Christmas Chocolates and Crimes Read online

  Christmas Chocolates and Crimes

  A Chocolate Centered Cozy Mystery

  Cindy Bell

  Copyright © 2017 Cindy Bell

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and locations portrayed in this book and the names herein are fictitious. Any similarity to or identification with the locations, names, characters or history of any person, product or entity is entirely coincidental and unintentional.

  All trademarks and brands referred to in this book are for illustrative purposes only, are the property of their respective owners and not affiliated with this publication in any way. Any trademarks are being used without permission, and the publication of the trademark is not authorized by, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owner.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chocolate Brandy Mousse Cups

  Chocolate Christmas Tree Cookies

  Also by Cindy Bell

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  The small classroom was filled with eager students. Charlotte was a bit amused by the fact that it felt as if she was back in school after so many years. If the truth were told, she was never the best student, as her interests always ran along more creative lines. But she did enjoy the social aspect, which she was lucky enough to be enjoying again. She smiled at a few people with familiar faces, and even those that she didn’t know, then focused her attention on the teacher at the front of the room.

  “The key to making a good homemade Christmas gift, is to put equal parts thought and time into it. I’ve seen lots of these cutesy ideas on the internet, and sure they look great, but will people ever really use them? Will these crafts last past the season? We want to make gifts, not clutter. So, my focus here is to help you create gifts that are not only breathtaking, but useful, and long-lasting. Of course, edible gifts only last so long, especially if they’re delicious.”

  The woman at the front of the classroom grinned at her own little joke. The other students, including Charlotte, obliged her with a smattering of laughter. She adored Beth, the woman who was running the class. She was soft-spoken, until the subject of crafting came up. Then her passion came out. She could chatter for hours about the pluses and minuses of different kinds of paint, or the best tools to use to create different projects. Thanks to her, the halls and windows of Freely Lakes were always tastefully and uniquely decorated. Charlotte was eager to speak with her privately, as she’d mentioned that she had a surprise for her.

  “So, if you are giving edible gifts this year, the one thing I would recommend is to make the packaging part of your gift. Some people like to just wrap it up in a basket, or a plain box. But a tin, or a painted wooden box, is something that can last your loved ones a lifetime. I have some stencils here that you might want to try out.” She gestured to an assortment of stencils spread out across the table. “Some are holiday-themed, others are winter-themed, and some are just fun. Don’t ever feel limited by the holiday, you don’t have to make things holiday specific. Especially if you are creating something that you’d like the recipient to be able to use all year long.”

  As the other students approached the front table to retrieve stencils and wooden boxes, Beth waved Charlotte over to another table.

  “I found something I thought you might like during one of my craft store shops. I’m sure you already have some, but I saw these, and I thought of you.” She smiled as she presented her with a stack of plastic chocolate molds. “See, some of them are quite detailed, there’s one with Santa and his sleigh. I thought with all of the Christmas orders you have at the chocolate shop, you might like these.”

  “Oh, I do!” Charlotte pressed her hands to her chest as she gazed at the molds. “They’re just perfect. I’ve never seen anything like them. How much do I owe you for them?” She began to rummage in her purse.

  “Nothing. They’re a gift. ‘Tis the season, right?” She met Charlotte’s eyes. “Don’t think I don’t know that the only reason my class is filled to the brim is because of your recommendations. I can’t thank you enough.”

  “Beth, it’s full because everyone knows how great your classes are. Thanks for these. They are really going to come in handy.” She carried the molds back to her table, which she shared with another woman, Diana.

  “Aren’t those just beautiful?” Diana gushed over the molds as her eyes sparkled behind her wire-rimmed glasses. “I’ve been trying to come up with just the right item to package in my giftboxes. I definitely want it to be candies made from these molds. Can I place an order with you now?”

  “Sure.” Charlotte smiled at her, but inwardly she wondered just how many pieces of chocolate she and her granddaughter, Ally could make before the season came to an end. The shop was already buzzing with customers throughout the day, and the orders kept rolling in over the phone. They were already stretched pretty thin, but she would never turn down a friend. In fact, she would never turn anyone down.

  Ever since she moved into Freely Lakes, a retirement community nestled on the border of the pristine small town of Blue River and the slightly larger town of Freely, she’d made many new friends. Even though she’d lived in Blue River her whole life, there were some people from Blue River and the surrounding towns that she hadn’t had the chance to get to know well, and Diana was one of them. She hoped that their friendship would continue to grow.

  As Charlotte began to decorate her own giftbox, she felt a small pang of guilt for being at the class, instead of at the shop with Ally. She’d opened the chocolate shop when Ally’s mother was young and had run it alone, and now her granddaughter had taken over as manager. However, she still felt responsible for it, and she knew that Ally was working well into the night to keep up with the orders. But Ally had insisted that she attend the class. Ally was just as stubborn as she was, so there was no arguing.

  “I’ve got my list of people that I’m giving gifts to.” Diana sighed as a shadow crossed her features. “It’s so hard to choose. I can’t give everyone a gift, but I always feel like I’m leaving someone out. It makes me feel so guilty.”

  “Oh, you shouldn’t feel guilty. You’re such a giving person, and that spreads. Because you give to someone, that inspires them, and they give to someone else, see how that works?” Charlotte smiled and patted her shoulder. “Besides, the season isn’t about who gets what, it’s about all of us coming together as a community to celebrate, right?”

  “Right.” She smiled with relief. “Thanks, Charlotte, you’ve made me feel so much better. You are a dear soul.” She took her hand and gave it a squeeze.

  “So are you, Diana.”

  Charlotte smiled to herself as she sorted through the molds. It always made her feel good when she was able to cheer someone up. There was a time when she was the one who needed cheering up, after her daughter passed away, so she was happy to be able to return the favor to others.

  As the class wrapped up for the night Charlotte gathered up her things. On the way out the door she waved to Beth, as well as Diana, then
headed down the hall. One of the things she liked the most about Freely Lakes was all of the activities that were available right on the property. She could stroll home within two minutes from the classroom. It also meant she was always only seconds away from a friend. In particular, one special friend, Jeff. Lately, they’d been spending quite a bit of time together, and she’d even invited him to spend Christmas with her, Ally, and Luke. It made her a little nervous to care for someone so much, but she knew that Jeff was a trustworthy man. As she headed back to her apartment she placed a call to Ally to update her about the new order and see how things were going at the shop.

  Ally poured the last of the melted chocolate into the molds, and blinked a few times to be sure that she could see clearly. Every muscle in her body ached. She was exhausted from arriving early, and staying late, just about every day that week. Making chocolate wasn’t exactly a physically taxing job, but she’d barely had the chance to sit down, and making so much had certainly taken its toll. As much as she loved working in the chocolate shop, she longed for her soft comfortable bed. Still, the smell of chocolate soothed her, as it always had. Even as a little girl while helping her grandmother in the shop, the smell had been a healing balm for whatever ailed her. This evening was no different, as it distracted her from the soreness of her body.

  It was fantastic that the shop was doing so well, but she had begun to consider hiring more help at least for this busy time of year. She was hesitant to, as her grandmother never needed to in the past, but Ally felt as if she was relying too much on her help, when she was at a time in her life that she deserved more freedom.

  After Ally set the molds to cool, she grabbed the broom to sweep up the front of the shop. A smile crossed her lips as she noticed the empty spaces on the shelves. The chocolate shop was decorated with wooden toys and ornaments, something that drew the attention of the young and the old. She rarely saw anyone come into the shop that didn’t take the time to appreciate them. Around the holidays, the toys that were for sale would fly off the shelf, and along with them, some of Luke’s wooden carvings. Her boyfriend had a special talent for whittling and had created some exquisite pieces. Of course, Ally always bought her favorite ones, though Luke didn’t know that, otherwise he would insist on giving them to her for free.

  Just as she thought of him, her cell phone began to ring. She smiled to herself as she saw his name flash across her phone. She never thought she’d be so giddy over a guy, but she was, even after all the time they’d spent together.

  “Hi, did you land?”

  “Yes, I’m here, but I wish I wasn’t.” He offered a drawn-out sigh. “I already miss you.”

  “Oh, you’ll be fine.” She laughed. “If I know you, you’ll find an adventure before you even get checked into your room.”

  “It’s not the same without you.” He cleared his throat. “I could still buy a ticket for you to join me.”

  “You know that’s impossible.” She frowned as she traded the broom for a cloth to wipe down the counters. “This is the busiest time of year for us.”

  “I know, but that doesn’t mean I can’t dream, does it?” He chuckled. “It’s only for a few days, but I am already counting them down. I’m looking forward to being back with you, in front of the fire.”

  “Mm, yes, me too.” She smiled as she recalled the last evening they’d spent together. Her heart fluttered with the same desire that she could hear in his voice. “It won’t be long, sweetie. We’ll be back together in time for Christmas.”

  “If we don’t get a blizzard.” She heard the tension in his voice. “I warned the chief about the impending storms, but he still insisted I had to go to this convention. I think he just wanted me out of his hair.”

  “What hair?” She laughed. The current police chief was bald, in his mid-forties, and cranky. She had no idea how Luke put up with him. He barked when he talked, and didn’t have any patience for his officers. But Luke insisted he was good at his job.

  “Good point.” He laughed as well. “I’m sure you have a lot to do. I’ll check in with you in the morning. Love you, Ally.”

  “Love you too, Luke. Try to have some fun, relax, and enjoy.”

  “I’ll try,” he grumbled, as if she’d asked him to complete the most difficult task. Luke was always a little intense himself, and it had taken a bit of a push on her part to bring him out of his shell.

  After she hung up the phone she began to go through the routine of shutting down the register and taking inventory for the night. About halfway through the process her cell phone rang again. She saw that it was her grandmother so she picked up right away. Although there was quite an age difference between them, Ally still considered her to be her best friend, and she loved hearing from her.

  “Hey, how did the class go?”

  “You should see the chocolate molds that Beth gave me. They are just amazing! I can’t wait to use them in the shop. I’m on my way home now. I just wanted to see how you were doing, and make sure you aren’t working too late.”

  “I’m not, I promise, Mee-Maw. I’m closing up now. There’s something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about. What would you think if I hired someone to help out in the shop, just for the holidays? Someone that could be on the register, while we’re making chocolates in the back, and can also help with the simple chocolate making if we have lots of orders.”

  “Uh, well, it’s always been a family shop. But, since I have a new order for you from Diana, one of the students in the gift making class, I can’t exactly advise against it.” She laughed some. “Ally, you’re the manager. I’ll leave the hiring to you. Just be careful about who you hire, not everyone can be trusted.”

  “Thanks, Mee-Maw, I will be. I already have someone in mind. Nina, the woman I’ve been taking yoga classes with, is looking for some other part-time work. We’ve gotten to be quite good friends, and I think she would be a nice fit. What do you think?” She bit into her bottom lip as she considered it. She and Nina got along well while Ally was taking her classes, and she hoped they’d also do well together in the shop.

  “I think that’s a great idea. I don’t know her though, so I can only go by what you’ve told me. She’s fairly new to Freely, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, she moved there last year after her divorce. I’ll see if she’s interested. Thanks, Mee-Maw. Get home safe.”

  “I will. Good night, Ally. See you in the morning.”

  “Good night.” Ally hung up the phone, then finished closing up. Maybe if she hired Nina, her grandmother would be able to take a few days off to rest and relax. She knew her grandmother hated being treated as if she couldn’t do everything that Ally could do, but she worried about her working such long hours at her age.

  After Ally locked up she walked to her car. She knew Arnold, her grandmother’s pot-bellied pig, and Peaches, her cat, would be waiting at the door of the cottage for her. She was late with their dinner again, and they would both be quite upset about that. She laughed as she thought of all of the snorting that Arnold would do.

  As always, Ally glanced back at the shop to be sure all of the lights were off and everything appeared to be in place. Satisfied, she climbed into her car. Before she started it, she sent a text to Nina to see if she would be interested in some part-time work at the shop. There was no point in putting it off any longer. If she wanted the extra help, this was the time when she needed it the most.

  Charlotte tucked her phone back into her purse and continued down the hall. She knew she was nearing her apartment when she heard loud Christmas music. Her neighbor, Martin, didn’t allow for the fact that their homes were indoors to stop him from decorating full force for the holidays. He framed his door with lights, as well as his inside windows that overlooked the courtyard. His walls on either side of his door were covered in flashing lights, and scattered around the entrance of his apartment were several moving Christmas figurines. To go with all of the decor, he had an assortment of Christmas music that played throughout th
e day and into the evening. Though it was a bit loud, he was within the regulations of the complex. Most of the time Charlotte found it cheerful and uplifting. On occasion, she would get annoyed by hearing the same song for the thousandth time, but that was usually when she was tired and generally a little irritable. The rest of the time she was grateful for having a neighbor who was into the Christmas spirit. Not everyone felt the same way, however. As she rounded the bend in the hallway she heard a raised voice, and the angry words that went with it.

  “You turn it down right this second or I will call the police!” The voice belonged to another of her neighbors, Victoria. Victoria was quite rigid about the way she liked things, and ever since she’d moved in she’d given Martin and his wife a hard time about their decorations.

  “You can’t call the police, I have the right to play my music, I’m not breaking any laws.” Martin’s voice was just as loud, and his tone sounded a bit unhinged. Charlotte’s stomach twisted. She doubted that the argument was going to fade any time soon. She was tempted to turn around and walk back down the hallway. It wasn’t her business after all. But the only way to get to her apartment was past Martin’s door, and she was exhausted from her long day. Still she paused, and hoped that the argument would stop within a few minutes. Instead, it seemed to get worse.

  “I don’t care what your rights are. I have the right to peace. I have the right to not be tortured by this constant drivel that you blast. No one wants to hear it, Martin. It’s not even Christmas, yet! Can’t you at least hold off until the day before?”