Blackberry Frosted & Murder

by Susan Gillard

  “So, Miss Duncan, some of us, and that does include me,” said Connors. “Might see this as a potential motive for murder.”

  “You do seem to stand a better chance of getting the internship with some competition out of the way,” said Heather.

  “Look,” Miranda said. “I did want the internship, but I wasn’t obsessing over it. I knew it was a long shot that either of us would get it. And maybe Kasey looked a little better on paper for it, but she was a bit of a goody-two-shoes. I don’t mean this negatively. I’m really sorry she’s dead. But I meant that I had a chance of getting the internship because I have a little more personality.”

  “Seems like it,” said Amy.

  “So, you don’t believe you gained anything from her death?” Peters asked.

  “Maybe I could write an essay about this tragedy,” Miranda said. “But I’m not going to instantly gain the internship because she’s gone. I’m certainly going to still try to get it. But I wouldn’t have killed for it.”

  “Maybe in an unimpaired stated, you wouldn’t,” Heather suggested. “But after a night of partying and with alcohol in your system, maybe you just wanted to take a swing at her?”

  “No,” Miranda said, hitting the table. “I didn’t kill her. And I couldn’t have.”

  “Why? Because you’re too nice?” asked Amy.

  “Because Kasey was alive when I went downstairs and everyone down there seemed to fall asleep quickly. I couldn’t have gotten up in the middle of the night and killed her because I was pinned down.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Ryan.

  “I mean that Chucky rolled around in his sleep and ended up halfway on top of me. He was passed out and wouldn’t wake up. It was annoying because I’d have to hurt him in order to jog him to consciousness and get him to move. I was too tired to do that. I ended up falling asleep with him there. But I couldn’t have gotten up to commit murder.”

  “That seems like a convenient alibi because no one else has mentioned this,” Peters said.

  “Maybe,” said Heather. “Chucky Hall did mention that his back hurt because he found his bed uncomfortable.”

  “Looks like we might have found the bed,” Amy said with a laugh.

  Heather nodded. Unfortunately, if what those two said was true, then it meant that they had discounted two of their suspects. Now Heather wasn’t sure who the killer was.

  Killer Thoughts

  Lilly, Nicholas, and Chelsea had hit it off so well that they were becoming inseparable. The Copelands had invited the other children over to their house, and Heather was happy that they would have an enjoyable day.

  She went to Donut Delights and helped with the crowds of customers, eager to try her sugary snacks. She was pleased by the boost in sales during this busy season and for the distraction.

  The case was becoming frustrating on two levels. First, was having to deal with a joint-investigation that left little room for her. Maybe she never should have been brought in to work on this case. However, since she had been called, she was going to give it her all. Special Agent Colton Connors might not appreciate her, but she knew that she had skills that could add to the investigation.

  She frowned a bit as she thought that. She thought she had the skills to help. There was evidence of her assistance from the numerous other cases that she had found a crucial clue to catch the killer. However, she had no idea who the murderer was this time.

  That was the second frustrating thing about this case. It should have been easy to determine who the killer was. It had to be somebody on the boat, so that meant there were six suspects. However, they all had a similar story. Kasey was alive when they went downstairs, and then they all went to sleep. Someone could have snuck upstairs and killed her, but who? There was no clear motive in this case.

  Miranda wanted the same internship as Kasey but claimed she was stuck under Chucky’s sleeping bag all night, which gave both of them an alibi. Maria and Sidney both wrongfully accused their deceased roommate of being messy, but was that really a motive to kill her? Tom and Calvin had been flirting with her. Calvin was trying to be helpful and offered to steer, while Tom let his emotions get the better of him and got pushy with his rival. Could jealousy have led either of them to kill?

  Heather felt like she was going in circles in the case. She stared at the batch of Blackberry Frosted Donuts she had just created. The circles these frosted treats formed were much less exasperating than the endless loop of questions circulating in her mind.

  “Boss?” Digby said. “I don’t want to disturb you when you have that I-need-to-solve-this-case look on your face.”

  “I didn’t realize I had a particular look for that.”

  “You do,” said Digby. “You have an aha-I-figured-it-out-but-don’t-want-to-tell-anyone-yet face too.”

  Heather laughed. “You’re not disturbing me. What do you need?”

  “Firstly, I need those donuts you just finished. We just sold the last Blackberry Frosted Donut, and I need to replenish the supply in the display. And secondly, Amy is here.”

  Heather helped him bring the dark donuts out and then greeted her friend.

  “Have any luck with figuring out the case?” Amy asked.

  “No,” Heather said, sighing. “I hoped being here would get my mind off things and help me think of an answer, but it hasn’t worked. It’s just made me crave blackberries.”

  “I think we can give in to those cravings and have another donut,” Amy said.

  Heather nodded and took two of her freshly baked donuts for her and her friend.

  “I thought you were spending some time with Jamie.”

  “We were, but then he got a real non-prank call from one of his regulars. The dog apparently ran through some wet paint, and it needs to come off ASAP. Otherwise, the owner might end up with a purple dog.”

  Something clicked in Heather’s head. It wasn’t the full picture, but part of it was starting to become clearer.

  “There was purple paint on the crime scene boat,” Heather said.

  “So?” asked Amy.

  “So, the fishing boat that it rammed into was green and white. So, where did the purple paint come from?”

  “The killer?” Amy offered, really having no idea what the answer was.

  “I think we need to talk to Special Agent Colton Connors about this.”

  “Even his name is long,” Amy said, groaning.

  “He would know about boats. Let’s bring some donuts over to the station and have a talk with him. We can doublecheck with Evie on the way.”

  “Sure,” Amy said. “I don’t really know what’s going on, but when you have that look on your face, I know to go along with it. Besides, you mentioned donuts, and I can’t refuse that.”

  Heather and Amy hurried over to the station. The three other investigators were pleased by the donuts, and Colton Connors appreciated how they were asking for his advice.

  Heather explained how Evie from the rental place had confirmed that there were no scratches of colorful paint on the tan boat before it set out.

  “So, you’d like to figure out how this paint was transferred to the ship where the murder took place,” Connors began. “You’re right that it could occur from the vessels rubbing against one another. When it hit the fishing boat, that would be when the green and white paint became attached to the other vessel. A similar thing would have had to occur for the other paint to get on as well.”

  “So, this boat hit a second one that night?” Amy asked. “Maybe Kasey was as bad a driver as Tom.”

  “I don’t think she crashed into anyone,” Heather said. “But I do think that another boat scratched this one.”

  “So, somebody did board the boat that night?” Peters asked.

  “This is what I’m thinking,” said Heather. “It does make some leaps, but it would explain all the evidence.”

  “Just tell us,” said Amy.

  “Yes,” Colton Connors said, for once being brief.

&nbs
p; “I don’t think that the ship was boarded by another ship. If the two boats were close enough for someone to travel from one to another, they would have to be right next to each other, and there could have been more scraping between the two boats. There would also have been some more noise. It’s like we said before. One of the other people on the boat should have heard something. If Kasey were steering and didn’t want to meet this boat, then she would have made noise as well.”

  “If Kasey was steering?” Ryan asked. “You don’t think she was at that point?”

  “Probably not,” said Heather. “But I’ll come back to that. Special Agent Connors, you said that the drug smuggling nearby was perpetrated by a group called the Purple Porpoises? And they got that name from their purple vessels?”

  “That’s right,” Connors said. “I both told you that before, and it is a truth.”

  “Could you compare the purple paint on this ship to what you know of this group?” asked Heather.

  Colton Connors smiled. “I think you’re on to something. It’s very likely that the paint could have come from someone in this drug smuggling group.”

  “But how does this relate to the murder?” asked Amy. “Did the gang kill Kasey?”

  “I don’t think they’d have a reason to,” said Heather. “And I don’t think they boarded the boat.”

  “Then, I’m confused,” said Amy.

  “What if one of the students on board wanted some of the drugs? Maybe it was for personal use. Or maybe he or she was going to bring them to a drop point in exchange for money. This student made sure that they were in the proper spot to receive the package of drugs. It could have been passed from one boat to the other.”

  “That would explain why they were out so late for their trip,” said Ryan. “It wasn’t to see the sunrise. It was because one of them wanted to make a secret stop during the night.”

  “But why kill Kasey?” asked Amy.

  “Because she was trying to be the responsible driver,” said Heather. “This probably wasn’t a planned murder. But I suspect Kasey wouldn’t give up the controls to a friend she thought had been drinking. However, the killer needed to be a certain drop point at a particular time. Kasey was in his way, and he hit her over the head so he could make his stop.”

  “Do you know who it was?” Peters asked.

  “I think I do now,” said Heather. “But we’re going to have to find the drugs to make this stick. Any chance we could get a drug-sniffing dog here?”

  “If it helps us catch the Purple Porpoises and a killer, I’ll get one right away,” Connors said.

  The Nose

  Heather and Amy found themselves at the end of the hotel hallway again, but this time they were feeling more optimistic about it.

  They were joined by Ryan, Detective Peters, Special Agent Colton Connors and a sweet little beagle named Lucky.

  Amy had already joked that luck had nothing to do with it and that the dog should be named Talented. She had already found drugs on board the ship, and Heather hoped she could help them catch the killer too.

  When Lucky pointed out where the drugs were hidden to them, Heather suddenly realized how obvious it had been. Evie had told them that there were seven life vests on board, but Heather had first counted eight when she examined the scene. The extra life vest contained the drugs and the motive for killing poor Kasey Schwartz. There had been only one suspect who was eager to return to the ship, and Heather realized why now. He had wanted to get that life vest back.

  In the hallway, the college students exited their rooms and looked at the investigators and the dog.

  “Does this mean that we’ll be able to go home soon?” Miranda asked.

  “Soon,” Heather said. “We’re very close to finding Kasey Schwartz’s killer.”

  “You’re sure it was one of us?” Sidney asked.

  “Yes,” Colton Connors said. “For, you see, we have already determined the motive for her murder. She was killed so somebody on your vessel could make a rendezvous point and pick up a package of drugs that was hidden in a life vest. This dog here, who has received much training and has been very successful in the field, has found that package. It is back at our lab.”

  The students looked at one another.

  “I think you’ve got the wrong group here,” Maria said. “We don’t know anything about drugs.”

  “That’s why Kasey was killed?” Tom asked.

  “And now, I’d like to tell you all a little bit about this amazing dog,” Colton Connors continued. The beagle sat there and wagged her tail as he spoke. “It’s true she was the runt of her litter, but she grew up strong. Her nose has never been beat. She found the package of drugs within two minutes of being on board the boat. I suspect she knew where the package was earlier than this time frame indicates, but that she needed to move further into the scene on her small legs so that she could more precisely point out its location to us. She needs only the tiniest trace of a scent to uncover it. She has received countless accolades for her sniffing skills, especially in the field of uncovering drugs. While her handler appreciates these medals, she prefers the dog treats that she receives for her efforts. She will soon be receiving another treat. Why am I telling you all this?”

  Heather held back a smile. She knew the real reason for this speech. While the dog had found the drugs quickly, it was unlikely that she could detect who had handled them. The killer would only have had a slight interaction with the drugs to make sure that they indeed in the life vest, and this was now several days ago.

  However, it was possible that Special Agent Colton Connors’s love of describing things thoroughly and his desire to give speeches could convince the killer that Lucky could find him.

  “I am telling you this because I want to give you a chance to confess to your crime,” Colton Connors said. “There is no doubt in my mind that Lucky here will point your guilt out to me. She is that talented. However, you all had a bright future ahead of you. You most likely did not mean to get involved with the Purple Porpoises.”

  “The what?” asked Miranda.

  “This is your last chance to confess. Perhaps a judge would be more lenient,” Connors said.

  Everyone stayed quiet in the hall. Connors and the dog took a step forward.

  “Wait,” Calvin said. “I want the leniency. I don’t want the dog to point me out. I did it. I confess.”

  “You killed Kasey Schwartz?” Heather asked.

  “That’s right,” Calvin said.

  “How could you?” Tom yelled. He took a step towards him with his fists clenched, but Peters intercepted him.

  “Don’t interfere with our arrest,” Peters said, quietly.

  “But how could he do it?” Tom asked.

  “I didn’t mean to,” Calvin said, appealing to the others. “But she wouldn’t let me take the boat where I needed to go. I tried to be so nice. I offered to be the designated driver all night, but she wouldn’t take me up on it. And she wouldn’t go to bed. She refused to let me steer because she thought I had been drinking. I wasn’t drinking. I was just upset because I knew the Purple Porpoises would get angry with me if I missed our meeting. And I needed the money from selling it. I needed it to pay for this trip and for school. You all understand, don’t you?”

  The others didn’t look like they understood. Sidney started to cry, and Chucky moved closer to comfort her. Miranda and Maria stood by one another as well. Tom was taking deep breaths.

  When no one responded to him, Calvin looked at Heather. “You understand, right? I didn’t mean to kill her.”

  “I understand that you’re going to be escorted to prison now,” said Heather.

  Ryan arrested Calvin and led him away. When Peters was sure that Tom was calm, he joined his partner.

  Colton Connors told the college students that they were free to go home now. Then, he began walking with Heather, Amy, and Lucky.

  “That was some fine work on that case,” Colton Connors said.

 
“Thank you,” said Heather. “You did great work as well.”

  “My colleagues will be very pleased that the drug case will be solved as well. Using testimony from Calvin Green and matching the paint found on the ship, I’m sure we’ll be able to put the Purple Porpoises away for good.”

  “I was going to say that they really need to change their name,” said Amy. “But it’s better if they’re all just behind bars.”

  “The investigation into these drug traffickers began as an arduous task,” Colton Connors began.

  Heather realized that she and Amy were going to be listening to his story for a long time, but she was content to hear it now. The hard work had been done. The case was solved.

  Boating

  Evie was very grateful that the case had been solved and that her company had been cleared of any wrongdoing. She appreciated the press release that Colton Connors gave her, even if she found it a little long.

  To show her appreciation to the investigators, she gave them the use of one of the boats that had not been rented.

  Heather stood on the deck and felt the cool wind in her hair. It was so much better to be on board a boat in the tropics when it wasn’t part of a murder investigation.

  Special Agent Colton Connors was at the helm, and Heather was certain that they wouldn’t be bumping into any fishing boats that afternoon. His wife was at his side, and Heather and Amy were amused to find how quiet the sweet woman was.

  Eva and Leila were sunning themselves on the deck and enjoying some more of the Blackberry Frosted Donuts that Heather had brought on board. Lilly, Nicholas, and Chelsea were playing a game where they counted the waves. Heather was happy to see the trio having so much fun together.

  Detective Peters was enjoying some time off by talking to Jamie about sports. Amy was teasing them about how badly their team was doing this year but was enjoying the conversation.

  Ryan walked up to his wife and hugged his arms around her.

  “I’m glad we found a place to escape the crowds,” Heather teased as she hugged him back.