Dragonfruit and Dread
Page 8
She stared at the door, hoping that someone would come to help her. Where was her backup?
“My secretary isn’t in for another hour,” Dr. Adams said.
Lydia was beginning to get scared. This wasn’t how she expected things to go, and Dr. Adams seemed intent on committing double homicide after all.
When the doctor almost reached her while racing around the table, she had an idea. When she was across the table from him, she pushed it with all her might. It slammed into Dr. Adams, and it was enough to surprise him and get him to drop the syringe.
Lydia didn’t waste any more time. She raced to the door and unlocked it. She was out of the room and running down the hall a moment later.
Dr. Adams was catching up with her, but she smiled when she saw what had delayed Daniel in coming to her rescue. He was leading an armed Leo and Detective Grey her way.
“Hands up,” Leo said as he surveyed the situation. “Drop the syringe.”
Lydia sighed as he obeyed the instructions. She had a feeling she might need to visit a non-murderous doctor after all this to deal with the stress. Or she might just need a hug from Daniel, which he seemed willing to supply.
Epilogue
“Business seems back to normal,” Mona said happily to Lydia.
Lydia smiled back. All four of her employees were on duty to deal with the rush of business. Tourists had returned to Ocean Point after it was revealed that there really were no jellyfish in the water and the man responsible for the hoax and the murder was behind bars. The taffy shop’s regular customers and locals were also happy to show their support – especially after some of them felt slighted after learning that Amber’s stings had to be fabricated.
“I’m glad everyone is here,” Lydia said. “But we’ll have to remind them that we are closing early tonight so we can host a memorial for Miles Gardner.”
“Are your friends coming?” Annette asked.
Lydia nodded. “Trina and Leo want to share some memories of Mr. Gardner, and Daniel will be here for support. He’s helping someone repair their leaky roof before he comes over though. He said he’s not an expert, but he can make it better than it used to be. He really is a great guy.”
Kelsey sighed loudly next to her.
“Is everything all right?” asked Lydia.
“I just still haven’t found a replacement actress for the play.”
Lydia gritted her teeth. She was about to bite the bullet and agree to do the play to help her young friend, but then someone beat her to it.
“I’ll do it,” Jeff said.
“What?” asked Kelsey.
“You need someone, so I’ll do it. I can play grandma. Put a wig on me. I’ll wear an old lady’s dress.”
“Really?” Kelsey asked, touched. “You’d do that for me?”
“Sure. What are friends for?” Jeff said.
“I think I might cry,” Kelsey said. “Both because of what you’re doing and because it gives me such an amazing idea. There’s no reason the part can’t be changed to a grandfather.”
“I would probably be better at acting that,” Jeff said.
“The director knows the playwright. I’m sure it will be fine. Especially when I explain that I asked everyone else that I could to take the part. The only one willing to join me on stage is my friend, Jeff.”
The two friends smiled at one another. Annette and Lydia found themselves grinning too.
“Do you know what you’re going to say tonight?” Annette said, not wanting to embarrass the actors.
“I think so,” Lydia said. “At least, I know the beginning of it. I’m going to say how lucky I was to know my friend, Miles. I know somewhere he’ll appreciate that I finally called him by his first name.”
Annette patted her arm affectionately. Lydia felt herself getting a tad emotional, so she dove into her work. She started explaining the taffy making process to some new customers who had entered the shop. They were as excited to learn about the candy as they were to eat it.
Also by Allyssa Mirry
The Sticky Sweet Series
Book 1: Pineapple and Poison
Book 2: Double Chocolate and Death
Book 3: Cinnamon Swirl and Suspicions
Book 4: Cotton Candy and Corpses
Book 5: Banana Split and Bodies
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