Strawberry Cream Cupcake & Murder (A Dana Sweet Cozy Mystery Book 1)

by Ann S. Marie

  “Right?”

  “So, he must have used it to crush the pills into powder form to sprinkle on the cupcake. No one would even notice it on top of the icing. They’d mistake it for icing sugar.”

  “That’s true,” Katie agreed, wide-eyed.

  Truffles also purred in agreement it would seem. Dana smiled warmly and stroked Truffles ginger fluffy fur. Oh, how she loved her furry little friend. If all else turned on her, Dana could be sure that Truffles would be loyal to her to the end, just as she’d done with her own grandmother.

  In fact, it was Truffles who had clawed at the door of the neighbor to let them know that something was wrong with Grandma Rae that fateful day. That was how they’d found her.

  Dana swallowed hard.

  But it was back to the present now. She had to at least make sure that her nana’s memory would be preserved the way it should be. Her nana’s beloved café and her motivational words she always shared with her wonderful customers must live on and not be tarnished by this strange and bizarre murder involving one of their own prized cupcakes.

  “Then there was that odd scene at the funeral home.”

  “I know. Tell me about it. Imagine being thrown out of a memorial service which seemed comical at first since everyone seemed relieved he was gone.”

  “That’s just it,” Dana agreed. “Even Bianca and her mother?”

  “Come again?”

  Dana explained to Katie what she’d overheard earlier.

  “What secret could they possibly mean? Do you think they might have had something to do with it?”

  “Could be. But I’m not going to just idly sit by while my fate is decided by a cop who seems bent on pinning this on me. I don’t really trust Detective Troy, especially after he appeared after that note was found on my porch. My future is at stake here. And so is Nana’s legacy. Not to mention the grand opening which has to be postponed yet again. Another postponement and we might not be able to pay our suppliers in time.”

  Katie sunk in her seat by the fireplace. “That would so not be good.”

  “I know. Tell me about it?”

  “So Sherlock,” Katie perked up a bit. “Did you find anything out on the internet?”

  “Not yet. I’m just keying in some key words. Well, there’s his real name, Bradley-Jo Farmer. I think that’s what detective Evan called him.”

  “Right, let’s check that out then.”

  Dana tapped away on her keypad. “And I’m also going to look into this advertising manager, Sam. I mean, he blatantly lied about my appointment with him.”

  “That’s true! How bizarre was that?”

  “I know. What on earth was that about? It was as if someone’s trying to cover up something for someone.”

  Yes, Dana really wanted to know. Was there a dark secret in this little old town that everyone wanted to be sure it remained covered up?

  Chapter 11

  Dana slugged her backpack in the back seat of her car and then moved over to the front. She had everything planned for her short day trip to Connecticut. She had her ears pressed to her cell phone taking to Uncle Merv.

  “So what is this about the ad manager, Uncle?”

  “Well, I did some checking up on him and it turns out that his girlfriend Tria was dating Brad at one time.”

  Dana rolled her eyes and shook her head. Was this Brad guy dating everyone in the town?

  “And well,” Uncle Merv continued, “he’d really broken her heart. Now Sam really thought that his beloved Tria had something to do with killing Brad.”

  “I see,” Dana said, thoughtfully. “So he was covering up for her just in case by trying to pin this one on me or to bring suspicion to me?”

  “Oh, pumpkin. Sam apologized this morning. He’s going to be speaking with you later. He panicked at the time the cops came to him that day. He really does like you but it’s as your auntie said before. You’re pretty much a new face in this town and well, no one liked Brad, not one bit. He not only screwed a lot of townsfolk over but he made sure, being an investigative journalist turned reviewer, that he dug up stuff on people that he could later use or at best make up stuff that seemed real enough just to hurt their reputation.”

  “Wow, Brad sounded like quite a charmer. They should really name the town after him in his honor.”

  Uncle Merv said, “That’s the spirit girl. Keep up your humor no matter what.”

  Dana smiled warmly. Uncle Merv and Auntie Nia had always had her back and been in her corner and for that she greatly appreciated.

  But now, she had more work to do. So that took Sam, the ad manager at the Gazette off her list—for now anyway.

  She was going to update her MacBook later. Mac was like her other friend. She could always tell him her secrets and pour her heart out to him and he would record everything for her.

  How pitiful was that?

  A sleek smooth metal laptop and a furry four-legged creature were her closest friends, not counting her family, of course.

  But as Dana recalled, Grandma Rae said it’s good to have at least one good trusted friend and she was thankful, every day counting her blessings, that she had more than three. Grandma Rae had been her everything but now she had Aunt Petunia, Uncle Merv, Katie, Truffles and Mac. Five good friends.

  And she had a feeling she would be needing all of them to help her crack the case wide open to get the cops off her back and get the café back on its feet.

  “This had better work,” Katie said to her while seeing her off.

  “I hope so, Katie. I really do.”

  Just then, she noticed that her tires were flat.

  “How weird is that?” Dana stooped down to take a look. She knew she had pumped a whole lot of air into them when she first came back to Berry Cove and she really hadn’t driven her car much since then. Everything was a nice walk in the town. She had little use for her car. She enjoyed the beautiful walking trails and the close proximity to the Town Square.

  “What is it?” Katie called out.

  “The tires,” Dana said casually.

  “What about ‘em?”

  “Oh, nothing. Except they’ve all been slashed!”

  Katie’s jaw fell open.

  * * *

  “Now let me get this straight,” Detective Troy said to Dana at the police station. He leaned back in his chair in his glass office.

  Dana noticed that he was rubbing the back of his head. Hmm, could he have possibly been in her garden at night the other night?

  Did Troy have a concussion or a bump? If she could have gotten close to him, she would have liked to find out for herself.

  “You believe that someone tried to cut your tires with a knife?” Detective Troy continued bumping Dana out of her daydream.

  If Dana read correctly, one would think he viewed her liked some busy-body trouble maker who also seemed to stir up extra unnecessary work for him and his poor already overworked colleagues.

  “Not tried to cut, Detective.” Dana sighed. “They succeeded.”

  “Okay, we’ll get one of the boys to go and look into it for you.”

  “Thank you.” Dana paused. “They won’t be coming now, right?”

  “Well, our workload is quite busy right now.”

  “Right. Well, thank you anyway,” she said.

  “Now, don’t just thank me yet.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Now it’s my understanding that you’ve been trying to investigate this murder case at the Gazette.” His voice was cool and stern and his lovely blue eyes penetrated her like a laser.

  Dana swallowed self-consciously. She almost never got self-conscious around a cute guy—not like this before anyway.

  “Well, not exactly.”

  “Just what exactly?” Detective Troy asked impatiently

  “Just...well, I don’t mean to sound paranoid or anything, but I believe someone is out to frame me for the murder of Brad at the Gazette.”

  “You’re right. You do sound parano
id, Ms. Sweet.”

  Well, so much for friendly assistance around there. They could use a few good tips on customer service in her humble opinion. If they were aiming for the making-others-feel-secured feeling, they’d failed miserably.

  “Well, thanks for your support.” Dana couldn’t help but show her disappointment.

  Detective Evan came out of his office next door. “Is everything okay, here?”

  Dana noticed Detective Troy shifted uncomfortably in his seat. As if he didn’t want Evan there. How odd?

  “Everything’s good here. I’ve got it covered.”

  “Well, I hope so.” Evan nodded to Dana. “You okay, Ms. Sweet?”

  “Yes, could be better though. I was just telling Detective Troy here that someone had slashed my tires.”

  “Oh, we need to get one of our guys on it to do a report then.”

  “We’re swamped right now, Evan. Or haven’t you noticed?” Troy arched his brow.

  Dana thought it was odd, the interaction between the two. She always assumed cops who were partners worked together as a team and got along together.

  “Yes, I have noticed. But we can never be too busy to help a lady in distress. As a matter of fact, I’m on my break now. I’ll go and check it out for you, Ms. Sweet.”

  Dana’s face lit up. “You will?”

  “Sure. I take it you’ll need a ride back then?” He offered his arm.

  Dana couldn’t resist and was very grateful that at least somebody was on her side.

  “You’ll have to forgive my partner, ma’am,” Evan said as he drove Dana back to the Victorian in his cruiser. “He’s a little overworked like the rest of us.”

  “But you seem so different. I’m sure you’re just as overworked as he is.”

  “Well, Troy’s a nice guy, too. He’s just...well, he’s got a lot on his mind. That’s all.”

  “Well, I appreciate it all the same.”

  Later, Dana watched as Evan observed the tires. He took some notes and had the team take pictures.

  “Right, we’ll get this looked into and see if this is a pattern.”

  “A pattern?”

  “Yes. It’s quite unusual for a small town like this where everyone knows each other, but just in case, we’ll keep this one on file in case the assailant strikes again. You need to contact your insurance company and let them know you filed a report with the police.”

  “Right, of course,” Dana said, unconvincingly. She really felt that it was more of an isolated targeted attack but the last thing she wanted to sound was paranoid, yet again. So she’d keep her suspicions to herself for now.

  “Hey, I’m going in to the Tavern at the Town Square for a bite to eat. Would you like to join me?”

  Dana was stunned beyond words, but at the same time flattered. “Well, I would like to but I don’t think it’s a good idea right now.”

  “Why not?”

  “I’m a little busy right now.”

  “Too busy to eat?” He cocked a brow.

  She smiled. Her stomach rumbled like thunder just now, it was so loud she was sure that everyone from a mile radius could hear it.

  What’s the big deal about grabbing a bite to eat? Two people sharing a meal. Nothing to it, right?

  He couldn’t possibly get any wrong ideas? Besides, she was starving and hadn’t prepared anything at home as yet. She had been planning to grab something on her little road trip which was now cancelled. Which reminded her, she would have to just see if she could make a few calls instead and rely on whatever material she could online.

  “You know what? Sure. I’ll grab a quick bite,” Dana said after a little thought. “Thank you for the offer.”

  “Nothing to it.”

  Later, at the Tavern, the dim lights created such a relaxing mood, but Dana kept telling herself she was not on a date. Just sitting down with a cop for a bite to eat.

  She was glad that Gerdie-Sue wasn’t anywhere near by or else talk would travel around town like gossip on the grapevine.

  “So what made you decide to become a cop?” Dana asked as she sipped her strawberry daiquiri drink with the large straw.

  “Oh, I’ve always enjoyed helping people, I guess.”

  “That’s very noble of you. It’s good that you found a job at the local police department.”

  Evan placed his drink down. “Well, I’m very thankful for sure. I work part time though.”

  “Only part time?”

  “Yes, I also do security gigs from time to time. Like helping companies.”

  “Sounds cool. Couldn’t the department offer you full time?”

  “Nothing like that in a small town like Berry Cove. Even the mayor moonlights in his business.”

  “I see. I thought that would be conflict of interest though. This really is different from New York.”

  He tilted his head back and laughed heartily. “Yes, I would say so for sure.”

  She smiled.

  A more serious expression slid across his handsome face soon after. “On a more serious note, Dana. I just want you to know that I believe in you.”

  “You do?”

  “Yes, I do.” He looked around surreptitiously. “I know I probably shouldn’t be telling you this but I went through the surveillance tapes at the Gazette. Didn’t see much but we know for sure that you were no where near there at the time of Brad’s murder.”

  “Well, thank God for that. But why does your partner look at me with such suspicion?”

  “Well, you know how things work, anyone can pay someone to do a job for them.”

  “Oh, really now? You don’t really believe that, do you? I’m not sure what the heck a hit man even charges but one peek at my bank account would tell you, that wouldn’t be in my budget.” She took another sip of her drink.

  He smiled. “I guess not.”

  The music started to play and Detective Evan thought it would be a good idea not to hide in a corner lest anyone thinks they are hiding away from the crowd. But they sat off to the side.

  “And what brings you back here?” he probed gently. “Other than the obvious.”

  “Well, you know about my grandmother.”

  “Yes, I do. I think it’s noble that you wanted to help keep the café open. She was a really sweet lady.”

  “Thank you. It’s the least I could do really. I mean, my parents were killed in a crash and she’d raised me ever since. My aunt Petunia is from my dad’s side and Grandma Rae is from my mom’s side but they took turns and helped me through it all. ”

  Evan’s eyes cast over with sadness. “I’m truly sorry about your loss. I know what that’s like.”

  “You do?”

  “I do. I lost my mother when I was born.”

  “Oh, Evan. I’m so sorry to hear that.”

  “Thank you. Then my Dad raised me, just like your nana. He did everything for me then...well, he died when I was in my teens. So I know how hard it can be to lose a parent or two. I can’t imagine both at the same time, though.”

  “I know. It’s not easy.” Dana felt a strong connection to him. She’d misjudged him, she supposed.

  “I hope you stick around after you get it up and running again. It’s good to have a friend who shares the same sort of life experiences.”

  She gushed. “Same here.”

  If only it were that easy to make a friend with his pit bull of a detective partner, Troy. If only.

  Chapter 12

  “You went on a date with the detective?” Katie’s jaw fell open later that evening.

  “Not exactly a date. Just...well, a friendly bite to eat.”

  Dana couldn’t wait to tell Katie about the findings.

  “That’s great. So you’re in the clear then?”

  “Not quite.”

  “What do you mean not quite? You weren’t seen around there at the time of the murder.”

  “True. But Detective Troy thinks I could possibly have paid someone to do it and then later went by to make sure it was
done.”

  “What? How could they even think that?”

  “Stranger things have happened, I suppose.” Dana paused in thought. “Well, Uncle Merv and Auntie Nia will be here soon to help us with raking the leaves, so I’d better get going. I think it’s so sweet of them. Though I can do it on my own.”

  “Oh, that’s mom and dad for you. They really don’t mind, It’s another form of exercise for them, really. They enjoy it. Besides, they’ve been helping your grandma with yard duty while you were in New York. Why change now?”

  “That’s true, I suppose. You see, I really like this.” Dana hugged her mug of coffee to her as she sat around the kitchen table with Katie.

  “You really like what?”

  “This. The simple life. Everyone helping each other out. Everyone makes time. It’s like times slows down nicely out here so you that you savor the taste of the moment, enjoy the closeness with nature and the beautiful surroundings and friendly neighbors.”

  “Wow, you almost sound like an advertisement for the country life. You should consult the town hall to rewrite some of their tourist brochures.”

  Dana laughed. “Sorry, I guess it’s the former copywriter in me. Can’t help it.”

  “No worries. It’s beautiful. You seem to sum it up all right. Life is a lot different here than in the big city for sure. Been there once, wouldn’t want to go back to living there though.”

  “Oh, right. I remember, you moved to uni in the big city.”

  “That’s right. It was fun and everything while it lasted. But I really couldn’t wait to come back to small town hospitality where everyone knew you and looked out for you.

  Dana thought about that for a moment. It was good that the town was close-knit. Yes, they looked out for each other but was that what happened then when Brad was killed?

  Was somebody looking out for the girls in the town? A vigilante perhaps?

  Dana shook the thought out of her head and finished sipping her coffee.

  Just then she heard the key turn in the lock after a quick knock. Even though her aunt and uncle had the key they always warned her before just opening the door which was sweet of them. Not that she’d be up to anything private in there or roaming around in her birthday suit or anything.