Death with a Cherry on Top: A Beach Themed Cozy Mystery (Twisted Sisters Ice Cream Cozies Book 1)

by Molly Dox

  "Okay, so I've been thinking, and when you filled me in this morning about Jessica's latest stuff, here's where I'm at. With everything on the line, what came up a couple of times were the flowers. Kitty saw Finn bring them to Carla's room. It turns out she might have misread that errand, thinking that Finn was bringing them to her competition. Kitty was Carla's understudy. And Jessica, she saw the two of them fight about it. Ian didn't see where the flowers went, but was angry with Finn because he took away his opportunity to deliver them himself. Who else was there? One person stood out - and he was an important one. The prop master, Simon, was there working. Maybe he saw Finn deliver the flowers to Carla - and Carla, being Simon's ex… Maybe a thread of jealousy ran through him. If he thought Finn was putting the moves on Carla, it might have stirred up old feelings."

  "Got it! Let's go see if we can get him talking. Do you think he did it?" Gina's excitement grew with the new possibility.

  "I think he could have made it happen, switching out a prop, setting up Carla. She'd be the one holding the knife. Her prints would be all over it, which would cover up his own. He could have diligently wiped it, then placed it where Carla would pick it up. I think he may have set her up. Maybe he was angry and went too far. Maybe he hadn't meant to kill Finn, but his rage went unchecked. As soon as he realized what happened, he made sure somebody else's prints would be on the knife."

  "Ooh, that's good. Maybe we should bring some back-up. Text Pops and ask him to meet us."

  The women pulled up to Simon’s house and got out of the car. Ringing the bell, they waited. Only when the door opened, Simon wasn’t the one to answer it.

  "Kitty?" Gina was confused. "What are you doing here?"

  She adjusted her skirt, shifting it over her knees. "Not that it's your business, but I was visiting my boyfriend."

  "Your boyfriend? I thought Finn was..."

  Kitty glanced over her shoulder. "Shh, it's not what it seems. I just pandered to Finn. Understudy this year, star next year." She winked, trying to explain her methods of climbing the ladder.

  "Who's there?" Simon walked up behind her, only wrapped in a towel. He'd just gotten out of the shower. "Mrs. Ambrogi? What brings you here?"

  "Did you tell Kitty what you did? Does she know?" She held his stare.

  "I don't know what you're talking about." He stood his ground.

  "Oh, that's a shame, because it turns out a camera had been recently installed. They hadn't told anyone yet, because it was just set up. Turns out there were some break-ins off season, and they were trying to catch the thief. They forgot it was even there. Imagine their surprise when it caught something that they weren't expecting."

  "I know every inch of that building. There's no camera. Whatever you're trying to pull, we're done here. You should leave." His shoulders tensed.

  Kitty spun toward him. "What are they talking about?"

  Pops pulled up at the address. Perfect timing! Gina crossed her fingers, said a prayer and yelled over to her father, hoping he'd play along. "Did you bring the tape? I think Kitty should know what her boyfriend did."

  Pops patted his pocket. "I sure did."

  Gina loved that she could count on her father to work with her, without her having to spell it out to him.

  "What’s on the tape?" Kitty demanded. She scowled at Simon.

  Simon got quiet, and swallowed hard. Fear crawled across his face. "I didn't mean for it to happen. It was an accident. I was just going to threaten him, but then we got into it. We struggled, tripped, and one thing led to another."

  Kitty's jaw dropped. "You?"

  Pop reached into his pocket and pulled out a mint. "Did you want a mint?"

  "You! What?" Simon roared, angry at having been trapped.

  "I think you'd better put some clothes on. The police will be here shortly," Lottie said, dialing 9-1-1.

  Kitty's mouth was still hanging open. "Simon?"

  "I'm sorry, Kitty. I'm still in love with Carla," Simon admitted. "I let jealousy get the best of me."

  "You used me?" She reeled back and slapped him. With that, she stormed out past everyone.

  "Not so fast," Gina called out to her. "We'll need your statement."

  Kitty grumbled. Finn, now Simon, she'd wished Carla had done it. Carla getting out of jail meant her competition was back. She'd see what the future held, but there was no way she was losing to Carla again. She'd chase Carla back to New York and finally be the local star she was meant to be. Kitty would be the queen bee of Wildwind. She stormed to the sidewalk and sat on the curb. That’s when it hit her like a ton of bricks. The sensation pulsed through her veins. Shame and embarrassment caught her off guard. Why didn’t she feel anything? Was she that heartless that she could let an innocent women rot in jail? Let alone, she hadn’t cried over Finn’s death, and now Simon’s confession.

  Kitty sighed. She was a user. It was more about what they could do for her. Maybe it was time to re-evaluate life. She dropped her head into her hands. The ice around her heart melted, and for the first time since this entire thing took place, she cried. Kitty closed her eyes and searched to find her integrity. It had to be inside of her somewhere, right? It was time to change her ways.

  Chapter 11

  Carla bowed out of the play, not wanting to be a part of the tragedy. The play would go on, but without her. She’d head back to New York, but first she’d spend a long weekend with her friends and family. Lottie and Gina cooked up a feast to celebrate Carla’s release.

  Gina’s family was in one piece again. Everything felt right. With things going back to normal, it would mean business as usual. Summer was rushing straight at them. Soon throngs of vacationers would fill Wildwind’s hotels. The boardwalk would come back to life with hungry beachgoers. They’d be ready with an assortment of treats served in cones, cups, or dipped in sprinkles.

  Once things settled back down, Lottie hopped back into action. It was time to open “Twisted Sisters Ice Cream” the following weekend. Sure, it was a week or so late, but having Carla free and clear made it the best delayed opening ever.

  In no time, lines of people made their way to the stand, filling Lottie’s cash register with crisp bills as Kitty stood waving customers in. She played her role as the Ice Cream Queen perfectly. There was something else, something different. She seemed almost humble, like a changed woman. Was it possible? Only time would tell if this new Kitty would stick around, but Gina and Lottie hoped so.

  THE END

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  About Me:

  Molly Dox is happily married and has two grown boys. Her husband, an insanely patient man, believed in her from the start. Crazy man didn’t know any better. She spends her time between writing and corralling her dogs in an attempt to get them to go outside at the same time. Sometimes writing books is easier. In her (cough) late forties, she’s enjoying her dream of writing full-time.

  My Website is Here.

  Other reads by Molly Dox. Please see the listings below.

  New in 2016 – Sage and Dash Cozy Mysteries – Full-Length Reads

  Some eggs aren't all they're cracked up to be. Scrambling for clues in the small town of Spring Valley, Molly and Libby look for answers when two men drop dead, one of them in their small country cafe. Can they save their business before it goes under? This soft-boiled cozy is a family-friendly read.

  Longer Standalone Reads:

 
Death of a Game Show Host

  Lily Ballantine was having a bad day. It started with losing her television game show job to a younger, fresher model. About to turn fifty, the news was a serious blow to her ego. When she didn’t think her day could get any worse, her co-host turned up dead.

  Determined to uncover the truth about who killed Patrick, Lily found herself tangled up with too many loose ends. Between death threats to her life and no murder suspect in sight, she was left with no one to trust and with nowhere to turn.

  Digging for clues was a delicate balancing act. She needed to be careful not to ruffle any feathers now that her own life was in jeopardy. Would she unravel the clues and finger the culprit? If she played her cards right, she might just find the killer.

  This cozy mystery is family friendly with no foul language, no blood, and no sex. This is a standalone book, and not part of a series.

  Pampered to Death

  A cozy mystery about a deadly calm day spa, perfect for a weekend read. (This book is not part of a series. It is a standalone read.)

  When Andrea and Jocelyn find a dead body floating in the jetted tub at work, they scramble to find answers. Can they unravel the mystery before the bad news kills the spa’s reputation?

  Jeanette Chadwick was filthy rich, successful, and strongly disliked. While she came to the spa for relaxation, she wasn’t expecting to be pampered to death! Could one of the spa employees have done the dirty deed? Andrea and Jocelyn are dying to crack the case before the spa is forced to close permanently.

  Nosing around, the girls find themselves in trouble and rethinking their original plans. Will they be the next victims?

  This is a standalone read, and is not part of a series. This book is family friend. It is a clean read with no blood, no sex, and no foul language.

  Short Stories:

  The Annie Addison Cozy Mystery Series (Complete series, Books 1-6)

  Annie Addison loves living on the New Jersey shore coastline, especially in the quiet off-season. Only this year, it’s hardly quiet. With madness and mayhem, Annie gets tangled in trouble and finds herself digging for clues to clear her name. With a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, she’s thrust into the mix on more than one occasion. This boxed set includes the complete Annie Addison Cozy Mystery Series, which offers a clean and family friendly read with no blood, no foul language, and no sex.

  Book 1 - Color Me Crazy

  Book 2 - A Tangled Mess

  Book 3 - High Anxiety Dye Job

  Book 4 - Shear Madness

  Book 5 - Bad Hair Day

  Book 6 - Santa’s Brush with Death

  Poppy Pepper’s Paradise Cove and Mini Golf – The Complete Series (Books 1-6)

  Poppy Pepper's world has been turned upside down. She runs a quiet retro camper resort that’s popular with retirees looking to get away from cold winters up north. As a one-time paramedic, Poppy misses the adrenaline rush of her previous job. Channeling her unused energy, she can't help but get herself involved in cases that come her way. Tangled in details, Poppy often finds herself faced with multiple suspects and not enough clues.

  Set in balmy Central Florida, this series of six short stories is perfect for a light weekend read. These cozy mysteries are family friendly. (No foul language, no blood, no sex) Each story follows Poppy on her trail to solving a crime.

  Book 1 – Sunbaked Snowbird

  Book 2 – Something Fishy

  Book 3 – Mice in Paradise

  Book 4 – Tourist Trapped

  Book5- Deadly Baggage

  Book 6 – Criminals on Vacation