Parrots and Payback Read online

  She shook her head and turned up her nose. “I’ll be sticking to my writer’s circles… thank you,” she added on, right at the end.

  The three of us watched Jenna stalk back towards the zoo’s exit. I was reminded that Jenna’s actions today were out of the ordinary for her. She was a gossip queen and a terrible flirt, but at her core, Jenna wasn’t all bad.

  “These are… brilliant!” Auryn said.

  I turned away from Jenna to discover he’d found my webpage and was flicking through the comics. I had a terrible urge to seize his phone and fling it across the grassy area we were standing on.

  “You really think so?”

  Tiff shot me a shrewd look. “I know full well you know how good these are. No false modesty here,” she said, surprising me.

  “Then… thank you,” I amended. “Don’t read too closely, or you may recognise a few of the animal characters. I don’t base the comics on people, but all of the animals at Avery have such funny stories to tell.”

  “Are you telling me I’m not going to recognise any of the human characters?” Auryn raised an eyebrow and a blush rose to my cheeks.

  I hastily adjusted my glasses. “No,” I said, unconvincingly.

  “I solemnly swear not to blackmail you using this comic,” Auryn said, raising his hand, a carefree grin on his tanned face.

  Tiff smiled and shook her head. “Blackmail at Avery Zoo - you wouldn’t believe anything like that would happen around here.”

  I nodded. “It’s probably the most drama we’ll have for years to come.”

  * * *

  THE END

  Books in the Series

  Penguins and Mortal Peril

  The Silence of the Snakes

  Murder is a Monkey’s Game

  Lions and the Living Dead

  The Peacock’s Poison

  A Memory for Murder

  Whales and a Watery Grave

  Chameleons and a Corpse

  Foxes and Fatal Attraction

  Monday’s Murderer

  * * *

  Prequel: Parrots and Payback

  A review is worth its weight in gold!

  I really hope you enjoyed reading this story. I was wondering if you could spare a couple of moments to rate and review this book? As an indie author, one of the best ways you can help support my dream of being an author is to leave me a review on your favourite online book store, or even tell your friends.

  Reviews help other readers, just like you, to take a chance on a new writer!

  * * *

  Thank you!

  Ruby Loren

  Also by Ruby Loren

  HOLLY WINTER MYSTERIES

  Snowed in with Death

  A Fatal Frost

  Murder Beneath the Mistletoe

  Winter’s Last Victim

  * * *

  EMILY HAVERSSON OLD HOUSE MYSTERIES

  The Lavender of Larch Hall

  The Leaves of Llewellyn Keep

  The Snow of Severly Castle

  The Frost of Friston Manor

  The Heart of Heathley House

  * * *

  HAYLEY ARGENT HORSE MYSTERIES

  The Swallow’s Storm

  The Starling’s Summer

  The Falcon’s Frost

  The Waxwing’s Winter

  * * *

  JANUARY CHEVALIER SUPERNATURAL MYSTERIES

  Death’s Dark Horse

  Death’s Hexed Hobnobs

  Death’s Endless Enchanter

  Death’s Ethereal Enemy

  Death’s Last Laugh

  Prequel: Death’s Reckless Reaper

  * * *

  BLOOMING SERIES

  Blooming

  Abscission

  Frost-Bitten

  Blossoming

  Flowering

  Fruition