Susan Gillard - Pecan Nut Crunch 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

Heather rolled her high-backed office chair backward and folded her hands across her Donut Delights shirt. I think it will be awesome, she said.

I agree, Amy said, from the high stool beside her. Shed dragged that into the office from behind the counter, and perched there like an eagle to oversee the joint venture meeting. People will love it. Im pretty sure we could speak to the members of the town council, and theyd totally support it. Bring in loads more of those tourists Im always complaining about.

Ive never heard you complain about tourists, Heather said and squinted up at her bestie.

I can start, Ames replied.

Col Owen brushed his fingertips across his smooth tan forehead. I like it. But what do we call it?

The room fell silent, and all four occupants shared glances. Theyd come this far in planning a festival, of sorts, but this detail had them stumped.

Tea You Soon for Donuts, Col suggested.

Amy mock gagged. Kill me now, she said, then winced. Sorry. To say thered been a rash of recent murders in their usually sleepy Texan town was an understatement.

Hillside had boomed tourists and investors had elbowed their way into Heathers beloved town and brought an economic boom, along with a scourge of unsavory types.

Though, she couldnt sum it up to just that, in all fairness.

Mona Petrov chewed her bottom lip and twisted a lock of her luxurious black hair around her finger. Lets make it something simple. The 2017 Hillside Tea and Donut Fair, she said.

I like that, Heather said and nodded toward Cols girlfriend. I like it a lot.

But if we put 2017 in there, that means we have to do it every year, Amy said. Thats quite a commitment. She drummed a beat on the legs of her jeans. Oh yeah, I cant see myself performing in the 2030 Tea and Donut Fair.

Performing? Heather snorted. Do I want to know what you mean by that?

Id say theres a certain art to the glaze, Mrs. Shepherd, Amy replied.

Col laughed, and Mona frowned. They interchanged their reactions, then swapped back again. Their joint venture partners werent accustomed to Heather and Amys unique relationship just yet. They didnt know how to react to the jokes and insults.

All right, Col said and scribbled on his Steno pad. Were all agreed on the name?

Yes, Heather said.

Mona clapped to express her enthusiasm.

Si, Amy said, just to be different.

Great. Thats settled. But when are we going to host this fair, and where? I suppose we could use the high school field.

Oh, imagine we got a marching band, Amy said. Like the High School marching band. We could have them

The door to Heathers office crashed open, and Kate Laverne marched into the room, bringing with her the scent of red velvet cupcakes and envy.

Angelica followed hot on her heels. Sorry, I cannot stop her. She just go right past, she said. I forget my rolling pin in the kitchen.

Col Owens jaw dropped. Rolling pin?

Dont worry, Amy said. Its just a joke. She narrowed her eyes at the intruder, Miss Laverne. For the most part.

Heather Shepherd, Kate said and lifted her index finger. The finger of doom on her tipped with a bright red fingernail to match the crimson pants suit and black trench coat the woman wore.

Its all right, Angelica, Heather said and smiled at her young assistant. Ill handle this. Please make sure there are no further interruptions.

Angelica did a mini-curtsy-bow hybrid, then backed out of the room, staring rolling pins at the back of Kate Lavernes head. She clicked the office door shut.

Kate, Heather said and didnt rise from her seat. She wasnt usually rude she despised that more than any other negative form of behavior but Laverne warranted it through and through.

One ill turn for another.

I hear youre planning something without me, Laverne said, and strode forward another two steps on her crimson stilettos.

Amy hummed Devil in Disguise by Elvis Presley.

Who is this woman? Mona Petrov asked, and drew herself up straight as an ironing board.

Col placed a hand on her knee to calm her.

Kate Lavernes gaze met Monas for the briefest moment. That was all it took for Laverne to dismiss her and focus on Heather once more. You should know better than to try to hide this type of thing from me, Shepherd. The rumor mill in Hillside is fierce. Its true. Its

Insert evil adjective here, Amy said.

You shut your mouth, Kate growled and swung her finger of doom toward Heathers bestie.

Enough, Heather said, quietly. Youve intruded on my personal space, a space where you will never be welcome. An insult is one step further and far enough. State your objective, then leave, Laverne, or Ill have you removed.

Mona sniffed her agreement.

Kate Laverne deflated like a tire with a leak. She licked her crimson lips, hesitated, and then narrowed her eyes. I know youre going to do some big event. The whole towns talking about all the meetings youve been having with this hippie, she said, and jerked a thumb toward Col. Whats happening.

Hippie! Col sat upright.

Heather raised her palm and pushed it outward to maintain the peace. She didnt remove her gaze from Lavernes face, however. What a truly infuriating human being shed turned out to be.

Back in New York, Laverne had been a thorn in her side at best. In Hillside, shed upgraded to a cactus. Several cacti filled with bitter fluid.

Kate, our business venture has nothing to do with you.

Its a festival of some kind, isnt it? Kate asked. Perceptive she was, tactful she was not.

Its none of your business, Col said.

Kate ignored him too. Perhaps, shed dismissed him as an unworthy adversary. I want in on it, she said.

Pardon? Heather blinked.

Amys jaw dropped.

I want in. Youre not hosting a food festival without my cupcakes, she said.

No, Col said, and Mona chimed in with him.

Thats two votes against you, Heather said. I hold the third.

And I hold a quarter, Amy said. I vote no.

Heather channeled her inner Simon Cowell. Its going to be a no from me, she said, in her best impersonation.

Oh good one, Amy whispered.

Kate Laverne huffed and puffed. Her cheeks reddened, her eyes bulged, and her heels tapped a beat on the wooden boards. Youll regret this, she said. I swear it on on my business.

And with that, Miss Laverne turned on her painfully tall stiletto heel and charged from Heathers office.

Chapter 2

Heather sat on her stool behind the cash register and wriggled her nose from side-to-side. Something about today felt off. Donut sales were up, sure, and the Pecan Nut Crunch Donuts, her new creation, were a hit.

Shed taught all the assistants how to make it early that morning.

A delicious baked vanilla base, interspersed with hard bits of caramel, dipped in a caramel glaze and coated in pecan nuts. Theyd sold themselves, and Heather and Maricela had spent the morning handing out Col Owens freebie vouchers for tea at his shop.

Whats the matter? Amy asked, and plopped down in the stool next to Heathers the same shed had in the office that morning.