Rolling Out a Mystery Read online

  Rolling Out a Mystery

  Christian Cozy Mystery

  Donna Doyle

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  © 2018 PureRead Ltd

  Contents

  Introduction

  1. Gather Your Ingredients

  2. Preheat Oven

  3. Melt a Stick of Butter

  4. Mix in the Sugar

  5. Add a Pinch of Salt

  6. Let Rise

  7. Roll Out the Dough

  8. Form Rolls on a Baking Sheet

  9. Bake Until Golden Brown

  10. Drizzle with Icing

  11. Serve Hot and Share with Friends

  More Baker’s Dozen Mysteries…

  Boxset Reading Enjoyment

  Free To Join…

  About PureRead

  Introduction

  A Personal Word From PureRead

  Dear reader,

  Do you love a good mystery? So do we! Nothing is more pleasing than a page turner that keeps you guessing until the very last page.

  In our Christian cozy mysteries you can be certain that there won’t be any gruesome or gory scenes, swearing or anything else upsetting, just good clean fun as you unravel the mystery together with our marvelous characters.

  Thank you for choosing PureRead!

  To find out more about PureRead mysteries and receive new release information and other goodies from Donna Doyle go to our website

  PureRead.com/donnadoyle

  Enjoy The Story!

  1

  Gather Your Ingredients

  Sammy Baker expertly assembled a large box with a clear window on the top, filled it with twelve cinnamon rolls from her latest batch, and brought it out to the front of the café. Now that it was October and the weather was turning cooler, the customers at Just Like Grandma’s were flooding in the doors for Helen’s homemade soups and Sammy’s freshly baked goods. She had taken her friend’s advice and started selling them by the box instead of just individually, and there were plenty of customers who came in simply to buy a box to take to the office.

  “That’ll be $8.95,” Helen said from behind the cash register as she handed a box over the counter to the patron she was ringing up. “Oh, Sammy! Please tell me you’ve got more cinnamon rolls out there!”

  “I do. I was just going to put them on the table with the…others?” The back corner of the dining area had been repurposed into a makeshift bakery display with a small table for the boxes of goods, but it was currently empty. “Where did everything go?”

  “Where do you think?” Helen asked with a laugh as she handed over the customer’s change. “We can’t keep them in stock for anything. I’ve sold every box, and I’ve had at least five other people asking if there are more. You have more in the back?”

  Sammy shrugged helplessly. “This batch should make up another couple of boxes, but that’s it. I’ll have to get more going, and it will take some time since they have to rise. But I’m behind on washing dishes, and I’ve hardly been out on the floor to help with serving.” She surveyed the packed tables and sighed, wishing she could clone herself.

  “Well, if it’s the tips you’re worried about, I think you’re making plenty off of your baked goods. And if it’s me you’re worried about?” Helen raised an eyebrow but let out a cackling laugh as she swung her long, gray braid over her shoulder. “I can handle these folks. They don’t scare me. Isn’t that right, Blake?”

  The young man who had just paid for his meal wore a dark blue jumpsuit with the logo for A-1 Auto emblazoned on the back. He smiled sweetly at Helen. “That’s right, ma’am. Anything you say.”

  “I’ve got you trained well, young man! Now get yourself on to work before your boss yells at you. Go on!” She immediately turned to the next customer lined up at the counter.

  Biting her lower lip, Sammy dashed to the back to start the next batch of rolls. Once she had them formed and rising, she came back out to the front to help Helen with the customers. As she worked, she realized just how happy she was. Moving back to Sunny Cove hadn’t been part of her original plan, but neither had getting divorced from a cheating husband. When she found herself leaving New York and coming home, she felt like such an outsider after all the years she had been gone. But it was starting to feel like home again as she got to know the people in this small town once again, and now she knew how they liked their coffee and their eggs.

  The only thing that she felt was missing a little in her life was going to church on Sunday mornings. She had considered it several times since she had arrived, and once she had even gotten dressed and ready to go. Church had been such a big part of her life when she was younger, and she didn’t know if she could quite step back into it. She had set aside those beliefs when her father had been falsely accused of fraud and money laundering, and Sammy was discovering that it was far easier to stop going than to start going back.

  A familiar face stepped through the door. His dark curls had been blown around by the October breeze, and his green eyes were wild with excitement. In khaki pants and a strange looking top that looked like it had been part of some sort of costume, there was no mistaking the distinct fashion sense of Austin Absher. “Sammy!” he exclaimed as he came in the door, spreading his arms wide and making the entire restaurant turn to look at him.

  “Hi, Austin. Why don’t you come have a seat at the counter?” Sammy gestured toward an open stool, knowing that if she didn’t direct the man he was likely to make trouble for himself. Austin was a grown man, but his mental disability often kept him from behaving himself.

  “I’m hungry,” he replied as he sat. “The first peanut butter machine was invented in 1904.”

  “That’s very interesting. I had no idea. Is that what you’d like? A peanut butter and jelly sandwich?"

  Austin bobbed his head eagerly. “And milk!”

  “Coming right up!”

  Helen gave her a look as she came around the counter and headed to the kitchen.

  “Don’t worry. It’s coming out of my pay,” Sammy promised her boss. “The least I can do is buy the poor boy a sandwich every now and then.”

  “I know, and I understand. But people are like stray cats. You give them something for free, and they start expecting it all the time. I just don’t want to see you getting taken advantage of.” The older woman grabbed a rag to mop up a sticky spot on a nearby table. “You know I’ve done what I could to help Austin in the past, but I just don’t think there’s much hope for him.”

  “He hasn’t stolen anything in at least two weeks,” Sammy pointed out, but the point she had hoped to make fell flat even to her ears once she heard it come out. “Look, you have to admit that he’s done well. He used to constantly be in trouble with the law and chase your customers away. But I made him promise to behave himself, and he’s done well.” Her heart had gone out to him since the first time she had met him, when he had run away from Sheriff Jones and straight into the kitchen at Just Like Grandma’s.

  “He’s got an affinity for you, that’s for sure. Maybe baking isn’t your only talent.” Helen poured a mug of coffee and slid it down the counter toward a man in a flannel shirt.

  “I think he just needs something to look forward to. He comes in here every day, gets a little bit of food, and he gets to talk to you or me for a few minutes. It doesn’t sound as though he has a very good home life, and I think he likes to get out and socialize. Hey, maybe if he had a job!” Sammy snapped he
r fingers as the thought came to her, wondering why she hadn’t come up with the idea before.

  “I don’t know that there’s much he could do.”

  “Sure there is!” They had a dining room full of customers, but the only one who mattered to Sammy at the moment was Austin. The rest of them could take care of themselves, after all. “What if he washed dishes and swept the floors around here? Or took out the trash? It wouldn’t have to be anything difficult, and we wouldn’t do anything with food for money.”

  “Sammy, honey.” Helen put her hands on Sammy’s upper arms and leveled her dark eyes at her. “Don’t get too far ahead of yourself. I tried that once. It’s more than the boy can handle, and he needs someone to supervise him constantly. You know I like to help out where I can—and I can tell you right now that the sandwich you’re about to make him is certainly not coming out of your pay—but there’s a limit to charity when you run your own business.”

  Sammy felt her shoulders sag a little. “Oh, I didn’t realize. That’s too bad. I think a job would be so good for him.”

  Helen patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t look so disheartened, child. You’re doing what you can, and that’s a lot more than most even bother to think about. Now, go make that sandwich and check on those cinnamon rolls. I’ve seen several customers looking toward the pastry table.”

  Doing as she was told, Sammy made sure she spent a few moments with Austin where she could between the paying customers. He was a sweet boy who just wanted some friends, and it didn’t seem fair to her that he had been excluded because of a disorder. Maybe if he’d been given a few more chances in life, he wouldn’t be dressing in mismatched castoffs that the thrift stores wouldn’t take and stealing food.

  She was just about to finish up her shift when Heather Girtman strutted in. She didn’t bother taking a seat, choosing to lounge against the counter instead. “Good morning, sunshine!” she purred.

  “You know it’s well past noon, right?” Sammy had been friends with Heather in high school, but they had both changed a lot since then.

  Heather flicked her long nails in the air. “It’s not like it matters. Now, tell me you don’t have anything going on Saturday night. I know you don’t, because you never have any plans.”

  Sammy couldn’t help but feel a little insulted at this, even though it was true. “Just unpacking a few more boxes, but that’s about it.”

  “Oh, you’re so boring!” Heather rolled her blue eyes. “I’ll fix that. There’s a big Halloween party at Rob Hewitt’s house this weekend. Everyone is going to be there, including a ton of people we went to school with.”

  “I don’t know.” Sammy hadn’t ever been much of a fan of Halloween. “I’m not sure about celebrating ghosts and ghouls.”

  “You’re thinking about it too much,” Heather replied. “It’s just an excuse for people to get together and have a little fun. And it’ll be extra fun since it’s a costume party and not everyone knows you’re back in Sunny Cove. You’ve got to come!”

  Sammy pulled in a breath, preparing to explain that she really couldn’t. She had too many other things to do. But the truth was that the only socializing she’d done since she’d returned had been through her work. She talked to her customers, and she and Heather had dinner a couple of times, but that was about it. If she was truly going to be happy here, she was going to need more of a life than that. “Well, I guess I could. I don’t have anything to wear, though.”

  “Just go buy something from the store. It doesn’t have to be special. I’m going to be a pirate, so just don’t copy me.” Heather winked and straightened up. “I’ll see you there at eight on Saturday!” She bounced out of the café without giving Sammy the chance to change her mind.

  2

  Preheat Oven

  Sammy looked at herself in the full-length mirror on the back of the bathroom door, wondering if she should have picked out a better costume. But when she had gone to the shop over in Oak Hills, it had been hard enough just finding something that didn’t have an incredibly short skirt or a revealing top. Instead, Sammy had settled on a long pink poodle skirt, a black button-up top, and saddle shoes. She had always loved the idea of the fifties, when the times seemed simpler, and the costume was cute and conservative. It would just have to be good enough. She pulled her blonde waves up into a ponytail, tied a little scarf around it, and went downstairs to her car.

  It was easy to find the address Heather had given her over the phone a couple days ago when she had called to not only remind Sammy of the party but to make sure she was actually coming. Rob Hewitt lived in his parents’ old house, a massive structure on the edge of town, far away from any of the smaller homes where most people lived. Cars were parked up and down both sides of the road, and Sammy had to park almost a block away. She touched the tote bag in the passenger seat next to her, which contained jeans and a t-shirt just in case Heather had been pulling her leg about this being a costume party. But other folks were streaming down the sidewalk in capes, masks, and elaborate dresses.

  Sammy flipped down her visor and stared herself down in the mirror. “You can do this,” she reminded herself. “Like Heather said, it doesn’t matter if it’s a Halloween party. It’s a chance to get to know people again. And you need that, even if it seems hard.” She took a deep breath and got out of the car.

  When she made it into the living room, Heather found her right away. “You made it! You know, I really thought you were going to chicken out on me.” She was dressed in a pirate costume as she had promised, complete with a short, tight dress in red and black with lace trim.

  Sammy doubted that any pirates wore much lace, but she knew that wasn’t the point. “I wouldn’t miss it,” she replied with a forced smile.

  Her old friend didn’t notice her discomfort. “Look, there’s Jamie Stewart over there in the nurse costume. Oh, and Sarah Jacobs is over there talking to Andrea Probst. Do you remember them?” Heather grabbed Sammy by the arm and led her around the room, pointing people out and talking about them, but never bothering to walk up to them and start a conversation.

  “Heather Girtman, as I live and breathe!” said a snarky voice behind them.

  Sammy and Heather turned as one to find Lindsay Thompson standing there, Allison and Gracie at her sides. It was just like it had been back in school, when the most popular girl spent all her time harassing everyone else with her two best friends at her sides.

  “Lindsay,” Heather sneered. “How very nice to see you.”

  “Right.” Lindsay’s eyes scraped over Sammy’s costume. “Very original. I’ve had mine since August, you know.”

  Sammy’s face burned as she realized that her getup was almost identical to Lindsay’s. It looked, though, like the other woman had sprung for the deluxe costume, one made of quality fabrics that could have been authentic. But there was no apology she could make for grabbing something off the store shelf like everyone else had, so she simply shrugged.

  Lindsay probably wouldn’t have noticed even if Sammy’d had a good comeback. “If this was my house, I’d kick you out,” she said to Heather. “As it is, I suggest you keep your hands to yourself.”

  “There has to be something worth laying them on before I can worry about it,” Heather retorted, hands on her hips and shoulders back. “Maybe you should grow up a little, Lindsay. Bye.” She turned away, bringing Sammy with her.

  “What was that all about?” Sammy was aggravated with herself for being so meek around Lindsay. She might have been popular back in school, but they had graduated a long time ago. None of that should matter now.

  Heather tossed her raven locks. “Who knows? She’s always got something stuck in her craw. We should just have fun. Let’s go get a drink!”

  “Um, you go ahead. I see someone I’d like to talk to.” Sammy moved to the other side of the room, where a tall man in a sheriff’s uniform stood near the wall, surveying the crowd. “That’s not a very inventive costume,” she joked.

  Sheri
ff Jones looked down at her with a smile. “I just got off work, and I didn’t see much point in dressing up when I know I’m not going to stay long. I have to go to court first thing in the morning. You look nice, though.”

  Sammy felt her cheeks heat up. “Thanks. I’m glad I ran into you. There’s something I’d like to work on, and I thought you might have some ideas for me.”

  “Oh?” He raised a thin eyebrow, his dark blue eyes sparkling.

  “You see, I really want to do something to help Austin Absher.” Sammy hadn’t been able to get him off her mind for the last several days. She had never met someone who called to her heart like this, and she knew she had to find some way to help him get a better life. “Are there any places around here who employ people like him? I think it would keep him from stealing, and maybe he could earn some extra money for food.”

  “Here we go again,” the sheriff mumbled. “Look Sammy, this isn’t the big city. Programs like what you’re talking about take a lot of money and effort. The churches do what they can for local charities, but they can’t do much more than provide winter clothes and maybe a few canned goods for the needy.”

  “But that means that we need those kinds of programs,” Sammy argued. “I’m sure Austin isn’t the only one who’s struggling. I asked Helen about having him work at Just Like Grandma’s, but she said that’s too much for him. You seem to know him well. Have any ideas?”

  Jones ran a hand through his close-cropped hair. “I’m afraid I don’t. I’ve done what I can, bringing him to the station for coffee or giving him a ride when he needs it. But Austin has really built a reputation for himself around here, and it isn’t a good one. You’re going to have a hard time getting anyone else on board.”