Raspberry Creme Murder: A Frosted Love Cozy Mystery - Book 14 (Frosted Love Cozy Mysteries)

by Carol Durand

  “How badly hurt is she?”

  “I don’t know,” Echo shook her head. “But there was so much blood…” she swayed a bit on her feet and Missy had no sooner gotten her seated in the waiting room, than Chas dashed in, going straight to the reception desk and flashing his badge. He saw Missy and Echo on his way back to the restricted area of the ER, but when Missy ran over to talk to him, he told her that he’d be back to talk with her and Echo as soon as he could.

  It had been barely half an hour, but seemed like days before Chas reappeared.

  “You didn’t hear it from me, but she’s going to be okay,” he announced quietly, sitting down across from Missy and Echo.

  “Oh, thank goodness,” Echo said, and both women breathed a sigh of relief.

  “I’m afraid I can’t stay, I have to get to the lock-up and inform Marsha that she’s being arrested for murder. Apparently, because she thought Sam would end up dead, she confessed to everything before she came at her with the knife. Samantha said that it sounded like she was proud of what she’d done. Her testimony will add more fuel to the fire for the prosecution, because Marsha disclosed details to Sam that hadn’t been released to the public,” Chas said, wearily triumphant.

  He kissed Missy on the forehead. “I’ll see you late tonight, beautiful.” Then the detective turned to Echo. “Are we still on for tomorrow?” he asked. She nodded, and despite the trauma of an event-filled day, a broad grin warmed her face.

  “Well, that sounds very mysterious,” Missy observed, after Chas left. “What are you two up to tomorrow, and why am I not invited?” she demanded.

  “Well, unless you’re mechanically inclined, you’ll only be in the way,” Echo lied smoothly. “Chas is coming over to fix the ice-maker in my refrigerator.”

  “Oh, well then, I’ll come with him. We can eat ice cream and critique his performance,” she grinned.

  “Umm…well…okay,” her friend faltered, seeming oddly nervous. “That sounds…good, yeah, let’s do…that,” she nodded vigorously.

  The two friends waited hours for Sam to come out of the ER and be moved to a private room, then went up to see her.

  “Hey guys,” Samantha greeted them wanly from her hospital bed, as they crept into the room, afraid to disturb her.

  Missy moved to the side of the bed nearest the door. “Sam, I am so sorry. I’ve been just terrible to you, and I wouldn’t blame you a bit if you chose not to forgive me, but from the bottom of my heart, I just want you to know that I’m so so sorry that I doubted you,” she apologized, fat tears streaking down her face.

  “It’s okay, I understand. Marsha did a good job of trying to frame me. Did the police get her?” she asked, fear in her eyes.

  “Yes, she’s locked up right now, honey, you don’t have to worry anymore,” Echo spoke, brushing the blood-stiffened hair away from Sam’s brow. Marsha had gone wild with a butcher knife, slashing the poor woman’s scalp, shoulder, arms, hands and torso. The cuts were deep enough to need stitches, but thankfully not surgery. She was in the hospital for rest and observation and would most likely get to go home the next day.

  “Good. I’d been suspicious of her ever since Sally told her that I’d be replacing her on the committee, but I didn’t know her well enough to realize that she was capable of doing all the heinous things that she’s done,” Sam murmured, still in shock.

  “I’m just glad you weren’t hurt worse,” Missy said, taking her hand.

  “Me too,” Sam smiled, then yawned.

  “We’d better get going and let you get your rest, we just had to see you and make sure that you’re okay,” Echo said, caressing her friend’s cheek.

  “Thanks, I appreciate it,” she replied, yawning again. They both gave her gentle hugs and went on their way. Samantha fell fast asleep before they even made it to the door.

  “You never got your pizza tonight, you must be starving,” Missy said as they left the hospital. “Chas won’t be back for hours, I could come to your house and we could whip up some late dinner,” she offered.

  “No!” Echo exclaimed. “I mean…umm…I’m really tired. So tired that I couldn’t eat a thing,” she faked a yawn and stretched.

  “Really? That’s not like you,” Missy remarked, wondering at her friend’s strange behavior.

  “Yeah…I didn’t sleep well last night,” she hedged. “Maybe next time.”

  “Okay…sure,” Missy agreed, nonplussed. She hoped that, although Echo was becoming close with Sam, it wouldn’t negatively impact their relationship. She’d give her some time to rest, but planned to call her tomorrow to ask if everything was okay.

  Chapter 17

  “So, what time are we leaving to go to Echo’s?” Missy asked Chas over coffee the next morning.

  He’d been texting like crazy, an activity that was highly unusual for the somewhat reclusive detective. Missy figured that he must by tying up the loose ends of the murder case.

  “Excuse me?” was the startled reply. Chas nearly dropped the phone that had been glued to his hand the entire morning.

  “To Echo’s…you’re going to fix her ice maker and I’m going to hang out with her and eat ice cream,” she explained patiently, figuring that the conscientious detective had been so wrapped up in the murder case that he’d forgotten about Echo’s refrigerator.

  “Oh…yeah…right,” he nodded slowly. “Uh, I’m not sure just yet, let me give work a quick call before I make that decision,” he said, heading for the back door. Chas often went outside to make official phone calls in private, so Missy thought nothing of it, taking both of their mugs over to the coffee pot for a refill.

  The detective was only gone for a few minutes, and came in smiling. Taking his coffee from Missy’s delicate hand, he kissed her lightly.

  “So when are we leaving?” she asked again, wondering when to take her shower. She’d already had a nice long walk with Chas and the girls, during which he continued to text, which she found to be mildly annoying, but she always tried to be understanding when it came to his work.

  As he opened his mouth to reply, Missy’s phone rang and Cheryl’s sweet young face popped up on the screen.

  “Hang on,” Missy said, holding up her index finger. “Hey darlin,’ how’s life?” she asked, delighted to hear from any member of the Radigan family.

  “Well, actually, I’m in a bit of a pickle,” Cheryl sounded worried. “That’s why I called, I’m hoping that you might be able to help me out.”

  “Of course, honey, what’s up?” Missy’s motherly concern kicked in.

  “Ben’s car broke down and he wants me to go pick him up, so that he can get the car towed to the mechanic.”

  “Oh, well, I’d be happy to pick him up, just tell me where he is,” Missy was already reaching for her purse.

  “No!” Cheryl exclaimed, startling her. “I mean…he really needs me to pick him up, so I need someone to watch Cammie and I was hoping that you might be able to come over.”

  “Well…can’t you just take that precious angel with you?” Missy suggested, thinking that Cheryl must be so worried that she wasn’t thinking logically.

  “Umm…no, because…we don’t really know how long it might take, and I’d hate to run into her nap time or something,” the nervous mother replied.

  “Alright sweetie, I’ll get my keys and come right over.”

  “No!” Cheryl said again. “Because…umm…the mechanic doesn’t open until, like, two o’clock, so we don’t need you until maybe 1:30.”

  Missy pursed her lips. “Cheryl, honey…am I missing something? This all seems to be terribly complicated for such a simple thing,” she said, her brow furrowed with confusion.

  Cheryl hesitated. “Oh, sorry. Well…I…umm…omigosh, Cammie is crying – so hey, I’ve gotta run, but you can come over at 1:30, right?” she blurted.

  “Sure, honey, I’ll be there, but shouldn’t we…” Missy began.

  “Great!” Cheryl cut her off. “See you then.” Dial tone.


  Missy stared at her phone as if it was an alien creature. Cheryl had acted so strangely, it wasn’t like her at all to hang up so abruptly. She hoped that there wasn’t more to the story.

  “What was that all about?” Chas asked casually, taking a sip of coffee.

  “Cheryl needs me to babysit, apparently there’s something wrong with Ben’s car,” Missy murmured. “So anyway, what time are we going to Echo’s?” she asked again, looking forward to seeing the handsome detective do some manual labor while noshing on her favorite ice cream.

  “Echo said that the only time she has available today is at 1:00,” he replied, getting up to forage in the refrigerator for some breakfast.

  “Darn it!” Missy exclaimed, disappointed.

  “What?” Chas asked, nose in the refrigerator.

  “Cheryl needs me to babysit at 1:30, and there’s no way that I can do both,” she sighed.

  “Well, if Cheryl needs you, isn’t that more important? You and Echo have ice cream together a couple of times a week at least,” he reminded her.

  “Yeah, that’s true, but you’re never involved,” Missy pretended to pout.

  “The way you two chatter endlessly when you’re together, it’s probably just as well – I’d never get a word in edgewise,” Chas teased, coming back to the breakfast bar with a container of yogurt and a bag of granola.

  “I hate to agree with you on that one, but it’s true,” she grinned, standing and kissing him on the cheek. “I’m getting in the shower.”

  Chas watched her walk down the hall to shower and dropped his head into his hand, sighing with relief.

  Chapter 18

  Chas left the house just before Missy did, and she was puzzled initially that he headed in the opposite direction that he needed to go to get to Echo’s house, but eventually figured that he had either gone to buy parts for the ice maker, or needed to fill the gas tank in his car. Ever thoughtful, the handsome detective had said that he wanted to take her to a nice late lunch after she was done babysitting and asked her to wear the pewter dress that he loved so much because it brought out her kitten-grey eyes.

  Missy had a delightful time with little Cammie, and was surprised when Cheryl called to tell her that one of Ben’s friends from grad school needed “baby practice” because she had just found out she was pregnant, so she’d be coming over to take Missy’s place. Missy was excited that her late lunch with Chas could now be earlier than they expected, and texted to tell him the good news, hoping that he had finished with Echo’s ice maker. As it turned out, he had not only finished with the ice maker, but had gone ahead to a swanky jazz club on the outskirts of town to see if they’d let him in without a reservation. They’d reluctantly agreed, but told him that he’d lose his table if he left the restaurant, so he apologetically asked Missy if she could just meet him there.

  “Just let the valet park your car, I don’t want you to have to walk very far in this humidity,” he’d thoughtfully instructed. Missy’s heart beat faster – she’d wanted to see what the jazz club was like for quite some time, and now she finally would.

  Missy pulled into the circular drive in front of the club, and when the valet saw her car, he spoke into a little walkie-talkie that was attached to his red blazer. The thought crossed her mind that the poor man must be close to heat exhaustion, wearing a blazer on a day like today. He came to her door and opened it for her.

  “Good evening, Miss Gladstone,” he greeted her. “We’ve been expecting you.”

  “Really?” Missy asked before she could stop herself, then covered her blunder. “Thank you,” she recovered, trying to act as though such things happened to her all the time.

  A concierge met her at the door as the valet drove away in her car. “Come with me, Miss Gladstone,” the elegant gent offered his arm.

  When he opened the door, Missy heard the strains of her absolute favorite Elvis song, “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” being played live, with a smooth jazz touch. The lights were low, and candles flickered on every table. She was astonished when she glanced at the main stage which was strung with hundreds of firefly lights, and saw Chas, decked out in a fine Italian suit, standing in front of the musicians’ box, beckoning to her. Spellbound and more than a bit startled, she allowed the concierge to guide her toward the stage, where her handsome detective waited. Not realizing or caring that every eye in the room was on her, she practically floated onto the stage.

  Chas took her hand and gazed into her eyes, a look on his face that she’d never seen before. It was as if every bit of emotion that he kept carefully hidden, along with the heart that he guarded so closely, was shining there in his cobalt eyes, for all the world to see.

  Unable to look away, Missy whispered, “Chas, what’s happening?” as the band softly played the last few notes of her favorite song.

  “I love you,” he said, taking both of her hands in his, his words filling the room. She saw that he had a tiny microphone fastened to his lapel.

  “I love you, too,” she replied, her eyes moist.

  “When I first met you, I knew you were special. I wouldn’t admit it to myself at the time, because the thought scared me, but I knew that you were The One,” he smiled tenderly, caressing her cheek with his thumb and kissing her lightly. Missy blushed and grinned up at the most handsome face in the entire world. “Any time that you’ve ever been in danger, I feel like if I lost you, life would have no meaning. I could go on, I just wouldn’t want to. I’ve known for quite a while now that I want you to be by my side, forever.”

  The tears that had welled in Missy’s eyes slipped slowly down her cheeks and he wiped them away with a fingertip. “Oh Chas, I want that too,” she admitted with all of her heart.

  “And because of that…I’m going to ask you a question that I never thought I’d ask anyone.” Chas reached into his pocket and pulled out a small blue velvet box and Missy gasped as she finally realized what was happening. Her beloved got down on one knee and opened the box to reveal a heart-shaped diamond ring that had probably cost more than Missy’s car and house combined.

  “Melissa Gladstone, will you make me the happiest man on earth? Will you marry me?” he asked, his own eyes shining as he placed his ring on her finger.

  The crowd in the restaurant erupted when she said a vehement and heartfelt yes, and the house lights came up to reveal all of her friends and loved ones. Echo was there, at a table with Ben and Cheryl and the rest of her staff from both shops. The mayor was in attendance, as were the remaining members of her book club, including Sam, and people with whom she’d laughed, cried and done business. Everyone and anyone who was precious to her was there, and at the moment, they were all on their feet applauding, many of them with tears on their cheeks. Now all of the weird behavior from Echo, Cheryl and Chas made sense, they’d been plotting together to surprise her, and had succeeded admirably.

  When Missy realized the thoughtfulness and planning that it had taken to make this happen, she was overwhelmed and felt truly loved – by friends, loved ones, and the man who’d just become her fiancé. Her tears flowed freely as Chas took her in his arms and kissed her soundly, a fitting way to begin the rest of their lives together.

  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!

  I’ll be releasing another installment in two weeks so to stay in the loop (and to get free books and other fancy stuff) Join my Book club.

  Stay Curious,

  Carol Durand

 

 

 
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