Powered on two cups of coffee, I hustled to work, zig zagging through the masses of people on the sidewalk. Other workers heading to their jobs on this dreary Monday.

Snow had started to fall a couple hours ago, with forecasters predicting a foot by the end of the day. Enough snow to slow the buses and trains, and close the schools, but not enough to close the department store I worked in. Only a state of emergency declaration from the mayor would do that.

I smelled the coffee before I saw the national coffee chain on the corner. I passed without looking in, wishing I could buy one of their large coffees. My mouth watered at the thought of the large americano with a shot of espresso.

But I hadn’t saved enough money for an African safari by stopping for a coffee every morning. I wished I had saved even more. Then I wouldn’t have had to beg and plead for someone to come join me on the trip. I wasn’t able to afford going solo no matter how many coffee stops I had skipped.

In just two days, I’d be on a flight headed to a vacation of a lifetime. I’d dreamt of the game drives in search of the Big Five— elephant, lion, leopard, rhinoceros, Cape buffalo, and leopard—since I’d done a class project on African animals in grade school.

And then that email popped into my inbox announcing the last minute deal. My dream turning into reality, except for my travel companion.

I had never envisioned my sister Charlotte would be sitting next to me.

“Naomi,” my co-worker greeted me as we entered the store via the employee entrance. “Don’t you wish you could call out today? It’s moments like this I miss school.”

I shrugged. School was never for me.

I brushed snow out of my hair and stomped the snow off my boots on the mat. Two more days and I’d be greeted with warm weather.

“Ms. Hanley,” my manager greeted me. “I knew you wouldn’t let me down today.” She leaned in, “Or else I’d have to revoke my approval for that vacation.” She laughed heartily.

I did not return the laughter. I’d quit before they tried to keep from missing my trip.

Actually, I figured I’d quit upon my return. I’d stayed here long enough. I’d been at the department store’s customer service desk far longer than I expected. One year was long enough.

I clocked in and headed toward my desk. I paused at the employee kitchen.
Well, maybe I’d get one more cup of coffee. The store was paying.

Sleuth on Safari is the first book in the NEW “Traveler” cozy mystery series, released March 24, 2020.

A bargain deal on a safari + one dead body = An adventure no one could plan for.

Naomi and her estranged sister are off on a trip of a lifetime—an African safari, a bucket list trip for Naomi on which she got a last-minute deal. Naomi thinks traveling with her sister will be the worst part of her African safari until she finds one of their fellow travelers, the unlikable Dr. Higgins, dead. She gets more adventure than she bargained for when she starts investigating what she thinks is murder but the luxury lodge says was a tragic accident. She only has a few vacation days, and a few game drives, to find the killer.

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About the author
A R Kennedy lives in Long Beach, New York, with her two pups. She works hard to put food on the floor for them. As her favorite T-shirt says, ‘I work so my dog can have a better life’. She’s an avid traveler. But don’t worry. While she’s away, her parents dote on their grand-puppies even more than she does. Her writing is a combination of her love of travel, animals, and the journey we all take to find ourselves.

To learn more about A R, visit her website at arkennedyauthor.com.

All comments are welcomed.