Susan Gillard - Cinnamon Nut Crunch 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 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
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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Heather opened the door to Flighty Florists and held it for Amy. Her bestie marched on inside, clutching a box of Cinnamon Crunch Donuts Heathers finest creation if she did say so herself.

The donuts have arrived, Amy announced, sweeping into the center of the room like a dancer from the Ziegfeld Follies.

I told you shed be here soon, Eva said, to a young girl behind the counter.

Hi, the young lady said, rising from her seat. She extended a hand, and Heather hurried forward to take it.

They shook, a firm shake the best kind and Heather smiled, easily. Im Heather.

And these are her donuts, Amy said, sliding the box onto the counter. Can we open them? Im practically drooling, here.

We can, but may we? Thats another question entirely. Heather grinned.

Such a Grammar Queen. Amy scoffed. Her fingers itched towards the sides of the box.

Im sorry, Heather said, I didnt catch your name.

The lady behind the counter gave a warm smile. Im Tara. You know my dad, actually.

Heather exchanged a glance with Eva since Amy was too busy delicately unwrapping the box of Cinnamon Crunches. I do? Heather asked.

Yeah, Tara replied. Hes told me a lot about you. She chuckled behind her hand, and then dropped it. Sorry, its just; my dads a little bit egotistical at the best of times. I think hes threatened by you.

Color me intrigued, Heather said.

Amy removed a donut from the box and licked her lips. Color me cinnamon.

I think 'greedy' is the word youre looking for there. Heather nudged Amy gently, but let her friend get on with her donut scoffing. Hes threatened by me. Gosh, who is your father?

Detective Davidson, Tara said, and then opened her arms wide. Oh, dont worry; Im not on his side. I moved out of the house ages ago. My mom did too when I was a kid. She couldnt stand being around him anymore. He means well, but he just doesnt say the right things.

Heather blinked. That was a lot of information to process within five minutes of meeting the new assistant at Flighty Florists.

Im, uh, I dont know what to say, Heather replied.

I think awkward would be a poignant turn of phrase, Amy said, and received another, firmer, nudge in the ribs.

Sorry, Tara said, lowering her gaze and blinking at the counter top. I just got excited to meet you. I get like that around new people.

Tara has a real zest for life. Eva reached over and patted the young woman on the forearm. Dont you worry, dear; no one here will ever judge you. She followed that up with a look sharp enough to spear in Amys direction.

Amy shrugged and reached for another donut, the cinnamon crumbles dropping from her fingertips.

Its great to meet you, Heather said. I didnt expect to come down here, any time soon. Im not the flowers kinda gal.

Yeah, we dont get that many women in here, Tara replied, unless theyre buying flowers for their moms on mothers day.

Speaking of which, I should send a bouquet to Hillside Manor. It was Leilas birthday the other day. I sent donuts, but I wanted to give her something else, as well. Heather didnt speak to anyone in particular, but the room in general.

Her detective cogs clicked and whirred, even though there wasnt a murder to solve.

Detective Davidson was threatened by her? What did that even mean?

Heather hummed Strawberry Fields by The Beatles.

I love that song, Amy said, between mouthfuls. Terrible rendition, though. Youre out of key or whatever its called.

Heather ignored her bestie and leaned in to sniff a vibrant bouquet of Lilies. These will be fine, she said, pointing them out to Tara. And Id like to make out a card, as well.

Those are the flowers that got me down here, in the first place. Eva slid off the chair behind the counter and shuffled around to stand next to Heather.

Eva had panicked on the phone to Heather earlier because shed received a bouquet from a mystery admirer. Usually, that kinda thing would cheer a gal up, but itd had the opposite effect on the elderly woman.

Did you figure it out? Heather asked.

The door to Flighty Florists slapped open before Eva could get a word out.

All four women turned to the front, Amy with a donut wedged between her fingertips and cinnamon crumbles on her chin.

Geoff Lawless strode into the store, nose in the air, beard wiggling in the slight draft which followed him in.

Heather narrowed her eyes. Amys chewing slowed, and Eva drew in a sharp breath. She still hadnt forgiven him for forcing donuts on her on Heathers home turf.

Geoff took one step towards the counter, gaze flitting across their faces. He froze, readjusted his belt, and took another step.

Heather resisted the urge to whistle the tune from a Spaghetti Western.

Hi there, Tara said, oblivious to the tension. How may I help you?

Geoff didnt reply, choosing to stare at Heather instead. Shouldnt you be working? He asked.

She shouldve been studying. She had a test coming up, and shed taken to working on the course in her office in Donut Delights.

Shouldnt you be working? Amy snapped. She placed her half-eaten donut back in the box and kept close to it.

Dont engage with him, Heather said. Hes not worth your time. If youll excuse me, Tara, I think Amy and me, Eva too for that matter, will be on our way.

Yes, Eva and Amy said, in unison.

Amy grabbed the box off the counter and marched for the door. Geoff moved out of her way, a swift motion, and folded his arms.

Heather did her best not to look at him on the way out. Nervous laughter bubbled behind her lips, threatening to burst out at a moments notice.

She couldnt help it. There was just something about the massive, muscular, bald guy that got her laughing. Perhaps it was the surly expression or worse, his determination to bring her down, even if it meant following her to a florist.

Heather turned her face to the sun, linked her arm through Evas and headed off down the road.

Chapter 2

She was a lovely girl, Eva said, settling at the small kitchen table in her home. I dont know what go into her when you arrived. She seemed The elderly woman trailed off, searching for the right word.

Tense? Heather suggested.

It was seriously weird, Amy said, scoffing down another donut from the open box, which shed placed in the center of the cherry wood table.

I dont understand what she meant by her father being threatened by me. Heather took a seat beside Eva and picked up a donut for herself. She picked at the cinnamon crunch crumble on the top and inserted the crispy goodness between her teeth.

Shed used waffle for the crisp, double baked them in a cinnamon glaze to get them perfectly crunchy, then crumbled and scattered to her hearts content. They were probably her favorite donuts so far though, she thought that about all her donuts.

Its probably because youre a strong woman and businesswoman, for that matter, Eva said. Its in my experience that most men are threatened by that. Especially those who are, how do I put it?