Frosted Donuts and Fatal Falls

by Cindy Bell

  Frosted Donuts and Fatal Falls

  Donut Truck Cozy Mystery Series

  Cindy Bell

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Frosted Vanilla Donut Recipe

  Also by Cindy Bell

  About the Author

  Copyright © 2019 Cindy Bell

  All rights reserved.

  Cover Design by Annie Moril

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and locations portrayed in this book and the names herein are fictitious. Any similarity to or identification with the locations, names, characters or history of any person, product or entity is entirely coincidental and unintentional.

  All trademarks and brands referred to in this book are for illustrative purposes only, are the property of their respective owners and not affiliated with this publication in any way. Any trademarks are being used without permission, and the publication of the trademark is not authorized by, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owner.

  Chapter 1

  The warmth of Charlie’s arm around Brenda stirred a sense of peace within her. She smiled, still half-asleep, and nestled closer to him. Dim light struggled through the gauzy curtain that hung over the bedroom window. Dawn. She closed her eyes again and sighed. If she could stay in that moment forever, she would. As she took another breath, she felt hands and knees slam into her body. Hands at her shoulders, knees at her side and hip. Pain and surprise bolted through her as she gasped.

  “Circus!” Sophie grinned as she looked into her mother’s wide eyes.

  “Sophie.” Brenda groaned and rolled under her daughter to get her knobby knee out of her hip. “Sweetheart, it doesn’t start until tomorrow.” She pulled her close for a snuggle.

  Sophie tugged free and began to jump up and down on the bed.

  “Circus! It’s tomorrow! Circus! Circus! I can’t wait!”

  “Mmph.” Charlie pulled his pillow over his head.

  “Oh no, you’re not getting out of this one.” Brenda snatched the pillow away from him. “I have to meet Joyce first thing this morning, remember?”

  “Oh, right.” Charlie rolled over so that his back was to her.

  Seconds later, she heard a snore.

  “Charlie!” Brenda gave his shoulder a light slap. “You have to get up, I’m already late.” She slid off the bed and turned just in time to catch Sophie as she launched off the bed. “Come here, you wild child.” She laughed as she hung on to the squirming six-year-old. “I know you’re excited, I know. I’m excited, too. Let’s get some breakfast ready while Daddy has a shower, hmm?” She ruffled her daughter’s hair, then set her down on the floor.

  “Shower,” Charlie mumbled.

  “Now, Charlie.” Brenda rolled her eyes, then picked up a pillow off the floor and tossed it at him. “Sophie isn’t going to go back to sleep, trust me.”

  “I know, I know.” Charlie pushed himself up out of bed and shot a look in her direction. “Tell me again why you decided to work in a business that involves getting up at dawn?”

  “Because it’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of doing, baking and selling my donuts in a successful food truck. Where else would everyone get their donuts if Donuts on the Move didn’t exist?” Brenda raised an eyebrow. “Think of the people, Charlie, think of the community. Would you really want them to suffer just so you could sleep in?”

  “No,” Charlie groaned and rubbed his eyes. “But I sure wouldn’t mind if they wanted to eat those donuts a little later in the day.”

  “Sorry.” Brenda smiled as she walked over to him. “You’re stuck with me getting up early, pal.” She leaned down for a quick kiss.

  “Mmm. I don’t mind.” Charlie smiled, then wrapped his arm around her waist and tried to pull her back into bed. “You can be a little late, can’t you?”

  “No, no, no!” Brenda laughed as she shoved him away. “Not today I can’t.” As she gazed into his eyes, and heard her daughter’s distant giggle in the kitchen, she was reminded of just how lucky she was. She ran a business with a woman who had quickly become her best friend, and she had an amazing daughter, and a wonderful husband. She couldn’t imagine her life getting any better.

  “Fine, fine,” Charlie grumbled and let her go.

  As Charlie headed for the bathroom, Brenda wandered into the kitchen.

  “Let’s see, how about cereal, Sophie?” Brenda took a sharp breath as she looked around the kitchen.

  “I’m making pancakes.” Sophie grinned as flour clung to her long hair.

  “Sophie.” Brenda slapped her hand against her forehead and watched as an egg dripped down the front of a cabinet, right into a pile of flour and sugar on the floor. “I’ve told you before, you can’t cook by yourself. You know better.”

  “But I just wanted to make us some pancakes.” Sophie’s lower lip stuck out and began to tremble. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”

  “Aw, Sophie.” Brenda sighed as she glanced up at the clock. She had ten minutes to get out the door and she was still in her pajamas.

  “I’m sorry, Mommy.” Sophie burst into tears.

  “Oh sweetie, it’s all right.” Brenda sighed as she grabbed a towel.

  “What’s going on in here?” Charlie stepped into the kitchen. His damp hair clung to his forehead and cheeks as he drank in the sight of the mess. “What in the world?”

  “It’s okay, I’ll clean it up.” Brenda wiped up the dripping egg, as Sophie threw herself into her father’s arms. A pinch of jealousy spiked within Brenda. Yes, Sophie was getting more used to turning to her father for comfort, and that was a good thing. Charlie was a financial and political reporter for the local newspaper and could work at home a lot of the time now that Brenda worked on the truck. Brenda had been home with Sophie since the day she was born, it was Charlie’s turn to get some of that bonding time in. So, why did it still make her stomach twist sometimes?

  “It’s not okay.” Charlie frowned as he gazed at the mess. “Sophie knows the rules. She knows she is not supposed to cook without us.”

  “It was just a mistake. She wanted to make something special.” Brenda wiped flour into the trashcan.

  “Brenda, that’s the problem, we make a rule, and then you make excuses.” Charlie’s voice wavered with frustration as he looked down at Sophie. “What have we told you about getting into things in the kitchen without us?”

  “I’m sorry.” Sophie wailed and tried to run off.

  “Careful,” Brenda gasped as she saw Sophie’s foot slide through a puddle of egg. She managed to catch her daughter before she could crash to the floor. “Charlie, I don’t have time to argue with you about this. It’s not a big deal. She thought she was doing something nice.”

  “It is a big deal.” Charlie groaned and snatched up another towel. “What if she had turned on the stove? What if she had started a fire?”

  “What if you had gotten up when I asked you?” Brenda snapped back at him. “Sophie, go get in the bath.”

  “But I want
to go with you to the circus.” Sophie huffed.

  “She doesn’t need a bath, just wipe her foot off.” Charlie tried to catch Sophie’s foot with the towel.

  “Ugh! I have to go, Charlie, I’m already late.” Brenda fought back tears as she felt her frustration reach boiling point. “Just please run her a bath, I will clean up the kitchen, and we can talk about this later, okay?”

  “Just stop. I’ll get her in the bath, and I will clean up the kitchen. You go have a shower.” Charlie took the towel from her hands, then looked into her eyes. “And yes, we will talk about this later.”

  “Fine.” Brenda took a deep breath, then headed for the shower.

  After showering and dressing in record time, she returned to the kitchen to look for her keys.

  “Here they are.” Charlie held them out to her.

  “Thanks.” Brenda sighed as she reached for them.

  “Not quite.” Charlie smiled as he pulled them out of reach.

  “Charlie.” Brenda stomped one foot and tried to snatch the keys out of his hand.

  “Right here.” Charlie pursed his lips, then pointed to them.

  “Ah, lovely.” Brenda scowled, but her heart skipped a beat. She loved that even when they got upset with each other, Charlie still wanted to kiss her. He never for a second let her believe that he didn’t adore her. As she kissed him, he slid his arms around her and gave her a tight squeeze.

  “Have a good day,” Charlie whispered in her ear, then dropped the keys into her open palm. “I’ve got this.”

  “I know you do.” Brenda kissed him once more, then hurried out the door.

  Joyce Waters turned on the oil, then leaned back against the front counter for a moment. She took a long, slow breath. Waking up that morning hadn’t been an easy task. She was cozy in her bed. She wanted more than anything to stay right there. But the thought of seeing Brenda always convinced her to get up.

  Teaming up with Brenda Baker to create Donuts on the Move had been exactly what she needed after her husband passed away. Her adult children didn’t live nearby. Having a purpose made her feel energized and having a destination each day drove her to keep in a routine. But some days she was far more tired than others. On those days, she felt every bit in her sixties. However, at other times, she could barely recall turning forty. As she looked back across her life, she couldn’t pinpoint a time when she’d become ‘older’, she often forgot that she and Brenda could be mother and daughter. Their friendship had become a highly treasured part of her life.

  A quick glance at the clock that hung above the rear counter indicated that Brenda would be late again. Joyce didn’t mind, she knew that Brenda had a lot to juggle with her young daughter and helpful, but a bit forgetful husband. Joyce adored their little family and considered herself lucky to be part of it.

  However, that morning, Joyce’s nerves were a little more on edge than usual. They had never worked at a circus before. There was a lot of competition with several food trucks lined up and ready to sell their wares. At the moment only the circus staff were partaking, as the show didn’t start until the next day. But that was still quite a lot of people. Aside from the performers, there was a large crew that traveled with the circus to set it up and tear it down. Joyce had enjoyed meeting a few the day before and looked forward to meeting more that day. Once the crowds arrived to see the circus it would be hard to get a word in edgewise, that much she knew about the circus. She hadn’t been to one since she was a young girl, and she was tempted to buy a ticket to see the show herself. She knew that Charlie intended to bring Sophie the next day for the first showing.

  “Morning.” Brenda burst through the door in a flurry of movements and bags. “I bought some extra supplies last night. We don’t want to take the chance of running out tomorrow.”

  “No, we don’t.” Joyce smiled as she took a few of the bags from her. “Good thinking.”

  “I’m so sorry I’m late. I really did try to get out the door on time, but Sophie is going through this phase, at least I hope it’s a phase, and she just won’t stop and—”

  “It’s okay.” Joyce pulled her friend into a quick hug. “You’re here now, and that’s all that matters.”

  “Ugh, thanks Joyce. It’s so nice of you to be so understanding.” Brenda pulled away and went over to the sink to wash her hands. “I have to admit I’m a little bit nervous about all of this.”

  “You are?” Joyce started to put the extra supplies on the shelves that lined the roof of the truck.

  “Yes, I know it’s silly, but it just seems so important to be at a circus.” Brenda laughed as she turned towards the rear counter and began to collect the items she needed to make the first batch of donuts.

  “It’s not silly, I know exactly how you feel, because it’s how I feel, too.” Joyce turned to face her. “It’s like we’ve gone to Hollywood or something.”

  “Exactly!” Brenda shook her head. “Just think, we have comedians, actors, actresses and athletes. I mean, when will we ever get to feed such an amazing variety of people?”

  “Yes, that’s it.” Joyce grinned. “I am really looking forward to getting to see some of the acts. It’s a pity that Melissa is taking time off to study so we can’t see the acts together. But I thought maybe we could swap for some of the day tomorrow. What do you think?” Melissa was a young woman who had recently been employed to help out in the truck.

  “Absolutely.” Brenda added the buttermilk to the batter. “But we don’t have to wait until tomorrow. Cecilia told me that we could watch some of the rehearsals today. You should go see them. I’m just going to be making donuts, and we won’t be very busy today since the circus isn’t open for business, yet. Then you can tell me the best acts for Sophie to see. What do you think?”

  “Are you sure about that?” Joyce frowned as she studied her friend’s expression. “I don’t want to leave you here to do all of the work. I know I don’t make the donuts, but at least I can help with frosting and serving them.”

  “Joyce, it’s fine.” Brenda waved at her. “I could make donuts in my sleep at this point, you know that.”

  “You’re right.” Joyce laughed as she grabbed her purse. “I’m surprised that you don’t. You’re sure you don’t mind?”

  “Go, go.” Brenda waved her hand in the direction of the door. “Luckily they don’t have any elephants otherwise you would have to watch your step out there. Those elephants have to go somewhere.” She winked.

  “Ugh, that would be awful.” Joyce grinned as she descended the steps. She froze at the bottom one, then looked back over her shoulder. “Have you seen those two before, Brenda?”

  “Hmm?” Brenda looked in the direction Joyce pointed. Two men hovered near the ticket booth. Both were large, but one was rounder than the other. Both wore hooded jackets and had their hands shoved deep in their pockets. “No, I haven’t. Why?”

  “I’m not sure. Something about them just seems off.” Joyce hesitated a moment longer, then shrugged. “They’re probably just new staff hired to help with the set up. Text me if you need me, Brenda.”

  “I will.” Brenda waved again.

  Joyce looked once more in the direction of the ticket booth as she neared the big tent. She couldn’t even see the faces of the men who lingered there, but something about them made her uneasy. She had no idea why. Perhaps it was just the excitement of the day getting to her. Maybe she was just too suspicious. She pushed the presence of the men out of her mind and found her way into the tent. She had marveled at the sight of it being set up.

  Upon Sophie’s insistence, Brenda had let Sophie come home early from school just to see it done. It was magnificent to see it rise. Now, as it rippled just a bit in the breeze, Joyce wondered what it would be like when it was gone. She could imagine herself living life on the road, seeing brand-new town after brand-new town. She could imagine it, but she couldn’t do it. As much as she liked adventure, she also liked having the same home to come home to, and her sweet bunny Mo
lly to snuggle up to.

  Joyce noticed Cecilia, the manager of the circus, near the entrance of the tent.

  “Hi Cecilia.” She waved to her, just as Cecilia’s voice raised towards the woman who stood in front of her.

  “That’s it, I’ve told you. Just stay away from Rocco. Okay?” Cecilia glanced towards Joyce, gave a short wave, then looked back at the young woman in front of her. “Your father has told you, and I’ve told you. That should be enough.”

  “But Cecilia, you don’t understand,” the younger woman pleaded. Her bright red hair was tied back in two long braids down her back, in sharp contrast to Cecilia’s curly, dark brown hair that framed her face.

  “I understand, I understand all too well, Paisley.” Cecilia took a step closer to Paisley, then lowered her voice.

  Joyce could no longer hear their conversation as she did her best to avoid the confrontation. It wasn’t her business what Cecilia was discussing with the girl, who looked to be in her late teens. She was sure that Cecilia had her reasons for raising her voice. From the moment that Cecilia had agreed to have Donuts on the Move at the circus, she had been nothing but pleasant to Joyce and Brenda. But everyone had their snapping point. She sounded more protective and concerned than angry. Joyce smiled to herself as she thought of all of the trials Brenda had ahead of her. Sophie was a sweet girl, but she was strong-willed, just like her mother.

  Chapter 2

  Brenda peeked over her shoulder and out through the serving window of the donut truck just in time to see Joyce skip. She smiled to herself and hoped that she would have that much enthusiasm when she got to be her age. As much as she adored her friend, she did also worry about her at times. Even though she couldn’t bake, she liked to help out as much as she could. She was far from a silent partner. But Brenda wondered if it might be a bit too much for her at times. If it was, Joyce never showed it. She had more courage and determination than anyone Brenda had met.