by Amber Crewes
Carol lowered herself closer to Meghan’s face. “So what if I did?” Carol said venomously as she waved the dagger around with one hand. “So what if I did? Stephanie and I have known each other for years, and even after I had given her my time, my financial backing, and my counsel, she was going to sell this place out from under me!”
“What?” Meghan screeched.
“She wanted to sell this place to pay out her divorce, and she didn’t bother telling me,” Carol said calmly. “I found out by accident, and I was horrified. This place was making money, Meghan, and she wanted to just throw it away. I confronted her, of course. I told her that Duly Doux’s opening day sales proved that she had the potential to be the premier bakery in the Pacific Northwest. This place was a hit!”
Meghan’s dark eyes widened. “What did she say?”
Carol grimaced. “She didn’t care. She just wanted to settle her affairs and get out of this business. She lacked a backbone, Meghan, and now, I wish I hadn’t invested in her. She lacked the true marks of an entrepreneur, and I’m embarrassed I got involved. Stephanie couldn’t even make her own treats; she had to steal your recipes. She was pathetic, that woman!”
Meghan’s eyes widened as Carol slowly lowered the dagger to Meghan’s throat, rubbing the edge along the bottom of Meghan’s chin. “Just be still,” Carol advised Meghan. “Be still, and it won’t hurt….much.”
Meghan tried to wriggle out from under Carol, but she could hardly move. “Why?” Meghan asked Carol. “Why?”
“Stephanie and I were colleagues in Indianapolis years ago, and when she reached out to me to move to Sandy Bay, I was happy to help her,” Carol explained, her eyes flashing with rage. “I wanted to help her; I knew her husband was no better than trash, and I hoped Stephanie could have a fresh start. She failed here, though; she was not confident, and she lacked business acumen. I knew she wouldn’t succeed. When Kayley Kane mentioned that Stephanie was planning to sell Duly Doux after only weeks on the job, I knew that something had to be done. She lacked grit, Meghan. Female entrepreneurs need grit to survive in this difficult world!”
“It’s a good thing I have grit!” Meghan shouted as she mustered her strength to push Carol off of her. Carol shrieked as she landed in the puddle of blood next to Trudy’s body. “My suit! My green suit! You’ve stained this skirt, Meghan Truman! This was my power suit. You’ll be sorry…”
Carol lunged for Meghan, but Meghan kicked her left leg high, sending the knife flying across the room. Carol jumped on Meghan, and they rolled around on the laminate floor, blood covering their clothes as they wrestled to gain control.
“I’ve got you now!” Carol yelled triumphantly as she climbed onto Meghan’s chest. “I hate to do this to a successful businesswoman, but like I’ve said, you have seen too much. I wish Stephanie had been tougher, I wish Trudy’s timing had been better, and I wish you hadn’t meddled. But, it isn’t useful to dwell on the past, so….”
Carol brought her hands to Meghan’s neck and began to squeeze. “Meghan, it’s been a pleasure,” she said as Meghan began to choke. “This will be quick, I promise…”
Suddenly, just as Meghan’s vision began to fade, there was a loud crack from the doorway. Carol collapsed onto Meghan, and Meghan filled her aching lungs with air.
“Meghan!”
Meghan heard her name shouted as she fell into the dark, warm tug of unconsciousness.
13
T he fallout from Carol May’s murder of Stephanie was devastating to the reputation of the local bank she represented. An internal investigation was launched by the board of the bank and it was discovered that she facilitated loans to some individuals of questionable character. Much worse was the fact that she accepted kickbacks for issuing these loans. It also came out in the investigation that Carol had used her influence to persuade Majestic Incorporated to cancel their order with Truly Sweet and divert it to Stephanie’s bakery. The bank had to put a publicity plan in place to win back the confidence of the citizens of Sandy Bay as the news of Carol’s escapades spread far and wide. As Meghan looked back on the events of the past few weeks, she was grateful that she didn’t have any business dealings with Carol or her bank.
“And Trudy wasn’t dead! She was just unconscious, and she knocked out Carol before Carol could strangle me.” Meghan exclaimed as she drove Karen away from the Sandy Bay Jail. “It was awful, Karen; I really liked Carol, and seeing her lay there, unconscious on the floor….it was a lot to take in.”
Karen clucked sympathetically. “We’ve both had difficult weeks. You had to tussle with Carol and solve the mystery for your detective, Jack, and I had to sit in a jail cell.”
Meghan laughed. “It all sounds crazy, but it’s just life in Sandy Bay, isn’t it?”
Karen shook her head. “I thought moving back here would mean some quiet and peace,” she said. “Maybe the quiet and peace is still coming?”
Meghan nodded. “It must be! I’m ready for some rest and relaxation after the last few weeks.”
Karen turned to look at Meghan’s bruised neck. “She really got you, didn’t she?”
Meghan sighed. “She did,” she whispered. “It was so scary, but I fought so hard, Karen.”
Karen frowned. “Between Carol and Jeremy, you have had to be one brave lady recently.”
Meghan blushed. “I just did what I had to do, Karen,” she said. “Everyone can be brave when the time is right.”
Karen reached over and patted Meghan’s head. “I have no doubt, sweetie,” she said. “You are a fabulous, brave woman! I am proud of you for doing everything you did to help me and to solve the mystery.”
Meghan smiled at Karen. “You are such a dear friend to me,” she said. “I would do anything for you, Karen.”
“By the way, do you know what happened to Jeremy, Stephanie’s ex?
“Jack said they received an arrest warrant for him from the police force in Indiana. Apparently, he had a stack of misdemeanors he had to answer. Jack and his team were happy to see the back of him and processed all the paperwork in record time. I believe he should be back in Indiana as we speak.”
Karen gestured outside as they pulled up in front of Truly Sweet. “Look at that, Meghan,” Karen said gleefully. “Jack Irvin is waiting for you.”
Meghan’s jaw dropped as she saw Jack outside. He was dressed in a navy suit and holding a bouquet of pink roses.
“What is going on?” Meghan asked as Karen shook her head.
“Why don’t you go find out?”
Meghan unbuckled her seatbelt and ran out of the car. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she could feel the butterflies in her stomach as she approached Jack. She shivered in the cool evening and took a long breath, taking in the salty air coming into the town from the ocean.
“Jack!” Meghan exclaimed. “Why are you so dressed up? What is going on?”
Jack smiled down at Meghan, and she felt a wave of heat rise in her belly as she stared into his blue eyes.
“Meghan,” he said softly. “Meghan, you were in danger twice this week, and I have been so worried about you!” he began. “Seeing you hurt and stepping in when that Jeremy fellow was in the bakery made my blood boil. It helped me see what was in front of me.”
Meghan bit her lip as she gazed into Jack’s eyes. “What is that, Jack?”
Jack held out the roses to Meghan. “These are for you.”
“Thank you!” Meghan squealed as she buried her nose into the sweet-scented flowers. “You are too nice to me, Jack.”
Jack pursed his lips and took a long breath. “Meghan,” he said softly. “Meghan, you have been right in front of me this entire time. I’ve loved getting to know you, and I’ve loved spending time with you, and I want to ask you a very important question.”
Meghan felt butterflies in her stomach as Jack grinned. “Yes, Jack?”
“Meghan,” Jack breathed. “Will you be my girlfriend?”
Meghan gasped. “Jack,” she said softly a
s she rushed into Jack’s strong arms. “That would be truly sweet.”
The End
Thank You!
Thank you for reading Eclairs and Lethal Layers! I really hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I had writing it!
If you have a minute, please consider leaving a review on Amazon.
It doesn’t matter how long or short it is as other cozy mystery readers will find value in what you liked about this book.
Many thanks in advance for your support!
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The next book in the series, Finger Foods and Missing Legs is now available to PREORDER! Turn the page to see the book cover and read the first chapter now!
About Finger Foods and Missing Legs
Released: October, 2018
Series: Book 6 – Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Series
Standalone: Yes
Cliff-hanger: No
Meghan Truman is ecstatic when she discovers she’s won an all-expense paid trip to Paris for a Food and Baking convention. She’s never been to Europe and is looking forward to the sights, smells and people.
Her trip takes a very sour turn when one of the chief conference speakers is reported missing and subsequently found dead in her hotel room. Meghan is shocked when she’s informed she has been identified as a person of interest who the police want to speak to.
With her European trip in danger of turning into her worst nightmare, she must quickly identify who had the most to gain from the victim’s demise and absolve herself of any link to the murder before her hopes of closing a lucrative deal fade away in the city of Love.
FINGER FOODS AND MISSING LEGS CHAPTER 1 SNEEK PEEK
MEGHAN TRUMAN’S HANDS SHOOK as she pulled a bulky yellow envelope out of the mailbox. She had been eagerly awaiting this correspondence for weeks, and as she carried the envelope inside of Truly Sweet, her bakery, Meghan’s dark eyes grew wide in excitement.
“Finally,” Meghan whispered as she reverently placed the envelope on the front counter. “The news I have been waiting for!”
“Meghan! Meghan, can you come help me?”
Meghan stifled a sigh as Trudy, her new assistant, called out to her from the kitchen. She peered at the envelope, her heart thudding in her chest as she admired the elegant handwriting on the front proclaiming it to be hers.
“Trudy, can it wait?” Meghan asked as she ran her fingers along the edges of the yellow envelope. “I have some mail I need to read; I’ve been waiting for this letter for months, and it’s finally here!”
Meghan heard a loud crash from the kitchen, and she begrudgingly left the envelope on the counter to tend to Trudy. Her new assistant had been working at Truly Sweet for only a few weeks, and usually, the two women got along well; while Meghan was a twenty-seven year old transplant to the Pacific Northwest, and Trudy had lived in Sandy Bay all of her life, the pair worked well together, and Meghan was thrilled that she had help at the bakery. Truly Sweet was the only bakery in Sandy Bay, and while Meghan loved running her business, it was hard work, and Trudy had proven to be an asset to the business.
“What’s going on, Trudy?” Meghan asked as she burst into the kitchen. “Are you alright?”
Trudy was a mess; she was covered in flour, and there were bowls and cutlery scattered on the tiled floor. “I had a little fall, Meghan! I’m alright! Just a little trip.”
Meghan laughed in spite of herself. “You poor thing,” she said kindly. “Let me help you up; I’ll give you a hand, and we can tidy the kitchen before the morning crowd comes in.”
Trudy smiled. “Sorry, boss. I’ll be more careful next time.”
The two women worked together to clean the kitchen, both exchanging jokes and stories as they swept the flour from the cracks of the floor, scrubbed the dishes, and put things in order.
“There!” Meghan said thirty minutes later as they surveyed their work. “Much better.”
Trudy grinned. “I have news for you, Meghan; it’s never a boring day at Truly Sweet, that’s for sure!”
Meghan gasped. “News! News! I had forgotten! The news I’ve been waiting for arrived today, Trudy. I have to go open that envelope.”
Meghan raced back to the dining area to retrieve her envelope. Trudy followed behind her, and she clucked as Meghan tore open the yellow paper. “I haven’t seen you this excited since that sweet Jack Irvin asked you to be his girlfriend a few weeks ago,” Trudy said as Meghan shook with excitement. “You were adorable, Meghan; I had never seen someone so happy to be off the market.”
Meghan beamed. Jack Irvin, a local detective, was everything she had dreamed of in a boyfriend; he was handsome, intelligent, confident, ambitious, and kind, and Meghan had grown quite fond of him in the five months she had lived in Sandy Bay. Jack had helped Meghan through some unexpected troubles with the bakery, and Meghan was thankful for his support.
“You were jumping around the bakery like a little girl after he asked you. He is a catch; I’ve watched Jack Irvin grow up, and that boy is a sweetheart! You’re a lucky girl, Meghan, but Jack is a lucky guy, too. You two are a cute couple.”
Meghan grinned. “I do feel pretty lucky,” she admitted. “When I moved to Sandy Bay from Los Angeles all of those months ago, I didn’t know what would happen; opening the bakery was a challenge, and making new friends in town was certainly daunting, but now, I am so happy. I have a thriving business, wonderful friends, an amazing assistant, and a new boyfriend!”
Trudy winked. “And hopefully some good news! Open that envelope, Meghan. I’m dying to know what’s in there.”
Meghan ripped open the top of the envelope and began to read the letter aloud.
Dear Meghan Truman,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to attend the LeBlanc St. James Food and Baking Convention in Paris, France. You have been selected from a pool of over ten thousand finalists, and we are elated to extend this invitation to you to join us in Paris for the convention.
All of your expenses will be taken care of at the LeBlanc St. James Food and Baking Convention; we have enclosed a voucher for your airfare, as well as your reservation information for your complimentary stay at Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal, a five-star hotel located in one of the city’s finest neighborhoods.
We looked forward to seeing you at the convention. Thank you for your interest in the event.
Je vous remercie,
The Selection Committee of the LeBlanc St. James Food and Baking Convention
Meghan’s jaw dropped. “I’m going to Paris, Trudy!” Meghan screamed as she began jumping up and down. “I’m going to Paris!”
Two weeks later, Jack packed the last of Meghan’s suitcases into the trunk of his undercover car. “Are you sure you need three bags?” Jack asked as he held the passenger door open for Meghan. “That’s going to be a lot to keep track of in Paris.”
Meghan shrugged. “I’ve never been to Europe before,” she said giddily. “I want to look my best in Pa-reeeee!”
Jack laughed as he settled into his seat and began driving toward the airport. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you so excited. It’s adorable, Meghan. I’m so happy for you.”
Meghan blushed. “Thanks, Jack. And thank you for taking me to the airport today.”
Jack reached over and took Meghan’s hand. “That’s what boyfriends are for, right? Anyway, it just means I get to spend more time with you. This might sound a little silly, but I’m going to miss you while you are away.”
Meghan bit her bottom lip, feeling her face grow hot as Jack looked at her. She could feel butterflies in her stomach, and she felt her lips turned upward into a smile as Jack’s blue eyes stared at her. “I’m going to miss you too, Jack. We haven’t been apart for more than a few days, but I know that we’ll manage this week with no problem! We can chat every evening, and I can even put some postcards in the mail for you!”
Jack squeezed Meghan’s hand. “I just feel protective of you, Meghan,” he admitted. “You are very special to me
, and it makes me nervous to think of you gallivanting in Paris. If something happens to you, I can’t save the day and make sure you are okay.”
Meghan felt tears brim in her eyes, and she was warmed by Jack’s sincerity. “I’ll be careful, Jack. I want to come home to Sandy Bay--and to you--in one piece.”
Jack nodded. “Just promise you’ll stay out of trouble while you’re away?”
Meghan leaned over and kissed Jack’s cheek. “I promise,” she assured him. “I’ll be busy at the convention each day, and it’s only a few blocks from the hotel. I’m going to do a few sightseeing tours, but those are guided, so I think I’ll be in good hands.”
