It was 2:30 a.m. before the killer showed his face, or rather part of it. He was wearing a hat to cover some features and was wearing gloves, but he also had a toolbelt around his waist. Heather realized this was probably the same time that he had broke into Mr. Worther’s room to kill him.
“He’s here,” Heather whispered.
They all stood by the door.
“Let’s go,” Amy said.
“Not yet,” Heather said, peering through the window. “I need to see him work on the hinges.”
She waited and watched and finally said, “Go!”
Heather, Amy, and Ryan exited their hotel room and faced a surprised George Copper. He had removed the top hinge from the door to A10.
“Oh, officers, I’m so glad you’re here,” George Copper said. “I just had an idea about how the killer could have entered the room without a key. I was testing it out now. I was going to tell you about it in the morning if it worked.”
“Nice try,” Ryan said. “You only took one hinge off tonight. I have a feeling the lab can test the bottom hinge and determine that the tool you’re holding now already left traces on the bottom hinge. You removed the hinges the night that you killed Norton Worthers.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” George Copper said.
“We were so focused on how a door normally swings and locks,” Heather said. “That we forgot about the other side of the door. The hinges are on the outside of the room, which we first noticed when we were waiting to go inside and examine the room but we didn’t think anything of it at the time. But you knew this building inside and out. You knew you could remove the hinges and enter the room without a key.”
George Copper was feeling trapped. “How did you figure that out?”
“You oiled the hinges on A10 so they would be easier to work with when removing the pin in them. But you didn’t oil the hinges in the rooms where the guests were actually staying. Gary Gray’s door squeaked when he opened it.”
George nodded and allowed Ryan to read him his rights, but before he was led away, he turned to Heather.
“You have to understand what that man did,” George Copper said. “What he did effected the course of my whole life. I had potential. I could have been something more than a handyman. I practically ran the hotel while he owned it. But then he left. He didn’t reward me for my efforts, and he didn’t take me with him. He let the hotel fall into the wrong hands, and it failed. I couldn’t find other work. And I couldn’t bear to see this hotel go under. It happened again and again, and each time it broke my heart.”
“So you planned to kill him?” Heather asked.
“I didn’t plan it exactly. I made preparations so I could get into his room. It was half a joke to myself. I wasn’t planning on really doing anything. But then he didn’t acknowledge me when he saw me. I had given him so much when I worked for him. And he had crippled my career. He didn’t even say hello.”
“So you entered his room when he was sleeping?”
“I wasn’t sure what I was planning, even then. But I entered his room. I think I just wanted to scare him. Or to force him to recognize me. But he wouldn’t talk to me. He wouldn’t wake up. In the moment, I decided he should never wake up again. The world is probably a better place because of it.”
Then George Copper allowed himself to be taken away.
“Wow,” Amy said. “He was carrying that anger around for a long time. He really loved this hotel.”
“So does Caroline Humly,” Heather said. “And I think providing donuts for breakfast is a much better way to show your love than murder.”
Chapter 18
“I can’t thank you enough,” Caroline Humly said.
She looked at the spread of donuts in the Business Breakfast buffet. It was an even more lush display than last time. There were bright colors and pastel colors, cream filled and jelly filled, and many different types of chocolate donuts. It was positively mouth-watering.
Heather smiled. “Well, I figured if I was going to do this, I should go all out.”
“I didn’t think that take two of the Business Breakfast would work at all. However, I got many of the original guests to return and some new ones too.”
“That’s because everyone is excited to the speaker,” Amy said.
“I really can’t stop thanking you,” Caroline said. “First you solved the murder, and now you’re saving my business.”
“She saves people,” Amy said, patting her bestie on the back.
“Is there any way I can repay you?”
Heather was about to protest. Caroline had already paid her for the donuts, and she solved crime because it was the right thing to do and she was good at it. She didn’t do it for financial gain.
However, Amy spoke up first, “Maybe you could give her a comped room?”
“Of course,” Caroline said. “I run a hotel, that’s the most obvious thing I should offer. Anytime. If you or your family need a room, it’s yours at no cost.”
“I might take you up on that offer,” Heather said.
The more she thought about it, the more she thought it was a nice idea. She and Ryan might want a night out one time where they could order room service and have dinner-in-bed instead of cooking. If Eva and Leila counted as family (and they sure did to her), it might be nice to get them a room sometimes too until their house was rebuilt. She knew they were grateful to be staying with friends, but she could imagine how they would enjoy a room each to themselves and enjoy some alone time. She considered the rest of her family and imagined how Dave would enjoy jumping on the bed.
“Thank you,” Heather said. “This is a lovely hotel. I think I would enjoy staying here sometime.”
“Just make sure you get a less-murderous handyman,” Amy added.
Caroline nodded. She couldn’t believe George Copper had been the killer. However, she was acting proactively and was making some safety upgrades to the hotel. She had already installed the security TV system and was coming up with a new plan for the door keys.
Heather thought she was taking the right steps. After she had some close calls at her own house, they had beefed up security. It was a wise investment for one’s safety in her line of work, and now she could sleep soundly at night.
“If you’re all ready, I’ll open up the doors so the guests can start coming in for the speech.”
Heather and Amy nodded, and Caroline went to open the doors. She actually was humming. Maybe the motto she came up with would come to pass, and the hotel would thrive and leaves guests humming their own happy tune.
“Are you nervous?’ Amy asked.
“A little,” Heather said. “I didn’t expect to be asked.”
“I knew it the second that the pancake man backed out again,” Amy said. “And you’ll be a much better speaker than any sticky syrup-head.”
“I don’t know. I get myself into a lot of sticky situations. Both in the donut kitchen and in the real world.”
“But you always come out ahead,” Amy said. “Maybe it’s because you have me with you.”
“Do you want to give the speech with me?”
“Don’t think of it as a speech,” Amy said. “It’s just a talk. You’re great at talking to people. You can get witnesses to open up and suspects to break down. You’re also really good at describing donut flavors.”
“I’m not a millionaire like Norton Worthers was.”
“You don’t have to be. You run a successful donut shop. That’s what people want to hear about. Especially after they taste those beauties.”
Heather started to feel more confident. She did know about donuts and about running a business. If she got nervous, she could take inspiration from the buffet table and talk about her flavors. Her new flavor of the week was a draw for getting repeat business.
The guests started milling in and enjoying the donut breakfast. They did seem genuinely excited for the talk. Ryan entered with Eva and Leila. It was a school day, so Lilly wasn’
t with them, but Ryan had promised to record the talk so she could watch it later. They waved and then found seats near the front so they could have the best view.
A few guests that they recognized from the first event were also there, including Rachel and Mike who weren’t starting at their watches in boredom this time.
Heather took a deep breath. It was going to be fine. You faced murderers before, she told herself. You can face a crowd of people.
“They just want to hear about how you run your shop. And if you want to throw in a few tales of crime solving, I’m sure that could add some spice.”
Heather smiled. “I’m ready now. I’ll make sure my talk gives them both sugar and spice.”
The End
A letter from the Author
To each and every one of my Amazing readers: I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me know what you think by leaving a review!
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Stay Curious,
Susan Gillard
Strawberry Sprinkled Swirl Murder: A Donut Hole Cozy Mystery - Book 49 Page 7