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  “Cookie, what are you doing out here?”

  “What does it look like she’s doing?” Charlotte asked. “She’s catching a killer.”

  “Catching a killer,” I said, trying to sound chipper.

  Dylan wasn’t buying the sweet and innocent act.

  “You should have called me right away,” Dylan said.

  “There was no time. As soon as I saw her I took off.”

  “There was time to get Heather’s car though?” Dylan asked with a quirked eyebrow.

  “Well, I had to have away to chase her,” I said.

  The police worked the scene for quite some time. Heather wouldn’t be happy that her car was part of that crime scene. At least no one else had been hurt. Things had been touch and go there. I’d had no idea how I would get away from Tina. It was a good thing Minnie and Charlotte had used their energy to move the tree branch. It had been the perfect way to distract Tina. Thank goodness I’d been able to think quickly under pressure.

  Charlotte was beside me, but Minnie wasn’t there.

  “Where’s Minnie?” I asked.

  Charlotte shrugged. “She was here a minute ago.”

  I looked around for Minnie, but she was nowhere in sight.

  “Cookie, you can take Heather’s car now,” Dylan said as he approached. “No more chasing criminals though.”

  I smiled as I continued scanning the surroundings for Minnie.

  “Is something wrong?” he asked.

  “Minnie is gone.”

  “You mean she left?”

  “I don’t know. She would have said good-bye, right?”

  “I’m not sure how the paranormal world portal works. Maybe she didn’t have time.”

  I’d never thought of it that way. With other ghosts they’d always gotten a chance to say good-bye before they left. I suppose things could be different since Minnie said she was my guardian angel.

  Dylan walked with me over to Heather’s car. I really didn’t want to leave without Minnie. Dylan opened the car door and I noticed something on the driver’s seat. It definitely hadn’t been there before. The pearl necklace was on the seat of Heather’s car.

  I picked it up. Minnie’s necklace. “Where is she?”

  A piece of paper was also on the seat. I picked it up and unfolded it.

  Dear Cookie,

  I hoped that this time would come. The time when you didn’t need my help. I enjoyed my time with you and Charlotte more than you’ll ever know. I’ll always be watching over you. If you need me again I’ll be there. I’m bad at saying good-bye, so instead I’ll say until I see you again.

  Sincerely, Minnie.

  P.S. Tell Charlotte not to pout. Someday if she’s needed as a guardian angel she’ll be able to use a pen too.

  “She left a note,” I said.

  “What does it say?” Charlotte asked.

  Dylan took the paper from my outstretched hand and read it. A smile slid across his face. Charlotte read the note from over Dylan’s shoulder.

  “I saw her writing a note the other day. How did she do that? It doesn’t seem fair. She was being secretive,” Charlotte said.

  “Did you read the P.S.?”

  Charlotte scanned to the bottom of the paper. “Oh. I suppose that’s a good explanation.”

  “I guess so,” I said around a sigh.

  “Don’t worry, Cookie, with your luck I’m sure you’ll need her again soon.” Charlotte laughed.

  Dylan took the pearl necklace from my hand and clasped it around my neck. “I think she wanted you to have this.”

  “It’s nice to know I have her watching out for me.”

  “Hey, what about me? I help you all the time.” Charlotte placed her hands on her hips.

  “You help me get in trouble,” I said.

  Chapter 25

  Cookie’s Savvy Tips for Vintage Clothing Shopping

  Look to vintage when shopping for

  a wedding gown. Plus, your whole

  wedding party can dress in vintage apparel.

  I’d gotten Heather’s car back to her safely. Of course she’d freaked out when she heard what had happened. Not because her car had been in danger, but because I’d confronted a killer. Dylan had confirmed that Tina had stolen that black car and used it to make me wreck. Things were back to normal, although I still didn’t have my car repaired. It had been two weeks since the accident. My guardian angel had left. Though I had a feeling Minnie Lynn would return if she was needed. Charlotte said she had a hunch that I would need Minnie Lynn again. She was probably right about that.

  Now I had two cats hanging around the shop with me. My grandmother and Tyler. I enjoyed having them with me, but I also wanted them to move on to the next dimension if that was what was best for them. They didn’t seem to be in a hurry to get there. So in the meantime I was looking more and more like the town’s crazy cat lady. I was fine with that. My entire life I’d embraced being eccentric. I suppose my mother and I were more alike than I’d realized. We just had different ways of expressing it.

  I was placing a 1960s cream color, beaded cardigan sweater on a hanger when Dylan walked through the door. I hadn’t expected to see him this early. It was just now reaching lunchtime. My stomach did somersaults when I realized he was dressed in vintage. It was an outfit that I’d recently bought for him. He didn’t wear vintage all the time, but occasionally he’d wear a shirt or slacks. He did it to make me happy, which was sweet. His black gabardine trousers had a four-pocket front pleat. His burgundy cotton shirt from the forties had pearl buttons along the front and cuffs with a fitted waist. His black steel-toe wing-tip loafers added the perfect final touch to his outfit.

  “What’s wrong with him?” Charlotte asked, eyeing Dylan up and down. “Though he does look dapper so we definitely shouldn’t complain.”

  I wasn’t sure what she meant until I took a closer look at his face. He was smiling, but there was something definitely off about the way he looked, almost as if he felt sick.

  “Are you okay?” I asked, resisting the urge to reach out and touch his forehead to check for a fever.

  He chuckled. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be okay?”

  “Tell him because it looks as if he wants to throw up,” Charlotte said.

  His laugh was nervous too. Plus, he shifted from foot to foot as if he couldn’t shake the jitters.

  Dylan closed the distance between us. He took my hand in his. “I need you to come with me.”

  Now he was making me have the jitters. My stomach flipped.

  “I don’t have anyone to watch the store right now,” I said.

  “It’s not as if it’s busy right now,” Charlotte said. “You can close for a bit.”

  The bell above the door chimed and Lynn walked toward me. My part-time employee never showed up early for work. Something was definitely wrong.

  “Lynn, what are you doing here?” I asked. “You’re not supposed to be here for a couple more hours.”

  “There’s definitely something strange happening,” Charlotte said.

  “Lynn came in early so she can watch the shop for you,” Dylan said with a smile.

  “Okay, you’re up to something,” I said. “Is it my car? You have bad news about the Buick and you don’t know how to break it to me?”

  “Well, just go with him and find out what it is,” Charlotte said with a wave of her hand. “If it’s bad news it’s better to find out now and get it over with.”

  Dylan took me by the hand and led me toward the door. “The cats have to come too. Come on, lady and gentleman.”

  The cats jumped down from the window and followed out the door. Charlotte was right behind us. I spotted Heather on the sidewalk. When she made eye contact with us she dashed back into her shop.

  “What in the world? That is weird. Why are you all acting so strangely? You’re beginning to worry me,” I said.

  What if this was more serious than the car? I’d spoken with my mother this morning and everything w
as fine with my parents.

  “It’s okay. Don’t worry,” Dylan said as he held my hand and guided me down the sidewalk.

  Charlotte walked along beside us with the cats right behind. Traffic moved along at a steady pace up and down Main Street. Fluffy white clouds dotted the perfect blue sky. It was a beautiful day in Sugar Creek. Up ahead, I spotted a car.

  “Is that my Buick?” My voice was louder than I’d intended, but I couldn’t contain my excitement.

  Surely there couldn’t be another car just like mine in town. The car grew closer.

  “That is my car. Quick, Dylan, someone stole my car. You have to go after them. Call for backup,” I said in a panic.

  I had spoken with the shop this morning, and they’d given no clue that the car was ready. They’d gotten used to daily calls from me. The car was special and I needed to check on it every day.

  Dylan had no reaction to my panic. Why wasn’t he saying anything? And why did he have that smile on his face? Movement to my right caught my attention. Heather popped back out from her shop. Now she was dressed in vintage clothing. She never wore vintage. Even her hair was styled in victory rolls. Her dress was gold-quilted satin with a full circle skirt. The cap sleeves and pointed collar added to the charm of the piece. I was almost sure it was Dior.

  Other people came out from shops, the diner, and around the corners from the side streets and alleyways. Everyone wore vintage clothing. I spotted my parents walking toward us. They were dressed in vintage too. Without even thinking, I let out a squeal of delight. My parents looked so good. Even my mother had left her hemp-infused clothing at home. She wore a yellow pencil skirt with a high waist that hit just below her knees. There was a slit in the front. Her short-sleeve white blouse had a pattern of tiny red and green flowers. I would be seriously impressed if she’d picked the outfit out.

  “Did you plan all this?” I asked.

  Dylan didn’t answer, but the smile remained on his face. When I glanced over at Charlotte she was now wearing vintage.

  “You too?”

  She winked. Why was everyone being so tight-lipped?

  Big band music streamed from the outdoor speakers around downtown Sugar Creek. It was as if I had been transported back in time. The cars that had traveled on the road earlier had disappeared. Now they were replaced by other vintage cars. My Buick pulled up along the curb. It was shiny and perfect. Ken was behind the wheel. When he climbed out from behind the wheel I realized he was dressed in vintage too. Tears streamed down my cheeks.

  Dylan lowered to the ground. Now he was on one knee. He pulled out a tiny black box and opened it. Inside was a gleaming diamond placed in a vintage gold setting. It was my grandmother’s ring.

  “Cookie Chanel, since the day I set eyes on you I knew you were special. I don’t want to spend one single day of my life without you by my side. Will you marry me?” Dylan peered at me with his gorgeous blue eyes.

  Sounds muted and all I saw was Dylan’s handsome face peering up at me. From somewhere behind I thought I heard Charlotte screech with delight. Dylan was staring at me with his gorgeous blue eyes, waiting for an answer. This had come as a shock. I hadn’t expected him to ask me to marry him. Sure, I’d thought about it. How could I not with Charlotte mentioning weddings all the time? Even my mother had mailed me wedding magazines. She’d set up a Pinterest board for items. Now the reality hit me. The future was here and I had to answer. I peered around at the smiling faces, though it looked as if they were getting nervous. Were they wondering if after Dylan went to all this effort I would say no?

  “Yes, Dylan Valentine, I will marry you,” I said.

  “Cookie Valentine? Oh no. You must keep your name,” Charlotte said. “Cookie Chanel is much better.”

  Applause erupted around us. Dylan jumped up and swept me into his arms. He kissed me with passion like I’d never been kissed before. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Everything still seemed so surreal. When we stopped the embrace I looked around at all the smiling faces. Everyone was still clapping and cheering.

  “You planned all this?” I asked.

  “For weeks now,” Dylan said with a proud smile.

  “I should have known this was coming. Well, I did, but not this soon,” Charlotte said.

  Heather and Ken walked over and hugged me. “Congratulations.”

  “You two were in on this. How long have you known?” I asked.

  “A few weeks,” Heather said. “It was hard to keep it a secret.”

  “Maybe they will be next,” Charlotte said.

  Wind Song meowed and I picked her up. “What do you say, Grandma Pearl? Will you be a bridesmaid?”

  “Oh, now I’ve heard it all. A cat as a bridesmaid. I suppose that’s appropriate for Cookie Chanel’s wedding. Will Tyler be the best man? We have so much to do to prepare. I’m so excited.” Charlotte paced around the sidewalk.

  “Sweetheart, we’re so happy for you. Dylan’s a lucky man to marry my daughter.” My father wrapped his strong arms around me.

  My mother brushed the hair from my face. “Oh, you can wear my wedding dress. I know you don’t like the beads on it, but we can work something out.”

  Charlotte waved her arms. “Oh no. They’re not having a hippie wedding in the back of some old VW van.”

  They were fighting already. I’d have to take control over this early on or they would be at each other’s throats with me in the middle. Maybe I could make them compromise. I could remodel my mother’s dress, and we could have the wedding venue at some fancy place that Charlotte liked.

  “You’ve made me the happiest man alive,” Dylan said, hugging me again.

  I peered around at everyone dressed in their vintage fashion. “I can’t believe everyone did this for me.”

  “It’s the least we can do for Sugar Creek’s finest detective,” Dixie said. “Oh, and you too, Dylan.”

  Everyone laughed.

  Turns out that Minnie Lynn wasn’t murdered after all. She came back to earth only to help me. I kind of liked the idea of having a guardian angel. Now that I was safe, Minnie Lynn had left. I knew she was watching over me and saw Dylan propose. Charlotte was currently arguing she should be the maid of honor instead of Heather or Grandma Pearl. Ken had asked Heather to be his date for the wedding. Of course she said yes. I already knew I’d wear the pearl necklace that Minnie had left me.

  Dylan had asked me to marry him, and I’d said yes. It was great to see happiness in Sugar Creek again. No more murders. At least I hoped there would be no more murders. I would be able to hang up my sleuthing hat once and for all.

  BLOG POST from COOKIE CHANEL

  Vintage Bags That Will Never

  Go Out of Style

  Do you love designer handbags, but not the price tag that comes with them? Below I’ve listed styles that are still in fashion, but by buying vintage you can save a bundle. These handbags are classic and you can get them at a fraction of the cost of a new bag. Yet they look the same as the current style. Plus, I’ve listed handbag styles that are classic without the designer name. All of these handbags can make a casual outfit look glamorous or take a dressy ensemble to the next level. You can save thousands!

  When spending this kind of money on a handbag it’s a good idea to have it authenticated by a professional. You don’t want to spend your money on something that’s not the real deal. You’re paying for the leather and craftsmanship. Plus, if you want to resell you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing it’s authentic.

  1. The Louis Vuitton Speedy has been around since the 1930s. This handbag is made of coated canvas and has leather handles, making it durable and water resistant. The style can take you from casual to dressy. It never goes out of style. Audrey Hepburn loved her Louis Vuitton Speedy.

  2. Chanel Classic Flap Bag has several different versions. The bag can be worn as a cross body or over the shoulder. The chain strap adds a touch of jewelry to your outfit. The quality of caviar leather is almost as durable as the coa
ted canvas of the Louis Vuitton Speedy. Coco Chanel designed the handbag in 1955 with what is referred to as the mademoiselle lock, but the signature CC lock version didn’t come until the 1980s. The burgundy lining of the bag was inspired by the uniforms Coco wore in the orphanage where she grew up. Most bags have a double flap, but you might find some with a single flap.

  3. Hermès has an air of exclusivity. Since each bag is handmade by one person and takes days to complete, that might explain some of the price tag. The Birkin, created for Jane Birkin in 1984, was designed as a travel bag with its two handles and wide opening. It has a classic structure and design. The Kelly bag was designed for Grace Kelly. It is chic with its single top handle. Whether you love the Birkin or Kelly they’re both iconic.

  4. The Gucci Jackie O Bag was named after First Lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis. The bag was released in the 1950s, but was renamed in 1961. Whether in the signature logo or luxurious leather, the slouchy shape still has structure making this hobo style shoulder bag a timeless piece.

  5. The Lady Dior bag was renamed for Princess Diana. This handmade leather handbag debuted in 1994, but was renamed in 1996. Princess Diana loved this bag and ordered one in every color. The bag has padded stitched leather and a letter charm that spells Dior.

  6. Classic style handbags don’t have to have a designer name. Styles to look for are tote, cross body, and satchel. You can get a similar look to the above-mentioned bags without investing the cost. Look for quality well-made pieces that will last you for years to come.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Thank you to my mother for introducing me to the wonderful world of books.

  Thank you to my husband for encouraging me, always having faith in me, and always being there for me. Huge thank-yous to my editor, Michaela Hamilton, and my agent, Jill Marsal, for all the help in making this series possible.