by Sandi Scott
“I couldn’t tell Old Man Mueller about her, Dizzy. I don’t know anything about what happened. I mean, I heard Colleen threatening to expose a secret about Bobby McCay, but I have no idea what it was.”
Dizzy had already disengaged and was now watching the people walking their dogs along the river. Ashley’s mind was buzzing.
“On the other hand, what if Colleen’s death was not an accident? What if it was,” she shuddered in her seat, “murder? That could be dangerous. Should I have told Mueller what I know? What do I know? Nothing, that’s what.”
Chewing her lip, she glanced back at Dizzy again. The dog was now snoozing, the straps of her harness preventing her from slipping all the way off the seat.
Last night, after the successful event, Ashley felt on top of the world. It made her decision to move back home and open Seagrass Sweets seem like the right one, and she was finally starting to believe she could do this, build a life and a business in her hometown. But now? Trying to escape food poisoning rumors? She could see that dream crumbling around her. She had to do something.
“I know I could get Ryan to help—especially with the phone—and that email is the start of a trail of breadcrumbs that will lead somewhere. Although, it could lead somewhere I don’t want to go. It could lead to a killer.”
She sighed as she turned into the parking lot of a large, non-descript warehouse whose bland exterior hid all the magic that happened inside at Fresh Start Kitchens. Dizzy was awake again and wagging her tail, waiting to be let out so she could sniff the perimeter of the property.
“Also,” Ashley cringed at the thought she’d been silencing the whole ride, “what if it was my dessert that killed her? Oh, my God!”
Exasperated, she took one more glance at Dizzy, who quickly alternated from looking at her and the door. Her one-track mind wanted out. Ashley got out of the car and unstrapped Dizzy, who bounded out to begin her patrol while Ashley dragged the trays from the seat and made her way to the back door. She put Dizzy in the coat room, where she quickly found her doggie bed. Dizzy was not allowed in the actual kitchen, but Ashley hated to leave her at home alone. The coatroom was a nice compromise; it let Ashley check in on Dizzy frequently but did not offend Patty’s high standards for cleanliness in the kitchen.
Patty came to greet Ashley at the door, holding it open with her left hand while her right hand wiped the flour from one rosy cheek.
“Oh, good, you found them.” Patty nodded towards the pans.
Ashley walked through, still in a daze as her thoughts swirled in many different directions at once. Patty followed her to the kitchen, then took the trays from her young, frazzled friend and placed them on the counter.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
Ashley turned to face her. The tears were already flowing as she began to tell Patty the news. Patty held her hands while she spoke. When Ashley had finished, Patty wrapped her arms around her for a big, long hug.
“Honey, I am so sorry. I know Colleen was someone you knew, and no matter what other chaos has surrounded us, that fact is at the core of it all and it hurts.” Ashley sobbed a few times into Patty’s shoulder, then raised her head and wiped her tears.
“Honestly, Patty, I didn’t know Colleen that well anymore. I’m sad for her family and friends, but I’m really most upset about what this could possibly mean for me, for you—for us.” She looked away. “Does that make me a terrible person?”
“Honey, it makes you human.” Patty held her at arm’s length and squeezed her shoulders. “We’ll be fine; we didn’t come all the way from La Ville-Lumière to let the first little hiccup stop us.” Then, being the pragmatist that she was, Patty began forming a plan. “What can we do first? We know it wasn’t our food that did the poisoning, so we must try to determine what did. How long will the toxicology tests take?”
Ashley had to laugh at that. “In this town? Who knows if they even do toxicology tests?” Patty’s hopeful eyes dulled a bit. “But I do have an idea of what we can do,” Ashley said. She pulled the phone out from between the trays. “Our first clue.”
“Ooh la la,” said Patty, grabbing at the silk scarf tied around her neck, “did you just say our?”
To keep reading Cream Puff Murder, get it online.
RECIPES
Luau Bread
Ingredients
cup water
1 tablespoon dry milk
1 tablespoon butter (cut up)
cup bread flour
teaspoon salt
tablespoon brown sugar
2 tablespoons shredded carrots
cup flaked shredded coconut
cup crushed pineapple
cup chopped macadamia nuts
2 teaspoons yeast
teaspoon cinnamon if desired
Preparation
Drain the pineapple well. Juice may be substituted for up to 2/3 of the water.
May use regular milk for water and powdered milk. Put all ingredients into pan. Select LIGHT crust, sweet bread.
Haupia
Ingredients
1 can (12oz.) coconut milk
4 tablespoons Sugar (up to 6)
4 tablespoons Cornstarch (up to 6)
3/4 cup Water
Preparation
Pour coconut milk into saucepan.
Combine sugar and cornstarch; stir in water and blend well.
Stir sugar mixture into coconut milk; cook and stir over low heat until thickened.
Pour into 8-inch square pan and chill until firm
Cut into 2-inch squares.
Pineapple Coconut Cupcakes
Ingredients
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup butter
1 cup crushed pineapple
2 eggs
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 cup water
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup sugar
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 ounces cream cheese
1 tablespoon milk
1 pinch salt
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Preparation
Combine coconut and water. Let stand while mixing the cake. Cream butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Add coconut; mix well. Add dry ingredients and pineapple alternately; mix well.
Bake in cupcake tins, 350 F, 15 to 20 minutes.
Frosting: Combine all ingredients until smooth.
Crazy Smoothie Cocktail
Ingredients
1 cup quartered seeded mangoes
1 cup halved stemmed strawberries
1 banana quartered
1 cup ice cubes
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup pineapple or orange juice
1/2 cup dark rum
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup coconut flakes
Preparation
Place ice cubes in a blender and crush. Add the fruit, yogurt, juice, rum, and lime juice and process on high speed until frothy and thick.
Pour into 2 tall glasses and top each with 2 tablespoons of coconut flakes.
Garnish with strawberry, and wedges of pineapple and/or mango.
Serve immediately.
MORE BOOKS BY SANDI SCOTT
SEAGRASS SWEETS COZY MYSTERY SERIES
Crêpe Murder —The Prequel
Cream Puff Murder
Tarte Tatin Murder
Madeleine Murder
Praline Murder
Souffle Murder
Crouquembouche Murder (Coming soon)
Charlotte Murder
Bouche de Noel Murder (Coming soon!)
PET PORTRAITS COZY MYSTERY SERIES
Murder at the Art Gallery
Murder on the Great Lake
Murder on the Movie Set
Murder at the Cabaret
Murder at the Car Show
Murder at the Makeover
Murder at the Pool Party
Murder at the Apple Orchard
Murder at the Luau
Murder at Wizard-Hero Con (Coming soon!)