Death with a Cherry on Top: A Beach Themed Cozy Mystery (Twisted Sisters Ice Cream Cozies Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

to protest, but the man wouldn't take no for an answer. He'd come back later. Before leaving, he glared at the director who was already walking away. He'd take care of him later. Ian didn’t appreciate the way he was tossed aside.
    It was Carla that mattered to him. He'd find a way to convince her to give him a shot. He'd been working up his courage to ask her out, but being laced with shyness, sometimes the thought was easier than the action. Following up wasn't his specialty. She’d grown warmer toward him the last time she saw him, touching his arm while they spoke. One day she'd offer him a peck on the cheek, he was sure of it. That would be the perfect opportunity to finally ask her out.
    Only, after reading the newspaper the following day, his future with Carla wasn't so certain. She was the main suspect in a murder investigation! They claim she’d killed the playhouse director. She'd saved him the trouble of doing it himself, but he didn't want her to take the fall for something that big. He needed to defend her innocence. Carla Ambrogi was no killer. She might be his future wife if things went his way, and there was no way he'd let his fiancé sit in jail. Some might call him delusional, but he preferred to see it as planning his future - a well thought out future.
    He'd make his way back to the playhouse and snoop around. Maybe the police had overlooked something. His kitten would never harm another soul. She was sweet, soft, and tender. Or at least, he imagined her that way.
    The front door was locked, but around back, the prop room was open. He pulled the door, expecting somebody to protest and ask what he was doing, but nobody was around. Ian glanced over his shoulder to double check, but the coast was clear. Or so he thought. Not long after he snuck in, he heard voices coming from the front of the small building. Ian ducked into one of the dressing rooms and stepped behind a rail of clothing that hung on a rolling rack. Thankfully, he'd walked over, so his car wasn't sitting out front giving him away.
    Ian gasped when he realized what was going on. It sounded like an officer had come in with some extra people. He heard two male voices and two female voices. Ian stood as still as he possibly could. He held his breath for extra measure.
    "So, the body was found over that way, in the back. Let's cross over the stage. Off to the side are dressing rooms, storage and props are over that way. Try not to touch anything, but if you see something suspicious, let me know," the officer instructed.
    Their voices carried through the small theater. It wasn't a big place, and the acoustics coming off of the stage made the officer's voice sound louder than it was.
    Ian wasn't sure whether to make a run for it or stay put. If he was caught, he'd be in serious trouble, and yet if he moved, he might draw more attention. He chose to remain exactly where he was. He was barely breathing, but then....no, no! Ian sneezed, unable to stop it before it was too late. There was nothing he could do.
    A woman shouted, "Over there, somebody is over there!"
    The officer ran over to where she was and together they searched the dressing rooms. They were one small room over, where the bit players changed. He was in the main dressing room for the stars - Carla being one of them. Ian jumped from the rack and bolted, hoping to be out of view before they came from the other room, but just as he turned to go, a booming voice ordered him to stop. "Freeze!"
    Ian held his ground. He froze on the spot as if his shoes were made of concrete. Ian threw his hands over his head, covering himself from whatever shots might be fired. "I didn't do it."
    "Aww, put your hands down kid. I'm not going to shoot you," he said. "Hey Charlie, over here. We've got a visitor."
    Officer Samson found his way over to Pops. "Well, what have we here? What brings you to a closed playhouse? Nobody is supposed to be here. Are you trying to hide some evidence? Grab something you left