by Molly Dox
Danger with a Cherry on Top: A Beach Themed Cozy Mystery
Twisted Sisters Ice Cream Cozies, Book 2
Molly Dox
Copyright 2016 Molly Dox
Cozy Kiss Publishing
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A rash of break-ins are causing a stir in the beach town of Wildwind, New Jersey. Just when things couldn’t get any worse, a local business owner turns up dead. The victim owned the fudge shop next to the Twisted Sisters ice cream stand.
Worse yet, Gina’s son has been keeping odd hours. His old partner in crime, Mikey Oliver, is back in town. The two of them have a history of trouble and a trail of police records. With everybody on edge, Lottie and Gina vow to find answers. Can they solve this puzzle before the crime wave takes over and keeps vacationers away?
This cozy mystery offers a family-friendly read in a short story format.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 1
Lottie Carlucci loved summer on the boardwalk. She owned a small ice-cream stand with her sister in Wildwind, New Jersey. As a seasonal business, she prayed for as many hot, sunny days as possible. Once Labor Day rolled around, the crowds dwindled and life slowed to a crawl. Business was good when the weather cooperated.
On the hottest days of the summer, when the thermostat climbed into the nineties, lines swelled and her register’s till filled with cash.
They sold waffle cones, pretzel cones, twists, soft serve, and a smattering of new milkshake flavors. Sugar cones, cake cones, and cones dipped in sprinkles were the favorites.
Open from noon until midnight, everything revolved around the Twisted Sisters Ice Cream stand. Lottie lived and breathed ice cream and the salty air of the shore.
Things were looking good. The forecast predicting a fabulous week of weather. She was ready to start the season with a bang. After the mess of Memorial Day, Lottie was good and ready to put it behind her. Carla, her niece, was safely out of harm’s way and things were returning to normal.
The boardwalk stores and arcade owners were a tightly-knit community. There were a few that didn’t want to be bothered with networking, but word traveled at light speed when something big was going on. When rent increased faster than it should have, they banded together and took a stand, negotiating a better deal. And when a fire broke out at one of the arcades, they came together and held a fundraiser to help the owner until insurance kicked in and paid for the repairs. They stuck together. Newer shop owners were hesitant at first, but eventually came around.
Of course, there were the investors who never came around and just threw money into their business. They were hands-off, not wanting to be bothered. One of the boardwalk piers was like that. Of the three, one offered a large assortment of kiddie rides and big rollercoasters for older enthusiasts. The owner wanted nothing to do with the ins-and-outs of the beach town or boardwalk life. He collected his money and went back to his city.
Lottie rolled up the metal-gated-door that covered the shop while they were closed. The day looked to be a good one. It was already sweltering hot. With the humidity pushing through the roof, beachgoers would be looking for a cool treat.
Giuseppe, Lottie’s nephew, was on the schedule for the first half of the day. He’d work until six o’clock, and then a local girl they’d hired would work the second shift with her. As much as the summer heat drove traffic to the ice cream stand, evenings on the boardwalk were a game changer. Crowds doubled at night, easily tripling over the weekend when day-trippers made their way to the shore.
Jane Vanzetti shuffled over from the fudge and taffy shop on seeing Lottie. “Did you hear the news? Scott’s shop got hit last night.”
“What?” Lottie shook her head, as if it would clear marbles out of her ears.
“Scott’s Scubarubin’ Scuba Shop was burglarized last night,” she whispered, not wanting others to hear. It wasn’t good business for tourists to hear about local crimes. It made them nervous. “I came in early to get a couple of new batches going for the weekend, and I saw him talking to the cops. I asked about it after they left. That’s when he told me. They made a mess and cleaned him out. Thankfully, he didn’t leave much in the shop and made a deposit when he closed up.”
Lottie watched her friend wrap her arms tightly around her body. As the words sank in, she found herself standing in much the same way. There hadn’t been any burglaries on the boardwalk in a while. She hoped it was a solitary act and things would end there. She made a mental note to empty the till – just in case. She took most of the money home, but sometimes left a drawer ready in case she couldn’t make it in time to open, and someone else covered.
“I should get back. I’ll talk to you later,” Jane said.
“Thanks for letting me know.” She watched her friend turn back into the store beside her own stand. While Lottie’s stand wasn’t long or deep, the fudge shop was a walk-in type store with larger footage. They had the best, the best peanut butter fudge she’d ever tasted.
She turned around to see a smiling Vinny. Lottie frowned. “Where’s your brother?”
“He asked to swap shifts again. It’s all good, Aunt Lottie. I have a date tomorrow, so it works out for the better.”
“Okay,” she answered. “I just wish he’d remember to tell me, before swapping shifts. It’s not the first time he’s done it.”
Chapter 2
Gina Ambrogi closed up the deli for the night. Giuseppe was supposed to work the morning shift, but he’d been staying out all hours of the night since his buddy Mikey Oliver was back in town. She hoped he clocked in on time, or she’d need to straighten him out. Family or not, he had responsibilities. He’d already bailed on his Aunt Lottie and had Vinnie cover for him twice recently, and wasn’t doing his usual share of pulling the weight at the family deli. Between Gina’s deli and Lottie’s ice cream stand, they had their hands full. Slacking off wouldn’t do. She’d taught him better than that. If you wanted something done right, you put your time in and did the work.
Gina’s phone buzzed not a moment after she got into her car. She glanced at the caller ID. Her sister’s name registered across the screen.
“Hello,” Gina said, before leaning forward to turn the key in the ignition.
“Oh good, I figured you’d just about be leaving. Word is there was a burglary on the boardwalk last night. I’m going to take the extra till money home with me, along with the deposit for the day. Hey, what’s up with Giuseppe? He bailed on me again. What’s going on?”
Gina sighed. “I’m not sure. He’s been keeping odd hours. He better be sure to show up for work tomorrow morning. He’s got first shift at the deli, and I planned on sleeping in. Rick’s been restless, and I haven’t slept well with him tossing and turning all night. Anyway, I’m going to run home, grab a shower, and watch a few shows. I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”
“Sure thing,” Lottie
answered. “I hope you get a good night of sleep.”
“You and me, both.”
Gina pulled out of her parking spot and drove home. Her once busy household was quieting down with the kids getting older. Tonight, she looked forward to the peace. She knew it wouldn’t last long, and she needed to snatch it before it was gone. Carla was up in New York again, Vinnie was working, Giuseppe was out wandering around with his buddy, her husband was working, and her other daughter, Lola, was visiting a friend. With her undergraduate program behind her, Lola was taking a break before jumping back into her education.
***
It wasn’t good news, come morning. A few more places had been hit, including the Twisted Sisters Ice Cream stand. While there wasn’t any money stolen, the place was a mess. It seemed to upset the burglar enough that they trashed the place, wasting product and leaving a mess. The door had been kicked open at the back entrance. The front was untouched, as the metal-gated-door stopped most people from gaining access. A surf shop, a temporary tattoo place, and a gift shop with shore trinkets were also burglarized that night.
How could so many places be involved and nobody saw anything?
Lottie called the police and her father, one after the other. If she wanted to file a report with her insurance company, a police report was the first step. Her father, on the other hand, was a retired detective. If she wanted any real help picking up small clues, he’d be the one to figure it out.
Lottie sighed. She snapped a few pictures on her phone and sent them to her sister. The urge to start cleaning up the mess was strong, but she couldn’t until everything was documented and checked over. Lottie’s stomach clenched. The doorknob was kicked in. It was obvious they didn’t have a key. It must have only taken a few tries, because when she looked at the wood of the door it was pretty rotted. The moist air of the shoreline wore down lumber faster than usual.
There was no discernable footprint. Not a one. Did they use a hammer, a mallet, or a boot? She bent lower to have a closer look. Nothing. They were messy in their endeavors, then took the time to wipe that clean? She shifted from side to side to see if – yes, a drip that wasn’t caught. Somebody quite literally sprayed the painted wood and wiped. They missed a small spot that had dripped. They must have planned ahead. This wasn’t a smash and grab. Somebody put time and effort into this. Who carries cleaner on a heist?
She’d need to figure out who else got hit the night before. The business community would have to ask for extra security or for local police to make more rounds late at night. The boardwalk had become a hot target, and nobody could afford the inconvenience of loss that was happening.
Lottie headed next door. She’d sit and talk to Jane while waiting for the police. They said there was a crew out at the boardwalk, and they’d respond to her call once they finished the other. She walked around to the fudge and taffy shop and started to pull on the doors. They were locked. She squinted and peered through the glass.
Lottie’s stomach dropped and twisted. No. No. No. No. Jane’s shop had taken on damage as well, but that wasn’t what caught her attention. There was crime scene tape toward the back, and investigators. The floor had markings… She felt weak. Her knees buckled. Lottie banged at the door. Her voice croaked. “Let me in.”
One of the cops silently shook his head, as if to say they were closed.
“Jane?” Lottie banged harder. She didn’t care who saw her. Normally, she had better control.
One of the cops shook his head again, and yelled louder. “We’re closed.”
Lottie banged harder.
The police officer grew aggravated. He stomped over to the door, and started….
“Where is she? Jane’s my best friend. Where is she?”
The cop sighed and looked down. He unlocked the door and whispered, “She was your best friend.”
“No!” Panic pulsed through her veins. The color drained from Lottie’s face. She looked at the cop one more time and then dropped to her knees, unable to stand.
“I’m sorry. We’re here on the investigation. It happened this morning. Her daughter found her,” he said. “I can’t say anything else.”
Lottie buckled over and curled into the fetal position. Her entire body shook. Tears fell fast and hard as the reality of Jane’s death hit her squarely, like a sucker punch to the heart. Who would do this?
The officer tried to console her, but didn’t know how. “I’m sorry for your loss, but I need to ask you to leave. We’re still investigating.”
Lottie stared up at the man. She squeaked out an ‘okay’ in a small voice, then found her way back to the ice cream stand. When her father arrived, she fell into his arms. “Daddy, Jane is dead.”
Chapter 3
Quinn sat silently. She couldn’t cry anymore. Okay, that wasn’t the truth. She didn’t want to cry anymore. She was numb, and had spent the better part of the day in tears. Her father sat by her side. They didn’t speak. They sat quietly trying to absorb the news. Quinn knew the weekend was busy and told her mother she’d be in earlier then her usual start time at nine o’clock. Her mother stayed late and would go in early on weekends so they always had a full batch of their most popular flavors, fresh and ready to go. Saturdays, the store was usually packed, and Sundays everybody crammed in at the end of the day to grab a stash of goodies before heading home. Weekdays saw sales, but nothing like the weekend.
When she showed up to work, the last thing she expected was to trip over her mother’s body. She hadn’t been paying attention. She was too busy selecting her playlist for the morning, popping in her earbuds, and going to check inventory.
Quinn screamed, yanked her earbuds out, and dialed 9-1-1. Time stood still. Her heart stopped beating. She forgot how to swallow and couldn’t breathe. Nothing made sense. Reality had a hard time connecting as shock set in.
When the cops arrived, they found the girl rocking in place and crying. One of the officers gently removed her from the scene and sent for more help.
***
Lottie’s burglary was one thing, but losing Jane was quite another. She was determined to find out what was going on, and who caused such a tragedy. With the help of her family, Lottie swore that she wouldn’t rest until Jane’s murderer was brought up on charges. Whatever was going on, it needed to stop, and it needed to stop now.
After everybody got word of the latest break-ins and Jane’s murder, the boardwalk committee held an emergency meeting. It was urgent to bring forth any information that might help catch the suspect. Anybody with surveillance cameras were told to look for clues and get copies of anything suspicious to the police immediately.
Scott from Scubarubin’ Scuba Shop sent out the memo. It was a must attend meeting, first thing Monday morning. Nobody could afford to stop working through the weekend. That was a given when you worked in a seasonal town on the boardwalk. It was just the way it was.
Pops Carlucci, Lottie’s father, was a retired Philadelphia detective. If anybody could pick up on the smallest of clues, he’d be able to. He had a keen eye for a retired guy. A quick train of thought, and a quicker wit to go with it. While he couldn’t investigate everybody’s shop if they didn’t allow it, he did have a lot to work with at the Twisted Sisters Ice Cream stand. Whoever was there made a certified mess. Crushed inventory, machines turned on and left to run out, ice cream all over the floor…and then there was the door. The kicked in door with a washed-clean footprint that no longer existed.
Lottie wasn’t much help. She was crumpled up in the front of her car crying over her lost friend. Pops told her to go home and rest up. When he was finished looking for clues, he’d make sure the place was cleaned up properly.
Thankfully, Giuseppe showed up to work when he was supposed to, and Gina could tear away. She rushed to her sister’s side to comfort her, while her father got to work dusting and checking for any prints he could find. He’d comb the place over, looking for hair, a scrap of fabric, or any other details the burglar left behind.
The person took the time to clean off the door, but forgot part of the metal frame that separated the inside and outside. On the threshold, there was the tiniest bit of a print. It wasn’t much, but it was something. They’d stepped partially onto the threshold when they entered the premise. It was obvious the person tried to wipe down a couple of places, like the handle on the ice cream machine, the door knob and such, but on one of the boxes of cones they’d knocked over and crushed, you could see a bit more of a shoe print.
Pops squatted next to the door frame. On closer examination, it looked like somebody tried to pick the lock first, and got frustrated. There was a wedge mark from a tool, almost as if somebody slammed it into the wall, aggravated. It only left a small mark, and he couldn’t be positive it wasn’t already in place prior to the incident, but it was worth notating.
Chapter 4
Bambi Truffles was new in town. She’d taken over a small corner bakery that had been vacant for the last two years. After some fixing up, updating, and cleaning things out, she had her shop set up in no time. She was good and ready to share her sweet treats with hungry customers.
“Sweet and Tasty Confections” was open and ready for business. She had donuts, muffins, cupcakes, flaky elephant ears, cookies and more. Cakes were by custom order, so she didn’t have as much waste at the end of the day.
Bambi flew a large feather flag with the word ‘open’ on it, and made sure her sign was bold and colorful. Other than passerby’s, she’d have to rely on ads in the small local paper until business picked up on word of mouth, which she knew it would. She’d run a bakery before and knew how things went. In fact, she’d owned one in Oklahoma, Maine, Texas, and Colorado, before settling on New Jersey. Bambi Truffles got around. While she could escape a state with little notice, she couldn’t escape her love of all things sweet and tasty. Baking was what she did best. Each town, she took on a new name and a new identity. She figured Bambi was a shoe-in at the Jersey shore.