Coconut Frosted & Murder Read online

  “You don’t think her detective husband is not going to investigate her death?” Amy asked.

  “I guess I’ll just have to get rid of him, too,” said Nadine. “And any other nosy family members.”

  Heather’s blood rose. She was feeling furious, but she knew that she needed to wait until the right moment to act.

  “Janae, are you here?” Detective Peters called.

  “Is everything all right?” called Fire Frank.

  The two suitors approached the office. Nadine turned to look at who was coming. Heather saw her chance. She dived at Nadine, knocking the gun out of her hand.

  Fire Frank and Detective Peters hurried into the room.

  “We found the killer and her accomplice,” Heather said, trying to catch her breath as Detective Peters put handcuffs on Nadine Norwauld and Fire Frank moved closer to Jason Goya to make sure he wouldn’t try to make a break for it.

  “You sure move fast,” Detective Peters said.

  “I’ll say,” said Amy. “She figured out who the killer was and saved all our lives.”

  “All your lives?” asked Fire Frank.

  “That’s right,” said Janae. “Thanks, Heather. You’re my hero.”

  "You couldn't have given one of us a chance?" Detective Peters muttered with a smirk.

  DOLPHIN TOUR

  L ook, Mom, there's one!" Lilly called, pointing as a dolphin leaped out of the sea.

  “He’s showing off for us,” Eva said.

  Heather smiled. She couldn’t believe a week had passed already. It was already time for their next Saturday outing, and her family and friends had decided to go on a dolphin boat tour. After a week filled with investigating flames, Heather was happy to do something on the water.

  The wind was blowing her hair gently, and she was surrounded by the people she loved most. Ryan was holding her hand. He had stayed close to her side after hearing about how close her hostage situation had come. She promised in the future that she would always make sure that Ryan knew where she was when interviewing suspects. He had returned to the crime scene where he didn't get any cell service, and he didn't get her voicemail until after a gun had been pointed at her. He didn't appreciate learning about it from his partner who was more disappointed about not impressing Janae than that the killers had threatened to burn down the donut shop.

  Leila, Eva, and her beau Vincent were taking pictures of Lilly pointing at the leaping dolphins. Amy and Jamie had been standing further down the deck but came over to join them.

  “They look like they have something important to say,” Heather whispered to her husband.

  "Hey," Amy said. "Jamie and I have just been doing some talking. Having that gun pointed at me and being threatened to be burned to a crisp has reminded me how precious life is. And I've made a decision. With Jamie's support."

  Heather nodded. She thought she could tell where this conversation was going to go: it was going to end with adopting a four-legged friend with a wet nose.

  “You need to make room in your life for the things that matter,” Amy continued. “For what you love.”

  Heather could practically see the tail wagging response to the upcoming announcement.

  "And that is why I'm going to start seriously querying galleries to display my work," Amy said. "I really want to have my art in a gallery, and I'm going to work hard to see it there."

  “What?” Heather asked.

  "What do you mean what?" asked Amy. "Don't you think my art is good? Were you just saying that it was because you're my friend?"

  "We went through this before. Your art is amazing, and it deserves to be hung in a gallery," Heather assured her. "I just thought you were going to say something else."

  “What?”

  “Never mind,” Heather said.

  Sooner or later, her friend would admit that she cared about the dog.

  Until then, Heather would focus on enjoying her time with the ones she cared about - and on a boat surrounded by dolphins was not a bad place to start enjoying it!

  The End.

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Susan Gillard is a lover of all things mysterious. She grew up in Kansas City, Missouri where her love of murder mystery novels grew.

  Now she travels the country in search of the best baked goods and engaging with the locals who often become the inspiration for her wacky characters.

  Get in Touch with Susan

  SusanGillard.com

  [email protected]

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  Table of Contents

  Title Page

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  Copyright

  Contents

  Coconut Frosted & Murder

  1. The Art Scene

  2. The Blaze

  3. Coconut Frosted Discussion

  4. Interview

  5. Arson

  6. Sweats and Threats

  7. Competing for Clues

  8. Surprise Guest at the Station

  9. The Letter Writer

  10. Sand and Suspicious

  11. The Burning Threat

  12. Making Moves

  13. L’artiste Andrews

  14. Costume Talk

  15. Locks

  16. Proud to Investigate

  17. Undermining the Alibi

  18. Dolphin Tour

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  About the Author

  Also by Susan Gillard