Frosted on the Ferris Wheel
Read Frosted on the Ferris Wheel Online
Authors: Laura Pauling
FROSTED ON THE FERRIS WHEEL
Holly Hart Cozy Mystery 3
Cheesecake, Love & Murder!
It’s summertime, but not everyone is having a vacation. When the owner of Sunny Side Realty is found buried in a bath of cement, Holly and the gang dive into the investigation. After revealed secrets and failed undercover operations, they have one final attempt to figure out the identity of the murderer, except someone’s next on the list to cool off with a deadly dip.
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Murder with a Slice of Cheesecake
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Murder with a Slice of Cheesecake
The cool breeze off the lake tickled the air and tugged at the ends of Holly’s hair. August had been a scorcher. In the past few days the temperature had dropped to a more normal eighty degrees. Relief. Low on the horizon, the sun sparkled on the water in soft pinks. Small white caps peaked then disappeared. It was Holly’s favorite time to be at the lake.
On a date with Trent. He’d met her after work.
It was official. After the last murder investigation, the town had relaxed into summer mode. Trent forgave and forgot the tension between them when she’d nosed around the Agatha Poppleton case.
“Hey.” Trent ran his fingertips down her arm. “What’re you thinking about?”
She gazed out over the water. “Oh, just that maybe we should go for one more swim before I pull out the picnic I prepared.”
She’d spent all morning planning this evening, putting together a simple picnic dinner spread of chicken salad pita pockets, fruit salad, and, of course, homemade chocolate chip cream cheese cookies. His favorite. It was fast becoming hers too.
His eyes darkened, his gaze lowering to her mouth, then back to her eyes. “In the water? With you? I’m in.” He stood, then offered a hand and pulled Holly to her feet fast enough that she bumped into him. He kissed her.
“Why, Detective, there could be young children around. You have a reputation to uphold.” She threw in a fake gasp and look of horror.
He peered down the small beach of the lake. The jungle gym set, the rows of kayaks, and the picnic tables. “I do believe we’re alone, Ms. Hart. Everyone’s home eating dinner.”
“Well then, okay.” She kissed him back. Minutes later, she broke it off. She’d been finding that harder and harder to do. Kissing Trent was like entering a time warp. Hours could pass in what felt like minutes.
They walked toward the water, hand in hand. The lake felt warmer in the evening, and they waded in. He let go of her hand and dove under the water. The contours of his muscles flexed as he swam. He looked mighty fine in a bathing suit. All the training for his job had paid off. Not wanting to be outdone, Holly tugged her two-piece into place and dove after him.
Holly broke the surface and turned to float on her back, staring up at the darkening skies. “Hear that?”
“What?” Trent floated next to her.
“The sweet sound of silence.” When they’d arrived, the beach had been packed with families, screaming kids, and hordes of teens.
Taking advantage of the time, Holly and Trent talked, they laughed, they had a dunking war. The last time, she came up gasping. “Okay, you win!”
“Ready to eat?” Trent asked. “Before we’re completely in the dark.”
“Definitely.” Holly looked toward the beach and their set up with chairs, her cooler sitting behind them. Someone had joined them. Smoke rose from one of the grills, the tantalizing smell of steak reaching them. Holly looked closer.
No way. It couldn’t be.
Millicent’s blonde hair and fit body couldn’t be missed. She was on a date. A man stood behind her, attempting to kiss her neck. He was extremely good-looking, jet black hair and a body to kill for.
“Just ignore her,” Trent whispered.
“Of course.” But for Holly, the mood had been ruined. Millicent had been after Trent since high school, ever since he broke up with her. It was part of the grudge she held against Holly, that and the fact her shop,
Just Cheesecake
, competed with her father’s bakery,
The Tasty Bite
.
As they drew closer, Holly stifled her annoyance. Millicent had set up directly behind them, even though the rest of the beach was clear. And, she had a complete spread on the picnic table. Practically a gourmet feast. Steak, chips, a watermelon shell filled with fruit salad, several kinds of desserts, pasta salad, cheese and crackers. It was enough to feed an army. It put Holly’s planned dinner to shame.
Millicent giggled and pushed her boy toy away. When she noticed Trent and Holly, she squealed. “Oh, hello you two!” She glanced at their chairs and cooler. “Hope we didn’t interrupt a date. We thought you were a couple of teens out there.”
Holly bit her lip at the subtle slam. That only teens would have a lame cooler for dinner, instead of a feast. Holly had wanted it simple though, nothing fancy. Like a beach picnic should be.
“Hi, Millicent.” Trent was the polite one. Holly nodded a hello.
“This is Chip.” Millicent tugged the man out from behind her. “He’s in town for work. We met last week in the bakery. He’s been a regular since.”
“I bet,” Holly muttered.
“But don’t let us bother you two kiddos.” With a flip of her hair, she reverted her attention back to Chip, cooing and giggling, talking in a low seductive voice just loud enough that they could hear.
“Why don’t we eat?” Holly forced the words.
This wasn’t the first time Millicent had showed up on one of her dates with Trent in the past month. Maybe it was coincidence. Maybe she’d somehow manipulated Charlene into giving her the information. Maybe she was an obsessed stalker. However she knew, this time was different. This was the first time she brought a date. Holly knew it was an act, an attempt to make Trent jealous by outdoing her in an over-the-top way.
They sat, backs to Millicent and Chip. Holly pulled the cooler in front of them and offered Trent her chicken salad pitas. Deflated, Holly struggled to recapture the flirty conversation they’d had for the past couple hours.
Millicent’s soft and husky voice floated in between them. Holly couldn’t help but listen as Millicent read Shakespeare to her date. A glance back revealed Millicent feeding Chip a strawberry.
“It’s okay.” Trent rubbed the top of her hand. “I love chicken salad.”
But Holly knew when she’d been outdone. She wouldn’t mind a piece of that steak either. She ate her sandwich in silence.
Seconds later, Trent’s walkie-talkie buzzed. “Sorry. I have to respond.” He called into the office, offering nothing but a few polite words. “Yes. I’ll be right there.”
Their date was officially over.
“Let me guess. Chief Hardy?”
Chief Hardy was new on the force for about a month. A strong, no-nonsense woman trying to prove she could do a man’s job. She ran a tight ship. She strongly disliked Holly ever since Holly had tried to outrun her last month. It was a mistake. Holly had thought it was Trent.
“Yup.” He finished off his sandwich. “Work calls.” He grabbed his towel, shirt, and slipped into his flip-flops, then leaned over and pecked her cheek. “Talk to you later? How about we do this again tomorrow night?”
“Sure.” Holly smiled up at him, not wanting to appear insecure or upset. She understood his job required him to be on call. This wasn’t the first time he’d had to leave in the middle of a date.
With Trent gone, Holly wanted to leave, but pride, or something, kept her there.
Millicent shrieked, laughing hysterically at something Chip said. Holly grabbed another cookie and stared out at the water.
“Gosh, sorry Trent had to leave so suddenly,” Millicent said sweetly. “Um, do you want something to eat? Instead of lunch leftovers?”
Holly clenched her teeth and tried to breathe, deep and even, to find a sense of calm. “No thanks.” She was done. Time to go home to Muffins. “I’m heading out.” She gathered her things. As she did, Millicent started reading part of her column from the daily paper she worked for.
In her sugary sweet voice, she read about the upcoming festival in a few days and that
The Tasty Bite
had a new cupcake design they would reveal. In honor, they were sponsoring a competition. Most creative dessert.
Holly swore that Millicent spoke extra loud at that part.
***
Holly woke the next morning in an even worse mood. She didn’t know what she was more upset about. The fact that Trent had to leave or that Millicent had outdone her once again.
After pouring a cup of coffee, Holly slumped on the couch, Muffins in her lap. She played over and over again in her mind Millicent’s sexy voice, her dinner spread, and Shakespeare! Holly had some major planning to do for her next date with Trent. But the one thought that rose to the top was the baking competition. Of course, Holly had to enter. She planned on manning a booth anyway. This was the perfect way to outshine, outwit, and outdo Millicent Monroe.
For good.
Holly stayed on the couch, calmly petting her dog. She thought about the upcoming festival. The hot sun beating down on the crowds. The crying children, squealing babies. The hassled dads and moms in need of escape. Even if it’s just in a decadent dessert...or a cold drink. Like a strawberry cheesecake smoothie.
Inspired, she eased Muffins onto the couch. Time to experiment. To lose herself in what she loved, baking and being creative. To distract and forget about sizzling steaks, sexy voices, and naughty bits of Shakespeare. A quick peek in the fridge told Holly she had most of the ingredients to get started. Murmuring to herself and dreaming about the frown on Millicent’s face when customers flocked to her booth, she put frozen strawberries, sugar, vanilla, and softened cream cheese into the blender. Above the roar of the old blender, the ingredients were chopped up. When the machine stopped, she heard the frantic pounding on the door.
“Open up, Holly! Stop binge baking and let me in.”
Holly giggled. Her friend, Charlene, Trent’s mother and leader of their amateur mystery club, sounded like the big, bad wolf. “Be right there.” She lifted the top off the blender to taste the creamy mixture.” Delicious. But it needed improvement.
Charlene burst through door before Holly could make an attempt to let her friend inside. Her eyes were wide and bright with excitement. That could mean only one thing.
Murder.
