Cinnamon Crunch Murder Read Free

have with the Captain down at the police station that he could work on his own daughter’s murder case?
    Wasn’t that the kind of thing cops were expected to recuse themselves from?
    “Why were you at Flight Florists?” Davidson asked.
    “I received a call from my friend, Eva, who asked me to bring some donuts to the store. I happily obliged,” Heather replied, exercising every ounce of her patience. This rude kinda approach didn’t endear the cop to her.
    “Why was Eva Schneider with Tara?”
    “That’s something you’ll have to ask Mrs. Schneider, Detective Davidson. I can’t answer for her. I can only give the facts as I’m aware of them,” Heather replied, coolly. Those law and psych books had taught her a few tricks of her own.
    “The facts or the truth?”
    “They’re the same thing,” Heather replied. Was that a trick question?
    Davidson loosened his collar with his index finger and inhaled. “Don’t play coy with me,” he said, voice shaking with intensity. “I know what you did to my daughter. It’s only a matter of time before I prove it.”
    Heather sighed and forced down the lid on her bubbling pot of anger. “I understand you’re distressed, but it’s highly unprofessional and inappropriate to make accusations without any evidence. Do you have a warrant for my arrest?”
    “No, but –”
    “Then I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you to leave, Detective. That or lay a charge against you for harassment.” Heather grasped her phone from beside her laptop and lifted it. She swiped her thumb across the screen, and then hovered her index above it, as if to dial.
    She met Davidson’s gaze, head on.
    “This isn’t over, Mrs. Shepherd. Not by a long shot.” And then Davidson barged out of her office as quickly as he’d come in.
    Heather breathed slowly, in and out, in and out, practicing some of the yoga breathing exercises Amy had taught her.
    Angelica stuck her head around the corner. “You okay, boss? Want a donut? Milkshake?”
    “A strong coffee and a Cinnamon Crunch, please, Angelica. I’ve got a lot of thinking to do,” Heather said. She settled back into her chair and rested her fingertips on her forehead.
    This was another case which was unavoidable. She hadn’t bothered telling Davidson about Geoff Lawless’ appearance in Flighty Florist. Davidson had already made his mind up about her, and if it was true that Ryan was off the case, then nothing stood in his path.
    He’d find whatever evidence was relevant and lock her up before she could say, “Buttercream is better than fondant.”
    Nope, this was up to her. Regardless of what Davidson thought, his daughter’s killer was still out there, and the longer they were, the more likely it was that they’d strike again.
    “One coffee for the boss,” Angelica said, sweeping through the doorway and depositing the latte on the desk, then placing a donut beside it on a plain white napkin.
    “Thanks, Ange. You’d better keep ‘em coming. It’s going to be a long night,” Heather said, staring at the screen of her laptop.

Chapter 4
    “Her name is Goldie Gold,” the woman said, behind her hand.
    Heather jumped and turned to her, clutching the purse to her chest. The boutique was the most exclusive in Hillside, stocking only the best in designer fashion.
    “Goldie Gold?” Heather asked.
    “Her first name is something like Jasmine or the other, but her nickname is Goldie,” the woman replied, flicking her red hair back. “Isn’t she fabulous?”
    Goldie was fabulous. Long, honey-colored hair and bright red lipstick perfectly applied makeup which was subtle and accented with gold highlights. She was the reason Heather had come to the store in the first place.
    Amy had called her from Eva’s and given her the scoop of the Mustang and the potential murderess, Goldie herself.
    Amy had recognized Eva’s description of her immediately, and as for the ‘Stang, that was a tale ‘too long’ for a phone