Murder In Mystic Hollow: Nathan Perry Mysteries, #4

By Carol Preflatish

Murder in Mystic Hollow is a modern-day retelling of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

 

If you read closely, you can see elements of Washington Irving's original short story. You'll find it has all the characters you loved in the first three Nathan Perry books. You'll also meet the newly hired librarian, Isaac Caine, who comes to Mystic for a new start and ends up falling for the lovely Katina Van Allen.

 

When Isaac finds a dead body at the bottom of his staircase, his world is turned upside down, and Detective Nathan Perry is called upon to find the killer.

So many people are on the list of suspects that Nathan becomes frustrated at not being able to sort it all out. Throw in a thirty-five-year-old bank robbery cold case, not to mention the mysterious motorcycle rider that keeps taunting Isaac, and the officers from the Mystic Police Department have their hands full.

 

It all comes down to Nathan figuring out, "who done it."   

 

Murder in Mystic Hollow  is a stand-alone novel that is part of the Nathan Perry Mystery Series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Seventh StarShadow
• Release date: Jun 23, 2024
• ISBN: 9798329279566

Carol Preflatish

Carol Preflatish’s interest in writing began in high school when she worked as a reporter, photographer, and sport’s editor for the school newspaper. Publishing credits include several romantic suspense novels, two non-fiction books, and her new police procedural murder mystery series. An avid photographer, she has had many photos published in her local newspaper, as well as in Golf Journal, the official publication of the United States Golf Association. Carol is a member of the Sisters in Crime organization and Kentuckiana Authors.

Book preview

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Table of Contents

Title

Copyright Information

Acknowledgements

Murder In Mystic Hollow

About the Author

Murder In Mystic Hollow

A Nathan Perry Mystery

CAROL PREFLATISH

Copyright © 2024 by Carol Preflatish

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be copied or transmitted in any form, electronic or otherwise, without express written consent of the publisher or author.

Cover design: Olivia Pro Design

Cover art in this book copyright © 2024 Seventh Star Press, LLC.

Editor: Stephen Zimmer

Published by Seventh Star Press, LLC.

ISBN Number: 9798329279566

Seventh Star Press

www.seventhstarpress.com

[e-mail]

Publisher’s Note:

Murder In Mystic Hollow is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are the product of the author’s imagination, used in fictitious manner. Any resemblances to actual persons, places, locales, events, etc. are purely coincidental.

Printed in the United States of America

First Edition

Acknowledgements

I’d like to thank Demetris Witherspoon, Nathan Day, and Michael Hodges for their help in researching a few things for this book. Special thanks go to my daughter and her husband for allowing me bounce ideas off of them.

Chapter One

Mystic Hollow is located in a small valley about two miles from the center of town. A few elite residents lived there, as it’s known as the calm part of town. However, it does include the wooded area that local teenage boys love to visit late at night to scare their girlfriends into their arms and coax them into the ultimate goal.

Isaac Caine, the newly hired librarian at the Mystic Public Library, rented one of the old abandoned homes in Mystic Hollow sight unseen. It was an action he soon regretted.

After working late at the library on Monday night, Isaac found his car wouldn’t start. Being a marathon runner, the two-mile distance to his home was nothing for him to walk. He decided to put his air buds in to listen to music, to help make time go faster.

On this cloudy night in May, and with no streetlights near his home, visibility was not good. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a motorcycle sped out of the road he lived on, nearly running over him. He dove into the ditch to keep from being hit. After recovering from the shock, he got up. Using his fingers to comb his long brown hair out of his face, he brushed himself off, said a few choice words about the rider, and continued walking to his home.

By eight-o’clock, he reached his house. Looking up at the monstrous home, known to the locals as Sumner House, he noticed it was dark; even the windows were completely black. I could have sworn I left a light on when I left this morning, he said to himself.

Unlocking the door, he stepped inside, reaching for the nearby light switch. Flipping it on, nothing happened. More swear words were going through his mind. With only the dim light from his old flip-phone, he walked toward the back of the old house to find the fuse box.

All of a sudden, Isaac tripped over something near the staircase, falling down for a second time that night. He picked up his phone and circled the floor with the light until he saw what he had tripped over. A man’s body laid at the bottom of the staircase. He screamed, scrambled awkwardly to his feet, and ran outside.

****

Detective Nathan Perry, of the Mystic Police Department, arrived at the scene around an hour later. Several officers were still there, milling around both inside and outside of the house. With all the police cars, it looked like a Christmas tree with red and blue twinkling lights. Nathan lifted the yellow tape to walk under, stopping to speak to the officer on the porch holding a clipboard. Officer Avery, you want to add me to the list? It’s nine-thirty. Who’s the lead officer here?

Avery wrote Nathan’s name down on the list of officers entering the crime scene. Officer Driscoll was the first officer on scene, sir. He’s inside.

Thanks. Nathan stepped into the house, finding Officer Driscoll just inside the door. Barry, thanks for calling me. What do we have?

Glad you could make it, Nathan. I hated calling you in on your night off, but I thought you’d want to see the scene firsthand. The coroner and our CSI are already inside.

The first thing he noticed above the entry hall was the most monumental of glass chandeliers that needed a good polishing to get the grime off of it. With all of the lights now on, he saw a body on the floor next to the staircase located near the rear of the room.

Mallory Duncan, Mystic PD Crime Scene Investigator, kneeled next to the body taking his fingerprints. Next to her was Vince Scanlon, local funeral director, and the closest thing Mystic had to a medical examiner. Nathan didn’t recognize the other man, younger than Scanlon, that stood over them, also studying the body. A few other officers mingled around close by.

Evening, everyone. Can someone bring me up to date? Nathan asked.

Hello, Nathan, Vince said. I don’t think I’ve seen you since you returned from your knee surgery. I hope it went well.

I’m good as new. That was almost the truth.

Mallory stood. The renter of the house came home to find no power anywhere inside. He was making his way to the fuse box at back of the house when he stumbled, literally, over this guy.

Fuse box? Nathan questioned.

It’s an old house, Scanlon said.

Do you know who the victim is yet?

Too soon, Mallory said.

Where’s the renter?

He’s in the living room with Officer Walker. His name’s Isaac Caine. Mallory pointed toward a room on the other side of the stairs.

Which Officer Walker?

Cindy Walker, she replied.

Can either of you tell me anything else? Nathan said.

It looks like he has a broken neck as a result of falling down the center part of the switchback stairs from the third floor. He also has broken bones in his arms and probably his wrist from hitting the railings as he fell, the younger man said.

Nathan looked at the man. And you are?

I’m sorry. Vince stood. Nathan, this is my son, Dr. Dennis Scanlon. He just finished his residency at Massachusetts General, and is setting up his first practice here in Mystic. He turned to his son. This is Detective Nathan Perry.

The two men shook hands. It’s nice to meet you, sir. My father has told me a lot about you, and most people call me Denny.

It’s nice to meet you. We can always use another doctor in town. Nathan looked up through the void in the middle of the staircase. He took a hell of a fall. Is there any evidence he was pushed?

I haven’t gone up there yet, Mallory said.

Before Vince moves the body, can you take a photo from up there looking down? Nathan asked her.

I’ll go do that now. She picked up her camera.

Officer Davis, would you accompany Mallory up there?

Yes, sir, the nearby officer said.

Could you bring my evidence kit? Mallory asked. I might as well take fingerprints while I’m up there.

Davis picked up Mallory’s kit and they started the long climb up to the third floor.

As soon as she gets her shots from up there, I’ll load up the body, Vince said.

Thanks. I’m going to talk to the renter. Nathan walked to the living room, where Isaac Caine sat on the couch, looking very nervous. Officer Walker stood just inside the doorway. How is he doing? he asked her.

He’s been quiet. I think this whole ordeal has really shook him.

I’ll see if I can get him to talk.

Nathan walked into the sparsely furnished living room. Dimly lit, with only a lamp on the table next to the couch, he was surprised at the condition of the old house. Ugly green curtains framed a large window. They looked like they could have been there since the original homeowner. He walked over to the unlit fireplace, noticing the heavy coating of dust on the mantel. From the amount of ash in the firebox, it was obvious it hadn’t been cleaned, or used, in quite a while. The couch where Caine sat, and the matching chair next to it, were equally as green, and equally as ugly, as the curtains.

Caine was a tall man, probably around six-two, Nathan thought. He was slender, but muscular with broad shoulders, but his facial features were hidden by his thick, but well-trimmed beard. His brown hair just touched his shoulders.

Mr. Caine, I’m Detective Perry from the police department. Nathan sat in the chair. I have some questions for you.

Caine looked up, and finally over at Nathan. Yes, of course. Whatever you need.

After taking out his notebook, and pen, Nathan began. Can you tell me what happened tonight?

I-ah, He took a deep breath. I came home tonight. The lights didn’t work, and when I went to find the fuse box, I tripped over—him. He could barely get the words out.

I take it this is your first dead body?

Not exactly. I found my grandfather on his porch when he passed away. He sounded a little more coherent now.

Do you know who the man is?

I haven’t looked at him since the lights came on. I ran outside after I found him, and didn’t come back in until the police brought me in here to wait. Caine looked down at the floor.

Nathan looked at Officer Walker. Did anyone take his statement earlier?

I don’t know. He was already in here when I arrived, she said.

No one has talked to me yet, Caine said.

Do you know why your lights didn’t work? Nathan asked.

I heard one of the officers say the main fuse had been pulled.

Could I go to the kitchen to make myself a cup of tea? You can join me, Caine asked.

Again, Nathan looked at Officer Walker. Has the kitchen been cleared?

I believe it has.

Mr. Caine, as we go to the kitchen, could you please take a look at the victim to see if you know him?

Do I have to? Caine seemed reluctant.

Is there something wrong? Nathan asked.

He looked up at Nathan. I don’t like dead bodies. It goes back to when I was young. Like I said, I was the one that found my grandfather. He had passed away in his sleep while sitting in his rocking chair. He had a drop of perspiration dripping from his nose. The image of my father carrying him into the house from the porch and putting him on the bed still haunts me.

It’s very important for us to know if you recognize him. Please. Nathan stood, motioning for him to enter the foyer.

Caine stood and slowly walked out of the living room, approaching the body that still laid on the floor. Nathan and Officer Walker followed. Vince was kneeling next to the body.

Vince, can you turn the head so Mr. Caine can get a look at the face?

Vince reached over, taking the face by the chin, and slowing turning it toward Caine.

Caine looked at the body on the floor. I don’t know him. He quickly went into the kitchen with Nathan and Officer Walker following.

The room looked a little more modernized than the rest of the house. The linoleum countertops were cleared and clean of dust, and the appliances, although old, were workable, since Caine turned on the front burner flame of the stove. He filled a tea pot with water and put it on the burner. Nathan could see the young man’s hands were shaking.

Would you like some tea? Caine asked without looking up.

No, thanks. I’m more of a coffee drinker.

I’m sorry, I don’t drink coffee.

Nathan pulled a chair out from the dining table. It was also clean of dust, so he sat down. You’re new in town, right?

Yes. I was just hired as the new librarian. This is my first month in town. Caine got a cup and a tea bag from the cabinet, and moved over to the stove, waiting for the water to get hot.

How do you like it here? Nathan wanted to try to calm him down before asking more about what happened earlier.

Until tonight, it’s been really nice. I love the town, and the people have been very welcoming.

That’s good. Where are you from?

I moved here from Coventry, Connecticut. What about you? Are you originally from Mystic? Caine asked.

I am, but I left when I joined the Army. I moved back a few years ago.

This must be a good town, if you came back home. He suddenly stopped talking.

Are you okay? Nathan asked.

I just remembered why you’re here. It’s a good town, but there’s a dead body in the foyer.

Don’t become discouraged with the town because of what happened here tonight. It’s not something that happens every day. It wasn’t something that happened every day, Nathan thought. However, it was happening a little too often. That’s why he was hired as a detective with the police department.

Steam started coming out of the tea pot. Caine took it from the stove and poured it over the tea bag in his cup. He stirred in a teaspoon of honey before joining Nathan at the table.

Do you usually get home late from the library? Nathan asked.

He took a sip of his tea. His hand wasn’t shaking as bad. No, I worked late tonight to go over some of the library’s financial records. This is the first time I’ve come home this late.

Have you had any problems with anyone since coming to town?

No, everyone has been so nice. Well, except for my walk home tonight.

Nathan was confused. You walked home tonight? Isn’t it like two miles between here to the library?

I drove to work this morning, but my car wouldn’t start tonight. I’m a marathon runner, so walking home wasn’t a problem. He took another sip.

I see. Nathan made more notes. Tell me what happened on your walk home?

He took a deep breath and let it out. I had just reached the turn onto my street when someone on a motorcycle nearly ran me down. I had to jump into the ditch to keep from being hit.

What time was this? Nathan asked.

Maybe fifteen to twenty minutes before I got to the house.

And, what time was that?

I think around eight o’clock, Caine replied.

Had you seen the motorcyclist before?

They all look alike to me.

Nathan was frustrated. An officer should have gotten this information from Caine as soon as they arrived on the scene. At least ninety-minutes had passed since it happened. Delaying a broadcast about the motorcycle would greatly reduce the chance of finding it now.

Can you describe the motorcycle or the rider? he asked.

It was dark. All I remember is that the bike looked dark and the rider wore black. I think he had a black cover over his helmet. He took another drink of tea.

Nathan turned to a new page in his notepad and wrote down the description that Caine said. He tore the page out. Officer Walker. She stepped over to him. Would you see that this gets dispatched out immediately?

Yes, sir. She took the note and left the room.

Caine drank the last drop of tea from the cup. He got up, rinsed the cup, placed it in the sink, then returned to the table.

Mallory walked into the kitchen. Nathan, can I speak to you, please?

Excuse me, he said to Caine. He stepped out of the kitchen to speak with Mallory, leaving Caine at the table. What’s up?

I finished upstairs. Just from eyeballing it, the only set of prints I found on the banister at the top floor probably belong to the victim, but I’ll run them through the IAFIS database to make sure. Officer Davis and I looked around in some of the rooms up there. The only room that looked lived-in was a bedroom. Either Mr. Caine is a very bad housekeeper, or the room had been ransacked. It was a big mess.

Anything else?

A lot of the dust on the banister had been disturbed, like maybe a scuffle had occurred up there, she said.

Did you take photos?

I did, of both the stairs and the bedroom. One more thing, have you looked closely at the victim?

I looked, but not closely. Why?

Vince and his son did measurements, and wrote the description of him while I was upstairs. If you notice, he and your guy in the kitchen look a lot alike. She held up her phone with a photo of the victim on it.

Nathan looked at the phone and then at Caine, and back again. There is a resemblance in height, weight, hair, and beard. You think whoever threw our guy over the railing, thought he was attacking Caine?

It crossed our minds. If it was dark, it would be hard to tell it wasn’t Caine. If you don’t need me for anything else, I’d like to get to my lab and check the database for the prints.

Oh yeah, I forgot about the new lab. When are you going to let us see inside of it? Nathan asked.

Didn’t you hear? The ribbon cutting is tomorrow afternoon, but if you knock on the door nicely in the morning, I’ll let you get a sneak peek.

I’ll do just that.

Mallory went to pick up her cases. Nathan went back into the kitchen.

Mr. Caine, I have just a few more questions for you. Nathan sat down at the table. Our evidence technician said that it looks like you’re using a bedroom on the top floor. Why all the way up there?

I mentioned I was a runner. Going up and down those stairs is good exercise. That’s why I chose the top floor.

One of the officers said you’re renting here. Who owns the house?

That would be Walter Van Allen.

Nathan wrote that down. Why did you choose this house? It seems you’d be more comfortable in an apartment, or a house closer to town.

Librarians don’t make a lot of money, much less a newly hired one. I needed something quick and cheap. I also give piano lessons. This house came furnished, and with a piano, and I don’t have to worry about disturbing close neighbors with beginner students. That is, once I have students to teach.

Are you sure no one has been giving you any trouble lately? The technician said your bedroom and closet had been tossed pretty good, and in the dark our victim in there could have been mistaken for you.

A squeaking sound from the foyer drew their attention. Vince was wheeling the body out on a stretcher with his son helping.

You think someone thought it was me they were throwing down the stairs? My God. Caine stood and walked over to the sink, and looked out the window. Who would want to do that?

That’s what I want to know, Nathan said.

Caine looked back at Nathan. I don’t know anyone that would want to hurt me. After being here only a month, I don’t know many people in town yet.

What about your room? Do you have anything up there of value that someone would want?

No. Like I said, I don’t make a lot. I give piano lessons for extra money.

Nathan stood. Let’s go up there and see if you can figure out if anything is missing.

The men climbed the three flights of stairs to get to the top floor. Caine had no trouble, but by the time Nathan got up there, his knee was throbbing, and he was slightly out of breath from the lack of activity since his surgery. Nathan stood at the doorway, catching his breath, while Caine looked through the bedroom to see if anything might have been taken.

The bed had been pulled away from the wall, a few holes were in the wall as if hit by a hammer. The chest of drawers had also been pulled away and was lying flat on the floor. Anything that had been hanging on the wall was also on the floor. Clothes from the closet and drawers were thrown all over the room. Holes had been punched into the wall of the closet as well.

After looking