Rum Cake Murder: A Frosted Love Cozy Mystery - Book 8 (Frosted Love Cozy Mysteries) Read Online Free PDF Page A
Author: Carol Durand
his pronouncement was greeted with nothing more than a blank look, he continued, “….Cheryl’s stepfather.”
Missy was confused. “That’s strange, I thought that Cheryl didn’t have any family around here.”
“She doesn’t. Conner is from out of state. We did a little digging and discovered that he left town a few years ago, after Cheryl’s mom died under very suspicious circumstances. It was before I came to LaChance, but guys who were on the force at the time said that, even though it looked like Stanley Conner had killed his wife, Cheryl’s mom, the DA felt like there wasn’t enough evidence to convict, so he was never brought to trial,” he explained.
Missy’s mouth fell open in surprise. “Well, that would certainly explain why the poor girl never mentioned having a stepfather. I had no idea that her mother was murdered, how terribly sad.”
Chas nodded, avoiding her gaze.
“What?” Missy asked suspiciously, realizing that he wasn’t telling her the whole story.
He gave her a pained look and answered reluctantly. “The unfortunate thing in all of this is that, determining the identity of the victim only served to strengthen the idea that Ben might be the perpetrator, and if he’s not…the scrutiny will most likely fall upon Cheryl.”
“That’s utterly ridiculous,” Missy exclaimed, pushing her plate away. “Cheryl is entirely incapable of harming anyone.”
“Her statement given after her mother’s death would seem to indicate otherwise,” Beckett said gently.
“What do you mean?” she narrowed her eyes, not wanting to believe that the sweet girl who had worked diligently for her was capable of a heinous crime.
“She made no secret of the fact that she thought that Stanley had killed her mother, and made several statements regarding her desire to see him imprisoned for life.”
“Which is completely understandable under the circumstances,” Missy defended the girl.
“Yes, it is,” Chas agreed. “But it also implies some pretty intense feelings of hostility toward a murder victim who just happened to be found dead insider her boyfriend’s clown costume.”
“But how would Cheryl have even known that Stanley was in town? And I’m almost positive that Ben couldn’t have known who he was. He never mentioned anything to me, and wasn’t acting strangely at all. He wouldn’t have even been at the event if I hadn’t called him. Which I really wish I hadn’t after everything that’s happened,” she lamented. “Why was Stanley Conner even in LaChance to begin with?”
“We don’t know, but he was a nurse at the hospital when he lived here, so it’s plausible that he heard about the event and wanted to attend,” the detective mused.
“Was he on the guest list?”
“No. That’s the wrench in the works. He wasn’t invited, and yet he was there. I’m hoping that when we find out the reason for his return to LaChance, it’ll lead us to the murderer.”
Missy’s eyes widened. “Oh no…” she whispered, feeling slightly ill.
“What?” Beckett asked, leaning forward and taking her hand.
Missy raised her eyes to meet his and replied woodenly, “What if Stanley was in town because he heard that Cheryl was engaged.”
“That would mean that he’d potentially been in contact with her, and she could have known that he would be attending the event,” Chas admitted ruefully.
“Oh my goodness, Chas…do you think she could have possibly…?” Missy couldn’t bring herself to even finish the sentence, staring at the detective wide-eyed and clutching his hand.
“She could have,” he nodded. “Or, perhaps even worse…she could have prompted her fiancé to do it for her, or with her,” Chas gazed at Missy gravely.
Missy shook her head vehemently in disbelief. “No. I can’t believe that. I won’t. Not about Ben. I know he loves her, but I refuse to believe that he would do such a thing,” she set her mouth in a firm line.
“Cheryl’s coming in
Missy was confused. “That’s strange, I thought that Cheryl didn’t have any family around here.”
“She doesn’t. Conner is from out of state. We did a little digging and discovered that he left town a few years ago, after Cheryl’s mom died under very suspicious circumstances. It was before I came to LaChance, but guys who were on the force at the time said that, even though it looked like Stanley Conner had killed his wife, Cheryl’s mom, the DA felt like there wasn’t enough evidence to convict, so he was never brought to trial,” he explained.
Missy’s mouth fell open in surprise. “Well, that would certainly explain why the poor girl never mentioned having a stepfather. I had no idea that her mother was murdered, how terribly sad.”
Chas nodded, avoiding her gaze.
“What?” Missy asked suspiciously, realizing that he wasn’t telling her the whole story.
He gave her a pained look and answered reluctantly. “The unfortunate thing in all of this is that, determining the identity of the victim only served to strengthen the idea that Ben might be the perpetrator, and if he’s not…the scrutiny will most likely fall upon Cheryl.”
“That’s utterly ridiculous,” Missy exclaimed, pushing her plate away. “Cheryl is entirely incapable of harming anyone.”
“Her statement given after her mother’s death would seem to indicate otherwise,” Beckett said gently.
“What do you mean?” she narrowed her eyes, not wanting to believe that the sweet girl who had worked diligently for her was capable of a heinous crime.
“She made no secret of the fact that she thought that Stanley had killed her mother, and made several statements regarding her desire to see him imprisoned for life.”
“Which is completely understandable under the circumstances,” Missy defended the girl.
“Yes, it is,” Chas agreed. “But it also implies some pretty intense feelings of hostility toward a murder victim who just happened to be found dead insider her boyfriend’s clown costume.”
“But how would Cheryl have even known that Stanley was in town? And I’m almost positive that Ben couldn’t have known who he was. He never mentioned anything to me, and wasn’t acting strangely at all. He wouldn’t have even been at the event if I hadn’t called him. Which I really wish I hadn’t after everything that’s happened,” she lamented. “Why was Stanley Conner even in LaChance to begin with?”
“We don’t know, but he was a nurse at the hospital when he lived here, so it’s plausible that he heard about the event and wanted to attend,” the detective mused.
“Was he on the guest list?”
“No. That’s the wrench in the works. He wasn’t invited, and yet he was there. I’m hoping that when we find out the reason for his return to LaChance, it’ll lead us to the murderer.”
Missy’s eyes widened. “Oh no…” she whispered, feeling slightly ill.
“What?” Beckett asked, leaning forward and taking her hand.
Missy raised her eyes to meet his and replied woodenly, “What if Stanley was in town because he heard that Cheryl was engaged.”
“That would mean that he’d potentially been in contact with her, and she could have known that he would be attending the event,” Chas admitted ruefully.
“Oh my goodness, Chas…do you think she could have possibly…?” Missy couldn’t bring herself to even finish the sentence, staring at the detective wide-eyed and clutching his hand.
“She could have,” he nodded. “Or, perhaps even worse…she could have prompted her fiancé to do it for her, or with her,” Chas gazed at Missy gravely.
Missy shook her head vehemently in disbelief. “No. I can’t believe that. I won’t. Not about Ben. I know he loves her, but I refuse to believe that he would do such a thing,” she set her mouth in a firm line.
“Cheryl’s coming in