Spooky Choc Orange Glazed Murder: A Donut Hole Cozy Mystery - Book 23
Page 7
“Good evening, Detective Shepherd,” she said. “You’re looking mighty handsome, tonight.”
Ryan flashed her a brief smile, but his expression faded to professional cop again, almost immediately.
“Uh oh,” Amy said. “Who ate your donut?”
“I’ve got news,” Ryan replied. “And I don’t think you’re going to like it.”
Heather swallowed and glanced at her bestie. “You and your big mouth,” she hissed.
Amy stuck out her tongue, then took another bite of her donut.
“Geoff Lawless has been arrested,” Ryan said, then leaned in so none of the others could hear.
“What? Why?”
“This was inevitable,” Amy said, between mouthfuls of choc and orange glaze. “I mean, he’s always been a little cuckoo for cocoa puffs if you know what I mean.”
Ryan waved away her words. “He dressed up as a police officer, infiltrated the station and tried to break into my office.”
“Oh my,” Heather said. “That’s quite the list of infractions.” So, Geoff had upgraded from stalking to stealing donut crumbs and business names, to breaking and entering.
“What’s going to happen to him?” Amy asked.
“He’s in custody, now, but he’s got a storm of pain coming his way.” Ryan shook his head. “I just don’t get the guy. It’s like his possessed.”
“No,” Amy said. “He’s not possessed. He’s obsessed.” She pointed her donut at Heather. “With her.”
Ryan arched an eyebrow and drew himself up straight. “What do you mean by that?”
“Oh relax, Caption Overreaction,” Amy said, then grimaced. “Oof, that was my worst joke yet. Look, he’s been obsessed with Heather’s business since the start. It’s like he’s copying her every move.”
Ryan scratched the bridge of his nose, and Heather crossed to his side of the counter, then looped her arm through his.
“Heather has a donut store, so Geoff opens one. Heather’s donut store is called Donut Delights; Geoff names his store Delightful Donuts.”
Heather pulled a face.
Amy inhaled the last bit of donut. “Heather starts investigating cases, Geoff joins in. Remember that time he hid in a bush, and we nearly had a heart attack?”
“How could I forget?” Heather asked. “We had to pull him out.”
“Heather gets licensed, Geoff starts trying to get one too. Sheesh, I’m surprised the guy hasn’t bought a dog, named it Dave and started wearing dresses yet.”
“To be fair, I do wear jeans most of the time,” Heather said. Ryan chuckled at that and kissed her on the forehead.
“The guy has got serious issues. I wish we knew more about him,” Amy said. “Because to me, it sounds like there’s more to Mr. Lawless than meets the eye.”
Heather bit her corner of her lip and nodded. She inhaled, then puffed out her cheeks. “Well,” she said. “That’s a question for another day. Right now, our only obligation is to enjoy the party.”
“And to prepare for winter,” Amy said and patted her tummy. “Why do you think I’ve been storing all these donuts?”
Heather’s laughter curled through the space above her head. The mirth carried into Donut Delights and out of the small window at the back, to color the Texan sky.
THE END
A letter from the Author
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Susan Gillard