Creamy Pumpkin Killer Read online

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CREAMY PUMPKIN KILLER

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Creamy

  Pumpkin

  KILLER

  Cupcakes in Paradise

  Book 6

  By

  Summer Prescott

  Copyright 2017 Summer Prescott Books

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication nor any of the information herein may be quoted from, nor reproduced, in any form, including but not limited to: printing, scanning, photocopying, or any other printed, digital, or audio formats, without prior express written consent of the copyright holder

  **This book is a work of fiction. Any similarities to persons, living or dead, places of business, or situations past or present, is completely unintentional.

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  Creamy Pumpkin

  KILLER

  Cupcakes in Paradise

  Book 6

  CHAPTER ONE

  * * *

  Melissa Gladstone-Beckett was enveloped by the rich smell of pumpkin and spice when she entered the small but efficient commercial kitchen of her beachside shop, Cupcakes in Paradise. Her only employee, Beulah, a spry and feisty elderly woman, was humming to herself while frosting a huge batch of creamy pumpkin cupcakes.

  “I see you tried my new recipe,” Missy observed with delight. “How did they turn out?” she asked, peering over Beulah’s shoulder as she wielded a bag heavy with cream cheese frosting.

  “These cupcakes are the best thing you could ever put in your mouth,” Beulah announced proudly, finishing a swirl of frosting with a great flourish. “The cheesecake inside, with the pumpkin cupcake and this cream cheese frosting… mmm… mmm… mmm! I’m going to top it off with a drizzle of caramel and just a sprinkle of cinnamon.”

  “That sounds amazing, Beulah, thank you,” Missy grinned, grabbing an apron off the hook by the door and heading for the coffee pot. “I hope that the staff at the nursing home approves. I’ve got a big delivery to take over there later this morning.”

  “Yes, ma’am, that’s why I’ve been here since four,” Beulah nodded. “Your delivery is all boxed up and ready to go,” she pointed to the walk-in refrigerator.

  Missy stopped in her tracks, stunned. “You got that entire order ready by yourself? Beulah, you didn’t have to do that.”

  “It was a purely selfish act. Now I can take my time and make these cupcakes works of art to put in your display case,” Beulah chuckled.

  “You are the best. I think you should go home early today, since you’ve been here practically half a day already,” Missy suggested.

  “Stuff and nonsense,” Beulah shook her head. “And what exactly am I gonna go home to? A television that plays a bunch of foolishness? I don’t even have a cat.”

  “Well, the animal rescue shelter is having an adopt-a-thon this weekend, maybe you should go check it out,” Missy teased.

  “I don’t need no mouse-chasing, flea-bit animal in my clean house, no ma’am,” Beulah pursed her lips. “I will take some of that coffee, though.”

  “Coming right up,” Missy laughed, reaching for a cup.

  She had just poured Beulah a mug of steaming hot coffee when the bells over the front door signaled that someone had come in.

  “Hello?”

  Missy hurried to the front of the shop to greet their pre-opening hours visitor, and saw a tall, thin young man with longish hair and a wispy goatee standing near the door.

  “Good morning,” she said. “We don’t open for another half hour, but I can fix you something to go if you’d like.”

  “Oh, no, thank you, that’s not why I’m here,” he smiled apologetically. “I stopped over at the Inn next door to give them some information about what I do, and they said that you might be interested too.”

  “Oh? What is it that you do?” Missy asked.

  “Well, I go to school full time at Calgon Tech—I’m studying to be a veterinarian—but to help pay my way, I’ve started a pet-sitting and dog-walking service. Carla, the lady I talked to at the Inn, said that you might need a dog walker,” he stepped forward and handed her a flyer with his name, phone number, and email address on it. “I’m Thomas,” he held out his hand and Missy shook it.

  “I admire your initiative, Thomas,” she nodded. “I’m Missy, and you have a great idea here.”

  “It sure beats flipping burgers, ma’am,” Thomas smiled shyly.

  “I think my girls would love to have a good long walk during the day when I’m here.”

  “What kinds of dogs do you have?” he asked, brightening. Clearly, he was headed for the right profession.

  “My Toffee is a golden retriever, she’s eight, and then Bitsy is a maltipoo. I’m not sure exactly how old she is, but I would guess no more than four,” Missy explained.

  “I bet they’re quite a pair,” Thomas commented. “I do give discounts for multiple dogs.”

  “Perfect. I’ll email you and you can come over to meet them. We’ll need to make sure that it’s a good match, and then we can make arrangements to set up a walking schedule.”

  “That sounds great. Thank you so much. Please feel free to call or text with any questions that you might have in the meantime,” Thomas moved to head toward the door.

  “Well, don’t think I’m going to let you leave here empty handed,” Missy stopped him. “Do you like pumpkin?”

  “It’s my favorite.”

  “I think we’re going to get along just fine,” Missy grinned. “Do you want your cupcake for here or to go?”

  “To go, please. I’m going to try to talk with all the business owners on this street. I figure if they own a business, they might need someone like me to walk their dogs while they’re at work.”

  “To go it is then,” Missy nodded, grabbing a green and pink striped paper sack from under the counter and placing two cupcakes in it. “Best of luck to you, Thomas. We’ll talk soon.”

  CHAPTER TWO

  * * *

&nbs
p; “So, how’s the new dog walker working out? I’m shocked that you trusted your babies with a stranger,” Echo Kellerman, Missy’s flame-haired, free-spirited best friend commented, munching on a vegan version of the creamy pumpkin cupcakes.

  “He’s wonderful!” Missy exclaimed. “Toffee and Bitsy just love him. I have to admit, I’m a little bit jealous that they took to him so quickly,” she grinned.

  “Did you check him out and make sure that he’s not a hatchet murderer or something?” Echo asked, licking frosting from her finger.

  “Chas did a background check and he passed with flying colors,” Missy assured her.

  “Of course Chas did. He’s a private investigator, and wonderfully protective of his precious wife, so he’s suspicious of everything,” she snickered.

  “And that’s just the way I like it,” Missy agreed.

  “Have you heard any news about little Kaylee yet?” Echo asked, sobering.

  Missy and Chas were in the process of trying to adopt a three-year-old girl orphaned when her parents were brutally murdered.

  “No,” Missy sighed. “Her maternal grandmother would sign off on adoption papers in a heartbeat, but it seems like her daddy’s side of the family thinks that there may be money involved if they adopt her. It’s so awful.”

  “Where is she staying while this all gets settled?”

  “She’s at the children’s home for now. Beulah goes over to visit with her every day. Chas and I do too, and we’ve had some wonderful times with our sweetie. I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I think we’d make such a great little family.”

  “Yes, you definitely would. Hang in there. If it’s meant to be, it’ll be,” Echo patted Missy’s hand, then reached for another cupcake.

  Echo was a new mother, and Missy was comforted by the fact that she and her best friend could go through the growing pains of learning how to parent at the same time, relying on each other, as well as their husbands, for support.

  “I suppose. Does Kel have Jasmine this morning?” she asked, changing the subject.

  Echo’s husband Kel was a world-renowned artist who had lived in Calgon for most of his life. He was a fantastic daddy to their little girl, Jasmine, and often took care of her during the day so that Echo could check on the adjacent book store and candle shop that she owned downtown.

  “Yes, he does. I told Joyce that I’d be in the candle shop for most of the day today so that she could do markdowns in the book store,” Echo sighed.

  Joyce, a self-proclaimed bookworm, was the manager of Echo’s two enterprises, and was Beulah’s niece.

  “Oh, good. I need some fall-scented candles for the season, so I’ll probably stop in later today.”

  “Speaking of candles,” Echo stood, stuffing the last bit of cupcake into her mouth, “I need to get going. Let me know if you hear anything about Kaylee.”

  “Will do,” Missy promised, giving her friend a hug before she scurried out the door.

  CHAPTER THREE

  * * *

  The Calgon Chief of Police looked grim as Chas Beckett took the chair across the desk from him. Chas had been the best homicide detective the department had ever had, but he’d recently left the police department to open his own private investigation firm. The chief had contacted him for consulting support a few months ago when Chas’s replacement, Detective Art Solinsky, had proven to be a less than satisfactory alternative.

  “Good morning,” Chas unbuttoned the bottom of his suit jacket as he sat. “I’m guessing this isn’t a social call,” he commented, seeing the look on the chief’s face.

  “I wish it were,” the chief sighed and rubbed a hand over his forehead. “Solinsky has interfered in and undermined every homicide investigation we’ve had since he arrived. I’ve been creating a paper trail to document his actions, so that not even the union will be able to keep him from being fired when the time comes, but I’m going to need your help with some of the specifics.”

  “I’m not certain that I understand what you mean,” Chas raised an eyebrow, his blue gaze steady.

  “You’re the one who’s on scene with him. You see how he interacts with perps and witnesses. If he’s hindering an investigation, or breaking with protocol, you’re the one most likely to see it. Since you’re officially a consultant in homicide for Calgon PD, I’d like you to make reports regarding Solinsky, which you file directly with me.”

  “You’re asking me to babysit a forty-something detective who has to be one of the most abrasive individuals on the planet? Chief, how am I supposed to be an effective investigator if I’m distracted by that?” Chas challenged.

  He had no affection for Solinsky, but his focus, when at the scene of a homicide, was laser-locked on the crime, not his fellow investigators.

  “If anyone can do it, you can, Beckett,” the chief assured him. “Look, I’m not expecting a play by play of his every move, just the glaring stuff. I need more evidence before I bring up his termination.”

  Chas nodded. “I usually try to ignore his antics, but I’ll make a mental note when I see something out of line.”

  “That’s all I’m asking,” the chief replied, standing and stretching out his hand.

  Chas shook it. “I’ll do my best.”

  The chief grimaced. “The sooner we can get Solinsky out of here and get someone who knows what they’re doing in here, the better.”

  “Agreed.”

  ***

  Missy spun delicate strands of angel hair Alfredo through the tines of her heavy silver fork and brought it to her mouth, savoring the creamy flavor. She and Chas were at their favorite Italian place, each a bit distracted.

  “Should I guess what thoughts are spinning behind those beautiful grey eyes?” Chas teased, gazing adoringly at his wife.

  Missy smiled, blushing a bit at the compliment, and marveling that her husband of several years still had the ability to inspire such a reaction.

  “Sorry, I was just thinking about Kaylee,” Missy admitted.

  “She’s really something,” Chas nodded. “I think about her too.”

  “But that’s not what’s been bothering you tonight,” his ever-perceptive mate commented, taking his hand across the table. “Something wrong?”

  “Nothing I can’t handle,” he replied, taking her hand and kissing it.

  “That’s not an answer,” she chided him gently. “Come on. Tell me what’s on your mind.”

  Chas grimaced before answering. “Solinsky. The chief wants me to document his transgressions so that the paper trail for his termination can be as thorough as possible. But I don’t want to get into all of that. We’re on a date. Let’s just enjoy each other’s company,” he suggested, raising his wine glass.

  Missy touched her glass to his. “Agreed, cheers. Tonight is just about us.”

  But with painful irony, Chas’s cellphone chimed, indicating that a text had come in. He reached in the inside pocket of his blazer, then stopped.

  “Aren’t you going to answer that?” Missy asked, putting down her glass.

  “Nope, this is our night.”

  “But what if…” she began, but Chas raised a hand to stop her.

  “This is our night,” he repeated.

  Missy gazed at her husband, pride and love shining in her eyes, and leaned forward.

  “Chas… honey,” she said softly.

  “Yes?”

  “Answer that. It could be important, an emergency even. We have the rest of our lives together,” she reminded him.

  “You sure?”

  “Positive.”

  He reached into his jacket, pulled out his phone, and a frown creased his brow as he read the message.

  “Speak of the devil,” he sighed. “Let me just go make a call. I’ll be right back.”

  “Solinsky?”

  “Yep. We have a homicide, so I may have to get my dinner to go,” he apologized. “Let me get the details and I’ll see if I need to get to the scene or if it can wait.”

 
“Okay, sugar,” Missy leaned in as he kissed her cheek on his way outside to make a call.

  Chas Beckett was a loving, wonderful husband, but he was also a consummate professional, and Missy knew that even if he’d rather be celebrating life with his wife, the latest murder would consume his thoughts, so she flagged the server down and asked for their dinners to be boxed up. The look on Chas’s face when he returned not only affirmed her decision, but also alarmed her a bit.

  “The server is boxing up our dinner. What’s wrong?” she asked, a hand on her husband’s arm.

  “Not only do I need to go to the crime scene, I need you to go with me,” he replied, looking grave.

  “What? Me? Why?” Missy was perplexed.

  “To get Toffee and Bitsy. It seems our new dog walker is the one who called in the crime.”

  Missy paled, her heart racing.

  “Toffee and Bitsy?” her eyes went wide with alarm.

  “They’re fine. We just need to be able to interview Thomas, and it’ll be easier to do that if you come and take the dogs home. I’ll catch a ride back with Spencer; he’s already on his way to the scene,” Chas reassured her.

  Spencer Bengal, his associate investigator, was a young Marine veteran who was as sharp as a tack and had saved Chas’s life on more than one occasion.

  “Oh my goodness, how awful. Poor Thomas,” she murmured, as Chas handed the server his credit card.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  * * *

  Thomas Cosgrove was even paler than usual and shook like a leaf when Chas arrived at the murder scene.

  “I’m sorry that we didn’t get to finish our walk, Mrs. Beckett,” his hand was unconsciously stroking the soft fur behind Toffee’s ears as she leaned into him, and Bitsy had burrowed into his neck as he held her.

  “Oh, don’t worry about it, Thomas,” Missy squeezed his arm reassuringly before taking Bitsy and Toffee’s leashes from the trembling student. “You just take care of things here, and I’ll get the dogs home.”