Death on Hanover Read online

  Haley awoke to the sounds of low voices coming from the kitchen. She smiled at the image of Samantha and Talia eating breakfast and rose with a skip to her step that she didn’t quite understand. She’d often avoid the meal altogether, but now, she found she looked forward to the morning meal and this new tradition.

  “Good morning,” she said as she entered the kitchen.

  Samantha and Talia sang in unison, “Good morning.”

  Haley took her place at the table, where eggs and bacon along with toast and jam, awaited. “Smells terrific.”

  Samantha poured Haley a cup of coffee, “You say that every morning.”

  Haley added cream and sugar and gave her brew a good stir. “It’s true every morning.”

  Talia giggled. “You’re funny, Auntie Haley.”

  Haley smiled. “Thank you.” The attachment that had grown between her and the young girl surprised her. She imagined this would be as close as she’d get to experiencing what it might be like to have a daughter.

  “Are you excited about school today?” Haley said.

  Talia nodded, her blond curls bouncing.

  “You are?” Haley said, her astonishment not wholly exaggerated. Talia usually wrinkled her nose and pouted at the question. Haley had convinced Samantha to allow her to pay for private school, one with a good science program.

  “We’re going to the museum today,” Talia said. “I’m going to see dinosaur bones!”

  Samantha laughed, and Haley joined in. Once, Haley had worried that Samantha might never smile again.

  With the new year came new hope.

  After breakfast, the morning hustle began with all three getting ready to be gone for the day. Samantha and Talia caught the bus, while Haley drove her DeSoto to the hospital. In the morgue, Haley settled into her new office and enjoyed the view through the windows of the other desks and operating lounge.

  Haley had offered Mr. Martin her old position as assistant Chief Medical Examiner and watched him busy with paperwork at her old desk.

  She reviewed the work that had come through the morgue over the holidays, making sure the autopsy reports were completed and bodies released on time. The telephone in her office rang—a new addition to the morgue—and she answered it.

  “Hello, Gerald,” she said, feeling the smile tug upwards. She could imagine him on the other side of the line, with kind eyes, his salt-and-pepper hair oiled back, and his white doctor’s coat crisp. He wanted to know if she’d like to see the latest Clara Bow movie that evening.

  “Yes,” she said. “I’d love to.”

  Samantha still wore black, but now she added hints of color to her wardrobe, lavender mostly. A ribbon on her hat, a sash at the waist. Sometimes, like today, a tri-strand of artificial pearls against her throat. As soon as the snow melted, she decided, she’d put the mourning dresses away for good.

  Haley’s invitation for her and Talia to move in had been a shock. After so many losses, her offer had been a beacon of light too generous for Samantha to accept. But Haley had been convincing. How could Samantha raise a daughter on her own, in a tenement building that harbored black mold among other human types of dangers?

  “You’re a single woman with a child. It’s not safe.”

  Haley had had a good point. There were more than a few unsavory types. A man deprived of work and food wasn’t often the best company for people like Samantha and Talia. They made a bargain: Samantha would do light cooking and housework to help fill the hole that Molly had left, in exchange for rent. Mr. August had agreed to give her fewer hours so she could perform those domestic duties and pick up her daughter from school. If work became demanding, Mrs. Berrymaple next door offered to watch Talia.

  Lemonade out of lemons.

  Life was different with Bina and Seth gone, and sadly, Samantha had to admit, a lot better. Seth had left a surprise behind. Samantha had found a key among his things that fit a locker at the train station. Inside she’d found a duffle bag containing several thousand dollars.

  Samantha hadn’t known what to do with the money. She’d had to assume it had possibly been obtained by Seth through nefarious means, but how did she know that for sure? Seth had never told her what he’d been doing for the last seven years. Maybe he’d been working somewhere and had saved it for when he came home.

  There was a slight chance that the version of events could be true.

  Regardless, there was no way to track the money. Haley had convinced her to keep it for Talia’s sake. She’d inquired discreetly of Detective Cluney if he’d heard of a moderate sum of money going missing anywhere in the United States. There was nothing to link Seth to a significant crime, like a bank or train robbery. Haley suggested Samantha put the money in trust for Talia’s future.

  Now that Samantha was an official widow, she was free to date again. Tom Bell had been waiting for this moment, and just as Samantha was about to agree on a date, he’d got engaged to another lady!

  Good for him. Miss Hyde seemed like a nice gal, and Tom deserved to be happy.

  The pit was busy with fingers flying on typewriters, conversations on telephones, and the telegraph noisily spitting out papers. Samantha worked on an article for the ladies’ column, “A Modern Woman’s New Year’s Resolutions”. She hadn’t been on a big investigation since she’d been the big case. Will Delaney’s arrest and subsequent hanging overshadowed Seth’s involvement, but it didn’t keep her, as his widow, out of the limelight. She’d been hounded by the press at competing papers for weeks, and now had a new sensitivity for people when she was after a story.

  Of course, she’d given the Boston Daily Record an exclusive. Mr. August rewarded her with a nice raise too.

  Samantha watched Johnny Milwaukee out of the corner of her eye—a bad habit she’d developed lately. He hunched over his typewriter, a cigarette balanced at the corner of his mouth, his eyes intense as he plucked away at the keys, one finger at a time. He glanced up and caught her looking. She quickly stared back at the roll of paper in her typewriter, unable to focus.

  She sensed, rather than saw, him approach her desk.

  “Hey doll, whatcha workin’ on?”

  She forced a look of disinterest as she leaned back in her chair. “Not much. Gotta New Year’s goal you wanna share with the ladies?”

  He leaned against her desk and rubbed his clean-shaven chin in thought. “I think a gal should consider love in the new year. Fresh leaf, fresh start. That kind of thing.”

  Samantha stared back coyly. “Good idea, Mr. Milwaukee. Got anything more specific than that?”

  He grinned and leaned in. “How about lunch? They make a great bisque soup around the corner.”

  “Hmm,” Samantha said. She was teasing Johnny, but the red growing in her cheeks was sure to give her away. “I dunno. I might be busy.”

  “I’ve got a new lead.”

  Samantha sat up. “You do?”

  He winked. “Is that a yes, Miss Hawke.”

  Samantha grabbed her hat. “It’s a yes.”

  To make sure you don’t miss the next new release, be sure to sign up for Lee’s readers’ list and get 4 FREE short stories!

  Don’t miss the next Ginger Gold Mystery NEW RELEASE!

  MURDER ON FLEET STREET

  Murder’s a Deadly Secret

  Mrs. Ginger Reed—the former Lady Gold—thought her past was dead and buried, but when the mysterious death of a British Secret Service agent threatens to expose her own Great War secrets, she’s faced with an unimaginable dilemma: break her legal vow to the Official Secrets Act or join the agency again, something she’s loathed to do.

  Because once they own your soul, there’s no getting it back.

  READ ON FOR AN EXERPT

  Coming January 2020. This book will not be available for preorder so be sure to follow Lee on social media or join her readers’ list to stay informed.

  Learn more at leestraussbooks.com

  While you’re waiting for this new release why not try
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br />   MURDER AT EATON SQUARE.

  Murder’s Bad Karma. . .

  Life couldn’t be better on Eaton Square Gardens where the most prestigious families lived, until one of their own dies and it’s murder.

  Ginger and Basil are on the case, but it’s not a simple glass of bubbly fizz. The more the clues present themselves, the trickier the puzzle gets, and Ginger feels she’s on a wild goose chase.

  But as someone close to the victim so aptly quips, “One shouldn’t commit murder. It’s bad karma.”

  Reaping what one sows is hardly a great cup of tea.

  Buy on Amazon or read for free on Kindle Unlimited.

  About the Author

  Lee Strauss is a USA TODAY bestselling author of The Ginger Gold Mysteries series, The Higgins & Hawke Mystery series (cozy historical mysteries), A Nursery Rhyme Mystery series (mystery suspense), The Perception series (young adult dystopian), The Light & Love series (sweet romance), The Clockwise Collection (YA time travel romance), and young adult historical fiction with over a million books read. She has titles published in German, Spanish and Korean, and a growing audio library.

  When Lee’s not writing or reading she likes to cycle, hike, and play pickleball. She loves to drink caffè lattes and red wines in exotic places, and eat dark chocolate anywhere.

  For more info on books by Lee Strauss and her social media links, visit leestraussbooks.com. To make sure you don’t miss the next new release, be sure to sign up for her readers’ list and get 4 FREE short stories!

  Join my Facebook readers group for fun discussions and first-to-know exclusives!

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  www.leestraussbooks.com

  [email protected]

  More from Lee Strauss

  On AMAZON

  GINGER GOLD MYSTERY SERIES (cozy 1920s historical)

  Cozy. Charming. Filled with Bright Young Things. This Jazz Age murder mystery will entertain and delight you with its 1920s flair and pizzazz!

  Murder on the SS Rosa

  Murder at Hartigan House

  Murder at Bray Manor

  Murder at Feathers & Flair

  Murder at the Mortuary

  Murder at Kensington Gardens

  Murder at St. Georges Church

  Murder Aboard the Flying Scotsman

  Murder at the Boat Club

  Murder on Eaton Square

  LADY GOLD INVESTIGATES (Ginger Gold companion short stories)

  Volume 1

  Volume 2

  Volume 3

  HIGGINS & HAWKE MYSTERY SERIES (cozy 1930s historical)

  The 1930s meets Rizzoli & Isles in this friendship depression era cozy mystery series.

  Death at the Tavern

  Death on the Tower

  Death on Hanover

  A NURSERY RHYME MYSTERY SERIES(mystery/sci fi)

  Marlow finds himself teamed up with intelligent and savvy Sage Farrell, a girl so far out of his league he feels blinded in her presence - literally - damned glasses! Together they work to find the identity of @gingerbreadman. Can they stop the killer before he strikes again?

  Gingerbread Man

  Life Is but a Dream

  Hickory Dickory Dock

  Twinkle Little Star

  THE PERCEPTION TRILOGY (YA dystopian mystery)

  Zoe Vanderveen is a GAP—a genetically altered person. She lives in the security of a walled city on prime water-front property along side other equally beautiful people with extended life spans. Her brother Liam is missing. Noah Brody, a boy on the outside, is the only one who can help ~ but can she trust him?

  Perception

  Volition

  Contrition

  LIGHT & LOVE (sweet romance)

  Set in the dazzling charm of Europe, follow Katja, Gabriella, Eva, Anna and Belle as they find strength, hope and love.

  Sing me a Love Song

  Your Love is Sweet

  In Light of Us

  Lying in Starlight

  PLAYING WITH MATCHES (WW2 history/romance)

  A sobering but hopeful journey about how one young Germany boy copes with the war and propaganda. Based on true events.

  As Elle Lee Strauss

  THE CLOCKWISE COLLECTION (YA time travel romance)

  Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this ~ she's accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time. Awkward.

  Clockwise

  Clockwiser

  Like Clockwork

  Counter Clockwise

  Clockwork Crazy

  Standalones

  Seaweed

  Love, Tink

  Murder on Fleet Street

  Chapter 1

  Mrs. Ginger Reed, also known around the city of London as Lady Gold, loved a good party. And if the official adoption of her son, Scout, wasn’t a fabulous reason to celebrate, then she couldn’t think of what was.

  A three-piece band had set up in the corner of the drawing room at Hartigan House, Ginger’s childhood home in South Kensington, and begun to play.

  “Basil, love,” she said, clasping her husband’s arm, “we simply must dance.”

  He smiled back at her, his hazel eyes twinkling in a manner that made Ginger’s heart burst with pride. She’d chosen her rose georgette gown with the sequinned double-scalloped skirt especially because she knew it was one of his favourites. Her long strand of beads complemented the pearly-white bead trim in the hem, and a dramatic red bow was stitched low on the hipline. She’d pinned back her red bob, newly styled in finger waves that morning, with a delicate hair clip, trimmed with rhinestones.

  Dancing was a favourite pastime for Ginger and Basil. They’d met properly for the first time on the dance floor of a club on the SS Rosa, on a steamship journey from Boston to Liverpool. It was also where they’d both met their son, Scout, who’d worked in the belly of the ship tending the animals including in the pet kennel where Ginger’s Boston terrier Boss had spent time.

  “Isn’t it funny how things turn out?” she said as Basil swept her around the drawing room, swirling past large portraits on ivory and green art deco wallpaper. It wasn’t as large as the ball room found in some houses, but, with the furniture pushed back, it was plenty big enough for a crowd this size. Felicia, Ginger’s youthful former sister-in-law who also lived at Hartigan House, was dancing with a rather attractive constable who worked under Basil in his position of a chief inspector at Scotland Yard. Mr. Fulton, Scout’s tutor, stood on the sidelines watching wistfully. Felicia, catching the young teacher’s eye, raised a thinly plucked, deeply arched eyebrow and winked, causing the poor man to blush.

  Ginger clucked her tongue. What was she to do with Felicia and her “Bright Young Thing” ways?

  Ambrosia, known publicly as the Dowager Lady Gold, the matriarch in the house, sat upright in one of the green velvet wingback chairs, her grey hair tucked under a feather-rich hat, and bejewelled fingers clasping her walking stick. Her wrinkled face was stony, showing neither delight nor distaste, but Ginger knew her former grandmother struggled with Ginger’s decision to adopt what she called a ”street urchin”.

  However, Hartigan House was her home and Ambrosia, a long-term guest, was wise enough, after making her original objections known, to keep her thoughts on the matter to herself.

  The boy in question played with Boss in the corner by the fireplace. He’d put on weight since joining her family and, though small for his age, had grown at least four inches. Some had wondered aloud, and not so sensitively at that, why Ginger, if she must adopt, hadn’t chosen an infant? Surely there were plenty of babies around, and from better stock?

  She couldn’t explain how fate had ste
pped in. When a heart loves, it simply loves unconditionally.

  When the music ended, Ginger approached the drinks trolley which was manned by Clement, her man of many talents. Primarily her gardener, he also took care of the horses, the cars, and stepped in as a footman when required.

  He handed her a glass of champagne.

  “Thank you, Clement,” she said, and glancing back at Basil, added, “Darling?”

  Basil stepped in behind her. “I’ll have a gin and tonic, Clement, if you would.”

  “Certainly, sir.”

  Basil touched Ginger’s elbow, then left to join a group of men who’d congregated together and were immersed in what appeared to be a rousing conversation about the stock market.

  “Capital, my good fellow,” one said.

  And another, “I’m making a fortune hardly lifting a finger.”

  Pushing back an underlying sense of fatigue, Ginger joined Ambrosia who was having a hard time not looking bored by their neighbour Mrs. Schofield who sat in the next chair.