Written on the dark, p.28
Milo’s Beach Mystery: A Paranormal Cozy Cat Mystery, page 28
MILO’S BEACH MYSTERY
A PARANORMAL COZY CAT MYSTERY
MILO’S MYSTERIES
BOOK 3
VICTORIA LK WILLIAMS
Copyright © 2026 by Victoria LK Williams
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
For my mystery loving readers…
Thank you for reading my book!
Happy Sleuthing
Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn’t.
MARK TWAIN
A NOTE FROM THE STAFF…
A Note from the Staff…
Before you dive into this adventure, we need to have a quick chat…
First things first—this is a work of fiction. The characters you'll meet, the businesses they run, and the mayhem they stumble into exist only in our boss's imagination. Now, yes, the story unfolds in the beautiful Sunshine State of Florida (because where else would you want to solve mysteries?), but everything else? Pure fiction, friends. If you happen to recognize a person, place, or event, that's just your imagination playing tricks on you. Any resemblance to actual people or places is completely coincidental.
Second, despite our best efforts—and trust us, we've enlisted beta readers, editors, and even bribed the boss with extra treats—the occasional typo or error might slip through. If you spot one, we'd be grateful if you'd let us know at sunsandstories@gmail.com so we can fix it.
Finally, if you enjoy the story (and we think you will), please share the love! Tell your book club, your neighbors, your fellow beach-goers, and leave a review. It means the world to our boss and keeps her writing more adventures for us all.
Happy reading!
Miss Marple and Fletch
(On behalf of Victoria LK Williams)
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Epilogue
Keep up with the Clues
About the Author
Also by Victoria LK Williams
A Special Thank You To My Readers
CHAPTER 1
WELCOME TO FAIRBANKS COVE, a charming Florida beachside town with more than its fair share of secrets. Meet the Fairbanks sisters—Lily, Holly, Anna, and Katherine. To an outsider, they might seem like ordinary women, but hidden beneath the surface are special powers each sister possesses. And then there’s Milo, their clever and mysterious cat. Milo knows all their secrets and just how to guide the sisters in using their gifts to uncover the truth—especially when a murderer is on the loose.
Don’t miss out on the fun! Stick around until the very end for a special surprise: a free book just for you. So grab a cozy spot, maybe with your own feline friend, and let’s unravel this magical mystery together!
Lily Fairbanks quietly closed the front door before putting on her raincoat. It wasn’t as if she was really sneaking out of the house; she was merely saving her sister Katherine from the impossible task of trying to persuade Lily to stay inside while the storm grew.
The two had been having the same endless arguments since Lily was a small child. Katherine knew Lily would be careful and wouldn’t take unnecessary risks. She would stay on shore and watch the storm. Lily had always been drawn to the ocean; it was a call that none of them could ignore. Over the years, her three sisters had accepted this.
The Fairbanks sisters lived in a small town along the southern Florida coast. Katherine and Lily lived in the family home, while their sisters lived in the same neighborhood. Anna and her husband, Roger, lived down the road, and Holly lived behind the family home in a small cottage. The cul-de-sac they lived on was a typical small-town part of the neighborhood. The homes were all styled in the Key West fashion, with elaborate gingerbread trim, lush tropical landscaping, and the occasional pink flamingo dotting a yard.
The sisters grew up together in a large two-story house in which Katherine and Lily now lived. When their parents died at a young age, the sisters raised themselves with the help of neighbors who looked after them.
Lily Fairbanks walked along the pathway to the street where her small convertible was parked. Thank goodness she’d remembered to put the top up, because the rain was coming down steadily. Normally, she would have walked to the beach, but in a storm like this, it made more sense to use her car. It was also true that it made more sense to just stay in the house, but Lily couldn’t help the pull she felt toward the ocean.
She had opened the car door and was ready to get in when suddenly an orange blur jumped inside and hopped into the passenger seat.
“Milo! What are you doing? You’re going to get soaked. Go back up on the porch and stay dry. I won’t be long.”
But the cat looked at her, squinting his eyes slightly, making it clear he had no intention of moving.
“Fine. You can sit in the car and stay dry.”
Lily got behind the wheel after adjusting her raincoat so it wouldn’t drip down her backside. Within five minutes, she was pulling into the parking lot of the local beach. She sat in the car for a few moments, watching the waves crash against the shore. In the distance, she could see lightning flashing and did the traditional Mississippi count to determine how far away it was. She knew as well as anyone that lightning could be deadly along the coast.
After a few moments of watching the wind and the waves, Lily got out of the car and made her way to one of several pavilions that dotted the shoreline. The one she chose had a tendency to flood during storms, and Lily knew she could sit under its cover and dip her feet into the waves as they crashed against the pavilion floor. Everything was anchored, and moving the table would take a full-scale hurricane, so she knew she was safe.
As Lily walked, the wind blew sea foam across the sand, and she smiled, remembering how, when she was little, Katherine used to tell her the mermaids were having a bubble bath and the sea foam came from their playing.
She sat on the edge of the bench and let her feet sink into the wet sand, not minding when the waves crashed against the shore and soaked her legs up to her knees. Leaning back against the table and feeling the energy of the storm, she closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, Milo was sitting on the table beside her, staring—not at the ocean, but at Lily.
“I don’t know how you get in and out of places, Milo.” Lily reached up to scratch the cat behind the ears and turned her attention back to the ocean. “Isn’t this glorious? And this is just the beginning of the storm. We won’t stay long, Milo. Katherine will worry.”
As she spoke to the cat, a large wave crashed at her feet, sending water far past her knees and splashing her face. Lily instinctively closed her eyes to keep the salt from stinging, but when she opened them, it wasn’t the same ocean she had seen just seconds before.
It was as if she were watching a movie. The sea was flat, the sun was shining, and all signs of the storm had disappeared. She saw two figures in the distance along the shore. They appeared to be arguing. Suddenly, one of them punched the other in the stomach. The man went down, and after a few moments, the other grabbed his feet and dragged him away from the water’s edge. As he did, a shiny object fell onto the sand. It was hard to tell whether it came from the man being dragged or the one dragging him.
The combination of Milo’s howling in her ear and another wave hitting her feet pulled Lily back to the present. She wasn’t sure what she had seen, but it definitely wasn’t her imagination. The storm still raged in front of her, and it was getting worse. Milo seemed to be insisting they leave.
Lily got to her feet, realizing the waves were coming in higher and it was no longer safe to stay where she was. Grabbing Milo, she fought her way against the wind back to the car.
As she walked, she carried on a conversation with herself while Milo listened.
“I’ve never phased out like that before. It was weird—and it felt very real.”
Lily paused, letting the rain beat against her head as a realization struck.
“Milo, am I starting to have visions like Holly and Anna?”
It certainly took Lily long enough to make the connection and stop dismissing what she’d seen! I’m getting soaked out here. What a cat won’t do for its owner. Milo flicked an ear as a large drop of rain slid down to the sensitive inner core.
I’m Milo, cat extraordinaire and guide to the Fairbanks sisters. I’ve helped Holly and Anna discover their unusual powers tied to nature’s elements, and now it’s Lily’s turn. She has always been sensitive to the sea’s moods, and now she’ll need to use her powers to help the sea. I’m not sure how, but if she’s having visions, it won’t be long before we find out. Here we go again!
CHAPTER 2
The next morning was bright and beautiful. The sun shone through the glass windows, giving Milo the perfect spot on the kitchen floor to sleep. Katherine and Lily worked their way around him as they fixed their breakfast.
“For crying out loud, Milo! Why right in the center of the kitchen?”
Katherine grumbled at the cat as she lifted her legs once more to step over him. Milo pointedly ignored her; his attention was fixed on Lily. Katherine couldn’t help but notice the stare Milo was giving her sister.
“What did you do to that cat yesterday, other than get him soaking wet in a storm? He’s been following you around like crazy, and when he’s not following you, he’s watching you.”
Lily was too caught up in her own thoughts to pay attention to what her sister was saying. Katherine looked back and forth between the cat and her sister, and the answer clicked after a few moments. She’d seen Milo act this way on two other occasions, both involving her sisters.
The first time was with Holly, and the second was with Anna. Both of them were developing connections to the atmosphere and the earth, and Milo seemed to guide them. It only stood to reason that, with the attention Milo was giving Lily now, she was going through something similar.
Katherine put down her bowl of cereal and walked over to stand in front of her sister. She waited until Lily looked up before asking her question, knowing Lily couldn’t lie to her without Katherine knowing it.
“Something happened last night during the storm when you went to the beach. What was it?”
Lily hesitated, dropping her eyes to avoid her sister’s stare, but it was no use. Katherine wasn’t giving in, crossing her arms over her chest and waiting for an answer. With a sigh, Lily glanced down at Milo, grimaced, and finally spoke.
“I’m not sure what happened. Honestly, I wasn’t in any danger, so don’t worry, but it was an odd—unnerving—experience. I think I had a vision. You know, like Holly and Anna have had. Milo seemed intense when it happened, like he knew exactly what was going on. And he’s been by my side ever since. So what is going on, Katherine? Am I going to go through the same things my sisters have?”
Katherine sighed. It was exactly what she’d expected. Still, Lily would be fine. She had three sisters who could guide her through whatever was happening. Hopefully, it wouldn’t be as horrific as Anna’s experiences or as intense as Holly’s.
“I think it depends on what kind of vision you had, Lily—and what you choose to do about it.”
Lily gave a slight nod in agreement but said nothing more. It took several more questions and some gentle prodding from Katherine before she finally described what she’d seen the night before.
“It was so weird. One minute I’m looking out over the ocean, seeing nothing but crashing waves, lightning, and the wind pushing sea foam across the beach. Then, the next second, I see sunshine and calm water.” Lily hesitated before adding the rest. “And two men on the beach. Two men arguing—to the point of violence. Then the next second, it was all gone. The storm was back, and Milo was having a fit because he was getting wet.”
“So,” Katherine said slowly, “the question now is: what do you want to do about it?”
“It probably sounds crazy, but I want to take the paddle board out. The sea should be calm by now, and I can check out the coastline. Something about the beach I saw in my vision felt familiar—but also different. Like something had changed. I won’t be satisfied until I see for myself that everything is normal.”
“Do you want some company?” Katherine asked, already willing to set aside her plans for the day.
But before she finished speaking, Lily was shaking her head.
“Thanks, but I think I’ll call Shelly and see if she wants to get some board time in before her shift at the environmental center. If something’s unusual along the shore, she’ll probably catch it before I do.”
“Okay, but be careful. If the two of you see anything unusual, use common sense and get someone else to look at it with you. And take plenty of water—you don’t know how long you’ll be out there.”
Milo let out a demanding howl, and both Fairbanks sisters looked down at him. He was no longer sprawled across the kitchen floor but was now standing by the back door.
“It looks like you’re going to have extra company. You probably shouldn’t have said paddle board out loud,” Katherine said with a laugh.
Lily scooped the cat into her arms and ruffled his fur. “Milo, do you think you’re invited to go paddle boarding with me?”
Both sisters laughed, knowing full well that Milo would be the first one on the board. He dispelled every fable about cats hating water. Milo loved joining Lily on the paddle board—gliding along the waterways, watching the birds, and occasionally sticking his paw into the water as if he might scoop out a fish.
“It looks like my morning is planned for me. I’ll pick Shelly up and head for the beach.” Lily caught her sister’s inquisitive look and added, “If we see anything unusual, I’ll call you and let you know.”
CHAPTER 3
Lily pulled up in front of the driveway of a two-story brick home several streets over from her own. Not bothering to get out of the car, she tapped the horn and grinned widely when the garage door opened. A woman her age, with short, choppy red hair and a healthy build, smiled broadly and returned the wave. A few seconds later, Shelly Thomas was at the back of Lily’s convertible, lifting the paddle board and placing it alongside Lily’s.
“This is a great idea, Lily. The seas are flat, and it’s not supposed to get too warm today,” Shelly said as she opened the passenger door and hopped in.
Milo meowed in greeting, looking ready in his personalized life jacket.
“I see you brought a cooler, and I’ve got the sunscreen. We should be all set.”
“That sounds perfect. What else could we need?”
The two women shared a laugh. Lily put the car in gear and pressed the gas pedal a little harder than her sister would have approved of. Her long hair flew behind her like a flag, while Shelly’s short red hair danced as if searching for a place to settle.
“That was quite the storm last night. I’m glad you suggested going along the coast. I have a feeling there might be some damage from the waves, and the best way to see it is by paddle board or kayak. With everything churned up, it’s sometimes hard to get a motorboat close enough to see specific damage,” Shelly said.
As they got closer to the beach, Lily hesitated, wondering if she should tell her friend the real reason she wanted to ride along the coastal waters. She decided against it and simply nodded.
“Do you think we’ll run into much damage?” Lily asked as she pulled into a parking spot in the nearly empty beach lot. It was still early, and the true sun lovers wouldn’t arrive for another couple of hours.
This was Lily’s favorite time of day to be on the water, and Shelly loved paddle boarding with her, so it worked perfectly for both of them. They had been friends since kindergarten, though they had drifted slightly apart in high school as their interests led them in different directions. Shelly followed her love of the water into a degree in environmental oceanography. Lily, on the other hand, turned her passion into volunteering—giving tours of the coastal waterways and teaching tourists how to paddle board or kayak. Despite their different paths, their shared love of the water had never faded, dating back to when they raced along the beach chasing sandpipers as children.
