Donuts, Delights & Murder: An Oceanside Cozy Mystery - Book 1

by Susan Gillard

"We had to go to the bank to check on something in our business records," said Juan. "I'm sure they have documentation to prove we were there."

  “And do you have any idea who would want to hurt Percy Covens?” asked Heather.

  She ignored Amy’s whispers about wishing to hear Mr. Rankle’s name.

  “No,” Juan said. “He was a good man.”

  “I’d say an ex-girlfriend, but I don’t think any of them were that serious,” said Don. “We couldn’t think of a good reason. That’s why we thought Mr. Rankle was on to something when he said you did it.”

  “But that was before we knew you were working with the police,” said Juan.

  “Well, thank you for your time,” Heather said. “We’ll be in touch if we have any more questions.”

  Secretly, she felt like they only had questions in this case and no answers.

  15

  Good News All Around

  That evening Heather tried to spend some time unpacking but found it difficult to focus because her thoughts were still stuck on the case. Because some new house problems had developed (and this time in the kitchen), she and her friends had decided to gather together for a take out dinner together. She was trying to unpack at least a few boxes before the food arrived, but kept thinking about poison.

  Ryan joined her in the room to help her unpack.

  "We found Lilly's pink typewriter, so she is working on a new story before dinner," he reported.

  “Another dinosaur detective story?” Heather asked.

  “I think so, but I think in this story the dinosaurs are solving a mystery on the beach.”

  Heather sighed. “I still haven’t made it to the beach. Too much to do at the shop and here and with the case.”

  "Well, you're about to hire employees at the shop, and that should ease the burden there. And don't worry too much about the house," Ryan said. "I've been working on the repairs, and I reattached the kitchen cabinet door."

  “That’s great,” said Heather. “Any progress getting the light to turn on in there?”

  “No,” Ryan said. “But one step at a time.”

  “Thank you for doing so much around the house. It’s starting to become a home,” she said.

  “Despite the problems with the house, I do like it here,” said Ryan. “I’m glad we made the move.”

  “I am too,” said Heather. “Though I’d be happier if my murder case were closed.”

  "This case is giving you a lot of trouble?"

  "I feel like I'm missing something and I don't know if it's because I don't know my surroundings well enough yet, or if I'm distracted by my other duties, or if this killer was just smart about their crime and is, therefore, more dangerous."

  “I’m sure you can figure it out,” Ryan said. “I wish there was more that I could do to help. I don’t think I like not being the detective to turn to.”

  “I have to admit that I miss it myself,” said Heather.

  “Is there anyone that you think is a more likely suspect than the others?” Ryan asked.

  “It’s possible that any of them could have done it, but right now we haven’t uncovered a strong motive or who definitely could have planted the poison.”

  Ryan was about to ask some more questions, but they were interrupted by the doorbell.

  “That might be the food,” Ryan said.

  “I don’t like that the delivery driver is leaning on the bell though,” Heather said.

  Ryan frowned. “What if he’s not leaning on the bell?”

  They both groaned as the dinging from the bell continued on and on. They ran to the door and were greeted by Rudolph Rodney.

  “Hello, Shepherds. So happy to see you both. This is rather a long doorbell ring, isn’t it?”

  The smile started to fade from his face as he realized the ding-dong wasn’t stopping.

  “Mom,” Lilly said, coming into the room with her hands covering her ears. “Why won’t it stop?”

  “I guess it just wanted everyone to know that we had a guest,” Heather joked.

  She was right though because soon everyone from the three houses had entered. Eva and Leila came in joking about how now they were sure that they didn't need hearing aids. Amy and Jamie came in with the food because they had encountered the deliveryman on their way over. Dave and Cupcake also joined them in the room. Dave decided to add to the hubbub and started barking excitedly.

  “I’m terribly sorry about this,” Rudolph Rodney said, gripping his hat in his hands.

  Ryan checked on the bell, and after playing with it a bit got it to stop ringing. His friends added some noise to the scene by clapping for him.

  “Thanks,” Ryan said. “But I’m not sure the bell is going to work anymore after that.”

  “I do apologize,” Rudolph Rodney said. “I can have an electrician come out and look at it.”

  "I think that would be great," Ryan said. "I think I can admit that the house repairs are a tad more ambitious that I originally thought. I did take the first step in many of the projects though. I got them started."

  “I’ll arrange to get it all fixed soon” he assured them. “I want this place to be a home you love.”

  "Even with all the problems, it's well on its way," Heather said. "We do love all living here together. If I could just make it to the beach, it would be perfect."

  “I just came over to tell you about how the front section of Donut Delights should be finished tomorrow.”

  “Donut Delights the Sequel,” Amy added.

  “That’s great to hear,” Heather said.

  “I also just wanted to check in and see how you were all doing,” Rudolph Rodney said. “So, if you could make up a list of everything that needs to be fixed around the house, I’ll see to it that it gets done.”

  "Of course," Eva said. "We can make a list. I think the water temperature is the main thing that needs to be fixed in our house."

  “The squeaky doors in our house is what’s making me jump,” said Amy. “But I guess fixing the electricity in the living room is more important.”

  “And we had some issues in the kitchen with the stove,” said Ryan.

  "Oh my," Rudolph Rodney said. "Well, get this long list written up for me and I'll take care of it. It sounds like it might be everything except the kitchen sink on the list."

  “No,” Amy said. “The kitchen sink is on the list too.”

  They laughed, but Leila added, “We don’t want to scare him off. A lot of things are just fine. The appliances are mostly good. And the refrigerator is bigger than in our last home.”

  “The refrigerator,” Heather said.

  “Oh no,” Leila said. “Did I speak too soon?”

  “Is yours broken, dear?” asked Eva. “You can put food in ours.”

  “No, it’s not that. It’s about the case,” Heather said.

  “You solved it?” Amy asked.

  “Not yet,” said Heather. “But I think I need to talk to Detective Smith. I realized something we hadn’t thought of before.”

  “The fridge?”

  “Exactly,” said Heather. “What if it wasn’t an accident that brought Percy Covens back? What if the refrigeration unit was purposely broken to lure him back?”

  “This really is a cold-blooded killer,” Amy said.

  “You can all start dinner, but I think I have to call Detective Smith.”

  Her friends did start setting up the food and invited Rudolph Rodney to join them who graciously agreed. However, they all kept an ear open to listen to Heather's conversation.

  “This is great timing,” Detective Smith said. “I was going to contact you.”

  “You have a lead?”

  “It’s about his cell phone,” Detective Smith said.

  “You found it?”

  "We looked at the records for the phone," he said. "Most of the calls make sense. He calls work, his employees, and Eliza. However, there were also many calls to and from a phone we can't trace. It must have been a burner phone
. It's not listed to a person."

  “But you believe that person might be the killer?”

  "I believe the timing is suspicious. There were many calls, and they suddenly stopped a week or two ago. Then there was a call the night before he died. I'm not trying to make a joke," Detective Smith said. "But that was a good call you made about looking for the phone."

  “It would only be better if you could find Percy Covens’ phone as well. The fact that it is missing makes me think that it’s important,” Heather said.

  “We put a trace on it. If the phone turns on, we’ll be able to track and locate it,” he replied. “Wait a moment. My partner is running over to me out of breath.”

  Heather tried to wait patiently for Detective Smith to reveal the news.

  “Peters just told me. The phone was turned on. We can track it now.”

  “And it might lead you straight to the killer!”

  16

  Who Could It Be?

  Heather and Amy stood outside of Donut Delights. Detectives Smith and Peters had traced the phone to their street. They had allowed Heather and Amy to tag along at a distance but wanted them to stay out of danger in case the killer got reckless.

  The two friends watched in surprise as the detectives entered Bernadette’s Beachy Books.

  “It was Bernadette after all?” Amy asked. “Why couldn’t it have been Mr. Rankle?”

  “We’re not sure it was her,” Heather cautioned.

  However, a moment later the detectives emerged. Peters was holding a cell phone in an evidence bag that must have been the victim’s. Detective Smith was leading Bernadette out of the shop in handcuffs.

  “I don’t know what that phone was doing here,” Bernadette said. “It’s not mine.”

  “We know it’s not yours,” said Peters. “It’s Percy Covens’, and it was taken away from the crime scene after he was killed.”

  "But it wasn't me. I feel just like Jean Valjean right now. Les Mis reference." Bernadette said. "But you have to believe me. I didn't have any reason to kill Percy."

  “Remember those rights I told you about?” Detective Smith said. “You might want to consider them.”

  He led her towards his police car, but Bernadette decided not to remain silent. She called out Heather and Amy.

  “Keep investigating,” she said. “It wasn’t me.”

  The next day, Heather should have been excited by how far the new Donut Delights was coming along. The floors were all finished, and the furniture would arrive soon. She would just have to fill it with donuts and employees, and it would be all set.

  However, she was still distracted by the murder. Amy seemed to be feeling the same.

  “Does something feel wrong to you?” Amy asked.

  “Yes,” Heather said. “I think we need to bake some donuts while we’re here and then discuss the turn the case took.”

  “Sounds great,” Amy said.

  They began whipping up a batch of Chocolate Hazelnut Donuts. As the smells wafted around the room, Heather started to feel better already.

  Then as she stirred Heather said, “I thought finding the phone would lead us to the killer, but it doesn’t feel quite right.”

  “Bernadette didn’t have a strong motive,” Amy agreed. “And she was nice.”

  “I can’t shake the feeling that maybe the cell phone was planted at her shop to make her look guilty.”

  “If that’s true, we need to keep looking for the killer.”

  “Unfortunately, it doesn’t shrink our suspect list either,” said Heather. “She was the other newcomer on the street. She said that many people would have been happy to see her leave. Any one of our neighbors might have chosen to frame her to divert suspicion.”

  “When they failed to frame us with the donut crumbs,” said Amy.

  “I think I should check in with Detective Smith and see if he’s discovered anything concrete,” Heather said.

  She called the station and then reported back what she had learned to her bestie. Bernadette was still professing her innocence. The detectives had examined the cell phone. No prints were found on it.

  “Which is suspicious because Bernadette’s prints weren’t on it even though she was supposedly hiding it in her shop,” Heather had remarked.

  When they examined the data inside the phone, they could tell that things were deleted. The calls made to the burner phone that they had seen in the phone records were no longer visible on the phone. There was a surprisingly few number of text messages in the phone too, that led them to believe even more was deleted.

  "I think the killer erased everything that could lead the police back to him," said Heather. "And then hid the phone at the bookshop to frame Bernadette."

  “I think you’re right,” Amy agreed. “But now how do we figure out who did it?”

  Heather finished putting the hazelnut toppings on her donuts as she thought of an answer. However, they were interrupted by a knock at the door.

  “I bet someone smelled these donuts and can’t wait for us to open,” Amy said.

  Heather smiled at the idea. They went to the front door and saw Digby outside.

  “I hoped I would find you here,” Digby said. “I didn’t want to have to wander the streets trying to find you.”

  “What is it?” Heather asked, opening the door.

  “Did you think of something related to the murder?” asked Amy.

  “I thought of something else,” Digby said. “I hope you won’t think I’m too forward.”

  “Just tell us,” Heather said.

  “Of course,” Digby said. “I have a grand idea that I think could benefit everyone involved, and – did you just make donuts? It smells wonderful.”

  Heather smiled. “I think we could spare one. If it’s that good an idea.”

  They presented Digby with a Chocolate Hazelnut Donut, and he was too happy eating it to express his idea. When he could talk, he said, "I haven't felt this happy in days. I'd been feeling depressed and guilt-ridden. This is a welcome lift to spirits."

  “We’re glad we could help,” said Heather.

  "And that's why I'm here," Digby said. "Because I want to help too. At this shop. Especially after tasting these donuts. I don't have a job anymore. And I figured you were hiring. I'd be a great addition to the staff. I have lots of skills. And the fish business is comparable."

  Amy wrinkled her nose.

  “Please give me a chance,” Digby said.

  Heather smiled at him. “I suppose we could set up an interview.”

  "Thank you so much," he said. "You won't regret it. I worked so hard for Percy, and I will work hard for you, too. I feel so bad that his coming back for the refrigeration unit is what caused him to be here and to be murdered. But it was a fluke. Nothing like that had ever happened with the machines before. And it was so unusual that I didn’t know how to fix it. But that shouldn’t happen again.”

  “About the problem with the refrigerator,” Heather said. “Was Percy Covens able to fix it?”

  “Yeah. He was great with that sort of thing. But it did take him a while. He was upset about it too,” Digby said. “He thought a tourist messed with the outside part of it.”

  “Someone did mess with the unit?” Heather asked. The gears were turning in her head.

  “He thought so,” Digby said. “Can I ask a question?”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Can I have another donut?” Digby asked.

  “Sure,” Heather said, but then she realized something and paused. “She took two.”

  “What?” asked Amy.

  "Digby have another donut, and then I need to ask a favor," Heather said. "And if you can do this, you're hired."

  “Sure,” Digby said. “What is it?”

  "If you tell Mr. Rankle a piece of gossip, would he make sure that everyone on the street knows it?"

  “Definitely,” said Digby. “Rankle loves to talk.”

  “And yell,” said Amy. “Is this a trap to prov
e he did it?”

  “I need you to tell him what the police plan to do tomorrow.”

  “Sure,” Digby said. “But what is it?”

  17

  Tough Love

  “I feel silly,” Amy said. “Is this really a good hiding place?”

  “It is if we’re quiet,” Heather whispered back.

  It was nighttime, and they were hiding behind a bunch of palm trees behind the back of the shops. They were keeping an eye on the seafood restaurant and waiting to see if their plan would work. It wasn't the most comfortable place they'd ever been for a stakeout because they couldn't move very much. However, their location did provide them an excellent view of the part of the refrigeration unit that sat outside.

  Finally, their waiting was rewarded. They saw a figure dressed all in black was approaching the unit with a small duffle bag.

  “Stop right there,” Heather called out.

  The figure froze and then turned to face them. Delilah gave them a dirty look.

  “What are you doing here?” she snapped.

  “We should be the ones asking that,” Amy replied.

  “I was just passing by on my way home,” Delilah said. “And I don’t appreciate being surprised like this. You could have given me a heart attack.”

  “I don’t believe that’s why you’re here,” said Heather. “I think you’re here because you heard Mr. Rankle say that the police were going to do a more thorough examination of the refrigeration unit. He thought it was going to prove that we newcomers had sabotaged something because we’re irresponsible. But you knew that the unit would be inspected because it related to the murder.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Delilah said angrily.

  “Oh, we think you do,” Amy said.

  "You didn't like that Percy Covens was on vacation with another woman, so you did something to bring him back here. You sabotaged this unit so he would have to come back and fix it. Digby mentioned that Percy Covens thought that tourists had messed with it, but it was you."

  “You can’t prove that,” Delilah said.