Dearest readers,
In New York City, Maddie becomes the prime suspect in a high-profile murder. Can Mike uncover the truth and clear her name before it’s too late?
Maddie and her boyfriend Ben travel to New York City for a meeting with Ben’s publisher, Veronica Sterling. But their trip takes a sinister twist when Veronica is found murdered in their hotel room—and Maddie becomes the prime suspect. Fingerprints, surveillance footage, and a mysterious anonymous tip all seem to point to her involvement. Determined to clear Maddie’s name, Mike joins her and Ben in the bustling city. Together, they navigate the cutthroat world of publishing—where rivalries run deep and secrets can be deadly. As they dig deeper, they uncover a web of lies and betrayals—but can they find the real killer before Maddie ends up behind bars?
Happy reading!
Daisy
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👉Have you read it? I’d love a review on Amazon, Bookbub or Goodreads.
Big Apple Mystery
Chapter 1: Deadly Arrival
Maddie clutched the handle of her wheely suitcase, looking around with unabashed excitement. After a long plane ride, she and her boyfriend, Ben Hiddlestone, were finally in New York City. Anticipation tingled at the ends of her fingertips.
“I’ve saved all my money for three months so I can completely overhaul my wardrobe while we’re here,” she told Ben, enjoying the grand buildings close to the swanky hotel they were staying in for the duration. “While you’re in boring meetings, I’m going to be out on the town, spending more money than I ought to!”
Ben laughed and slid an arm around her waist. “Sounds like you’re going to have a grand time.”
They had come to the Big Apple because Ben had a few major meetings with his agent, Veronica Sterling, and the publisher. His newest thriller was due to be released in a few months and they had a lot of details to hash out. So when he asked Maddie to come with him, of course, she said yes.
They checked into their hotel. Maddie squealed with delight when she saw how wonderful it was. It was a two-bedroom condo-style room, complete with a kitchenette and sitting room. There was also a wonderful closed-in patio. She looked forward to sitting out there with her coffee as the sun rose over the city.
“I never thought much about how much bigger New York is when compared to Vancouver,” she said as they headed down the hall once more.
“You’ll get used to it.”
They headed to Veronica’s office, which was a sleek space in a massive skyscraper. The windows shone with reflected light. When they got to the actual office, Maddie was impressed to find privacy films over the windows. It made the office feel like it was in the middle of a stained-glass museum.
Veronica glared at her computer when they entered. Her secretary announced them and Veronica lifted her head. Her expression quickly shifted to a welcoming smile as she got to her feet.
“Ben, I’m so glad you could make it,” she said, then extended her hand to Maddie. “And you must be the Madeline Moreau that Ben’s told me so much about.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Maddie said with a grin.
“I apologize, but I’m not prepared for this meeting. I’ve been having some serious disagreements with some other authors and agents in the agency,” she said, shaking her head. “Is it possible to reschedule this to a meeting over dinner? I can come to your hotel.”
Ben’s shoulders slumped slightly. “Veronica, I’ve been in a state of agony, worried about everything from font choice to wondering whether the cover really is the best. I don’t appreciate this delay.”
“I know. It’s a terrible imposition,” Veronica said, her expression twisted in apology. “But to ease your mind, there’s nothing major to fix. Just a few small details that need your attention. I really must go, though. There have been some unexpected emergencies with one of my junior agents.”
“I suppose we’ll see you tonight,” Ben said resignedly.
Maddie slid her hand into his. She knew all too well the pre-launch jitters, and she was responsible for all of her own publishing. While Ben was very successful at traditional publishing, she’d chosen to self-publish the few books she wrote. For the most part, she made her living helping other writers achieve their goals. She loved plotting and lived for it. So when authors had all the elements they wanted but were unsure how to weave them together, that’s where she stepped in. She adored being a ghostwriter.
“There was that restaurant nearby that we talked about getting lunch at,” she said, tugging his hand lightly. “And then since we have the afternoon free, we should see about catching a show or something, rather than all the shopping. It was nice meeting you,” she said over her shoulder to Veronica.
They grabbed some food but when Maddie went to get her wallet to pay for her half—something she did out of habit, even though Ben teased her about it—she found that she didn’t have it on her.
“We’ll stop by the hotel before we head out, then,” Ben said. “I don’t like the idea of you in the city without money if we end up getting separated.”
He waited in their taxi as Maddie ran up to their hotel room. Her wallet was in her suitcase where she’d left it, and she shoved it into her purse. She noticed that one of the wine glasses that came with the hotel was sitting on the side table near the sofa. Ben must have used it earlier. She put it back—messes bothered her—and then headed out.
Ben’s anxiety was obvious. Maddie did her best to distract him from Veronica’s odd behavior. They explored the city, absorbing various sights and locations. After a mid-afternoon show, they walked along the street, heading back to the hotel on foot this time.
“This really is a vibrant city,” Maddie said when they got to the hotel. They had just enough time to both shower and get ready for the dinner meeting with Veronica.
They got to their suite only to find the door slightly ajar. It was the heavy type that swung shut behind them automatically, so they both paused, glancing at each other. What looked like one of Maddie’s shoes was wedged in the doorway.
“I didn’t even unpack those yet,” she murmured, tension sweeping through her. “Should we call hotel security?”
Ben nodded. “I’m going to just check inside really quick.”
He opened the door wider and peered in while Maddie pulled her phone from her pocket. She reported what they found as she and Ben inched inside. Ben called out, but there was no answer.
“Stay in the hallway until we get there,” the staff member told her firmly.
Maddie grasped Ben’s arm and tugged him back out. Soon enough, a portly security guard with keen eyes came trundling down the hall. He stepped into the suite, his hand on the gun at his hip. Nothing seemed out of order in the main room, nor in the bedroom that Ben claimed.
“Doesn’t seem like anything’s wrong here,” the security guard said as he opened up Maddie’s door.
The body in Maddie’s bedroom proved him wrong. Maddie gasped. It was Veronica! She grabbed Ben’s arm as the security guard froze. Veronica lay face-down on the floor, her limbs askew as though she’d fallen without the chance to catch herself. A sticky mat of blood caked in her hair.
Maddie rushed forward. She dropped to her knees and checked Veronica’s pulse.
Nothing.
“She’s dead,” she said, looking up. She shuddered as she got back to her feet. “We need to call the police.”
“Right,” the security guard stuttered.
Maddie and Ben shared wide-eyed looks. What was Veronica doing in their hotel suite like this? And, more importantly, who killed her? That blow to her head couldn’t be accidental. But who was it? Who would have a motive to kill a literary agent?
* * *
“Me?” Maddie gasped, staring at Detective Jess Bernett with wide eyes. “You think I killed Veronica?”
“We found a half-empty glass of wine near the victim’s body with your fingerprints on it,” the detective answered. He had clear brown eyes and a grim face, the sort that would be good in a film noir. It made Maddie even more chilled when he accused her of murder.
“I handled one of the glasses earlier in the day,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t know how it got there. I didn’t even know Veronica was in the room!”
Jess folded his arms and narrowed his eyes. “We also have video footage of you entering the suite moments after the victim entered. Nobody else came in or out of the suite, either before or after you. How do you explain that?”
Maddie opened her mouth and closed it again. How could she explain that? She couldn’t, that was it. She’d been adjacent to enough murder cases to know that this was beyond her skill level. She needed help.
“We received an anonymous call reporting an argument in the suite during the time that you were in there with Veronica.” Jess leaned back and steepled his fingers as he gazed at her. “I’ve reviewed the footage myself. It’s chilling how big of a smile you had coming out of that suite after killing a woman in cold blood.”
He was baiting her.
Maddie took a deep breath. She wasn’t guilty, she knew that—but Detective Burnett didn’t. With this much evidence pointing at her, she knew that there was only one thing she could do.
“I will not be answering any other questions until I have a lawyer present,” she said, lacing her fingers together.
Jess narrowed his eyes. “In my experience, only guilty people ask for lawyers.”
Maddie tensed but refused to give in. It was an intimidation tactic, that was all. “I am invoking my right to legal counsel. I will not say anything else.”
“Fine.” Jess’s chair scraped against the floor as he stood. “But you’re not helping your case.”
Her heart pounded and her head spun. She was the prime suspect. A lawyer was the only thing that could help her—that, or find the true killer.