Murder and Sweet Shortbread

by Tom Soule

  Murder and Sweet Shortbread - Book 1 (Sarah Mystery series)

  CONTENTS

  PROLOGUE

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, business, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Copyright 2015 by Tom Soule & Ricardo Taylor - All rights reserved.

  All rights Reserved. No part of this publication or the information in it may be quoted from or reproduced in any form by means such as printing, scanning, photocopying or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

  Disclaimer and Terms of Use: Effort has been made to ensure that the information in this book is accurate and complete, however, the author and the publisher do not warrant the accuracy of the information, text and graphics contained within the book due to the rapidly changing nature of science, research, known and unknown facts and internet. The Author and the publisher do not hold any responsibility for errors, omissions or contrary interpretation of the subject matter herein. This book is presented solely for motivational and informational purposes only.

  PROLOGUE

  Michelle Johnson didn't want to work at her famous pizzeria that day. The stress in her life had become too overwhelming to hide. And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the feeling that her life was about to be ruined.

  But she knew hundreds of people depended on her and the business to keep the city as happy and high-spirited as it had been for the past 20 years. So, she shrugged off her fears once again and began getting dressed for work. As soon as she donned the bright orange and yellow uniform, she started to feel better. After all, Pluto's Pizzeria was her blood sweat and tears; but, also her pride and joy.

  Michelle had carefully designed every single detail regarding the business down to how she put together her pizza pies. Her pizza was so delicious they had their own zip code. The curse of having amazing pies does come at a price. If the batch weren't perfect, Michelle would throw it out. She threw away at least 10 pounds of pizza daily. It can be painfully frustrating. Not only for Michelle but for everyone that works at the Pluto Pizzeria. The only problem she can be painfully hard on herself. If everything doesn't go perfectly well, she gets wickedly frustrated; a vice and difficulty she faces being a perfectionist.

  It hurts knowing that although so many people loved her, she still felt alone everywhere she went. It didn't make sense, and nothing she said or did ever made it better. There was only one person in the town of Flintstone who understood how she felt. Sarah, she was a teenage girl, a student at Flintstone High School, in her senior year. Unfortunately, she was always shy and lonely which made it far easier for her to spend her time alone with bottled up feelings inside. What made her happy was the short, small conversations she would have with Michelle at the shop.

  ******

  Michelle bent down and reached under the bed. She pulled out a safety deposit box, unlocked it, and took out her diary; recorded another entry detailing her feelings. She included an additional entry and left the safety deposit box opened before replacing it under the bed.

  Before Michelle left the house, she whispered a short prayer. She begged God to let Sarah show up at the weekly pizza party. For she suspected that Sarah was feeling a little too down lately and she wanted a way to cheer her up.

  CHAPTER ONE

  That evening, Sarah sat alone in her bedroom and placed her hands over her ears. She didn't want to hear her family's complaints about her not being social and not making enough friends. Tuning everyone out was the best way for her to cope. But today that wasn't enough.

  "Sarah, honey, why can't you go to Pluto's Pizzeria for the party?"

  Sarah tried not to cry as she slipped on her tennis shoes and changed into the brand-new T-shirt her mother had bought her that week. She stepped across the hall into the bathroom and brushed her short auburn hair. Days like these were when Sarah wished she had been born to be beautiful. But between the freckles, slightly crooked teeth, and large eyeglasses, Sarah felt like an alien from outer space.

  Outside, the weather was warm and right. This was the time of year the residents of Flintstone loved the most. The time of year they could be outside all day and have a good time being with one another.

  Sarah hung her head as her mother opened her bedroom door. Her mother just couldn't see things any other way. She was tall and gorgeous, with vibrant red hair and a smile that seemed to radiate around town.

  Sarah relaxed and closed her eyes as her mother's manicured hands massaged her tense shoulders. "I don't want to go to the party," Sarah whined. "The people don't like me. They pick on me."

  "Oh, hush, child," Sarah's mother said. "I keep telling you that's your imagination. Everyone likes everyone in this town."

  Sarah shook her head sadly. It was a lost cause trying to convince people how she was feeling. The only person who understood was Michelle and Carla. Carla was the librarian she visited as much as she could during the week. But there was only one problem with the librarian. She only communicated by sending cryptic messages in writing.

  "Why can't I just go to the library?" Sarah asked. "Don't you want me to grow up and be the smartest woman in the world?"

  Sarah's mother looked upset. Of course, she wanted her daughter to grow up and be a great woman. But Sarah wouldn't survive in this world unless she knew how to be with other people. "Sarah," her mother said, "if you want to go to the library, then go to the one down the street. I don't like you being around the librarian downtown."

  Sarah struggled to remain optimistic. It hurt knowing that people misunderstood those who were different from others. And Sarah didn't want to go to the library down the street. There were hardly any good books there. She preferred being with Carla because the eccentric elderly woman was the only person who could understand her. But Sarah was smart enough to know that she wouldn't win this fight. She would have no choice but to go to the party.

  "Okay, I'm going, I'm going," Sarah finally agreed. "What time will you pick me up?"

  "Not until I'm satisfied that you at least made an attempt to have a good time," Sarah's mother said.

  Sarah looked around her bedroom, one of the few places in town she felt comfortable. She could be whoever she wanted to be in her room. Fascinated by nature, Sarah had decorated her comfort zone with posters of rainforests, strange insects, and natural disasters. A chessboard sat atop a small wooden table she'd made for a school project. Instead of a television, Sarah's room was filled with three bookshelves, all stocked with books she'd read hundreds of times. Her favorites were murder mystery novels that fired up sparks that grew the curious mind that she now possesses.

  She kept her room extremely organized. Her behavior and lifestyle were in complete contrast to the other teenagers who attended Flintstone High. Sarah picked herself up out of her chair and looked into her mother's eyes. She didn't want to disappoint her mother. Her father would return home soon, and she didn't like disappointing him either. So, she reluctantly joined her mother as they left the house and went outside to the car. Sarah studied her neighborhood. Across the street, a group of kids from Flintstone High School played catch in a front yard. A friendly neighbor walked his dog and waved at another neighbor as he pulled his car into a driveway. And somewhere in the distance, Sarah heard the triumphant sound of trumpets, tubas, and snare drums. Today was Friday and every Friday evening lifted the spi
rits of Flintstone residents higher than ever.

  The weekly party would be; the music festival and parade which would stop at Pluto's Pizzeria downtown. Everyone was happy and joyful. Everyone except Sarah.

  "Cheer up," Sarah's mother said as they drove to the pizza shop. "At least you'll get to see your friend Michelle."

  Sarah brightened a bit and tugged at her short hair. Her mother was right, of course. She liked Michelle. Michelle was an older town matriarch that everyone respected. Her family is known to help found the town Flintstone itself. Michelle had no kids of her own, but for some reason have taken an interest in Sarah. Michelle saw a lot of similarities between herself and Sarah. For the love of god, Sarah couldn't understand why the shop was called Pluto pizzeria. However, she found out that Michelle dad's middle name was Pluto and before he died, she named the shop in his honor. Sarah and Michelle had been good friends since Sarah started high school. Her first day in high school Michelle saw a sad Sarah being bullied and offered a slice of pizza on the house and chasing the bullies out of her shop. Sarah was so impressed with how a powerful woman as Michelle has taken her under her wings and look out for her. She wanted to become like Michelle when she grew up.

  *******

  The drive to Pluto's Pizzeria would take ten minutes. As Sarah looked outside the passenger window, she wished the trip would take longer. It seemed as if the entire town was attending the music festivals and then head downtown to the pizzeria. That meant more people and more misery for Sarah that night.

  Finally, the drive ended and Sarah's mother pulled up to the curb. The pizzeria was one of the biggest businesses in town. For starters, the shop was as big as a Wal-Mart with over 100 employees who worked there every day. There was a playground outside for kids, and a small coffee shop that opened in the morning for adults. Each day, Michelle would come up with brilliant ideas for contests and games to get the residents of Flintstone involved.

  Sarah opened the car door and stepped outside into the 70-degree weather. That evening was warmer than expected, with local forecasters calling for increasingly warm temperatures by the end of next week.

  "Have a good time, honey," Sarah's mother said.

  Sarah turned and waved good-bye. Then she walked towards the pizzeria, her footsteps quickening to the sound of music from inside. Even though 17-year-old Sarah wasn't a social girl, deep down she truly wanted to be.

  She entered the restaurant and once again studied her surroundings. There were dozens of people here; most of the people were kids from her high school. They laughed and chatted happily among themselves, utterly oblivious to Sarah's presence. Sarah walked up to the cash register and ordered three slices of pizza. She shut her eyes and resisted the urge to cover her ears. She knew what was coming next.

  "Hey look, Saucy Sarah is here!" a boy from her Algebra class shouted. A few of his friends laughed.

  Everyone liked to tease Sarah because they knew she wouldn't say anything to stop them. And as much as she didn't like being around so many people, Sarah loved pizza more than any other food, especially with pepperoni and sausage. This was why some of her classmates called her "Saucy Sarah." Sarah had learned to ignore the remarks. The cool kids were mean. They would grow up to be failures by the time she was running for President.

  Sarah's stomach grumbled as she smelled the sauce and cheese from the back of the restaurant. Then, the moment she had waited for; Michelle personally walked towards the cash register and handed her a plate full of delicious pizza. Sarah thought she looked very professional in her bright uniform.

  "Hey Sarah, how you doing?"

  Sarah smiled, the first time since awakening that morning. "I'm doing well, Michelle. How are you?"

  "Couldn't be better," Michelle responded. "It looks like we have a big turn out this week."

  Sarah sadly turned her head down, "I guess," she responded.

  'What's the matter?" Michelle asked.

  "Just those dumb kids they get on my nerves sometimes."

  "Look here, Sarah, someone's opinion of you don't have to become your reality. Those kids word will only hurt you if you allow it."

  Sarah smiled. "I needed that."

  She took the plate, picked up one of the slices, and took a bite where she stood. Immediately, the discomfort she'd felt on the way over disappeared as she enjoyed the food. Michelle smiled at her. She always loved to see people having a good time at her pizzeria. Especially when they enjoyed her food. Michelle was a decent middle age lady in her mid-fifties. She had many suitors over the years but didn't get back in a relationship when her last husband died four years ago.

  The vibe at the pizzeria was lit, the crowd was very mixed; families, teens, and adults ranging from all age groups listening to great music, and having an excellent time being with each other. As Sarah sat quietly at a table by herself, she began to feel better about being there. Her mother had been right as usual.

  “You have to get out of your comfort zone, Sarah. Once you're out, you'll start to have a little more fun.”

  I'm a social butterfly, Sarah thought to herself. Suddenly, she found herself smiling. She couldn't believe it when some of her classmates entered the pizzeria, ordered some food, and walked directly towards her table.

  "Hey Sarah, good to see you here," Bridget said.

  Bridget was a popular girl at the school and one of the best cheerleaders on the cheerleading squad. She was kind to everyone, though she spoke only occasionally to Sarah. Bridget's two friends, Ashley and Kathleen, took seats beside Sarah as well.

  At Flintstone High they were known as "The Triplets" because they always dressed alike. Tonight, each girl wore a thin white hooded sweatshirt and black track pants. Cheerleading practice must have just ended, Sarah thought to herself.

  "What are you guys doing after school is out?" Sarah asked, surprised to hear herself speaking.

  The girls giggled, and Sarah joined in, even though she had no clue why she was laughing.

  "Same thing you're doing, silly. Going to college!"

  The four girls cheered at the prospect. High school was coming to an end, and college was beginning. The girls continued the conversation, recalling hilarious, embarrassing, and memorable moments of their four years in high school.

  Sarah stayed at the party for a few hours before finally excusing herself and stepping outside. The fanfare she'd heard from downtown earlier was gone. The sun had set, and a crescent moon shone through the clear skies. Sarah took a deep breath and silently thanked her mother for forcing her to go out that evening. Then she called home.

  "Hey Mom, you were right. I'm having a great time."

  "I know honey. I heard. Everybody's talking about you around town. I knew you could have a little fun as long as you made an effort."

  "I hung out with the cheerleaders for a while. I had fun, Mom, but I really do want to go to the library for at least thirty minutes."

  Clara's library was open longer than any other business in town around 1 am to be exact. Her mother hesitated for a moment.

  Then she said, "I'd rather you stay there a little longer, but a deal's a deal. You can walk downtown to the library, and I'll pick you up there in a bit."

  Sarah happily agreed. She ended the call with her mother and returned to look for Michelle. She approached Joshua, the cashier, her smile fading a bit when she realized he looked slightly upset.

  "Is everything okay, Joshua?"

  "Not really. We haven't seen Michelle since she walked outside to take a call."

  "I see,"

  Joshua's face hung nervously. "I'm serious though, Sarah. It's like she just disappeared. No one's seen or heard from her, and she's not answering his phone."

  "I'm sure she's okay," Sarah said. "It's only been a few hours."

  She slid a five-dollar bill over to the cashier. She always likes leaving a little tip.

  Sarah waved goodbye to the girls and left the pizzeria quietly. She wouldn't admit it to her mother, but she was no longer in
bright spirits. It was extremely unusual for no one to know where Michelle was. She ran so many initiatives in town it would be hard for her to leave for any lengthy period of time.

  She walked downtown to the library, her heart racing with worry. Maybe it was just her, but she couldn't help thinking the town of Flintstone had a dark cloud hanging over it. She felt that something terrible had just happened. The further she walked, the worse she felt.

  CHAPTER TWO

  Sarah stood on the corner of Mulberry Street as she watched her mother pull up in her Lincoln town car. Immediately, she noticed the concern in her mom's face. She also saw that her father had come along for the ride. That was unusual, considering that he worked 10-hour shifts at the power plant five days a week.

  His weathered face showed signs that today had been a long day at the job. He wore overalls and hiking boots, his typical go-to outfit for work. Although he generally adopted a rugged style of clothing, Sarah's father was one of the most clean-cut men in town.

  Sarah jumped into the backseat. "What's going on?" she asked. "I talked to Joshua at Pluto's. He said Michelle's nowhere to be found." There was a brief moment of uncomfortable silence as her mother drove them all home. Sarah wondered if her older brother Justin had returned from football practice yet.

  "That's why we both came to get you, honey. Michelle disappeared without a trace."

  Sarah frowned. Evidently, she hadn't heard her mother say something terrible had happened. Nothing bad ever happened in Flintstone. Especially not to the town's favorite businesswoman. She asked her mother to elaborate.

  "We don't know the details, sweetie. But the police are investigating. And we're going to help search for her. Her car is still parked in her driveway, and her cell phone and purse were located at the restaurant."

  Sarah brightened just a bit. She knew someone who worked for the Flintstone City Police Department. They were a talented bunch, but deep down, Sarah was even more worried than before. Because this wasn't a robbery and Michelle couldn't have just left town. Not without her late husband's shiny old Mustang. She would never go anywhere without it.