Cozy Creek

by K M Morgan

  There was one crucial mistake that Gary had made.

  Daisy didn’t hesitate to point out what it was. “That’s where you are wrong. You’ll be spending the rest of your life behind bars. I hope you are ready for a whole new world of pain.”

  Epilogue

  With Gary Mitchell behind bars, there was an assumption in Daisy’s mind that her life would quiet down. Unfortunately, that turned out to be false. Even though the murder investigation had ended, the political season was far from over.

  A few days later, the mayoral election was held, despite heavy criticism from the voters. Postponing the vote seemed like the right thing to do, not just out of respect for Adam Mitchell’s untimely demise, but because the leading candidate in the polls was no longer alive.

  Surprisingly, there was no rule in the local bylaws against continuing an election despite a candidate’s murder. Given that, Walter Redmond pushed to have the vote as scheduled, assuming that he would be a shoo-in to win. When the local court intervened, Daisy figured that some sanity would be restored to the proceedings.

  That was not the case. Supposedly acting as an impartial judicial body, the court ruled that since there were no rules on the books that strictly prohibited the vote from being held on schedule, the election would not be postponed.

  On a purely political level, it was hardly the first election that featured no good candidates. Even so, it was a surreal experience to realize that the frontrunner in the race happened to be a dead man.

  As it turned out, that didn’t end up being the only oddity about Election Day. When all the votes were tallied, against all the odds, despite the fact that Adam Mitchell was dead, he ended up receiving more votes than Walter Redmond. That just went to show how much the local residents didn’t want to see the mayor stay in office.

  Amazingly enough, that wasn’t even the biggest stunner of the day. Luke Foster, the fringe third-party independent politician who represented the only living candidate on the ticket other than Walter Redmond, had fate smile on him in Adam Mitchell’s absence. Much to everyone’s shock, Luke managed to secure just enough votes to squeak by Adam in the final results.

  Ultimately, even though Luke acted like his surprise victory was an endorsement of his policies, there was no denying the fact that he only ended up being slightly more popular than a dead man. Even so, when all was said and done, for better or worse, Luke Foster was the new mayor of Cozy Creek.

  Daisy responded to the news in the same way that she had reacted to the entire contentious election cycle—by heading off to Sweet Tooth Bakery. There was no doubt in her mind that the next four years would make for a political roller coaster ride. That was why she was happy that there was no shortage of cupcakes in the world.

  The End.

  The Deadly Dinner Theater Affair

  Chapter One

  “Daisy, why are you so nervous?” Gavin Watson asked.

  Daisy McDare stopped bouncing her knee as she sat in the passenger seat of her fiancé’s car. She turned to Gavin, who was in the driver’s seat.

  “Because I don’t know what’s going to happen next,” Daisy said.

  Gavin tried to calm her nerves. “I’ll tell you what’s going to happen. We’re going out to dinner.”

  She fidgeted. “Don’t pretend like this is just a normal dinner. This is murder-mystery dinner theater.”

  “Exactly. It’s just a bunch of actors putting on a performance. No actual murder is going to take place.”

  “Normally, I’d agree with you. But Cozy Creek is far from a normal place. Our hometown is a hub of unusual activity. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that a real murder might occur tonight.”

  Gavin’s eyebrows knitted. “Do you really think that’s going to happen?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. That’s the problem.”

  “Is this really what we’ve come to now? I can’t take you out to a theatrical performance without you worrying that someone is going to turn up dead?”

  “Trust me, I don’t enjoy being a wreck. But I just can’t shake my anxiety off. Can you really blame me for being a little on edge, though? I mean, look at what has happened in the past.”

  “I can’t argue with you there.”

  “Exactly. Besides, what better place to try to pull off a real murder than in the middle of a dinner theater performance?”

  “I think it’s time for you to take a vacation. I have a feeling that some rest and relaxation would do wonders for you.”

  “I’ll bet it would. But I’ll have to think about that later. I just want to make it through the night first.”

  He grimaced. “If you’re this panicked, why don’t we just turn around and head back home?”

  “Unfortunately, we can’t do that.”

  Gavin squinted. “Sure we can.”

  “Honey, the situation isn’t that simple.”

  “Because of Samantha and Granny Annie?”

  She nodded. “Exactly. I mean, they gave me these tickets as a gift. And they paid good money for them.”

  “I understand that. But if you’re really this uncomfortable going into the dinner—”

  Daisy held her hand up. “Gavin, I’ve been in much worse situations than this.”

  “Yes, while investigating an actual murder,” he said. “Not just at a casual dinner that is supposed to be fun.”

  “Honey, I know you’re just trying to look out for me, but I don’t want to hurt Samantha’s and Annie’s feelings by not going to this dinner.”

  “What about your feelings? Don’t they matter?”

  “Right now, my focus is on Annie and Samantha. They were so excited to give me the tickets. They thought I would have a blast at this show. I don’t want to disappoint them by not even giving it a try.”

  “Samantha is your best friend. I’m pretty sure what she wants the most is for you to be happy.”

  Daisy bit the corner of her lip. “In theory, you’re correct.”

  Gavin saw the look of concern on Daisy’s face.

  “Please tell me you’re not thinking about your father’s birthday party from last year,” Gavin said.

  “Of course I am,” Daisy said. “Unfortunately, I know all-too well what it’s like to give someone you care about a gift that they are less than thrilled with.”

  Daisy’s father was a big hockey fan, and The Destroyers were his favorite team. Naturally, Daisy figured that if she bought her dad a new Destroyers hockey jersey, it would make a great birthday gift. Since Daisy didn’t follow hockey at all, she failed to realize that the jersey she bought happened to belong to a player that had been traded from the team a few weeks before. That explained why the jersey was on sale for fifty-percent off when she bought it. Daisy, meanwhile, just thought she was getting a steal of a deal.

  Instead, Daisy heard the news from her father’s mouth, shortly after he opened his birthday present. Her dad had tried to put on a good face, and outwardly pretended that he liked the gift, but Daisy could tell that her father didn’t really want the jersey.

  “Daisy, I’ve told you this before. Your father didn’t dislike that gift nearly as much as you think he did,” Gavin said.

  “Honey, you’re really sweet, but I know when you’re lying to me just to make me feel better,” Daisy said. “The look in my father’s eyes that day said it all. There’s no doubt in my mind that he wanted to return that jersey and trade it in for something else.”

  “You’re certainly entitled to your opinion.”

  “Come on, Gavin. Can you honestly tell me I’m wrong?”

  “Daisy, we’ve had this conversation before. So instead of having it again, why don’t we get back to talking about tonight—and the dinner theater?”

  Daisy knew when her fiancé was desperately trying to change the subject. She could have forced more conversation about the hockey jersey, but she decided to heed Gavin’s advice.

  “If anything, what happened with my father just gives me more reason to
tough things out at this murder-mystery performance.”

  “I happen to think that this situation is a little different,” Gavin said.

  Daisy squinted. “I find that hard to believe. What the hockey jersey was to my father, these dinner theater tickets are to me. The difference is that I’m going to do everything I can to spare Samantha’s feelings.”

  Gavin knew how fruitless it was to argue with Daisy. When her mind was made up, there wasn’t any changing it. So instead of forcing the issue any further, Gavin relented.

  He smiled at his fiancé. “You have an amazing heart, you know that?”

  “Thank you for saying that, but part of it is that I just happen to be hypersensitive when it comes to situations like this,” Daisy said. “Besides, there’s a chance that I may be getting worked up about this murder-mystery dinner theater over nothing.”

  “Do you truly believe that’s the case?” Gavin asked.

  Daisy shrugged. “It’s too early to tell.”

  “What are your instincts telling you?”

  Daisy’s face strained. “Not much of anything. That’s part of the problem. I don’t have a great read on things right now.”

  “Yeah? Well, it turns out that murky outlook of yours isn’t doing either of us any favors.”

  “For better or worse, we’ll get answers to our questions soon enough.”

  “Here’s hoping it’s for the better,” Gavin said.

  Chapter Two

  Daisy and Gavin arrived at the theater, where they were immediately greeted by a lanky, forty-three-year-old man who was dressed in a full suit.

  “Good evening and welcome to Weatherly Manor. My name is Wallace Sotheby. I am the butler here,” he said. “Please come in. Mr. Weatherly has been expecting you.”

  Gavin played along with the act. “He has?”

  Wallace nodded. “Yes. He has an evening in store for you that you surely won’t forget anytime soon.”

  Daisy mumbled under her breath. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

  “Pardon me, Miss. What did you just say?” Wallace asked.

  Instead of lingering on Daisy’s comment, Gavin spoke up.

  “Where do you want us to sit?”

  Wallace led Gavin and Daisy to a table in the theater.

  “Here are your seats,” Wallace said. “I sincerely hope that you enjoy your evening.”

  Gavin nervously replied, “So do I.”

  Wallace then walked off to greet another set of guests at the front door of the theater.

  Gavin and Daisy sat down in their seats and proceeded to scan the room.

  There were five different tables set up in the middle of the theater. Each table had six chairs. Almost all of the tables were completely full with guests.

  At the back of the theater, there were three different sets, each representing a room in the so-called Weatherly Manor, which was the setting for this dinner theater performance. The set to the far left was a parlor. It contained a number of leather chairs and three bookcases that were filled with books. The set in the middle was a dining room. A large, antique wood table with six chairs around it took up most of the dining room set. Finally, the set on the far right was of a kitchen.

  A diminutive, slender, thirty-four-year-old brunette stood at a stove on the kitchen set.

  Meanwhile, an athletic, fifty-four-year-old man with graying hair moved from the parlor set to the dining room set, and finally stopped at the kitchen set, where he gazed at the brunette who was standing in front of the stove.

  “I don’t know what you’re cooking tonight, Teresa, but it sure smells amazing,” the man said.

  Teresa turned around and smiled wide at the man. “Thank you, Sir. It’s a lemon-glazed chicken.”

  “Teresa, I’ve told you before. Please call me Montgomery,” the man said.

  “Sure thing, Sir,” Teresa said.

  He gave her a smoldering look as he walked over to her. “You look so beautiful tonight.”

  He pulled her in close.

  “Sir, as much as I love your compliments, I should really get back to work. Your company is arriving soon and there’s still a lot to do,” Teresa said.

  “There’s no harm in just one kiss,” Montgomery said.

  “I’m not so sure about that,” Teresa said. “The problem with one kiss is that it usually leads to another.”

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  Montgomery leaned in and gave Teresa a kiss.

  While this was happening, Wallace walked a short-haired twenty-four-year-old man and a black-haired twenty-three-year-old woman to the dining room set from the front entrance of the theater.

  From there, Wallace headed over to the kitchen set, where he spotted Montgomery and Teresa locking lips.

  Wallace cleared his throat. “Sir.”

  Montgomery pulled back from the kiss and turned to his butler.

  “Yes, Sotheby?” Montgomery said.

  “Your daughter has arrived with her boyfriend,” Wallace said.

  “Right. Of course. Tell them I’ll be right there,” Montgomery said.

  Wallace gritted his teeth, trying to keep his outrage from seeping out. “Yes, Sir.”

  Wallace then walked over to the dining room set.

  ***

  Meanwhile, back on the kitchen set, Teresa pointed at the stove. “I really should get back to work, Sir.”

  Montgomery gazed deep into Teresa’s eyes and leaned in again to kiss her.

  “Not yet,” Montgomery said.

  Before Montgomery and Teresa had the chance to kiss again, a slender, red-haired, fifty-three-year-old woman in a black dress walked through the theater and headed over to the kitchen set.

  “Montgomery…what is going on here?” the red-haired woman said.

  Montgomery whirled around and stared at the redhead. “Nothing, Connie. There was just something in Teresa’s eye that I was helping her get out.”

  Teresa played along with Montgomery’s story and rubbed her eye.

  Connie folded her arms. “I find that hard to believe.”

  Teresa spoke up. “I really should set the table.”

  Connie shot Teresa a glare. “Do that.”

  Teresa scuttled off and headed over to the dining room set. But she didn’t immediately set the table. Instead, she stood in the doorway and eavesdropped on Montgomery and Connie’s conversation.

  Connie continued to stare daggers at Montgomery, looking like a volcano that was getting ready to erupt.

  He straightened his tie nervously. “Shall we head into the dining room?”

  Connie narrowed her eyes. “You think you’re so slick, but I know what you’ve been up to…and you’re going to pay for it—dearly.”

  He played dumb. “I don’t know what you’re talking about—”

  “Spare me. Teresa’s time at Weatherly Manor is over. She’s leaving here tonight with a pink slip.”

  Montgomery’s muscles tensed up. He didn’t dare argue with his wife at that moment. “Whatever you say, dear.”

  “Dear?” Connie scoffed. “If you ever think I’m going to let you call me that again, you’re crazy. You and I are through. Got it?”

  Wallace reluctantly entered the doorway of the kitchen set. “Pardon me, Mr. and Mrs. Weatherly, but your daughter and her boyfriend are waiting.”

  Connie glared at Montgomery one last time before heading into the dining room.

  Montgomery let out a big groan and then reluctantly joined his wife.

  ***

  From there, Teresa re-entered the kitchen. She put her hands over her face and muttered to herself. “I’m being fired?”

  Wallace moved from the dining room to the kitchen and approached Teresa.

  “I can’t believe it,” Wallace said. “Mrs. Weatherly can’t do that to you.”

  “Really? Because it sounds like she just did,” Teresa said.

  “If your days at Weatherly Manor are over, then so are mine,” Wallace said.
/>   Teresa’s forehead wrinkled. “Wallace, what are you talking about?”

  “This place would fall apart without the both of us. So if I threaten to leave, they’ll have to let you stay,” Wallace said.

  Teresa threw out her arms. “And what if they don’t?”

  “That’s a chance I’m willing to take,” Wallace said.

  “Why?” she asked.

  He gazed into her eyes. “You know why. I’m crazy about you.”

  Wallace leaned in to kiss Teresa.

  But Teresa turned away from the kiss.

  “No,” she said.

  “What’s the matter?” he asked.

  “You know I don’t feel that way about you.”

  “Is it because you’re infatuated with Weatherly? Because he just hung you out to dry. That shows how much he truly cares about you,” Wallace said. “I would never do something like that to you.”

  Wallace made another attempt to kiss Teresa, but once again, she turned him away.

  “I told you. I don’t feel that way about you,” she said. “Now I have to get back to work.”

  She moved over to the stove.

  Wallace’s eyes filled with rage. He stormed off and headed into the dining room.

  Chapter Three

  When Wallace arrived in the dining room, an argument was occurring at the table, where Montgomery, Connie, their long-haired daughter, Penelope, and the short-haired man were all sitting.

  “I can’t believe this, Penelope,” Montgomery said.

  The long-haired woman replied, “Father, Edgar and I are in love.”

  “I don’t care,” Montgomery said.

  “Father, this is our relationship,” Penelope said.

  “This is maddening. Of all the men to date, you pick Edgar Finch—the son of my biggest rival. It’s a slap in the face. And completely unacceptable,” Montgomery said.