Death by Chocolate Sundae: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 2) by Constance Barker Read Free Book Online

speak.”
     
    “Oh no,” Mr. Brooks assured us. “I would have no reason to hurt Mr. Jenkins. He was one of my best clients.”
     
    “We’re back to square one,” Paige said leaning back in her chair.
     
    “I take it you ladies are amateur sleuths attempting to solve the crime?” Mr. Brooks asked.
     
    “In a way, yes,” I admitted. “As you can tell we’re not very good at it.”
     
    “On the contrary, I think you’re very good. I would have been just as suspect as you all were at seeing my image on your video tape.” He looked around the room. “Where are the cameras?”
     
    “Hidden behind the walls,” I answered. “I’d even forgot they were there.”
     
    At that moment the front door of the Shoppe opened and we three jumped. Trixie stuck her head in.
     
    “Girls, are you closed? I was hoping for a fudge ripple cone!”
     
    “No Trix,” I said getting out of my chair. “We were having a meeting but it’s over now.”
     
    Paige stood up and turned the sign in the window back to open.
     
    “I’ll get Mr. Brooks’ smoothie…that is if you still want it?” I asked.
     
    “Of course,” he answered. “I hear you have the best smoothies in town.”
     
    “They do,” Trixie exclaimed. She was wearing white capris and a brown top. She always looked so chic. She was 30 years older than I was but I felt dowdy next to her.
     
    “Girls, have you heard?” Trixie continued. “Poor Mr. Parker was taken into custody for the murder of Mr. Jenkins just a short while ago.”
     
    “Oh no,” I moaned. “What type of evidence do they have?”
     
    “The police aren’t divulging, but the rumor mill says they found cyanide at the store.”
     
    “Of course they did,” Stormi barked. “He sells insecticides so there’s going to be some kind of cyanide poisoning there, I suppose. I’m telling you it’s that son of his. He got word Mr. Jenkins was tossing his hinny out of the will so he had to get to him first.”
     
    “How do you know he was taking his son out of the will,” Trixie asked as she licked the fudge ripple melting down her cone.
     
    “Oh well, I,” Stormi stammered. “Like you, I heard it through the rumor mill.”
     
    Trixie nodded not quite believing her but letting it go all the same.
     
    “Alright, I’m off girls. Have a great day,” Trixie said as she walked out the door. I had a feeling she was in a hurry to spread the latest gossip.
     
    I handed Mr. Brooks his blueberry smoothie. “So do you have the tape here?” He asked.
     
    Before anyone could answer I blurted out, “No…I thought I did, but actually I don’t.”
     
    The girls gave me puzzled looks.
     
    “That’s too bad,” Mr. Brooks said as he pulled a straw from its paper wrapper. “I wouldn’t have minded seeing how silly I looked.”
     
    “You didn’t look too bad,” Stormi offered. “Kind of like a statue.”
     
    “I see…well I shouldn’t take up anymore of your time. I’m still interested in the office next door so we may become neighbors in the near future,” Mr. Brooks said as he walked out of my Shoppe.
     
    “Okay, what gives?” Paige asked. “Why didn’t you want him to know the tape was here?”
     
    “Simply because he seemed too interested in it,” I explained. “I think we need to take another look at that tape.”
     
    “Okay, after we close let’s take another peek,” Paige agreed. “Why don’t we invite Teresa Parker over to look at it too? It might give her hope about her husband.”
     
    “That’s fine by me,” I said. I felt sure there was something on that tape we missed. “We might need Colton as well.”
     
    “Okay,” Paige said. “I’ll make some calls and get everyone here by closing tonight.”
     
     
     
     
    *****
     
     
     
     
    By 9pm, everyone, except Sam, was assembled at the store, including Teresa Parker who looked rattled. Her normally combed hair appeared tousled and she seemed out of it. Who could blame her? Her husband