Spiced Maple & Murder: An Oceanside Cozy Mystery - Book 11 Read online

  "Which is good because it looks like this case will go up against the most ruthless judge, and he doesn't like it when ladies are killed," said Amy. "So, it would be in your best interest to confess."

  “Are you sure it was one of them?” Kendall asked.

  "The police are sure," said Heather. "They said they have an airtight case and that they're prepared to ask for the maximum sentence."

  “It’s pretty certain they’ll get it too,” said Amy.

  “Good,” Lucy said. “No one should get away with murder.”

  They heard footsteps in the hallway.

  “Last chance,” Amy said, but no one took her up on the offer.

  Ryan and Detective Peters came in and somberly moved towards Lincoln.

  “Wait,” he said. “I didn’t do it.”

  “We had the note analyzed,” Peters said.

  “It’s an open and shut case,” said Ryan.

  “No,” Lincoln said. “It wasn’t me.”

  “Lincoln Conner, you have the right to remain silent,” Ryan began.

  “No,” Lucy said, piping up and running towards them. “It wasn’t him. It was me. I did it.”

  “Lucy?” Lincoln asked.

  "Why couldn't you have just stayed at band practice like you were supposed to?" Lucy asked. "You were going to have the perfect alibi. They should never have suspected you."

  “But why did you do it?” Lincoln asked.

  “Why?” asked Lucy. “Because I loved you. And you would never notice me as long as Tricia was around. But with her out of the picture, you might have chosen me. I would have been so good for you. I’d kill for you.”

  “I never asked for that!” said Lincoln.

  "I don't want you to get blamed for what I did,” Lucy said. “They were supposed to think Ray did it. That’s why I took his boots.”

  “She took my boots! Did you hear that?” Ray asked. “Arrest her.”

  “Yeah. I think they’re going to,” Amy said.

  “I love you,” Lucy said to Lincoln. “I just wanted you to notice me.”

  Ryan and Peters read Lucy her rights and led her out of the room. Lincoln had to take a seat. Horatio and Ray exchanged a look.

  “I guess this meeting is over then?” Ray asked.

  Kendall nodded. “The reconvene to discuss Tricia’s memorial. I want to talk to these investigators some more.”

  The other artists started to head out, but Kendall stayed to talk.

  “I bet there was nothing new about that note,” Kendall said. “You knew it was Lucy all along.”

  “I was pretty sure,” Heather said.

  “But how?” asked Kendall.

  "Because of the ladder," Heather said. "Once we realized a ladder was involved in the crime, it changed things. The killer no longer had to be tall and strong. It could have been a small woman. Lucy convinced Tricia to climb on the ladder and then pushed her so that she fell to her death."

  “But couldn’t any of them have done that?” asked Kendall.

  "I started to think about who Tricia would have climbed the ladder for," Heather said. "Lucy was short, so if she asked Tricia to climb up and help her add something to her tall tree, it wouldn't have seemed suspicious."

  “And Lucy’s tree was next to Horatio’s,” said Amy. “She asked for help on hers, but pushed her onto the next one.”

  "The boots missing made me think that it was premeditated," said Heather. "The killer had made some preparations for this crime so that she could blame someone else for it."

  “And if it was premeditated,” Amy said. “The killer should have come up with a better alibi for himself.”

  “That’s right. I thought about how Lincoln almost had a perfect alibi, but how he changed his plans at the last minute,” said Heather. “That didn’t seem like the work of a premeditating murderer.”

  “But maybe someone trying to protect Lincoln would have used the opportunity to kill when she knew that he would have an alibi,” said Amy.

  “As soon as I realized that I thought about how often Lucy mentioned Lincoln,” said Heather. “She was in love with him.”

  “She thought that we wouldn’t suspect her of a physical murder because of her size, and she hoped we’d blame Ray,” said Heather. “He and Tricia had a history of fighting, and she tried to frame him by using his boots.”

  "And that's why there was red paint from the boot on the ladder," said Heather. "The killer didn't need to stand on the ladder. Lucy just wanted to leave several prints from the man she was trying to frame that night."

  “I’m glad you were on the case,” said Kendall. “Otherwise, I bet she would have gotten away with it.”

  “Killers usually make one mistake,” said Heather. “Hers was protecting Lincoln’s alibi instead of her own.”

  “There’s only one more thing that we need to figure out,” Kendall said, smiling. “And that’s what art classes you want to take.”

  “Well, it might sound crazy,” Amy said. “But I have been thinking about that.”

  Donut Delights Decorations

  “It’s beautiful,” Eva said.

  “Lovely,” agreed Leila.

  “And much better than the Rankle display,” said Digby.

  They all chuckled.

  “It really is wonderful,” Heather said to her bestie. “Thank you.”

  They were all admiring the new decorative display at Donut Delights. They had taken down the overabundance of lights from Mr. Rankle and now only had a few tasteful ones up. In the center of the window now though was Amy’s contribution.

  She had been working with Kendall to create her own sculpture and had made a Christmas tree statue for display. This one had no pointy parts on it and was decorated with colorful circular ornaments that were reminiscent of donuts.

  “It’s perfect,” Heather said. “And I’m glad that you found something that could be your own thing.”

  “And I’m glad that it still fits in with all the other things in my life that I love.”

  The two friends hugged.

  "Some of those donut decorations look good enough to eat,” Leila said.

  “Don’t,” Eva said, handing her friend a sugary donut instead.

  "Is everything all right?” Amy said, looking Heather. “Have I been ignoring you too much?”

  "No," Heather said. "And everything is good. The shop is doing well, we caught the killer, and these decorations look great. I'm also excited for Christmas, and while I still need to figure out the perfect gift for Lilly, I have time."

  “But?”

  “But I guess I am little disappointed about Mr. Rankle,” she admitted. “I thought he was finally coming around and he wasn’t. He’s still the same old grouch he is every other time of the year.”

  "Who knows?" Amy said as they looked out the window and at the other shops on the street. “Maybe he will get into the Christmas spirit and suddenly become a kinder, gentler old man like Scrooge becomes after his magical night.”

  Mr. Rankle seemed to sense that he was being watched and shook his fist for good measure before re-entering his shop. They could have sworn they heard him say, "Bah humbug."

  Heather and Amy laughed.

  The End.

  Also by Susan Gillard

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  Susan Gillard, Spiced Maple & Murder: An Oceanside Cozy Mystery - Book 11