Coconut Cream Confession Read online

  Coconut Creme Confession

  Sunny Shores Mysteries Book 2

  Cassie Rivers

  The following short story is a work of fiction. Any similarities to real people, events, or places are entirely coincidental. Happy Reading!

  Copyright ©2018 Cassie Rivers

  All rights reserved.

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  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 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Thanks for Reading

  Coconut Creme Confession Recipe

  Chapter 1

  My grandma always said, “It’s hotter than blue blazes.” I never knew what that meant, but one thing was for sure. Things were about to get hotter.

  Any other summer before, I’d be complaining as well, but the hot weather worked to my advantage. The heat and humidity sent the masses in droves to our cozy little beach town looking for a way to cool off.

  The summer season was in full swing in my hometown of Sunny Shores, Florida. The Fourth of July holiday approached quickly, and business boomed. My new spot at the front of Grove Park proved all the difference in the world as we barely kept up with the massive crowds.

  I owned and operated the Burger She Wrote food truck. My love of mysteries inspired the name. That, and I cooked a pretty mean hamburger, if I say so myself.

  After my father’s death and a messy breakup, I decided to drop out of law school and return to my hometown. I planned on a stress and drama free return to my roots. Those plans flew out the window the day the Mama Mia Italian food truck went up in flames.

  Just like my father, I had a love of mysteries and an unhealthy curiosity. Although some would say I’m just nosy. I failed to resist my unhealthy urge to get involved in the murder case of John Harmon. Even though I solved his murder and the culprit sat behind bars in Tallahassee, the case left me raring for more. Instead of extinguishing my desire to be a detective, it instead ignited a fire inside of me that wanted more. I guess the apple really didn’t fall far from the tree.

  A part of me wanted to follow in my father’s footsteps. He died in the line of duty doing what he loved. But my rational side weighed on the side of caution. Once the aftermath of the John Harmon case settled, I hoped life would return to normal. No more drama for me.

  I should’ve known better.

  “Calling back, two slices of coconut pie,” Star shouted from the front window.

  “What was that?” I responded as Ty looked at me and grinned. “I don’t recall carrying a menu item with that name.”

  “Seriously?” Star said as she turned around and rolled her eyes at me.

  “Don’t try to fight it,” Ty replied. “You know it’s no use.”

  “Fine,” Star said as she gave in. She let out a sigh and said, “Calling back, two slices of Coconut Crème Confession. Please.”

  “Oh, so that’s what you meant,” I said as Ty giggled. “Two slices of Coconut Crème Confession coming your way.”

  Star stood there unamused as she rang Mrs. Hall up at the register. She hated calling out some of the more creative food titles I created. So naturally, I enjoyed giving her a hard time about saying the correct names. Some of her “favorites” included our Chili Cheese Fries and Alibis and our Swim with the Fishes Halibut Sandwich.

  “It’s been fun ladies, but I have to run,” Ty said as he removed his apron and rolled it up in a ball.

  “Heading out so soon?” I asked.

  “I signed up for an estate tax webinar, and I’m booked with client meetings the rest of the day.”

  “Boring,” Star replied. “Your job sounds like the perfect cure for insomnia.”

  Ty worked a full-time job as an accountant. In his spare time, he volunteered to assist me with running my new business. He recently received a promotion to junior partner at a local CPA firm as his grown-up job. I told him countless times he didn’t have to help, but he insisted on helping me for free. As long as I kept him fed, he remained happy.

  “If you get bored after work, come back by the truck.”

  “I wish I could, but I can’t. Our firm has dinner reservations with a potential client tonight. All of the partners are attending, so I need to go,” he said as he threw his crumpled up apron into the dirty linen basket.

  “A client, huh?” Star replied as she flashed a look of suspicion on her face. “Who’s the lucky lady?”

  “Lucky lady?” Ty laughed. “It’s a business dinner, not a date.”

  “Really? By the way your phone’s beeped all day, I assumed you were meeting one of the hundreds of ladies blowing up your phone,” she said, grinning. “Trust me, Ty. I know the sound of a Tinder alert when I hear it.”

  Ty’s face turned a deep shade of red. “Tonight is business, although I do have a date tomorrow night.”

  Ty pulled his phone from his pocket and began to scroll through a series of pictures. Once he found the one he was looking for, he handed the phone to Star. Not to be left out, I rushed over and stood beside her to sneak a peek.

  “Wow. She’s actually really beautiful,” Star said as she handed me the phone. “Don’t you think so, Kara?”

  I grabbed the phone from Star’s hands and took a quick look. Star wasn’t wrong. The woman in question was stunningly beautiful and had the body of a Victoria’s Secret model. I paused for a second and marveled at her long, flowing auburn hair and eyes as green as the water in Parrot Key.

  “She’s alright, I guess,” I said as I handed the phone back to Ty, trying to act unimpressed. “What’s she do for a living? Model?

  “She’s a nurse practitioner at the children’s hospital, just outside Marathon.”

  “Smart and beautiful,” Star replied. “So, did she lose a bet or something?”

  “Very funny, Star,” Ty said. “She’s also a former beauty queen. She won the Miss University of Florida pageant in 2014.”

  “Well, good for you,” Star replied. “Steer the conversation clear of Star Wars, comic books, or whatever geeky stuff you’re normally into, and you’ll do fine.”

  “So, you’re saying don’t be myself?”

  Star smiled. “Exactly.”

  After Ty left, Star and I closed the truck down for our midday break. During this time, we cleaned and prepped for the upcoming dinner shift. I obsessed over cleaning. Keeping things clean and tidy was an obsession passed down from my mother.

  “What’s the point of scrubbing everything down? We’re going to dirty it back up in a couple hours, anyway.”

  “You know the drill, Star,” I said as I handed her a bucket of warm soapy water and a rag. “Besides, the health inspector is coming by next week. That woman already has it in for me. I don’t want to give her any extra ammunition.”

  I mopped the floor inside the truck, while Star scrubbed the grill. The entire time, Star looked my way. Her eyes continued to examine and stare.

  “What are you looking at?” I asked.

  “Why are you wearing new clothes for work today?” Star asked as she gave me a curious look. “You always wear the same outfit every day. Something’s up wit
h you. I know it.”

  “You’re crazy,” I said as I walked over to the sink.

  Although I hated to admit it, she spoke the truth. Since opening the Burger She Wrote food truck, I wore the same outfit every day. This included a pink t-shirt, white apron, and khaki capris on most days. I failed to see the issue with me changing things up a bit. What was the big deal?

  Star, my only true employee and observant as ever, liked to stir the pot. Star started college in the fall and needed a summer job to pay for tuition. I wished I could say she was the best candidate for the job when I hired her. But no one else applied. Regardless, I was glad I’d hired her.

  “Is that…makeup?” Star said as she examined my face. “It is. Wow, Kara. I figured you didn’t know where the makeup aisle was. Since when do you wear it?”

  “I do wear makeup. Sometimes.”

  “That’s it.”

  Just as if a light went off in Star’s head, she walked over to me and said, “I know exactly what’s going on with you.”

  “Please enlighten me,” I said. I continued to run my hands under the warm water from the sink, not giving her my full attention. I hoped she’d get the hint and stop interrogating me, but that wasn’t how Star worked.

  She joined me in front of the sink and turned off the water. She stared straight into my eyes. I knew that look well.

  “It’s because Ty worked today, isn’t it?

  “Don’t be ridiculous,” I said as I looked away from Star to avoid her stare. “What’s wrong with trying to look nice every once in a while?”

  “You’re totally lying. I can tell.”

  “How’s that?”

  Star smiled. “Every time you try to hide something from me, you avoid making eye-contact. It’s a fact.”

  Maybe she was right. I often failed to get anything past Star, even though we’d only known each other a couple of months. Star read me like a book and never hesitated to call me out on my B.S.

  “I’ve told you a million times before, Star. He’s just a good friend,” I said as I raised my voice in frustration.

  I met Ty in the third grade, and we remained best friends ever since. His friendship and support had sustained me through the recent tragedies in my life. One of the reasons I’d moved back to Sunny Shores was to be closer to him. His down-to-earth demeanor helped balance me out.

  “Calm down, boss. I’m just trying to say you look nice today. It’s a fresh change.”

  “I’ll say this,” I said as I let out an audible sigh. “After going through a bad breakup with my ex and almost getting murdered by the last guy I dated, I think I’ll stay single for a bit.”

  “Good point,” Star replied as she shook her head in agreement. “It’s probably for the best.”

  “Besides, Ty has no problem finding dates now. His popularity with the ladies has skyrocketed.”

  “No kidding,” Star replied. “I’m still trying to wrap my head around that one. He’ll always be a nerd to me.”

  News of Ty’s heroic act spread like a Florida wildfire around town. I solved the mystery of John Harmon’s murder a couple of weeks back, but it wasn’t without a daring rescue from Ty. He saved my life by busting into my home and stopping Will from turning me into another one of his victims.

  “What’s that?” I asked as a loud scratching sound came from the back door.

  Star’s eyes lit up. “It must be Mr. Whiskers.”

  Star had unofficially adopted a stray tabby cat, Mr. Whiskers, who hung out around Grove Park. The orange and white fur-ball visited our truck almost daily. Star left a bowl of water and a bowl of food at the back of the truck. Star wanted to take him home, but her mother refused to allow her to have a cat due to her allergies.

  Star’s overall demeanor changed each time she encountered Mr. Whiskers. Most of the time, Star displayed a no nonsense, sassy attitude. That all changed when that cat came around. A loving and nurturing side of her emerged from the shadows each time Mr. Whiskers showed his furry face.

  Mr. Whiskers often scratched gently on the door to alert Star he wanted attention or additional food. Something seemed different this time. He continued to scratch louder and louder. Instead of a soothing purr, a loud screech sounded from behind the door.

  “That sounds odd,” Star said as we both looked at each other, confused.

  Star walked over to the door and gave me a concerned look before opening it. As the door swung open, Mr. Whiskers shot into the truck like a bolt of lightning. He ran past Star and jumped onto the counter, knocking two mixing bowls to the floor.

  “Get him out of here,” I yelled as I watched cupcake batter pour onto the floor. “He’s making a mess.”

  “I’ll grab him,” Star replied as she tried to catch the crazed cat. “Hold still, Mr. Whiskers!”

  “What’s with him today?”

  Suddenly, my question was answered as the sound of barking filled the air. Before Star could close the door, a dog jumped into the truck.

  The dog was none other than Mrs. Trudy Watson’s prized cocker spaniel, Pookie. The dog’s sudden appearance caused even more pandemonium as the two animals ran circles around the inside of the truck.

  My jaw dropped as I watched all my prep work from that morning become a scattered mess on the floor. We both tried to stop them, but our efforts remained useless. The two animals went at it like caged UFC fighters.

  “Pookie, get out here this instant,” a woman’s voice shouted from outside the door. “I’m not gonna tell you again.”

  I peeked out the corner of my eye to the back door. Trudy Watson stood outside, holding a leash in one hand and a cigarette in the other. She appeared as if she recently rolled out of bed, as her hair was in rollers and she was wearing her fluffy bright pink robe.

  The sound of Trudy’s harsh tone and nasally voice caused Pookie to stop dead in her tracks. Pookie looked over at Trudy and then back at Mr. Whiskers. Pookie acted hesitant at first, but the dog decided to listen to her master as she walked over to the door. The sudden distraction allowed Star to grab the cat and restrain him in her arms.

  “What are you doing messing with that mangy cat,” Trudy said as she attached the leash to Pookie’s pink collar. “There’s no telling what kind of disease you could get from it. I have a good mind to call animal control. Teach that pest a lesson.”

  “Excuse me,” Star said as she became defensive. “Maybe you should learn to keep your mutt on a leash? She’s the one who caused all of this.”

  “Mutt? I’ll have you know that Pookie is a prized and fully pedigreed English Cocker Spaniel from the Walsh bloodline out of Oxford. She’s hardly a mutt.”

  “If she’s so dang important, why are you letting her run loose through Grove Park?”

  “It wasn’t my fault. My good-for-nothing freeloader of a brother let her loose,” she said as she took a puff from her cigarette. “I let him sleep on my couch for free, and all I ask of him is to do one thing. His only job is to walk Pookie for me, and he can’t even do that right. All he cares about is sleeping and bow hunting.”

  As the two of them continued to argue semantics, I stood there with my mouth wide open. I could only think of one thing. The massive mess. The only thought bouncing around my head was who would clean up the tremendous mess in my truck.

  I wanted to cry as I thought about how much work was wasted that morning. Instead, I knew my duty was to try and defuse the situation and act like an adult. I didn’t need my only full-time employee arrested for assault.

  “Ms. Watson, we apologize for the inconvenience. Come by another day, and your meal is on us.”

  I thought it a fitting compromise, since currently all the meals I’d prepared that morning were on the floor. Star looked as if she wanted to scream at me.

  “Knock, knock,” another voice called out from behind Trudy.

  I looked curiously as a red hat appeared in the doorway. Unfortunately for me, I realized Margaret Pettyjohn was the person under the red hat. It was a mix
of impeccable timing and bad luck. Ms. Pettyjohn not only served as a town councilmember but held the office of city health inspector as well.

  “Hello, Ms. Pettyjohn,” I said as I started to panic internally. “I hate to ask, but could you come back later? You’ve caught us at a bad time.”

  That was an understatement, to say the least. She’d not only caught us at a bad time but caught us with our pants down as well. The inside of the Burger She Wrote food truck looked like the aftermath of a food fight.

  Ms. Pettyjohn turned to face Trudy and said, “I thought I smelled a foul stench in the air, but I didn’t notice the fishermen cleaning their catch. But then you’re here now. It all makes sense.”

  “You’re lucky I didn’t press charges, when I heard you and your friend were snooping around my property the other day.”

  “If your deadbeat brother wasn’t two months behind on alimony payments and had answered his phone, I wouldn’t have to drop by unannounced.”

  Trudy turned her nose up and pretended to ignore Margaret’s less than stellar greeting. “Let’s go, Pookie. I didn’t realize it was trash day already.”

  Ms. Pettyjohn shook her head in disgust as Trudy walked away. Ms. Pettyjohn’s mood turned to one of anger and she turned to me and said, “I didn’t know you two were close. Makes sense, I guess.”

  Before I could respond, she stepped one foot inside my truck and looked around. She let out a loud sigh as she took out a notebook and began to scribble down notes. My heart skipped a beat each time she pushed her pencil against the paper.

  “Is this the way you run your business?” she asked as she continued to scan the room with her eyebrow raised. “I can’t say I’m surprised, though.”