Hot Chocolate Murder: A Frosted Love Cozy Mystery - Book 28 (A Frosted Love Cozy Mysteries) Read online

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  Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Copyright 2015 by Maven Publishing & Summer Prescott Books - All rights reserved.

  All rights Reserved. No part of this publication or the information in it may be quoted from or reproduced in any form by means such as printing, scanning, photocopying or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

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  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

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 1

  Beach House Bed and Breakfast Inn owner, Melissa Gladstone Beckett was in a bit of a tizzy preparing for the arrival of her latest batch of guests. Absently flicking blonde curls out of her eyes with the back of her hand, the petite 40-something reached for her oven mitts so that she could take piping hot pans of cupcakes out of the oven. She’d been experimenting with new cupcake flavors, and was excited about her most recent creation, a white chocolate cupcake with a “hot chocolate” flavored cream cheese center, and espresso buttercream frosting, that was finished elegantly with a caramel drizzle and toffee chips. She wanted to have a plate of them ready for the arrival of her guests, a couple with four children, and a retired couple celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary.

  Missy, along with her handsome and clever husband, Detective Chas Beckett, of the Calgon Police Department, also owned Cupcakes in Paradise, a thriving cupcake shop and tea room next door to the Inn. Maggie, the silver-haired and perpetually smiling innkeeper, took care of nearly everything at the Inn, leaving Missy free to bake to her hearts content in her cozy little shop. Added to the mix was an ultra-capable Marine veteran, Spencer Bengal, a dashing young man with a quick wit and ready smile, who served as security, shuttle driver, handyman and server at the Inn and shop, as well bartender and valet for events that were hosted at the Beach House.

  The energetic owner had moved to the Gulf Coast town of Calgon, Florida after having spent her entire life in Louisiana, and had vowed to show every guest the true meaning of gracious southern hospitality. She loved people and wanted every guest at the Inn to feel like family. Excited at the thought of children in the sprawling Victorian mansion, Missy had gone out of her way to make things extra special for the group that should be arriving any minute. Along with the cupcakes that would be waiting for them in their adjoining rooms, she’d bought pool toys, and would surprising them with a picnic to take to the beach sometime during the week. The breakfast menu included lots of kid-friendly favorites, there were juice boxes in the mini-bars, and she had a special stash of chocolate candies that Maggie would place on their pillows as part of their turn-down service.

  Once the cupcakes had cooled and been frosted, looking almost too good to eat, Missy hurried over to the Inn with a plateful of them, leaving the shop in the capable hands of her best friend, Echo Willis. Missy had met Echo when the flame-haired vegan had moved to Louisiana from California in order to escape the clutches of a criminally abusive boyfriend who threatened to kill her after she testified against him. She now created handcrafted candles in a studio room of her home and sold them in the cupcake shop. The candles were scented like cupcakes, and were quite popular with tourists and locals alike. Echo worked with Missy at the shop in the morning, managed an art gallery for their friend Phillip “Kel” Kellerman in the afternoons, and created her candles in the evening, and her busy schedule was beginning to take a bit of a toll on her.

  Kel was an incredible local artist whose work was world-renowned. The early 60’s gent had coffee and cupcakes with Echo and Missy nearly every morning, and made no secret of the fact that he desired much more than friendship with his free-spirited Gallery Manager. Kel had been born and raised in the coastal town of Calgon, and knew almost everyone. He’d made it a matter of civic duty to bring newcomers, Echo and Missy, up to speed on the status of events, scandals and relationships in the town, and had been instrumental in helping to solve more than a few mysteries.

  Missy was so busy this morning that she’d dashed out of the shop early, leaving Echo and Kel to catch up on local “gossip” without her. She knew that she’d be able to catch up with them tomorrow, and had no qualms about altering her morning routine to accommodate her new arrivals. Seeing that the shuttle was pulled up in the Inn’s circular drive, her heart sped up a bit with anticipation. She had quite the surprise though, when she saw the family that Maggie was giving a tour, having pictured a young family with small children, and instead, finding a stylish couple in their forties with a teenage boy and girl and a set of twelve year old twins.

  Hiding her surprise, Missy introduced herself, and handed off the platter of cupcakes to Maggie with instructions to place it on the dining table in the freshly cleaned suite.

  “You must be Mr. and Mrs. Thornton,” she beamed at her new guests. “I’m Melissa Beckett, welcome to the Beach House. I’m sure that Maggie told you that we have bicycles and pool toys as well as snacks and afternoon tea. If there’s anything at all that you need, please let one of us know. We want to make your vacation as perfect as possible.”

  “That’s very kind of you,” Mrs. Thornton replied. “We’re actually pretty low-maintenance,” she smiled. “I’m Brenda, and this is my husband, Bernard.”

  Missy shook hands with them both, noting that Bernard seemed rather reserved, despite his polite smile.

  “These are our children. Brittany is our eldest, at seventeen, next comes Benson, who is fifteen, and the twins, Beau and Brant, are twelve,” Brenda said, gazing proudly at her attractive gaggle.

  “Wow, you only need set of initials for monogrammed towels, how cool is that?” Missy joked, eyes sparkling. Brenda smiled and the children merely stared at her.

  Brittany, like her mother, had gently curling honey-colored hair, a lovely youthful figure, and huge hazel eyes, Benson was tall for his age, at least six feet, but was slim and spare, and had his father’s jet-black hair and blue eyes. The twins were as different from each other as night and day. Beau had a shock of unruly brown curls and a mischievous gleam in his blue eyes, where Brant seemed much more quiet, sporting a perfect, close-cropped haircut and chocolate-brown eyes that reminded Missy of a sweet, shy puppy.

  Missy shook hands with each of them, delighted by their perfect manners, but a bit disconcerted by their lack of exuberance. Most families who came to the Inn on vacation had children who shifted from foot to foot and practically jumped up and down waiting for their chance to get to the pool or the pristine stretch
of sugar-white beach that formed the Inn’s back yard. She reasoned that they were most likely tired from their travels, having come to Florida from Massachusetts.

  “I hope you like cupcakes,” she beamed at the twins. “I bake them at the shop next door, and you can have as many as your mama and daddy allow.”

  Brant’s eyes grew large. “Thank you, Mrs. Beckett,” he said gravely, glancing up at his mother, who placed a hand on his shoulder.

  Beau nodded and grinned. “Cool.”

  “The children’s intake of sugar is typically quite low,” Bernard finally spoke. “We’ve taught them to respect their bodies.”

  Missy nodded, not knowing quite how to react to that. “Well, it’s certainly important to be healthy,” she said finally. “If you have specific dietary needs, please let Maggie know so that she can plan your breakfasts accordingly. We want you to be perfectly comfortable here.”

  “Thank you so much,” Brenda replied, her hands on Brant’s shoulders. “We’re looking forward to our time here, aren’t we?” she looked to her children, who nodded and smiled nearly in unison.

  “Well, we’re going to head upstairs,” she told Missy, turning to go. “Thanks again.”

  Chapter 2

  Marine veteran Spencer Bengal, dressed in his usual uniform of khaki shorts and white polo shirt, approached Brittany and Benson as they lay in lounge chairs, watching Beau and Brant play volleyball in the pool.

  “Hey guys and gal,” he greeted them, carrying a tray of ice waters and a plate of sliced tropical fruits. “My name is Spencer, and I brought you some water and a snack. Gotta stay hydrated in this heat,” the Marine smiled, setting the tray down on a small table between their loungers.

  “Thank you,” Benson nodded, reaching for a glass of water. Brittany smiled up at the attractive young man, shielding her eyes from the sun.

  “Your tattoos are really cool,” she remarked. “Do they mean anything?”

  “They do, but it’s a long story.”

  “It’s not like we’re busy,” she laughed softly.

  Bernard opened the door from the sunporch to the pool area with a bang, and both teenagers sat up straight, looking guilty. Their father strode over, frowning.

  “Can I help you?” he raised an eyebrow at Spencer.

  “No sir, I’m here to help you, if you need anything. I just brought some snacks and water out. Swimming can certainly stimulate the appetite. Can I bring you anything?”

  “If I need something, I’ll ask for it,” Bernard turned his back dismissively. Brittany looked down at her lap, twisting her fingers and ignoring everyone, and Benson shot Spencer an apologetic glance before focusing his attention on his father.

  “Alrighty then,” the Marine replied, turning to go.

  “And take the food with you. We follow an eating regimen that doesn’t include snacking all day long,” their father stood staring at Spencer, hands on hips.

  He silently picked up the tray, noticing the blush that had risen in Brittany’s cheeks. Pausing at the door to the kitchen, he looked back and saw Bernard speaking to his children in low tones. Beau and Brant had gotten out of the pool and were standing beside Benson’s chair, heads down, dripping water pooling at their feet.

  When Spencer stepped into the kitchen, he peeked around the side of the frilly curtain that covered the window over the sink, watching as Bernard Thornton strode away, heading toward the beach. Heads still down, Beau and Brant sat in front of the loungers, their feet dangling in the water, while their sister pulled a wide-brimmed hat down over her sunglasses, and Benson pensively watched his father’s retreating back.

  “Excuse me, young man, could I have a bottle of water, please,” Brenda Thornton asked quietly from the doorway of the kitchen, startling Spencer out of his contemplation of the scene that had played out in front of him.

  “Of course,” he smiled, going to the fridge for a bottle. “Would you like anything else?”

  “No, this is perfect, thanks,” she turned to go, her polite smile not quite reaching her eyes.

  Spencer had seen this type of behavior before, and recognized possible scenarios that might be causing it. He’d be watching the Thorntons carefully. Something told him that this was no ordinary vacation.

  Chapter 3

  “There’s just something…I don’t know…off, about them,” Missy sighed, taking a sip of her coffee. She, Echo and Kel were having their morning get-together in the cupcake shop.

  “Like what?” Echo asked, biting into her vegan carrot and ginger cupcake.

  “I don’t know. They all seem so…nice,” she shrugged.

  “Pardon my ignorance, dear lady, but how is that a bad thing?” Kel asked, eyebrows raised.

  “It’s not bad, it’s just strange. Usually when kids come to the Inn, they’re all over the place, running, splashing, yelling, laughing…these kids are polite and quiet. The whole family was in bed, with lights out by 9:30, and they were all up for breakfast and perfectly groomed by seven this morning.”

  “Maybe they just need to relax and settle in a bit,” Echo suggested.

  “Maybe so,” Missy murmured, not convinced. “Spencer said that Mr. Thornton was a bit abrupt with him yesterday by the pool.”

  “That’s unusual, everyone loves Spencer,” Echo replied, puzzled.

  “Except of course for those who are jealous of the lad’s looks, talents, or charm,” Kel reminded them.

  “Yeah, but why on earth would a married man be jealous of someone young enough to be his son?” Missy wondered aloud. “Well, anyway, enough of all that. Tell us what’s going on in town, Kel,” she changed the subject, not wanting to seem judgmental.

  “If you ladies are inclined toward shopping, I’ve heard rumors that Bernetta Stiles is closing her craft store, the Calico Cat, at the end of the month. There are probably some bargains to be had,” the artist confided. “I bought every last canvas in stock, and she gave me bulk pricing.”

  “I don’t know Bernetta well, but I met her at the New Year’s Eve Gala and she seemed quite nice,” Missy remembered. “Is she happy about closing, or is the shop going under?”

  “She’s delighted to have stashed away enough cash to retire comfortably, so it’s a happy thing,” Kel assured her.

  “I wonder what she’s going to do with her commercial space,” Echo mused. “As I recall, it’s a quaint little shop, right in the heart of downtown.”

  “Indeed it is,” Kel nodded. “Whoever acquires it will most certainly benefit from all of the foot traffic that passes through every day. Do you know someone who’s looking for retail space?”

  “Actually, I might be. My candles are flying out the door faster than I can produce them. I’ve been considering opening up a shop of my own.”

  “Oh, honey, that’s wonderful!” Missy exclaimed, happy for her friend.

  Echo grinned. “Yeah, I’m actually taking a look at making a new business plan and hiring someone to help me dip and shape. I have a website that I’m about to launch, and I think it could lead to a huge increase in sales.”

  “Congratulations,” Kel smiled faintly, his eyes guarded.

  “Thanks,” was the oblivious reply.

  “We should go shop Bernetta’s sales tomorrow, and scope out the space while we’re there,” Missy suggested.

  “I’m game,” her friend replied, butterflies in her tummy fluttering in anticipation.

  “How nice,” Kel remarked. “Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I have some canvases that are calling my name.

  The two women watched him go.

  “Did he seem to be acting weird?” Echo asked, after making sure that the artist was out of ear shot.

  “No weirder than usual,” Missy chuckled. “Kel is Kel, we just love and accept him in all his glory.”

  “But he was quiet,” her friend insisted.

  “Was he? I didn’t notice.”

  “I hope he’s okay,” the redhead worried.

  “Well, if he isn’t, I’
m sure we’ll be among the first to know. He’s an artist, they’re known for being enigmatic, don’t worry about it,” Missy patted her friend’s hand. “We’ll keep an eye on him, and if he’s acting strangely, we’ll refuse to give him cupcakes until he ‘fesses up,” she joked.

  Echo nodded, lost in thought. “Sure,” she mumbled, trying to shake it off.

  Chapter 4

  Brittany Thornton bit into a hot, fresh, blueberry muffin with great relish, chewing slowly to savor the bite.

  “Put that down this instant!” Bernard barked, coming to the breakfast table a bit late.

  Looking guilty, and like she wanted to spit out the bite that was in her mouth, the teenager hurriedly placed the muffin back on its small plate, beside an unused pat of butter.

  “You know better than that,” he growled, snatching up the plate and looking at the muffin with disgust. “It’s difficult enough for a woman to be competitive in this world, you cannot allow your self-discipline to slip in that manner.”

  His face darkened with anger, her father slammed the small plate on the unused end of the breakfast table a bit harder than necessary, as his wife entered the dining room, leading a teary-eyed Beau. Brant sat silently, staring at his plate, and when Missy came into the room, she noticed that one of his eyes was purple and puffy.

  “Oh dear, what happened sweetie?” she asked, kneeling by the thin, shy child’s chair.

  “I was reaching for a checker that rolled off of the checker board, and I bumped my eye against the corner of the table, Mrs. Beckett. Thank you for asking,” he mumbled, embarrassed and not looking at anyone.

  “Do you want some ice for it, darlin?” the tender-hearted owner asked.

  “He’ll be fine,” Bernard answered for Brant, his voice clipped. “Maybe next time he’ll be more careful,” he shot a dark look at his son.

  “Accidents happen,” Brenda volunteered apologetically, glancing back and forth between Missy and her husband.