Susan Gillard - Birthday Sprinkle Murder

Table of Contents

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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.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Whats the plan? We bring her here and all yell out surprise? Amy asked. She scooched to the edge of the cushion on the wrought iron chair. Shell probably know what weve planned, right away.

Lilly is an intelligent child, Eva said, and flick-flacked her newspaper. She disappeared behind it, apart from the top of her pale blue beehive hairstyle, which peeked out at Heather over the pages.

Ill come up with something, Heather replied. But its going to involve the kids from the shelter. Its got to. I dont think shed enjoy herself without Nicolas there.

She sat back in her seat and cast a glance around the interior of Donut Delights. The store bustled with activity and the hype from the Tea and Donut Fair had driven loads of new faces through the door.

Each sat with a donut or a cup of coffee, grinning, chatting, and spreading the cheer which made this Heathers favorite place in the entire world.

Dear, Eva said, and folded the newspaper again. She plopped it down in front of Amy. You havent told me about the donut of the week, yet. It looks so exciting. Eva twirled her fingertips above the sprinkled donut on the plate in front of her.

Heather rubbed her palms together. I wanted to do something special for Lils, so Ive created the Birthday Sprinkle Donut.

Eva made an appreciative noise. Tell me more, she said.

Lillys been on a real white chocolate kick, lately. So, Ive done a plain baked vanilla donut, interspersed with sprinkles, then double dipped in a white chocolate glaze and rolled through the most colorful sprinkles I could find in Hillside. Heather admired the donut.

Shed made a few prototypes after the fair last night, and Lils had adored them. Itd been the start to her birthday week.

That sounds fantastic, Eva said, and picked up the donut. Now, lets find out if it tastes as delicious as it looks.

Heather took a sip of her coffee and studied her bestie and Amy over her cup.

The two of them had been with her through thick and thin. Through the good times, the bad times, and the times whichd defined Donut Delights and Heather herself.

Ames slurped from her mug and spilled coffee on the table. Eva bit into the donut and sprayed sprinkles all over her plate.

Heather laughed.

Whats so funny, chuckles? Amy asked.

Oh nothing. I just love you guys, Heather said, in return.

Amy grabbed a few napkins from the dispenser in the center of the table. She dumped them on top of the spill. See? All better now.

This is amazing, Eva said, and licked sprinkles from her lips. Perfect for Lillys birthday.

Yeah, last week we didnt get much of a chance to celebrate that the adoption papers were finalized

At last, Amy said.

Exactly. So this week, I kind of wanted to make a big fuss out of her, Heather said.

If anyone deserves that kind of fuss, its Lilly, Eva replied. Shes such an angel.

Except when shes on one of her dinosaur hunting sprees, Amy said.

Lils had taken to mock excavations in the back garden, with Cupcake and Dave as her too willing assistants. Granted, Cupcake had peed on one of the excavations and been banished to the living room on time out, once, but other than that, Lils adventures had gone off without a hitch.

Speaking of dinosaurs, Heather said. I thought of doing a theme for the party.

A dinosaur cake?

Maybe with a viewing of Jurassic Park, Heather replied.

Amy clapped her hands. Shell loved that. And Im sure, uh, Jamie would like that too?

Is that your way of asking if your boyfriend can come? Heather asked.

Hes not my official boyfriend. I mean, he is but he isnt. I dont know. I dont want to jinx it.

Heather blinked at her best friend. Yes, Ames, he can come. If hes important to you, hes important to us.

Amy stuck out her tongue. Did I say he was important? Okay, maybe hes a little important. I dont know if

It was Evas turn to chuckle. Goodness, dear, youre giving me commitment issues, and I was married for years.

Heather opened her mouth to reply, but the buzz of her cell in the front pocket of her Donut Delights apron stopped her. She squirmed it out and gazed at Ryans flashing name on the screen.

Amy craned her neck, then sank in her chair. Gosh, does it always have to be on a Monday morning?

That Skydiver murder was on a Tuesday, wasnt it? Heather asked. Shed become too blas about the cases, now. She cleared her throat, then answered the call. Shepherd.

Still using my lines, I see, her husband said. I need you.

Just the thing a loving wife likes to hear.

Cute, Ryan said, and his tone warmed. It dropped to an icy temperature again. But I need you for a case, Mrs. Shepherd. This ones interesting.

Interesting how? Heather asked. Lillys birthday preparations interested her far more than anything murder related, right now. This was set to be a busier week than the one before it.

She had to get presents, a cake, organize the kids from the shelter a ride to the

It took place in an apartment building on Old Church Street, Ryan said. You remember from

Samantha Sweetheart case, Heather said. I remember. Poor girl had been exonerated after the self-defense claim. Same building?

No, the one right next to it. Place is almost falling apart. Looks a step away from being condemned, Ryan said.

And? Heather met Amys gaze. Her best friend had paled at the mention of Old Church Street. It led right past the graveyard Ames worst nightmare.

And weve got a murder on the first floor. The Superintendent of the building. No evidence of forced entry through the front door. Granted, I havent swept through the place just yet, Ryan said. But we might have a locked room conundrum, here.

Heather tapped her fingertips on the tabletop. Its Lillys birthday this week, she said. Her daughter was more important than any case.

I know, Ryan said. I know, honey. Im excited too and Ill help you plan and organize every night Im not on duty. I need you on this case. Theres more.

More?

Yeah, well, weve got a murder here, that much is clear from the blood spatter pattern across the wall, he said.

She grimaced. Okay? So whats the problem? Apart from the murder, I mean.

We dont have a body.

Heather sucked in a breath and met Amys gaze. She switched her focus to Eva.

Both of them gave her a thumbs up. Theyd help as much as they could.

All right, Heather said. Whats the address?

Chapter 2

Well, Heather said, and turned in the center of the dingy living room. This is pleasant.

Ryan clicked on the light, but the single bulb in the standing lamp barely lit the space. He walked to the curtains which covered the window and drew them back. Huh, he said.

What is it?

I think I just found our entry point. He pointed at the broken window pane in the left, metal frame.

Cold wind gusted through the gap and fluttered strands of Heathers hair. She tucked them behind her ears. How do we know this is actually a murder? Heather asked, and stepped around a marked area on the floor. She avoided focusing on the smear and spatter Ryan had mentioned on the phone.