Caramel Fudge & Murder Read online

  Caramel Fudge & Murder

  Caramel Fudge & Murder - Book 26

  Susan Gillard

  Want a FREE short story?

  Click here to grab the free cozy short story

  “Eva's Delicious Mystery: A Donut Hole Spin-Off”

  Copyright 2017 by Guardian Publishing Group, LLC

  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.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Printed in the United States of America

  Contents

  Caramel Fudge & Murder

  1. Audience Applause

  2. Caramel Fudge Catchup

  3. Closing Night

  4. Called to a Crime Scene

  5. The Victim

  6. High School Friends

  7. The Best Friend

  8. Dinner Talk

  9. Reporting for Duty

  10. The Boyfriend

  11. Luz and Leon

  12. On A Boat

  13. Station Surprise

  14. Attempted Explanations

  15. Long Distance

  16. Nuance

  17. The Killer

  18. Parasailing

  About the Author

  Also by Susan Gillard

  Caramel Fudge & Murder

  Audience Applause

  Even though it was a dramatic part of the theater performance, Heather still had a slight smile on her lips. Knowing all the hard work and the real-life tragedy that had to be overcome to make the show happen, Heather was proud to see her friends on stage.

  Her assistant at Donut Delights, Digby, was the lead in the show and he was doing an amazing job. It was all the more remarkable when she remembered that he was the understudy and had to step up into the role with less than a week of rehearsals until the show opened.

  Detective Peters, her husband’s partner on the Key West Police Force, was also doing admirably. She could tell that he had been nervous at first, but was now making people laugh in his role as Neighbor #2.

  The show was running for two weekends. She and her friends and the other Donut Delights assistants had come opening night to cheer on the performers. Heather had planned on coming to the closing night performance too but was now sitting in the second-to-last show as well. There was apparently a “member of the press” in the audience, and Detective Peters had been anxious about it. Heather, her best friend Amy and Amy’s boyfriend Jamie had agreed to come to the press-reviewed show and promised to laugh at the right parts.

  Heather didn’t mind seeing the show more than once. It was an enjoyable show, and she liked to see her friends do well. It was also funny to see Detective Peters in big fake glasses and a wig.

  The only downside was that because Detective Peters was onstage, her husband Ryan had to work late at the station that night. Luckily, there was no open murder case to solve so he should be home by the time she arrived at their house after the show. She was such good friends with Amy and Jamie that she didn’t feel like a third wheel either.

  Heather recognized that the final moments of the show were beginning. There was a twist ending, and the new audiences members gasped in recognition. Her smile grew. She was sure that the press would love this performance, and a good review would draw a huge crowd for the final performance.

  She clapped with the rest of the audience as the play finished and the actors took their final bows. Then, Heather, Amy, and Jamie headed out into the lobby to wait for their performing friends to finish changing out of their costumes and come out to greet them.

  Heather did the same thing that she did on opening night. Instead of bringing flowers to give to the actors, she had brought a bouquet of delicious donuts. They were just simple vanilla donuts that would last sitting in the audience with her for the length of the performance, but they were decorated with flowers and theater symbols.

  “I’m glad we were able to see the show again,” Jamie said, as they found a spot near the actors’ headshot photos to stand near. “There were nuances to the performances that I missed the first time. It makes a difference knowing the ending.”

  “Same thing with those donuts,” Amy joked. “I kept getting whiffs of them, and knowing how delicious they were, I wanted to grab one for an encore eating performance.”

  “Just wait until you try my new flavor of the week tomorrow,” Heather said. “Because these are vanilla, I did something special with chocolate.”

  “Maybe we should swing by Donut Delights, and you could open up shop?” Amy suggested. “Even this late at night, I’m sure people would come for your newest chocolate flavor.”

  Heather laughed but secretly did wonder if her donuts might have that effect on people.

  “You’re not talking business, are you?” a voice asked.

  Heather turned and saw her assistant, Luz, joining them. Luz was a maternal figure at her shop. After many years as a stay-at-home-mom, Luz had been experiencing empty nest syndrome when her youngest son went off to college. However, working at Donut Delights had been just the remedy for this syndrome. She was already a fine baker and was developing her skills with donuts. She also enjoyed chatting with the customers and keeping an eye on the younger assistants.

  “When your business is donuts, you can’t help talking about it,” Heather said, with a shrug.

  Luz chuckled. “True. They are delicious.”

  “You liked the show so much that you had to come back?” Amy asked.

  “Well, I’m glad I saw it again,” Jamie repeated. “There were subtle moments I didn’t catch the first time.”

  “I did enjoy the show very much,” Luz said. “The actors are perfecto. But I am actually in the audience again because my son is here. He’s finished with his midterms so his spring break can begin early. He’s the son who is good friends with Digby. He wanted to see him perform.”

  Luz waved at a young man who was picking up an extra program that listed everyone involved in the production. He saw and walked over to join them. As he got closer, Heather could see that he had Luz’s eyes.

  “This is my son, Leon,” Luz said, happily. “He’s doing very well in school, but still comes home to see his friends and his mama.”

  “I wouldn’t want to miss Digby onstage for anything,” Leon said. “He was actually really good. I guess it’s because he’s dramatic enough in real life.”

  “Leon, this is Amy and Jamie, and my boss Heather.”

  He shook their hands and said, “I’ve heard a lot about you. Especially you, Heather. You apparently solve murder cases as well as bake?”

  “It’s true,” Heather said. “Amy and I are partners as licensed P.I.s.”

  “But hopefully all the drama is staying onstage tonight,” Amy quipped.

  “Well, my mom loves working at your bakery, and my dad loves the donuts she brings home,” Leon said. “Thanks for making my parents so happy.”

  Heather blushed. She wasn’t quite sure what to say. Luckily, she was spared having to make a response by Digby joining the group.

  “Leon? What are you doing here?” he asked, giving his friend a bear hug. “I didn’t know you were back on the island.”

  “Well, I had to come see your theatrical debut here,” Leon said.

  “Thanks. Do you want my autograph?” Digby asked.

  They all laughed. Heather handed him her donut
gift to him.

  “We’ll let you catch up,” Heather said. “But I wanted to give you your great performance gift.”

  “That’s so sweet, but your presence and applause was my gift. You didn’t have to do that,” Digby said.

  “I’m glad you did though,” Leon said, looking at the donuts. “These look incredible.”

  Heather smiled. “Why don’t you come by the shop tomorrow? You can see all the flavors we have to offer.”

  “I’d love to,” Leon said. “Especially, since I know the staff so well.”

  He put an arm around his mom who beamed. Heather, Amy, and Jamie said their goodbyes and worked their way through the crowd to find Detective Peters.

  “How do you think it went tonight?” he asked.

  “It was worthy of a donut bouquet,” Heather said, handing him a box of flowery donuts.

  Detective Peters smiled, but then worry clouded the young man’s face again. “Are you sure it was all right? I almost forgot a line in act two.”

  “It was fine,” Amy said. “I didn’t notice, and I can be nitpicky. You know, when it isn’t about desserts.”

  “And I think that there were new things to be discovered in a second viewing,” Jamie said.

  “Are you going to be a broken record after the third performance we see too?” Amy teased her boyfriend.

  “Well, third time is a charm,” he teased back.

  “You did great tonight,” Heather assured Peters. “I’m sure the press will say the same thing.”

  Peters seemed calmer after she said that and thanked her again for the donuts. Heather and her friends congratulated him again and then made their way to the exit door.

  After a day of baking, a family outing, and a theater show, Heather was tired. She was looking forward to relaxing on the couch, talking to her husband about their evenings, and petting her dog.

  She was delayed in these activities, as she was approached by someone as they made their way to their car.

  “You don’t happen to have a fresh spin on this for me, do you?”

  Heather was used to surprises when on a case, so she didn’t jump. However, she didn’t appreciate meeting someone lurking in the shadows.

  Hope Penwell was a young, local reporter who was always trying to get a good scoop on a story and make a name for herself. She had been helpful on some of Heather’s cases and a nuisance on others. It appeared that she had been the reporter sent to cover the play.

  “I’m sorry,” Heather said. “The only spin I have on this show is that it was great.”

  “That’s what I was afraid of,” Hope said. “All I’ve got so far is that the play was good.”

  “Yeah. And it would be a real shame to print good news in the newspaper,” Amy said, rolling her eyes.

  “I’m tired of being a junior reporter,” Hope said. “I want to get the good stories, but the only time I seem to get them is if I follow you two around at the right moment.”

  “This isn’t the right moment,” Amy said.

  “Not that I mind going to the theater and seeing cute actors,” Hope said. “But they sent me because no one else wanted to go tonight. I don’t want the stories that no one else wants to cover. And I don’t know how to make this a must-read article.”

  “If you thought it was good, you should say so,” Heather said. “The theater could use all the good publicity it can muster after the murder of one of its actors during rehearsal.”

  “Now that was a story I would have liked to cover!” Hope said.

  “You could talk about how the cast rallied together to save the show,” Heather suggested. “Or talk about it this was a world premiere of this play. The first time audiences can see this show is right here in Key West.”

  “Those are good angles,” Hope admitted. “Even if there’s no killer involved in the piece.”

  “You could still write about a detective if you mention Miguel Peters in his role,” Heather said.

  “That’s true,” Hope said. “I have talked to him a few times for other pieces when you two decided to pass on an interview with me.”

  “Can’t imagine why that would be,” Amy muttered.

  “I suppose I have enough to work with,” Hope said. “But promise me that if a good story comes around, you’ll let me know about it.”

  “Fine,” Heather said.

  She and her friends resumed heading towards the car, hoping that Hope wouldn’t have the type of story she wanted to cover soon – because that would mean murder.

  Caramel Fudge Catchup

  “You weren’t kidding about an incredible chocolate flavor,” Amy said.

  “I try not to kid about chocolate,” Heather said with a smile.

  Heather had just finished the first batch of the morning with her newest donut creation. With the design on top, she was proud of how they looked, but she knew that they would taste even better.

  Digby ran into the Donut Delights’ kitchen. “Did you finish the new flavor?”

  “I can see why you’re running,” Amy said. “They look that good.”

  “And you are just in time,” Heather agreed. “We were just about to sample them.”

  “Well, of course, I want one for myself,” Digby said. “But I was actually running in here because Leon arrived. He needs to try some of these gourmet donuts.”

  Heather began transferring her batch to another tray that she could carry to the front of the shop.

  “He’s here early,” Amy said.

  “Of course he is. He’s not here all the time anymore. He wants to spend as much time with me as he can,” Digby said. “And I guess he wants to see his mom too.”

  Heather laughed and led the group out to the front with the donuts. Leon was standing with Luz. Even though he was grown up now, Luz was still doing typical mother behavior and removing a speck of dirt from his face.

  “Gather round, everyone,” Amy called. “And Heather will tell the tale of her newest donut.”

  “That’s quite an introduction,” Heather said.

  “It worked,” Amy said, gesturing. The others in the shop had gathered around her. Digby, Leon, and Luz were nearby. However, they were joined by Heather’s other assistants, Nina and Janae.

  “Do you always do this with your donuts?” Leon asked.

  “I like to unveil a new flavor properly,” Heather said. “And it helps that you’re the only customer in the shop right now.”

  “It looks really good,” Leon said, licking his lips.

  “This is the Caramel Fudge Donut,” Heather said.

  “Cara-melt in your mouth,” Amy said, smiling.

  “I certainly hope so,” Heather agreed. “This is a chocolate donut that’s been stuffed with a unique filling: a caramel fudge cream. I didn’t want the caramel inside to feel too sticky, so it’s been paired with the fudge.”

  “One of my favorite pairings is caramel and fudge,” Amy said. “Of course, all my other favorites are also something and fudge.”

  Nina giggled at that.

  “It’s topped with a thick fudge icing,” Heather said. “And caramel is drizzled on top in a decorative design.”

  “It’s almost too pretty to eat,” Janae said.

  “Almost,” said Amy.

  Heather handed Leon a donut. He took it appreciatively.

  “Why don’t you have the first honors?” Heather said.

  Leon raised the donut to his mouth but then paused, “But, what if I don’t like it?”

  “If you don’t like it, I’ll eat my hat,” Amy said, using the old adage. “Then again, maybe I’d just eat your donut. Maybe it’s better for me if you don’t like it.”

  “Go ahead and try it, Leon,” Luz said.

  He nodded and took a bite. “I was crazy to think I might not like it. In fact, could I have another?”

  Heather laughed and accepted the compliment. She handed him a second donut and then made sure all the others got one too. They all ooh-ed and aah-ed as much as the caramel a
nd fudge in their mouths would allow.

  “Careful,” Digby teased, as he finished. “If we eat too many, your mom will remind us not to spoil our dinners.”

  “I can make an exception for Heather’s donuts,” Luz said, grinning. “And besides, it’s too early to worry about dinner. Well, maybe not too early. Do you think you’ll be home tonight for it?”

  “I’m not sure,” Leon said. “I was going to track down Eric this afternoon. Maybe we’ll go out for burgers.”

  “Who’s Eric?” Amy asked, curious.

  “A friend of mine,” Leon explained. “We knew each other since we were kids. We weren’t as close in high school when Digby and I became friends, but we still check in on each other. He still lives on the island, so it should be easy to find him.”

  “Tell him I send my love,” Luz said.

  “I will,” Leon assured her. “And I’ll make sure I’m home for dinner with you and Dad tomorrow.”

  Luz smiled happily and nodded.

  “Are you going to Digby’s show again tonight?” Heather asked. “Ryan and I are going, along with a few of our friends.”

  “I guess Jamie and I are going to,” Amy said. “He likes reanalyzing the play.”

  “You should definitely come,” Digby said. “Not only because you’ll see my amazing performance again, but because then you can come to the cast party with me. It should be a lot of fun because everyone is so grateful that the play happened.”

  “Fine,” Leon said. “You’ve twisted my arm into seeing you break a leg again.”

  Heather smiled, but then looked at the now empty tray of donuts in front of her.

  “We have our own rehearsal to get to now though,” Heather said. “I need to teach you all how to make the new flavor before more customers arrive. I have a feeling they’re going to do well in the shop.”