Chocolate Heart Killer: A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 14 by Kathleen Suzette (guided reading books .TXT) 📗

Chocolate Heart Killer

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery

By

Kathleen Suzette

Copyright © 2019 by Kathleen Suzette.  All rights reserved.  This book is a work of fiction.  All names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination, or used fictitiously.  Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.  All rights reserved.  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronically or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author or publisher.

Books by Kathleen Suzette:

 

A Home Economics Mystery Series

Appliqued to Death

A Home Economics Mystery, book 1

A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery Series

Clam Chowder and a Murder

A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 1

A Short Stack and a Murder

A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 2

Cherry Pie and a Murder

A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 3

Barbecue and a Murder

A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 4

Birthday Cake and a Murder

A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 5

Hot Cider and a Murder

A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 6

Roast Turkey and a Murder

A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 7

Gingerbread and a Murder

A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 8

Fish Fry and a Murder

A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 9

Cupcakes and a Murder

A Rainey Daye Cozy Mystery, book 10

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery Series

Candy Coated Murder

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 1

Murderously Sweet

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 2

Chocolate Covered Murder

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 3

Death and Sweets

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 4

Sugared Demise

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 5

Confectionately Dead

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 6

Hard Candy and a Killer

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 7

Candy Kisses and a Killer

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 8

Terminal Taffy

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 9

Fudgy Fatality

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 10

Truffled Murder

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 11

Caramel Murder

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 12

Peppermint Fudge Killer

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 13

Chocolate Heart Killer

A Pumpkin Hollow Mystery, book 14

 

A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery Series

Apple Pie A La Murder,

A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery, Book 1

Trick or Treat and Murder,

A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery, Book 2

Thankfully Dead

A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery, Book 3

Candy Cane Killer

A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery, Book 4

Ice Cold Murder

A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery, Book 5

Love is Murder

A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery, Book 6

Strawberry Surprise Killer

A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery, Book 7

A Gracie Williams Mystery Series

Pushing Up Daisies in Arizona,

A Gracie Williams Mystery, Book 1

Kicked the Bucket in Arizona,

A Gracie Williams Mystery, Book 2

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Author’s Note

Chapter One

The alarm went off, and I groaned. It was early. Much too early for anyone in their right mind to be awake. And then I remembered. Ethan and I were going snowboarding. It was late January, and the snow had been unrelenting over the past two weeks or so with it finally stopping the previous morning. The last thing I wanted to do was climb out of my warm bed and go out into the cold. I groaned again and considered staying put. But I reminded myself that I had to get up. Ethan had been looking forward to this day and I wasn’t going to disappoint him.

My cat, Boo, began purring and gave my arm a soft headbutt. I opened one eye and reached over and scratched his ear. “Good morning, Boo,” I mumbled. “You’re awfully perky this morning. I can’t imagine why, it’s 4:30 and far too early to be perky, let alone awake.” Boo was completely black, and in honor of the Halloween theme of Pumpkin Hollow, his name seemed appropriate.

With another groan, I tossed the blankets back and sat up on the side of the bed. After a few seconds of giving myself a pep talk, I forced myself up and out of bed and got dressed. I had never gone snowboarding before, but Ethan assured me I would be a natural. I thought he was out of his mind, but I didn’t say it. He wanted me to come along with him and I wanted to spend time with him.

At 5:30 there was a light tapping on my front door. “Good morning, Sunshine,” Ethan said brightly when I opened it. He was wearing the leather jacket I bought him for Christmas and a black knit hat. He was far too perky for this time of day.

“I don’t know why you’re so chipper,” I grumbled.

He chuckled and followed me back into the house. “You sure are grumpy in the morning. Did your mother ever tell you that?”

I nodded and headed back to the kitchen. I had been in the middle of making coffee when he knocked. “She did tell me, but I always ignored her when she brought it up. Would you like a cup of coffee?”

“Sure,” he said and came over and gave me a kiss. “I’m really shocked and hurt that you didn’t kiss me first thing.” He looked at me, eyebrows raised.

I grinned and kissed him again. “I don’t know what I was thinking. Must be because I’m not completely awake yet. So, how far up into the mountains are we going?”

He shrugged. “Depends on the snow. I have a special place up there that I like for snowboarding, but it’s not far. Maybe about half an hour away, and if the snow looks good, that’s where we’ll go.”

“With all the snow we’ve gotten recently, I