Luscious Pastry at a Lethal Party (A Chocolate Centered Cozy Mystery Book 5)

by Cindy Bell

  “It matters because Ted is married, too. You’d be surprised what lengths people will go to, just to keep their dirty little secrets. Disgusting.” She scrunched up her nose. “It’s not as if Julia is a great loss.”

  Ally swallowed back angry words and tried to focus on continuing to stall the woman.

  “How did you get Kristy to drop off the champagne glass?”

  “That was easy. She had no idea it was poisoned and then when she realized what was happening I just offered her some more money.”

  “Did you burn down Ralph’s house?” Ally asked as the thought suddenly occurred to her.

  “No.” She giggled. “That was Ted. Ralph was blackmailing him about his relationship with Julia.” Ally thought about it all being a waste as the truth about Julia and Ted had now been revealed.

  “Killing me isn’t going to solve anything. I’m not the only one that knows what you did.”

  “Nice try.” She laughed. “You didn’t even know, at least not for sure. No one else knows. Your grandmother smiled at me like I was the sweetest person she’d ever met. Who else would you tell?”

  “The police. I told the police. They know that you gave Kristy the glass to take to the party for the mayor. When I go missing, they’re going to come after you.”

  “You have no proof, the police probably laughed in your face. And trust me honey, it’s going to be some time before they can find your body.”

  “Don’t do this, don’t do this.” Ally gave up her pride and began to beg. It flashed through her mind that her grandmother would be left alone. That Peaches would never understand why she didn’t come home. As she pleaded with Maddie for her life, she promised inwardly that she would never take such a great risk again, if only somehow she was able to get out of the situation.

  “Please stop your blubbering. Really, it’s embarrassing.” She rolled her eyes and lunged towards Ally. “I told you to drink the water, I’ll get another glass of poisoned water so you can have one last chance to drink the poison. Otherwise I’ll have to use other methods.”

  Ally swallowed hard. Maybe the poison would be the better choice. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could the back door burst open. Luke charged into the kitchen with his gun drawn. “Back away from her! Now!”

  Ally’s eyes widened as Maddie jumped and stumbled back. She raised her hands in the air.

  “This woman’s crazy. She accused me of murder and then she tried to attack me. She’s crazy!”

  “Ally, get back.” Luke shot her a stern look then returned his gaze to Maddie. “Turn around and put your hands on your head.”

  “Please, you have it all wrong. This is my house, she conned her way inside and then tried to kill me!”

  “Save it.” Luke moved closer to her. Outside the house sirens shrieked through the air. Ally blinked back tears of relief. She managed to pull herself up into a sitting position. With one hand pressed to the cut on her head she watched in a daze as Luke handcuffed Maddie.

  “Does she have a weapon, Ally?”

  Ally pointed to the broken glass on the floor. “Poison. She tried to poison me.”

  “Did you drink any of it?” Luke’s eyes filled with fear.

  “Not a drop.” Ally rested her head back against the wall and sighed. “Not a drop.”

  He scooped her up in his arms and carried her out of the house. Ally didn’t protest, or point out that she could probably walk just fine on her own. Instead she rested her head against his chest and murmured gratitude for the fact that he was there.

  Outside of the house a paramedic rushed up to Ally and escorted her to the back of an ambulance. Charlotte joined her just as the paramedic applied a bandage to the cut on her head.

  “Are you okay, Ally?” She touched her cheek. “Did she do that to you?”

  “I’m okay. It’s just a cut.”

  “It’s a bit more than a cut.” The paramedic frowned. “We’re going to have to take you to the hospital. They can watch you overnight for a concussion.”

  “No please, I don’t want to go to the hospital.” Ally pulled away from the paramedic. “I just want to go home.”

  “With a blow to your head like that, it’s best if you’re observed. Do you live alone?”

  “I’ll stay with her.” Charlotte wrapped her hand around Ally’s. “I’ll watch her.” She smiled a little. “Remember that time you thought you could do a back flip with your bike, Ally? I sat up all night then, watching for the signs of a concussion.”

  “Yes.” Ally laughed a little. “You taught me how to play rummy.”

  “Yes.” Charlotte squeezed her hand as tears filled her eyes. “I’m so glad that you’re okay.”

  “I am, Mee-Maw, thanks to Luke. How did he even know where I was?”

  Charlotte helped her out of the back of the ambulance. “Uh well, that might be my doing.”

  “What do you mean?” Ally raised an eyebrow.

  “I was worried about you. After I told Luke about you breaking into the mayor’s office he asked me to text him all of the information we found out about the case. He had just come back because his training was finished, but he didn’t tell me he was back yet.”

  Luke walked across the front lawn of the property towards them both. Ally could see the concern in the furrow of his brow.

  “I’m okay.” She smiled at him. “Since you came to my rescue.”

  “You scared me, Ally. When I saw you on the floor, and the blood…” His voice cut off. Ally reached up and stroked his cheek.

  “I’m okay, Luke. I promise.”

  He nodded and searched her eyes. “Why would you put yourself in such a dangerous position?”

  “I didn’t know that I had. I was just going to talk to her husband, who I thought was the killer, but when I saw her there I thought I would talk to her instead to see if she knew anything. I had to make up a story and I thought if I could get inside and find the poison or some other evidence then the case would be broken. To be honest, I had no idea that she was the killer. Her husband didn’t know anything about it. How did you know to come here?”

  “When your grandmother told me that you were determined to speak to him, I did some looking into him and Maddie. I found nothing solid on him, but Maddie has had several people die under unusual circumstances in her life. A rival on the cheer leading squad when she was a teenager, a college professor that threatened to fail her, and even a waitress that she got into a squabble with over supposedly flirting with her husband. All three people died of undetermined causes. I thought that could mean poison, so I decided that I needed to get back here before you did something to put yourself at risk. I guess my hunch was right.”

  “I’m so lucky.” Ally shook her head. “She is a sick woman.”

  “Very.” He sighed and shook his head. “All that matters is that you are safe.” He touched the bandage lightly. “And not too hurt.”

  “Just a little. It’ll be better by morning, after a few good games of rummy.”

  “Rummy? I’ve never learned to play. Can I join?” He smiled at Ally and Charlotte.

  “Absolutely.” Ally smiled. “Is that okay with you, Mee-Maw?”

  “Oh trust me, Ally, I think it’s very clear that you need more than one set of watchful eyes looking out for you.” She elbowed Luke and smiled. “I could use the help.”

  “Hey!” Ally laughed. “I’m not that bad.”

  Luke and Charlotte exchanged a look and laughed as well.

  “I feel like something sweet. I’ll pick up some chocolates from the shop on the way home,” Charlotte said.

  “Chocolate, rummy and good company. It doesn’t get better than that!” Ally smiled.

  As Ally followed Luke over to the detective assigned to the case she felt a sense of peace. Julia had her justice, and Maddie would never be able to hurt anyone again.

  The End

  From the Author

  Thank you very much for reading ‘Luscious Pastry at a Lethal Party�
�, the fifth book in the Chocolate Centered Cozy Mystery Series. If you enjoyed the book and would like to be updated when I release a new book you can sign up for email updates at http://www.cindybellbooks.com/. I will never share your email.

  About the Author

  Cindy Bell is the author of the cozy mystery series Chocolate Centered, Sage Gardens, Bekki the Beautician, Dune House, Heavenly Highland Inn and Wendy the Wedding Planner.

  Cindy has always loved reading, but it is only recently that she has discovered her passion for writing romantic cozy mysteries. She loves walking along the beach thinking of the next adventure her characters can embark on.

  You can sign up for her newsletter so you are notified of her latest releases at http://www.cindybellbooks.com.

  More Books by Cindy Bell

  Chocolate Centered Cozy Mysteries

  The Sweet Smell of Murder

  A Deadly Delicious Delivery

  A Bitter Sweet Murder

  A Treacherous Tasty Trail

  Sage Gardens Cozy Mysteries

  Birthdays Can Be Deadly

  Money Can Be Deadly

  Trust Can Be Deadly

  Ties Can Be Deadly

  Rocks Can Be Deadly

  Jewelry Can Be Deadly

  Numbers Can Be Deadly

  Wendy the Wedding Planner Cozy Mysteries

  Matrimony, Money and Murder

  Chefs, Ceremonies and Crimes

  Knives and Nuptials

  Mice, Marriage and Murder

  Bekki the Beautician Cozy Mysteries

  Hairspray and Homicide

  A Dyed Blonde and a Dead Body

  Mascara and Murder

  Pageant and Poison

  Conditioner and a Corpse

  Mistletoe, Makeup and Murder

  Hairpin, Hair Dryer and Homicide

  Blush, a Bride and a Body

  Shampoo and a Stiff

  Cosmetics, a Cruise and a Killer

  Lipstick, a Long Iron and Lifeless

  Camping, Concealer and Criminals

  Treated and Dyed

  Dune House Cozy Mysteries

  Seaside Secrets

  Boats and Bad Guys

  Treasured History

  Hidden Hideaways

  Dodgy Dealings

  Suspects and Surprises

  Ruffled Feathers

  A Fishy Discovery

  Heavenly Highland Inn Cozy Mysteries

  Murdering the Roses

  Dead in the Daisies

  Killing the Carnations

  Drowning the Daffodils

  Suffocating the Sunflowers

  Books, Bullets and Blooms

  A Deadly Serious Gardening Contest

  A Bridal Bouquet and a Body

  Chocolate Ganache Tart Recipe

  Ingredients:

  Pastry:

  3 cups all-purpose flour

  2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar

  2 tablespoons cocoa powder

  7 ounces unsalted butter

  1 large egg

  Ganache:

  4 ounces semisweet chocolate

  4 ounces bittersweet chocolate

  2 ounces unsalted butter

  1 cup heavy cream

  1/4 teaspoon salt

  Decoration:

  1 cup fresh raspberries

  Preparation:

  This recipe will make 8 mini tarts. You will need 4 inch tart pans with removable bottoms.

  For the pastry sift the flour, confectioners’ sugar and cocoa powder into a large bowl.

  Add the cubed, cold butter to the bowl with the flour mixture. Rub the flour mixture and butter together using your fingertips until the butter is incorporated and the mixture is crumbly. Don’t overwork the mixture.

  Gently mix in the egg and shape the mixture into a disk.

  Wrap the pastry in plastic wrap and put in the fridge for about thirty minutes.

  When the pastry is cold preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

  Take the cooled pastry out of the fridge. Divide into 8 portions and using a floured rolling pin roll into a circular shape until about 1/4 of an inch thick. Press into tart pans and remove excess mixture from the sides.

  Prick the bottom of the pastry twice with a fork and then place in the fridge for five minutes.

  Remove from the fridge and line the tarts with parchment paper and baking beads. Place in the oven on the middle rack and bake for about 10 minutes. Remove the parchment paper and beads and bake the shell for another 5 minutes. Or until the shell is crispy and cooked through. Once cooked put aside to cool.

  While the tarts are cooking you can start on the ganache filling. To make the ganache chop the chocolate and butter into small pieces and put in a large bowl. Put it aside.

  Heat the cream until it is just simmering.

  Pour the cream over the chocolate and butter and leave for 2-3 minutes. Then gently stir the mixture until the butter and chocolate have melted. Mix in the salt.

  Put the mixture aside to cool to room temperature.

  Once the ganache and tart shells are at room temperature spoon the mixture into the shells.

  Place in the fridge for at least 2 hours until the ganache sets. Remove from the fridge at least an hour before serving.

  Decorate with fresh raspberries.

  Enjoy!