Read Cupcakes and Killing: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Shoppe Mysteries - Book 2) for Free Online Page B

table. And it looks like she’s reaching into her handbag for something!”
    “Let’s not jump to any conclusions,” Kaye said. “She might’ve just been getting out her cell phone or lip gloss.”
    All in all, we ended up with a list of eight people who had been in close proximity with the table in between the time Zara left her drink there and later went to retrieve it. Mia Keilson wasn’t among them, and most of them didn’t seem to have any motive to have killed Zara whatsoever. Except Amy. She was starting to look more suspicious by the minute.
    “Can we rule Mia out, then?” Tori asked.
    “Hmm. I’m not sure. It’s not like you were photographing every single second. I suppose there’s a chance she managed to slip something into the drink when you had your camera pointed in another direction.”
    “True. But Amy is looking more and more likely to be our prime suspect,” Kaye said. “What should we do next?”
    “I think we should have afternoon tea,” I said. “And then we should head down to Palmer’s Warehouse.”
    “Why Palmer’s Warehouse?” Tori asked.
    Palmer’s Warehouse was an enormous store just off the main street, and it sold hardware, gardening equipment and all sorts of other DIY materials.
    “Because,” I replied. “From what I’ve read, a lot of garden fertilizers have cyanide in them, so our killer could very well have synthesized some from that. We should ask Mr. Palmer who’s bought fertilizer recently.”
    “Ooh, good call,” Kaye said. “All right, it’s a plan.”
    I made sandwiches and lemonade for afternoon tea, and we had a nibble before heading out to see Mr, Palmer at the warehouse.
    The store was relatively empty, and Mr. Palmer greeted us as we approached the counter. “What can I do for you ladies?” he asked.
    “We were wondering if you could help us out with something,” Kaye asked. “Do you happen to remember who’s been in here to buy fertilizer lately?”
    He scratched his chin and raise his eyebrows. “I didn’t realize you three were working for the cops,” he said. “They just came in and asked me the exact same question.”
    “Oh…we aren’t working for them,” I said. “Zara Keilson was a friend of ours, and we just want to help out in finding her killer.”
    He nodded. “I see. Well, I’ve already spoken to the cops, so I may as well tell you the same thing I told them. I remember every transaction I make, and only a handful of people have purchased fertilizer in the last couple of weeks.”
    “You remember all of them?” Tori asked.
    He gave us a wry smile. “I might be old, but I’m still as a sharp as a tack, young lady. Anyway, let’s see…Mrs. Barnaby came in around two weeks ago for some fertilizer, then a few days after that Sam Spencer came in.”
    “Who’s Sam Spencer?” Kaye asked.
    “Local gardener. He maintains the gardens and lawns around the school, police station and church,” he replied. “Then after that, Mr. and Mrs. Clintock came in to grab some, and then after that there was only one other person. Amy McNamara.”
    I drew in a sharp breath and exchanged glances with Tori and Kaye. “Thanks, Mr. Palmer. You’ve been very helpful.”
    “Good luck,” he said. “It’s a damn shame, what happened. I don’t know what’s happening to this town.”
    As we left, my heart beat extra fast, and I turned to Kaye and Tori. “It’s really not looking good for Amy, is it?”
    “No,” Kaye said. “But we have to remember, just because she bought fertilizer doesn’t mean it was her. For all we know, the killer just used fertilizer that he or she already had lying around in the garage.”
    “That’s true,” I admitted. “And Amy was working for Zara as a florist’s assistant, so she obviously loves flowers, and I think she might have her own garden at home. So it would make sense for her to be buying fertilizer for non-nefarious purposes.”
    “Yeah, exactly. Let’s take a break for the night,”