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

caught and that’s why she’s trying to get you to have Ethan look at Mel. Plus, she had everyone at the nail salon thinking it’s Mel, too. And you know what else I’ve been thinking?”

My eyebrows shot up. “No, what else are you thinking?”

“I’ve been thinking we should become private investigators. We can get our licenses and help Ethan out and get paid for it, too.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Private investigators? Are you out of your mind?” My sister was known for having wild ideas, but this took the cake.

She shook her head. “I assure you, I am not out of my mind. Why would I be? I’m serious about it, we can study to take the exam and become private investigators so we can help Ethan out. Maybe the police department would hire us in an official capacity.”

I stared at her, speechless for a moment. “Yes, you are definitely out of your mind. I told Mom when you were six that there was some wrong with you, but she didn’t believe me. Now I have proof.”

She narrowed her eyes at me now. “Ha ha. You’re so funny. But why not? Why shouldn’t we become private investigators?”

“Because we have jobs here the candy store. And because I don’t want anybody to shoot at me.”

She put her hands on her hips. “We’ll get our own guns and we can have Ethan teach us how to use them. We’ll hunt down the bad guys.” She grinned at me.

When she spoke, there was a light in her eyes, and it worried me. “Seriously Christy, I have no desire to become a private investigator. Wouldn’t you miss the candy store? The fudge making? And all the happy people we get to see every day? I don’t know about you, but happy people make me happy.”

She thought about this a minute. “People are pretty happy when they come in here to buy candy, and that does make me happy. In fact, I’m a pretty happy person in general.”

“Exactly. We need to make candy so we can make people happy.” We both turned when the door opened.

Amber Gleason walked through the door and smiled at us. “Hello ladies,” she said. “How are you two this afternoon?”

“We’re great. How are you doing, Amber?” I asked.

She nodded. “Well, don’t tell anyone, but I’ve had a craving for your mother’s fudge for several days now. I decided there is no use holding out any longer and that’s why I’m here now.” She went to the display case and peered in.

“Well you came to the right place then,” I said. “The raspberry white chocolate fudge is a special Valentine’s Day flavor. Have you tried it?”

“Oh yes, it’s great. I’m so glad your mother came up with that flavor. Although, I do miss her pumpkin spice fudge.”

“We all do,” Christy said, and came over to lean on the front counter. “Pumpkin Hollow Days can’t get here soon enough. I need more pumpkin spice fudge.”

“You can say that again,” she said absently as she looked into the display case again. “I think I’ll take a quarter pound of the raspberry fudge and a quarter pound of the peanut butter fudge. I’ll hate myself in the morning, but I’ve got to have it.” She looked at me and laughed.

I opened the back of the display case and removed the trays of fudge. “Wait until spring. Our mother will have some new flavors.”

“I can’t wait. I love your fudge,” she said as I began cutting the fudge. “So, Mia, how is Ethan doing on Logan’s murder investigation? I’m sure he’s got his hands full on that case.”

I glanced at her. “He’s still working on it.”

She nodded. “You know, I’ve been thinking things over and if Mariah didn’t kill Logan, I think Fred Tillman from the Pumpkin Hollow garage may have done it.”

I was in the middle of cutting the peanut butter fudge and I looked up at her. “Fred Tillman? Why?”

She shrugged. “Because he’s a hothead, and he had an argument with Logan a few weeks ago. He overcharged him for some work he did on his car.”

I looked at her. Angela from the bakery had said the same thing. Was it true? Or was this just recycled gossip? “How do you know about the argument?”

She stepped closer to the front counter and glanced at Christy and then back at me. “I had stopped in to ask how much a new battery would cost for my car and they were in the middle of the argument when I walk through the door.”

“So you heard it yourself?” I asked.

She nodded. “Yes, I heard it myself. Logan accused Fred of overcharging him for doing some work on his car and Fred denied it. He said he only charged him what was necessary. And then Logan said he was going to report him to the California Bureau of Automotive Repair and take him to court.”

I stopped what I was doing and looked at her. “Really? He said that?”

“He did. And Logan also said he was going to report him to the Better Business Bureau and make sure that everybody knew what a cheat he was.”

“I always thought Fred was a good guy,” Christy said.

She waved away the comment. “Fred? Please! He’s a thief. I thought everyone knew that?”

Christy shook her head. “Apparently not. I’ve brought my car to him before and I never had any trouble with him.”

She leaned on the front counter. “Well, maybe it depends on if he likes you or not? I wouldn’t do anything more than buy a battery from him, or get an oil change. If he gets into any of the more complex repair work, he is going to cheat you. Believe me, he will cheat you.” She said the last part slowly, emphasizing each word.