A Shot of Bitterness

by Wendy Meadows

  “Just a minute,” the receptionist replied.

  While she was waiting Margaret thought about Scott Freeman. She had told David she would not get involved, but she wanted to help. The receptionist came back on the line.

  “The woman you dealt with is out sick. I don’t think we can come and get them today,” the she said.

  “No problem,” replied Margaret. “I will bring them to you.”

  “Oh, that would be great,” said the receptionist.

  “I can deliver them around lunchtime, will that be okay?” said Margaret.

  “That would be perfect,” said the receptionist.

  Margaret hung up and then looked at the boxes of bags she had in the back room. There were a lot of boxes, but she felt confident that they would fit in her little yellow Mazda, which was a five-door hatchback. It might be a little crowded, but she’d make it work. She went back to the front of the store. As she was entering from the back room Patty arrived. She apologized for being late.

  “No problem, Patty,” said Margaret. “Zach and I had it covered. Is everything okay?”

  “Yes. Mr. Whiskers got out and I had to chase him and bring him back inside before I left. He’s an indoor cat,” said Patty. “I would have worried all day if I left him loose.”

  Margaret smiled, imagining the older woman chasing the cat.

  “I heard a few people talking about your Sweet Sale at the post office this morning,” Patty said. “Word is getting out. Have you heard anything else from David?”

  “Not today. I guess he’s busy running his investigation.”

  “So what are you going to do?” asked Patty.

  “I’m not sure yet. I thought I would stop by the Freeman house and pay my condolences to Scott’s wife. David mentioned Scott was married. I have to go to the elementary school and her house is right around the corner. I found their address on my map app earlier,” Margaret said.

  Patty and Zach looked at her with raised eyebrows.

  “What?” asked Margaret. “I’m just going to say how sorry I am for her loss.”

  “Sure you are,” said Zach, winking at Patty. Patty and Margaret laughed.

  “Hey,” said Zach. “Patty is here now. What is your surprise?”

  Before Margaret could answer a customer walked in.

  “Is this where the Sweet Sale is?” he asked. Zach told him it was and showed the customer the candy. Margaret took this opportunity to duck into the back room. She pulled the surprise out of the refrigerator and put it on some plates. When Zach was done with the customer Margaret called him and Patty into the back.

  “Well, you have been waiting patiently. I have something I want to show you. Promise me you won’t judge it until you try it,” Margaret said, pulling the plates out from behind her.

  Patty and Zach gasped. On the plates before them were stunning-looking pralines. They were a pecan candy that Zach had grown up eating.

  “Those look gorgeous,” said Patty. “Where did you get them?”

  “I made them,” Margaret confided just as Zach was about to taste one.

  “You made these?” he asked, putting the candy back on the plate untasted.

  “Yes,” said Margaret. “Come on. Try one.”

  Zach hesitated. He picked up the candy and smelled it. “It smells good,” he said. He tasted the candy. His eyes lit up and he smiled.

  “This is delicious,” he exclaimed.

  “Really?” asked Margaret.

  “Yes, really,” Zach said. “I love this. You really made it?”

  “Yes,” said Margaret. “I made them after you went to bed. I thought I would try some homemade candies in the shop. When Stacy gave me the pecan pie I remembered the pralines we used to eat. I grabbed the ingredients and whipped them up. There is no baking involved, so I figured there was a chance these would turn out right. I’m glad you like them.”

  “These are wonderful,” chimed in Patty. “Your customers will love them.”

  Margaret was thrilled. She had been thinking for a while now about incorporating homemade candy into the store. With the stove and refrigerator in the back of her store she could make them right there. That would save some shipping costs. Margaret would still keep the smaller candies. She was hoping to replace some of the gourmet candies for her own.

  Just then she heard the front door open. Margaret went out and helped the customer. Zach and Patty stayed in the back enjoying their candies.

  David walked in a moment later and Margaret was surprised to see him.

  “I thought you would be busy investigating Scott Freeman’s death,” she said.

  “I had a few minutes and I thought I would stop in. Are you keeping busy?”

  “Yes,” said Margaret. “I have the sale going on and a surprise soon.”

  “What is the surprise?” asked David.

  “I’m not telling you,” said Margaret. “You can find out when the rest of my customers do.”

  “Is that because I asked you not to investigate the Freeman murder?” David asked.

  “Maybe,” said Margaret coyly.

  “Well, you understand why I don’t want you involved.”

  “Because I’m not officially part of the police department,” said Margaret, rolling her eyes.

  “That is one reason, but the biggest reason is because I don’t want you to get hurt. Remember when you stuck your nose in last time?” David asked. “You ended up with a concussion and a broken leg.”

  “I was right though,” Margaret countered.

  “Yes, you were and you were almost killed,” David said.

  “That is a bit of an exaggeration,” Margaret said.

  “No it isn’t,” insisted David. “If anything happened to you because you were investigating one of my cases I would never forgive myself.”

  “I’m a grown woman, not a china doll,” Margaret retorted.

  “Look, can we agree to disagree on this point for right now?” asked David. “I don’t want to get into another fight.”

  Margaret didn’t want to fight with David either. She agreed to drop it for now. But she took David’s warning as a challenge. She would continue to investigate the murder.

  “Would you like some candy?” she asked.

  “I thought you’d never ask,” said David, laughing. Margaret smiled. Zach and Patty came in from the back while Margaret got David’s order together.

  “Since we are dropping that issue will you tell me the surprise?” David asked.

  “I will tell you later today,” Margaret said. “I have an errand to run right now.”

  “Where are you going?” asked David, looking suspicious.

  “To the grocery store,” said Margaret.

  Zach and Patty looked at each other. David narrowed his eyes.

  “Be careful,” David finally said.

  “I think I’m safe buying groceries,” Margaret said. She said goodbye to David and he left the store.

  “Buying groceries?” Zach asked.

  “I was not lying. I will be buying groceries after stopping by Mrs. Freeman’s house.”

  “And dropping off the bags,” said Patty.

  “Yes. Okay, maybe I didn’t tell him everything but I’m a grown woman. I don’t appreciate him treating me like a child.”

  “I understand,” said Patty. “When he gets an idea in his head he is like a dog with a bone. Have you heard from any of the other shopkeepers about Scott Freeman? I think a community is like a family. We should all be watching out for one another.”

  “Or we should be getting together and not let outsiders in,” said Mr. Stewart.

  Patty and Margaret jumped.

  “I didn’t hear the door,” said Margaret.

  “You were busy talking. I think this community is fine as it is. Too many outsiders bring trouble.”

  “I’m an outsider,” said Margaret.

  “No, you are part of this community,” said Mr. Stewart. “You earned your way into our hearts.”


  “Aw, thanks,” Margaret said and then asked if he needed anything.

  “I’ll take some of the Sweet Sale candy,” said Mr. Stewart. While Zach bagged some up, Mr. Stewart said to Margaret, “Oh, and if you need any help with your investigation let me know.” Mr. Stewart paid Zach and turned toward the door.

  “What investigation?” asked Margaret.

  “I know you,” said Mr. Stewart. “I’m sure you will be trying to figure out who murdered Scott Freeman. Don’t worry, I won’t say anything to David.”

  Margaret’s mouth dropped open in mock shock. “Why on earth do you think I will be investigating this murder?”

  “Because that is what you do,” said Mr. Stewart, smiling as he walked out the door.

  Patty laughed and Zach grinned. Margaret chuckled as she shook her head.

  “I need to get those bags to the school. Will you help me load the car?” Margaret asked Zach.

  The candy barely fit in the car. The trunk was full to the brim with boxes and the back seat and front passenger’s seat were covered with them. Margaret had to drive with one box on her lap.

  Zach laughed. “Be careful,” he said as Margaret pulled out.

  “I will,” said Margaret. She drove carefully to the school, and when she arrived, the receptionist called some teachers to help Margaret unload the car. When they were done, the receptionist handed Margaret a check.

  “Thank you so much for the goody bags,” she said. “We gave you a bonus for having them done so quickly.”

  “Thank you so much,” said Margaret. “I appreciate that.” Back in the car, she looked at the check and grinned. “This will help pay for the pralines,” she murmured as she pulled out of the parking lot.

  A few minutes later Margaret was pulling into Mrs. Freeman’s driveway. She got out of the car and walked to the door. Margaret introduced herself when Mrs. Freeman opened the door. Mrs. Freeman was a pretty woman, and except for eyes that were slightly red, she didn’t appear too grief-stricken.

  “I’m Leah Freeman. Come in,” she said, and Margaret walked inside. The house was neat and attractive. There were pictures on the wall and the furniture looked new.

  “You have a beautiful house,” said Margaret.

  “Thank you,” said Leah. “I have been trying to keep it in order, but it has been difficult. People have been stopping by to offer their condolences and I have been on the phone with the police quite a bit.”

  “I’m so sorry for your loss,” said Margaret.

  “Oh wait—you’re Margaret,” Leah said as though something just dawned on her. “You were the person who found him, right?”

  “Yes, I was. I didn’t realize he had been murdered. I was hoping to talk to you about him. I was thinking of looking into the case.”

  “Oh, are you a detective?” asked Leah.

  “More of a private investigator,” Margaret hedged.

  “I could certainly use your help,” said Leah. “The police apparently don’t have any leads yet.”

  “I would be happy to help look into things,” said Margaret, beaming.

  “You’re hired,” said Leah.

  Margaret’s breath caught. Was Mrs. Freeman really offering to pay her to look into her husband’s murder? Was that even legal? She wasn’t officially a private investigator, after all.

  “You should know,” Margaret said, “that I’m not exactly licensed. It’s more of a hobby. I couldn’t take your money. I don’t even know if I’d be allowed.”

  Leah thought for a minute. “What about if I hired you as a consultant, not a private investigator? Would that be all right? I’m just not sure the police in such a small town have what it takes to solve this case.”

  “A consultant?” Margaret hesitated. Surely that would be okay, right? Then she looked at Leah Freeman. “It’s a deal.”

  Chapter 5

  Leah offered Margaret a seat and asked if she wanted coffee.

  “I’d love some,” Margaret said, and Leah walked into her kitchen.

  Margaret couldn’t believe her luck. Not only was she going to be able to poke around into the murder. She was going to be paid to do so. Leah came back with two mugs of coffee. She set them down on the coffee table along with some cream and sugar. Margaret thanked her and thought for a minute.

  “What was your husband like, Mrs. Freeman?” she asked.

  “You can call me Leah,” said Mrs. Freeman. “Mrs. Freeman seems so formal.”

  “Okay, Leah,” said Margaret. “Can you tell me about your husband?”

  Leah drew in her breath before replying. “Well, he was a workaholic for sure. He was always in his coffee shop. Some nights he would stay there overnight.”

  “Was this his first business?” asked Margaret, remembering the long hours she had put in to opening her candy shop.

  “No. Scott and I travel up and down the East Coast. He would open a store in one location and hire a manager to run it while we went on to the next store.”

  “Were they all coffee shops?” asked Margaret.

  “Yes,” said Leah. “He had established himself with his buyers. They were giving him great rates on the coffee. His shops are still in business. I’m sure if you traveled to some of the other small towns on the coast you’d see them.”

  “That’s great,” said Margaret. “I know it is difficult opening a new business.”

  “Scott just had that talent,” said Leah. “He knew what people wanted and he knew how to give it to them. I didn’t see much of him when he was opening a store but he always came home eventually.”

  “On the night he was killed was he working?” asked Margaret.

  “Yes. He had stayed in the shop all night. He was determined to get this one up and running in record time. He worked very hard to make it a successful opening.” Leah stopped and looked out the window. “Even though I didn’t see him much I knew he loved me. He told me he was working toward an early retirement. He said he wanted to retire to a beach community and buy a small house by the ocean. Then we could stop moving around all the time.”

  “That sounds lovely,” said Margaret.

  Leah pulled out a tissue and blew her nose. “Now that dream is gone. Would you please help me find out who murdered him?” she asked. “I still can’t believe he’s really gone.”

  “I will do my best,” said Margaret. She got up and Leah rose too. Leah walked her to the door.

  “Thank you for helping me,” said Leah. “I feel much better now.”

  Margaret told her she was happy to help and then walked to her car. She called Zach at the store.

  “I’m going to get some groceries and run to the bank. Do you need anything?”

  “No,” said Zach. “I’m okay. Stacy stopped by and I told her how much we liked the pie.”

  “Thank you,” said Margaret. “I meant to stop by there but I got busy with everything. I appreciate you passing on the kind words.”

  Margaret drove to the store and bought the ingredients for more pralines. She returned to the candy store and Zach helped her unload her bags.

  “I’m going to be making some pralines for the shop right now,” said Margaret.

  “Do you need any help?” asked Patty.

  “I don’t think so,” Margaret replied. “The other batch came out just fine. Fingers crossed that this one does too.”

  “I’m sure they will be delicious,” Patty said. “How did the meeting with Mrs. Freeman go?”

  Zach looked up, waiting for Margaret’s answer.

  “It was better than good,” Margaret said.

  “Oh really? What happened?” asked Zach.

  “She hired me as her private investigator,” said Margaret beaming.

  “But you aren’t a private investigator,” said Zach, confused.

  “I know, and I told that to Leah—that’s Mrs. Freeman’s name—but she said she’d hire me as a consultant. She’s paying me to investigate Scott’s death.”

  “No matter what you call it, you’d
still be acting like a private investigator,” Patty said. “What did David say about this?”

  “He doesn’t know and I don’t want to tell him just yet. I’ll let him know when the time is right,” promised Margaret.

  “Just make sure this doesn’t come between you,” warned Patty.

  “Right,” said Margaret. She started putting the groceries away. The bell from the front door sounded and Patty left to help the customer.

  Zach looked at his mother.

  “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” he asked.

  “Yes. I’m trying to solve this poor man’s murder,” said Margaret, hesitating. “Are you okay with me taking on this case?”

  “Sure,” said Zach. “I guess. Just be careful. If anything happens to you . . .”

  “I’ll be fine,” Margaret reassured him with a hug. “I promise I’ll be careful. I don’t want anything happening to me either.”

  Zach laughed and Margaret let him go. She pulled out a mixing bowl to start on the pralines while Zach went back to the front of the store to help Patty with the customers. Margaret smiled as she worked. Things are coming together, she thought. She mixed the pralines with the warmed confection and put them on baking sheets to cool. Then she went to the front of the store and helped Patty and Zach.

  Word had gotten out about her candy sale and the store was packed. The customers were drawn in by the sale but they bought regular-priced candy too, which was what Margaret had hoped for. She relaxed a bit and helped them figure out which candy they wanted. When the customers thinned after a while, Zach suggested he and Patty go over to Stacy’s café for lunch. Margaret agreed to watch the store and asked Zach to bring her back a salad. She went back to check on her pralines. They were coming along nicely.

  Around closing time Margaret asked Patty and Zach to try out her new batch of pralines.

  “These are just as good as the first ones,” said Patty.

  “They are delicious,” said Zach. “When are we going to sell them?”

  Margaret looked at the Sweet Sale merchandise. The sale had been a hit and most of the candies were gone.

  “How about we bag up the rest of the Sweet Sale candies and sell them to people by the prepackaged bagful?” Margaret suggested. “That will clear up some room for the pralines.”