Footprints in the Frosting (Holly Hart Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Laura Pauling

Author:Laura Pauling [Pauling, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Redpoint Press
Published: 2015-05-02T16:00:00+00:00

***

The next morning, Holly rubbed her eyes but refused to stretch her sore back in front of Officer Trinket. “Best night’s sleep ever,” she stated as she marched from the cell.

“Really? Best night ever?”

“Yup.” She headed straight toward the door, because if she stopped, even for one second, she’d probably give in to her tears. Her night had been terrible. She’d tossed and turned, racked by nightmares of giant cheesecakes smothering her. Several times, she’d shot up in the dark gasping for breath.

“Holly,” Officer Trinket said.

She paused, hand on the door, not looking back. “What?”

His voice softened but still had a steel edge to it. “Lock your doors. Be smart and keep your focus where it belongs—in the kitchen...and be safe.”

She widened her eyes. “I can do more than just sit in a kitchen. This isn’t the 50s. If I knew your mama I’d be stopping by for tea to tell on you. She’d give you a slap upside the head.”

“My mama?” He looked puzzled. “I didn’t mean—”

“Too late. Too little.” She closed the door then muttered a curse. When the door opened, she closed her eyes in humiliation but turned, bumping into Officer Trinket. He stood, her keys dangling from his fingers. “And, in case you’re wondering, the cheesecake tested positive for poison, but we can’t prove it was yours. Anyone could put a cheesecake in one of your containers.”

She snatched them from him. “Thank you. I already knew that.”

Halfway home, Holly felt bad. Office Trinket wasn’t being sexist. He meant kitchen as in focus on her business. Still, she’d enjoyed giving him a hard time. But he was right about one thing. She did need to focus. Time to go where she’d never gone before.

Undercover.

At home, Holly picked up Muffins and apologized. She fed him, took him for a walk, and spent quality time snuggling on the couch. “Yeah, that’s right. You know Mama loves you.” She filled up a second bowl with dog food. “Here you go. Just in case I get thrown in jail again.”

Holly rifled through her clothes for the perfect disguise. She had never been into The Tasty Bite, but her photo had been plastered all over the morning newspaper the day before. She stood in front of her now half-empty closet and tapped her chin. “Hmm.” If people only knew her from her frog pajamas and possible murder rap, they wouldn’t have any idea of her as a person. If she walked in sophisticated and elegant and suave, no one would even suspect she was Holly Hart: newcomer, brilliant creator of Just Cheesecake, murderer.

And a large, floppy hat that kept her face in shadows wouldn’t hurt either.

After ten minutes of dressing, slipping into a pair of navy slacks and short heels--she didn’t want to be too overdressed—she put on a cami and a tan button-up blouse. For the final touch, she placed her tan floppy beach hat over her red hair. Her hair! She twisted it into a bun and placed the hat over it.

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