Susan Gillard - Double Chocolate Pistachio 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 2016 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

Chapter 1

Heather walked between the rows of tents in the school field and clung to the Donut Delights box. Her heart skipped a beat. Her tummy twisted into knots then relaxed again.

Only a day until the Hillside Annual Bake-Off and already, the nerves had set in.

Hey, Amy said and nudged her arm. What are you worried about?

Im not worried, Heather replied, and sniffed. Who said I was worried?

Oh please, I can read you like a recipe book, Amy replied, and rolled her eyes. She shifted her grip on her own Donut Delights box. You cant seriously be nervous for this thing tomorrow. Youre a shoo-in to win it.

Dont be ridiculous. There are plenty of great bakers in Hillside, Heather replied.

Amy snorted this time and the donuts in her box wobbled around. I hope youre not talking about who I think youre talking about.

They halted in front of the tent which had been allocated as Heathers Spot and waved at Maricela and Ken.

Hey, you two, Amy said and wriggled her eyebrows.

Ken blushed and looked away. Maricela totally unaware of Kens crush grinned and beckoned. We got everything up, now. Everything. We got the oven. She pointed, then clapped her hands.

The gas oven sat beside a series of portable tables.

You win this, boss, Maricela said.

Totally. Ken avoided Amys gaze and gave Heather a thumbs up.

I cant thank you enough for your help, Heather said, then placed the donut box on the table nearest to her. Which is why Ive brought these.

Maricela rubbed her palms together, then flipped open the lid of one of the boxes.

Six chocolate coated beauties glistened on the cardboard.

Oh, what are they? Ken asked, and leaned in to take a look.

Heather swept her arms wide. Theyre a thick-battered chocolate base, baked and double dipped in warm ganache, then coated in a healthy sprinkle of salted pistachios. The salted part is important. Offset all that sweetness.

Oh wow, Ken and Maricela breathed, in unison.

I call them, Double Chocolate Pistachio Donuts.

Lame, a voice said behind them.

The scene froze, apart from Amy who spun on the spot beside Heather. Here we go again, she muttered.

Heather sighed and followed her besties example. She folded her arms and glared at her competitor extraordinaire, Miss Kate Laverne.

Hello, Kate, Heather said. A beleaguered sigh sat behind her lips, but she didnt let it escape. Why give the woman the pleasure?

Shepherd, Kate said, and the corner of her lip twitched upward. I thought you might be here. You think youve scoped out the best spot. She glanced left and right. But youre nowhere near the judges table. Theyll have to walk for ages to get to you.

At least theyll have walked off whatever cupcake abomination you plan on feeding them, Amy said.

Heathers eyes widened. She stifled a chuckle. Her bestie had the best barbs and the worst jokes.

Kate Laverne opened and closed her mouth, then pursed her lips. Whatever. I dont even know you. She focused on Heather again. I hope you dont plan on giving them those things. For your sake. She flicked her fingers toward the box of donuts.

Kate

A tiny woman in a pantsuit burst out of a tent nearby. She held a microphone with a massive foam bulb on its end. A cameraman followed hot on her heels.

This thing is going to be televised? Amy muttered. Wow.

That only made Heathers nerves worse.

There they are, the tiny reporter said. Hurry up, Mike. Stop fumbling with that camera. Were going to lose them. The woman clapped her palms together around the microphone.

The cameraman loped after her, his thick arms coated in a thin, sheen of sweat.

Ladies, the woman said, and adjusted her grip on the microphone. How are you this fine Sunday morning?

Were alarmed, Amy replied. Who are you?

The reporters focus glazed past Heathers bestie and rested on Kate instead. Im Tina Laurent, a reporter for Channel 5 News. You must be Kate Laverne, she said and extended her free hand.

Kate stared at it as if it were a pit viper.

Tina didnt falter. She slid her tiny hand toward Heather instead. And youre Heather Shepherd, owner of Donut Delights. Correct?

Thats correct, Heather replied, and shook the reporters hand. Is there something I can help you with Tina?

Maybe a sedative, Amy suggested.

Once again, Tina ignored her. How do you ladies feel about the competition tomorrow? Excited? Nervous?

Heather glanced at Kate, then cleared her throat. We were kind of in the middle of a conversation, she said.

Well, why not continue it? Tina asked, and bestowed a smile on Heather and then Kate. Amy got nothing. Ill be back here. A fly on the wall.

No, thank you, Heather said. Had this woman lost her mind?

The cameraman removed his eye from the viewfinder and shook his head at Tina Laurent. You cant do this, he said.

What was that, Mike? Tina asked, and cupped her hand to her ear. Nothing? Youve got nothing to say. Just as I thought.

Tina, its not ethical. George warned you about this kind of

George is a doormat, Tina snapped and turned on her cameraman. He doesnt understand what it means to get good ratings. No wonder his stupid news channel is failing.

Its a cooking show, Mike said and dragged his fingers through his long, greasy hair. Its not the Super Bowl. We dont have to get exclusive interviews for this.

Ugh! Tina threw her hands up in the air and wiggled her microphone around. The insolence. I cant work like this!

She stormed off toward the end of the field.

Mike stared at her. He shook his head and exhaled through his nose, then followed her path. A slow walk down the path of doom. It had to be difficult working with a woman like that.

Kate glared at Heather for a second. She turned and walked off in the other direction.

Weird, Heather whispered, and strode back to the tables and the boxes of donuts. I thought for sure shed have more insults to hurl at me.

Amy shrugged. Maybe she felt upstaged.

Chapter 2

Heather unlocked the front door of her house and dragged her feet inside. Boy, she could use a long, hot bath, and a cuddle with Cupcake.

The kitten had turned out to be quite the cutie.

With a name like Cupcake, what did we expect? Heather muttered to herself. She frowned and gazed up at Lillys closed bedroom door. Usually, the girl tumbled down the stairs the minute the front door opened.

Lils? She called.

Shes not here, Ryan said, behind her.

Heather shrieked and jumped up. She spun in mid-air and landed, palms out.

Whoa. Did I scare you? Her husband asked.

Nope. Just practicing for the ballet, she replied and wiped sweat from her brow. Wait, wheres Lils?

I dropped her off at Evas for the afternoon. Dave and Cupcake too, since theyre inseparable now. Lilly and her menagerie. Ryan massaged the bridge of his nose. Weve got a case.

Heather exhaled and blocked out visions of a bubble bath. So much for her pre-cooking competition relaxation session.