She hasn’t told me anything about her new article, but I guess it’s nothing special, because, otherwise, she’s be pestering me with her way-to-success talk.
But when I feel the presence of someone who’s never visited my shop before, I start to suspect. Mrs. Mahoney is strutting towards me, and let’s just say that she doesn’t look happy. I don’t know what happened this time, but this woman changes her mood very often and you never know what the secret behind it is.
“Mrs. Mahoney. Nice to see you here,” I mumble.
“I was told I’d find you here,” she ignores me and looks at Heather instead. Oh, boy, what did she do this time? “I believe we’ve got some issues to solve.” She says harshly and looks determined.
Heather on the other hand, is not flinching even a little. “What are you talking about? I don’t think I have anything to discuss with you.” She says ever so cloyingly.
Oh, Heather! She’s just so funny and adorable sometimes.
“If that’s so, then why am I part of your stupid article, telling that I was behind my husband’s money, so I got it over with him?”
“Do you know that’s it’s not ethical, nor legal to threaten a journalist who’s doing her job?” Heather raises an eyebrow at her, determinedly.
“Oh, you’re calling that journalism now. This crap that you’re writing is nothing but a delusional, obtuse imagination of a lunatic.”
“I’m sorry, but I won’t stand here doing nothing while you’re offending me.”
“Oh, yeah? Then what are you going to do? Write another article about how I came here threatening you for having written an untruthful story about me? Go ahead. I might even enjoy it this time. But you should know one thing, you’re messing with the wrong people.” As she says so, she takes all her rage with her and turns around.
Heather and I remain speechless, looking at unparticular spots around the shop.
“So, this happened,” Heather mutters to herself, crawlingly.
“Heather,” I demand. “Why did you have to do this? I told you not to do something impulsive this fast.”
“Yeah, I got to share my suspicions with the world. That’s what a journalist would do.”
I don’t think that I will be able to convince her otherwise. But to say the least, I don’t not like her going around and messing with people, who after all, might be dangerous.
I mean, we know nothing about Mrs. Mahoney. And there’s one little chance that what Heather is implying is true. All the more reason not to mess with her.
“You have to understand that a man was murdered. Whoever did this, would not have a problem with getting it over with another person if they got in their way. So do yourself a favor and stay out of the investigation.”
“Like you’re doing any better than I am,” she mumbles and looks down the counter.
Well, she’s right. I’m determined do go to the bottom of this, but while I’m at it, I try to be a little careful and not draw too much attention upon myself, unlike her.
“We’re going to have to be more careful from now on,” I propose. “We’re starting to get a lot of attention lately, and that’s not good.” I look at Heather, who doesn’t say a thing anymore.
Chapter Twenty
It’s late at night, and having escorted out the last customer in the cupcake shop, I’m about to get ready for leaving.
But as I’m about to gather my stuff, while waddling over the counter, the lights go down immediately.
That’s quaint. It’s never happened before, and why would they be switching off by themselves…unless…
I hear noises coming from around the shop, but I cannot see anything.
“Hello? Who’s there?” I howl, and I’m not going to lie, I feel some kind of horrification suffocate me.
I hear footsteps coming nearby, and I look for my phone in my purse, and while getting it out, I light up the room with my flashlight app.
“Oh, my God. It’s you,” I look shocked at the man in front of me, not realizing what he’s doing here.
“Couldn’t have you coming around at my shop, investigation my employees like that.”
Mrs. Grantham have a devious smile on his face and a knife on his hands, and I don’t realize what he’s finding funny in this terrible situation.
“It was you,” I conclude. “You were to one who killed him.” To be honest, he was my prime suspect, it was his shop and he knows anything going on there.
“Well, that’s true. But I’m only admitting that to you, because soon enough we’ll have another dead body in our town. And no one would suspect of me, since there’s so many peoples that you bugged lately.”
“But why? Why did you do it?”
“If I’m being honest, I didn’t even hate him. Yeah, we were pals, but when he deposited five hundred dollars on my bank account, I knew that I couldn’t let go of such a good opportunity. And I had to kill him before he signed the papers.”
“But you got the money after all?”
“Yeah, but what good would this money be if I didn’t have my shop afterwards.”
“So you killed a man just for money. That’s unbelievable.”
“I’m going to kill you just for no reason. How about that?” he smiles stupidly.
He comes running in front of me and stabs the knife, but I move away so he just cuts my counter instead.
I’m terrified, and I’ve lost my phone while running, but what could I do.
It’s all dark, and I feel my heart pumping on my chest, as if it’s about to get out of there.
“There’s no escape from this,” he tells me as I’m headed to the storeroom.
He has a knife, but I’ve got plenty more in the shop, but I don’t know whether I’ll be able to reach them before it’s too late.
Trying to open the doorknob, I feel him stumbling down, and a hand clutches my leg, making me fall down.
He’s so husky and he grabs my hand, crawling me along the floor as if I’m a Christmas tree, headed to the cutter’s house.
It’s terrible, and I know that right now, I’m hopeless.
It’s dark, but throughout the limited street light I can see something shining, and it’s directed at me.
It’s a knife.
He’s about to shot me.
I know it’s just a matter of seconds before he stabs me.
Oh, God.
This is the end.
This is the END.
I don’t want it to be the end.
And then I feel it.
It feels like a tower crashed into me, suffocating me.
And then I realize that it’s not the knife.
I’ve not but hit.
A voice comes through the room.
“Ainsley, are you okay?”
“Kierra? What are you doing here?” I ask her while she’s turning all the lights up.
“Oh, you’ve no idea what Tyson just told me. But it’s nothing compared to what I found here.”
I realize that she’s referring to his trickery. I feel sorry for her, but at the same time I’m grateful that she came here after all. If it weren’t for her, that I’d be…
“Is he dead?” she asks, and bends down, checking his pulse.
“I don’t think so. We have to call the police.”
“I heard what she was telling you and the shock took it’s toll. I grabbed one of the vases from the shop and hit him on the head. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be, you saved my life. I’m going to be grateful to you forever.”
Heather has been hugging me for like forever.
“Are you going to let go?” I ask.
“Not anytime soon,” she keeps insisting.
I talked to the detective, and we explained everything. Mr. Grantham is out of life’s danger. He’s going to be well, okay, well but not free.
It’s crazy what people would do for some money. I don’t believe that I got through another terrible experience again.
“Even though I still do
n’t like what you do in your free time,” the detective has joined me and he’s managed to get Heather away for a second. “I’ve got to admit. That you solved another mystery. Yet again.”
“But I didn’t do anything.” I explain. “He came up to me.”
“Exactly,” detective tells me and winked at me.
Wait.
Did he just wink at me?
I don’t know how to feel anymore. But I look around, and I cannot help but feel sort of…appreciated.
People are gathering around me, as if I’m some kind of hero or something.
“Hey, everyone,” I shout, gathering their attention. “It wasn’t me this time. It was Kierra. She’s the real hero.”
I look at people turning around to Kierra and appraising her. She looks delighted.
All the attention is away from me, but I’m happy anyway. It’s not like I appreciated the attention anyway.
The Cupcake Shop Mysteries return!
Don’t miss the latest, Gingerbread and Frostbite,
Available in December 2017 on Amazon!
A Letter to the Reader
Dear reader,
Thank you for taking the time to read my book. It really means the world. I believe that writing is an incredible way to connect to people, share experiences and emotions.
So, thank you for being part of this journey.
Please, if you enjoyed the book, consider leaving a review on AMAZAON and GOODREADS.
I hope to be part of your bookshelves again with my next release on the series.
xoxoxo,
The Author.
Pumpkins And Trickery (A Cupcake Shop Mystery Book 2) Page 12