranormal thriller series: Addison Lockhart, the first book titled Grayson Manor Haunting. Bradshaw is the founder of IWU on Facebook, a writers group with over 1,800 members. In August 2012, Bradshaw was named one of Twitter's seven best authors to follow.

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      Book preview

      Whispers of Murder - Cheryl Bradshaw

      DEDICATION

      This novella is dedicated to Kylie.

      May you never stray far from the vineyard. 

      Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. 

      The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.

      -Abraham Lincoln

      CHAPTER 1

      Isabelle Donnelly’s eyes darted around the room, first to her mother, then to her sister before coming to rest on the man that stood as a barrier between herself and her betrothed.   

      We are gathered here today in the presence of God to offer up our bounteous thanks for the gift of marriage, and to witness the joining together of Isabelle and Leo, the pastor said. 

      Isabelle looked at her mother who was positioned on a pew in the front row, picking at a single piece of lace fabric in her lap as if she hoped it would unravel, just like she hoped the wedding would. Her mother hadn’t made eye contact since she entered the church, and Isabelle suspected she wouldn’t, not after the blow up she’d had with her father the night before.  He’d knocked on the door to Isabelle’s hotel room in a last-ditch effort to dissuade her from her decision to marry a man neither he nor her mother found suitable. When she refused to listen to what Dad called the Donnelly voice of reason, he’d stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind him. And in a further act of protest, he hadn’t shown up for the wedding.

      The pastor continued.    

      Today is a time for family and friends to share in their commitment to each other by offering Isabelle and Leo our continued support, love, and best wishes in their lives together.

      Isabelle’s gaze shifted to her sister, Melanie, who, at twenty-eight was two years her senior. She was dressed in a fitted lavender dress that matched nicely with her hazel eyes and long, straight, brown hair. Slouched in her seat, she gave Isabelle a look of disgust—a look that asked the questions on everyone’s minds:

      Why the hell are you doing this?

      Why are you marrying a man you hardly know?

      Isabelle scrunched her eyes shut. Today was her wedding day, a day to be happy, to rejoice, but everywhere she looked she was met with scowls of disapproval.  It made her question why they’d come at all, and why they hadn’t forsaken her like her father who had left her at the last moment to walk down the aisle alone.  Did he really think she wouldn’t go through with it just because he disapproved?  And where was her childhood friend Emmett?  He promised he’d be there, and yet, as she studied the faces of everyone in attendance, his was absent.

      Isabelle disregarded the tension saturating the room and stared into Leo’s bright, brown eyes, watching as he slid a three-carat diamond band into position on her finger.

      I know we’ve only known each other for a few months, he said, but I’d feel the same even if it had been three years.  Before we met, I never knew women like you existed.

      A faint gagging sound broke the silence.  Isabelle turned to her sister who clasped her hand to her throat as if she had a piece of meat trapped inside of it.  

      The pastor placed a hand over hers. It’s your turn to say your vows.  

      She breathed in.  Leo, I …

      The next two minutes were a blur.

      Leo rubbed his thumb across the inside of her palm when she finished, leaned forward, and whispered, We’re almost there.

      The pastor surveyed the audience.  If any of you can show just cause why these two fine people shouldn’t be married, speak now or else forever hold your peace.

      Isabelle glared at Melanie who shook her head, but remained silent.

      The back doors to the church flung open and Isabelle’s father staggered inside.  Emmett followed close behind. Even from a distance, she noticed the pained, emotional look on her father’s face. The look of disappointment. Emmett ushered her father to an unoccupied pew at the back of the room. Her father hung his head and sat down.

      The pastor continued. Now that Isabelle and Leo have given themselves to each other by solemn vows before us and before God as witness, and have shown their affection and trust by the giving and receiving of rings and by joining hands, by the power vested in me I pronounce you husband and wife.

      Isabelle felt a strange uneasiness stirring from within as the preacher rambled on. Her legs buckled beneath her like they were all fluid and no bone, and she collapsed, her head smacking against the hardwood floor upon impact.    

      Within seconds, her sister had scurried to her side, cradling Isabelle’s head in her lap.  Leo bent down. Melanie slapped his hand away. 

      Don’t touch her! she hissed.  "You did this!" 

      I was just trying to—

      Melanie turned and yelled, Emmett! 

      But there was no need, he was already there.

      What should have been one of the happiest moments in Isabelle’s life turned out to be the day her entire world fell apart.

      CHAPTER 2

      Isabelle sat upright and tried to adjust to the unfamiliar surroundings around her.  The sound of her father’s voice emanated from the hallway.  If you hadn’t pressured her to marry you before she was ready, none of this would have happened.

      We love each other, Leo said. I didn’t see a reason to wait. Besides, she’s fine.

      "She’s

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