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

by K. M. Morgan

“It’s funny. Yesterday at this time you must have felt like you were sitting pretty. You were engaged, with a fat inheritance to look forward to. Now here you are with your relationship in tatters and your inheritance pointing to a motive for murder.”

  “I don’t have to talk to you.”

  “What’s the matter? Are you afraid of what you might say? Are you worried the truth might come out?” Daisy asked.

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Mason insisted.

  “I’m all ears. Tell me what really happened last night.”

  “I already told the police.”

  “Do you know what the great irony is? Your father chose his Lifetime Achievement Award Gala to point out how quickly the thing you’d achieved in your life could be taken away.”

  Mason was slowly but surely becoming unhinged. “I don’t know what you’re trying to pull, but you can’t just come in here and start up trouble.”

  Daisy kept on him. “In your dad’s mind, you had to choose between Option A or B—your relationship or your inheritance. He didn’t count on you coming up with an Option C. The problem is, you can only push someone so far before they push back. Desperate times call for desperate measures. The question is, were you desperate enough to murder your father?”

  Mason clenched his fist. He narrowed his eyes at her, looking ready to blow his top. “You’re messing with the wrong person.”

  Daisy stepped back. She worried that she’d underestimated his temper. Fear suddenly coursed through her body. This time, she grabbed the bottle of pepper spray from her purse.

  Maybe she wouldn’t need it after all. Mason’s rage had drawn the attention of both the barfly’s and the burly bartender Anthony.

  “You’d best watch yourself. That’s no way to talk to a lady,” Anthony warned.

  Mason then made his way to the door. “I’m out of here.”

  Daisy fired one last shot first. “I just want the truth.”

  “It’s none of your business. I’m warning you, stay away from me.”

  Mason then left the bar.

  Daisy meanwhile started to breathe in and out and took a moment to calm herself down.

  One of the barfly’s then threw out a comment about Mason from the peanut gallery. “What a lowlife scumbag.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Questioning suspects was never easy, but did they all have to be that hard? Daisy had to remind herself it was all for her cousin’s sake. Addison was depending on her. Daisy had to stay strong.

  Luckily, Gwen Stringer was next on the list. Daisy didn’t anticipate any fists being clenched this time. Besides, Daisy was approaching Gwen in her own business. Gwen certainly wouldn’t want to cause a scene with customers around.

  The minute Daisy entered the sweet shop, her senses were delighted. Suddenly she realized what she’d been missing all day—a cupcake. It made her mouth water just thinking about one. At the same time, it also made her wish she was back in Cozy Creek, joking and gossiping with Samantha and Granny Annie. When this investigation was over, she would do just that. In the meantime, she put her sleuthing aside for a second to indulge in a snack.

  Surprisingly, it was Gwen Stringer who welcomed Daisy to the shop with a smile.

  “Can I help you?” Gwen asked.

  “I hope so. I’m looking for something tasty,” Daisy replied.

  “Then you’ve come to the right place.”

  “We’ll see about that.”

  “That sounds like a challenge,” Gwen said.

  “I don’t back down,” Daisy answered.

  “Tenacity. I like it. It always pays off. So, what can I get for you?” Gwen asked.

  “What do you recommend?” Daisy replied.

  “My double fudge cupcake.”

  That not only happened to be Daisy’s favorite kind, it also happened to be the best dessert Samantha Johnson made at Sweet Tooth back home. Gwen didn’t realize it, but this cupcake came with lofty expectations.

  Unfortunately, after taking one bite, Daisy realized Gwen’s cupcake didn’t measure up. Not even close.

  Gwen eagerly awaited Daisy’s opinion.

  “So, what do you think?” Gwen asked.

  Daisy could go two ways with her answer. She could either tell the truth, or lie and tell Gwen what she wanted to hear. Daisy had come across nothing but bitter resistance all day. Maybe it was time to try a different tact. Perhaps greasing the wheels a little would yield some unexpected spoils.

  Daisy slapped on a fake smile.

  Gwen ate it right up. “Out of this world, right? It’s good you were tenacious.”

  Gwen had just given Daisy the perfect opening.

  “Do you know that from experience?” Daisy wondered.

  “As a matter of fact, I do.”

  “In all areas of your life?”

  Gwen looked confused. “I’m sorry. I’m not sure what you’re getting at.”

  “It’s just, my experience is a little different. Take for example relationships. I dated this guy once. I did everything for him—I loved him, took care of him, and was there for him in every way. Yet it still wasn’t enough.”

  Gwen’s enthusiasm tempered the more Daisy kept talking.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Gwen replied.

  “Do you have any experience with that?”

  Gwen got visibly uncomfortable. She began to squirm.

  Daisy followed up. “I take that as a yes.”

  Gwen composed herself. “It’s my belief that you can’t let anything keep you down.”

  Enough buttering Gwen up with softball questions. It was time to get to the meat of the matter. Ad Daisy had noticed that the other customers had left, so she was alone with Gwen.

  “Even in the face of a murder investigation?” Daisy asked.

  Gwen was taken completely off guard.

  “It must be so difficult busting your behind off, building up your own business, trying to carve a name out for yourself, only to see Mason blissfully living in his father’s shadow and sucking off his money,” Daisy said.

  “I don’t know where that came from, but that’s none of your business.”

  “Of course that isn’t nearly as bad as finding out your boyfriend doesn’t love you—at least not as much as the prospect of losing his inheritance. It’s a shame too. I can tell you really love Mason. That’s why it must have stung so much to find out the truth. You’ve been living in a bubble this whole time, haven’t you?” Daisy stared at Gwen’s face.

  Gwen started to really get emotional. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave. I have business to attend to.”

  Daisy pressed on. “Blaze Billick popped that bubble last night, whether you believe it or not. As a matter of fact, I still think you’re in denial about that. That’s why you’re here at work today, to keep up appearances, pretend everything is business as usual. But really, everything has changed.”

  “Stop it.”

  “A funny thing happens when a woman is in love. She’ll do anything to make things work. Including taking matters into your own hands. It’s like you said, tenacity always pays off.”

  Gwen huffed. “You’re accusing me of murder?”

  “There’s no denying that having Blaze out of the picture would pay off in a big way. Mason would still have his inheritance and you’d get to marry the love of your life.”

  “I want you out of here, and don’t ever come back.”

  “You can throw me out all you like, but you can’t hide from the truth.”

  “I didn’t kill him.”

  Daisy stared Gwen down.

  “Now get out,” Gwen insisted.

  Daisy walked out the door and turned around to ask one more question. But Gwen locked the door behind her and turned the “Open” sign to “Closed.”

  Daisy was hoping to not have another door shut in her face. Apparently, she’d have to wait another day for that.

  Chapter Twenty

  At that moment, what Daisy needed m
ost was a quiet moment to process all that had happened today. Unfortunately, as she walked back to her car, she found Detective Stickler waiting for her.

  “I’ve heard you’ve been busy making enemies,” Stickler said.

  “Like who?” Daisy replied.

  “As far as I can tell, I could ask any of the suspects in this case, and they’d all have a bone to pick with you.”

  “I’m not here to make friends.”

  “Clearly.”

  “I’m here to crack this case,” Daisy insisted.

  “Therein lies the problem. I’m the one with a badge around here. You’re just a civilian,” Detective Stickler explained.

  “Trust me, there are tons of things I’d rather be doing right now.”

  “Then leave this case to the professionals.”

  “If you hadn’t named my cousin as a suspect, we’d be relaxing by the lake right now.”

  “I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t consider your cousin as the prime suspect in this case.”

  “Trust me, there are plenty of other suspects,” Daisy said.

  “You’re just determined to make trouble for me, aren’t you?” Detective Stickler asked.

  “I just need to find out the truth.”

  “That’s the excuse you always use with Chris Crumple, isn’t it?”

  Daisy was taken back. “How did you--”

  “I’m a detective. It’s my job to find things out,” Detective Stickler insisted.

  “What did he have to say?”

  “That for some unknown reason, you’ve poked your nose into far too many investigations.”

  Daisy stood there gulping.

  “And that you prefer cupcakes to donuts,” Stickler continued.

  “Guilty as charged.”

  “He also mentioned that you’ve helped him out some in the past.”

  “I’ve saved his backside is more like it. But the point is, Crumple can vouch for me,” Daisy said.

  “He can. I can’t. The fact is, Detective Crumple sounded rather bumbling. I meanwhile am a stickler for facts.”

  “Just what facts do you have to incriminate my cousin?”

  “I’m not discussing the case with an interior decorator.”

  “I know you meant that as an insult, but I’m just as good at décor as detective work,” Daisy insisted. “The fact is, I know you don’t have any physical evidence on my cousin.”

  “How can you be so sure?” Detective Stickler asked.

  “You would have arrested her and I would have gotten a call to bail her out. The killer wiped the prints off the trophy, didn’t they?”

  “I told you. I am not going to discuss this case.”

  “Without physical evidence, it will be nearly impossible to convict without a confession—which an innocent woman like Addison will never give you.”

  “You’re forgetting something. Of all the suspects, your cousin is the only one who was identified outside the Billick house that night. The neighbor spotted her,” Detective Stickler said.

  “Just because Addison was there didn’t mean she did it.”

  “Do you have any facts that she didn’t?”

  “I will,” Daisy declared.

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Go ahead. Be a stickler for the facts all you want. While you’re waiting for something to turn up, I’m going to get a confession.”

  “From who?” Detective Stickler wondered.

  “I’m still working on that one.”

  “I’m telling you. Leave this case to the professionals.”

  “I’m sorry, but I have some serious hunches to follow up on, and I have a feeling they’ll blow this case wide open,” Daisy said.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Daisy returned to Addison’s apartment hoping she’d have more to work with than just a few hunches. Still, a few hunches were better than nothing. For someone in panic mode like Addison McDare however, theories weren’t nearly enough.

  “How are you holding up?” Daisy asked.

  “I’m a murder suspect. I don’t know how things could get any worse,” Addison said.

  “You could be behind bars right now.”

  “Thanks for reminding me.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Please tell me you have good news,” Addison replied.

  “Trust me. I’m going to get you through this. I just need some time to work this out,” Daisy explained.

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  “That depends. Do you have any of your world famous chicken broccoli casserole handy?”

  “No.”

  Daisy became deflated. “Oh.”

  “I could make some,” Addison suggested.

  “Would you?”

  Addison nodded. “I don’t understand what this has to do with the case.”

  “Brain food. You should never sleuth on an empty stomach.”

  “Alright. I’ll get started on the casserole.”

  Addison then turned to walk away.

  “Addison,” Daisy said.

  Addison turned back. “Yes.”

  “I promise I’ll get you out of this.”

  Addison gave Daisy a nervous smile.

  ***

  While Addison prepared the casserole, Daisy went out on her cousin’s back patio and got some fresh air. It was good to have a breather. Not to mention she had a really important call to make to her boyfriend.

  “How is the case coming?” Gavin asked, over the phone line.

  Daisy sighed. “I don’t want to talk about that right now.”

  “Uh oh. That doesn’t sound good.”

  “You know what does sound good? Just hearing your voice again.”

  “I guess that means you miss me.”

  “More than you know.”

  “It’ll be even better to see you in person,” Gavin replied.

  Daisy looked off into the distance. “A lot needs to happen between now and then.”

  “You sound like you could use a hug.”

  Gavin was trying to be comforting, but Daisy was too on edge to truly calm down.

  “Tell me things have gone better for you than me today,” Daisy said.

  “I would like to tell you that, but it would be a lie.”

  “Please don’t tell me there’s drama back in Cozy Creek too.”

  “The good news is, I wrapped up my case.”

  “What’s the bad news?” Daisy wondered.

  “Let’s just say Brenda Jameson didn’t react well to finding out her husband was cheating on her.”

  “Who does react well to that?”

  “Fair point. Still, in my years of private investigating, I’ve discovered there’s a stark difference between how men and women tend to react to their partner’s infidelity.”

  “How so?” Daisy asked.

  “Don’t get me wrong, women definitely freak out when they find out their husband has been sleeping with another woman. But that’s nothing compared to the way men usually lose it when they discover their wife has been cheating with another guy.”

  “That’s a pretty big generalization.”

  “In my experience, it has also been ninety-nine percent true. Today was the one percent exception.”

  “What happened?”

  “Brenda Jameson just lost it in my office. I thought she was going to take her anger out on me. It brought an all new meaning to the phrase don’t shoot the messenger.”

  “You’re ok though, right?” Daisy asked.

  “I’m fine—thankfully,” Gavin said.

  “You have to be careful. I don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

  “It’s like I said, I’ve done hundreds of cases, and this is the exception. The general rule stays the same—women go for the wallet, while men go for the jugular.”

  Something about Gavin’s statement stuck with Daisy. Suddenly, her mind started racing.

  “Wait a minute. What did you just say?” Daisy asked.

  �
�After finding out their partner has been cheating on them, women usually try to go after the man’s bank account. Men meanwhile tend to get violent.”

  Suddenly, it was like a light bulb had gone off in Daisy’s head.

  “That’s it,” Daisy said.

  Gavin was confused. “What’s it? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Gavin, you’re a genius.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  Daisy smiled. “Thanks to you, I now know who killed Blaze Billick.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Daisy walked into Gwen Stringer’s sweet shop with a purpose. She was sure to wait until just before closing time so that no customers would be in the shop. As Daisy entered, the place was empty except for herself and Gwen.

  “People in town say you make some killer pastries. I happen to know that’s not the only thing killer about you,” Daisy said.

  Gwen looked up from counting the money in the register with wide-eyes. She was in no mood to deal with Daisy, nor her questions. Instead, she wanted Daisy out of her store and life immediately.

  “Oh no you don’t. You’re not welcome in here. Get out,” Gwen insisted.

  “Sorry, but we have some unfinished business to attend to.”

  “I reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, and that means you. Now I’m warning you, if you don’t leave right now I’ll call the police.”

  Daisy held her ground. “Go for it.”

  Gwen was surprised that Daisy didn’t back down at her threat.

  “What?” Gwen replied.

  “Call the police. I’ll even dial the number for you. I have nothing to hide. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for you.”

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

  “I know you killed Blaze Billick.”

  Gwen scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

  “Actually, it all makes more sense than ever that you’re the killer. Blaze was threatening to take everything that was dear to you. Of course there was the obvious motive that Blaze was making his son choose between you and his inheritance. There was a secondary motive too though. Blaze’s affair with your mother was threatening to break up her marriage to your father. The thought of losing your fiancé Mason and having your parents get a divorce all because of one person was too much for you to take, so you took matters into your own hands, didn’t you?”