Gravely Dead: Carly Keene Cozy Mysteries, #2

Chapter 1

The crisp evening air and crunchy leaves underfoot made Carly Keene practically giddy with joy. Autumn had arrived in Parker’s Mill, and it was her favorite time of year for photography. The rich golds and ambers of the trees in her hometown seemed to glow in the Georgia sunlight, and she’d stayed out much later than she’d planned, taking pictures of her small town in all its autumnal glory. As she strolled down Baker Street, her best friend Shell beside her, she was lost in the beauty of a dusky October sunset, blissfully unaware that she would shortly stumble upon her second dead body of the year.

Do you ever get tired of taking photographs? Shell sipped her hot apple cider and pulled her cardigan tighter. She didn’t quite share Carly’s enthusiasm for the Great Outdoors and was mentally preparing her checklist for Monday morning at Sweets & Eats, the bakery she ran for her parents.

Do you ever get tired of thinking about baking? Carly retorted, snapping one last picture before giving in to the waning light. I guess we can head on home, she sighed. I just wanted to get as many of these outdoor shots as I could before all the leaves fall. They’re just not as pretty once they’ve hit the ground and gotten rained on.

The women had been out since just after three o’clock in the afternoon, and it was now nearly seven, and really too dark to take any decent photos, anyway. Shell had tagged along reluctantly, being unable to come up with a suitable excuse not to get out and enjoy the walk. They’d started out on Main Street and circled up through the small downtown area, strolling down several of the little side streets to capture sunlight dappled leaves, children playing in the park, and the lonely headstones of some of Parker’s Mill’s oldest residents over in the city graveyard.

Shell may not have been all that interested in photography, but even she had to admit that their sleepy little southern town was quite photogenic. She enjoyed walking with her best friend, but she liked it even better when they stayed home and munched on microwave popcorn while vegging out in front of the television.

Carly and Shell were opposites in so many ways, but that’s what made them such good friends. Carly loved to get out and be active, while Shell preferred being a homebody, but somehow it just seemed to work. They’d lived together in Carly’s Great Aunt Trina’s old house for nearly three years now, and had never had so much as a squabble. Shell often joked that the pair were more like a little old married couple, but Carly suspected that a pair of crazy spinsters might be a better description. Neither seemed in any hurry to get married or have kids, and that suited Carly just fine. It was more fun living with your best gal friend than she imagined it would be living with some guy, so the pair were enjoying the situation while it lasted.

As they neared the old graveyard, winding their way back towards Main Street and Carly’s beat up old truck, Carly thought she saw the flicker of a light dance around the dark space at the rear of the cemetery. Hey, did you see that? She stopped for a minute and pointed out the light to Shell.

So? It’s probably some kids back there making out. I mean, you wouldn’t catch me making out in some dirty old graveyard, but kids today will do anything, anywhere. Shell had a serious dislike for dirt and had developed what Carly considered to be OCD tendencies where cleaning was concerned.

Carly strained her eyes, but the light was moving erratically, and she couldn’t tell for sure what exactly it was. I don’t know...it might be. But, it might be those vandals again. Maybe we ought to go take a look. Carly’s cousin, Brandon, had been trying to catch some vandals that were damaging property all over the city. He thought it was just kids having fun, but he wasn’t willing to look the other way when that vandalism spread to the local businesses, and Carly was certain he would be furious if the vandals hit the graveyard.

Shell crossed her arms over her chest. I am not going into that graveyard to go see about some light. It might have been lightning bugs. The petite blonde knew well enough that fireflies, or lightning bugs as they were called in Parker’s Mill, were long gone for the year, but she couldn’t think of any other reason to avoid the old graveyard.

Don’t be a big old chicken, Shell Summers. Let’s sneak back there and surprise them. If they’re in there messing up graves, I’m getting Brandon over here pronto. My grandad’s grave is up there, and I will not let vandals damage his headstone. Carly’s love for her late grandfather was surpassed only by her need for the world to be a right and just place. Her parents swore she should have become a lawyer, but Carly hadn’t felt called to that profession the way she had to photography, and now the intrepid photographer was determined that justice would be served to whoever was up in the cemetery, potentially making trouble.

The gate to the old cemetery was never locked, despite the fact that vandals had been on the property a handful of times throughout the years. Mostly the damage was limited to overturned flower pots and silly string sprayed on headstones, though there was one incident of a statue that had been egged by some teenagers on Halloween. That had been when Carly was still in school, and the most recent vandalism had taken place right near the gate itself, so if the elusive lights were attributed to vandals, they’d gotten smarter and headed for the older, more secluded part of the graveyard.

It was tricky walking through the cemetery at night, and Carly pulled out her cell phone to cast enough light to see so that she could avoid tripping over any of the low-standing headstones. Twice Shell tripped and nearly yelled out, but somehow the two finally managed to reach the back of the graveyard without major injury. Hiding behind a tall, obelisk-shaped statue, Carly craned her neck and strained her eyes to see if she could spot the source of the lights, but they seemed to have disappeared.

I don’t see anything, Shell whispered, do you think we scared them off?

Carly listened, straining to hear any sound at all. She thought she heard a scuffling noise, like someone dragging their feet across the grass, but she realized that it was Shell, rubbing her arms to keep the chill away. Hey, it’s too dark out here. I think they’ve gone anyways...let’s go on home and we can come back tomorrow when it’s daylight. If we see any stuff that’s been damaged, we can call Brandon. Carly knew Shell was probably right, and if they returned the next day and found anything amiss, they could just call Carly’s cousin to come and investigate, but curiosity had hold of Carly, and she wasn’t going to leave just yet.

Stay here if you want, but I’m going over there and taking a look. I can use my phone like a flashlight, and I just want to make sure that my grandaddy’s grave is okay. Carly stepped out from behind the statue and tried to look brave as she headed over to where she’d seen the light moving just minutes before. She knew, even in the dark, that her grandfather’s grave was just over the little grassy knoll that lay ahead. She’d visited it often enough, and she knew that there were just two other plots that lay before it. She mentally counted off the steps in her head, and as she topped the little grassy mound she stopped dead in her tracks.

Shell walked straight into he, knocking herself off-balance. What did you stop for? she whispered loudly.

Well, somebody’s been here alright, Carly said, ignoring her friend’s question. And it looks like they’re still here. Carly shone the light of her phone ahead at the ground between the first two graves in the plot. Shell gasped as the light illuminated the outline of a man lying face down in the dirt.

Oh my god! Shell shrieked, forgetting to be quiet in the chilly graveyard. Is he dead?

Carly moved numbly down the little hill and knelt carefully beside the man. Sir, are you alright? He didn’t answer, and Carly had a terrible feeling that he wouldn’t be answering any of her questions. She reached out gingerly and touched his outstretched hand, feeling for a pulse just below his wrist. His sleeves were buttoned and she couldn’t find his wrist in all the fabric. He was cold, but then again, so was she. Hesitating, she reached up to his neck and felt just below his ear. Nothing.

Can we help you? Shell was speaking loudly and clearly, as though she might be able to rouse the man from his unconsciousness.

I don’t think anybody can help him, Carly said, standing up carefully. I think he’s dead.

She stepped away from the body, taking care to go back the way she had come. I guess I’d better call Brandon. She didn’t say it out loud, but Carly had a sinking suspicion that she’d just discovered her second murder victim, the first having been one of her clients earlier in the summer.

As if Shell could read her mind, the bubbly blonde spoke up. Well, shoot, girl, death just seems to follow you like a bad stink. Never one to hold her tongue, she sighed and continued, I told you we should have gone on home. Now, instead of watching my shows on the DVR, I’ve gotta watch your cousin, the cop, come see about a dead guy.

Carly wondered how Shell could be so matter-of-fact about the whole thing, because Carly was feeling pretty anxious standing next to a dead body, especially since someone had been moving around right in the very spot in which she was now standing, just minutes before. You don’t think it was this guy we saw from the road, do you, Shell?

Shell darted her eyes around the graveyard and huddled closer to Carly. Unless dead guys carry flashlights and know how to use them from the Great Beyond, I’d say we might be being watched right this minute by a ghost.

Don’t be silly, Shell, Carly chided. There aren’t any ghosts hanging around this old cemetery. But there could be a murderer, she thought to herself, and she really didn’t want to bump into them out here in the dark. Her fingers trembled slightly as she opened her cousin’s contact information and pressed the call button. Oh, Brandon, please hurry up and answer your phone. When a familiar voice finally answered, she didn’t waste time with niceties.

Brandon, it’s Carly. I’m at the old cemetery up on Baker Street, and I’ve got a body for you. Can you please come and get it so I can go home? Carly didn’t wait for Brandon to respond. She walked over to the far edge of the hill and sat down, closing the call screen on her phone. He’ll be here in a minute.

Shell looked at Carly, and then at the dead guy. Lordy, I hope so. I do not want to be fighting off any murderers out here in the dark. I just painted my nails, and I don’t care to chip them.

As the two friends sat and waited not-so-patiently for the police to arrive, Carly wondered why she always seemed to be finding other people’s problems these days. It seemed as though photography, and her natural curiosity, kept leading her into trouble. Maybe it’s time I found a new hobby, she thought to herself, and continued to wait for Brandon to arrive.

Chapter 2

Carly dropped her purse on the table beside the front door and threw herself down on the sofa. She rolled onto her back and sighed. I cannot believe what we just saw tonight.

Shell hung her purse on the coat rack by the door and hung her jacket over it. I can’t believe that you just keep finding dead bodies. I can’t even find a parking spot at the mall, and you’re over here practically being Miss Marple. Shell smiled to let Carly know she was just kidding and headed straight for the kitchen. I’m in shock. I need ice cream.

Carly sat up and reviewed the evening’s events. Her cousin, Brandon, had been the first police officer to the scene, and he’d immediately identified the body as Hugh Daniels, a local judge, and prominent figure down at the courthouse. Carly couldn’t say for sure, but she thought maybe she’d seen him around town, probably at Chow Time or possibly even at the bakery. Wherever she’d seen him, she knew wouldn’t forget his face anytime soon. When Brandon had shone his flashlight on the man’s pale face, Carly had etched that memory in place like a photograph in her mind.

Shell came out of the kitchen with two bowls of ice cream and a pair of spoons. Handing one to Carly, she shuddered. I can’t believe we were so close to a murder and we never got a look at the killer. I mean, what if they saw us? Do you think we could be in any danger? Shell wasn’t the type of girl to get scared easily, but Carly could see she was genuinely worried about their safety.

No, Carly said firmly. "I am sure we are fine. It was dark, and we didn’t see or hear anyone else around the body, so I’m sure whoever killed that man didn’t know we were