Oreo Sprinkled Murder: A Donut Hole Cozy Mystery - Book 22 Read online

  “You’re right. Of course, you’re right,” Heather replied.

  A knock rattled the front door and Dave barked a warning. He’d been jumpy ever since the Jabby Joe incident. Lilly shrieked and put her palms to her mouth. “Sorry,” she muttered. “It’s the dinosaurs.”

  “Maybe you shouldn’t watch that,” Heather said.

  “No, no, I’m fine! I’m fine. Please, don’t turn it off, Au-Heather.”

  Heather grumbled and rose from her seat. The door rattled again and she exchanged a glance with Amy.

  They traipsed into the hall, and Heather stopped just short of her front door. “Who’s there?” She called out.

  “Geoff Lawless,” he grunted back.

  “Ol’ Geoff, eh? Haven’t seen him in a while,” Amy hissed.

  Heather sniggered. “You’re not complaining, are you?”

  “No. Quite the opposite.”

  Heather walked to the front door, drew back the latch, then opened up. “Hello, Geoff. How can I help you?”

  Lawless’ eye twitched. He ran his fat fingers over his bald pate. “Shepherd,” he growled.

  “Did you come to exchange surnames or pleasantries?” Amy asked. “Because mine is Givens.”

  Geoff ignored her in classic Lawless style. Amy folded her arms and glared at him.

  “You’re lucky you got to her first,” Geoff said.

  “Say what now?”

  “The murder woman. With the drugs. And the husband at the museum,” Geoff said. “I was on the right track. I almost had her. Then you swooped in and claimed the glory.” Geoff’s hands clenched into fists at his sides.

  “I assure you,” Heather replied. “There is nothing glorious about having someone arrested for murder.”

  The massive fellow took a step back and grasped at the pockets of his oversized trench coat. “This isn’t over,” he said. “It’s never over.”

  “He’s finally lost it,” Amy said. “I mean, he was always kind of on the fence, but now –”

  “I’m getting my private investigator license,” he said. “The cops told me I can’t do what I’m meant to unless I have it.”

  “Full sentences. What a treat!” Amy clasped her hands together in front of her chest, and Lawless finally gave her the scowl she’d waited for.

  “Geoff, you’re free to do whatever you see fit,” Heather replied.

  Lawless’ jaw dropped. Clearly, he’d expected resistance on her part. “But, I’m going to be an investigator.”

  Heather nodded. “Yeah,” she said, and heaven help Hillside if that little wish came true. “And I’m going to go spend time with my child. Have a good day, Mr. Lawless.”

  Heather swung the door shut in his face, then locked it.

  Amy grinned from ear to ear. “Look at you go.”

  “Okay, it was petty to close the door on him, but Ames, I’ve got more important things to worry about.”

  “Yeah,” Amy replied. “Like the Halloween event, I promised Emily we’re hosting in Donut Delights.”

  “Oh for heaven’s sakes. What did you tell her?”

  Amy shrugged and walked toward the living room. “Let’s just say we’ve got a lot of preparation to take care of.”

  “Amy Givens, you’ll be the death of me,” Heather said and jabbed her finger at her bestie.

  “You should be so lucky.”

  Heather chuckled and strode into the living room to enjoy the rest of the not-so-terrifying movie with her best friend, and the little girl who’d blasted a path straight into her heart.

  Could life get any better than this?

  THE END

  A letter from the Author

  To each and every one of my Amazing readers: I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me know what you think by leaving a review!

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  Stay Curious,

  Susan Gillard