Unexpected (A Belinda & Bennett Short Story) Read online

  Bennett helped her up, grabbing what made her fall. Belinda blinked. She didn’t step on something, but through something. He held up a … painting. It was on a square canvas, roughly 16x20, no frame. She looked from the painting out to the water. Sometimes you’d see a boat or two fishing or speeding along the shoreline, but not today. Where did it come from?

  Bennett examined it with both hands, bringing it closer to read the signature in the bottom corner. “It says Simone,” and he held it out to get a feeling for the entire painting, nodding. The greens and oranges that streaked together formed a field landscape. “It looks like her work.”

  Simone was a famous local artist and good friend of Belinda’s family. “How did it end up here?” She touched the ragged part where she’d stepped through it. She couldn’t imagine tossing a Simone original in the water.

  “Good question.” Bennett weighed the painting with his hands like that might tell them.

  “I think we should hold onto it.”

  “Why? You think you know where it came from?”

  “No clue. But I can get in touch with Simone and see if we can track down who owned it.”

  Bennett nodded appreciatively. He was getting used to her connections and coming to see their value. “I’ll go throw this in the trunk. Keep your distance from that frozen lemonade truck.”

  Belinda stuck out her tongue. She watched him walk back to a different beach entrance, then gazed out at the water curiously. Of all the things she’d seen washed up on the beach, this was original.

  Overkill comes out January 13, 2015, and is now available for pre-order!

  Other Titles by Amy Saunders

  The Belinda & Bennett Mysteries

  Cliffhanger (Book One)

  Auf’d (Book Two)

  Drive-Bye (Book Three)

  Overkill (Book Four)

  Personal Shopper (A Short Story)

  Standalone Titles

  Biohazard

  The Jester’s Apprentice

  Dead Locked

  About the Author

  Amy Saunders is a mystery lover with a soft spot for humor and romance–and the ocean. She lives in Massachusetts, and loves to bake and watch movies. She’s the author of one mystery series and three standalone mysteries. Learn more about Amy and her books at her website.