A Deadly Delicious Delivery (A Chocolate Centered Cozy Mystery Book 2) (7 page)

“I’m sure it will.” Stephanie brushed past her and into the café. As Ally did her best to clean up the mess Arnold had made she hoped that her grandmother was having better luck.

***

Charlotte pushed open the door to the nail salon. It was teeming with customers. One stood out because of her regal posture and odoriferous perfume. “Ruth?”

“Hmm?” The woman spun around with a toothy smile. When she saw Charlotte her smile faded. “What is it that you want?”

“I just wondered if I could speak to you for a moment.”

“Sure.” She stepped away from the crowd of women she was chatting with. “What is this about?”

“To be clear, Ruth, I’m hoping that you can give me some insight about Myrtle.”

“Tragic.” She shook her head.

“I couldn’t help but notice that you were pretty upset with Myrtle at the open house.”

“Wouldn’t you be upset if someone was saying bad things about you to the entire world?”

“Freely Lakes isn’t the entire world.”

“It might as well be. Everyone tiptoed around Myrtle like she was something so special. But she was a mean, old thing. I offered her twice what she paid for that apartment so that I could have a room with a view and she turned me down.”

“Maybe she liked the apartment,” Charlotte said.

“Maybe. But that’s no reason to be difficult. I even promised her that I would let her come over for lunch every day. I mean what more could she want?”

“The apartment that she purchased.”

“Look, I just wanted to be able to enjoy my time there. No one else would even talk about handing over their apartment. If she was so determined to keep it then she shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean at first she told me yes, she would do it. She said it would give her the chance to put more money away for her kids. Then, all of a sudden that changed. She said she was changing her will and no longer needed to make more money.”

“Why do you think that was?”

“I don’t really know. Her son came to visit, then after that she blew me off. I tried to be nice about it, but I was really counting on getting that apartment. So, I was not too happy. I tried to convince her that selling to me was the right thing to do. She stopped taking my calls and answering her door. That’s when I assumed she must be dying. I didn’t want anyone else to try to lay claim to the apartment, so I left all kinds of hints with people that Myrtle was on death’s door and the apartment was mine. I had no idea the rumors would get back to her.”

“You didn’t care too much if they did, did you?” Charlotte said.

“Not much, no. Because I thought she was dying.”

“And then you found out that she wasn’t, so you decided to speed up the process?”

“Excuse me?” Ruth looked puzzled.

“You didn’t want to wait anymore. You were counting on her dying, and when you found out that she wasn’t and it was the reason she turned down your offer, you decided to take matters into your own hands. I mean, why wouldn’t you? You had been patient enough.”

“I wouldn’t murder someone. You’re just looking for someone to blame because those rancid chocolates killed someone. I have never touched the things myself. I don’t know how people can pollute their bodies with all of that sugar. The way she ate them, she wouldn’t have lived much longer, anyway. I saw she got some chocolates earlier in the day, and then I saw her sneaking away with one of the boxes from the food table at the open house. It’s ridiculous. At her age, she should know better.”

“Did you happen to notice who gave her the chocolates earlier in the day?”

“I don’t know. I don’t pay attention to the little people. Wouldn’t you have an idea of who it might be? They were from your shop.”

“Hmm, I can’t recall, we sell lots of chocolates.” Charlotte glanced at her watch. “Do you think you would like to get something to eat and we could talk about this more?”

“Eat? With you? I don’t think so. You’re being called the Chocolate Killer.”

“You’re joking.”

“Not at all. Sorry hon, but my reputation can’t handle being seen with you. Now, if you’ll excuse me I need to shop for curtains for my new apartment.”

As she walked away Charlotte clucked her tongue and muttered to herself, “Maybe she’s not the murderer, but she’s mean enough to be.”

***

Ally had just scooped up the last of the soil from the flower pot when Charlotte walked up to her.

“What happened here?”

“Arnold.”

“Oh, he does love to get into things doesn’t he?” Charlotte replied hiding a smile.

“Did you find out anything?” Ally asked.

“Ruth was in there and I found out that she’s mean enough to have murdered Myrtle, but I’m not convinced she did. How about Myrtle’s kids?”

“Let’s just say I wasn’t very welcome at first. Although I found out a few tidbits about Myrtle’s past. I think she might have changed her will. Maybe that’s what the lawyer was for. It’s just about time for the appointment with him. Do you think you could take Arnold home?”

“Sure. Ally, everyone in town seems to know about the chocolates being poisoned. We need to tread very carefully. I hope that Luke stands by his word and stays by your side.”

“Some things are out of Luke’s hands.” Ally tried not to let her grandmother see what she was really thinking.

“Ally? Are you going to tell me the truth about last night?”

“There’s nothing to worry about.” Ally frowned. “Just make sure you feed Peaches, okay?”

“Okay.” Charlotte looked as if she might say more, but Ally walked away fast. Ally knew if her grandmother pressed her she would give in and tell her the truth, but she wasn’t ready to. She still held out hope that she would discover something before the arrest warrant was signed.

The lawyer’s office was small and had a stale scent to it. Crammed into the tiny reception area was a desk and a bean pole of a woman. She looked up at Ally as Ally stepped inside.

“Ally Sweet?” Her nasally voice seemed to fill the small space.

“Yes.”

“You are aware that Mr. Tweed is not a criminal lawyer?” Ally winced and nodded. So, Mr. Tweed already knew that she was a suspect. She doubted that he would be very forthcoming with information about his former client. “Okay, you can go in.”

Ally moved past the desk and pushed the door open to the second part of the office. It was smaller than the reception area if that was possible. The man behind the desk had a bushy, white mustache, a mostly bald head, and was very short.

“Ms. Sweet, do come in and sit.” He gestured to a wooden chair. Ally sat down in it. When she did her knees touched the front of his desk. “Now, what is it that I can do for you?”

“Well, I think you may know why I’m here.”

“Unfortunately, I am not a criminal lawyer. I deal with estates, and finances.”

“Like Myrtle’s will?”

He tensed. “I’m not at liberty to discuss that.”

“Surely, with her passing, she wouldn’t mind.”

“I don’t know that.”

“I do know that she would have a very big problem with the owner and manager of her favorite chocolate shop being framed for her murder.”

“Hmm, you’re just going to lay it all on the table?” He smiled slightly.

“Well, it’s what you’ve heard right? I don’t know how much time I have before I’m behind bars, and I’d like the truth. Were you changing Myrtle’s will?”

He frowned. “If word gets out that I divulge client information, people won’t trust me.”

“I’m not going to tell anyone. I just want to know, would anyone in her family have reason to be angry with her?”

“Sure. People don’t like it when a rich person leaves them nothing. Hypothetically.”

“Of course. So, maybe her kids?”

“I can’t speak to that.”

“I need your help, Mr. Tweed.”

“No, Ms. Sweet you need the help of a criminal lawyer, a good one. I could recommend one if you would like.”

“I guess it couldn’t hurt.”

“Ask June to get you a business card for Chris Tussons. He’ll take good care of you.”

“You really won’t tell me anything about the will?”

“I’m afraid not.”

Ally stood up from the chair. She could see that Mr. Tweed was not going to budge. She left his office and found June chatting on the phone.

“I’m telling you it’s Ally Sweet. Oops, I have to go.” She hung up the phone. Ally pursed her lips.

“Mr. Tweed said you could give me a business card for Chris Tussons.”

“Oh sure. He’s great.” She glanced around her messy desk. “But you know, I think I left his business cards in Mr. Tweed’s office. If you’ll excuse me for just a minute.” She stood up and edged her way around the desk. As she did, she knocked into a large pile of paperwork. She caught it just before it fell.

“Ugh, I’ve got to get around to filing these. I never have the time.” Ally refrained from pointing out that filing might be a priority over gossiping on the phone.

The moment the woman stepped into Mr. Tweed’s office Ally started to sort through the paperwork. If June was behind on filing there was a good chance that Myrtle’s paperwork was in the pile. She didn’t have to dig far before she came across it. With the will being read the next day, Ally couldn’t steal the paper. She pulled out her phone and snapped a picture of every page she could get to before the door swung open. Ally was in such a rush to back away that she knocked the pile of papers to the floor.

“Oh no!” June sighed. “I guess I have my work cut out for me. Anyway, here’s the card.” She held the card out to Ally. Ally took the card.

“I’m sorry about the mess. Would you like some help?” Ally offered.

“No please, it will be easier to do when there is only one person in here.”

Ally nodded and walked out of the office. She paused in front of the building and looked down at the card in her hand. Maybe she really should give him a call. After all, at any moment a patrol car could come screaming up to her with Luke in the front seat. She wondered whether he would be there, or if he would leave it to a couple of officers so that he did not have to witness it. As much as she wanted to avoid it, she did need to prepare for the worst.

When she pulled out her phone to dial the number on the business card she saw the picture she had taken of the paperwork. It was a will. It was a very short and simple will. It stated that Myrtle’s apartment and its contents were to be sold. The proceeds from that sale and all of her remaining funds and assets were to be donated to charity. Not a dime had been left to a single family member. The list of likely suspects in Myrtle’s murder had just expanded. Her sister Stephanie, her ex-husband Nate, and her two dear children, might all have motive. The question was, had the will been finalized before Myrtle’s death?

***

When Ally got back to the cottage her mind was still reeling from her encounter with the lawyer. She opened the door to find her grandmother inside. She had just set food down for Arnold and Peaches.

“Ally, there you are. How did the meeting go?”

“Not great.” Ally shook her head. “I’m not sure that we’re going to get anything solid on the will. I was lucky to find a copy of it, she changed it to leave all of her wealth to charity, but I have no way of knowing if it was completed before she passed away.”

“Wow. Well, that’s enough to give that whole family motive, hmm?”

“I think you’re right about that.”

“Do you think there’s anything that Luke can do to help you find out about whether the will was finalized?”

“There might be, but he is not in the most cooperative mood.”

“Why is that?” Charlotte asked.

“He’s still quite upset about the break-in. In fact, I think he’s downright angry.”

“Well, it was a risky move, not just for us, but for the case itself.”

“But we did find our chocolates hidden, remember?” Ally said.

“I wonder why Myrtle did that.”

“Maybe she didn’t want to share?”

“Or maybe, someone else wanted her to eat the other chocolates,” Charlotte suggested.

“They were wrapped with the ribbon we use for delivery,” Ally explained. “Did you have a chance to look through all of the recent orders for delivery?”

“The police seized all of the paperwork,” Charlotte said.

“What about the computer?”

“Oh Ally, you know I don’t keep that thing up to date.”

“Hm. We could check with Brian, he’s the one that makes the deliveries,” Ally suggested.

“We could, but he quit when the shop got shut down. Said he couldn’t risk losing his income so he had to find another job,” Charlotte said.

“Oh wow, I didn’t realize.”

“So, we’re at a dead end unless we call him.”

“Maybe not. Don’t all of the deliveries get programmed into the GPS?” Ally asked.

“Yes, but we don’t even know what day they were delivered. The GPS only holds the recent deliveries.” Charlotte looked thoughtful.

“It’s a place to start.” Ally sighed.

“All right, why don’t you head into the shop and check the GPS? I’m going to make a few calls to see if I can get the shop reopened.”

“Calls? To whom?” Ally asked.

“I have my connections.” Charlotte winked at her.

Ally walked to the shop. As she approached it she heard a few voices. She paused at the side of the building.

“Murder by chocolate?”

“Worse, murder by chocolate candy.” Ally recognized Mrs. Cale’s voice.

“I really don’t think they had anything to do with it.” That was Mrs. White.

“You never know. Some of your best friends can turn out to be serial killers.”

“Wait a minute. Are you a serial killer?” Mrs. White said.

“No.”

“Does that mean I’m a serial killer?”

“I don’t know, are you?”

“I don’t think so,” Mrs. White replied.

“Well, then I guess not.” Mrs. Cale laughed. Ally tried not to laugh at her words.

“All I’m saying is that it was their chocolates. The shop is closed. There’s obviously evidence against them.” Mrs. Cale clucked her tongue.

“I can’t argue with that. The shop being closed sure does make them look guilty.”

“I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to eat a chocolate from Charlotte’s Chocolate Heaven again,” Mrs. Cale concluded in a disparaging voice.

As the two women walked past, Ally sighed. If even their most loyal customers had lost faith in them, what was the chance of the shop surviving?

She trudged around the back of the shop to the van. When she opened the door she was greeted by the smell of the disinfectant that the driver cleaned the van with every day. She leaned inside and grabbed the GPS. Just as Charlotte had predicted there were only a few addresses stored in the GPS. They were all addresses in Blue River or Mainbry. As she skimmed over them she noticed that one of the addresses was Freely Lakes. That wasn’t unusual as they delivered there often. The GPS did not give a date of the delivery. It was yet another dead end.

After thinking about it for some time Ally decided to pay a visit to Freely Lakes. Since her car was at the cottage she decided to take the van. As she drove to the retirement community she noticed quite a few looks from people that she passed. She gritted her teeth and tried not to take it personally.