Double Long Murder- Exclusive Excerpt
Chapter 14
Harry Houdini
The witch had ruined my life. Again. I gave the large pot blocking my entrance to my kingdom one more shove, my fur rubbing against the textured clay.
Nothing.
My teeth chattered as the delicious scent of ripe berries and plump carrots rose in the air. How dare she prevent me from entering her House of Green in such a rude manner? It was unbecoming of her. This wasn’t the first time she had come up with ways to stop me from eating what was rightfully mine, and it was beginning to frustrate me to no small extent.
Maybe it was time to move on. Go somewhere where I was appreciated.
I squeezed around the side of the small house in the witch’s backyard, my butt knocking over another planter. I glanced back, whiskers wiggling. Good.
Slowly, I made my way out of the garden and out of the witch’s life. Another scent caught my attention and my paws buried deep into the earth stopped me. Nose in the air, I sniffed for the abysmal intrusion. The smell was familiar enough, but I couldn’t quite put a paw on it. Then, it hit me.
My head swiveled around just in time. Behind me, a grayish man floated past the House of Green and towards the witch’s front door. There were two similar humans behind him, except they weren’t quite right. More like the obnoxious blonde hanging around the witch.
What was it she called them?
Oh, yes. Ghosts.
My eyes rounded to see clearer in the dark as the ghosts neared the house. Suddenly, two more appeared. Three more. Too many to count, even if I wasn’t too tired to bother.
The ghosts paid me no mind, concentrating so hard on the witch’s house they didn’t realize they were being watched. Stalked. By a most expert night creature. My paws padded softly, and I swung my rump to and fro, following them like the predator I was. When I realized the ghosts weren’t leaving, I paused again. What did they want?
My neck stretched to see around the porch. The ghosts gathered right outside the front door, deliberating. Inside the house, the witch was clueless, as was her nature, I realized now. She was completely oblivious to the danger right outside her door. Where was that blood-smelling man she kept around? He wasn’t much better, but at least he could offer her some assistance.
Eyes narrowing on the path leading into the woods, I considered my escape. I should go. The witch made it clear I wasn’t welcome. Still...
I pressed closer to the house. The brick bit into my skin and I rubbed against it, eliminating an itch that had been bothering me for hours.
With a shake and shimmy, I backed up until my side hit the pipe hanging off the side of the house. I had used it many times to get in while the witch was gone. What’s one more? Clipping my nails to the metal, I began my ascent. Step by step, I put more distance between me and the ghosts, the smell of their arrival getting weaker. Using my nose, I pried the upstairs window open and rolled into the farmhouse. My bottom hit the creaky floorboards with a thud.
Step one complete.
Looking around, I found the objects that would make the most noise and got to work. One by one, I tore them from their spots, knocking them into the walls, the floor, and each other. Anything to get the witch’s attention.
Outside, the wind howled as the incoming snow storm got closer and closer.
My attention landed on the bedroom door and the angry footsteps running up the steps.
The witch owed me big time, and she was a fool if she thought I wouldn’t collect. I shall take my payment in cookie form, thank you very much.
(C) A.N. Sage, Oliver Heber Books, 2024. Shared with permission from the publisher.
Orchard Hollow #6
Life in a small town is great, until the deity of death comes calling.
Piper Addison has only one goal: live a normal, quiet life in a normal, quiet town. All signs point to success for our local witch. Her vampire boyfriend can’t get enough of her, the ghost familiar she’s tethered to has been in a great mood, and the cafe she opened is booming.
There is only one little catch. Piper isn’t your run-of-the-mill witch. She also happens to be Hades’ daughter. That’s right, folks! The ruler of the Underworld himself.
After spending months infiltrating the wicked coven that’s intent on raising her father, Piper might finally have a lead. That is, until the local map maker dies, leaving Piper with more questions than answers.
Can Piper find the location of the coven’s ritual in time or is Orchard Hollow, and the rest of the world, doomed to suffer under the rule of a monster?
Double Long Murder is a paranormal cozy mystery complete with an unlucky witch, a ghost familiar, and a feisty raccoon with a talent for getting into sticky situations.
Mystery Amateur Sleuth | Mystery Cozy [Oliver-Heber Books, On Sale: September 10, 2024, e-Book, / ]
A.N. Sage is a bestselling, award-winning author of mystery and fantasy novels. She has spent most of her life waiting to meet a witch, vampire, or at least get haunted by a ghost. In between failed seances and many questionable outfit choices, she has developed a keen eye for the extra-ordinary.
A.N. spends her free time reading and binge-watching television shows in her pajamas. Currently, she resides in Toronto, Canada with her husband who is not a creature of the night and their daughter who just might be.
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