Susan Gillard - Cotton Candy Fluff 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

Its wonderful to have visitors so frequently, Leila said and patted the spot on the bed next to her.

Lilly sat down and handed the old woman one of her stories. I wrote this for you. Its the adventures of Dinosaur King and Billy the Goat. Shed spent the entire week writing this one up.

Thats wonderful, dear, thank you, Leila said.

Heather popped the box of donuts on the bedside table, then took a seat beside Amy and Eva, whod pulled in two chairs from the hall. Theyd set aside Sunday mornings for a visit to Heathers grandmothers friend at Hillside Manor truthfully, Leila had become their friend too.

Youll love this weeks donut, dear, Eva said and folded her hands in her lap.

What is it? Leila asked.

Heather grinned. This was her favorite part of the week. She loved the big reveal. Everything after that was just an added sprinkle of happiness. I call them Cotton Candy Fluff Donuts, Heather said.

Oh wow. They sound amazing.

Youre kidding, right? Theyre past amazing. Ive gained a pound this morning alone, Amy said and patted her flat stomach. Shed always been the athletic one between the two of them, and shed certainly kept her figure through a combination of metabolism, stress and morning cardio.

At least, shed given up on pulling Heather into leg day a series of exercises whichd left her breathless and praying for salvation.

Whats in them? Leila asked, and open the boxs lid. The sweet scent of cotton candy drifted out alongside the warmth of freshly baked donuts.

Theyre a plain vanilla base, baked in the oven until crispy brown, then double dipped in a sticky blue cotton candy glaze.

Isnt cotton candy just spun sugar? Leila asked, and took one out of the box. Lilly fetched her a napkin from Heathers purse.

Youd think, Heather said and tapped the side of her nose. But cotton candy actually has flavor. The blue one has a mild raspberry flavor, which is what we used for this particular donut. Its sinfully sweet and sticky, but the vanilla base should offset that sweetness.

Theyd added very little sugar to the donut base for exactly that reason.

Leila took a healthy the term was subjective in this case bite of the donut and closed her eyes. Oh my heavens, she whispered. Pure elation danced across her face.

You like it? Heather asked.

Are you fishing for compliments, Heather Shepherd? Amy snorted. The woman is transported. You can see she likes it.

Shush, you. Heather swatted her bestie on the arm, then turned back to Leila again. How are things here? Are you still happy?

Leila opened one eye. As happy as I can be. I get visitors all the time, now, and these donuts too. She opened the other and wriggled her nose. Things could be better, though.

Better how? Heather asked. She checked in on her grandmothers friend as much as possible shed hate to think that the womans needs had fallen by the wayside thanks to her busy schedule of solving murders and baking donuts.

Leila placed the donut on the napkin. She ran her finger over its top, collected some of the glaze, then put it in her mouth. Things are changing here.

Theyre changing everywhere, Eva said.

Leila nodded her agreement. Ive had the feeling lately that, oh, I dont know, Ill probably sound ridiculous if I say it. Shed always been soft spoken.

No one thinks youre ridiculous.

Hillside is changing. I know theres been this influx of tourists and business owners and I cant help but feel that there are strangers coming in with them. Leila paused and pointed at Ames. Now, dont you look at me like that. Im not a xenophobe or one of those folks who cant get along with others.

Then what do you mean? Heather asked.

I mean, people keep coming into Hillside. People who we dont know. People we cant vouch for. Leila gave a sad shake of her head and looked out of the window. Things are different from when I was a girl. Or even a woman for that matter.

The Hillside originals, Eva said.

Everyone turned to her.

What? Its a thing. There are people who have lived here all their lives and now, there are strangers coming in and taking their place. Soon, there will be a whole new set of Hillside originals, Eva said.

Whatever the case may be, Leila replied, and moved her donut to the bedside table, I dont much like it. I dont much like the

A crash rang out from the hall outside followed by a wail the kind Heather could only describe as blood-curdling. Every hair on her body snapped to attention and she scrambled out of her chair.

Leila slipped an arm around Lillys shoulders and drew her into a hug, but the girl looked more intrigued than afraid. She certainly had an investigative spirit.

Everyone stay right here, Heather said and hurried to the door.

Ames jumped up and followed her, of course. She didnt think everyone applied to her.

Heather creaked the door open and peeked out. She checked both sides of the hall, then gasped. A woman kneeled near the entrance to the building, gripping two fistfuls of hair and sobbing.

Heather couldnt make out the tears, but the womans torso rocked back and forth, back and forth. She hiccupped and shrieked again. Two orderlies rushed forward and helped her up.

Shes wearing a uniform, Heather said. She works here.

Oh, Leila said. I know who that is. Shes been carrying on like that for the past week and I dont blame her, poor woman.

Heather shut the door and went back to her seat. Who is she?

Blond woman, right? Leila asked. In the Hillside Manor uniform?

Thats right.

Thats Pammy Nolan. Her son is in the hospital. He was injured during a horse-riding incident, Leila said. The horse bucked him off and he struck his back and neck. Hes in a coma.

Thats terrible. Why is she still at work? Eva asked.

They tried to make her go home but she refuses. I think she needs to keep her hands busy. You know what they say about idle hands and idle minds. Leilas electric blue eyes had dulled a little as if the thought of that much sorrow overwhelmed her.

They sank into an uncomfortable silence no amount of donut chatter could fix.

Lilly slipped off the bed and took the pages of her story from Leilas lap. I think Ill read it to you, she said. Im sure it will make you laugh.

Lilly to the rescue. What would they have done without her? Laughter soon replaced the quiet thanks to the antics of the Dinosaur King and Billy the Goat who reminded Heather a lot of Amy, coincidentally.

Heather didnt often sleep late she could, though, since technically she owned Donut Delights and could get up a little later than her ever faithful assistants but shed taken her opportunity with both hands.

Monday morning, Amy sang and set an easy pace down the sidewalk.

Heather yawned and struggled to keep up. I swear, the more I sleep the worse I feel.

Oh come on, Amy said. You cant tell me you didnt enjoy not waking up at Roosters fart this morning.