Powdered Grape & Murder: An Oceanside Cozy Mystery - Book 29 Read online

  Powdered Grape & Murder: Book 29

  An Oceanside Cozy Mystery

  Susan Gillard

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  Copyright 2018 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

  1. The Seaside Inn

  2. Busy at the Shop

  3. The Seaview Hotel

  4. A Deadly Fall

  5. The Friend

  6. Calling it Murder

  7. The Other Guests

  8. Discussing the Fall

  9. The Adjoining Room

  10. The Jacket

  11. Searching for the Neighbor

  12. Complaints

  13. Walking and Wagging

  14. Couple Questions

  15. Pseudonym

  16. Reservations

  17. Competition

  18. Josh

  About the Author

  Also by Susan Gillard

  The Seaside Inn

  “I feel like we’re in a video game,” Amy said, quickly dodging out of the way.

  Heather laughed. “I’m not sure how many people would want to play a game where we’re just avoiding bumping into tourists.”

  “I’m not quite sure I want to play myself,” Amy said. “But it does require some hand-eye coordination and skill.”

  Heather nodded. That was true enough. While most of the time their home in Key West was a tropical paradise, when crowds of other people decided to enjoy the warm weather, it could be difficult to navigate. Many visitors had arrived for spring break, and the island seemed to be in a state of perpetual party.

  The positive aspects were that there were a lot of new people to talk to and Heather’s business, Donut Delights, was booming. It was busy inside the shop, her online orders were growing after people returned home and still craved her donuts, and Heather was catering an inn’s breakfast. The downside was that there were crowds to fight through.

  Heather and Amy were maneuvering through the groups of people meandering between the inn, a bar, and the beach. This might not have been so difficult if they weren’t balancing boxes of donuts as they worked their way through the crowd and if some of the tourists weren’t still intoxicated from the evening’s festivities.

  When the two friends arrived at the Seaside Inn, they were rather proud of themselves. Heather wanted to high-five her bestie, but her arms were still full of boxes. It would be terrible to drop them in a fit of enthusiasm when they were now only a few feet away from the breakfast nook.

  “I’m so glad to see you,” a voice called.

  “And I’m so glad to see a table,” Amy answered. “Is this where we can set our things down?”

  “Of course,” the woman replied. She showed them into the breakfast area and helped them place the boxes on the table. “These smell delicious. And the bright colors will certainly entice my guests.”

  “I’m glad you think so,” Heather said, helping to place the donuts into an eye-catching display. “We brought an assortment of different flavors. If one type disappears faster than the others, we can make sure to bring more of them tomorrow.”

  Heather had met the hotel owner, Claudette Thompson, when she hired Donut Delights to prepare breakfast donuts for the Seaside Inn for this busy spring week.

  Claudette smiled at them. Despite the Florida heat, she wore a suit jacket over her blouse. Its blue color complimented the floral pattern of her shirt and matched her shoes perfectly. Her dark hair was pulled back into a French braid. Despite her polished look, she wasn’t afraid to work. She dived into setting up the sprinkled treats with the donut makers.

  “I’m sure all these flavors will be popular,” Claudette said, as they finished their setup. “I’m very happy that we were able to arrange this. When my usual breakfast provider said they couldn’t make it to the island, I was worried. However, I think this looks even nicer than usual.”

  “I’m excited about this too,” said Heather. “I hope your guests will like our breakfast spread and be encouraged to visit Donut Delights during their visit. Then, they can try our flavor-of-the-week.”

  “Heather has been wanting to serve her donuts at a hotel on the island,” Amy said. “The last time we tried, it didn’t turn out so well.”

  Claudette raised an eyebrow and glanced at the donuts now on display.

  “Oh, don’t worry,” Amy said, quickly. “It didn’t have anything to do with our food. It was just bad because a murder took place at the bed and breakfast.”

  “A murder?” asked Claudette.

  “I’m sure that won’t happen here though,” said Amy. “And it really didn’t have anything to do with the donuts. It just seems like we tend to end up near murder scenes since we became private investigators.”

  Heather decided to change the subject. “Why don’t you try one of the donuts and see what you think?”

  Claudette smiled again. “I think I’ll try one of these chocolate ones, but maybe I’ll try a different flavor every day this week.”

  Claudette picked up a donut, but before she could try a taste, they heard someone enter the inn.

  “Excuse me. It might be a customer. I’m on the front desk this morning.”

  She hurried to see who had entered. Heather and Amy followed at a distance, hoping that the person might comment on the beautiful display of donuts in the other room.

  “Claw, I don’t know what I’m going to do,” the woman said. She leaned on the front desk, dramatically.

  She had messy blonde hair and was wearing shorts. She was also wearing a nametag that said “Toni.”

  “What are you talking about?” Claudette asked.

  “About our bagel guy bailing on us,” Toni whined. “What am I supposed to do?”

  “He did tell me a few weeks ago that he wouldn’t be available at this time. I assumed he told you too. So, you should have taken some precautions and made a plan.”

  “Well, what are you doing?” Toni wandered into the breakfast nook. Her face lit up when she saw the spread. “Donuts! That’s a great idea.”

  “Donuts are always a good idea,” Amy said.

  “Are you guests?” Toni asked. “Do these donuts make you want to stay at a hotel more? Did you already check in here? I’m running a deal at my place too.”

  “We’re not guests,” said Heather. “I own the shop Donut Delights in town, and we’re catering at Seaside Inn this week.”

  “That’s such a good idea, Claw,” Toni said, as Claudette joined them in the breakfast area.

  “Thank you,” she said. “I thought it was a sweet solution to the problem.”

  “Could Donut Delights cater for me too?” Toni asked. She looked at Heather eagerly. “Could you bake up some for me too?”

  “Toni runs the Seaview Hotel,” Claudette explained.

  “And I’ve been in such a bind,” Toni said. “Guests have been asking me about breakf
ast, and I just realized that we never got our delivery. I put out some granola bars, but that’s not really satisfying. These donuts would look great in my breakfast nook.”

  Heather hesitated. She always appreciated more business, but she didn’t want to step on the toes of a current customer. Toni was talking like the two hotel owners were good friends, but their businesses were in competition.

  “We are already catering The Seaside Inn all week,” Heather said. “I’m not sure if this might be a conflict of interest.”

  “No way,” Toni said, assuring her. “There’s so much business on the island, especially during spring break, that we can coexist. We help each other out a lot too. Claudette is like a mentor to me.”

  “You’re welcome to sell donuts to Toni and the Seaview Hotel if you want,” Claudette said. “If you can accommodate her last-minute request.”

  “I suppose we can,” Heather said. “But we’ll have to go back to the shop and bake some more.”

  “No problem,” Toni said. “I didn’t expect them immediately. I was actually just coming here for advice, but now I’ve got a solution. Claudette always helps me out.”

  “I guess we should get going,” Heather said to Amy. “Looks like we have even more baking to do.”

  Toni picked up a donut from the breakfast spread and took a big bite. “Amazing. This is the best idea ever.”

  Heather thanked her and hurried outside with her friend. There were going to have to hurry through the crowds again. They were in for a busy day.

  Busy at the Shop

  When Heather and Amy arrived at the shop, the breakfast rush there was still in full swing. They hurried to the kitchen and helped add the finishing touches of icing to a batch of donuts that her assistant Luz had just finished.

  “It’s so busy I barely had a moment to breathe,” she said, before taking the tray to the front.

  Another assistant Digby came in to grab a different tray that just needed sprinkles sprinkled on top. Hearing what Luz said, he added, “What’s even more amazing is that it’s been so busy that I haven’t eaten any of the donuts today.”

  Heather felt her mouth drop open in amazement and then chuckled. “That is busy. And we’re going to make it even busier because we need to whip some donuts up for another hotel’s breakfast.”

  “Another one?” Digby asked. “Do they not plan ahead and forgot they needed breakfast? Or did they get a whiff of these and their mouth started watering?”

  “Seems like a little of both,” said Amy.

  “Digby,” Luz called into the kitchen. “We need that tray now.”

  He jumped back to work and left the kitchen with the donuts. Heather set to work too, grabbing ingredients.

  “What are we going to make for the Seaside Hotel?” Amy asked.

  “Seaview Hotel,” Heather corrected. “The Seaside Inn is where Claudette hired us. Toni works are the Seaview Hotel.”

  “It doesn’t seem like they were very imaginative with their names,” Amy muttered.

  “But to answer your question, I think I’ll make some Powdered Grape Donuts to bring over there.”

  “I don’t know that flavor,” Amy said. “Is it the new weekly flavor?”

  Heather nodded. “It looked like we were nearly out of them in the shop. I’ll make enough to put out there and to bring to the hotel. I would love to bring them an assortment of donuts, but it will be faster if we stick to one flavor and I think speed is of the essence right now.”

  Amy agreed. “I can eat donuts any time of day, but I suspect the hotel guests will want something for breakfast.”

  Heather explained the recipe and the two friends made fast work of the task, even with Luz and Digby whipping up two other flavors around them. Heather smiled as she finished their baking.

  “I hope you realize that I’m not only taking these donuts on the road, but I’m also taking one for the road,” Amy said. “What I mean is I’m going to eat one when we leave.”

  “Fair enough,” Heather said. “But we better get going.”

  She boxed up enough to bring to the Seaview Hotel, and Amy carried the remainder out to the front of the shop. The breakfast crowd was beginning to die down. Though it was still busy, it seemed more manageable inside the shop. Not that Heather thought there was an “unmanageable” time in Donut Delights – not with the wonderful assistants she had to help her in the shop.

  They placed the Powdered Grape Donuts in the display case and were about to leave the shop when they heard voices that made them pause.

  “I’m passionate about those purple donuts,” one older lady said.

  “Yes. We heard through the grapevine that there was a new flavor,” said her friend.

  Heather grinned. Eva and Leila were her two favorite customers. They had also become her next-door neighbors and good friends. The seniors were very involved in activities on the island, but still made time to visit the shop and enjoy reading the local newspaper while enjoying their favorite donuts.

  “Are all those boxes for us?” Leila teased.

  “I’m afraid they are for a delivery,” said Heather.

  “We don’t want to stop you if you’re busy, dear,” said Eva.

  “I’m never too busy to make sure that you both have your morning donuts,” Heather said.

  “She’s a good friend that way,” agreed Amy.

  Heather placed her boxes on the counter and indicated that Amy should keep an eye on them. She put two of the newest flavor on plates and handed them to her friends. Their usual table was filled with a group of college students discussing whether to go parasailing, so they sat at an open one in the corner.

  “This is the Powdered Grape Donut,” Heather said. “I’ll be quick with my description this time because I have to run. It’s a variation on a jelly-filled donut covered with powdered sugar. The cake base is vanilla, but I added some coloring because I thought having a purple donut was more fun. It’s filled with grape jelly and covered with a light purple powdered sugar. And you’re welcome to try it whenever you like.”

  Eva and Leila picked up their donuts and bumped them together as if they were toasting with drinks. Then, they each took a big bite.

  “Delicious,” Eva proclaimed.

  “These come in bunches like grapes do, right?” Leila asked. “Because I think I’m going to have to eat a bunch of them.”

  “They are selling fast,” Heather said. “But Digby can cook up some more if we run out and you haven’t gotten your fill.”

  “At least all of her flavors are delicious,” said Eva. “We can have some others as well. But I suppose we should let you go and make your delivery. I wouldn’t want to deny others the chance to try this wonderful donut.”

  Heather thanked her friends and promised that she would see them soon. Usually, she and her family and friends gathered on Saturday afternoons and would see tourist spots on the island so make sure that took advantage of seeing all the sights and doing as many fun things as their new island home offered. However, with so many visitors on the island, they had been gathering for board game afternoons instead. Heather was glad that they all set aside this time every week to see each other. Based on how busy her shop was, she wasn’t sure she was going to have any extra free time this week.

  Though her daughter Lilly was off from school, she and her best friend visiting from Texas were playing with her Key West friend, Chelsea Copeland. The Copelands had invited the children over to their house for the day, and this gave Heather a chance to catch up with work. If no investigations came her way, she just might be on top of things.

  She and Amy wished Eva and Leila a good afternoon and left the shop. Heather was trying to be speedy, and it took her a moment to realize that Amy wasn’t still at her side when she reached her car. However, Amy soon joined her.

  “What happened?”

  “Sorry,” said Amy. “I thought I saw Josh.”

  Heather was focused on the task at hand and thinking about the quickest rou
te to the Seaview Hotel, so it took her a moment to place the name.

  “Josh?”

  “My boyfriend’s best friend. He and Josh grew up together. You helped save him from a murder rap.”

  Heather grinned. “Of course. I know he lives in Florida, but I didn’t know he was in town.”

  “Me neither,” said Amy. “That’s why I’m not quite sure if it was him or not.”

  “Do you want to go back and check?”

  “No,” Amy said, opening the car door. “We have someplace to be. If he is visiting, I’m sure we’ll see him this evening. I just thought it was funny that Jamie didn’t mention he was coming.”

  “Maybe Jamie didn’t know?” suggested Heather. “Maybe Josh is surprising him.”

  “Maybe,” said Amy. “Or maybe Jamie is up to something.”

  “Jamie is a great guy. I don’t think he’s up to something.”

  “I didn’t mean something evil. But maybe he needed his friend’s advice on something. Something that he couldn’t talk to me about.”

  “What can’t he talk to you about?” Heather asked. She thought Amy and Jamie were a wonderful couple that communicated openly, even if there was some teasing involved.

  “I don’t know,” Amy said with a mischievous grin. “Maybe about picking out a wedding ring for his beloved girlfriend.”

  “That would be wonderful,” Heather agreed. “But we shouldn’t get ahead of ourselves. Firstly, we tricked ourselves on something similar before.”

  “Yes,” Amy agreed. “But I did get a dog out of that mistake. He was nervous about asking me to adopt the pup.”