Salted Caramel, Shows, and Suspects (A Chocolate Centered Cozy Mystery Book 23) by Cindy Bell

Author:Cindy Bell [Bell, Cindy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-05-30T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

The following morning when Ally woke up, Luke had already left for the day. She quickly got ready, then she drove to the shop with Peaches and Arnold. She had plans to do some investigating with her grandmother and presumed they might need the car.

After getting the pets settled in the courtyard, Ally concentrated on making candies while Gabby served the customers.

As Ally checked the candy thermometer for some salted caramels, she heard Charlotte’s voice carry from the front of the shop before the kitchen door swung open.

“Mee-Maw, perfect timing.” Ally took the pan off the heat and stirred in the salt and vanilla extract. “This is my last batch.” She poured the caramel into the prepared pan.

“Great. It’s almost eleven. Malcolm should be at the restaurant setting up for the lunch service. Did you manage to get any more information from Luke?”

“No, I was asleep before he got home last night, and he’d already left when I got up. This case certainly has him busy.” Ally carried the pan over to the sink. “I just need to do these dishes.”

“Okay, you do that. I’ll make sure Peaches and Arnold have plenty of water, and then we can get on the road.” Charlotte went about tending to the animals while Ally finished up the dishes.

Ally gave Gabby a rundown on where everything was up to with the candies, then she followed her grandmother out to the courtyard.

“We won’t be long.” Ally patted Peaches and Arnold, then continued toward her car. “How was dinner?” She started the engine.

“Great. We didn’t go out. Jeff cooked.”

“Aren’t you lucky.” Ally reversed out of the parking spot and turned onto the main road.

“I am, for sure. And so are you.”

“Absolutely. Luke is wonderful to me.” Ally pulled into the parking lot of Malcolm’s restaurant. She parked beside the only other vehicle, the silver sedan. As she stepped out of the car, she noticed the scratch on the side of it again.

The front door of the restaurant opened, and Malcolm stepped outside with a large bag of trash in one hand.

“Ladies.” Malcolm nodded to them as he walked over to the dumpster and tossed the bag inside. “I guess I should have expected you two to show up.”

“We just wanted to check in with you.” Ally watched as he walked back toward them.

“Nothing has changed really. My life is still ruined, and the whole town thinks I’m a murderer.” Malcolm shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “Not much point in opening today, but I still will.”

“What happened to your car?” Ally gestured to the scrape on the side of it.

“It was probably just one of the neighborhood kids.” Malcolm shrugged. “They get angry because I don’t let them hang out in front of the restaurant. It’s supposed to be an upscale establishment, not a place to loiter.”

“That makes sense. When did it happen?” Ally asked.

“Sometime in the last few days, I guess.” Malcolm shrugged.

“I see you have a camera there, pointed at your car.

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