by Amber Crewes
Kirsty glared. “Well, that just solves everything, doesn’t it? I am ruined! Vince, I will never speak to you again! I’m calling a lawyer tomorrow, and you will have nothing left after I am through with you!”
Jack whispered into his radio, and suddenly, ten police officers burst into the room, led by Officer Nunan.
“Good work, son,” she said to Jack.
Jack shook his head. “Meghan figured it out. She put the pieces together.”
Officer Nunan turned to Meghan. “Well, then! Good work, Ms. Truman. Well done.”
Meghan smiled weakly; her neck hurt from Vince’s hands, and she was bleeding from where his nails cut her skin.
“Officer Irvin, radio an ambulance,” Officer Nunan ordered. “Let’s get this criminal out of here, and let’s get this hero checked out!”
The ambulance arrived, and as Meghan was loaded into the back, Jack walked alongside her gurney.
“You really showed us what you’re made of,” Jack said in admiration. He reached over and gently touched her hand. “Get well soon, Meghan,” he said. “You’re a hero today, that’s for sure!”
Meghan closed her eyes, happy to be safe, and happy that the killer had been found.
“Yeah,” she replied to Jack as she was lifted into the ambulance. “I really was.”
As the ambulance sped through the streets of Sandy Bay, Meghan cast her mind back to the image of Kirsty and Vince on the evening of Fisher Fest. They looked so professional, so beautiful, so in love. She couldn’t believe that behind that façade was a marriage that had an underbelly that stunk of lies and deception. As she gazed at them that evening, she really wanted what they had. She imagined that there were other people in the room that day that shared her exact thoughts. Only by virtue of her personal interaction with Vince did she realize that not all that glitters is really gold.
12
TWO WEEKS AFTER THE ENCOUNTER with Vince, Meghan had returned to work at Truly Sweet. Thanks to a glowing article about her bravery in the face of the killer, business was booming once again, and Lori had also returned to work.
“It’s nice to be back,” Lori said cheerfully as she tied her apron on for the first time in nearly a month. “I’m ready for things to be quiet around Sandy Bay!”
Meghan nodded. Her first months in Sandy Bay had been anything but quiet, and Meghan ached for a sense of normalcy. She secured her own apron and stepped up to the counter.
“I just can’t believe how he poisoned them,” Lori said. “It’s terrible! Who would have expected Vince Fisher would have poisoned the Bishops with a little piece of peppermint gum?”
Meghan shrugged her shoulders. “It’s crazy,” she said. “I heard a witness came forward after Vince was apprehended and said he saw Vince slip Mr. Bishop some gum in the men’s restroom right before the event ended! The police tested the gum during the autopsy, and they determined it was poisoned. Thank goodness no one else tried it!”
Lori looked down at the counter, her eyes filling with tears. “Amy tried it,” she said.
Meghan turned to hug Lori. “It’s okay now,” she said. “The killer has been caught. Business is good again! The Weeks Group even restored their original order! It’s all going to be fine, Lori.”
Lori nodded, and the pair got to work. Just as Meghan finished the final touches on a black forest cake, she heard the chime of the little silver bells on the front door. Jack Irvin, dressed in street clothes, walked through the door with Dash, his dog.
“Meghan,” he said kindly. “Mind if we chat a minute?”
Meghan felt her cheeks grow warm, and she bobbed her head up and down. “Let me get something for you,” she said. Jack sat down at a table, and Meghan joined him a moment later with a large slice of the black forest cake.
“For me?” he asked.
“It’s the least I could do,” she said. “You gave so much information to the reporters, and thanks to their article, everyone knows that my cooking had nothing to do with the death of the Bishops! You said so many nice things. Thank you.”
Jack smiled weakly. “It was the least I could do,” he said. “The police department knew your desserts had nothing to do with the murders, but since the rumor was going around, we had to let it fly. We hoped the killer would eventually let his guard down since everyone in Sandy Bay seemed to blame you. I’m so sorry, Meghan.”
Meghan shrugged. “Everything is fine. Let’s just forget about this mess. Go ahead, enjoy your cake! I even brought something for Dash!”
Meghan placed a dog-shaped cookie in front of the dog, and Dash tore into it, pieces flying everywhere.
“I’m glad to see that someone likes my treats!” Meghan said, laughing as Dash inhaled the treat. “He’s so sweet. It makes me think of getting my own dog.”
Jack grinned. “I know a lot about dogs,” he said. “Maybe we could talk about them sometime? I could help you when you’re making the decision about which one to buy?”
Meghan beamed. She was blushing, but she didn’t care. She lowered her eyes, and then glanced back up at Jack. He was still smiling at her.
“That would be great, Jack,” she said.
“Wonderful! It’s a date!” he said.
“It’s a date,” Meghan replied.
The End
About Cookies and Buried Secrets
Released: August, 2018
Series: Book 3 – Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Series
Standalone: Yes
Cliff-hanger: No
When a beautiful stranger sashays into a birthday party, Meghan Truman, along with other invited guests, is surprised to discover her relationship to the birthday celebrant.
This beautiful stranger attracts more shady characters to Sandy Bay. When one of these characters is found dead in an alley, the whole town is set on edge.
Will Meghan’s attempt to link the owner of a golden antique gun to the murder prove helpful to handsome Officer Irvin’s investigation or will the discovery of a buried secret lead to more murders?
Cookies and Buried Secrets
1
It was a brisk morning, and Meghan Truman pulled the collar of her blue coat to cover her exposed neck as the chilly breeze nipped at her bare skin. She shivered as the salty air flew off of the ocean and ruffled her dark hair, but she did not move from her spot on the beach. Meghan had moved from Los Angeles to Sandy Bay a few months ago, and while she wasn’t quite used to the cool weather and dark skies of the Pacific Northwest yet, she was enjoying the change of pace.
“Hey! Meghan!”
Meghan’s heart fluttered as she heard the deep, familiar voice of Jack Irvin. She took a long, deep breath, trying to contain her excitement before turning around to greet him.
“Meghan!”
Meghan slowly pivoted to look up into Jack’s handsome face. She grinned, her dark eyes dancing as Jack smiled down at her, his blue eyes sparkling.
“It’s good running into you. What are you up to? All alone at the beach, huh?” Jack asked.
“I don’t mind,” she said, tucking a lock of dark hair behind her ear. “It’s so beautiful here. The beaches in LA were always so crowded, and I love having some peace and quiet.”
Jack chuckled. “I wouldn’t say you’ve had a lot of peace and quiet since you’ve been here,” he said, and Meghan lowered her eyes, shifting uncomfortably as she stood in the white sand. “You opened your bakery and then Norman Butcher was murdered, and then that couple was murdered, and you just seem to find your way into the middle of it all.”
Meghan’s jaw dropped. She was shocked by Jack’s words, and her dark eyes filled with tears as she recalled the murders that had scandalized Sandy Bay and almost ruined Meghan’s bakery, Truly Sweet.
“Hey,” Jack said as he saw the look on Meghan’s face. “I didn’t mean to say it like that. I’m sorry. The murders in town weren’t your fault, and it wasn’t your fault that your name got tied up in both situations. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Meghan turned away from Jack to face the sea, struggling to keep the tears from spilling onto her pale cheeks. She and Jack had finally started getting along; Meghan had even developed some romantic feelings for him, but his joke was simply uncouth.
“Meghan,” he said, reaching out to gently touch her shoulder. “I’m sorry. Let me make it up to you. I’ll be at Karen Denton’s birthday party tonight. It’s going to be a fun time. Let me pick you up for a nice dinner beforehand.”
Meghan blushed. She and Jack had been out together a few times, but nothing had ever come out of their few dinner dates. Was this the chance for something to happen between her and Jack?
“Okay,” she said, turning back to look at Jack. “Dinner, and then Karen’s birthday party.”
“Great!” he said, turning to leave the beach. “I’ll see you tonight. It’ll be something, I promise.”
That night, Jack picked Meghan up in his squad car and took her to dinner at Feast, a farm-to-table restaurant in Sandy Bay. Meghan had worn her favorite dress, a form-fitting green dress that accentuated her curves and brought out her dark eyes, and she felt confident as she sashayed to Jack’s car.
“You look great!” Jack had said as Meghan answered the door. “Let’s have a good night.”
After dinner, they drove to Winston’s Bar, a local watering hole. Jack escorted Meghan inside, and she saw that Karen’s birthday party was well underway. Streamers had been hung from the rafters of the bar, and a band was playing in the corner. Jack led Meghan to a stool at the bar and helped Meghan climb onto it.
“Here you go, ma’am,” he said, pushing his blond hair back from his face as Meghan settled in. “I’ll go get us some snacks.”
“Perfect,” she cooed. “I made all of the food here myself; I hope you like what Karen requested.”
Jack returned five minutes later with two cookies in hand. He handed one to Meghan, and then took a large bite out of his. Meghan watched as his eyes widened, and he swallowed the cookie as quickly as he could.
“You know I love your treats,” he whispered to Meghan, their heads huddled close together. “These spinach-almond-quinoa cookies just aren’t hitting the spot for me. Did you bring any of your brownies? Your brownies are out of this world.”
Meghan’s eyes sparkled at the compliment, and she nodded at Jack. “Ssshhh, let’s watch Karen blow out her candles, and then I’ll go get some of the brownies I brought. I left a whole pan in the back.”
Jack grinned, and he gestured at Karen Denton, Meghan’s dear friend. “With her insistence on healthy cookies, not to mention the size of her biceps, you would think she’s turning twenty-three, not seventy-three.”
Meghan laughed. “Hey, if these spinach-almond-quinoa cookies are the secret to having that much vigor and energy in my seventies, I’ll take them over my brownies any day.”
Meghan edged off of the stool and made her way into Winston’s kitchen. As she scanned the room for her pan of brownies, she felt a strong tug on her arm.
“Meghan! Sweetie, hello. I saw you walk in with Jack Irvin. How fabulous. I want to hear all of the details.”
Meghan grinned as the birthday girl, Karen Denton, peered up at her, her blue eyes glittering. “We had dinner before your party,” she whispered to Karen, pulling her deeper into the kitchen. “It was his suggestion.”
“Fabulous!” Karen squealed. “I could not ask for a better birthday present. I’ve always liked that Jack Irvin, and you know I just think the world of you. I’ll keep my fingers crossed. Maybe by my next birthday, you two will be a real couple.”
Meghan giggled. “We’ll see,” she said, reaching to hug Karen. “Enough about me. How are you enjoying your party?”
Karen beamed. “It’s exactly what I wanted. I don’t have a family of my own, but everyone in Sandy Bay came together to celebrate my birthday. It’s just fabulous. Everyone is here, Winston kindly opened his bar for us, and those healthy cookies you baked for me are a delight. This old lady couldn’t ask for anything more on her birthday.”
After finishing their hug, the two women turned to walk back into the main area of Winston’s bar. Meghan had a plate of brownies for Jack, and she could feel her body growing warm as she caught his eye from across the room. Jack looked so handsome in his blue button down shirt, and Meghan turned to gush to Karen about how happy she was to be at the party with him. Before she could whisper into Karen’s ear, however, Karen stopped in the middle of the room.
“Oh my,” Karen stammered, her blue eyes large. A stunningly beautiful woman was walking toward them; she had waist-length black hair, enormous brown eyes, and tan skin. A flower tattoo snaked around her right bicep, and Meghan cocked her head to the side as the woman approached.
“Are you alright?” Meghan asked, looking at Karen with concern. “Who is that?”
Karen’s mouth opened, and she clasped a hand to her chest.
“It’s my…..my…..my….it’s my daughter.”
2
Meghan gasped as the woman walked right up to Karen. Meghan leaned over, wrapping an arm around Karen, who looked as though she were about to faint. “Your daughter?” Meghan whispered, feeling Karen’s strong body go limp in her arms. “Karen! You have a daughter?”
Karen slowly nodded. “It’s a long story,” she said, shaking as the dark-haired woman sauntered over. “I don’t talk about her often.”
“Well, that’s a shame,” the woman said, catching the end of the conversation. “Why don’t you talk about me, Mamá?” The woman stuck out her lips and feigned a pout, but reached forward to embrace Karen. “It’s good to see you.”
Karen stepped away from Meghan and leaned into her daughter’s hug. “It’s good to see you too, Sofía,” Karen murmured, stroking her daughter’s thick, glossy hair.
Meghan crossed her arms in front of her chest, confused at the spectacle in front of her. She had known Karen for several years now; they had previously been neighbors in Los Angeles, and Meghan thought she knew everything about her. Karen had never spoken of a daughter, nor had she ever mentioned having any children, and Meghan was puzzled by the scene taking place in the middle of the bar.
“What are you doing here?” Karen asked, pulling away from the woman’s hug. “I didn’t know you were planning a visit.”
The woman sighed. “I wasn’t, Mamá,” she said, her voice tinged with sorrow as she looked down at Karen. “There were some things I wanted to get away from, and I thought the best place for me was with my Mamá.”
Karen nodded. “Well, of course,” she said slowly. “I can help you with whatever you need, Sofía.”
Sofía grinned. “Well, the first thing I need is a drink. I’ve been driving all day, and I need a little something to take the edge off.”
Karen frowned. Meghan knew that Karen didn’t drink, and she decided to introduce herself.
“Hi!” Meghan said, smiling warmly at Sofía, “I’m Meghan Truman. I’m a friend of…..your mom.”
Sofía looked up and down at Meghan, her dark eyebrows raised. “Aren’t you a little young to be hanging out with her?”
Meghan laughed. “I’m twenty-seven, but to be honest, Karen keeps me young. She’s so fit and in shape, she puts me to shame.”
Sofía rolled her eyes. “That’s nice. Look, I’m talking with my Mamá right now. Can you leave us alone?”
Meghan was taken aback, but she nodded. “Of course,” she said. “I’ll give you two some time.”
Ten minutes later, Karen wandered over to Meghan and Jack. “Can I talk with you?” she asked. Meghan said nothing, but took Karen’s hand and walked with her into an empty back room.
“Meghan,” Karen whispered, burying her head in her hands. “I can’t believe she is here.”
Meghan’s eyes widened. “Is she really your daughter, Karen? I didn’t even know you had a daughter.”
Karen moaned. “She’s been in a lot of trouble, Meghan. It’s not healthy to dwell on trouble, and I try to limit how much I think
about her.”
Meghan stared at Karen. “Where did she come from, Karen? Who is she?”
Karen sighed. “Her name is Sofía,” she began. “Her father is a Mexican doctor I met when I worked as a nurse down in Jalisco. I was so young when she was born, Meghan; I was fresh out of nursing school when I took the position as a traveling nurse, and it wasn’t even a year after my arrival in Jalisco that Sofía was born.”
Meghan placed a hand on her heart. “What happened to her father? Why did you leave your daughter, Karen?”
Karen groaned. “Her father is a good man. We were married while Sofía was a little girl. When my visa expired, I had to go back to America, and everything just fell apart. It was a few years before I could get back into Mexico, and by the time I returned home, Sofía was a terror. My husband was resentful that I had been away, and it all went bad. I went home to America for good, and Sofía chose to stay with her father.”
