Chocolate Cream Cupcake & Murder (A Dana Sweet Cozy Mystery Book 3) Read Free Page A

long before Katie and later Dana became involved in running the café after Grandma Rae’s death, Inga had been the one to help Grandma Rae open up the café. And Grandma Rae had praised Inga for all her tireless work in the past and footing a lot of the bill when Grandma Rae didn’t have the funds earlier.
    Dana and Katie often wondered how Inga really felt about Grandma Rae leaving the café to Dana to manage and Katie as a back up instead of any of the original staff members.
    Inga was a smart and skillful chef who knew her way around the kitchen, but she also knew her way around avoiding socializing. Was that the reason Grandma Rae left the café to Dana who knew nothing about running a bakery before she came on board?
    Inga rarely smiled or chatted up to her co-workers and she rarely spoke about her personal life, except that one time when she let out that her conniving step-daughter had ruined her marriage to her ex-husband. Her step-daughter was at one point a person of interest in a murder involving their Uncle Max.
    When Katie went out into the dining area, she bumped into the glamorous widow, Gerdie-Sue, who looked as if she’d just had her eyebrows done again. Gerdie-Sue was a retiree and frequent visitor of the Cozy Cupcakes Café.
    “Good morning Gerdie-Sue.” Katie placed the chocolate cream filled cupcakes on the counter and on the display ready to be sold.
    “Good morning yourself,” Gerdie Sue said cheerfully.
    “You’re looking quite well. Love your brows.”
    “I just got ‘em done at Bea’s. You know she’s running a hot special this week.”
    “I know.” Katie didn't want to say that Bea was running a special every week. Of course, if she was a widow at her age she would probably be at the salon every week socializing with her buddies, too. Gerdie was always having something done every week at the salon whether a color change to her hair, her nails done, her pedicure, facial, waxing, you name it. She would also come away with tons of juicy town gossip to share with whom ever would listen.
    “I'll take a chocolate cream-filled cupcake today please. Oh, and make that half a dozen.”
    “Half a dozen? You're busy today.”
    “Course, I’ve got a meeting with my bridge club. It's my turn to bring the goods.”
    “Sweet. I'm sure they'll enjoy these treats.”
    “I'm sure they will.”
    “There you go.” Katie placed the cupcakes into the special box with a pink ribbon on it and rang up the bill.
    After the transaction was exchanged and Gerdie-Sue took her box of freshly baked goods, she leaned closer to Katie and whispered. Luckily, Lizzy was at the other cashier ringing up another order and there was no one else in line at the moment. Everyone was seated in the dining area enjoying their treats.
    “You know,” Gerdie-Sue spoke, “old man Renaldo’s supposed to be having his engagement party today.”
    “Yes I know. We’re catering his engagement party.”
    “Well, good on you child. Just watch out for those people at the house when you go there. Don’t have your back turned for too long.”
    “Excuse me? What do mean by that?” Katie’s curiosity was piqued. But more than that, she felt a chill run down her spine. Dana was there now! By herself!
    “Oh, it’s nothing.”
    “Gerdie-Sue.” Katie wiped her hands on her apron and moved from behind the counter as she noticed that Lizzy had tilted her head slightly in their direction as if she was listening to their conversation.
    “Let me walk you to your car,” Katie insisted. “Lizzy, I’ll just be a second. Can you cover my cash register for me.” Katie knew that Gerdie-Sue was a busybody town gossip but she also looked out for the people of Berry Cove and she was also usually spot on with her news.
    “Sure thing, boss,” Lizzy said.
    “So what is this all about?” Katie asked, a few minutes later, as she held the box of baked cupcakes for Gerdie-Sue while she opened her car door.
    “Well,” Gerdie said looking