Murder by Milkshake: A Sweet Dreams Mystery (Sweet Dreams Mysteries Book 1) by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo

Author:Elizabeth Maria Naranjo [Naranjo, Elizabeth Maria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHT

IT WAS THE CAT!

Within twenty-four hours, Ms. Pierce had gone from the most hated teacher in the history of Pinewood High to its most revered. Students clustered in the hallways before the morning bell, declaring their reverence and respect for the substitute teacher Genevieve knew they’d all detested. Suddenly Ms. Pierce was no longer a crabby old sub but a helpless old woman who’d loved children and simply believed in instructing them with strict, old-school discipline, like a lovable granny.

Genevieve gritted her teeth and tried to ignore the hypocrisy, focusing instead on her renewed hopes that, if the suicide was staged, perhaps Miss Love was still alive. The dragging of the lake had been called off due to the inclement weather—they’d had lightning storms all afternoon and into the evening—and the young teacher’s body had not yet been found.

Genevieve’s hopes were quickly dashed, however, when she herself was called in for questioning by Detective Christie the day after Principal Mattison had been questioned and released.

“You can refuse, you know,” Brandon said.

“Why would I do that?” Genevieve had retorted. “I’m not afraid of her. And besides, maybe I can learn something about the investigation.”

The police station in Pinewood was a red brick building with a terraced flower garden bookended by a pair of maple trees. The charm ended once you stepped inside the sterile front reception area, but Genevieve didn’t have long to wait before she was ushered through a narrow hallway and into the detective’s office.

Detective Christie wore the same tight ponytail and sharp blue gaze as the last time Genevieve had faced her. Was that only a week ago? It seemed like a year. Her workspace looked the way Genevieve would have imagined—uncluttered, with dark wood furniture, leather chairs, and shades drawn.

“Miss Winterland,” the detective said, nodding curtly. “Thank you for agreeing to be here on short notice. I’d like to ask you a few more questions about the other night.” She gestured for Genevieve to sit. “Would you like a coffee?”

Genevieve said, “Is it true that Ms. Pierce was murdered?”

The detective looked at her evenly. “We have reason to believe the suicide was staged, yes.”

Genevieve was caught off guard—she hadn’t expected a straight answer. Sitting back in her chair, she let the confirmation sink in. Ms. Pierce had not chosen her death. She was a victim, and someone had not only murdered her in cold blood but tried to pin the blame on Ms. Pierce herself. Doesn’t seem fair, Genevieve thought.

Ms. Pierce had by no stretch of the imagination been a kind person or an effective teacher, but she had not deserved to die. Genevieve remembered her own flash of sympathy as the substitute spoke of having no children, the naked remorse on Ms. Pierce’s normally bitter features that had stripped her down to someone real and vulnerable.

“Miss Winterland?”

Genevieve focused again on the detective, and when she spoke there was a hard edge to her voice. “Someone killed her and strung her body up.”

“Yes, and that someone is on the loose.

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