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  Spiced Maple & Murder

  An Oceanside Cozy Mystery Book 11

  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

  1. Amy’s Angst

  2. An Artsy Outing

  3. Master Class

  4. Deadly Decorations

  5. Crime Scene Art

  6. Questioning Kendall

  7. Lights

  8. The First Artist Interview

  9. A Ray of Suspicion

  10. The Judge

  11. Another Artist

  12. Lincoln Lover?

  13. Hidden Clues

  14. The Side Studio

  15. The Note

  16. A Bright Idea

  17. Artist Gathering

  18. Donut Delights Decorations

  Also by Susan Gillard

  About the Author

  Amy’s Angst

  “You might be wondering why I’m so miserable?”

  * * *

  “Um…” Heather muttered. If she were being honest, she hadn’t noticed that her bestie wasn’t in the best of moods. Amy was eating donuts on her couch and watching chick flicks, but that was something that she loved to do.

  * * *

  Amy sighed and stuffed another donut into her mouth. Heather joined her friend on the couch and gave her a sympathetic look while wracking her brain for what could have caused her such ennui.

  * * *

  “Is this about Miss Marshmallow?” Heather asked, referring to the prissy dog that Amy was caring for after a murder case left the animal without an owner. Amy and her boyfriend Jamie insisted that they were just fostering the dog until a proper forever family could be found for her. However, Heather was not aware of steps that were being taken to find this other home.

  * * *

  Amy liked to complain about how high-maintenance this diva dog could be, but that didn’t seem to be what was troubling her today.

  * * *

  “No,” Amy said. “She’s not actually so bad.”

  * * *

  Miss Marshmallow seemed to sense that they were talking about her and rose from her dog bed that Heather couldn't help noticing looked like it had found a permanent location

  next to the bookcase. Miss Marshmallow allowed her fur to be pet for a few moments and then decided she wanted her space.

  * * *

  “And she couldn’t have put me in a mood like this,” Amy continued. “I haven’t even showered today.”

  * * *

  “Your hair still smells nice,” Heather said, trying to compliment her with a silly fact. Amy wrinkled her nose instead of smiling, and Heather tried to think what else could be bothering her. “Is everything all right with Jamie?”

  * * *

  “Of course,” Amy said. “He’s the perfect boyfriend.”

  * * *

  "But do you wish he was more than a boyfriend?" Heather asked. "Do you feel like he's being slow with proposing?"

  * * *

  “No, that’s not what’s wrong,” said Amy, blushing. “And you know how I don’t like to rush into things anymore.”

  * * *

  “I know,” Heather said, looking at the “foster” dog. “So, what’s wrong?”

  * * *

  “You know how sometimes when the holidays approach and how being in a tropical paradise should make you happy? And so, if you start to feel sad, it actually makes you feel even sadder because you know that you’re supposed to be jolly?” Amy rambled.

  * * *

  “I haven’t felt that myself,” Heather said. “But I could understand how could be frustrating.”

  * * *

  Amy looked at her friend. “You must have been worried about me when I didn’t come to Donut Delights today.”

  * * *

  “Actually,” Heather admitted. “I just assumed that you were helping Jamie with his pet grooming van.”

  * * *

  Amy groaned and wrapped herself in a blanket with angry movements. “Well, you know what happens when you assume. You miss that I’m in a state of mourning instead of washing dogs.”

  * * *

  “I did come to check on you,” Heather said, with just a bit of defensiveness. “And I brought you some of the new flavor of donuts.”

  * * *

  Amy emerged from her blankets, finally noticing the box that her bestie was holding.

  * * *

  “You brought the new donuts here?” she asked. “What flavor are they?”

  * * *

  “They’re called Spiced Maple Donuts,” Heather said, suppressing her smile from growing too large. “Their base is like a spice cake and contains all the favorites: nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice.”

  * * *

  “Allspice? Alright, I’m interested,” Amy said.

  * * *

  "It's covered in a maple glaze," Heather continued. "To keep it tasting sweet.”

  * * *

  “Like maple syrup?” asked Amy. “I love maple syrup. But it is sticky. It’s very possible that if I reach my hand into that box to take one that several of them will stick me. I might be forced to take them all.”

  * * *

  Heather laughed and offered her the box. "Go ahead."

  * * *

  Amy picked up just two donuts from the box and took a bite. "It's delicious."

  * * *

  “I hope it helps you feel better,” Heather said.

  * * *

  Amy took a break from eating her yummy snacks to sigh. “Part of me feels guilty about feeling bad about things too. Because I love these donuts.”

  * * *

  “Just tell me what’s wrong,” Heather said.

  * * *

  "You know how you assumed that because I wasn't at Donut Delights, I was at Jamie's grooming business?" Amy said. "Well, that's what wrong."

  * * *

  “I’m sorry I didn’t check on you sooner,” Heather started to say.

  * * *

  “No,” said Amy. “It’s not that assumption. Because you’d normally be right.”

  * * *

  “I’m confused.”

  * * *

  “Well, now you know how I feel when you solve a case and are too distracted to tell me who the killer is,” Amy joked, but then she continued. “I normally am at your donut shop or helping Jamie.”

  * * *

  “I thought you loved those two things,” said Heather.

  * * *

  “I do,” Amy said. “So much! But I just started thinking that everything in my life is based on someone else’s thing. I investigate crimes because it’s with my best friend and I help with the dogs because it’s with my boyfriend. I don’t really have my own thing.”

  * * *

  “What do you mean?”

  * * *

  "My life is dictated b
y your murder cases, Jamie's van, and albeit delicious, donuts. I love eating them, but I can't make new recipes like you can. I feel guilty being upset about this because I love so much of my life. But at the same time, I am still upset. I don't have anything that I do that is just mine.”

  * * *

  “Do you want to stop working at Donut Delights or being my private investigator partner? You’re my best friend. If you want to stop, I’ll understand,” Heather said.

  * * *

  “No,” Amy said. “I don’t want to stop. I love these things. And I don’t regret moving to Key West to continue being a part of them with you. I just wish I did something that was all my own. Well, besides, hiding under blankets and watching sappy movies.”

  * * *

  "Done," said Heather.

  * * *

  “What?”

  * * *

  "It's done," Heather said. "You've got it. Find a job or a hobby that you want to do, and we'll make sure you get the chance to explore it properly. You can still help me with cases and donut testing, but I won't assume you'll always be there. You can do what you need to do for yourself first. And I'm sure Jamie will feel the same way."

  * * *

  “You really are the best best friend,” Amy said. “Do you know that?”

  * * *

  "You might have mentioned it to me before," Heather said with a smile. "And I think I also know where you can start."

  * * *

  “What? And where?”

  * * *

  “We’ve been a bit indecisive this week about where we should go for our Saturday afternoon outing with all our friends,” Heather said. “Why don’t you be the one to pick where we go?”

  * * *

  “No pressure,” Amy joked. “It just needs to be something fun for seven people, including two seniors and a child.”

  * * *

  “It needs to be something that makes you feel like you have your own thing that you can share with your friends,” Heather countered.

  * * *

  “Okay,” Amy said. “But how should I make this decision? Where should we go on Saturday? And what should I choose my new hobby?”

  * * *

  “I’d love to help you.” Heather joked, “But then it wouldn’t be your thing.”

  An Artsy Outing

  “I like all the flamingoes in this painting,” Lilly said.

  “Do you like the flamingoes or just that it’s very pink?” Heather teased her daughter.

  “Maybe both,” Lilly admitted with a laugh.

  “This was a great idea for an outing,” Heather said, turning to Amy.

  She had decided that they should check out the art scene in Key West and had visited some galleries in Mallory Square. There were different formats of art including colorful abstract paintings, photography of the ocean, and paintings of sights on the island. Everyone had enjoyed looking at the art, and they all had their favorites.

  Lilly liked the animal paintings, while her father Ryan liked the photos. He felt proud when he recognized certain locations on the island, but Heather said he had an unfair advantage. As a detective on the Key West Police Force, he was often traveling around and looking for clues in various places.

  Their senior friends Eva and Leila liked an exhibit that they saw featuring photos of ballerinas mid-dance. It was inspiring the two friends to create their own choreography, and they almost knocked over a sculpture of a giant shell.

  “Oops,” Leila said.

  “Maybe we’re not meant for high art,” Eva laughed.

  Jamie seemed to like the paintings with bright colors best, and Amy was keeping her favorites a secret.

  “I thought this was something a little different for an outing because it’s more about the arts than history or nature,” Amy said.

  "I like all the trips we go on," Lilly said. "There's so much to do in our new hometown or home island. And the most important thing is that we're all together."

  “Someone is definitely on Santa’s nice list,” Amy whispered in Heather’s ear.

  “I know,” Heather said quietly back. “Luckily, we still have a little time before the holidays are really upon us, so I have time to figure out the perfect gift.”

  “And the perfect Christmas donut flavor?” Amy asked.

  “Yes,” Heather said. “I still have a bit of time to figure that out too.”

  “I’ll be happy to sample the possibilities,” Amy kindly offered.

  “And you’re always welcome to help with the donuts,” Heather said. “But does this trip mean that you’re looking at art as your new hobby?”

  Amy nodded. “I used to be involved in it more, and I actually have still been doing some artsy things.”

  “That’s right,” Lilly said. “You painted the puppy pictures on Jamie’s van.”

  “And you made the centerpieces at Donut Delights,” Heather added.

  "That's right," Amy said. "So, I might actually be good at this. It's nice to be reminded because after I decided I should try this, all the wonderful art here has been making me insecure."

  “No, you’re very talented,” Lilly assured her.

  Jamie joined them and said, “I was telling her that I’d love to hang up some of her artwork in our house.”

  Amy shrugged. “I’m going to try it.”

  “What have we here?” a voice said, coming closer. “I have finally found the most beautiful works of art in existence.”

  “Oh, please,” Eva said with a slight chuckle.

  An older gentleman with a large bowtie approached them. His name was Vincent Valentino, and he had been trying unsuccessfully to woo Eva since they moved in. He kissed Eva's hand, and she called him an "old flirt."

  “Did you follow us here because I mentioned that we were going to see some art with our friends today?” asked Eva.

  “What?” Vincent asked. “You think I would be so bold as to arrange a forced meeting at a place like this?”

  “Yes,” Eva and Leila said at the same time.

  "You might be right," he said with a twinkle in his eyes. "And there is so much art to see here it took me a long time to find the right gallery."

  “I’m sorry you might have wasted your time,” Eva said. “We’re just about to leave.”

  “Are you trying to run away from me?” Vincent asked.

  “Do you think I would be so coy as to pretend we’re leaving someplace in order to tease you?” Eva asked.

  “Yes,” Leila and Vincent replied at the same time.

  Eva shot a glare at her best friend. Leila smiled and then said, “But in this case, she is telling the truth. We were about to head to another art hot spot. Isn’t that right, Amy?”

  “We’ve been looking at some of the more established galleries so far today,” Amy said. “But there’s another place a little more off the beaten path that I’d like to check out. It’s a sculpture garden.”

  “That sounds magnificent,” said Vincent.

  “I suppose you could join us if you really want to,” Eva said. “Seeing as you went to several galleries to try and find us already. But no more kisses on the hand. Or anywhere else.”

  “You drive a hard bargain,” Vincent said, settling for a handshake.

  Amy led the way, and they headed towards the sculpture garden.

  Garden was a bit of an overstatement. It was a small path that led to a warehouse-like art studio. However, the sculptures and statues that were along this path were impressive. Some were obvious in their likeness to animals or landmarks, and others were more abstract. One looked like a train moving along tracks and about to run into you, while another looked like some sort of mystical bird about to fly away. Some were very tall, and some were closer to Lilly's height.

  "I think this is my favorite thing I’ve seen all day,” Amy said, moving closer to a large sculpture. It was abstract but reminded her a flower fighting to bloom. There were also bits of mirror pieces on it that reflected the light in an almost mag
ical way.

  "Thank you," a young woman said, walking around the small bend in the path to join them. "I didn't mean to overhear, but that's my piece, and I couldn't help saying something. It's so nice when compliments aren't forced."

  “It speaks to me,” Amy said. “I can’t quite translate what it’s saying into English, but I like it.”