Gumballs and Murder (Candy Store Mysteries Book 1)

by Wendy Meadows

  “Okay,” said Margaret, “let’s go home. We have to be here bright and early tomorrow.”

  When the next day dawned, Margaret was sitting on her porch. She had not gotten much sleep the night before, and she was keyed up about the opening. Zach appeared, and they got ready to go into town. Margaret looked across the street and saw Kyle sitting on his porch. She waved, but he didn’t wave back. He seemed to be staring at Mary’s house. Margaret hesitated and then let it go. I have to get to the shop, she thought.

  Margaret and Zach drove into town. They got to the store, where Patty was waiting for them.

  “Did you sleep here?” Margaret joked.

  “I am just as excited as you are,” said Patty with a twinkle in her eye. “I just love the sign,” she added. The store’s outdoor sign had been installed above the door the previous day: Nichols’ Candy Shop. Margaret hoped that would put an end to the “candy for a nickel” jokes.

  They opened the shop, and Margaret went to the back of the store and got out the specialty candies. She put these in the display cabinets and did one last check around the store. Patty checked the register, and Zach swept the newly polished floor. Margaret looked outside. It was time to open. But before they did, Margaret called Zach over.

  “Run these to Mr. Stewart,” she said.

  Zach looked at the goody bag. He looked questioningly at his mom.

  “He let me hang a poster and said he would not make the opening. I promised him a goody bag, and I keep my promises.”

  Zach smiled and ducked out the back door. He came back a few minutes later.

  “Mr. Stewart said to thank you. He seemed surprised. I don’t think he was expecting the candies.”

  “Well, I keep my word, and it is better to be nice to someone than to be mean.”

  Margaret walked to the front of the shop.

  “Hey, look,” Margaret said to Zach and Patty. They stopped what they were doing and looked out the front door. There was a line of customers waiting. Margaret was thrilled.

  “Are y’all ready?” she asked.

  “Yes,” Zach and Patty exclaimed.

  Margaret turned the sign on the door to “Open” and unlocked the door. The customers came in and walked around. Margaret handed out goody bags, and Patty poured the tea. Zach manned the counter, and they all took turns at the register. The customers loved the candy.

  “Hey, I thought this candy was a nickel,” Margaret heard from the door. She turned, and there was David. His smile lit up the room and made Margaret’s heart flutter.

  She laughed. “What are you trying to do? Put me out of business?” David chuckled too and walked over to her. He gave her a hug, which did not go unnoticed by Patty. Margaret handed him a goody bag.

  “Thank you. It looks like you have had quite the first day,” he said. “Can I take you to lunch?”

  Margaret looked around the shop. The customers were steady but the wave had died down. Before she answered, Patty walked up. She took the basket of goody bags from Margaret.

  “Go and have some lunch. Zach and I can handle this. Besides, you will be right across the street if we need you.”

  Margaret smiled and thanked her. Zach gave her a thumbs-up, and she and David walked to the café. Stacy asked Margaret how the opening was going.

  “I saw the line outside this morning. If you need any more sweet tea just let me know.”

  “I think we have plenty. Thanks again for bringing it over,” Margaret said.

  She and David sat down at a booth. Margaret looked at the menu. She noticed David was not looking at his, but he was looking at her.

  “Don’t you need a menu?”

  “I’ve got it memorized. Now, you I do not have memorized.”

  Margaret smiled. “What are you eating?” she asked.

  “I thought I would have my usual, a patty melt. They are tasty and filling.”

  “That sounds good. I’ve had their cheeseburgers and liked them,” Margaret said. Why does this feel like a first date? she wondered. Then she smiled to herself. Well, maybe it is to him, too.

  “The cheeseburgers are good,” David agreed. A waitress came over to take their order. She knew what David wanted, and she asked Margaret what she wanted to try.

  “I think I will have the patty melt as well,” Margaret said. David smiled. “It comes highly recommended,” Margaret continued.

  The waitress left, and David asked what brought her to this town.

  “Actually, I used to live near hear when I was growing up. My parents are in a nursing home nearby, so this seemed like the perfect town to open a candy shop in,” Margaret said. It was more than she had told anyone about her past, but she trusted David. He was open and warm to her. The waitress came back with their food and drinks. Margaret took a bite of her patty melt.

  “This is delicious,” she said. “Now I know I can trust your taste.”

  “I’m sitting here with you, isn’t it obvious you can trust my taste?” David joked.

  Margaret laughed. “Good point!” She had to admit she was having a good time. The opening was a success, and David was good company. It did feel like a date but more comfortable. It was like talking to an old dear friend, but one she wanted to get to know better.

  “Are your parents okay?” David asked.

  “Oh yes, they’re fine. Where they are is more of an assisted living facility, and they get good care. Mom and Dad still get around okay. My father is a conservative, and my mother is a total hippie. It’s made for some interesting family dinners.”

  David laughed.

  “What about you?” Margaret asked. “Are you from around here?”

  “I have lived here my whole life. My parents are still living in the house I grew up in. My dad was in the army, and my mother was a teacher. They are both retired now.”

  “So, were you in the armed forces?” Margaret asked.

  “No, I went to the police academy instead. I was happy to stay at home while protecting and serving.”

  “I am glad you did,” Margaret said, blushing.

  “So am I,” David said, his eyes piercing right through her.

  “So, how is your investigation going?” Margaret asked.

  “We are following up some leads. I think I may be pulling some people in for questioning today.”

  “If you need my help, let me know.”

  “I should be fine. You enjoy your opening day,” David replied.

  Since David had lived in this town his whole life he knew almost everyone. “Except the newer folks. We get more of them in here each year,” he said.

  “Is that a complaint?” asked Margaret.

  “Not if they are as nice as you,” said David, smiling.

  “Good save,” Margaret teased.

  After lunch, David walked her back over to the candy shop. She thanked him for lunch, and he told her he would stop by later to check on her. Margret said good-bye and walked into the store.

  “So, how was lunch?” asked Patty and Zach. Margaret could sense they wanted to know everything.

  “What? It was just lunch,” she teased.

  “Don’t do that to us,” Zach said. Margaret laughed. She told them about her lunch and said David was going to come back and check on her later that day. Zach and Patty shot each other a knowing look.

  “Okay, enough about me and my lunch. How are sales so far?”

  “So far, everyone who has walked in has bought something.”

  “Really?” said Margaret, astonished.

  “Yes,” said Zach. “We will probably have to restock some of the candies.”

  Margaret went around and inventoried everything. She got on the phone with her buyer and told them what she needed to restock. After the call, she helped some other customers. Margaret was thrilled with the turnout. She hoped the momentum would keep going.

  A young woman walked in with a little boy about five years old.

  “How much are the gumballs?” the child asked Margaret.
<
br />   “Would you believe a nickel?” she answered. The young woman laughed. The boy picked out some candies, and Margaret wrapped them up. She gave them to Zach, and he took care of them at the register. Margaret walked into the back room. She smiled widely, thinking about her day. She felt a pang of guilt for ignoring Mary, but she pushed it down. Today is my day, she thought.

  True to his word, David showed up at closing. He had some flowers.

  “I brought these for you. I thought congratulations were in order for the store opening.”

  Margaret blushed and thanked him. Patty took the flowers and put them in a vase.

  “They will look nice on the counter,” Margaret said. “Thank you.”

  “Well, I have to run, but I wanted to stop by and check on you.”

  “I appreciate that. You are welcome here anytime,” said Margaret. “Are you sure you don’t want some tea or anything?”

  “No thank you. Duty calls. I think I am closing in on my suspect.”

  “Oh, who is that?” Margaret asked.

  Zach and Patty went into the back room so Margaret and David could talk. David looked a little uncomfortable. He shifted his weight from foot to foot.

  “I still think it is Kyle,” he insisted.

  “But you know I think he is innocent,” said Margaret.

  “Well, we have some evidence against him.”

  “The gun? That is not enough evidence to arrest him,” said Margaret, her hands tightening up.

  “Well, it was enough to make me suspicious. I started digging, and I came up with some things,” said David.

  “What things?” asked Margaret.

  “You know I can’t discuss that much of the case with you,” said David.

  “So, it is nothing concrete then,” said Margaret. She was getting annoyed. David was being stubborn and not listening to her. She could tell he was getting uncomfortable but she held her ground.

  “Does nothing I say matter to you?” Margaret asked.

  “Don’t say that,” David said. “You know I respect your opinion.”

  “Except in this case,” Margaret said. “I know he did not do it,” she insisted.

  “You may know he did not do it, but I am the detective, and I have to go where the evidence leads,” David said, his voice raised.

  “So, since I am not a cop, my opinion does not count?” Margaret practically yelled.

  “No, actually, it does not. Not when I am doing my job,” David stated.

  Margaret was livid. “You can leave now,” she said icily.

  “Fine,” he said, and he stomped out.

  Patty and Zach came out of the back room.

  “I suppose you heard that,” said Margaret, feeling tears well in her eyes.

  “I just heard a grown man being stubborn is all,” Patty said and gave Margaret a hug.

  Margaret had Zach run the tea urn back to Stacy, and she and Patty cleaned up the shop.

  “If tomorrow is as good as today was, we will be set,” said Margaret. She told Patty to have a good night, and she and Zach drove home.

  Chapter Seven

  That evening at home, Margaret was still mad. She had trusted David and felt he trusted her. She knew Kyle was innocent. Well, now I have to go and prove it, don’t I, she thought. Margaret told Zach she was going to take a long hot bath and go to bed. He understood and said he would find his own dinner. She went upstairs and got into the tub. The warm water soothed her, and she felt herself relaxing. After her bath she crawled into her bed. She was just about to go to sleep when it hit her. I have to check out Dorothy’s house. I have been there, but I have not snooped around. With this in mind, she went to sleep.

  The next morning Margaret woke up bright and early with a new determination. She was going to show David that Kyle was innocent. She got up and brewed some coffee. She told Zach she was going to go over to Mary’s house.

  “Doesn’t she have to work today?” Zach said.

  “That is what I am hoping,” said Margaret.

  Zach narrowed his eyes. “What are you up to, Mom?”

  “I do not think Kyle did this. I told David that but he doesn’t believe me.”

  “I believe you, Mom, but what are we going to do about it?”

  “Well, for now, you are not going to do anything. I am going to have a look around in Mary’s house before we go to work.”

  Zach looked doubtful, but he didn’t try to stop her. “Be careful,” was all he said.

  “I will,” said Margaret as she left her house. She walked over to Mary’s house and looked for her car. It wasn’t there. Margaret took a deep breath and looked around. No one was awake in the neighborhood yet so she tried the front door. It was locked. She went around to the back porch and tried the sliding door. To her delight, it slid open easily.

  Margaret hesitated, knowing what she was about to do was illegal. Finally, she stepped inside, hoping there was no alarm set. When nothing happened, she slid the door shut and looked around. She was in the kitchen. It was immaculate, of course. She looked in the cupboards and then went into the bathroom off the hall, where she peered into the medicine cabinet. There was nothing suspicious. Most of the medicines were Mary’s. There were antidepressants and some vitamins.

  Margaret walked upstairs and looked in the bedrooms. There was nothing suspicious in the closet in Mary’s room. Dorothy’s room looked like it was waiting for its owner. Her clothes were in the closet, and her bed was neatly made. There was not a trace of dust to be found. Margaret looked at the bookshelves. Nothing of note there either.

  She was about to give up when she remembered the basement. Margaret went down the wooden steps. She expected to see cobwebs, but since this was Margaret’s house she should have known better. The basement was as clean as the rest of the place. There were storage chests and cabinets. Margaret looked around and saw cleaning supplies and pesticides and weed killer. She looked in other cabinets and saw winter clothing.

  Just then she heard the front door open. Margaret panicked. Why was Mary back home so soon? She took out her phone and texted Zach. She told him to distract Mary so she could get out of the basement. Waiting downstairs, Margaret looked around a little more, trying not to make any noise. There were some baskets and some old rugs. Nothing that looked like a clue.

  Upstairs, Margaret heard her son’s voice. He was talking to Mary. Taking advantage of the distraction, Margaret bolted quietly from the basement and went out the sliding glass door. She texted Zach that she was out, and he said goodbye to Mary. When Mary went inside, Margaret slipped back into her own house.

  “That was close,” Zach scolded. “You would have been in big trouble if you’d gotten caught.”

  “Yeah, but I made it out. Thank you,” said Margaret, giving him a hug.

  “Don’t do anything like that again,” said Zach.

  “I hope I don’t have to,” said Margaret.

  “Did you find anything?” Zach asked.

  “No, but her house is immaculate.”

  “I saw that,” said Zach.

  “Well, our house is not immaculate but we are nice people. That is what counts,” she reassured Zach. “Let’s go to the shop.”

  They got dressed and went into town. Margaret was a little distracted, but she forced herself to focus on her new shop. They had almost as many customers as the day before, which boosted her spirits. Patty was helpful around the store and did not say anything about what happened the day before at closing time. Margaret kept a smile on her face and tried not to think about David. Instead, she thought about Dorothy’s house. There had not been anything out of the ordinary. There were medicines in the medicine cabinet, but they would not have contained arsenic. Margaret was at a loss.

  The shop door opened, and David walked in. He was carrying sandwiches from the deli. Patty and Zach looked at each other and got busy with customers. Margaret glared at him.

  “I’m sorry we had that misunderstanding,” said David.

  “It�
��s okay,” said Margaret.

  “I wanted to give you these sandwiches as a truce. I know you have been busy all day, and I just wanted to make sure you had something to eat.”

  “Thank you,” Margaret said, grudgingly. She took the sandwiches and put them in the back.

  “I know we have our differences,” said David, following her, “but I don’t want them to come between us. This is my job, and I’m doing it the best way I can. I have to look at everybody.”

  David hugged Margaret. She hugged him back.

  “Do you really have evidence against Kyle?” she asked. “I mean other than the gun?”

  “Let’s not talk about the case,” suggested David.

  “Okay,” said Margaret.

  “How was business today? You looked busy when I walked by earlier,” David said.

  Margaret was happy he had noticed. “Yes, we’ve had almost as many customers today as we did yesterday. I hope we can keep this up,” said Margaret. “Can you stay awhile?”

  “No, unfortunately I have to get back to work,” David said. Margaret opened her mouth, but David shot her a look.

  “Okay, okay. I hope your work leads you away from Kyle,” she compromised.

  “I just want to catch whoever did this,” said David.

  “I want you to, also,” said Margaret. She squeezed his hand.

  “Well, I will see you tomorrow,” said David.

  “Okay. Thank you for the sandwiches.”

  David left, and Margaret went to the front of the store.

  “Did you get everything sorted out?” asked Patty.

  “Well, we decided to agree to disagree and talk about other things,” said Margaret.

  “I suppose it could be worse,” said Patty.

  Margaret smiled. She wanted to be friends with David, and this seemed like a good start. She just wished he would see her side of things. After this conversation, Margaret was determined to find out who actually killed Dorothy. She told Patty and Zach to get their sandwiches, and she helped the next customer.

  A few minutes later, Mr. Stewart walked in.

  “I am between customers, and I wanted to see how your shop looked.”