Susan Gillard - Chocolate Peanut Brittle Murder

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Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the authors imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Copyright 2017 by Guardian Publishing Group - All rights reserved.

All rights Reserved. No part of this publication or the information in it may be quoted from or reproduced in any form by means such as printing, scanning, photocopying or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

Table of Contents

Eva placed her tote bag on top of the glass counter in Donut Delights with a rattle of metal beads. She clasped her hands to her chest and eyed the glazed beauties cuddling up to one another.

Strawberry Creams beside the Chocolate Revolutions. Oh, and the Peaches and Cream Donuts of course. Colors spanning the rainbow and flavors to match. Each donut had its own unique allure.

What is it this week? Eva asked. Oh goodness, is it that one? She tapped the case with her fingernail, just above the newest creation in Heathers repertoire.

Thats it, she said and grinned at the elderly woman. Do you want to hear about it? Oh, but wait wheres Leila?

We went shopping this morning, Eva said, but she wanted to go to this new fashion boutique place and I wasnt in the mood. Shell come over in a minute.

Already, Leila and Eva argued like an old, and happily married couple. They were Heather and Amy in a few years from now, except they had more patience for each others quirks.

Should I wait until shes here to divulge the secret of this weeks donut?

No, dear, you go ahead, Eva said. Ill certainly be eating one of those donuts before she gets here, so youd better tell me what Im in for.

I call them Chocolate Peanut Brittle Donuts. A rich chocolate batter base, coated in light choc glaze and sprinkled with handmade peanut brittle. That should provide a nice crunch.

Ill take four, Eva said. I know Leila will want to taste them and one is never enough.

Heather rang up the order on their new computer system. She slapped the register drawer closed, then bent and got two plates from the shelf beside the counter. How about some coffee?

Yes, please, Eva said. She fiddled with the dainty watch on her wrist and frowned.

Problem? Heather used a pair of silver tongs to retrieve the donuts. She placed them carefully, one at a time, on either plate.

Nothing, nothing, I just expected Leila to

The glass front door crashed inward and several screams rang out through the store. Heather jumped and one of the donuts flopped off the plate and rolled across the boards, squelch, squelch, squelch, and came to a halt.

Leila stood on the threshold, a spring breeze fluttering her skirts. She gripped the jamb, her other hand pressed to her pallid cheek. I I I

Leila? Heather started forward.

The kitchen doors swung outward and Amy appeared. Whats going on? She spotted the pale elderly woman and rushed to her side.

Heather reached Leila at the same moment Amy did. Together, they helped her across the interior of Donut Delights and into a chair at a table closest to the front.

Are you all right? Heather asked, and clicked her fingers at Ames, then at the remaining donuts on the counter.

Leila shook her head, lips drawn into a thin, white line.

Eva sat down next to her and took her hand. Shes clammy.

Ames, a glass of water too, please.

Amy didnt complain. She rushed around and saw to matters behind the counter, then summoned Maricela from within the kitchen to take care of any customers while they were busy with poor Leila.

Leila swayed on the spot and shut her eyes so tight her lids wrinkled.

Finally, Ames delivered the donuts and the water.

Leila drank from the glass, trembling all the way, then set it down and exhaled, slowly. We need to call the police, she said.

Why? Heather asked. Already, the slow creep of dreadful certainty had started in the pit of her belly the same feeling she got every time a case presented itself.

Theres a dead man in our house, Leila said. Right in the middle of the passage, half in and half out of the living room entrance. I cant I cant

Its all right, Heather said. Take a bite of the donut. It will help you calm down.

Leila did as she was told and groaned a sigh around a mouthful of chocolatey goodness. Great, she said. Just great.

Good, Heather replied.

Amy took a seat and scooched the chair as much as possible. She succeeded in making horrible scraping noises on the boards and not much else they were wrought iron chairs, after all.

Leila finished off her bite of donut and placed the rest of it back in the plate oh boy, she had to be shaken to do that. She usually ate all of Heathers donuts without stopping to sip coffee or talk. I bought a lot of clothes at that fancy new boutique down the street. I had so many bags and I didnt want to carry them here and have them crowding my feet.

Feet sweat, Eva agreed.

Pardon? Amy and Heather asked that together.

Oh, you know, the feet sweats. My tootsies get claustrophobic in these pumps and I cant wear sandals. You wouldnt believe the size of my bunions, Leila said and flapped her hands. But thats beside the point. I went home to drop off the bags, but when I got up the front stairs, the door was already ajar.

I locked it, Eva said. I know I locked it.

The lock was broken. I figured it was a thief and theyd forced the door then made off with all our stuff. That new TV I bought, Leila said. Oh gosh, I havent even checked if its still there, but oh, Im getting sidetracked.

Thats all right. Heather patted the back of her hand. Walk us through it.

Right, so I went up the front stairs and opened the door.

Have you lost the last of your brain cells? Eva asked, and shook her head in a show of uncharacteristic disapproval. She hadnt even thrown in a dear to soften the blow. You couldve been murdered yourself.

I have an inquisitive streak. I cant help myself, Leila said, which wasnt much of a defense. And tell me you wouldnt have done the same.

Yes, well, thats neither here nor there. Eva picked up the bite-free donut on the plate and tucked into it.

And when I opened the door there he was. The corpse man. The thing. Oh gosh. Leila grabbed a napkin from the dispenser and dabbed her forehead. I didnt see much but there was a lot of blood.

In our house, Eva said, and swallowed. She took a napkin herself and cleaned chocolate and peanut brittle crumbs from her lips. Unheard of. Invading an elderly womans home like that.

Two elderly women, Leila said. And youre missing the point, Eva, dear.

The dead body, of course.

Ill call Ryan, Heather said. And an ambulance, just in case.

Leila paled again. I think its too late to save him, dear. Ive never seen that much blood in my life. And I was a nurse.

This is just too weird, Amy said. She leaned against the mailbox which poked out of the crete in front of Eva and Leilas house. Wind hushed her, traveling between the flowers in their loamy beds and the tall trees at the perimeter of the garden.

Eva had maintained it throughout the winter and that work had born fruit in spring. Quite literally. Small green fruit hung from the crab apple tree nearby.

Heather shrugged. Ive progressed past weird when it comes to Hillside. Anything can happen here. Its like weve become the new murder capital of the world.

Whats the actual murder capital of the world? Amy asked, and shuddered.