Read Buttercream Murder: A Frosted Love Cozy Mystery - Book 7 (Frosted Love Cozy Mysteries) for Free Online Page B

he completed his circuit, Chas pulled up.
    “What’s your call, Rich?” he asked the Dellville detective.
    “Beckett, you know as well as I do that it’s way too early to even file a missing person’s report at this point, but I think we both have a gut feeling that something is wrong here. I’m going to send my guys out to places where Miss Willis might typically visit, just to make sure we’re not barking up the wrong tree here, but I’m also headed to the courthouse to get Judge Mackey to sign off on a warrant to enter the premises for the purpose of a wellness check.”
    “That would’ve been my suggestion as well. I’ll stay here in case she returns,” Chas offered.
    “Good. Might want to rethink the presence of a civilian though,” Keller nodded in Missy’s direction. “We don’t know what we’re gonna find when we blast the door. It’d be best if non-police persons leave the area before it goes down,” he advised gravely.
    “I hear you,” Chas nodded. “I’ll take care of it.” For Missy’s sake, he hoped that they wouldn’t find a grisly scene within Echo’s cozy cottage, but if they did, she didn’t need to see it. He walked over to where she stood on the porch, arms wrapped around her waist, staring into the distance.
    “Hey sweetie,” he greeted her, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand. “Keller is going to get an order from the judge so that we can enter the house to make sure that everything is okay. He’s got his officers out looking for Echo, and hopefully they’ll just run into her at the market and bring her home,” he said gently, trying to reassure her. His heart ached when her eyes welled with tears. Taking her into his arms, he told her that it would be best if she just went home to wait.
    She shook her head vehemently. “No, Chas, I have to know that she’s okay,” she insisted.
    “I understand that, Missy, I really do, but you’re going to impede the investigation if you’re here. You need to trust that we’re going to do everything that we can to find your friend. The moment that I know anything new, I’ll text you, okay? I need you to head home, sweetie,” he said firmly, letting her know that she really didn’t have a choice in the matter.
    She nodded slowly. “I really hope she’s okay, Chas,” she said shakily.
    “Me too,” he agreed, giving her another big hug before walking her to her car. He watched her go, doubting that he’d have good news to report later.

Chapter 10
     
    Missy drove home in a daze, so distracted by her thoughts that once she’d arrived, she found she couldn’t remember the trip. She got out of the car and was startled when Toffee suddenly appeared out of nowhere, begging to be petted.
    “Toffee, what are you doing out here, girlie?” Missy asked, puzzled. The hair on the back of her neck stood up as she realized that the only way that Toffee could have gotten out is if someone had either attempted or succeeded in getting in. Opening the back door of the car, Missy told her beloved pet to jump inside, and shut the door behind her. She opened the windows so that Toffee could enjoy the cool Fall breeze, and moved slowly to the back door of the house. Her heart leapt to her throat when she stepped up onto the back porch and saw her back door pulled to, but not shut. She always made sure that both the front and back doors were shut and locked before leaving in the morning. If Chas had stopped by, he would have definitely secured the doors, which meant that someone else had violated her space. She had a brief moment of hope, where she thought that perhaps Echo had come to see her and just made herself at home, but if that had been the case, she would’ve answered Missy’s text.
    Missy backed slowly away making her way to the rear of the garage, keeping her eyes glued to the back door, and called Chas.
    “I’m really sorry to bother you,” she spoke softly and quickly. “When I got home, Toffee was out in the