Daisy McDare And The Deadly Rock Star Affair (Cozy Mystery) (Daisy McDare Cozy Creek Mystery Book 5)

by K. M. Morgan

Addison grabbed the cupcake, unwrapped it, and took a bite.

  “So, again—do you want to tell me what just happened?” Daisy asked.

  “Are you sure you want to know the answer to that?” Addison replied.

  Daisy was leery. “I don’t really know. I guess I’ll take my chances.”

  “Alright, but you asked for it. Where do you want me to start?”

  “How about, what’s wrong with Blaze’s wife?”

  “Ex-wife or current wife?” Addison replied.

  “Both.”

  “His ex-wife has a serious axe to grind.”

  “There’s an understatement.”

  “Blaze was her first love. They got married, had a kid, and built a whole life together. Then about fifteen years ago, Vikki caught Blaze cheating on her with their nanny,” Addison explained.

  Daisy winced. “Ouch.”

  “It’s safe to say Vikki hasn’t gotten over that, even after taking half his money in divorce court.”

  “I don’t think I’d be over it if I caught my husband cheating with our nanny,” Daisy admitted.

  “I’d be downright homicidal,” Addison added.

  “What about Olivia?”

  “Do you mean, why is she always three sheets to the wind?”

  Daisy nodded. “That, and why is she so paranoid?”

  “She’s convinced that Blaze is cheating on her.”

  “Is he?”

  “Even though he’s over the hill, the man still think of himself as a rock star, so what do you think?” Addison replied.

  Daisy sighed. “No wonder she hits the bottle so hard.”

  “The problem is, Olivia has it in her mind that I’m the one Blaze is cheating on her with.”

  Daisy’s skin started to crawl. “Eww.”

  “I know, right? After the way he’s treated me, there are a lot of things I’d like to do to Blaze, but sleeping with him is not one of them. Don’t try convincing Olivia of that though.”

  Daisy grabbed another cupcake from her purse. “It sounds like you could use my back up emergency stress cupcake.”

  “Do you always keep two cupcakes in your purse?”

  “You never know when they’ll come in handy.”

  Addison politely declined. “No thanks.”

  “I thought you said only a fool would turn down a cupcake.”

  “Are you kidding? If I had a cupcake every time I was stressed out on this job, I’d eat myself into an early grave.”

  “I’m sorry things are so dysfunctional around here.”

  Addison sighed. “You haven’t even met the rest of the family.”

  Daisy could only imagine what other skeletons were in the Billick family closet. She was in no mood to take a tour of that house of horrors however. She just wanted the rest of the evening to go smoothly, then head back to Addison’s apartment, and try to reboot the weekend in the morning.

  ***

  Daisy did not get her wish. Addison was given just enough time to catch her breath before Blaze approached with fire in his eyes. It was clear the fireworks were far from over.

  “I need you to make sure Olivia doesn’t have any more outbursts,” Blaze demanded.

  “You want me to babysit your wife?” Addison asked.

  “I wouldn’t say it in those terms,” Blaze replied.

  “What terms would you say it?”

  Blaze was in no mood to quibble over details. “Just make sure she doesn’t have any more outbursts. I don’t want her ruining my big night.”

  Addison became resigned to her fate and sighed. “Yes sir.”

  Addison and Daisy then began to move off towards Olivia in the corner of the banquet hall when Blaze stopped them.

  “By the way, have you seen Mason?” Blaze asked.

  Steele Stringer then approached and cut into the conversation. “I have. And I’m not liking what I’m seeing.”

  Blaze tensed up. His blood started to boil. Steam was practically coming out of his ears.

  Daisy couldn’t believe how much hatred Blaze had for Steele. Blaze’s body language was undeniable however. Daisy instinctively took a step back while Blaze went toe to toe with his former bandmate.

  Blaze and Steele had more than just a falling out. So often when bands broke up, their publicist would release a statement saying the breakup was amicable. It would imply that they parted on good terms and that the members didn’t hate each other’s guts. That was not the case with Blazing Inferno. Their band went down in flames, and each of the members was sure to pour gasoline on the fire on their way out.

  As Daisy watched Blaze and Steele glaring at each other, it was clear time didn’t heal all wounds. There they were, two and a half decades later, still hating each other as much as ever. It turned out they had more in common than they wanted to admit. Both had failed solo music careers after the breakup, both were considered to be nothing more than washed up has been’s, and both had aged poorly.

  Steele Stringer looked especially worse for wear. It was a shame too, because he had been so attractive when he was in his twenties. Over the decades, his looks went completely out the window. Despite that, he was clearly trying to hold onto those glory days. He still had long, curly brown hair and a full scraggily beard, but both were nearly gray. He was also wearing the kind of outfit that only a rock star could attempt to pull off.

  The problem was, leather pants didn’t look flattering on men in their mid-fifties. His frilly shirt was no better—it looked like he’d just stolen it from a Caribbean pirate. Daisy couldn’t believe what she was seeing. It was as if Steele never gazed in the mirror and saw how ridiculous he looked.

  While Daisy was caught up with the fashion disaster in front of her, Blaze and Steele looked ready to strangle each other.

  “Are you here to gloat about the phantom comeback album that you’ve been supposedly working on for the last ten years? Because everyone knows it’s just a myth, and I’m tired of hearing about it,” Blaze said.

  “Not only is it real, but I’m going to be playing the first single from it tonight after I get my award,” Steele explained.

  Blaze scoffed. “I’ll believe it when I hear it.”

  Steele smirked. “Prepare to be jealous. That isn’t why I came over here though.”

  “Oh yeah? Then to what do I owe the displeasure of your company?”

  “I’m here to talk to you about my daughter—and your son.”

  “What about them?”

  “You haven’t heard? They just got engaged.”

  Blaze was equal parts outraged and in shock. He muttered angrily to himself. “I told Mason to stop seeing Gwen.”

  “Apparently you didn’t say it forcefully enough.”

  “Don’t tell me how to raise my son,” Blaze fired back

  “I’m going to do whatever I please, especially when it concerns my daughter. Let me tell you something, I’m not going to stand for this. I’d rather go to an early grave than have you as an in-law,” Steele barked.

  Blaze scowled back. “Trust me, the feeling is mutual.”

  “I’m warning you, if you don’t put an end to this, I will,” Steele said.

  Just as things seemed like they couldn’t get more heated, Steele’s wife Lillian Stringer approached and came between them.

  “Come on fellas, when are you two going to learn to bury the hatchet?” Lillian asked.

  Both Blaze and Steele looked like they wanted to bury a hatchet in each other’s backs.

  As Daisy watched the altercation unfold, she became intrigued by Lillian’s presence. When Lillian spoke, both men turned to her with affection in their eyes. If Blaze was trying to hide his attraction to Lillian, he was sure doing an awful job of it.

  Daisy could spot it as clear as day. Although Daisy could see why Blaze would be attracted to Steele’s wife. Lillian was in her early fifties, but had taken care of her skin, face, and body. She could easily pass for ten years younger. Like all the women Daisy had seen Blaze talk to that n
ight, Lillian had long blonde hair.

  Steele briefly turned his glare away from Blaze to address his wife.

  “Stay out of this Lillian,” Steele insisted.

  Blaze didn’t like the tone Steele was taking with Lillian. He spoke up.

  “Shouldn’t talk to your wife that way,” Blaze said.

  Steele shot Blaze another glare.

  “Did I ask you your opinion?”

  Blaze didn’t back down. “You don’t have to.”

  Steele smirked. “I don’t know who you think you’re fooling, but it’s not me.”

  Blaze played dumb. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Go ahead, gaze at my wife all you want. That’s all you’ll ever be able to do though. You blew your shot with her long ago. Lillian’s mine,” Steele said.

  To add an exclamation mark to his point, Steele then pulled his wife in close and gave her a deep kiss.

  Blaze tried to hide how uncomfortable he was watching Steele and Lillian embrace. Steele then pulled back from the kiss and went to make an exit.

  “Delicious. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have an award to accept,” Steele said.

  Chapter Eight

  If there wasn’t already enough drama for one night, the Billick family was in for more. After the confrontation between Blaze and Steele, Daisy decided to retreat and check up on her cousin. Addison had the unenviable job of having to babysit a highly intoxicated Olivia Billick.

  Shortly after joining Addison, Daisy heard Blaze’s distinct voice once again. Oh no, what now? Luckily, this time Blaze wasn’t interested in giving orders to Addison. Instead, Blaze approached his son Mason Billick, who was busy dancing with his new fiancé Gwen Stringer.

  Blaze didn’t care that his son was in the middle of a dance. He had a fire in his eyes that wouldn’t be denied. He pulled Mason aside and got ready to give him a tongue-lashing. Gwen Stringer meanwhile stood on the dancefloor, glaring at Blaze the whole time.

  Daisy was happy she was a safe distance away from the scene. It was clear sparks were about to fly.

  Mason Billick was in his mid-twenties. He very much took after his father—long hair, beard, and temper included. His dad may have been the rock star, but Mason sure liked dressing the part of a rocker. There was an arrogance to Mason, a bravado, the kind of entitlement that came from growing up rich and being told yes his whole life. Only, Mason was about to be told no in a big way.

  “You have a lot of nerve,” Blaze said.

  Mason looked at his father with disgust. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m going to talk some sense into you.”

  “About what?”

  Blaze laid down the gauntlet. “You’re not marrying Gwen Stringer.”

  Mason scoffed. “What are you going to do, stop me?”

  Blaze nodded. “That’s exactly what I’m going to do.”

  Mason didn’t back down. “I’m twenty-five years old. I can make my own decisions.”

  “Yeah, bad decisions. You’re a fool.”

  “Why, because I fell in love? You should be happy for me.”

  “I warned you not to date that woman.”

  “This is my life.”

  Blaze wasn’t done airing his grievances. “I can’t believe you. There are billions of women in the world, and you just had to date the daughter of my biggest rival.”

  “You know what they say—love is blind.”

  Blaze shook his head. “I can see right through you. I know your game.”

  Mason fired back. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You’re only dating Gwen to spite me.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  Blaze continued. “You’ve never forgiven me for leaving your mother. You hate that I’m married to Olivia. You’ve been trying to get back at me for years, and you finally found your chance. You knew nothing would get under my skin more than seeing you dating Steele Stringer’s daughter.”

  Mason was defiant. “You’re wrong. I love Gwen.”

  “Oh yeah? Do you love her enough to give up your inheritance for her?”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “If you marry Gwen Stringer, you’re out of my will.”

  Mason narrowed his eyes. “Are you serious?”

  Blaze nodded. “As a heart attack. One call to my lawyer and it’s done. So, are you ready to drop your ruse? Is pretending to be in love with Gwen worth giving up your inheritance for?”

  Throughout the argument, Mason’s fiancé Gwen Stringer had inched closer to eavesdrop on the conversation. This latest revelation was enough to send her over the edge. She cut in.

  “Is that true Mason? Are you only with me to get back at your father?” Gwen asked.

  Mason tensed up. He had no idea Gwen was listening in on the conversation. As he turned around, he immediately went into damage control mode.

  “Gwen, you know I love you,” Mason said.

  As Gwen looked into Mason’s eyes however, she wasn’t so sure. Suddenly, a vast mix of emotions overcame her. She was confused, angry, and sad. As tears started to form in her eyes, she dashed away.

  “Gwen, where are you going?” Mason added.

  “I can’t be here right now,” Gwen said.

  Mason quickly turned back to his father and shot him a glare. “This isn’t over.”

  Mason then darted into the crowd after Gwen.

  Chapter Nine

  By that point, both Daisy and Addison couldn’t wait for the night to be over. Amazingly enough, all the drama proved to be just an opening act. The real show was about to begin. True to his word, Steele Stringer had more on tap for the evening than just accepting his Achievement Award. He really did have a new single to perform.

  Blaze Billick had heard Steele drone on about his so-called comeback album for years. He always dismissed it. To Blaze, it was nothing more than a myth. As Steele started singing the first verse of his new single however, there was no denying how wrong Blaze had been.

  Not only was Steele’s comeback album real, the first single was good—enviably good. It was melodic, lyrically-tight, and had a catchy chorus. When Steele began singing, Blaze secretly hoped that the song would be a stinker. That Steele would prove to past his musical prime. He was anything but.

  The one thing Blaze couldn’t stand in life was to be shown up by his rival. Everything was a competition to him. Not only that, he was determined to come out on top. Blaze quietly seethed as the gala attendees gave Steele a rousing round of applause.

  Blaze scrambled to come up with a plan. The rivalry between him and Steele was suddenly burning hotter than ever. Blaze refused to let himself be upstaged. At the same time, he hadn’t planned on performing tonight. He just expected to collect his achievement award, soak up the applause, and head home with his ego fatter than ever.

  Now he found himself in full panic mode. He’d been working on a comeback album of his own, but he only had little kernels of songs—none of which were completely finished, nor were any of them as good as the single Steele just performed.

  Still, he had to come up with something. Then, in a moment of pure desperation, an idea came to him.

  ***

  With Blaze’s wife Olivia Billick finally calmed down, Daisy and Addison were able to take a breather in the crowd.

  Daisy lobbed a wisecrack at Addison to try and the lighten the mood. “I have to say, you live a really boring life.”

  Addison smiled and played along. “Stress free too.”

  Daisy kept up the charade. “I’ll bet you wouldn’t want it any other way.”

  Addison then became too exhausted to joke around anymore. She exhaled. “At least the night is almost over.”

  It was then that Blaze stepped up to the microphone and said some fateful words. “Thanks again for this wonderful award. I’m so touched that you still all love my music after all these years. I have to admit, I was really surprised when I got the call telling me I would be receiving
an award. Now I’m the one with a surprise for you. Earlier, my old bandmate Steele Stringer premiered his latest single on this stage. I am happy to tell you, he’s not the only one with new some new music to share. I have a single of my own. This new one is called ‘Incomparable Love.’”

  Addison McDare’s ears immediately perked up. She stared intently at the stage. She had a look of sheer disbelief on her face.

  “No, this can’t be happening,” Addison muttered, to herself.

  Daisy was confused. “Addison, what’s going on?”

  Meanwhile, on stage, Blaze launched into the song. It was melodic, just like Steele’s song had been earlier. Only this song had an even catchier chorus. The gala attendees were loving it. The song had more than just a good beat however. The lyrics were very raw. It was an emotional song about love.

  “This song is amazing,” Daisy thought.

  Surprisingly, she didn’t get a response from her cousin. As Daisy looked around at the crowd, it seemed like everyone loved the song. That was, except Addison. Daisy’s cousin was glaring at Blaze like never before. Daisy had never seen her more angry.

  “What’s the matter, don’t you like this song?” Daisy asked.

  “Of course I like this song. I wrote it,” Addison revealed.

  “Wait a minute, are you saying--”

  Addison was so angry she didn’t let Daisy finish her question. “That good for nothing scumbag stole this song from my demo reel and is taking credit for it.”

  “Are you serious?”

  Addison nodded. “Dead serious.”

  Daisy didn’t think her opinion of Blaze could get any lower. She was wrong. Blaze had reached all new levels of sleezedom. Daisy could see why her cousin was so upset. If that had happened to Daisy, she’d be apoplectic.

  “You can’t let him get away with this,” Daisy insisted.

  “I don’t intend to. Trust me, Blaze has no idea what’s coming,” Addison said.

  Chapter Ten

  When Blaze finished performing the song, he got the biggest round of applause he’d received in decades. It gave him a wild rush—one he thought he’d never come down from. Then he saw Addison darting his way looking ready to breathe fire.