Mint Chocolate Chip Mysteries, Books 1-3

by Emmie Lyn

  I choked, then roared with laughter. I clutched my sides. “Please… stop. You’re killing me.”

  “Well,” Tilly stood up, “the only solution to that problem is—”

  “Mint chocolate chip ice cream,” I yelled, finishing Tilly’s thought. Her one and only go to solution for just about every problem involved mint chocolate chip ice cream in one form or another—straight from the container, in a bowl with hot fudge sauce and whipped cream, an ice cream cake, or in a shake. Today I’d opt for hot fudge sauce and whipped cream.

  “Come and help me, Sunny. Hitch is already lost on his phone and doesn’t need to listen to our chatter.” Tilly pulled me along to the kitchen.

  She hauled the container of ice cream out of the freezer, and I grabbed the bowls from the cupboard.

  “Tell me,” she said. “Who do you think stole the bonsai tree?”

  “Honestly? I don’t know what to believe. Conrad stopped by and gave me an earful. It could have been Maxine checking in every place she could think of and got lucky when she drove by my house.”

  Tilly leaned against the counter and helped herself to a spoonful of ice cream from the container. “Let me get this straight. Someone stole the bonsai tree from Maxine’s house, and you think she stole it from your yard? If it was hers to begin with, it’s not stealing.”

  I arranged spoons and napkins on a tray and tilted my head at her. I thought we’d been over this. “It’s technically not hers, Tilly. Unless she can prove she either bought the bonsai and orchid collection from Harry which is doubtful, or he gave the whole collection to her which is beyond believable, all the plants belong to Harry’s estate.”

  “And who gets that?” Tilly scooped ice cream into bowls. “Hot fudge sauce, too?”

  “What kind of question is that? I’ll get it.” I opened the fridge and found a new jar in the door. Thirty seconds in the microwave and we’d be in business. “Conrad told me he took the plant from Maxine’s house and put it in Gina’s car. He claims he wants to get it to the rightful owner, which he says is Harry’s wife.” I had my eye on the timer as my mouth was watering for that fudge sauce.

  Tilly put the ice cream away and said, “That takes care of that, then. She’ll come around to identify the body and claim the plants. That part of the mystery is solved.”

  I poured hot fudge sauce on the ice cream and Tilly topped each bowl with a squirt of whipped cream. I preferred to whip real cream myself, but she liked the sound the cream made when it shot out of the can. Tilly picked up her bowl and dug in as she left the kitchen.

  I followed with the other two bowls on a tray. “No, Harry’s wife won’t be showing up. She’s in a nursing home. According to Conrad, she’s in an Alzheimer’s unit somewhere here in the Blueberry Bay area.”

  “Oh. That must be the Best Care Nursing Home in Misty Harbor.” Tilly said. “It’s the best facility around.”

  I handed Hitch his bowl of ice cream. “Did you hear what Tilly said?”

  “No. I’ve been searching for nursing homes.”

  I looked at Tilly and rolled my eyes. “See what I have to put up with?”

  “What?” He took a giant spoonful of ice cream. Hot fudge sauce dripped down his chin, but he caught it with his finger before it splattered on his shirt.

  “Charlotte might be at the Best Care Nursing Home,” I said. “Tilly says it’s the best place around, right next door in Misty Harbor.”

  “What are we waiting for?” he asked, setting his bowl on the coffee table. “Let’s go and visit.”

  Tilly pointed to Hitch’s bowl. “Finish that first. Then we’ll leave.”

  I wasn’t about to argue with that command.

  “We? You’re coming, too?” he asked, obviously not pleased with Tilly butting in. I couldn’t blame him. Her unpredictable style always risked unintended consequences.

  “Of course, I’m coming. It’s a nursing home.” Tilly’s bottom lip trembled, and she dabbed at the corner of her eyes. “In fact, I’m driving. I need to visit my dear friend Charlotte to give her my condolences over the loss of her beloved husband, Harry.” She added a loud sniff, sniff for emphasis.

  I grinned. If anyone could pull off an act like that, it was Tilly Morris, world traveler and amateur actress.

  Hitch shook his head. He knew when the best action was a mouthful of ice cream to help him keep quiet.

  We finished in silence, but Tilly smirked in between bites.

  Would we find Charlotte at the Best Care Nursing Home, or was Conrad leading us on a wild goose chase?

  22

  The drive to the Nursing Home was uneventful, unless I counted Tilly practicing her tearful heartbroken friend routine as she zipped along the scenic road to Misty Harbor.

  It was hard to ignore…Tilly, not the stunning Blueberry Bay scenery.

  “Oops!” Without warning, she slammed on the brakes and swerved her little green beetle into a parking spot on Misty Harbor’s Main Street. Loud honking from behind and the flash of a swerving truck had me praying we wouldn’t get side swiped, sending the side of the car crushing into me.

  Once I knew I was still in one piece and managed to make my voice work, I screamed, “What are you doing?”

  Tilly said calmly, “The flower shop is still open.” She turned off the engine and grabbed her fanny pack. “I want to buy a bouquet for Charlotte.”

  I rolled my eyes at Hitch. “We aren’t even sure she’s at this nursing home, Tilly. You’ll look ridiculous walking in with flowers for a nonexistent patient.”

  “Don’t be silly.” She flicked her wrist dramatically. “It will look much more realistic. If Charlotte isn’t there, I’ll let the tears flow, and make up some kind of sad story about my own failing memory. Don’t worry, Sunny. I know how to act like an old person when I have to.”

  She knew how to act like something, but I wasn’t sure exactly how to describe it. I kept that comment to myself.

  Tilly hopped out of the car and ran into the flower shop.

  “She’s really into this, isn’t she?” Hitch said, turning around to face me. “I hope we’re not making a mistake.”

  “Too late for that. She’s playing the part for all it’s worth. What if there is no Charlotte at the nursing home?”

  “I’ve been thinking about that, too. I suppose she could be at a different facility.”

  “Or, Conrad spun a sad story for some reason.”

  “I still think he’s after that bonsai tree for himself,” Hitch said. “He’d know who’s interested in buying it. I’m sure that’s something he and Harry discussed before they concocted the crazy plan to scam the insurance company. Harry mentioned different names to me while I was working, but I never thought he’d sell.”

  “It’s clever if he pulls it off,” I said. “If he can convince everyone that he’s taking the bonsai for Harry’s wife—”

  “That no one knows about,” Hitch filled in. “He can do what he wants with it—keep it or sell it—who would know? If everything he said about Charlotte is true, she’s in no condition to get what’s rightfully hers.”

  Tilly opened the door, slid back onto the driver seat and passed the bouquet back to me. I stuck my nose into the middle of the flowers, inhaling deeply.

  “Ahhh… aroma therapy at its best. This is beautiful, Tilly. You really went all out for someone you don’t even know. Freesias, iris, delphinium, and what’s this? Eucalyptus? Very nice.” I noticed an envelope. “A card, too?”

  “Of course. Go ahead and read it.”

  I slid the card out and read, “To my dearest friend, Charlotte. Your loss is my loss. Harry is forever in my heart. Love, Mildred.” I choked. “Mildred? Who are you pretending to be?”

  “If you must know, that’s my legal name. I’ve never liked it, and I don’t even know when my father started calling me Tilly. I think it had something to do with me running around singing Silly Tilly instead of Silly Milly which I guess I couldn’t say. Anyway, it made my father laugh an
d the nickname stuck. I was always Silly Tilly in my father’s eyes.”

  Hitch grunted and mumbled, “Silly Tilly and nothing has changed.”

  She swatted his arm, but we all chuckled because the name fit her to a T.

  “I signed it Mildred, just in case someone sees the card. No one will have a clue who Mildred is, but there’s a slight chance that someone could recognize Tilly. I’m probably the only one for miles around.”

  “Thank goodness for that.”

  “What did you just mumble, Sunny? Oh, it doesn’t matter. I’m sure it was a compliment to my unique personality. Now you two know my secret. It’s how I go incognito in these undercover type situations.” She glanced at me in the rearview mirror. “Don’t you dare tell anyone or I’ll have to kill them.”

  “Oh, boy. Hitch, we’ve created a monster.”

  Tilly hit the gas, sending my head crashing against the headrest, but I clutched the bouquet, saving it from flying around in the car. Another near-death experience of screeching tires and honking horns was a reminder to never let Tilly drive me anywhere. Ever again. First, though, we had to survive this trip.

  “That was fun, wasn’t it?” I love to live dangerously.” She turned her head and grinned.

  Tilly slammed on the brakes, barely missing the stopped car in front of us. “Watch out!” Hitch yelled, ramming his hands onto the dashboard.

  Tilly just tossed her head and laughed. “Another close call. Relax you two. I haven’t been in an accident in ten years, and that one wasn’t even my fault.”

  At least she kept her eyes on the road as we continued slowly through Misty Harbor, past the Little Dog Diner, the Blueberry Bay Grapevine, and Creative Designs across the street.

  A few miles later, Tilly turned into the entrance of Best Care Nursing Home and parked in the patient drop off spot.

  “Tilly, you can’t park here,” I said.

  “Oh, stop being such a worry wart, Sunny. I’ll drop off the flowers, say something sweet to Charlotte, and be back here in two shakes of a cat’s tail.”

  “Don’t you mean a lamb’s tail?”

  She paused her manic activity of stuffing keys in her bag, futzing with her hair, and pursed her mouth. “Doesn’t matter. You knew what I meant.” She reached for the bouquet.

  “Give me the keys,” I said, holding my hand out, or no flowers. “Hitch will move your car to a visitor spot.”

  She grumbled and mumbled something incoherent, but finally tossed the keys to Hitch. “Don’t scratch it,” she said as she handed them over.

  I handed her the flowers and she climbed out of the car. I took a deep breath, hoping that we didn’t have to go inside and rescue her from an awkward situation.

  Hitch jogged around to the driver seat, and I moved to the passenger seat. With any luck, Tilly would let Hitch drive us home so we’d make it in one piece. He moved the Volkswagen to the far end of the parking lot where we could still see the entrance.

  “I’ll leave the car running for a quick get-away when she comes out,” Hitch said. “Or, we could just leave her here to fend for herself.”

  “Are you trying to tell me I’m overreacting?”

  “A little. It’s a nursing home, Sunny. She’s not planning a bank robbery or anything criminal like that. So what if she makes a fool of herself?”

  Well that was cruel. But he had a good point. “You’re right. I guess I’m a little jumpy from so many unexpected things falling in my lap lately.” I let Hitch keep an eye on the entrance while I scanned the parking lot. Maybe I’d see Conrad coming to visit Charlotte if he really was as concerned as he said.

  Hitch squeezed my hand. “Everything will turn out okay.”

  “Sure,” I said with little conviction. For all we knew, the killer was plotting to destroy us before we unraveled this maze.

  I leaned forward trying to get a better view of the car parked opposite us. “Is that Gina?”

  Hitch shaded his eyes from the glare. “It looks like her car. What’s she doing here?”

  I opened the door. “That’s exactly what I want to find out, and I wouldn’t be surprised if she has the bonsai tree in her trunk.” For some reason, I’d unleased my frustration on Gina, who for no fault of her own, was in the middle of this mystery.

  Hitch grabbed my arm. “Wait. Let’s see if she goes inside, then I can pop the trunk, and she won’t know we’re on to her. Can you see what she’s doing?”

  “I think she’s reading something… and maybe talking on her phone.” I looked at Hitch, confused and curious. “What now?”

  Before we could decide what to do, Gina started her broken down car and pulled out of her parking spot in a cloud of dust.

  “Follow her,” I said to Hitch. I snapped my seat belt in place and braced for a quick take-off. “She might lead us to the bonsai tree.”

  “I can’t do that. This is Tilly’s car, and we can’t just leave her here.”

  “Oh yeah, right.” I pointed to the hospital entrance. “There’s Tilly. Quick. Pick her up, and maybe we can catch up to Gina.”

  Hitch put the car in gear and swung around to head to Tilly. “Gina’s long gone by now, Sunny. The bonsai tree will surface along with some answers, I imagine.”

  Tilly, with an energetic bounce in her step, stopped at the end of the walkway, then scanned the parking lot. She waved when we pulled up in front of her.

  “Get in the back, Sunny. Hitch can drive but the co-pilot seat has my name on it.”

  I could live with that. Literally. I hopped in the back.

  “So? Did you find Charlotte?” I leaned forward between the front seats, not wanting to miss any detail about her visit.

  “Nope. She was moved this morning.”

  “Moved? Because Harry died and payments stopped?” How cruel I thought.

  “The woman at the desk didn’t know the details or couldn’t tell me, but she felt terrible that I’d made the trip for nothing. She claimed that she doesn’t know where Charlotte is now. Is that odd?”

  “Maybe it’s about privacy. At least you got to keep the flowers.”

  “Here. You have them, Sunny. You know me, I can’t keep a plant alive if my life depended on it.”

  “Thank you. No one has given me flowers in, well, hmmm, a long time.” I inhaled the sweet aroma. A bouquet of fresh flowers was one of life’s many pleasures.

  I saw Hitch glance in the rearview mirror. “Is that a hint, Sunshine?”

  “Take it however you’d like.” He winked at me before he turned his attention back to the road. I couldn’t help but smile a little before my thoughts returned to our immediate situation.

  Harry’s valuable bonsai tree was the key to unlocking his murder.

  Which one of the people stalking the bonsai killed him?

  23

  Even a pillow over my head couldn’t silence the racket in the morning. Between Jasper’s barking and someone’s frantic pounding on my front door, I gave up trying to get an extra few winks.

  I glanced at my bedside clock and moaned. Half past six. Was another half hour of sleep asking too much? Jasper’s wet tongue on my face answered that question.

  “Okay, okay. What’s the emergency?” I asked her, sniffing the air. Nope, no fire. Glad I eliminated that potential catastrophe, but I smelled something. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled my nose.

  What?

  I leaped out of bed and dashed down the stairs.

  Hitch, all bright eyed and ready for the day, stood in my kitchen in his snug jeans and a t-shirt that hugged his muscles. But I wasn’t paying attention to his sculpted body.

  “Did you sneak in through Jasper’s doggie door?” I asked, leaning against the door frame with my arms crossed. I snorted, imagining him half-way in and half-way out like he’d found me.

  “Didn’t have to,” he said, handing me a cup of steaming coffee with just enough cream to turn it a sweet caramel color. My heart flipped when I realized he’d remembered how I liked it.


  “Jasper let me in.” Hitch made a grand gesture for me to sit down at my own kitchen chair like I was his guest. A bag from A Donut A Day shop on the table tempted me.

  “Actually, your door wasn’t locked, Sunny. You really need to be more careful, especially—”

  “Because anyone will just walk inside, Hitch? I don’t think so. Not with Jasper on the inside sounding like she’s ready to bite an intruder’s head off. You know, I’ve managed a-okay while you were off in New York playing security guard and getting yourself shot. So, which one of us needs to be more careful?” I shot him a glare that I hoped let him know that I got him on that one.

  His lips twitched at the edge. Not, the response I was going for. I resented how he thought he could just swoop back into my life and take charge like he hadn’t broken my heart once already.

  “We’re business partners,” I spit at him as if that explained all my hurt feelings.

  “And, business partners make kind gestures for each other. That’s all this is.” He swept his hand over the table. “Coffee and something from your favorite shop in town to get your day off to a good start.” He leaned toward me. “What did you think I was proposing?”

  “Oh.” Maybe I had read more into his visit than necessary. “I thought I did lock my door,” I added a bit defensively as I opened the bag expecting my favorite cinnamon covered donut holes. Instead, I found a toasted breakfast bagel with egg and melted cheese on a layer of cream cheese, topped with a sprinkle of chopped chives. That was a close second.

  “I already ate mine,” he said. “Dig in.” He pulled a giant dog bone from his pocket for Jasper who’d been sitting politely while a pool of drool puddled on the floor in front of her.

  At least I hadn’t drooled on the table.

  Hitch leaned back and stretched out his long legs, bumping into my foot. “Here’s what I’m thinking, Sunshine. Since it’s still bright and early, we’ll get our list of supplies put together to get started on the Kitty Castle, then drop in on Gina.”

  “Why Gina?” I said around a mouthful of bagel, spraying more than a few crumbs on the table. “Sorry.” I covered my mouth.