The Sandy Bay Cozy Mysteries series Box Set

by Amber Crewes

  “Oh my goodness,” Meghan whispered as she froze the image. “It was Donnie. Donnie poisoned Paula. Her own assistant poisoned her!”

  Trudy grabbed the camera from Meghan and stared at the tiny video screen. “Let me see that,” Trudy ordered.

  “You’re right,” Trudy concluded, her eyes widening as the second video ended. “He did it. That man in my video poisoned the ice cream, and we have video evidence. Meghan, you need to take my camera to your sweetheart right now!”

  Meghan stood up from her place on the floor. She sprinted down the hallway and burst into Jack’s office. “Jack, I know who poisoned Paula. You can send all of these people home; Donnie, Paula’s assistant, killed her, and I have video evidence.”

  “Is that so?”

  Meghan nodded as Chief Nunan stepped into the room. “I heard what you said, Meghan,” Chief Nunan told her. “Is the video on that phone?”

  Meghan bobbed her head and gave the phone to Chief Nunan. “It’s all on there, Chief Nunan. See for yourself.”

  Chief Nunan turned on the camera and watched the two videos. “Yes, you are right,” Chief Nunan said as the second video ended. “We have enough evidence to arrest Donnie, Paula’s assistant. Jack? I want you to spread the word: Donnie is now our primary suspect, and I have great reason to believe that he killed his employer. I want every officer and detective out on this guy, and I want him brought to me immediately.”

  13

  “All of this happened while I was on my yoga retreat?” Karen Denton laughed into the phone as Meghan strolled down the beach. “To think I missed the ball, a breakup, and a murder! I moved back to Sandy Bay for some peace and quiet, but it feels like peace and quiet is never quite the case…”

  Meghan chuckled, happy to hear her dear friend’s voice. Karen had been in Costa Rica for nearly two weeks, and Meghan could hardly wait to fill her in on all of the events following the Governor’s Ball.

  “This is why you had to go find inner peace,” Meghan joked. “You knew you couldn’t find it here, so you had to go all the way to Costa Rica.”

  Karen giggled. “You caught me. Speaking of getting caught…tell me about how they caught that Donnie ding-dong. I can’t believe he killed his own boss.”

  “I know,” she agreed. “It’s terrible. Jack and Chief Nunan dragged Donnie kicking and screaming out of the Governor’s Mansion about an hour after I showed them the video. They found more poison in the Governor’s kitchen, and it looks like Donnie was planning to kill the Governor, too.”

  “Good thing Trudy showed you that footage, or other innocent people would have died,” Karen said. “Seriously, I just can’t believe she caught it on film by accident. What are the odds?”

  Meghan shivered as a gust of cold wind slapped her face. She zipped her long, purple coat higher up her neck and shuddered; she hated being cold, and despite loving her life in Sandy Bay, when it was chilly, Meghan ached for the mild Los Angeles weather that she had previously lived in.

  “So did Jack tell you why Donnie did it?” Karen asked.

  “Donnie confessed right away. He told Jack and Chief Nunan that Paula had undermined his political aspirations by reporting him to the Governor’s compliance officer for not declaring a gift he had received while on official duty, and had threatened that she was going to ruin his chances at being elected to office someday.”

  Karen sighed. “I hope that buffoon knows now that he’ll never be elected; he not only killed his boss, but he ruined his own life.”

  “He did,” Meghan said. “He ruined his life, but thankfully, mine is back on track; Jack and I had dinner with his friend, Michelle, and I was able to apologize for being rude, and she even apologized for not thinking of my feelings. She and I probably won’t ever be best friends, but at least we aren’t enemies.”

  “That’s good,” Karen agreed. “It’s never good to have an enemy. So…Jack? What’s going on there? Are things okay?”

  Despite the harsh winds biting at her skin, Meghan beamed. “We’re okay, Karen. Actually, we are more than okay; when Jack and I were making up, he told me that he loves me. I said it back to him, too. We are in love, and better than ever.”

  “That’s wonderful news,” Karen cooed as Meghan thought about her handsome boyfriend. “I’m over the moon that things have worked out. I wish I could have been in Sandy Bay to help you, but it sounds like you were able to fix things yourself.”

  Meghan grinned, thinking of how happy she was that she and Jack were back together, and imagining how she had stood up to the reporter outside of the police station. Meghan’s heart warmed as she remembered the shy, meek girl she had been when she arrived in Sandy Bay, and compared that girl to the strong, resilient woman she was now.

  “I’ve been learning to stand up for myself, Karen,” Meghan informed her friend. “I feel like I learn something new every single day here in Sandy Bay. Even the bad days have given me valuable lessons, and I can honestly say, without hesitation, that no matter the challenges, it is truly sweet to be in Sandy Bay with all of my friends and my loved ones!”

  The End

  About Jingle Bells and Deadly Smells

  Released: December, 2018

  Series: Book 10 – Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Series

  Standalone: Yes

  Cliff-hanger: No

  Christmas is that season…that season of pleasant surprises…delicious smells…and family and friends to share the holidays with.

  This Christmas, Sandy Bay’s lovable bakery owner, Meghan Truman, gets a whole more than she bargained for…plus a dead body at the door of her favorite restaurant. Some people would rather sweep this murder under the carpet but something smells awfully fishy about the events surrounding it.

  Will Meghan join Detective Irvin to find the murderer or will this event serve to etch unpleasant memories of this most wonderful time of the year?

  Jingle Bells and Deadly Smells

  1

  It was going to be a white Christmas in Sandy Bay, and Meghan Truman could hardly contain her excitement as the glittering white snowflakes tumbled from the sky. Meghan shivered as she adjusted the pink tartan scarf around her neck, thankful for its comfort as she stepped outside into the chilly evening. Meghan set off down the street toward Spark, a new boutique in town. She was ten minutes late for her shopping date with Jackie, her close friend, and Meghan trudged through the snow in her knee-length brown boots.

  “Can you spare a dime, Miss?”

  Meghan bit her bottom lip as a homeless man on the corner beckoned her toward him. She nervously ran a hand through her long, dark hair, shaking her head as she passed.

  “I’m sorry,” Meghan muttered as she looked down at her boots. “I don’t have any cash.”

  Her heart sank as she walked away from the homeless man, and her cheeks burned with shame. She truly did not have any cash on her, but her chest tightened with guilt as she considered the man’s plight. “Perhaps I could have given him my gloves,” she thought to herself. “Or I could have dashed home and fetched some treats for him from the bakery.”

  She was the sole owner of Truly Sweet, a wildly successful bakery in Sandy Bay. She had opened the bakery after moving to Sandy Bay from Los Angeles less than a year ago, and now, after months of persistence and perseverance, Truly Sweet was one of the most popular bakeries in the Pacific Northwest. Meghan’s orders had more than quadrupled in the last three months, and she was thankful for the help of Trudy, her assistant, and Pamela, the high-school girl she had hired to help with the heavy workload.

  “I have so much stale bread and old pastries sitting in my pantry,” she murmured, still distraught by her interaction with the homeless man. “It is so cold tonight, and he needs to eat. I will just have to be a few more minutes late to my shopping date.”

  Meghan turned around, treading back through the heavy snow. She unlocked the front door of the bakery, smiling as the familiar sound of the little silver bells attached to the door jingled merrily. S
he heard her little twin dogs barking upstairs in her apartment, but she ignored them, sprinting into the kitchen of the bakery and removing a bag of old pastries and breads from the closet.

  “Perfect,” Meghan said, satisfied as she filled a cloth sack with the food. “I can drop these off with that man, and hopefully, he will go to bed with a full belly tonight.”

  She raced out of the bakery and back onto the slippery streets. She nearly fell as her feet slipped beneath her, but she regained her composure and marched off toward the corner where she had encountered the homeless man.

  “Oh no,” Meghan sighed as she arrived to find the man had vanished. “He’s gone. I was too late.”

  She hung her head, wishing she had had something to give the man when she first met him. “Maybe I’ll see him again someday,” Meghan considered as she rested the bag of food down on the side of street. “Maybe he’ll come back. I’ll leave this food here for now. I hope he finds it.”

  Jackie chastised Meghan as she entered the shop. “Where have you been? You are too late, girlfriend. This is the second time this week you’ve been late to a hang out.”

  Meghan’s cheeks burned, and she sheepishly apologized to Jackie, explaining why she was late.

  “Oh, Meghan,” Jackie said kindly as she saw the tears in her dark eyes. “You were full of the holiday spirit. I’m proud of you. What a good person you are.”

  Meghan shrugged. “I just think everyone deserves a full belly and a warm bed, don’t you?”

  Jackie smiled. “Your heart is truly sweet, Meghan. Hey, speaking of Truly Sweet, are you doing the desserts for Jack’s holiday party?”

  Meghan grinned at the mention of Jack Irvin, her handsome detective boyfriend. “No,” she explained to Jackie. “Chief Nunan reached out and asked me to do the desserts, but I decided to pass the chance up; I want to go to the party as a guest, and I think dealing with the desserts would be a lot of stress.”

  Jackie nodded. “That makes sense,” she told Meghan. “Well, the Sandy Bay Police Department Christmas Party is always a huge event in town. Everyone dresses up, and there is mistletoe, and it’s just magical.”

  Meghan smiled. “I need to find the perfect dress; do you think I would look nice in red velvet?”

  Jackie squinted her eyes at Meghan, looking up and down at her curvy frame. “Yes,” she finally replied. “I think with your dark hair and olive skin, you would glow in red velvet. Come on! Let’s see what this shop has to offer.”

  “Ladies!”

  Meghan and Jackie turned to find Kirsty Fisher beaming at them, her blonde bob sitting elegantly just above her shoulders, and a strand of tiny pearls wrapped around her thin neck. Kirsty was a dedicated philanthropist and organizer in the community; if there was an event or party, it was likely that Kirsty had planned and put on the event, and she was always looking for favors as she dreamed up new functions for the town.

  “So good to see you girls,” Kirsty cooed as she gave Meghan and Jackie air-kisses on both cheeks. “In fact, I was just thinking of you, Meghan. What are you doing next weekend?”

  Meghan grimaced. “Why do you ask, Kirsty?”

  Kirsty adjusted her red and green sweater set and smiled warmly. “I’m organizing a celebration of Christmas carols, and I would love if you could help me.”

  Meghan paused. She had intentionally slowed her schedule over the last week, and she was looking forward to some much-needed rest and recuperation after such a busy, eventful year in Sandy Bay.

  “Kirsty,” Meghan began. “I’m not really taking on new orders right now; I’m not even doing the desserts for Jack’s holiday party. It’s been a hectic year, and I am trying to give myself, along with Trudy and Pamela, some time to catch our breath.”

  Kirsty shook her head. “I don’t want your treats,” she informed her. “I need your voice. I am trying to recruit anyone and everyone to participate, and for a small donation, you can join in the fun.”

  Meghan raised an eyebrow. “I have a terrible voice,” she told Kirsty. “It’s horrendous; I was actually cut from my middle-school choir because I am tone-deaf.”

  Kirsty waved her hands dismissively. “You can just lip-sync, then. Jackie, I’m sure you can sing on pitch. Would you join us?”

  Jackie wrinkled her nose. “My voice isn’t good…”

  Kirsty huffed in frustration. “This is for a good cause, girls,” she informed Meghan and Jackie. “The donations are being given to the local homeless agency, and with the holidays just around the corner, it is important to think of others.”

  The image of the homeless man on the corner from earlier flashed through Meghan’s mind, and she nodded emphatically. “Yes, you are right,” she said to Kirsty. “We’ll both be there.”

  Kirsty tossed her blonde hair behind her shoulder and smiled haughtily. “That’s what I wanted to hear,” she told both ladies. “Wonderful. Just bring something for the homeless folks who attend. You can even bring something store-bought, Meghan. Just make sure you have something for them, as well as your donation. Toodles, girls! See you at the Christmas carol.”

  Jackie rolled her eyes as Kirsty sashayed out of the boutique. “How did we just get roped into that?”

  Meghan shrugged. “Kirsty is right,” she told Jackie. “It’s the season of love and giving. I can whip up a batch of cookies to take with me, and we’ll both go. Besides, it’s only for a few hours, and it’s for a great cause. What could go wrong?

  On the evening of the event, Jack picked Meghan up from the bakery. His blonde hair was smoothed down with gel, and Meghan thought he looked handsome in his green Christmas sweater.

  “Thanks for going with me tonight,” Meghan said to Jack as she leaned up on her tiptoes to kiss him softly on the lips.

  “Of course,” he replied. “It’s a good cause, and I’m proud of you.”

  Meghan smiled. “It will be fun. It’s always good to give back.”

  Jack and Meghan drove to the Sandy Bay Community Center, and as he helped Meghan out of the car, her eyes sparkled with joy. “Look at the decorations,” she cried, pointing to a ten-foot high Christmas tree positioned outside of the main entry. “It’s beautiful.”

  Jack playfully swatted Meghan on the arm. “Don’t you know by now that Sandy Bay knows how to celebrate?”

  Jack took Meghan’s hand as they entered the massive main room. Meghan saw Kirsty assembling carolers onto bleachers, and she waved at Jackie from across the room. “I’m going to go get settled. Can you put my cookies on that dessert table over there?”

  Jack nodded, taking the bag from Meghan’s hands. “Of course. You go have fun!”

  Meghan scurried over to where the singers were corralled, but as she began to ascend the stairs to her row on the bleachers, she heard a shout. Meghan turned to see four men shoving each other next to the dessert table.

  “I want all of those cookies. You ate too much cake.”

  “Don’t be selfish. My kids need some food too.”

  “This stupid party was the only way to get some good food, and I’m going to take what I want.”

  Meghan saw one of the men reach into the bag and take out her cookies. From his tattered clothes and greasy hair, she presumed he was homeless. She watched in horror as he threw her cookies onto the floor.

  “I’ll be right back,” Meghan whispered to Jackie as she took off across the room. “Hey, sir? Sir? I only made enough so that each person could have two cookies.”

  The man scowled, but he nodded at Meghan. “Sorry. I was just excited.”

  Meghan felt a hard tap on her shoulder. She heard Jack’s deep voice coming toward her. “Don’t you touch her!”

  Meghan’s heart beat faster as she turned around. Jack ran to her side, but as she made eye contact with the man who touched her shoulder, she gasped.

  “What do you think you are doing?” Jack demanded as he stepped between Meghan and the man. “Keep your hands off of my girlfriend.”

  The man chuckled, win
king at Meghan. “Who do I think I am? Meghan, honey? Wanna tell ‘em?”

  Meghan’s jaw-dropped. “Daddy,” she whispered. “Daddy, I can’t believe you are here.

  2

  “This is your father?” Jack asked Meghan in a panicked voice.

  Meghan nodded. “Jack, this is my father. Daddy, this is my boyfriend, Jack.”

  Jack reached out his right hand, and it shook as he extended it. “It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Truman,” Jack breathed anxiously as Meghan’s father peered down at him.