Susan Gillard - Peaches and Cream 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

Donut Delights felt like home. The rumble of conversation and the click of cups hitting saucers, coupled with the delectable scent of sweet donuts in every variety imaginable.

Oh yeah, Heather couldnt be happier to be back.

Her newest creation cried for attention beneath the glass, glistening the orange of a Hillside sunset. She sighed and placed a porcelain cup on the grate of the coffee machine, then punched a couple buttons.

It was pretty early and the morning rush hadnt started quite yet. She had a minute to relax and enjoy the fact that she wasnt in humid Florida another night in that muggy hotel room and she mightve gone mad. Never mind the boa constrictor theyd had for company on their final evening.

The coffee machine whirred into action and Heather checked her apron strings.

Heather, dear, Eva said and halted in front of the counter. Im so glad the store is open again and its just in time to show it off to my old friend.

The woman at her side wore her hair in a similar plum style, but her ice blue eyes were sharp. She didnt have the same soft angles and warm smile which Heather associated with Eva.

Nice to meet you, Heather said. Im

Oh, I know who you are, the woman replied. Her tinny voice grated Heathers nerves. Goodness, what a strange lady. All sharp angles and words.

Im afraid I didnt catch your name, Heather said and extended her hand.

The woman studied it but didnt shake. Carly, she said.

Excuse Carly. Shes in a terrible mood because she lost her favorite necklace, Eva said and patted her friends arm. Dont worry, dear, well find it.

I highly doubt that. Im sure the thief has already left town with it. That necklace was of great value. Sterling silver. Carly snatched a napkin from beside the register, then dabbed her moist upper lip.

Im sorry to hear about your troubles, Heather said.

Are you? She massaged her neck. Im in a lot of pain too, Ill have you know. You wouldnt understand anything about pain. Youre just a baker.

Now, Carly, theres no need to be rude, Eva chided and patted the other woman again.

But Carly wasnt in the mood for pats and reassurance, apparently. She turned on her burgundy heels and clicked off to the other side of the store, head held high and plum do wobbling.

Heather blinked in the wake of her departure. Goodness, she said. Eva, I dont mean to be rude but who on earth is that and why would you want to spend any time with her.

Eva sighed. Shes one of the Hillside originals.

Whats a Hillside original?

Its what I call women of my generation who have lived here for as long as I have. She doesnt get out of the house much unless its to wander down to the post office and berate them for their lack of stamps and the advent of email. Shes not good with computers, Eva said. Or people. Or anything, really.

And youre friends with her because?

Eva chuckled. Because its wise to keep your friends close and your enemies closer. She lowered her voice and glanced back at Carly. I wouldnt trust that woman as far as I could throw her. Which is not at all.

Heather set about preparing Evas usual cup of coffee and an extra for Miss High and Mighty by the window. You spend time with her often?

I visit at least once a week.

Goodness, Eva, what else do you get up to in your spare time that I dont know about?

Thats my secret, Eva said and winked. Now, enough about that old knitting bag, lets talk donuts. Whats the special this week? Her gaze landed on the glistening orange donuts and didnt budge. Something delicious I bet.

Last week the gang and I came up with these really zesty, sour but sweet donuts. The Kiwi Lime Surprises. So, this week, I decided it was time for something fruity, creamy and smooth.

Im drooling already, Eva said and slurped.

Carly let out an exasperated huff and plonked down at Evas usual table. She rammed her handbag onto it and stared out of the window.

Its the Peaches and Cream Donut, Heather said and placed the two coffee cups on the countertop. A vanilla bean base, baked in the oven until golden and crispy, injected

Oh, whenever you inject the donuts I know its going to be good.

It was Heathers favorite trick and one shed learned from her grandmother. Theyre injected with a light, vanilla cream in three pockets. Theyre laden with the stuff, actually. Amy had one and she messed everywhere, but Ive never seen her happier.

And the glaze?

Ah, yes, of course. A double dip into a peach glaze, made from organic peaches and a tiny splotch of lemon to elevate the flavor profile, Heather said.

Youre a genius. Ill take three. Two for me and one for the Sulky Sue over there, Eva said.

Heather brought out the plates, then fed two donuts onto them. There you go. She waved Emily Potts over. Her assistant collected the order and walked it to Evas table beside the window. Carly ignored the delivery of the food and coffee, entirely.

Good luck with that one, Heather said. She didnt like the idea of Eva hanging around with such a wretched woman, but what could she do? It was her choice, not Heathers.

Ill need all the luck I can get. Eva toddled off to join her friend.

Emily circled the counter and took her place beside the register and their new computer system.

Oh shoot, I forgot to enter the order, Heather said. Shed officially opened a tab for Eva so she wouldnt have to pay every time she ordered a donut. That meant Heather didnt have to enter it into the system to get the register drawer to pop out it was easier to forget that way.

Ill do it, boss, Emily said and tapped on the screen.

Heathers phone buzzed in the front pocket of her apron and her stomach whooped up into her throat then plonked down again. So soon? It couldnt be.

She whipped her cell out. Ryans name flashed on the screen.

Here we go again, Heather whispered.

Heather strolled through the gift shop portion of the Tourism Depot, past Hoskins who hovered in the doorway, snacking on a candy bar, and into the office.

Ryan Shepherd stood beside a broken window whichd been covered with clear plastic. The sheet bobbed, then depressed, sucked back by the wind outside.

What happened? Heather asked.

Murder, Hoskins said.

Heather rolled her eyes and ignored the candy-gobbling detective behind her. Ryan? He hadnt been forthcoming on the phone, apart from telling her to get her butt down to the Tourism Depot and bring Amy along for the ride.

Except Amy couldnt come. She was currently sitting for her final Private Investigators License exam. If she passed this one, shed help out Heather on every case as a qualified assistant.

Detective Shepherd side and scrubbed his hand through his hair. Victims name was Shane Price. Owner of the Tourism Depot. One of his employees found him this morning, stabbed through the heart. From the back, though.

Forensics has already cleaned up in here?

Thats right, Ryan said. Were free to wander and touch at will. Not you, Hoskins.