Mistletoe and Mayhem

Port Danby is preparing for the annual Harbor Holiday Lights Flotilla, and Lacey 'Pink' Pinkerton is anxious to see the colorful boats light up Pickford Beach. But the festive spirits of the town are dampened when one of the boat owners is strangled to death. Lacey enthusiastically volunteers to help Detective Briggs sniff out the clues and track down the killer. Once again, she finds herself nose deep in a murder mystery.

Port Danby was a picturesque little town on any given day, but covered in snow, it was nothing short of idyllic. The shops along Harbor Lane, including my own, Pink's Flowers, reminded me of cakes that had been decked out in colorful fondant and frosted with dollops of sugary white whipped cream. The town council and mayor had spared no expense in decorating the downtown area with holiday festoons. Long chains of remarkably real looking evergreen garland had been strung between the street lights. Large gold and red bells dangled from the garland, lending a true holiday spirit and the occasional tinny clang to the festive ambience.

The place felt magical during the day with the rainbow of colors and frenzied bustle of a town getting ready for Christmas, but at night, when the glittery lights on the rooftops, wharf and lighthouse reflected off the snow and the coastline, it felt as if Port Danby had been transported back in time to an old holiday classic like A Christmas Carol or The Nutcracker Ballet. It seemed at any moment the Sugarplum Fairies would emerge from the shadows and twirl along the sidewalks in candy pink tutus. The entire scene evoked a feeling of nostalgia and joy that was neatly wrapped by a ribbon of romance.

The morning sun sparkled off the lush mounds of feathery ice crystals piled on the awnings and window ledges as I walked along the sidewalk to my flower shop. Yes, the fallen flakes brought with them the occasional icy puddle or slippery square of sidewalk, but it was nothing compared to the inconveniences of snow in the big city. I surely never missed those days of trudging through gray slushy ice to catch a bus or a changing street light.

Ryder, my assistant, was leaning into the front bay window of the shop as I stepped inside. I began my ten minute un-layering ritual by removing my gloves and scarf.

Ryder straightened to see who had entered. "I thought you were going to take the morning off, boss,” Ryder said. He had taken on the habit of calling me boss, and I found I didn't mind. It was all done with humor and respect. And it was my first time being a boss, so I was rather enjoying the sound of it.

"I've just got too much to do. I need to place some orders for the holiday table centerpieces."

Ryder pushed his long dark bangs away from his eyes, something he did a thousand times a day and yet he never considered changing his hairstyle. I couldn't blame him. The semi-edgy, semi-schoolboy haircut fit him perfectly. Ryder Kirkland was of average height and size, but there wasn't anything else average about him. He had just celebrated his twenty-fourth birthday, but was quite mature. He had been so perfect for my assistant florist position that sometimes it seemed I'd just dreamt him up and he popped off the job search website.

Ryder, with his playful smile, big blue puppy dog eyes had already endeared himself to all the other shop owners. He was polite, smart and he had a great sense of humor. And, aside from playing many instruments, Ryder was a walking encyclopedia. He knew copious details on a wide range of subjects, most especially plants due to his horticulture degree. He had also minored in fine arts, which gave him an incredible eye for design and color. Ryder had moved back to his hometown of Chesterton after college. He was working at Pink's Flowers so he could save up and travel the world to study exotic plants. I was thrilled and lucky that my humble little shop had fit into his future plans.

Ryder circled around the work island and grabbed a pair of scissors. "Where's Kingston?" To add to his list of perfect traits, Ryder was also a big fan of my pet crow, and the feeling was mutual. Kingston tended to always hang around the work station when Ryder was making arrangements or potting plants. Not everyone warmed up to having a big black crow standing watch while they worked, but Ryder thought it was cool.

"It was too cold for Kingston this morning. I pulled the cover off his cage, and instead of his usual dance, he tucked his beak back under his wing like a little kid pulling the covers back over his head. Birds and winter just don't mix unless the bird is a penguin."

Ryder clapped his hands together in one sharp smack. "Penguins! That's it. That's the color element I needed for the front window display."

"I hardly think of penguins as a color element but then you're the fine arts major. And I have no doubt that the holiday window display you create will win first place. But I have to remind you that the judging is just a few days away."

Port Danby was the final stop for the annual Harbor Holiday Lights Flotilla, a parade of festively decorated boats that made its way down the coastline every year. The town council had decided to hold a Port Danby window decorating contest to lend some spirit to the event. It was my first winter in my new town, and by all accounts, the floating light display was not to be missed. Apparently the yearly event attracted a huge crowd.