Cocoa Crush Read online

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Recipes

  Other Books by Jessica Beck

  JESSICA BECK

  THE DONUT MYSTERIES, BOOK 35

  COCOA CRUSH

  Donut Mystery #35 Cocoa Crush

  Copyright © 2017 by Jessica Beck All rights reserved.

  First Edition: November 2017

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Recipes included in this book are to be recreated at the reader’s own risk. The author is not responsible for any damage, medical or otherwise, created as a result of reproducing these recipes. It is the responsibility of the reader to ensure that none of the ingredients are detrimental to their health, and the author will not be held liable in any way for any problems that might arise from following the included recipes.

  The First Time Ever Published!

  The 35th Donut Mystery.

  Jessica Beck is the New York Times Bestselling Author of the Donut Mysteries, the Classic Diner Mysteries, the Ghost Cat Cozy Mysteries, and the Cast Iron Cooking Mysteries.

  For P & E,

  Always!

  When Suzanne and Jake leave town to attend a party with friends, they never dream that they are about to become involved in another murder. The stakes continue to rise as an ice storm knocks out the power in the penthouse where they are staying, locking them in with a dead body and a killer until law and order—as well as the power—can be restored.

  CHAPTER 1

  I felt just like Cinderella as my husband, Jake, escorted me into the massive formal dining room of the penthouse where we were spending the weekend. Gone were my usual blue jeans, T-shirt, and ponytail. Instead, I was wearing an elegant blue gown Momma had bought for me, my hair was styled as tastefully as I could manage it, and though Jake’s tuxedo was a rental, he looked better than any movie star to me in it.

  It was the height of elegance and sophistication for a gal who normally spent her time toiling away in a donut shop, covered in flour and smelling like yesterday’s treats, and absolutely nothing could ruin it.

  At least that’s what I thought until I heard a woman screaming from the back of the room as we walked in.

  Apparently my dream was about to turn into a nightmare.

  CHAPTER 2

  Two Weeks Earlier

  “Hi, Suzanne,” a bright and chipper voice said one morning, calling my name at the donut shop. It was vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t immediately place it, since I had my back turned to my customers at Donut Hearts as I grabbed the last apple fritter for Lincoln Masters.

  “Hey yourself,” I said without turning around. “I’ll be right with you.”

  As I delivered the apple fritter, I glanced over at who had just greeted me. I had to do a double take when I saw who it was. Not only was I surprised to see the woman in my donut shop without notice, but her demeanor was much different from the last time I’d seen her. Elizabeth Martin was the member of our book club who loved contacting authors over the Internet, but lately she’d lost interest in even doing that.

  “Elizabeth? I haven’t seen you in ages. You look terrific!” It wasn’t something I’d normally say as a greeting to a customer, but my friend looked amazing. The last time I’d seen her, she’d appeared to be on the edge of a nervous breakdown, and I’d been worried sick about her. Her marriage had sounded as though it was in terrible trouble, and she was beside herself with grief. Something had surely changed in the interim. The woman standing before me now looked ten years younger and eight pounds lighter.

  “Thanks,” she said, blushing a little at my praise. “The truth is, I feel terrific, and I just had to come by and thank you for your advice. You’ve really been a wonderful friend to me.”

  “I’m sure you’re being too kind,” I said. As I recalled our last chat, I remembered that I’d refrained from offering her any specific advice. Only two people really ever knew what was going on in a marriage, and those were the folks who’d taken the vows to each other. Instead, I’d done my best to support her in a troubling time and to let her know that I was there for her if she needed me. “How was your trip with the girls?”

  “It was wonderful on so many levels,” Elizabeth said, her smile suddenly brightening my shop. “Hazel and Jennifer spoiled me rotten for two solid weeks, and it was exactly what I needed. The best part of it was that when I came back home, Jason was a changed man. I was about to tell him that I wasn’t going to keep putting up with his behavior when he started crying! He knew that he’d been neglectful of me, that he had put too much into his business and not enough into us, and that my going away had been a wake-up call for him.”

  The last time we’d spoken, Elizabeth had confided in me that she’d been worried that her husband had been having an affair. Had she been right about her suspicions? Or had his neglect just been because of his obsession with his business, as he’d told her? I was certainly curious about the answer, but I wasn’t about to ask her the question. My friend was happy, and for the moment, that was all that counted for me. “I’m so glad you’re working things out. How about that bear claw now?” That had been about all I’d been able to offer her before, but my offer still stood.

  “You remembered!”

  “Of course I did,” I said.

  She pondered my suggestion for a second before she responded. “Thanks, but I’d better not. I’ve decided to drop a few pounds. Not for Jason, though,” she quickly added. “For me.”

  “Well, you look marvelous,” I said. “I’m so glad you came by the donut shop. I was so worried about you.”

  “I know, and I appreciate it. I didn’t come by just to update you, though. Here. This is for you.”

  Elizabeth handed me a cream-colored envelope, and as I opened it, she looked at me expectantly. “What is it?” I asked her.

  “Just read it. You’ll see,” Elizabeth said, grinning.

  I pulled out the embossed card and read,

  “You and a guest are cordially invited to a formal soiree being held on the weekend of the 17th of this month. It will include three days of fun, fine dining, and friendship, and your presence is most heartily requested. The attire is formal, the dining top notch, and the fellowship we share will be unforgettable.”

  “There’s no RSVP card,” Elizabeth said with a grin. “I’m going to stand right here until I get a yes from you. I know it’s short notice, Suzanne, but I won’t take no for an answer. You can turn Donut Hearts over to your assistant for three days. Please say yes. Jennifer and Hazel have already agreed, and so have my other guests.”

  “It’s tempting, but I really have to talk to Jake first,” I said.

  “I understand completely,” Elizabeth said with a grin. “Go ahead and call him. I’ll wait.”

  “Right now?” I asked, smiling in return. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and I was catching
it. “I’ve got customers. Can’t it wait until I close the shop?”

  “It can take as long as it needs to take,” she said as she stepped to one side. “I’m not going anywhere. There’s nowhere else I need to be this morning.”

  “Okay,” I said. As I waited on a few more customers, I pondered Elizabeth’s offer. Jake and I weren’t normally people who enjoyed formal occasions, but Elizabeth was a good friend, and besides, it could be fun to get away. At least I could ask him to see what he thought. When there was no one else in line, I pulled out my phone and dialed home. “Hey, Jake.”

  “Yes,” he said with a chuckle as soon as he heard my voice.

  “Are you agreeing with me that Jake is really your name?” I asked him.

  “No, I’m saying yes, we should go to Elizabeth’s party,” he said.

  I looked at my friend and saw that she was grinning. To Jake, I said, “I’m guessing she already spoke with you.”

  “She came by here first thing this morning, and I’ve been sitting here waiting for your call ever since. Suzanne, if you’re game, then I am, too. We could use a break from our everyday life, you know?”

  “I couldn’t agree with you more.” In a more serious tone of voice, I added, “You’re going to have to rent a tux. You know that, don’t you?”

  “Elizabeth’s already taken care of everything. I’m guessing that she’s still standing right there waiting for an answer, isn’t she? She told me if you resisted, she wasn’t going to leave until she wore you down.”

  “She’s here,” I answered, smiling at my friend as I replied.

  “So, are we going?” he asked.

  “If it’s okay with you,” I answered.

  “I’m in,” he replied. I could hear the smile in his voice, and then he hung up.

  “You actually went by to see my husband before you spoke with me?” I asked her, smiling.

  “I decided the best way to approach him was to invite him in person. I hope that’s okay with you,” Elizabeth replied as a little doubt crept into her voice.

  “It’s perfect,” I said as I stepped around the counter and hugged her. “Jake and I would be delighted to attend.”

  “I’m so glad!” she said loudly enough to garner a little attention from some of my customers at Donut Hearts.

  “There’s one condition, though,” I reminded her.

  “What’s that?”

  “Emma and Sharon have to be able to step in.”

  Elizabeth suddenly looked guilty at the mention of their names. “About that.”

  “They’ve already agreed to do it, haven’t they?” I asked her as I stared into her eyes intently.

  “Yes. I’m beginning to realize that I shouldn’t have gone around behind your back before I invited you. I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. The truth is, it sounds like great fun.”

  And so it did, at least at the time.

  Later events would prove that to be wrong, but I certainly didn’t know it at the time.

  “Suzanne, I’ve got great news. You’re off the hook,” Barton Gleason said a little later when he walked into Donut Hearts. The young hospital chef, who happened to be my assistant, Emma Blake’s, boyfriend, was grinning from ear to ear. Was this my day to be surrounded with happy people?

  “Excellent,” I said, returning his smile. “I didn’t even realize that I was on the hook.”

  “About my restaurant, I mean,” he said with a grin that intensified. The rail-thin young man was perpetually in need of a haircut, but his smile was infectious.

  Some time ago, he and Emma had approached me about the possibility of Barton using Donut Hearts in the afternoon and evening for a start-up restaurant when I wasn’t there making donuts. I’d given it some thought since they’d first suggested the idea, but the truth was that I was still on the fence about the proposition. I couldn’t deny that the extra money he’d be paying for the privilege would certainly come in handy. Then again, I wasn’t crazy about sharing my space, though I figured that was something I could eventually get used to. “I’ve been meaning to make a decision,” I apologized. “Things have just been so crazy lately.” That was true enough. Then again, when were things not hectic for me?

  “I just appreciate the fact that you were willing to think about it. A restaurant in Union Square shut down, so I’m going to give it a go there.”

  My mind immediately jumped to my favorite Italian eatery and my friends, Angelica DeAngelis and her lovely daughters. “It’s not Napoli’s, is it?”

  “Oh, no. They are an institution. Someone outfitted an empty building on the edge of town nine months ago with a full kitchen, a proper dining room, and everything. They decided after two weeks of being open that the restaurant business wasn’t for them, and I got a sweet deal on a one-year lease, since it’s been sitting empty and unused since then.” He grinned sheepishly. “Just between us, it took every dime I had, but I’m going to make this work. I just turned in my notice at the hospital, so there’s no going back now.” Barton worked as the chef at our local hospital cafeteria, and I knew that if he changed his mind or things didn’t go well, they’d take him back in a heartbeat. People came from miles around to eat at the cafeteria, whether they had to be at the hospital or not. He was just that good.

  “I’m really excited for you,” I said. I was also worried about the commitment he’d just made, but I wasn’t about to bring that up. There was no reason to try to temper his enthusiasm. Besides, if he couldn’t be excited going into the venture, he shouldn’t do it in the first place. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  “You can lend me Emma for two weeks after you get back from your big party,” he said after hesitating for a few moments.

  “Does everyone in town know my business before I do?” I asked him. “I just found out that I was going myself.”

  “Your book-club friend doesn’t waste any time. She spoke with Emma last night while I was there,” he said. “What do you say? I know it will be tough, but it’s really important to me.”

  It would mean two weeks of working seven days a week alone, a prospect I wasn’t particularly looking forward to, but he was my friend, so I’d find a way to get through it. “Okay.”

  “Great. Sharon is willing to fill in for Emma while she’s gone, if you want her,” he said. “I probably should have mentioned that, shouldn’t I?”

  The idea of having Emma’s mother working in the kitchen beside me immediately took the sting out of my assistant’s absence, but then another, darker thought presented itself. “She is planning on coming back, isn’t she?” I asked him softly.

  “I won’t lie to you,” Barton said in a serious tone. “I asked her to come to work with me full time, but she’s loyal to you beyond all belief,” he answered with a grin. “All I could get her to agree to was two weeks. The fact is that she has no interest in leaving this place, Suzanne. You two are family.”

  I had hoped that it was true, but it was still a relief to hear him say it. I knew deep down that I could run Donut Hearts without Emma, but it wasn’t anything I particularly wanted to do. She’d left me once before to try her hand at college, but she’d soon come back to the fold. The truth was that Emma was as much a part of my life as the shop itself was. “Good. I’m glad that’s settled.”

  “So am I. Now I’m off. I’ve got to hit the restaurant-supply store in Charlotte.”

  “I thought you said that the kitchen in your new place was fully outfitted,” I said.

  “It is, but there are a few things I’ve had my eye on since I went to culinary school, and I’ve just been looking for an excuse to buy them.”

  I knew the store in question he was talking about, and how high their prices tended to be. “Would you like a piece of unsolicited advice, worth every penny it costs you?” I asked him lightly.

  “I’ll take all of it I can get from you,” Barton said seriously.

  “Don’t spend a dime you don’t have to. If you can make do with what’s
already there, try doing that first. Then, if there’s something you have to have, and not just want, think about buying it. I know how marvelous your food is, and I’m not worried about that end of it, but the financial aspects of running a restaurant are ten times harder than keeping a donut shop afloat, and there are times that I’m overwhelmed here.”

  Barton thought about it for a few heartbeats, and then he nodded. “Okay. That’s sound advice. Thanks.”

  As he started to leave, I asked him, “Don’t you want to see Emma while you’re here?”

  “No, that’s okay. We’ll have plenty of time to catch up later. Besides, I think she wants to talk to you,” he said with a grin as he pointed to the kitchen door, which was clearly open a crack. Evidently she’d been listening in to our conversation the entire time.

  “Remember, I’m here if you need me,” I said.

  “I’m counting on it,” Barton answered.

  The moment he was gone, I said loudly, “You can come out now.”

  “What gave you the impression that I was eavesdropping?” Emma asked with a grin as she came out to join me. She was petite, with fine red hair, freckles that sparkled when she blushed, and pale-blue eyes.

  “I don’t know. Call it a hunch,” I answered with a smile of my own. “Emma, you know that you could have asked me for time off yourself.”

  She frowned a moment before she spoke, and her expression served to remind me just how young my assistant was. “I wanted to, but Barton insisted that he do it. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

  In response, I hugged her. “As long as you come back to Donut Hearts, we’re good.”

  “I promise,” she said.

  I only hoped that Emma could keep her word. Working with her boyfriend on his dream might prove to be too tempting for her, but she was a grown woman, even though she was barely into her twenties, and that was ultimately a decision she’d have to make for herself.