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

  Toasted Almond & Murder

  An Oceanside Cozy Mystery - Book 17

  Susan Gillard

  Copyright 2017 by Guardian Publishing Group

  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

  Toasted Almond & Murder

  1. Dry Tortugas Park

  2. Being Neighborly

  3. The Alley

  4. The Police Station

  5. Other Neighbors

  6. The Warehouse

  7. Who’s House?

  8. Identifying the Body

  9. Drama

  10. The Chase

  11. The Brother

  12. Home

  13. The First Gambler

  14. Another Round

  15. Ethel

  16. Dead End with Donuts

  17. Books

  18. Back at the Shop

  About the Author

  Also by Susan Gillard

  Toasted Almond & Murder

  Dry Tortugas Park

  “I just feel like these are two things that shouldn’t go together,” Amy said. “Water. Plane. Isn’t the third thing that fits with them: crash.”

  “Oh. Don’t say that while we’re in the air,” her boyfriend said, looking pale.

  Heather shook her head at her friends. “We’re perfectly safe. The pilot makes this trip every single day. Stop scaring Jamie.”

  “I’m not scared,” Jamie said. “Maybe a bit queasy.”

  Heather's husband Ryan subtly adjusted his seat position, so he was farther away from him. Heather and her friends were seated on a large water plane that was transporting them to Dry Tortugas National Park, a series of coral islands that visitors could explore. It was about seventy miles away from their home in Key West. It was only accessible by boat or seaplane, and Heather was starting to think that they had chosen the wrong transportation. She didn't remember Jamie feeling sick on any earlier flights, but did start to wonder if him giving up his window seat to his girlfriend previously wasn't pure gallantry.

  Heather focused on her daughter, Lilly, who was staring out the window.

  “I think this is going to be exciting,” Heather said.

  “Like we need more excitement,” Amy teased. “I feel like we never get a break from all the sleuthing we do.”

  “Well, that’s why we make sure that we have these outings,” Heather said with a smile.

  It was true that all of their lives could become very busy. Between solving murders, running a business and creating new donut recipes, Heather always had a lot on her plate. However, her family did come first. She did whatever she could to support them, and she happily found that they did the same. They also made sure that they kept their Saturday afternoons free so that they could all go out together and do something new and different near their Key West home.

  Lilly turned to her mom and said, “It’s weird to think that there are sunken pirate ships and treasure in these waters. It’s hard to imagine them buried at sea.”

  “Just as long as we don’t join them,” Jamie muttered.

  “Keep your chin up, dear,” Eva said, piping up. “The views on this island will be well worth the trip.”

  “The views on this flight are already lovely,” her best friend Leila said.

  The two women had become like grandmothers to the group, and Heather was happy to say that they were also her next-door neighbors in Key West. They were also loyal fans of her Donut Delights shop. She liked for them to sample her new flavors and tell her what they thought of them. However, they always ended up truthfully saying that they loved them!

  Heather was grateful that the two women seemed to calm Jamie for a moment, but they started to get off track and were accidentally making things worse.

  “The planes are used to flying to the national park,” Eva said. “The only thing I would be concerned about it is how large our group is.

  “How large our group is?” Jamie asked.

  “But I’m sure the pilot took that into account,” Eva said quickly.

  “I hope he also took into account how many donuts we eat,” Leila joked. “Because that is a substantial amount.”

  Heather was about to make a joke about how she was glad that the whole family wasn’t on the plane because her dog and kitten were still at home. They would have been running around and begging when they heard the word “donut.”

  However, when she saw that Jamie was looking pale again, she said something more helpful. “I can see the islands. We must be getting close.”

  The plane descended. Jamie was happy to have his feet on the ground again. The others were also pleased because of what they could see when they disembarked.

  While they were getting used to seeing beautiful beaches near their own backyard at home, the clear waters of the national park were truly stunning.

  "I bet Nicolas would have loved that plane ride," Lilly said, referring to her best friend who lived in Texas. He had visited for the holiday season but had returned to Hillside now. “I bet he’d love seeing this too.”

  “If this is a spot that you think he needs to see, we can come back here next time he visits,” Heather said.

  “Really?” Lilly asked.

  “I’m not sure that Jamie will come with us again,” Heather chuckled. “But we could go. There seems like a lot to see anyway.”

  “But when do you think Nicolas will be back?” Lilly asked.

  “We could see what is happening around his spring break from school,” Heather said. “But he could definitely come visit in the summer.”

  Lilly nodded but seemed quiet.

  “Come on,” Eva said, noticing how not everyone was moving towards the land.

  “Yeah,” her senior friend teased. “We’re not getting any younger.”

  They all laughed and followed them. They spent an enjoyable day visiting the islands. First, they did some bird watching and enjoyed seeing all the different tropical birds that flew in. They waded into the ocean and could see the coral reefs further out in the water. Then, they spent some time at Fort Jefferson and learned some history.

  Fort Jefferson was a massive coastal fortress that was made up of over sixteen million bricks. Construction was never completely finished, but it was still an impressive structure that took up most of the island. They learned that it was built to be a naval station and for a lighthouse to guide ships safely around the islands, but that it was also used as a prison during the Civil War. Above part of one wall was written: "Whoso entereth here leaveth all hope behind.”

  “I didn’t know that much about this place,” Lilly said. “Like that Dr. Mudd who helped John Wilkes Booth with his broken leg was kept here. It was nice that he helped the other prisoners during the yellow fever outbreak. And eventually got pardoned.”

  "Can you keep a secret?" Heather asked, and Lilly nodded. "I didn't know all this history either."

  Mother and daughter smiled at each
other. Ryan came over and hugged his family.

  Amy joined in by quipping, “I wonder if this is where the phrase your name is mud comes from?”

  Overall, Heather had a wonderful time on their outing. After such craziness in her life, it felt nice to have a relaxing sightseeing day with her loved ones.

  As she climbed on board the boat that they opted to take home instead of flying, Heather wished the moment could last. However, she recognized that there normally is a calm before the storm.

  Being Neighborly

  Heather and Amy entered Donut Delights. Smiles came on their faces as they always did when they walked in the door. Heather was filled with a sense of accomplishment and pride for building up her business and providing happy customers with delicious snacks, which always made her grin. Amy smiled because she knew she would soon be able to eat some of those snacks!

  Two of Heather’s assistants, Luz and Janae, finished refilling the glass counter with donuts and greeted them.

  “I feel like I haven’t seen you in days and days,” Luz said.

  “How was Dry Tortugas National Park?” Janae asked.

  “It was pretty wet to use Dry as part of its name,” Amy joked.

  “They said it was called Dry because it’s surrounded by saltwater instead of fresh,” Heather explained. “And it was a lot of fun.”

  “I’ve been wanting to go snorkeling there,” Janae said. “I guide so many bike tours, but I’d like to see some more of the underwater sights.”

  "How was the wedding that you all went to?" Luz said, asking about what she had been waiting to hear of since she last saw them.

  “To be honest, it was more murderous that I hoped it would be,” said Heather. “But we still had a good time. The bride looked beautiful, and she loved the donuts that we created for her.”

  “Who caught the bouquet?” Luz asked.

  “Did you tell her?” Amy accused her bestie.

  “No,” Heather said. “But I guess you can tell you caught it from that response.”

  “Sorry,” Amy said. “I’m just getting tired of everyone asking if Jamie and I are going to get married. So what if we’ve been together a long time? So what if we live together now? So what if we’re fostering – and yes, I said fostering, not adopting a dog? So what if I caught a bouquet? So what if I can’t imagine my life without him?”

  “So,” Luz said, carefully. “This wedding doesn’t have you thinking about your own wedding?”

  “No!” Amy said a little too forcefully.

  “It’s fine,” Heather said. “If you don’t want to talk about matrimony anymore, we won’t.”

  “Can we talk donuts then?” Janae asked.

  “I like that plan,” said Amy.

  “Me too,” Heather agreed. “I have a new recipe I want to try out for our new weekly flavor. Do you want to help me?”

  “Do you really have to ask?” Amy responded.

  “What type of donut is it?” asked Luz.

  “I’m calling is the Toasted Almond Donut,” said Heather. “My plan is to make a vanilla cake base for the donut and fill it with a sweet almond cream center. Then I'll add a vanilla frosting and cover it with crushed almond pieces. What do you think?"

  “I repeat,” said Amy. “Do you really have to ask?”

  Heather laughed. “Let’s get cooking then!”

  They headed into the kitchen and began Heather's new recipe. Luz and Janae took turns serving customers when they came in. However, they were all able to gather when the first batch of the Toasted Almond Donuts was finished.

  “They smell muy apetitosas,” Luz said.

  “I think they’ve cooled enough that we can try them,” Heather said.

  The other ladies clapped their hands in delight. It was then that another employee entered. Digby removed his sunglasses and posed at the sound of applause.

  “Have you all heard already?” he asked. “Stop it. You’re going to make me blush.”

  “Heard what?” asked Heather.

  “Oh. You were clapping for me?”

  “We were clapping for the Toasted Almond Donuts being ready to eat,” Amy said.

  "Fair enough," Digby agreed, moving closer to the donuts. "I thought you might have been applauding because you heard I was going to audition for a play and wanted to encourage me and assure me that I was bound to be cast and that the full houses of audiences would give me standing ovations."

  “How about I give you a donut?” Heather asked.

  “I’ll take it,” Digby agreed.

  They all took a sample and agreed that they were worthy of joining the Donut Delights counter.

  “I don’t know how you do it,” Luz said. “But your flavors just keep getting better and better.”

  Heather felt pleased and decided that she deserved a second sample for creating something so tasty. Then, she turned to Digby.

  “What is this play that you’re auditioning for?” Heather asked.

  "It's a local community theater, but they always do great performances. It's an original play, so I don't know too much about it, but they have a part that's perfect for me."

  “The role of an overdramatic donut baker?” Amy teased.

  “An extremely handsome and muscular young man with a heart of gold. I’d be perfect, wouldn’t I?” Digby said.

  “Sure,” Heather said, kindly.

  “I guess that’s why they call it acting,” Amy said, but she refrained some pointing out the definition of muscular.

  “Auditions are in just a few days. I really want to get cast,” Digby continued. “I’m going to have to practice.”

  “Does that mean we’ll get to see you work on your performance while you’re here?” Luz asked.

  "Sure," Digby said. "I can recite some lines from the audition side. And maybe some of my own lines too! Let's me see what I can do."

  “You! Where are you hiding?” a male voice called out.

  "You're a ventriloquist?" Amy asked Digby when she didn't see his mouth move.

  “I think that was coming from the front of the shop,” Heather said.

  They hurried over to see if a customer had come in and instead saw their cranky old shop neighbor from across the street.

  “What? Were you afraid to show your face?” Mr. Rankle asked. “Good. This is all your fault!”

  The Alley

  Heather and Amy exchanged a look. They were used to Mr. Rankle being displeased with them. He wasn’t warm to anyone who wasn’t a local and only considered people who were born on the island to be locals. He had always been rude to the donut bakers who originally hailed from Texas. He had caused trouble for their business in the past and had been as cantankerous to them as he could be.

  However, he did not regularly barge into the shop, screaming with the intensity that he did that day.

  "What did we do this time?" Amy asked. "His snow globe sales in his shop are down, and it's our fault because we served Boston Cream instead of Key West Cream?”

  “Oh. Haha,” Mr. Rankle said, leaning on his cane and giving them a dirty look. “We used to have such a nice quiet neighborhood. Then you came with your sass and your murders.”

  “Our murders?” Heather said. “I wouldn’t call them ours. We haven’t killed anyone. We just help solve crimes if any do occur.”

  “That’s right,” Amy said. “We clean up the mess, find justice, that sort of thing.”

  “They helped me before,” Janae said. “I came across a dead body while leading a bike tour and they caught the killer.”

  “All I’m saying is that I don’t know of any murders happening here before you moved in,” Mr. Rankle said. “And now we’re crawling with crime. I can’t even walk out the back door of my shop without tripping over a corpse.”

  "Aren't you being a little dramatic?" Amy asked.

  “Let me try it,” Digby said excitedly. He put on a deep dramatic actor voice and began the monologue. “Now we’re crawling – with crime! I can’t even walk out
side without tripping over a corpse.”

  “That was very good,” Luz said, motherly complimenting him. Janae looked less impressed.

  “I don’t know how you can make light of a thing like murder,” Mr. Rankle said.

  “We don’t take it lightly,” Heather assured him. “That’s why we help the police and strive to solve cases as quickly as possible when they appear.”

  “It doesn’t seem like it today,” Mr. Rankle said.

  Heather was starting to feel confused. “We don’t have a case today.”

  “Why do you think I’m here?” Mr. Rankle said, raising his arms in annoyance.

  “Because you like yelling at us,” said Amy.

  "Are you trying to tell us that there actually is a dead body by your shop right now?" Heather asked.

  “How do you think I got this blood on my shoes?” Mr. Rankle asked, lifting his foot and displaying his shoe so that they could see the drops of red on it.

  “Did you call the police?” Heather asked.

  “Why?” Mr. Rankle said. “You’re right across the street.”

  Heather took out her cell phone to call her detective husband, but Amy stopped her.

  “Let’s make sure this isn’t some sort of trick first,” Amy suggested.

  “Why would I try and trick you about something like this?” Mr. Rankle asked.

  “I don’t know,” Amy said. “Why would you try and have us shut down before Christmas or lie to potential customers about us giving you salmonella?”

  Mr. Rankle had the decency to look somewhat ashamed by his past actions, but then said something that made him seem more like his crotchety self. “I don’t like having anything to do with murders. And I blame you entirely for ruining the neighborhood.”