Susan Gillard - Tricky Blueberry 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.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Aagghh! Heather clenched the steering wheel and glanced at the white, cardboard boxes of donuts that now lay upside down on the passengers side floorboard of her car.

On her way to Hillside Manor to visit one of the residents, an 85-year-old woman who had been her grandmothers lifelong friend until her grandmother passed, Heather had brought her car to a stop at a light. When the light turned green, she started forward, only to have to slam on the brakes as a silver pickup ran its red light and zipped past in front of her.

Thus, the boxes of donuts, which she had carelessly stacked on the front seat because she was in a hurry, now lay upside down on the floor. She could only imagine how the donuts inside them looked.

Continuing through the intersection, Heather pulled over into a parking lot to survey the damage. She lifted the boxes from the floor, turned them right-side-up, and heard the donuts thumping back into place. Gingerly, she flipped the top open to find just what shed thought she would find: twelve smears of toppings on the inside of each lid, and twelve donuts in each box that looked like a toddler had been trying to pick all the goodies out of the icing.

Grimacing, Heather closed the boxes again, set them back on the floorthough why she bothered, she didnt know, because the damage was already doneand drove back in the direction shed come, fumbling for her cell phone.

Donut Delights; this is Jung, a voice answered. How may I help you?

Jung, I managed to ruin both boxes of donuts, she said. I had to slam on my brakes, and the boxes went upside-down on the floorboards. Would you please fill two more boxes for me? Put in some Southern Pecan Pie, Ice Cream Sundae, Americana donutsjust a variety. Ill just zip in the back door to pick them up.

Will do, he said. Ill have them ready for you.

Thanks, she said, sighing at her own carelessness. Now she was going to be even later. Oh, well. Had to be done. Not just because she didnt want to bring a gift that looked like yesterdays leftovers, but also because her name was on the box.

Well, the name of her shop, actually. After her divorce from ex-husband Don, and her subsequent move from New York City back to her hometown, shed rented the perfect space in an old-fashioned brick building and founded Donut Delights. Her shop offered gourmet donuts, with every donut and filling and icing made from scratch right there in the kitchen.

Wrought iron chairs and tables graced the dining area; the wooden floor shone with a rich, golden hue; the brick walls, artfully distressed, added a certain something. The artfully subtle centerpieces at each table offered an elegant variation from the usual metal napkin holder with thin paper napkins.

She wanted to provide her customers not only with tasty donuts in flavors they never would have imagined, but also with a graceful dining experience, even if they only stopped in for donuts and coffee.

When she burst through the back door of Donut Delights moments later, Jung scooped two white cardboard boxes from the end of the long, stainless steel prep counter and handed them to her. Here you go. Right on schedule.

Thanks, Jung, she said, darting back out the door. Ill be back in an hour.

This time, she not only set the boxes of donuts on the floorboards, which she should have done in the first place, but also made it safely through the dreaded intersection without having to slam on the brakes. She pulled into a spot marked Visitor at Hillside Manor, grabbed the boxes, and got out of the car.

It wasnt that Leila Howard would mind terribly if Heather was late. In fact, Leila probably wouldnt mind at all. Its not like Im going anywhere, she had said, chuckling, the last time Heather was late. Dont you worry.

It was just that Heather hated being late. She did her best to arrive wherever she was going on time, and she chafed when circumstances prevented her from doing so. She threw a distracted smile in the direction of two residents sitting in wheelchairs in the lobby talking in low voices, but they didnt even look up. Hmm. That was unusual that nobody paid attention to a visitor.

She walked quickly down the hall to Leilas room, balanced the boxes on one forearm as she gripped the edges with her hand, and used her other hand to knock on the door. Leila? Its Heather.

Come in, came a reedy voice from the other side of the door. Heather pushed the door open and entered the private room. She set the boxes down on Leilas tray and leaned over to hug the elderly woman, who sat in bed, the TV remote lying in her lap. Sorry Im late.

Dont you worry, Leila said. I should be the one whos sorry. I didnt even get prepared for visitors this morning. She reached up to gently pat her hair, which looked, if not styled, at least like it had received a comb-through.

Do you want me to style it for you? Heather asked.

No, thank you. I guess Ill just leave it the way it is for today.

Heather frowned, noticing that Leilas eyes seemed more watery than usual. Is something wrong? she asked.

Well, yes, you could say there is, Leila said. Why dont you pull up a chair, and well talk.

Heather grasped the back of the chair that had been placed next to the window and pulled it over toward the bad. She sat down facing her mothers friend, concern beginning to gnaw at her.

Whats wrong, Leila? she asked.

Do you remember Betty Shivers? One of the aides here? The one who was my favorite? Leilas gnarled hand clenched itself around a fistful of her blanket.

Yes, I know Betty.

Leilas tearful gaze met Heathers as her mouth trembled. Betty was killed this morning, she said.

Oh, no! What happened?

She was murdered right outside the back door.

No! How couldwhoI dont understand.

It must have happened early this morning, Leila said. One of the janitorial staff found her when he arrived for work. She had been beatenand

Leila bowed her head, sobs shaking her frail shoulders. Heather placed her hands over Leilas. Take your time, Heather said. Im so sorry. I know you really liked Betty. We dont have to talk about this if you dont want to.

Ill be okay, Leila said, reaching for a Kleenex from her bedside table and wiping her eyes, then blowing her nose. It was just such a shock. Betty was usually the one who came in to give me my medications in the morning. Today, somebody else came in. When I asked her where Betty was, she told me what had happened.

I cant believe it, Heather said. Im so sorry.

I guess Im not going to be very good company today, Leila said.

Dont worry about that at all. I dont blame you. I wouldnt be good company, either. Do you want me to just leave you the donuts and go? Give you some time to yourself?