Halloween Candy With A Side Of Murder Read online

  When I went by those houses, I wondered if a bowl of candy would even be left out for the kids on Halloween night. If not, what a shame. Or maybe those would be the families who gave out apples when the children only wanted a few pieces of candy.

  Snickerdoodle and I ended up taking such a long walk that we made our way over to Watterson Park. By the time we returned home, I felt refreshed.

  When I arrived at Daley Buzz, however, it didn’t take me long to realize that more was brewing that morning than coffee. My family’s shop wasn’t just a place to grab a pumpkin-flavored latte and a muffin on the way to work. Some mornings, it was also ground zero for gossip.

  That was partially why I wasn’t thrilled to start my work shift. With both Todd and Andrew Conway behind bars, I fully expected that conversation about them would be inevitable. Especially since I had played such a large role in bringing them to justice.

  Much to my surprise, the conversation at work ended up focusing on another subject entirely. Shortly after I arrived at work, a diamond ring took center stage. There was nothing quite like a dazzling piece of jewelry to attract attention.

  But my eyes weren’t just fixed on the ring itself. Equally intriguing to me was who was wearing the ring—my friend and employee, Kelly O’Reilly.

  “You’re engaged?” I said.

  The curvy, blue-eyed, angular-faced thirty-year-old barista beamed while I gawked at her new ring.

  “I’m still in shock myself,” Kelly replied.

  “This is such fantastic news. I’m so happy for you,” I said.

  “I can’t even describe how amazing it feels to be engaged. Especially since it’s so unexpected,” she replied.

  “So you had no clue that Timothy was planning on proposing to you?” I asked.

  She shook her head. “Not in the least. Although, I’m not complaining.”

  “Why would you? You’re getting married.”

  “I know, right? I feel like I’m walking on air.”

  “As you should be. This is a momentous occasion. Enjoy it.”

  “Trust me. I am.” Kelly smiled as she gazed once more at her finger. “You know, I never used to buy into the idea of a diamond being a girl’s best friend, but ever since Timothy proposed, I haven’t been able to stop staring at the ring.”

  “I don’t blame you. That is one nice piece of jewelry,” I said.

  ***

  I wish I could tell you that the rest of the day was filled with joy and merriment. Unfortunately, life had some tricks up its sleeves when I desperately wanted more treats.

  When Allison Gordon entered the shop a few minutes later, the entire vibe at Daley Buzz changed. Allison was a tall oval-faced woman in her late forties. She had long black hair, crystal-blue eyes, and a trim figure.

  One thing she didn’t have, at least that morning, was a smile on her face.

  I addressed her as she approached the front counter. “The usual?” I asked.

  Allison shook her head. “I’m afraid I’m going to need more today.”

  I gave her a sympathetic look. “It’s one of those mornings, huh?”

  “Let’s just say that some days I wonder how I would survive without coffee,” she replied.

  I tried to lighten the mood with a joke. “I didn’t know it was possible to survive without coffee.”

  My joke fell completely flat.

  Allison remained as tense as ever. “You’re probably right.”

  “In that case, I hope an extra strong latte proves to be just what you need to jump-start your day,” I said.

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. What I really want is a stiff drink. Unfortunately, it’s too early to hit the bottle.”

  My mouth hung open. “Just how tough has your morning been?”

  “It’s safe to say that I have been feeling off the mark since the moment I woke up,” she replied.

  I shouldn’t have been surprised by Allison’s archery reference. After all, she did compete in a local archery league. That said, I had never known her to be fond of puns.

  In addition, judging by the stress lines that were on her face, I felt like her morning was even more off-target than she was letting on.

  I reached out to her. “Allison. You know you can talk to me. So why don’t you tell me what’s the matter?”

  She let out a sigh. “Do you ever feel like, no matter what you do, you just can’t win?”

  I nodded. “As a matter of fact, I have some experience in that area.”

  Allison winced. “It’s just so frustrating. I’ve been trying my hardest…putting in so much effort…but it all just seems like it’s for nothing. Like nothing I do will ever be good enough.”

  Her answer may have come out in short fragments, but there was no mistaking how distraught she was. At the same time, she remained curiously vague as to what aspect of her life she was referring to.

  “I’m very sorry to hear that,” I said. “Are these problems you’re having personal? Professional? Romantic?”

  Allison grimaced. “I’m afraid it’s a little of everything.”

  “Ouch.”

  “Exactly. I have drama coming at me from all sides. Everywhere I turn, I seem to run into a new problem. It’s a lot to try to juggle all at once,” Allison replied.

  “Again, I’m really sorry. If there’s anything I can do to help you out, just let me know.”

  “Thanks, but I don’t know if anyone can help me. Hence my urge for an extra strong latte. And my early morning craving for booze,” Allison said.

  “Look. I don’t know your exact circumstances, but there has to be some kind of a solution to your problems.”

  “If there is, I haven’t figured it out yet,” Allison said.

  Kelly handed Allison her latte.

  “May I suggest something?” Kelly asked.

  “I’m all ears,” Allison replied.

  “You should get your aura cleansed,” Kelly said.

  “I’m going to have to stop you right there,” Allison replied.

  “Why? You’d be surprised how effective it can be to flush out the cosmic toxins that are standing between you and happiness,” Kelly said.

  Allison grimaced. “I can’t say that I agree with you.”

  “I know it sounds all new age and ethereal, but it really works,” Kelly said.

  “Look. I don’t mean to come across as rude, but I have been bending over backwards to make the people in my life happy. Trust me, my aura isn’t the problem,” Allison said.

  “In that case, a circle of protection enchantment might be what you need,” Kelly replied. “It wards off bad chakras.”

  Allison sighed. “You have no idea how much I wish that was true.”

  “Just give it a try,” Kelly said. “You can thank me later.”

  “That’s the thing. I have tried it. Not only didn’t it work, but the woman at the crystal shop refused to give me my money back,” Allison replied.

  Kelly became deflated. “I’m very sorry to hear that.”

  “Trust me. You’re not nearly as sorry as I am.” Allison looked at the time on her phone. “Anyway, I need to be heading off to work.”

  I reached out to Allison one last time. “Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do to help you?”

  “You can pray for me,” she replied.

  I nodded. “I will.”

  Chapter Four

  Allison left the shop, but not my mind. I kept thinking about her for the rest of my shift. It was such a shame that she was going through so much drama. My heart went out to her.

  If only I could do more to help. Unfortunately, so much was out of my control. Although, I did say a quick prayer for her.

  A few hours later, I left the coffee shop in desperate need of some relief. David suggested a good place for us to get some rest and relaxation—the beach.

  I couldn’t disagree with that. There were few places in the off-season that were better to unwind. Since it was the end of October, the tourists were long
gone. With good reason. The water was freezing this time of year.

  Even though the crisp air of fall didn’t make for prime beach going, the scenery was the attraction as much as anything. After all, there was more to the beach than swimming or getting a tan.

  Staring out at the water had an immediate calming effect. That was what I was counting on. The crowds would most likely be so sparse that David and I would have a large patch of sand all to ourselves. That was fine by me.

  David still had a few more minutes of paperwork to do before being able to leave the police station, so I told him to just meet me at the beach when he was done.

  When I arrived at Treasure Cove Beach, the parking lot was only a quarter full. What a welcome sight. I was able to get a great spot. With my mind focused on the water, I got out of my car and began to walk toward the beach.

  That was when I heard a familiar female voice calling my name.

  “Sabrina. Funny running into you here,” Daphne Lipton said.

  I turned around and saw Daphne getting out of a car a few parking spaces away. In addition to being a regular at Daley Buzz, Daphne was a tall, trim brunette in her late forties with hazel eyes, a square face, and a great sense of style. The successful real estate agent took great care of herself. To the point where she almost looked ten years younger than her actual age.

  Daphne was a fairly recent transplant to Treasure Cove. She had moved here from San Francisco nine months ago. Apparently, she had grown tired of the hustle and bustle of the big city and wanted to lead a peaceful and quiet small-town life. Little did she realize that Treasure Cove wasn’t as peaceful or as quiet as most small towns.

  “I know what you’re going to say. You barely recognize me without my work uniform on, right?” I joked.

  “To be fair, it is strange to see you not wearing an apron,” Daphne said. “Or holding a latte in your hand.”

  “Uh-oh. Is someone getting a craving?”

  “Can you blame me? It is the season for pumpkin-spiced deliciousness.”

  “I can attest to that. It seems like everyone has pumpkin on the brain these days,” I said. “Although, currently, I’m thinking about putting my toes into the sand.”

  “I’m right there with you. I love a good day at the beach. That said, I’m starting to wonder if I’m going to get the chance to lie in the sun at all this afternoon,” Daphne replied.

  That seemed like a particularly strange comment for her to make when she was no further than a few hundred feet from the beach.

  I furrowed my brow. “I’m a little confused.”

  Daphne pointed at a sports car that was parked a few feet away. “You can take the man out of the office, but not the office out of the man.”

  I looked at the driver’s seat of the car and saw Jake Williamson speaking on the phone with someone.

  Daphne and Jake had been dating for nearly five months, but it was still so strange to see them together. Mostly because I had a hard time understanding how a sweetheart like Daphne could fall for a shark like Jake.

  As much as their relationship was a head-scratcher to me, that was her business. Besides, if I bad-mouthed Jake in front of Daphne, it would most likely be the end of my friendship with her.

  I knew I had to tread carefully. “Is he working on another deal?”

  I was almost afraid to hear Daphne’s answer.

  Her eyebrows rose. “When isn’t he?”

  “You should tell him to take a vacation. For example, speaking of beaches, Hawaii is beautiful this time of year. You two should get into an aloha state of mind,” I hinted.

  “Don’t think I haven’t tried to get him to cut back his hours. But it turns out he’s a little stubborn.”

  “Just stick with it. I can tell you from experience that a little relaxation can go a long way.”

  “Trust me. I’m going to keep at him,” Daphne said. “He’s not the only one in this relationship who is stubborn.”

  “You go, girl.”

  Daphne changed the subject. “By the way, I tried Luigi’s Gelato the other day.”

  My eyes lit up. “It’s out of this world, isn’t it?”

  She nodded. “Oh yeah. It puts other ice cream shops to shame.”

  “I can’t agree more. The place is a local gem.”

  “It’s more than that. After having gelato that good, I don’t know that I can go back to eating regular ice cream again.”

  During Daphne’s frequent coffee runs to Daley Buzz, I made a habit of feeding her recommendations to a number of local family-run businesses. It was a longshot, but part of me secretly hoped that if Daphne got hooked on some of the places, maybe she’d convince Jake not to buy them up and turn them into chain stores. Luigi’s Gelato was one of my recent recommendations to her.

  “In that case, I have a few more great local picks for you,” I said.

  “If they are all going to be that good, then keep them coming,” Daphne replied.

  “You may not believe it, but some of these new picks are even better.”

  Daphne put her hands on her hips. “How is that even possible?”

  A look of longing came to my eyes. “You’re right. Luigi’s is pretty amazing.” My mouth began to water. “And after talking about gelato, I can’t help but want a bowl of my own.”

  “I know what you mean. It’s addictive,” Daphne replied.

  My mind was poised to drift off into gelato-land.

  Before it had a chance to, Jake Williamson’s voice ripped my head out of the clouds with the kind of velocity that could give me whiplash.

  Jake approached with a cell phone in his hand. “Sorry, honey. I had to take that call.”

  The fifty-one-year-old had slicked-back hair that made me wonder if he knew the meaning of moderation. As I stared at his square, clean-shaven face, the sharkish look in his blue eyes was just as pronounced as ever.

  “Yeah? Well, as it turns out, I have to take something, too,” Daphne replied.

  Daphne grabbed Jake’s phone from his hand.

  Jake threw out his arms. “Hey. What’s the big idea?”

  Daphne gave him a stern look. “I was promised a relaxing day at the beach, and I’m going to get it, even if I have to throw your phone in the ocean.”

  Jake squinted. “You wouldn’t.”

  “Don’t make me do it,” Daphne replied. She shoved the phone inside her purse. “You are unreachable for the next few hours, got it?”

  I had to hand it to Daphne. She was sure feisty. Perhaps that was why their relationship worked. Because she held her ground instead of letting herself get walked all over like a doormat.

  One thing that wasn’t up for debate was how smitten Jake was with Daphne. After all, if anyone else had talked to him like that, he would have bitten their head off. But with Daphne, he just kept quiet and didn’t put up a stink.

  While Jake was willing to accept Daphne standing up to him, he did not seem to appreciate me watching the proceedings. Nor was he happy about the grin that was on my face.

  Jake narrowed his eyes at me. “What are you smiling about?”

  “I was just admiring your girlfriend’s no-nonsense attitude. It’s inspiring,” I said.

  I could tell that Jake wanted to blow his lid. He probably would have, too, if Daphne wasn’t present. Since his girlfriend was looking on, he was able to muster just enough restraint to hold his tongue.

  He turned his focus to the ocean. “Daphne, why don’t we take a walk on the beach?”

  Jake’s blatant change of subject wasn’t just clunky. It was also unsuccessful.

  Daphne was not a fan of the cold shoulder that her boyfriend had just given me. She folded her arms. “Aren’t you going to say hi to Sabrina?”

  Jake grimaced and reluctantly turned to me. “Hi.” He switched his focus back toward the ocean. “Now, how about that walk?”

  I wasn’t about to let him head off without getting a word in first.

  “You sure seem to be in a hurry to get aw
ay from me,” I joked.

  He shook his head. “No. I just feel like taking a walk.”

  “But I was just about to share some recommendations with Daphne,” I said.

  “That’s right. I can’t wait to hear them,” Daphne replied.

  “By the way, Daphne told me that she loves Luigi’s Gelato,” I said.

  Jake stared at Daphne. “Is that so?”

  “Yes,” Daphne replied.

  I spoke up. “Which is great, because I think it’s important to support our local mom-and-pop shops.” I glanced at Daphne. “Don’t you think?”

  “If they are all as great as Luigi’s, then sure,” Daphne replied.

  “Trust me. I know all the best places in town,” I said.

  Jake looked like he wanted to explode. Instead, he restrained himself and leaned in toward me. “Can I speak to you in private for a minute?”

  I squinted. “Why does it have to be in private?”

  Jake’s eyes bulged out. “Please.”

  I exhaled. “Fine.” I glanced at Daphne. “I’ll text those recommendations to you.”

  Chapter Five

  Jake had shown a surprising amount of restraint back there. I didn’t know that he had that in him. If only he behaved that way all the time. There was no doubt in my mind that Daphne was a good influence on him.

  That said, while this new subdued version of Jake was a welcome sight, I worried that the arrogant and hostile Jake of old was about to make an appearance now that he was pulling me aside.

  He ended up moving about twenty feet away from his girlfriend. That seemed to be just far enough that Daphne was out of earshot of Jake’s voice.

  My muscles tensed up with each step that I took.

  I acted confused as I broke the silence between Jake and me. “What’s this about?”

  He gave me an icy stare. “Don’t play dumb. I know what you're doing.”

  “I was just giving your girlfriend some recommendations,” I said.

  He shook his head. “Not just any recommendations. You don’t think I have noticed that every place you tell her about happens to be some local family-run business?”