Read Mint Chip Murder: A Donut Hole Cozy Mystery - Book 6 for Free Online Page A

issues.”
     
    “But I’m your best friend.  Can’t we
talk?”
     
    “We
can talk, but in terms of information that has to do with a murder
investigation, I have to refer you to Ryan,” Heather said.

“Well, okay,” Amy said, squinting at
her.  “Did Ryan read you the riot act today or something?”
     
    “Not exactly.  He just told me what’s
best.  And he said that his ultimate concern is not what happens in court, but
what might happen to me.  He doesn’t want the murderer to come after me, too.”
     
    “I suppose he’s got a point there.”
     
    “Yeah, it’s a bummer.  But I
understand.”
     
    “Anything for the man you love,
right?”
     
    “Something like that,” Heather said,
unable to hide either her smile or the blush creeping into her cheeks.
     
    ***
     
    After snarfing down a sandwich and
some chips for supper with Amy, then making her Wal-Mart run, Heather finally
headed home.  Coming in through the back door as she usually did, she thought
she heard the faint sound of the front doorbell. 
     
    She dropped her purse on the counter
and walked swiftly through the kitchen and living room to the front door. 
Glancing through the peephole, the only thing she could see was a bouquet of
flowers.
     
    “Hi there,” she said, opening the door
to let Ryan in.
     
    But it wasn’t Ryan.  The person who
had rung her doorbell wore a polo shirt and khakis.  A van parked at the curb
behind him bore a decal along the side that read McKinley Florist.  “Flowers
for Heather Janke?” he said.
     
    “I’m Heather,” she said.  The
deliveryman held the vase of roses toward her, and she accepted it.
    “There’s a card,” the man said,
pointing.  “Enjoy your flowers.  Have a nice day.”
     
    “You too,” Heather said.  Smiling, she
shut the door behind him, then set the flowers on the coffee table and plucked
the small, white envelope from the plastic pitchfork-looking holder.
     
    Opening the envelope and sliding out
the card written in Ryan’s hand, she read, Tomorrow’s my turn to cook.  See you
at my place at 7:00?  A heart was the only signature.
     
    Heather retrieved her cell phone from
her purse on the kitchen counter and texted back, “See you then.  The flowers
are beautiful.  Thank you.”
     
     
     

Chapter 5
    “The Cinnamon Crumble donuts are a big
hit,” Maricela said as Heather stepped into the kitchen of Donut Delights. 
“Angelica’s making some more right now.”
     
    Angelica glanced Heather’s way,
smiled, then turned back to her work of coating the tops of the donuts with
pecan crumbles and the butter-brown sugar-cinnamon glaze.
     
    “Great!” Heather said.  “You never
know how a new donut’s going to go over.”
     
    “Seriously?” Maricela asked.  “Have
you ever had a flop?”
    “Once,” Heather said.  She shuddered. 
“Let’s not even talk about it.”
     
    “Well, this one seems to be pretty
popular,” Maricela said.  “I’d say it’s going over just fine.”
     
    “Good,” Heather said. 
     
    As she began stuffing her hair into a
hairnet, a strident female voice called out from the front counter, “Excuse
me?  Miss?”
     
    Heather glanced over to see a
middle-aged woman holding a half-eaten donut out in front of her as if it were
poison.  She put on her best professional smile and approached the counter.
     
    “Yes, ma’am?  May I help you?”
     
    “This donut is awful,” the woman
said.  She set it down on top of the glass case and jerked her hand away. 
“What’s in it?”
     
    “That’s one of our new Cinnamon
Crumble donuts,” Heather said. 
     
    “It’s a cinnamon-flavored donut with
pecan crumble topping, coated with a special glaze made of butter, cinnamon,
and brown sugar.”
     
    “Well I don’t care what’s in it,” the
customer said.  “It’s awful.  I can’t believe how much you charged me for this—this—”
     
    “If you’d like, you can try another
donut,” Heather