Caramel Fudge & Murder

by Susan Gillard

  She and Luz smiled at each other. It looked like there was a new prime suspect.

  Long Distance

  Heather was feeling less enthusiastic about their lead when they tracked down Harry Hauser. He refused to come into the station but did agree to video chat with them.

  “Who does this guy think he is?” Amy asked. “Does he think he can video chat his jail sentence too when we find him guilty?”

  “I don’t know,” Heather said.

  Detective Peters set up a computer so they could receive his call. Ryan stood next to him.

  “Why couldn’t this be in person?” he asked.

  “I used the contact information from the boutique,” Peters said. “When I called Harry Hauser and asked him to come in, he said that he could call in.”

  “This is strange,” Amy said. “Maybe he’s doing this so he can get a head start getting away. He’s the killer, and he wants to stall us so he can escape.”

  “Maybe,” Heather said, frowning. “We don’t know where he’s calling from.”

  Ryan finished setting up the computer and turned on the video call. A young man appeared on the screen, wearing a scarf. He had brown hair and glasses.

  “Can you hear me?” he asked on the screen.

  “Yes,” Ryan said, addressing the computer. “We can hear you.”

  “I can hear you too,” Harry said. “I’m glad the connection is working. I hoped this would work.”

  “We have a few questions we need to ask you,” Ryan said.

  “That’s what the other detective said. Go right ahead,” said Harry.

  “First, I suppose I should ask – where were you Sunday night between 5 and 8 p.m.?” said Ryan.

  “My 5 and 8 p.m.?” Harry said. “I was out to dinner with a friend. We hit a pub early.”

  “We’ll have to confirm that,” Ryan said.

  “What did he mean by my 5 and 8?” asked Heather.

  Harry looked confused. He played with his scarf. “What is this all about?”

  “The murder of a young woman,” said Peters.

  “And you’re with the Key West Police Force?” Harry asked.

  Peters moved closer to the camera and showed Harry his badge. “Of course, we are.”

  “Who was killed?” asked Harry.

  “Angela Fiat,” said Ryan.

  “Oh, that’s sad to hear,” Harry said. “She was a nice girl. I graduated with her. She lost her parents senior year. That was sad too.”

  “And you dated her?” Heather asked.

  “For a little bit,” Harry said, nodding. “Before I went off to college. We were together for a few months senior year. I felt bad leaving. I felt like she needed someone to support her, and she chose me.”

  “How did you feel about her dating other people now?” asked Amy.

  “I would have been fine with it,” Harry said. “I wanted her to be happy. I think everybody did. And she was kind and beautiful. She could have gotten any man she wanted. Especially if someone knew about her parents. It filled you with the sense that she needed to be cared for.”

  “So you don’t have any feelings about her dating Eric Sattler?” asked Amy.

  “Eric Sattler? That’s another name from my high school days. I guess I’d be surprised because I thought he was best friends with her ex, Leon. But I guess it’s not too uncommon for people to date a lot in high school. I dated a friend of Angela’s too before I dated her.”

  “When was the last time you saw Angela Fiat?” Ryan asked.

  Harry scratched his head. “I might have seen her at a homecoming game last year. But I’m not sure. I don’t know if I’ve seen her since graduation.”

  “You’re sure you didn’t see her Sunday night?” Peters asked.

  Harry laughed. “Yes. I’m sure.”

  Heather looked at the scarf he was wearing and the summer garb that she and her friend were wearing.

  “Mr. Hauser, where are you right now?” Heather asked.

  “I’m in London,” he said.

  “London, England?” asked Amy.

  “The same,” Harry said. “It’s my semester abroad.”

  “So he couldn’t have been here to kill Angela Fiat,” Peters said slowly.

  “If he really is in England,” Amy said.

  Harry moved his screen so that the others could see what was in his background. The distinctive Big Ben clock tower could be seen.

  “I guess he really is in England,” said Amy.

  “I can check flight logs,” Peters said. “To make sure he didn’t fly back and forth.”

  “Why do you think I had anything to do with this?” asked Harry.

  “Do you recognize this tie, Mr. Hauser?” Ryan asked, showing a picture of the tie that was used to strangle Angela Fiat.

  “That looks like the tie I wore to junior prom,” Harry said. “But I lost it. I haven’t seen it in years.”

  “You have no idea where it was?” Heather asked.

  “I assumed I lost it or my mom threw it out. It was an ugly tie, but it matched my date’s dress. Darcy looked great that night,” Harry said. “Or maybe I lent it to a friend, and I don’t remember.”

  “You dated Darcy too?” asked Amy.

  “For junior and part of senior year. That’s how I became friends with Angela too.”

  “I don’t like the interconnectedness of this dating pool,” Amy said. “Heather, no matter what, you’re not allowed to date Jamie.”

  “All right,” Heather agreed.

  “You said that you might have allowed a friend to borrow the tie,” said Peters. “Could that friend have been either Eric or Leon?”

  “Maybe,” Harry said. “We were all on the soccer team together, and we needed to dress up on occasion. I might have given a tie to them if they forgot one. I’m sorry I don’t quite remember. It didn’t seem important.”

  “Mr. Hauser, I know it was a long time ago since you saw Angela Fiat, but do you have any thoughts on who might have wanted to hurt her?” asked Ryan.

  “My only guess would be Leon,” Harry said. “He was upset by the breakup.”

  That was not the answer that Heather wanted to hear.

  Nuance

  The customers inside Donut Delights were happy and enjoying themselves, but it couldn’t be said the same for the employees of the shop. Luz kept wringing a towel in worry, and Digby was brooding by the display counter.

  Heather sat at a table with Amy and Jamie, considering the case. It seemed as if every suspect they had was cleared except for Leon. Being at sea and across the pond were much better alibis than aimlessly walking after seeing the victim.

  Leon’s explanation of visiting Angela could explain his fingerprints in the house, but why had he taken so long to tell them about it.

  And what was the deal with the tie? How could Harry’s tie have ended up around Angela’s neck? Did he lend it to Leon at a soccer event? Could Leon have kept it all this time?

  Heather sighed and picked up a Caramel Fudge Donut. She felt like she had been doing a lot of work on this case, but it wasn’t leading her in the proper direction.

  Amy and Jamie picked up their donuts too.

  “I wish I could do something to help,” Jamie said.

  “Me too,” Amy said. “I’m a professional P.I. and all I can think of to do is eat some donuts.”

  “There’s something that we’re missing,” Heather said. “I just don’t know what it is yet.”

  They ate their donuts, chewing on their thoughts. The door to the shop opened, and one of the actors from Digby’s play entered with a bag.

  “Pat, what are you doing here?” Digby asked.

  “I accidentally grabbed your sweater from backstage,” he explained. “I thought it was mine, but when I saw it wasn’t, I wanted to return it. I figured I’d find you here since you brought donuts to the dress rehearsals.”

  Digby took the sweater and thanked the actor.

  Jamie excused himself from their table.
He said that he wanted to tell this other actor what a great job he did on stage. After seeing it three times and knowing the twist ending, he wanted to congratulate him on his nuanced performance.

  Amy chuckled to herself. She loved that Jamie was so observant and thoughtful, but she thought he was beginning to use the phrase “nuanced performance” too much.

  Heather absentmindedly watched the conversation. Digby and Pat were enjoying the compliments. She couldn’t help thinking that one of the suspects that they talked too must have also given them a performance. Someone killed Angela Fiat, and that meant that someone was lying about it too.

  Who could that liar be? Was Captain Roo lying about Eric working that day? Could Eric have confused the old captain about time and found a way to kill his girlfriend in a fit of jealous rage? Was Harry Hauser really in England all week? Or was Leon really guilty after all?

  “It all ties back to the tie,” Heather said to herself. “Why was it the murder weapon?”

  Amy thought about it and pitched some answers. “Because the killer was wearing it and it was easy to use?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Because the killer wanted it to be symbolic?” suggested Amy. “A jealous lover didn’t like that she had date Harry too?”

  The wheels were starting to turn in Heather’s brain. She felt like they were on to something. They were close.

  If it was Harry’s tie that he was missing for years that was used as the murder weapon, then there had to be a reason for it. Was Amy right about it being symbolic? Maybe it did have to do with who Angela Fiat dated.

  “Maybe the killer wanted to frame Harry? But he didn’t know that Harry was in London,” Amy suggested. “Or maybe the killer just hated ties as much as he hated Angela.”

  “He,” Heather said slowly, figuring something out. “Why did we decide the killer was a man?”

  “Because Angela Fiat had exes fighting over her,” Amy said. “And because the tie was a man’s and she didn’t keep any in her house.”

  “Right,” said Heather. “But the tie didn’t belong to the killer. The tie belonged to Harry Hauser, and he’s thousands of miles away in another country.”

  “So?”

  “So, we jumped to an assumption. Anyone with access to the tie could be the killer.”

  “Do you know who that is?” asked Amy.

  “I think I do,” said Heather. “Someone was hanging onto that tie since high school.”

  Amy gave the thumbs up sign to the other employees. Digby, Luz, and Jamie hurried over to her.

  “Heather thinks that she solved the case,” Amy said.

  “And it’s not my Leon?” asked Luz.

  “No,” Heather said. “It wasn’t Leon, but his arrival on the scene might have set events into motion.”

  “How?” asked Luz.

  “Because someone was very, very jealous,” said Heather.

  “I’m just glad it wasn’t Leon,” said Luz.

  “Me too,” agreed Digby.

  “I’m glad Heather figured it out,” said Jamie.

  “I’m glad you’re all being so clear about what you’re talking about,” the actor Pat said, sarcastically. “I’ll see you around, Digby.”

  Heather watched him leave, still thinking to herself. “I know who did it. But we’re going to have to figure out a way to prove it.”

  The Killer

  “Do you think Digby can handle this?” Amy asked.

  “I do,” Heather said. “He’s helped us on cases before. And after seeing him on stage, I’m sure he can handle this acting challenge.”

  Donut Delights was technically closed for the day, but Heather and Amy were hiding behind the counter. Following Heather’s idea, Digby had invited someone to join him at the shop.

  The door swung open, and Heather’s plan was set into motion. Darcy Simmons walked in.

  “Hi Digby,” she said. “You said you wanted to talk to me about Eric?”

  “Have a seat,” Digby said, showing her to a table. He pulled the chair out for her, and she was pleased by the gentlemanly gesture. “My boss said I could stay a little late today if I needed to collect my emotions.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I remember high school fondly,” Digby said with perhaps too much of a flourish before he sat down. “And now everything seems to be falling apart with our friends. Angela is dead.”

  “You were close to Angela?” Darcy asked.

  “Not as close as you, obviously,” Digby said. “But she was there for me during biology class when we were supposed to dissect a frog. I’ll never forget her kindness that day.”

  “Don’t overact, Digby,” Amy whispered behind the counter.

  “I’m sure a lot of people will never forget her,” Darcy said.

  “And my best friend, Leon, is accused of her murder,” said Digby. “Everything is unraveling.”

  “What did you want to tell me about Eric?” Darcy asked, leaning across the table.

  “Oh, yes,” Digby said. “Sweet Eric. Poor Eric. I think this death is hurting him. I think he’s going to need a shoulder to cry on. I’m worried about him.”

  “Did you talk to him? Did he say anything about me?” Darcy asked like she was still gossiping in high school.

  “He said you were a dear friend.”

  “Oh.”

  “But that he missed when you used to date,” Digby continued. “He’s conflicted. Because he loved Angela too.”

  “Of course he did,” said Darcy.

  “I’m feeling sad in these times too,” said Digby. “And I wouldn’t mind a shoulder to cry on. A kind shoulder.”

  Heather and Amy exchanged a look. He was laying it on rather thick.

  “Oh, Darcy, I don’t know how to say this,” Digby said, dramatically. “But I’ve suddenly learned how short life can be. I don’t want to waste it. You’re just as awesome and beautiful as you were in high school. I’d like to kiss you.”

  “I think I should get going,” Darcy said, getting up from her chair.

  “He overacted,” Amy said. “We’re going to lose her.”

  “Not if I can help it,” Heather said.

  She stood up quickly, grabbing a towel as if she had been cleaning and not eavesdropping.

  “It’s just as well that you’re leaving,” Heather said. “Before he realizes that he’d rather be with Angela.”

  “What did you say?” Darcy asked, turning around to face her. She had fire in her eyes.

  “I’m not trying to be mean. Just truthful. You’re Digby’s second choice. He would rather be with Angela, but he can’t be.”

  “No. He can’t. Because she’s dead,” said Darcy coldly.

  “It’s a shame,” Heather said. “Because everyone loved Angela. Everyone wanted to date her, didn’t they? Even your boyfriends? They couldn’t leave you fast enough to start dating Angela.”

  “That’s not how it was,” Darcy said.

  “Your boyfriends didn’t leave you to date Angela?” Heather asked. “Isn’t that what happened with Harry and with Eric.”

  “And Kyle,” Digby said. “I remember that from high school too.”

  “Maybe that did happen,” Darcy said. “A few times. But that wasn’t a reflection on me. They weren’t leaving me. Guys just wanted to make Darcy feel better because she lost her parents. I wanted her to feel better too.”

  “But it must have hurt,” Heather said. “When your friend kept doing that to you.”

  “I know it would hurt me,” Amy agreed, rising to her feet. “Being down on the ground was also hurting.”

  “Angela was supposed to be your friend,” Heather continued, taking a step closer. “You were there for her the whole time. Through all her heartache. Supporting her. And what did she do? She stole all of your boyfriends.”

  “It was like she was letting me test them out to see if they were okay,” Darcy said. “If she found out they were trustworthy and fun, she’d convince them that they liked her. That h
e and I were really just good friends. She wanted someone to support her so badly after losing her parents that she needed a boyfriend. But why did she have to take mine?”

  “It wasn’t fair,” Heather said.

  “No,” Darcy said. “It wasn’t. And when I saw Leon and Eric fighting that day, I was reminded how unfair it was. Angela should have just stayed with Leon. Then Eric could have kept loving me.”

  “You decided you had to do something about it,” Heather said.

  “I didn’t know I was going to kill her,” Darcy said, so intent on reliving the memory that she didn’t notice Digby sneak out of the room. “But I did want to confront her. What she was doing was unfair. She was considering having Eric move in with her. I was still in love with him, but she didn’t care. I brought Harry’s tie with me. I kept it from junior prom. I wanted to remind Angela that she had been doing this to me for years. I brought the proof. I told her she needed to stop it, and I suggested she break up with Eric. Then, he might realize that he loved me after all.”

  “But she didn’t agree to that?” Heather prompted.

  “I told her to stop and then she asked me why? What are you going to do about it? That’s what she said. Everyone thought she was so nice, but she was cruel to me. So I decided to show her what I was going to do about it. I tripped her and then I strangled her with Harry’s tie. I wonder if she realized it was his tie. He probably didn’t mean anything to her any more than I did.”

  Darcy must have realized that she said too much. She put a hand to her mouth and hurried to the door. However, Digby was now joined by Ryan and Detective Peters.

  “Miss Simmons, you’re going to have to come with us,” Ryan said.

  The detective led her away. Heather took a seat and exhaled. That had been a tense situation. Amy and Digby joined her.

  “We got a confession,” Digby said. “Am I a good actor or what?”

  “What?” said Amy.

  Heather laughed.

  Parasailing

  Heather marveled over the last few days. She had finally met her assistant’s son. He had been accused of murder and then cleared. She had seen her friends on stage and seen one argue about a possibly biased newspaper review. A young woman had been killed, and after seeming to lose every viable suspect as a possibility, she had finally solved the case.