by Amber Crewes
TIRAMISU AND TERROR
A Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery
By
Amber Crewes
Published by Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing in 2020
All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Copyright © Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
CONTENTS
About Tiramisu and Terror
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About Tiramisu and Terror
Released: September, 2020
Series: Book 20 – Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Series
Standalone: Yes
Cliff-hanger: No
A murdered chef on a cruise ship. A terrible bug spreading among passengers on the ship. A new bride whose dream honeymoon is turning into a nightmare.
Meghan can’t get over the fact that she’s now married and stares endlessly at her ring finger to confirm that she’s now Mrs. Irvin. She’s pleasantly surprised to discover that her honeymoon will be on a cruise ship as she’s never been on one before.
The cruise is all she expected and much more. With an endless variety of cuisine from all over the world and numerous fun activities to keep her occupied for a lifetime plus the love of her life by her side, Meghan doesn’t want the trip to end.
The honeymoon from paradise suddenly takes a nasty turn when an obnoxious chef is found dead at a cooking event.
Things take a turn for the worse when several passengers become violently ill and some of the ship’s crew are confirmed deceased.
Meghan’s heart aches for the sick and departed on the ship. Her anxiety levels go through the roof when her husband is identified and arrested as a prime suspect.
This isn’t what she bargained for when she began her honeymoon cruise. Her amateur sleuthing reveals that the murdered chef had a lot of enemies on the ship but who would’ve despised him so much to kill him? And is his murder linked to the bug that’s causing mayhem on the ship?
Meghan can’t afford to wallow in self-pity while every semblance of normalcy crumbles around her. Will she piece the clues that will point to the killer and reveal what’s causing terror on the cruise?
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1
Meghan Truman groaned as the alarm on her cell phone began to ring. She had been off work for the last two weeks, and this was the first day she had to endure the annoying chimes signaling her to wake up and prepare for work.
She opened one eye and squinted at the clock on the wall. “Ten fifteen. TEN FIFTEEN?”
Meghan sat straight up in bed and gasped. “I meant to set my alarm for seven fifteen, not ten fifteen. I’m so late.”
Before she could spring out of bed, she felt a tickle on her side. “Hey, Mrs. Irvin,” Jack, her brand-new husband murmured as he softly brushed his fingers up to her shoulder. “Go back to sleep. I’m not ready to say goodbye to you yet.”
Meghan grinned. She and Jack had gotten married last weekend at her parents’ home in Texas; they had enjoyed the celebrations, but now, they were thrilled to be back home in Sandy Bay, a quaint town in the Pacific Northwest. Meghan had moved into Jack’s ivory-colored saltbox house upon returning from Texas, and this was one of the first mornings waking up in her new home as Mrs. Jack Irvin.
She brushed her long, dark wavy hair from her face and leaned down to kiss her sleepy husband on the forehead. “Go back to sleep,” she whispered as he rolled over and pulled the covers over his eyes. “I need to run into work before we leave for our honeymoon tonight, but I’ll be back soon. I love you.”
“Do you have to go?” he moaned.
“I do,” she said firmly. “I’m not lucky enough to have a month off for my wedding and honeymoon like someone I know.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” he scoffed playfully. “Hey, I work hard as a Detective. I deserve this time off.”
“Yes, you do,” she agreed lovingly. She bent down to give him a long kiss on the lips. “I love you so much, honey.”
“Love you too, Wife,” Jack yawned before slipping back to sleep.
Meghan stood up and stretched her arms long overhead. As she turned to walk to the bathroom, she heard their three dogs scurry up the wide staircase. Jack’s dog, Dash, jumped up to lick Meghan’s face, and her two tiny twin dogs, Fiesta and Siesta, nibbled playfully on her painted toes.
“Hi, babies,” she greeted them. “Your Daddy is still sleeping, so we have to be quiet.”
Meghan led the dogs back downstairs and let them out in the backyard. She closed the back door behind her as she returned inside, and her gaze turned to the kitchen table. It was loaded with wedding gifts that had continued to arrive throughout the week, and her heart fluttered as she remembered the most special day of her life.
Meghan and Jack had both wanted a small, quiet wedding; they were a sensible, low-key couple, and they wanted their celebration to reflect that. They had planned for a practice ceremony and reception with little frills and no-nonsense, but their hopes had been temporarily dashed when Meghan’s parents took over the planning. Meghan had shown up in Texas to find her wedding had been turned into a massive, gauche event, but thankfully, she was able to convince them to tone things down before she had walked down the aisle.
The wedding itself was a lovely, intimate affair; Meghan and Jack were thrilled with their special day, and Meghan could not have imagined a better way to celebrate her marriage to the love of her life.
Meghan returned upstairs to prepare for her day at Truly Sweet, the small but successful bakery she owned and operated. She chose a pair of olive green overalls that complemented her dark skin, and a white short-sleeved shirt to go underneath it. She ran her paddle brush through her thick hair, wincing as it caught on a tangle beneath her left ear.
She pulled her mahogany-colored hair into a high ponytail, and after applying a layer of mauve lipstick, she smiled at her reflection. She reached into her jewelry box and slid her engagement ring and wedding ring onto her left hand, grinning as she felt the weight of the rings. Meghan was proud to be Mrs. Jack Irvin, and she loved the wedding band he had chosen for her, a thick band with sparkling oval diamonds all the way around. Her engagement ring had been pretty, but plain, and Jack had spoiled her with her wedding ring.
“You look great, honey,” Jack called to her from the bed.
“I thought you went back to sleep!”
He winked. “I wanted to watch my gorgeous wife get ready for her day. I’ll miss you today.”
“I’ll miss you too,” she replied. It would be their first day spent apart since taking their vows, and though they would be reunited later that evening to leave for thei
r honeymoon, Meghan was filled with dread at the thought of being away from her beloved.
“I’ll be back soon,” she promised as she leaned down to kiss him goodbye. “A few hours at work, and then, we’ll be on our honeymoon!”
*
Fifteen minutes later, she arrived at the bakery. Before getting married, she had lived in a tiny apartment above her business, but now, she had to commute. Meghan wasn’t a natural morning person, and she took a long sip of her latte as she walked inside.
“Good morning,” she called out as she opened the back door and walked into the kitchen. Her two employees, Trudy and Pamela, were waiting for her, both with grins on their faces.
“Welcome back,” Trudy told her as she gave Meghan a hug. “It’s good to see you, Mrs. Irvin.”
Meghan blushed. “I’m still not used to my new name,” she admitted as she turned to embrace Pamela. “Thank you both again for coming to the wedding. It meant so much to have you both down in Texas for our special day.”
“Of course,” Pamela chirped. Only seventeen years old, Pamela was a part-time employee who had a strong talent for baking. Meghan adored the girl, and she tried to be a role model for the teenager. “We had a blast. I even got to dance with one of your cousins. He was pretty cute, and I got his number.”
“One of my sisters mentioned that,” Meghan said. “I hope it was my cousin Ralph; he’s a sophomore at Yale, and he’s such a nice boy.”
“It was,” Pamela giggled. “He was so cute. I was hoping he would kiss me, but it didn’t happen. Maybe next year, you and Jack could throw a party for your anniversary and invite all the same people who were at the wedding? I’d love to see him again…”
Trudy scoffed. “You don’t need to be kissing any boys,” she declared, her wrinkled face filled with concern. “You need to focus on your grades. You’ll be graduating high school soon, and I would hate to see you let some boy come between you and success.”
“Trudy,” Pamela whined. “Stop. You aren’t my mom.”
“I’m old enough to be,” Trudy told the girl. “So listen to me.”
Meghan shrugged. “Pamela, Trudy is right. Boys are fun, but doing your best is even more fun. Ralph is a nice boy, but I’m sure he’s focused on his college work. I’m sure he would be very impressed if you were focused and earned great grades this year, don’t you think?”
Pamela’s eyes sparkled. “That’s a great point. He’s a Yale guy, so he’s super smart. I should earn the best grades ever this year, and maybe he’ll be so impressed that he’ll want to come visit me.”
Meghan caught Trudy’s eye and winked. “That’s a good plan, Pamela,” Trudy agreed.
Pamela turned to Meghan. “Trudy tells me you aren’t back for long,” she frowned. “She says you’re leaving for your honeymoon today?”
“I am,” Meghan confirmed. “I’m bummed to be away from the bakery, but Jack and I haven’t had any alone time together yet; we stayed at my parents’ after the wedding, and we need some time on our own.”
“Yes, you do,” Trudy told her. “A honeymoon is a very important rite of passage. I wish you were going to be around, but this place is in good hands, and you will have the time of your life.”
“Where are you going on your honeymoon?” Pamela asked excitedly. “The salt flats in Utah? A river cruise down the Nile River in Africa? Lake Como? What about Paris?”
“Paris is so cliché,” Trudy rolled her eyes. “Meghan wouldn’t choose Paris for her honeymoon.”
“The hills of Tuscany? The moors of Scotland?”
“I’m impressed by how many places you know,” Meghan complimented. “You certainly were paying attention in your geography classes!”
“The glittering blue waters of Malta?” Pamela continued before Trudy cut her off.
“Hush. Let her tell us,” Trudy ordered.
“I’m just so excited,” Pamela chattered. “When Ralph and I go on our honeymoon someday--”
“Enough, Pamela,” Trudy commanded. “Let Meghan tell us. And stop talking about that Ralph boy.”
She turned to Meghan. “Where are you going, dear? Where is Mr. Irvin whisking you away to?”
Meghan beamed. “Jack is taking me to the Ozarks. We’re leaving for Missouri tonight.”
Pamela laughed. “That’s a great joke, Meghan,” she chuckled. “The Ozarks? Who would ever want to go there? Come on, tell us where he’s really taking you.”
“We’re going to the Ozarks,” Meghan repeated. “Jack rented a cabin on the lake for us, and I think it’ll be lovely. I can read there, and we’re going to rent a boat.”
Trudy raised an eyebrow. “Why did Jack pick the Ozarks?”
“He used to go there as a little boy,” Meghan explained. “He said he liked the lake, and the culture is very unique.”
“That’s an interesting way to describe redneck culture,” Pamela snorted.
“Don’t be rude,” Trudy glared.
“What? It’s true. Everyone knows the Ozarks are where the rednecks live. It’s common knowledge,” Pamela insisted earnestly.
Trudy turned to Meghan. “Don’t listen to her,” she said. “Being on a lake will be wonderful; like you said, you can relax, read, and enjoy the water with Jack. I’m sure you two will have a great time.”
“Right,” Pamela added nervously after Trudy shot her a look. “I’m sure I was mistaken and the Ozarks are spectacular. Maybe I was thinking about Lake Huron?”
Meghan sighed. “Jack promised it would be a good time,” she told them. “The Ozarks aren’t exactly a hot destination, but he got a great deal on the cabin. We’re saving up to start a family in the next few years, so an economical trip seemed like the best idea. I think we’ll have fun…”
“You will,” Trudy assured her. “It doesn’t matter if your honeymoon is in Missouri or on Saturn. It’s just important to have that special alone time with your husband, if you know what I mean.”
Pamela wrinkled her nose. “Gross.”
Trudy shook her head. “You’re getting on my last nerve today, Pamela.”
Meghan tried to change the conversation. “What’s the fantastic smell?” she asked. “What are you making today, Trudy?”
Trudy smiled. “It’s tiramisu,” she told her. “I tried some at your wedding reception, and I wanted to recreate it. It was so delicious.”
“It smells like a dream,” Meghan praised.
“But it tastes like a nightmare,” Pamela chimed in. “Something tastes off.”
Trudy shot her a dark look. “I’ve had it up to here with your mouth,” she warned the teenager. She turned back to Meghan. “She does have a point, though; something is off about the taste, and I can’t figure out what.”
“Did you add coffee?” Meghan asked. “Sometimes a recipe won’t call for it, but I think coffee is what gives it the taste it needs.”
“I did add coffee,” Pamela told her. “Maybe it’s something else?”
“Let’s get to work and find out!”
The ladies began trying new tiramisu recipes, but nothing seemed to work; each batch was either too sweet, too bitter, or too bland. After a few hours, Meghan was growing frustrated, but to her delight, Jack walked through the back door. “Hi, Mrs. Irvin,” he greeted her as he sauntered through the kitchen door.
Meghan’s heart fluttered; after knowing him nearly two years, she was still in awe of his handsome, chiseled face, his bright blue eyes, and his icy blonde hair.
“Are you ready to go, my love?” he asked as Meghan tucked a stray lock of dark hair behind her ear.
“Ready,” she told him. “Pamela, Trudy? Jack is here. We’re getting ready to leave.”
They said hello to Jack, and before Meghan knew it, she and her husband were hand-in-hand, walking out the door. “Are you excited?” Jack asked as they climbed into his car.
“More than you know,” she told him. “What are you looking forward to the most?”
He winked at her. “That’s for m
e to know and for you to find out, Mrs. Irvin.”
2
As they drove toward the airport, Meghan squeezed Jack’s hand. “What part of the Ozarks are we going to?” she asked. “I heard the western end was the nicest, but I’m sure it’s all great.”
He grinned. “You’ll see.”
They sped away from Sandy Bay, and soon, Meghan saw the airport exit. “We’re here,” she exclaimed. “I hope I have a window seat for this flight to St. Louis; I always do better with motion sickness when I have a window seat. Will you trade me if they gave you one? I can’t believe they don’t let you pick your own seat anymore.”