Candy, Murder, and Just Desserts: Cozy Mystery with Recipes by Carolyn Chambers Clark

Author:Carolyn Chambers Clark [Chambers Clark, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Versatile Publishing
Published: 2021-05-10T22:00:00+00:00

***

First thing the next morning, after I arrived at work and poured myself a cup of chamomile tea, I convened a meeting of the Let’s Gossip About Who Was Sleeping with Theo club, better known as my employees. Of course, I couched my call to action in less dramatic terms.

“I’ve called you here today—” that’s how I started, then thought, who do I think I am, the President announcing a nuclear attack? I started over. “That is, Sergeant Dennehy needs to know who had an intimate relationship with Theo. Any names you can provide will help him solve Theo’s murder, but more importantly, get him off our back so we can get preparations for our spring fashion show done.”

I glanced around the room. The models looked totally bored, which was normal, while the cutters and sales people shuffled their feet, which was also normal. They wanted to get on with their jobs, so I’d stop riding them about the spring show.

Nobody said a word. They probably didn’t want to divulge any information in front of their peers. That, or no one knew anything. Or maybe no one wanted to open their mouth and be questioned by Sergeant Dennehy.

“Okay, then. Don’t forget the Suggestion Box. If you remember somebody who might have been close to Theo, put down the name or names and don’t sign yours. Whatever you share will be completely anonymous.

That was the exact moment Heather ran into my salon. “All right, which of you ringdings has been spreading rumors around about me and Theo?” She stared at Evan and then Rhonda.

No one answered.

“Take a seat, Heather,” I said, trying to contain my frustration that she’d destroyed any chance of anybody saying anything now.

“We’re all upset about Theo, Heather, but let’s try to reason this out. Somebody killed him and Sergeant Dennehy is investigating.”

Several people laughed and a few smirked. I guess they’d heard his mishmashed talk and assumed he knew nothing about finding a murderer. I leaned in that direction myself. In fact, by now, I had absolutely no confidence he’d find out anything about Theo’s murderer.

“You think that crackpot knows step one in finding Theo’s killer?” Heather said in an angry voice. “My cat knows more than that guy.”

A few people clapped, indicating they agreed with her, maybe not her method, but her words. I felt like clapping myself, but that wouldn’t be very executive-like of me. Tension in the room was high as an over-inflated balloon, and I had the impression that if one person openly agreed with Heather, an all out war would erupt.

“Then let’s help him,” Rhonda said in her usual sweet voice.

We all looked at her and nodded.

Picking up the ball I said, “What do you suggest, Rhonda?”

“I know it’s hard to speak out in a big group, so why don’t we put our ideas in the Suggestion Box Cookie put in the kitchen a while back. She and I can look over the ideas and get to work on them right away.”

Applause filled the room.

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