Coconut Cream Murder: A Donut Hole Cozy Mystery - Book 58

by Susan Gillard

  “But we were meeting during this challenge,” Mark said. “We wanted to see each other.”

  “We like seeing each other as much as we can,” Janet said. “So, when I found out we were doing this challenge, I thought it might be fun if Mark’s team came too.”

  “And I convinced 3T Tech that this would be a good opportunity for us to do some team building,” Mark said.

  “But really we just wanted to see one another,” said Janet.

  “We want to be together, but we can’t admit it at work,” said Mark.

  “It’s like Romeo and Juliet,” said Janet.

  “Exactly,” said Mark.

  “Except that you two were also sharing company secrets with each other?” Heather asked.

  “It started out as an accident,” Mark said. “Janet told me about the laundry robot, and when I spilled something on my shirt at work, I mentioned how I couldn’t wait for the idea to come to life. My coworkers jumped on the idea and decided to develop it. I couldn’t tell them where it really came from, so I stayed quiet.”

  “A similar thing happened to me and balloons,” Janet said.

  “At first it was unintentional,” Mark said. “But then, we thought maybe it could be a good idea.”

  “Mitch and Duncan used to be partners,” Janet said. “We thought that if we forced their hands with their products being similar, maybe they would have to join forces again.”

  “And then we could work together,” Mark said.

  “That would be so wonderful,” Janet said. “To see your face at work every day.”

  “It would be perfect,” said Mark.

  “Did Gordon know about the two of you?” Heather asked.

  “No,” Janet said. “I don’t think anyone did. And no one would have if I didn’t break my nail. I didn’t even notice that I broke it at the time, but I thought it made a good excuse for why I was away from my rope for a short while.”

  “We chose to meet then because we thought it was a time that we could both sneak away,” Mark said. “But it had nothing to do with Gordon’s death.”

  “We didn’t want Gordon dead,” Janet said. “And we wouldn’t have chosen this way to kill him. It was horrifying seeing him like that.”

  “We didn’t choose this location exactly like we were scouting it out,” Mark added. “We just wanted to find something close to both of our activities, and then found shelter behind those trees.”

  “It is further away from where Gordon was,” Janet said. “Instead of closer to him where we would have to be to commit the murder.”

  “We’d like to believe you,” Heather said. “But if you two had nothing to do with Gordon’s death, why didn’t you come forward with this information before?”

  “We just didn’t want our employers to find out,” Mark said.

  “Exactly,” said Janet. “Mitch would have felt so betrayed. He would have fired me. He’s already upset because of what happened to Gordon.”

  “Was Mitch the one who chose this location?” Heather asked.

  “Mitch wanted us to do a team building activity with climbing,” Janet said, thinking about it. “But Benny was the one who found Tessa’s Treetop Team building. Benny does a lot of research for us at the office. I know someday he wants to start working on bigger projects though.”

  “And I was the one who made my company come here,” Mark said.

  “But, honest and truly,” Janet said. “We didn’t do anything to hurt Gordon.”

  “I hope you’re telling us everything now,” said Heather. “Because we’re going to catch the person who killed him.”

  Chapter 15

  “Do you think they had anything to do with the death?” Maricela asked.

  “I think it’s unlikely,” Heather said. “I think they were stealing company ideas, but I don’t think they moved to murder.”

  “Stealing their company inventions,” Amy said. “What pillow talk.”

  “So, finding that nail wasn’t the clue that broke the case?” Jung asked.

  “It was helpful though,” Heather said. “It helped us locate where two of our suspects were at the time the murder was committed.”

  “Now we just need to figure out who else could have gotten away and committed the crime,” Ryan said.

  “So far everyone we spoke to besides Janet and Mark could account for their positions during their challenges,” Heather thought aloud. “Or could they?”

  “If they’re the killer, then they’d definitely lie about where they were,” Ken said. “You wouldn’t admit that you were up the ladder killing someone.”

  “But who could have snuck away from their game without anyone else noticing?” Angelica asked.

  “We’re missing something,” Heather said. “I’m just not sure where.”

  “Tessa didn’t have a good alibi,” Emily Potts reminded them.

  “That’s right,” said Amy. “She said she was getting stuck in the spider web that might have been the thread and then wandered away. So, we don’t know exactly where she was.”

  “And she lost money from the invention,” June reminded them.

  “Yes,” Heather said. “But she could also lose money from this business if people associate with falling to your death.”

  “That does put a damper on things,” Amy said. “I’m not planning on climbing up on any of these obstacles anytime soon.”

  “I’m stumped,” Angelica said. “Who else is left to have killed the man?”

  “It had to be someone who could plan this all out,” said Jung.

  “He thought he was committing the perfect crime,” said Ken. “It was supposed to look like an accident, but if someone was thorough and realized the rope was cut and not broken by accident, well then, he gave himself the perfect alibi.”

  “So, he probably knew about this place,” Maricela said. “And its layout.”

  “And he needed a good reason to kill Gordon Masters,” Jung said. “This is going through a lot of effort to get rid of him.”

  “But so far who had a good reason?” asked Angelica.

  “If he didn’t have anything to do with sharing the company secrets, then we don’t have a motive for murder right now,” Amy agreed.

  “Mitch Mallard seemed to like him,” Heather commented. “He just gave him a promotion.”

  “Someone could have been trying to hurt Techy Tech Tech,” suggested Ryan. “And Gordon Masters was just in the unlucky spot at the time.”

  “That’s possible,” said Heather.

  “But aren’t there easier ways to kill someone?” Ken asked.

  “Definitely,” Amy agreed.

  “Okay, boss,” Maricela said. “We know you’re going to come up with a genius solution to explain all these confusing elements of the crime. Do you know what it is yet?”

  “I’m afraid not,” said Heather. “But there is someone who we haven’t talked to yet.”

  “Who?” asked Angelica.

  “The high school band,” said Heather.

  “Do you really think one of them could be the killer?” asked Maricela.

  “Probably not,” admitted Heather. “But when you’re investigating a case, you leave no stone unturned.”

  “But,” Amy whined as a joke. “There are so many stones in these woods.”

  “Do you think we had something to do with this death?” the tuba player asked. “Cool!”

  “We’re suspects!” said the clarinet player.

  “Please, calm down,” their teacher said. “They need to ask everyone these questions. I’m sure they don’t think we had anything to do with this terrible tragedy.”

  “Had anyone met Mr. Masters before today?” Heather asked. “Or known about Techy Tech Tech.”

  The students and teacher shook their heads.

  “This is an annual event for you guys?” Heather asked.

  “Right,” said the flute player. “It forces us to work together right when we start getting on each other’s nerves.” />
  “You’re always on my nerves,” joked the drummer.

  “Our school sends the band here one a year,” the teacher confirmed. “Some other after school activities come here as well. I believe the cross-country team comes, and the chess team.”

  “Did you notice anything unusual about today’s activities?” asked Ryan.

  “Besides there being a dead body?” asked the tuba player.

  “Let’s be helpful or be quiet,” said the teacher. “They have an important job to do.”

  “Sorry,” the tuba player said.

  “There was less staff here this year,” said the teacher. “There used to be several people who helped with the obstacles. This year it seemed that only Tessa was around. That did make me nervous, but she assured me everyone would be safe. The Wildcats have been coming here for years, so I wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt.”

  “What obstacle were you working on at the time of the death?” Heather asked.

  “A terrible one,” said the flute player. “I don’t like the reason why, obvi, because someone died. But I was glad it was interrupted.”

  “Speak for yourself,” said the tuba player. “You just don’t have any upper arm strength.”

  “Yeah,” said the flute player. “Because I don’t carry around a mammoth instrument.”

  “What was the challenge?” Heather repeated.

  “It was a rope climb,” said the teacher. “They needed to get to the top of some ropes and collect the flags on top.”

  “It was hard,” repeated the flute player.

  “I thought the ropes were cool,” said the tuba player.

  “Did you notice anyone moving around in the woods?” asked Ryan.

  The Wildcats hadn’t noticed anything. The investigators thanked them for their time and walked away.

  “You have that look on your face,” said Ryan.

  “What did they tell us that was helpful?” Amy asked. “Because I missed it.”

  “It’s nothing that they told us exactly,” said Heather. “It just reminded me of something I want to look at.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “The rope.”

  Chapter 16

  “What are we looking for, boss?” Maricela asked.

  “I’m not sure exactly what,” said Heather.

  It was true that she didn’t know what they were looking for, but she felt like they were close. Her sleuthing skills were tingling. She had a feeling that the ropes would reveal something.

  “This looks the same as it did when I used it,” Ken said.

  “This was the rope that Janet was using,” Emily Potts said.

  “So, does this looking normal mean that she isn’t the killer?” Angelica asked.

  “I don’t think she’s the killer,” Jung said. “Killing him here could just lead to her getting caught for giving away company secrets.”

  “But her having secrets makes her the one person with a potential motive,” countered Maricela. “If Gordon found out and was going to expose her.”

  “Let’s check the next rope,” Heather said.

  “You’re lucky my gallows humor isn’t acting up on this case,” Amy said.

  They checked moved on to the next two ropes and didn’t find anything usual about them.

  “Does this mean it’s not a clue?” Ken asked.

  “Or is it looking normal mean that it is a clue?” asked Jung.

  “Let’s just watch the professional work,” Maricela said. “Because I have no idea who the killer is now. I’m back to thinking it could be anyone. Even Emily Potts.”

  “Thanks,” Emily Potts said.

  They reached the last rope.

  “This is the one closest to where we found the white thread,” said Jung.

  “Very interesting,” said Heather.

  “What is?” asked Jung. “What did I say?”

  “No,” Amy said. “It’s those marks.”

  Heather nodded. This rope contained some markings on it where something had made shallow groove marks.

  “I don’t recognize this,” Ryan said.

  “Neither do I,” Heather said with a smile.

  “You look awful happy for someone who doesn’t know what’s going on,” said Amy.

  “I said I didn’t recognize the marks,” Heather said. “I didn’t say I didn’t know what was going on.”

  “She solved it,” Maricela said. “She definitely solved the case.”

  “Not quite yet,” said Heather. “But I have a hunch.”

  “A hunch means she solved it,” said Maricela.

  “She does have great hunches,” Angelica agreed.

  “I have to go talk to Tessa again,” Heather said.

  She led the way back toward the cabin, while her assistants tried to figure out the significance of the rope.

  “The grooves were from the killer making a countdown,” Jung offered. “He was marking time until he could go make the kill.”

  “Maybe it’s from a bird?” offered Angelica. “And the bird helped fly up and sabotage things?”

  “Which person was using that particular rope?” Ken asked. “Do we know?”

  “Heather knows,” said Maricela.

  “You’re not here to demand your money back, are you?” Tessa asked when she saw big group entering her office.

  “Maybe that’s a good idea,” Amy said.

  “We’re not here for money. We’re looking for justice for Gordon Masters,” said Heather. “And I think you can help us.”

  “How?” Tessa asked. “I already told you I didn’t want him dead. I think I told you everything I know.”

  “I don’t think you killed him,” Heather assured her.

  She heard Jung snap his fingers in disappointment behind her. He must have thought that they were going there to arrest the killer.

  “But I think you might have something that can prove who the real killer is,” she continued.

  “What?” asked Tessa.

  Her assistants, Amy and Ryan also looked curious.

  “Do you have any more information on the Laun-Dry Robohelper that you invested in?”

  “I’ll show you everything I have,” Tessa said. She wasn’t sure of the significance, but she was eager to help catch the killer.

  Heather looked over the materials that Tessa gave her, while her team looked over her should.

  “Just as I thought,” said Heather. “The laundry robot would leave those grooves in the rope.”

  “But how does that help with the murder?” Jung asked.

  “Because of how it says that it helps your clothes. This robot can adjust things on a clothes line. A clothes line is basically a rope,” Heather said.

  “I’m still confused,” Angelica said.

  “I think the killer altered this robot just a little, so that it would be able to pull the rope instead of the killer having to do so,” said Heather.

  “The killer had a robot maintain his alibi?” Ken asked. “I know he’s a bad guy. But that is impressive.”

  “So, the killer could control this robot and move his rope remotely when it was his turn to do so?” Maricela asked. “He let the robot do the team building work so he could sneak over and set Gordon Masters up to die?”

  “Exactly,” said Heather. “He was moving closer and closer to Gordon, so he would be able to hear the directions and adjust his rope.”

  “This guy did a lot of work to take out Gordon Masters,” Ken said.

  “Which of his team members did it?” Emily Potts asked. “Was it his boss Mitch Mallard? Or his coworkers, Benny or Sam?”

  “I have an idea who did it,” Heather said. “But we’re going to have to find a way to prove it. Ryan, can Hoskins confirm that nobody left the ground after the murder today?”

  “I’ll check with him,” Ryan said. “But that should be the case.”

  “That means that whatever the killer used to cut the rope is still somewhere here,” said Heather.

&nb
sp; “So, we just have to find it,” said Amy.

  “Find it,” said Heather. “Or make the killer think we’re going to find it.”

  Chapter 17

  “Do you think it’s going to work?” Amy asked.

  Heather nodded. They had already set their plan into motion. Ryan had made sure that everyone at Techy Tech Tech overheard him telling Hoskins that they were going to bring some dogs in that evening to sniff out the instrument used for cutting the rope. It was going to be an extremely thorough search, and there was no way that the dogs wouldn’t find it if it were in the woods. Heather was confident that the killer would try and retrieve the items that he was forced to leave behind earlier.

  She thought it was most likely that the tools and robot were hidden somewhere nearby the obstacle where Gordon Masters was killed. It was probably buried in the ground and that was why they were not able to find it.

  Heather’s assistants had spread out through the woods to keep an eye on things. They were told not to engage with the killer, but to report back to Ryan and the police.

  However, there was one hiccup in this plan. Ryan had been called away because some parents of the high school band members had arrived and were demanding to pick up their children. Ryan had to make sure that the situation was under control.

  This left Heather and her assistants to keep an eye out for the killer. Heather and Amy were crouched down behind a tree, surveying the scene.

  “Why don’t we spread out?” Heather said. “I want to make sure that my assistants are okay.”

  “I’ll go,” Amy offered. “I’m getting antsy and want to move. Besides, I saw Maricela before so I think I know where to find her.”

  Heather agreed. Amy left her to keep a watchful eye for the killer. However, the first person to enter her line of vision wasn’t the murderer, but Jung.

  “Heather?” he called out quietly. “I brought a bow and arrow over here. I thought we could use it for protection if the killer comes?”

  “Oh really?” said a voice.

  Heather was aghast as she saw Benny appear and pull a gun on Jung. He was standing behind Jung, so as talented as he was with archery he did not have a shot he could take.