Susan Gillard - Christmas Donut 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

Its the last week. Are you ready, Mrs. Shepherd? Amy Givens placed her fists on her hips and tilted her head to one side. The Santa hat, perched atop her short blonde hair, slid to the side.

I was born ready, Heather replied, in a gruff tone and wriggled her eyebrows. Shed pinned her own Santa hat in place that morning.

Ames relaxed and circled the glass counter, then sat down beside her best friend. The plush stool sighed beneath her.

So, youve got all your gifts, then, she said. No last minute Christmas shopping before the big day?

Nope. Im prepared this year, Heather said and hazarded a wink.

Amy rubbed her palms together I cant wait to see the look on your face when you open yours.

Heather averted her eyes and focused on the happy customers in her store instead of her best friend. Shed never been comfortable with receiving gifts. Instead, she preferred doling them out.

Giving gifts gave her the same satisfaction others experienced when opening those gifts.

The atmosphere in Donut Delights suited the Christmas season. Children giggled at their tables, most of them clutched donuts in their grubby fingers, and their parents chatted in Christmas sweaters.

Wind hustled people down the street outside. One woman shivered and glanced up at the Donut Delights sign. She made a beeline for the glass front door and entered a second later.

This weather is our best friend, Heather said.

Amy puffed her cheeks out. Financially, yeah, she said and massaged the small of her back. But after this holiday season, Im going to need a vacation.

Heather chuckled under her breath, then turned her gaze to their newest customer. Good morning, she said. How may I help?

The woman shrugged off her warm, winter coat and gazed at the collection of red and green sprinkled beauties beneath the countertop. Oh wow. What are those?

Theyre our latest creation. Christmas donuts, Heather replied. A light vanilla based, filled with juicy cranberries and topped with a white almond or choc almond glaze. The green and red sprinkles are just to Christmas it up a bit.

The womans jaw dropped. This isnt a regular donut store, is it?

You must be from out of town, Amy replied, and the corners of her lips twitched upward. A delighted smile lit up her face.

Im from Chicago, the woman replied, and slipped her handbag off her shoulder. Ill take two of those Christmas Donuts and an espresso if youve got it.

Amy hopped off her seat and didnt groan, for once. The prospect of serving a new customer always cheered her up. That first bite of a Donut Delights product was an event to behold.

Heather stepped back and let Amy take over.

She scanned the interior of her store and grinned at Eva over by the window. The elderly woman frowned back.

That was highly unusual. Eva Schneider didnt do grumpy. She wasnt that type of lady.

Heather patted Amy on the shoulder. Ill be right back.

Sure. Ive got this. Amy popped a fancy cardboard box into its correct shape, and their new customer made an appreciative ooh sound.

Heather swept past the side of the counter and wended between the tables in the center of the store.

Evas frown didnt shift, but her gaze fixed on the newspaper in front of her. She scratched her delicate cheek with a single, gnarled finger, then hooked it through the ear of her mug and lifted it to her mouth.

Everything all right, Eva? Heather asked, and stopped beside the table. She pressed her fingertips to the glass top.

Oh! Eva said, and jerked. A few drops of coffee spilled over the lip of her plain white mug. Oh, you startled me, dear. Im sorry. She put the cup down in a hurry.

Let me handle it, Heather said. She grabbed a handful of napkins, then dabbed at the spill.

Ive just been reading the paper, Heather, dear. I found something which is quite horrible, Eva said. And which might interest you.

Theres only one type of horrible thing that interests me, Heather said. And its not Cupcakes litterbox.

Take a seat, Eva whispered, and shifted the newspaper closer to the other side of the table.

Heather lowered herself into the cushioned, wrought-iron chair. She placed her arms on the glass top and focused on the headline of the newspaper. The Hillside Reporter never pulled punches.

Hillside entrepreneur dies in own home, a week before Christmas, Heather read, out loud.

Thats right, Eva said, and patted the family portrait in black and white, just below the title. Its this guy. Victor Hardbody.

Wait, what? Heather scanned the story. Murdered in the evening. Entire family was home, but no one heard a thing. Why dont I know about this? I should be working this case.

Perhaps, Ryan and the police department didnt need a consultant this time around? Eva asked, but those wrinkles on her forehead hadnt smoothed an iota.

Ill get to the bottom of this, Heather said. She pushed the newspaper aside, and her skin grazed the smooth page. She dug into the front pocket of her apron and brought out her cell.

Two seconds later, she had it up to her ear. Impatience jostled through her mind. Why wouldnt he have told her? Ryan shared everything with Heather, whether it was an annoyance or a favorite food.

Hed certainly never kept a case from her before.

Detective Shepherd.

Care to explain why I havent been called in on this case? Heather asked, and squinted at the headline again. A Mr. Hardbody, I believe?

I hoped you wouldnt find out about that, Ryan said. The Cap already asked me to give you a call to help us out. But He cut off and cleared his throat twice, in rapid succession.

But what?

Hon, its almost Christmas. Youre basically working two jobs and looking after Lilly like a pro mom. I just think you deserve a break, Ryan said.

Heather stared at the family portrait. A wife, father, and two teenage boys. One of them wore his hair in a black fringe which dangled in front of his eyes.

And I think you need to meet me at the Hardbody residence in half an hour, husband, she replied, at last.

Heather

Ryan. That was all she had to say.

Eva held her thumbs above the table.

Yeah, all right. Half an hour.

Chapter 2

Ryan led Heather down the long carpeted hall, which led from the front door of the Hardbody mansion. They took a sharp right, then a left, and halted in front of a pine door, punctuated by four, small window panes.

Hoskins hovered just beyond it, visible by the single globe which swung from the ceiling in the room beyond.

What is this? Heather asked.

Its a crime scene, Ryan replied, then winked at her. Hed been in his cheekiest mood ever since the start of the holiday season.

Christmas cheered him up. Or maybe it was because he had a full family this year.

You know what I mean, Shepherd, Heather said and nudged him with her elbow.

He opened the door, and it creaked away from them on bronze hinges.

Hoskins lifted a candy bar in greeting. Hows it going, Shepherds?