“Of course,” Lilly said. “He’s my best friend. I tell him everything.”
“And he seemed sad after you told him this?” Heather said.
“But why?” Asked Lilly. “Can’t I have more than one friend?”
“Of course, you can,” Heather said.
“You can have as many friends as you want,” Ryan said.
“But I think Nicolas is feeling a little sad and a little jealous. He might think that you’re starting to grow apart,” Heather said.
“But this is silly,” Lilly said. “He’s my best friend.”
“I know.”
“But if he keeps acting like he doesn’t want to be my best friend, then I won’t want him to be.”
“Has Nicolas ever lost a friend before after they’ve been adopted?” Heather asked quietly.
Lilly paused. “I didn’t think of it in terms like that. I’m really not abandoning him. I just wanted to have another friend too.”
“Maybe you should tell him that,” Heather said. “Sometimes all a friend needs to hear is that you care.”
“I’ll do that right now,” said Lilly. “I’ll reassure him that I still want to be friends forever. That is if you say it’s all right for me to call him now.”
“I don’t think it’s too late,” Heather said.
“Go right ahead,” said Ryan.
Lilly ran off to make her call, while the parents sat together. Heather pet Dave on the head and he wagged his tail.
“One problem solved,” Heather said. “If only the case were so easy.”
“I’ve been canvassing the area to see if anyone saw someone sneaking into Barry Rahway’s backyard,” Ryan said. “So far, no luck.”
“None of the neighbors admitted to seeing anything strange on the street,” Heather said. “But if one of them is the killer, they would hardly admit that they were up to something.”
“That’s true,” Ryan admitted.
“I feel like I’m missing something,” Heather said. “Something big. But I just don’t know what.”
Ryan’s phone rang.
“Shepherd,” he said, answering it. Heather could tell it had something to do with the case.
“Bad news?” she asked.
“Yes,” Ryan said. “There’s been another murder in Hillside.”
“Is it related?”
“I have a feeling it is,” he said.
“Who is the victim?” Heather asked, her heart beating fast with dread.
“Amos Hucklebine, Amy’s landlord.”
Chapter 14
“I can’t believe it,” Amy said. “He was just at our house.”
“If you don’t want to investigate this, I understand,” said Heather. “If it’s going to be too difficult for you or too emotional, it’s all right to sit this out.”
“It is going to be difficult, and I am going to be emotional,” Amy said. “But you’re crazy if you think I’m going to sit back and let this killer get away.”
“As long as you’re sure.”
“Amos was such a nice guy,” Amy said. “I don’t know who would want to hurt him. But we’re going to find him, and he’s going to jail for the rest of his life.”
Amy had been pacing outside of Amos Hucklebine’s house, which was also the crime scene. The house was a similar style to the one he rented out but had some more personal touches to it. The mailbox was decorated with birds, and there were rocking chairs on the porch.
“Let’s go see what Ryan has to say,” Heather suggested.
“Yeah, let’s go,” Amy agreed.
They entered the house. The entryway had been disturbed, and items were knocked over. Mail, books, and jackets were strewn about. There was some blood on the floor.
“Was it the same killer?” Amy asked as Ryan joined them.
“We found a boot print that matched the one found at the other crime scene,” Ryan said. “So, it most likely is.”
“Was it another killing with a blunt instrument?” Heather asked.
“And most likely the same one,” said Ryan.
“Is there any new information that could help us catch this guy?” Amy asked. “Tell me he made a mistake.”
“Forensics is still processing it,” Ryan said. “But so far the only clue is the boot print.”
“He was killed here?” Heather asked, indicating to the entryway.
“Most likely the killer forced his way inside after Mr. Hucklebine opened the door,” Ryan said.
Hoskins sauntered over to meet them. “Very sad that this happened,” Hoskins said. “But I think this death might provide just the clue I need to break the case.”
“And what clue is this?” Amy asked.
“I haven’t discovered it yet,” Hoskins admitted. “But I will. Crystal Rahway has been very impressed with how I have been handling the case. She told me that she was confident that I would catch her father’s killer. And when I did, the mayor himself would thank me. Not that I do it for the admiration, of course.”
“Of course,” said Heather.
“I think I’m going to invite Miss Rahway over for dinner after this is all over so she can meet my wife. We’ll give her a nice family meal now that her family has been taken from her. And things have been hard on her now what with that broken arm.”
“It’s been hard on Amos Hucklebine too,” Amy said.
“Of course,” said Hoskins. He started chewing on a candy bar and looked around the crime scene. “Now I just need to find a clue.”
Amy resisted making a joke, but said, “Will you excuse us?”
Amy and Heather walked away.
“Sorry,” Amy said. “I couldn’t take any more of that.”
“It’s okay,” Heather said.
“Why would someone kill Amos?” Amy asked. “He was such a nice guy. I can’t see why someone would want to hurt him.”
“Do you remember the look on his face when he left your house tonight?” Heather asked.
“Now I’ll never forget it,” said Amy.
“I think he figured something out,” Heather said. “Maybe he wasn’t exactly sure. He wanted to think about it before he told anyone. But I think he realized who the murderer was.”
“He figured it out?” asked Amy.
“I think he did,” said Heather. “And he was killed to keep quiet about it.”
Chapter 15
The next morning Lilly and Nicolas looked as if they had made up and were better friends than ever. They were pretending they were dinosaurs and running around. Heather and Ryan kept an eye on them as they walked Dave and Cupcake.
It was nice to share a morning together with the kids while a case was underway. They walked along and let Dave stop and smell the roses. Cupcake chose to paw at them.
“You have that look on your face,” Ryan said. “That deep in thought look. Are you thinking about the case?”
“Yes and no,” Heather said. “I feel like the pieces of the puzzle for the case are all swirling around in my head. But there are some other distracting thoughts as well.”
“Like what?” Ryan asked.
“I don’t think it’s worth talking about,” said Heather. “Business has been doing well, and I’ve been thinking about whether I should open another location to meet our online orders. I don’t think opening another one in Hillside makes any sense. But I know that moving isn’t on the table.”
“Wait a second,” said Ryan. “If you have something you want to discuss, let’s discuss it. Don’t assume that you know my answer before we talk about it.”
“You think moving away from Hillside could be a possibility?”
“I care about Hillside,” Ryan said. “But do you know what I care more about?”
“I might have an idea,” said Heather with a smile.
“My family. If moving is what is best for the love of my life to achieve her business dreams, and if it would help us provide more for Lilly, well, of course, we should consider it,” said Ryan.
&nb
sp; “Ryan, you have no idea what it means to hear you say that.”
“I might have an idea,” Ryan said right back to her with a wink.
“I’m not sure it’s definitely what we should do. But opening a second Donut Delights in another city could be a great business move. And it could provide new adventures for our whole family,” said Heather.
“There are police forces in almost any city. Do you think some of them might be in need of a new detective?”
“One as talented and handsome as you are?” Heather asked. “I’m sure they can make room.”
“Do you have any place in mind?” asked Ryan.
“A potential investor tried to persuade me to give Key West another try, but I’m not sure about him yet.”
“I don’t know,” Ryan said. “When you went to Key West on vacation you got involved in a murder investigation. I can only imagine how many cases will fall into your lap if you go there as a private investigator.”
“I’d go there as a baker and businesswoman,” Heather said. “But if I happened to get involved in sleuthing there again, I’d have you with me this time.”
“I think there are pros and cons to a move,” Ryan said.
“I know,” said Heather. “Amy and Jamie just moved in together, and I’d be moving away from my best friend. And Eva and Leila.”
“Our friends will support us if we do what is right for us.” Ryan added, “especially if we end up in a place that is nice to vacation at. Then we’d be sure to have visitors.”
Heather smiled. “It is a big decision to make.”
“We’ll make it together,” Ryan said.
Heather gave him a kiss. Then she bent down to pet a happy Dave. She watched Lilly and Nicolas playing. If she could just figure out this case, then everything would be perfect. She told Ryan as much.
“I questioned everyone in the neighborhood behind, and you talked to all the neighbors on the street. Nobody noticed anyone sneaking into Barry Rahway’s house.”
“I wish I could figure out what we are missing,” said Heather.
“Hoskins wanted to lead the team questioning potential witnesses near Amos Hucklebine’s house. Maybe someone there saw the killer approach.”
“I wonder why no one noticed him the first time,” Heather thought aloud.
“I don’t know,” said Ryan. “But I’m going to join the search after our walk when you go to the donut shop.”
“I really think that he figured out who the killer was and that’s why he was killed,” Heather said.
“It makes sense to me,” said Ryan. “But what did he figure out?”
“I wish I knew,” said Heather. “If I could just figure out what he figured out we’d catch the man guilty of double homicide.”
Chapter 16
Heather handed out donuts to her customers. It kept a smile on her face, even if she were feeling frustrated inside. Two men were dead, and she didn’t feel any closer to solving the case than when she began.
She handed a Vanilla Glazed Donut and a coffee over to a grateful woman. Then she looked up and saw Amy approaching.
“Donut in exchange for an idea?” Amy bartered.
“I’d give you a donut for being my friend,” Heather said, putting the snack on a plate. “But I’d love to hear your ideas. Especially if it has to do with the case.”
“It does, but it might sound a little crazy.”
Heather waved Angelica and Maricela over to watch the counter so she could talk to Amy at a table.
“No problem, boss,” Maricela said. “But if we pick up any more online orders, we are going to need more help.”
“I’ve been thinking more this,” Heather said. “Hopefully I’ll decide on the proper solution soon.”
“She has to find out who a murderer is first,” Angelica said.
“I do,” said Heather. “He’s already killed twice. I can’t let it get to three.”
“We don’t want it to get to three either, boss,” said Maricela. “Go solve it. We’ll man the fort.”
Heather smiled and thanked them. Then she joined Amy at the table with some donuts.
“Now what’s this idea of yours?” Heather asked.
“I warned you that it sounded a little crazy, right?” said Amy. “But what if Crystal Rahway killed her father. Maybe her cast was the blunt object.”
“It’s not that crazy,” Heather said. “Because I asked Ryan to check her shoe size.”
“Wow. Great minds think alike.”
“We are pretty great, but I think I came to this idea out of desperation more than anything. She would really injure her arm again doing that. And a cast does have a curve on it. It’s not flat.”
“But she has been acting strangely,” said Amy. “She’s been complimenting Hoskins. I mean, Hoskins!”
“I know,” said Heather.
“It could all be an act so that he doesn’t consider her a suspect.”
“It could be,” said Heather. “Nathan Greene said that he didn’t see her visit that day, but he said he didn’t notice anyone unusual on the street. There had to be someone who committed the crime.”
“And someone who knew that Amos Hucklebine figured out that he did it.”
Heather’s phone rang. She answered it and was happy to hear from Ryan, but was less happy to hear what he reported.
“Crystal Rahway wears a size seven shoe,” Heather said. “She didn’t leave the boot print.”
“This might be even more disturbing,” said Amy. “That means that she actually does admire Hoskins’s detective work.”
“I guess she is latching onto the first officer that she met,” Heather said.
“But it’s Hoskins,” said Amy.
“He actually has been trying with this case,” Heather had to admit. She had some issues with Hoskins’s in the past, but she had to give credit where credit was due. Hoskins was trying for once. He wasn’t finding any leads that would uncover who the killer was, but she felt that so far neither had she.
She sighed. “We need to solve this case.”
“We can’t be beaten by Hoskins,” said Amy.
“Not just that,” said Heather.
“I know,” Amy said, more seriously. “I want to catch whoever hurt my kind landlord.”
“What were we talking about before he got that strange look on his face?” Heather asked.
“The welcome card that he sent, and how he wanted us to feel at home,” said Amy.
Heather nodded, trying to follow the same train of thought that Amos Hucklebine must have followed. However, her thought train was interrupted by the appearance of two new customers that demanded her attention.
Roadkill Rodney and Rudolph Rodney entered the shop together. They weren’t standing as close as friends, but this time no one was running away from the others.
“We’ll have two donuts, I guess, please,” Roadkill Rodney said as he ordered.
After receiving their order, they were going to sit at a table but then saw Heather and Amy. Heather invited them to sit with them.
“You two seem to be getting along better than the last time we saw you,” remarked Heather.
“We’ve begun peace talks,” Rudolph said with a smile.
“It’s true,” said Roadkill Rodney. “He was a very persistent man. He stuck to me like a skunk carcass sticks to the pavement on a hot summer day.”
After an analogy like that, Heather and Amy were glad they were done eating.
“It’s true,” Rudolph said. “But only because this is so important to me.”
“My mom was a very proud woman, and that was something I greatly admired about her,” Roadkill Rodney said to them. “But I can’t help thinking that if she had only tried talking to my uncle, then she could have had a brother again before she died. Rudolph here had been making plans to reunite, but he didn’t know there was a pressing deadline.”
“If I had known my sister was sick, I would have been at her side in an instant.”
“For which I am eternally grateful,” Rudolph said.
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