by K. M. Morgan
“No, I meant I can’t believe you had a donut from Don’s. How could you cheat on Sweet Tooth like that?” Samantha asked.
Every chef was prideful of their food. Samantha in particular took offense to the fact that her best friend went to a place that in her opinion served inferior baked goods.
“You know Sweet Tooth always comes first in my heart. If Crumple had been at the police station like I expected, I wouldn’t have even have set foot in Don’s Delicious Donuts,” Daisy explained.
Daisy understood her friend’s point. As much as Daisy enjoyed her donut, Samantha’s were infinitely better. In the end, it didn’t matter either way. Even if Don’s had the best donuts in the entire galaxy, Daisy would always come to the defense of her dear friend. Having Samantha as a friend was one of the most important things in the world to Daisy.
Samantha needed affirmation. “Do you really mean that?”
“Of course. If anyone is to blame for my chocolate addiction, it’s you,” Daisy joked.
Samantha smiled. “I can’t imagine a better compliment than that. Now, tell me about the case.”
“It was the taxidermist,” Granny Annie said, inviting herself into the conversation from behind the counter.
“Granny, there’s no taxidermist on this case,” Samantha replied.
“How about an aspiring hand model?” Granny Annie added.
Samantha looked confused. “Is that even a real thing?”
Daisy nodded. “You’d be surprised what some people get paid to do for a living. But sorry Annie, there’s no hand models—aspiring or otherwise that are suspects.”
“Dagnabbit. I’m bound to be right one of these times,” Granny Annie said.
Samantha tried to get the conversation back on track. “Who does the detective think is the killer?”
“Hunter’s fiancé—well, ex-fiancé,” Daisy revealed.
“And you don’t agree with him?” Samantha asked.
Granny Annie couldn’t keep herself from blurting out her opinion. “Don’t trust anything that detective says. Did you see he was wearing mauve colored socks?”
“No. But what does that have to do with anything?” Samantha asked.
“Never trust a man wearing mauve socks. Do you think you’d catch my boyfriend wearing off colored footwear? No siree. There’s no way I’d be caught dead jitterbugging with a man who dressed like that,” Granny explained.
Samantha couldn’t have been more confused. “What do you have against mauve socks?”
“Men of great intelligence don’t have the time to pick out clothing with color names only women know how to pronounce. I’ll bet Einstein was too busy coming up with the theory of relativity to pick out a pair mauve socks.”
“In a wacky twisted kind of way that kind of makes sense,” Samantha said.
“See--I’m older, I’m wiser. Just listen to me next time,” Granny Annie insisted.
“Can we get back to the case?” Daisy asked.
“This is about the case. Are you really going to trust the theories of Chris Crumple, a cop you had to track down in a donut shop?” Granny Annie asked.
“She does have a point,” Samantha said.
“Now you’re learning. Granny knows best.” Granny Annie then smelled some of her cookies burning. “Yikes, don’t worry snickerdoodles, I’m coming to the rescue.” Granny Annie then scuttled off to the oven.
Samantha then turned back to Daisy.
“Do you have any hunches?” Samantha asked.
“I really think the noir script revision Hunter was working on right before he was murdered is really crucial to the case, I just don’t know exactly how,” Daisy replied.
“Why don’t you have some chocolate mousse? It’ll get your brain juices flowing,” Samantha said.
“Now there’s a delicious theory I can get behind,” Daisy replied.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Daisy couldn’t wait to see Gavin’s handsome face at the dog park the next morning, and not just because her crush on him was growing by the day. Hopefully his private investigative skills had dug up some kind of dirt on the suspects that could help Daisy crack the case.
Much to her delight, Gavin seemed as happy to see her as she was to see him. Of course no one was more over the moon to see each other as their dogs were. Shamus and Rosie were a match made in mutt heaven. It was impossible for Daisy and Gavin to match that enthusiasm, but at least their awkward days were finally behind them.
“If it isn’t Cozy Creek’s super sleuth,” Gavin said.
“I feel more like a stumped sleuth today,” Daisy admitted.
“Uh oh, trouble in gumshoe land?”
“There’s just so many suspects. That’s a whole lot of Hunter Hayworth hate to go around.”
“It’s not a good sign when everyone around you wanted you dead.”
“Exactly. I mean, I can’t imagine having seven people wanting to kill me.”
“I can’t imagine even one person wanting to kill you. You’re so sweet and kind,” Gavin said.
Gavin had a way of casually complimenting her as if it was just part of everyday conversation. Maybe it just came naturally to him. Even more, he didn’t seem to even realize he was doing it. As if his subconscious was putting words into his mouth. Either way, Daisy was happy with any flattery that came her way.
“Well thank you,” Daisy replied.
“As for the case, I think I might have dug up just the lead you’ve been looking for,” Gavin revealed.
“Are you serious? What did you find?”
“It turns out Ainsley Adamson and Candy Caldwell have a past.”
“What kind of past?”
“A cutthroat beauty pageant kind. They have a rivalry going back years, one in which Ainsley Adamson always came out on top. The last straw was four years ago when Ainsley was not only chosen as Miss Tri-County, but also managed to steal Candy Caldwell’s boyfriend in the process. My guess is that Candy has been seething over that ever since,” Gavin explained.
Daisy’s eyes opened wide. “Wow.”
“I know, what a bombshell—right?”
“How did you find this out?”
“A private investigator never reveals his secrets,” Gavin joked.
“I’m pretty sure that’s a magician you’re talking about.”
“P.I.’s and magicians are actually pretty similar that way. I just don’t wear a cape,” Gavin wise-cracked.
“I guess it would be too much to ask you to pull a rabbit out of your top hat for me too,” Daisy replied, playfully.
“I’m afraid I don’t even own a top hat,” Gavin admitted.
“What a shame. I hate missed opportunities,” Daisy joked.
“It’s never too late to pick up a hat—although a bunny rabbit is going to be harder to come by,” Gavin laughed.
The playful banter came so naturally to them. So much so that sometimes they started flirting with each other without even intending to.
Being around Gavin, Daisy almost started forgetting about the case—even with a huge new lead having just been revealed. She had to tell herself to get back on focus. This could be just the break she’d been looking for.
“Back to the case, it’s all starting to come together,” Daisy said.
“I know. Candy looks pretty guilty now,” Gavin stated.
Daisy was surprised he jumped to that conclusion. She had the exact opposite reaction. “I was actually about to say it makes Ainsley look guiltier. When you’re used to coming out on top your whole life, it would be rage-inducing to find out your fiancé is cheating with your old rival of all people.”
“True, but at the same time, if you’re Candy Caldwell and you’ve already had one boyfriend stolen from you, imagine how burned you’d feel finding out the man you’ve been sleeping with is really your rival’s fiancé,” Gavin countered.
“I can’t argue with that either.”
“In the end, either one of us could be right. They both had ki
ller motives.”
“Surprisingly enough, Ainsley has a better alibi though,” Daisy said.
“Which is?”
“Ainsley was at a meditation class at the time of the murder.”
“That’s not actually as good of an alibi as you think,” Gavin pointed out.
Daisy got curious. “What makes you say that?”
“I’ve been to some of those classes. After a brief introduction, everyone’s eyes are closed for a good hour while everyone is deep in meditation. Ainsley could slip out at any time during the meditation and slide back in before the session was over and no one in the class would be the wiser,” Gavin explained.
That had never occurred to Daisy. Then again, she’d never been to a meditation class. Which brought up an interesting point about Gavin.
“Wait a minute, you’ve been to a meditation class?” she asked.
“That’s what you got out of what I just said?”
“Obviously I’m going to follow up with Ainsley. She clearly has more explaining to do. At the same time, I couldn’t help but get caught up in the fact that you’ve gone to meditation classes.”
“Why?” he wondered.
“I’m just realizing you are a man who is full of surprises. I can’t help but wonder what else is hiding up your sleeve?”
“Like I said before, private eyes are a lot like magicians. There’s probably a number of things about me that would surprise you.”
“Like what?” Daisy asked.
“I’m actually a pretty decent cook, I’m rather good at playing the guitar, and I give great shoulder massages.”
“You had me at massage,” Daisy admitted.
Although frankly, not only were all three of those things surprises, but they all made Daisy like him even more. Once again, the conversation had veered away from the case. She couldn’t help herself—her crush on Gavin was getting deeper.
“To be honest, I’m probably a little out of habit with my masseuse skills. It has been a while since I’ve given a massage,” Gavin replied.
“It’s never too late to get back in the habit,” Daisy teased.
Gavin gave her a nice smile. They locked gazes. Now would be a good time for him to ask her out. Only he didn’t do that. Gavin instead changed the subject.
“True. Anyway, you should probably get back to your case. There’s still a killer on the loose,” Gavin replied.
Daisy hated to admit it, but he was right. Maybe when she caught the killer, romance would bloom. In the meantime, Daisy had plenty more investigating to do. If only she could have gotten a massage for the road first.
Chapter Thirty
If Ainsley Adamson thought things got uncomfortable the first time Daisy came to see her, she hadn’t seen anything yet. Now Daisy had more than just a vague suspicion to go on. Ainsley’s motive was stronger than ever. Meanwhile her alibi started to look shaky.
Ainsley couldn’t hide her unhappiness when she saw Daisy walk into the yoga studio.
“What are you doing back in here?” Ainsley snapped.
That was not a good start. Daisy wasn’t going to be intimidated, especially not with the newfound knowledge she was carrying around.
“I thought you were supposed to be all Zen. Your chakras seem really bent out of shape,” Daisy replied.
“I told you not to come back in here.”
“You seem awfully testy. Almost like someone who has something to hide.”
That only enraged Ainsley more. Apparently all that yoga and meditation classes still had a ways to go to keep her temper under wraps.
“Get out of here,” Ainsley demanded.
“Or what, you’ll call the police? You and I both know the last thing you want is for the police to come back to this studio,” Daisy said.
Ainsley froze up with that statement. Daisy had called her bluff. It was all too obvious Ainsley didn’t want cops sniffing around the joint. Detective Crumple suspected Ainsley above anyone else already.
Daisy knew she had free rein to question Ainsley. There was only one thing she had to be careful of. If Ainsley was the killer, Daisy didn’t want to push her too far for fear that she’d kill again.
“What do you want?” Ainsley barked.
“We have to have a little talk…about Candy Caldwell,” Daisy revealed.
Ainsley hated hearing that name mentioned. Her eyes lit up. She tried to play dumb, but Daisy was too smart to get away with that.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ainsley said.
“Yeah you do. That’s why you’re going out of your way to avoid talking about how Candy used to be your old rival on the beauty pageant circuit. Not to mention how you stole her old boyfriend.”
Ainsley’s face went white. She was absolutely horrified. That was a secret she thought she’d hidden safely in her closet.
Ainsley started stammering. “How did you know that?”
Daisy didn’t have time for tangents. She had Ainsley on the ropes.
Daisy kept pressing. “It must have really burned you to find out that Hunter was cheating with your old rival of all people.”
Ainsley got really quiet. Her eyes however were as expressive as could be. On the inside, Daisy could tell that Ainsley was smoldering with rage.
“I know that situation would set me off too. And as they say, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” Daisy continued.
Ainsley went on the defensive. “That doesn’t mean I killed Hunter.”
“For someone proclaiming her innocence, you sure look guilty.”
“I didn’t kill Hunter.”
“I’m not so sure about that, and I don’t know if a jury would believe it either.”
Panic started to take Ainsley over. She no longer had confidence in her voice. All Daisy could hear was fear.
“I have an alibi. I told you, I was in a meditation class,” Ainsley insisted.
“That’s right. You say you have witnesses who can attest to you showing up to class. The question is, were you there the whole time?”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s actually a perfect alibi. Everyone in class sees you there when you arrive. But during the meditation, the whole class has their eyes closed for an hour. That gave you plenty of time to slip out, murder Hunter, and return to your meditation before the class ended,” Daisy explained.
Ainsley didn’t outright deny Daisy’s claim. Instead Ainsley tried to deflect.
“You can’t prove anything,” Ainsley declared.
“No, not yet. That doesn’t mean the evidence I need won’t turn up soon,” Daisy said.
Daisy was waiting for Ainsley to crack. Ainsley sure seemed to be on the verge of a meltdown.
Unfortunately, Daisy didn’t get a confession out of her.
Ainsley remained defiant. “For the last time, I didn’t do it.”
Just then, a group of yoga students started filing into the studio with their mats under their arms.
Ainsley looked as relieved as could be. “I have a class to teach.”
What horrible timing. Daisy knew it would do no good to keep pressing with the yoga students around. Besides, she couldn’t prove her hunch quite yet. She’d have to come back later—maybe next time with Detective Crumple by her side.
Daisy stared her down. “I have a killer to catch. And let me tell you, I’m not stopping until I find out who it is.”
On the way out, Daisy pulled a chocolate granola breakfast bar out of her purse. The yoga students gazed at it with great longing as they saw Daisy take a bite of it.
Chapter Thirty-One
While Daisy was developing a pretty big hunch, there was another lead to chase down on the set. The revelation that Ainsley and Candy were old beauty pageant rivals brought both of them under deeper suspicion. That meant it was time to pay Candy Caldwell a visit.
Candy meanwhile was focused squarely on learning her new lines. When the new director forced her to take a demotion and switch roles wit
h Fiona, that meant all the work Candy had done to memorize her lines in the film were rendered moot.
She now had a new second banana role in the film—one with hundreds of inferior-written lines that needed to be memorized.
Faced with that, Candy was in no mood for an impromptu visit by the set decorator. But Daisy knew how to capture Candy’s focus.
“Candy, just the woman I’ve been meaning to talk to,” Daisy said.
“I’m busy,” Candy insisted.
“How funny. That’s exactly what Ainsley Adamson said too.”
Candy tensed up. Her face went just as white as Ainsley’s had when Daisy visited her. The question was, could Daisy play one against the other?
“Are you ok? You look a little pale,” Daisy continued.
Candy jumped on the defensive. “What do you want?”
“When I saw the look on your face when you realized you weren’t the only one sleeping with Hunter, I thought you were just disgusted that you were the other woman. But the added wrinkle was of all the people for Hunter to be engaged to, it burned all the more because it was Ainsley Adamson. Am I right?” Daisy asked.
Candy was reeling. There was panic in her eyes—not to mention plenty of hurt. Daisy had her right where she wanted her.
Candy tried to play the victim. “Why would you bring that up? Are you trying to dig the knife even deeper?”
“It must be so tough, constantly being a runner up—not only in beauty pageants, but in a man’s heart. Or in your case, two men’s hearts,” Daisy said.
“I don’t know how you found all of that out, but I’ve been trying really hard to forget everything that happened back in those days.”
“Of course. Who wants to play the second banana? Yet that’s exactly what happened to you most of your life until you met Hunter. When he first took an interest in you, I’ll bet if felt so good. Then when he gave you the lead role in the movie, it was icing on the cake. But then to find out he’d already given his heart away to Ainsley first, that was grounds for murder--wasn’t it?” Daisy pressed.