Itsy-Bitsy Murder: Chocolate Cozy Mystery #2 by Meadows Wendy

Author:Meadows, Wendy
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Majestic Owl Publishing LLC
Published: 2017-03-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Olivia dusted cocoa powder over the truffles. It snowed from the base of her metal dispenser, a fine powder that clung to the moist balls and scattered across the steel tray beneath them.

“Delicious,” Alberta said and leaned toward the finished product. “I must say, time in the kitchen is the best time of all.”

“I thought you loved serving the customers,” Olivia replied, putting down the cocoa powder. “You love the gossip and so on.”

“Oh, I do, I do. But the smells in this kitchen are irresistible,” Alberta replied. “And there’s something so satisfying about completing a truffle to put out on one of our trays.”

“I agree,” Olivia said and touched her finger to the side of her nose. The cocoa-coated truffles sat side by side, nudging each other, nestled in cocoa and waiting for the right customer to come along.

The chocolates made her day, but she still couldn’t get the case out of her thoughts.

Bitsy’s tantrum had triggered a deluge of suspicion, and it washed over her every time she focused on what happened in the Cuddle Clinic.

Pinkie’s love letter to Jana also provided a little more insight than she’d anticipated. What if Jana had rejected his advances, and Pinkie had gotten angry? It would explain the strange sense of guilt that hovered around the rosy-cheeked receptionist.

“Olivia?” Alberta tapped her on the arm. “Are you in there, dear?”

“Oh, sorry! Did you say something?” Olivia asked. She’d totally been lost in thought.

“I asked if you’d like me to take the new batch out.” Alberta’s soft smile crinkled the lines around her mouth.

“Yes, please,” Olivia said and grinned back.

The As had been super supportive of her investigation, but she still hadn’t opened up her investigation case. The intimidation factor was just too high at the moment.

Alberta picked up the tray and carted it out of the kitchen. A swell of noise rushed through the open door—the happy chatter of customers and the dull thuds of coffee cups on her dark wood tables.

Olivia turned to the next tray and lifted her cocoa dispenser. The kitchen door swung open behind her, and the noise rushed back in.

“Done already?” Olivia asked. “I thought for sure you’d hang around to catch the gossip in the store, Albie.”

“Miss Cloud,” a man said.

Olivia spun on the spot, and cocoa sprayed across the tiles. “Oh shoot,” she said and dropped the dispenser on the counter again.

Jake Morgan stood just inside the kitchen doors. The square glass panes in them allowed Olivia a glimpse of Alberta at the counter; she smiled and chattered away with one of their noisiest customers, Lanie Hayden.

“You’re not supposed to be in here,” Olivia said, grimacing at the mess on the floor.

“I came to save you some trouble, Miss Cloud,” Jake said. He folded his arms across his loose cotton button-down. “We need to talk. As soon as possible.”

The kitchen door swung open and crashed into Jake’s back. He stumbled forward and careened into the counter. The cocoa dispenser popped open, and a brown cloud enveloped the private investigator.

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