by Amber Crewes
Meghan pursed her lips. “Mrs. Sheridan, that’s terrible.”
Mrs. Sheridan wrinkled her nose. “I’m just telling it how it is,” she said. “I told you kids that the gingerbread was bad luck, and you ate it anyway. Now that man is dead. His blood is on your hands, Meghan Truman and Jack Irvin, and you two should be ashamed of yourselves!
3
“You two should be seriously ashamed of yourselves,” Mrs. Sheridan continued as Meghan began to cry. “You ate the gingerbread, and you’re just as bad as the murderer!”
Jack glared at Mrs. Sheridan. “That is enough,” he ordered Mrs. Sheridan as he looked around the parking lot at the chaos that was brewing in the crowd. “Meghan, it looks like people are getting pretty shaken up; I am going to go ahead and go on-duty and talk with some witnesses. Will you be okay here?”
Meghan’s eyes flew to Mrs. Sheridan’s angry face. “Umm….”
Jack gently took Mrs. Sheridan by the elbow. “I’ll take the chance to speak with Mrs. Sheridan,” he told Meghan as he began to walk away with the elderly woman. “Meghan, you just take some deep breaths and relax; I will try to get us out of here as soon as we can.”
Meghan’s heart was pounding as she took a seat on the curb. She thought of herself only moments ago in the theater, snuggled up with her boyfriend and enjoying the evening, and her heart ached as she pictured Tom Doncaster being murdered.
Suddenly, Meghan’s phone rang. It was Karen Denton, her dearest friend in Sandy Bay. Karen and Meghan had met a few years earlier when the two had lived in Los Angeles; Sandy Bay was Karen’s treasured hometown, and after failing to secure a career in acting in Hollywood, Meghan had been convinced by Karen to move to Sandy Bay. Despite their significant age difference, Meghan adored Karen; at seventy-three years old, Karen was the most energetic, spirited woman Meghan had ever met, and Meghan loved her company and counsel as she navigated her new life and new business in Sandy Bay.
“Meghan!” Karen screeched as Meghan answered the phone. “Meghan, are you alright?”
Meghan’s hands shook as she gripped the phone, but she nodded. “I’m alright, Karen. Did you hear about what happened at the theater?”
“Oh, sweetie, I did,” she cried. “I was leaving the pilates studio when the news came on the television in the lobby. I called you to tell you, and when Trudy told me that you and Jack were at the movies, I could have just died with worry.”
Meghan sighed. “I heard the gunshot, I think,” she told Karen. “But I’m fine, and so is Jack.”
“Thank goodness,” she said. “I was so worried about you, sweetie. Meghan, on the television, they said a body was recovered. Do you know who it was?”
Meghan took a long breath. “Tom Doncaster? I don’t know him, but Jack said he was the manager?”
Karen shrieked. “Tom? Tom Doncaster? Oh no! She finally did it! She finally did him in!”
“What are you talking about?” Meghan asked Karen. “Who did him in?”
“Everyone around Sandy Bay knows about Sheila Doncaster,” Karen huffed. “Sheila, Tom’s wife. She’s been madly in love with one of the fitness instructors at my gym for years! Everyone has always seen the way she’s treated Tom; she speaks—spoke—to him like a dog, and she was obviously in love with the fitness instructor instead of her husband. Everyone always joked that Sheila would kill Tom someday so that she could run off with her fitness fellow, but I never really believed that she’d get the guts to do it.”
Meghan’s mouth opened. “Are you serious? Would she really do that?”
“Oh, yes,” Karen confirmed. “Sheila Doncaster is a real witch. She was a spoiled little rich girl growing up, and when she married a movie theater manager, everyone was confused. Word on the street was that she married for love, but that she got bored before the ink was dry on their marriage certificate.”
“That’s terrible,” Meghan said as she rose to her feet and began pacing around the crowded parking lot. “I’m going to tell Jack about her.”
“You don’t need to bother,” Karen sighed. “Everyone knows about Sheila and Tom. I’m sure the police have already gone to pick her up. It was only a matter of time….”
Meghan finished her call with Karen and tucked her phone back in her handbag. She took a moment to digest all that Karen had told her. As a teenager growing up in Texas, she had worked at the local cinema and knew the stress some of the managers went through. The job usually involved late nights and Meghan could see how Sheila Doncaster may have suffered many lonely nights on her own. She was also aware of the inaccuracy of the Sandy Bay rumor mill as she had been the target of it on a few occasions. Being a small town, it seemed everyone knew everyone else’s business. Meghan was initially amazed at how fast news travelled around town when she first arrived in Sandy Bay but after having lived there for a while, she was used to it. She didn’t condone it but could see why Sheila might have been tempted to find solace in the arms of another man who wasn’t her husband. But to kill him? Something just didn’t feel right about that and she hoped she’d be able to get to the bottom of this murder mystery.
4
There are some days you never want to end because you’re having so much fun. Today was not one of those days for Meghan Truman. She couldn’t remember having such a night where things had started so well but ended up miserably.
“That was not the relaxing date night I wanted to give you,” Jack lamented as he pulled up in front of the bakery. “I’m so sorry, Meghan.”
Meghan shoved a stray piece of dark, wavy hair out of her eyes as Jack came around to open the passenger door for her. She took his hand as he helped her out of the car, and leaned into his tall, muscled frame as he walked her to the front door.
“I just wanted you to have some fun,” Jack apologized. “I didn’t expect Tom to be shot, or that Mrs. Sheridan would go bananas on you.”
Meghan rolled her eyes at Mrs. Sheridan’s name; after Meghan had ended her conversation with Karen, Mrs. Sheridan came back to torment Meghan, and had not stopped until Jack threatened to arrest her. Mrs. Sheridan had been placed in the back of a squad car, and Meghan was interviewed by Chief Nunan, along with two other Sandy Bay Police officers.
“It wasn’t the date night I was hoping for,” Meghan admitted as she and Jack stood in front of the bakery door. “But I’m glad we got to spend some time together.”
Jack smiled down at Meghan and put his strong arms around her waist. A shiver flew up her spine as he pulled her close, and she closed her eyes, tilting her chin up as Jack kissed her softly on the lips.
“Thank you for coming with me,” Jack whispered as he gently pulled away and kissed Meghan on the forehead. “And thanks for being patient with me while I was on-duty; you are a trooper, Meghan Truman. A real trooper.”
Meghan felt butterflies in her stomach as she watched Jack walk back to his car; he was so tall and good-looking that Meghan still felt nervous every time she looked into his eyes. She had hoped for so long that they would start dating, and now that he was her boyfriend, Meghan could not have imagined a better Prince Charming.
“Tonight was scary,” Meghan thought to herself as she stepped into the bakery and greeted Fiesta and Siesta, her two little dogs. “But having Jack there was really nice; I feel so safe with him, and he knew just how to handle Mrs. Sheridan when she was bothering me. I just hope he can solve this murder quickly; there’s a killer on the loose in Sandy Bay.”
The next morning, as Meghan finished arranging a dozen freshly-made donuts in the front display case, she heard the familiar chime of the little silver bells attached to the front door of the bakery. Meghan tucked her hair behind her ears and smiled as a familiar looking adolescent boy shuffled into Truly Sweet.
“Good morning!” Meghan chirped as the boy blushed. “What can I do for you today?”
The boy raised an eyebrow at Meghan. “Miss Truman, don’t you remember me? I’m Danny. From the movie theater?”
Meghan nodded, remembering her brief
encounter with Danny after the movie theater had been evacuated. He had been taking tickets at the outdoor ticket booth during the murder, and Jack had hastily interviewed him as Meghan watched nearby.
“Your boyfriend grilled me in the parking lot; he’s a scary guy, that Detective Irvin.” he exclaimed, as he bent down to study the variety of donuts in the display case. “I’ve never talked to the cops before; I’m a straight-A student and an Eagle Scout, and I had no idea what to say or how to act.”
Meghan smiled warmly at him. He was tall and skinny, and he moved awkwardly like all teenage boys do. She remembered seeing the terrified look on his face as Jack questioned him in the parking lot, and she gestured at the donut case as he licked his lips. “Those are fresh, you know,” she said kindly.
“Great. I’m in charge of taking in breakfast for the swim team this morning, and I thought donuts would be a good pick. The team will be so excited to have some fresh treats for after our workout.”
Meghan bent down to slide the display case open. “What sounds good to you?”
He furrowed his brow. “Let’s see….how about fifteen jelly-filled and fifteen glazed. Oh! And thirty donut-holes, ten lemon, and fifteen chocolate donuts! That should be enough.”
Meghan chuckled. “I should hope so.”
Danny grinned. “I need the sugar and the fuel, Miss Truman. Between the swim team, school, and working at the movie theater, I’m pretty busy.”
Meghan stared at him as she wrapped each donut in Truly Sweet’s signature yellow paper. “You do sound busy. Speaking of the movie theater, how do you like working there?”
He shrugged. “Well, to be honest it had been tense for awhile. Before Tom was killed, him and Lawrence Reid were always going at it. It could get so weird sometimes.”
Meghan bit her bottom lip. “Lawrence Reid?”
He bobbed his head up and down. “Yeah, Lawrence Reid. He worked at the movie theater forever. Him and Tom never got along, and they were always fighting. Tom finally fired him last week, and Lawrence was so mad that he egged Tom’s car!”
Meghan’s jaw dropped. “It sounds like he was pretty angry….”
“Oh, he was. But anyway, I’m running late for practice, so I need to get going,” Danny informed her as he eyed the clock on the wall.
“The donuts are on the house today,” she told him. “Thanks for coming in.”
“Thank you, Miss Truman. That is awfully nice of you,” he said with a silly wink as he walked out with three cardboard boxes of fresh donuts.
As Meghan giggled at Danny’s attempt at being flirtatious, she heard a familiar voice.
“Meghan Truman.”
Meghan looked up to see Kayley Kane, a sassy, no-nonsense real estate agent, marching toward the counter on six-inch heels, her lips bright with pink lipstick and her hair loose. “Kayley, how are you?”
Kayley snapped her gum, her eyes bright with excitement. “I can’t complain. I might have a new opportunity on the horizon, Meghan. Also, can I get a croissant? I’m dying for something delicious this morning.”
Meghan nodded and reached into the display case for a fresh, flaky croissant. “Here you are,” Meghan said as she handed the croissant to Kayley. “Anything else?”
Kayley shook her head. “Nope! A sweet treat and some sweet news, all in one morning. Lucky me.”
Meghan tilted her head to the side. “What are you talking about, Kayley?”
Kayley leaned across the counter to whisper into Meghan’s ear. “The movie theater,” she breathed. “Word around town is that it’s going to be up for sale. It’s going to be a big sale, Meghan, and I think my boss is going to let me have it if it comes up….”
Meghan’s dark eyes widened. “Kayley,” she said slowly. “A man was murdered at the theater, and you’re already thinking about the sale?”
Kayley shrugged. “It’s not an ideal situation, but I really, really want to be behind the sale. Anyway, I have to run. Here’s a five for the croissant. Keep the tip.”
Kayley turned to sashay out of the bakery, and Meghan began twirling a dark, wavy lock of hair between her fingers. “Tom was murdered,” Meghan thought to herself as she recounted the conversation with Kayley. “And Kayley looked as though she had won the lottery. Why is she so excited about that sale? What’s in it for Kayley if the theater sells?”
5
The next day, Meghan glided her car into a parking space at the Sandy Bay Farmer’s Market. It was a bright, crisp morning, and Meghan smiled as the sunshine warmed her face. She breathed in the heavy, thick scent of the salty sea air, savoring the way it clung to her face and hair as she stepped out of her vehicle.
Meghan scanned the crowd in search of Lawrence Reid, the man Tom Doncaster had fired from the movie theater before Tom had been killed. After mentioning her conversation with Danny to her, Karen had insisted Meghan go to speak with Lawrence.
“I bet he knows something,” Karen had declared during their phone call. “Lawrence and I worked together in the local pharmacy many years ago, and he has always been trouble. It’s funny how one day, he is fired from his longtime job, and then immediately after, the man who fired him is dead….”
Meghan had agreed. “You’re right. I should talk to him.”
“Yes, you should,” she said. “His wife runs a stand at the farmer’s market every Tuesday. He usually helps her out. I bet you can catch them there tomorrow. Here, I’ll text you a picture of him so you know who you are looking for.”
When Meghan spotted Lawrence at the farmer’s market, her heart sank; he appeared older than the picture Karen had sent her, and his eyes were weary. Meghan slowly ventured over to the booth where Lawrence was sitting, and she leaned down to greet him. “Lawrence Reid?”
Lawrence’s eyes flashed with anger, and Meghan felt her stomach churn.
“Who wants to know?”
Meghan shook her head. “You aren’t in trouble! I’m Meghan Truman? I own the bakery in town? I just wanted to ask you a few questions….”
Lawrence narrowed his eyes at Meghan. “I know who you are,” he hissed. “You’re the girlfriend of that detective! Look, lady. I don’t know anything about Tom Doncaster’s murder. That jerk didn’t treat me well, but I sure as heck didn’t kill the man.”
Meghan placed a hand on Lawrence’s shoulder. “I’m not here on my boyfriend’s behalf,” she said softly. “I was at the movies the night everything happened. I just want to find out who killed Tom.”
Lawrence glared at Meghan. “I hate to say it, but that man had it coming.”
Meghan’s dark eyes widened as she edged away from Lawrence. While he was older, he was a huge man, and Meghan took in the sight of his huge biceps and muscular build as he stared into her eyes. “What do you mean?”
Lawrence sighed. “He fired me because I had been late to work twenty times in the last month. And you know why? My mom has been terribly ill, and my wife and I are the only ones taking care of her. My wife works out of town most days, so I’m the only one my mom has. Tom knew she was sick, and he knew that’s why I had been late, and he fired me anyway. You would think twenty-three years of faithful service to that theater would matter for something, but it didn’t. Tom had it coming; you don’t fire someone for taking care of their mother. He had it coming, and he got killed….”
Meghan frowned. “I’m sorry to hear that. Did you talk to Tom about the details of what was going on with your mom? I can’t imagine anyone would be that cruel to fire you because you were being a good son.”
Meghan shuddered as Lawrence puffed out his chest and rose to his feet. “Are you calling me a liar? I told Tom everything, and he fired me!”
Meghan leaned away from Lawrence, feeling her body grow cold as she stared up into his furious face. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…”
“Didn’t mean to make me sound like an idiot? Or a fool?” Lawrence screamed as passerbys stopped to stare. “I’ve had enough of this! Tom got what he deserved, and I am not sor
ry he’s dead after how he treated me.”
“I’m so sorry,” Meghan whispered. “I’m sure this has been a difficult time for you, with your mother being sick and your….change...in employment. I’m going to go now, but it was nice meeting you….”
Meghan turned on her heel and sprinted away from Lawrence’s booth. She pulled out her cell phone from her little red purse and dialed Jack’s work number. “Jack? I have some news.”
“News?” he asked. “What about?”
“I just talked to Lawrence Reid. He had been fired from the movie theater right before Tom died. I think he had something to do with it, Jack. He kept saying that Tom had it coming, and his temper was terrifying.”
“Meghan,” he sighed. “We have a lead of our own we’re working on right now. Can I call you back later?”