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  Murder as Sticky as Jam

  A Gluten-Free Mystery

  by

  Diana Orgain

  Copyright © 2018 by Diana Orgain

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Murder as Sticky as Jam (A Gluten Free Mystery, #1)

  New Release Alert! | Coming Soon: | Maternal Instincts Mystery Series Book 6: | Killer Cravings

  BUNDLE OF TROUBLE | A Maternal Instincts Mystery | by | Diana Orgain | Copyright © 2018 by Diana Orgain

  ALSO BY DIANA ORGAIN | Have you read them all? | In the Maternal Instincts Mystery Series

  In the Gluten Free Crew Mystery Series

  In the iWitch Mystery Series

  Other Titles by Diana Orgain

  In the Maternal Instincts Mystery Series

  Bundle of Trouble

  Motherhood is Murder

  Formula for Murder

  Nursing a Grudge

  Pampered to Death

  Killer Cravings

  In the iWitch Mystery Series

  A Witch Called Wanda

  I Wanda put a spell on you

  Brewing up Murder

  In the Gluten-Free Mystery Series

  Murder as Sticky as Jam

  Murder as Sweet as Honey (Coming Soon)

  In the Roundup Crew Mystery Series

  Yappy Hour

  Trigger Yappy

  Copyright

  Other Titles by Diana Orgain

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Bonus Select Recipes – From A Gluten-Free Palate

  New Release Alert!

  Bonus Preview – Bundle of Trouble

  Get Select Diana Orgain Titles FOR FREE

  About the Author

  Other Titles by Diana Orgain

  Chapter One

  Soft jazz played in the background as Mona Reilly bustled around the empty shop. In just a few days, in time for the Memorial Day weekend, would be the grand opening of her shop Jammin’ Honey, but only if she finished the prep work in time.

  Memorial Day weekend was the official opening of the summer tourist season in the scenic mountain town of Magnolia Falls. Mona knew it would be the perfect time to open the doors to the shop that had been only a dream a few months ago. Tucking a strand of glossy black hair behind her ear, she sat down at the café table by the window to catch her breath.

  Picking up the Magnolia Falls Gazette, she read the report on the front page about the grand opening. Pride filled her chest with warmth as she read the article once more. She couldn’t believe this was happening.

  It’s real, Mona thought, her nerves kicking up a notch.

  A pair of tourists stopped out front and peeked through the window. Mona jumped to attention; her shop was supposed to open in a few days. She had to get a move on.

  Where’s Vicki? Mona wondered.

  It was a quarter past ten and she hadn’t heard from her best friend and business partner, Vicki Lawson. Vicki was an organic beekeeper and was the honey part of Jammin’ Honey. Mona reached for her cell phone to call Vicki, but the phone buzzed in her hand before she could dial.

  She saw from the caller I.D. that it was her Great Aunt Beatrice. She’d been able to finally finance the opening of her shop through a generous loan from her Great Aunt Cecilia, Beatrice’s identical twin. The two Aunts were identical in everything except the way they handled money, and now Mona cringed at that the thought that Aunt Bee was calling to impose some sort of financial frugality.

  “Hello Aunt Bee,” Mona said into the phone.

  “Mona! Is everything ready?” Bee asked, her voice cracking with enthusiasm.

  “Just about. Putting on the finishing touches, you know.”

  “Cecilia will be very proud.”

  “I’m sorry she won’t be at the opening,” Mona said.

  Her Great Aunt Cecilia had shocked everyone declaring that, as a celebration for her 80th birthday, she’d be traveling around the world on an exclusive cruise with her new beau, Herman. Herman was a spry and debonair seventy-year old, and Beatrice swore the man was only after Cecilia’s money.

  As if in a show of defiance, Cecilia had loaned Mona the seed money to open her shop, further annoying Beatrice who firmly believed that everything in life should be a struggle; that which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, was her motto.

  Of course, Beatrice had opted to stay in Magnolia Falls and celebrate in her own way, saying that a cruise was way too extravagant, not to mention expensive.

  “Are you going to make us a coupon for opening night?” Beatrice asked.

  Mona laughed. Bee ran a coupon clipping club. Her frugal reputation preceded her. She was notorious for working over every business owner in the community and hustling discounts for all her members.

  “What do you suggest?” Mona asked.

  “BOGO,” Bee said eagerly.

  Mona chuckled. “If I offer buy-one-get-one on opening night, I’ll be out of business before the party’s even over.”

  “Okay,” Bee said reluctantly. “How about a BOGO on your special blackberry ginger jam?”

  Mona glanced at her shelf stocked with jams. There weren’t enough blackberry ginger jars to run a special, but if she made a few more batches, she could accommodate Aunt Bee.

  “For you, I’ll do it,” Mona said.

  “Ah! You are a dear. I’ve got the coupons already printed.”

  “What? You printed the coupons before I even agreed?”

  Aunt Bee cleared her throat. “No. Of course not. I only meant you could consider it as good as done.”

  Mona laughed. “You’re a terrible liar.”

  Bee giggled. “Well, I can guarantee the whole club will be there opening night. And that’s another thing I wanted to speak to you about. Don’t go all crazy on that party. No need for caterers, or a band or whatever you’ve got planned. Just put up a few balloons.”

  Mona winced. There was no way she was going to hold back on her party. She’d been dreaming about opening the shop for too long. She looked around at the hardwood floors, the cherry trim, the glass cases and brass lined counters. It all screamed that no expense had been spared. The shop had a vintage yet modern look. It was a cheerful environment that she knew would be a success.

  “Well, you know what Cee says, it takes money to make money,” Mona said through a smile.

  Bee let out a high-pitched scream, “Don’t listen to that old bag! She knows nothing.”

  Mona giggled. “I knew that’d get your goat. I have to go now, Bee. I have to make some more jam for your coupon clippers.”

  She hung up and hightailed it to the back of the shop where she plugged in a small burner. As she measured out the water to boil, her cell phone buzzed again.

  It was Vicki. Mona poured the water into the pan and answered the phone.

  “Hey, what’s up? Where are you? I was getting worried,” Mona said.

  “Sorry! I should have called you earlier, but I got a little carried away here at home and made an extra batch of honey lip balm and honey candles, just in case.”

  “Just in case, in case o
f what?”

  “What if we sell out? I don’t want the shelves to be empty on our grand opening weekend, do you?”

  “My Aunt Bee called you, didn’t she?” Mona asked.

  Vicki chuckled. “Yeah, I agreed to a—”

  “Two for one special?”

  Vicki moaned. “You too?”

  “I’m just starting another batch of my blackberry ginger jam,” Mona said.

  “Oh,” Vicki said. “I thought you were already at the store?”

  “I am. I brought my portable hot plate,” Mona said.

  “Well don’t burn the shop down!” Vicki said.

  “Come on,” Mona laughed. “I’m not that stupid!”

  “Okay, I’ll be there soon. I’ll bring breakfast,” Vicki said. "Biscuits and coffee sound good?”

  “You know me too well. In the meantime, I’ll be here all alone, working my hands to the bone.”

  Vicki laughed. “I know you’re such a workaholic! Anyway, I’m going to make it up to you.”

  “Yeah, well coffee and biscuits will only get you so far. I need you to scrub the bathroom and stock shelves.”

  “I know,” Vicki said and by the tone of her voice Mona could tell she was smiling, “But I have another little surprise for you.”

  Mona gripped the phone tightly. She hated surprises. “What’s that?”

  “Leo is coming for the grand opening,” Vicki said, giggling as she hung up.

  “Wait! Wait!” Mona said into the dead phone. She stared at the phone in her hand, trying not to hyperventilate.

  Leo’s coming to the grand opening?

  Leo Lawson, Vicki’s older brother, was tall, dark and handsome. He’d been the first boy Mona had a crush on back in school, and she’d never gotten over him. In high school, he’d broken her heart when he started dating, Lacey, the head cheerleader. But shortly after graduation, he’d left Magnolia Falls, to join the military, and now he was back after eight long years.

  She knew he worked at the Magnolia Falls PD, but she hadn’t seen him, yet.

  Not properly anyway.

  She’d ducked out of the grocery store a few times, when she’d seen his patrol car pull into the parking lot. And there’d been the time, she snuck out of the back of the bookstore on Main Street, when she’d heard his voice asking the clerk for the latest police procedural.

  But she hadn’t spoken with him, yet.

  She’d been in the hospital with tonsillitis during his homecoming party, and she’d missed him twice at Vicki’s due to bad timing.

  As she waited for the water to boil, she printed out the inventory list and the pricing guide and headed back to the shop. With a pricing gun in her hand, she priced all the blackberry jam and then began working on the strawberry. Thoughts of Leo filled her mind and she daydreamed about seeing him at the grand opening.

  What am I going to wear? Mona thought in a panic.

  Looking around the shop, she wondered if she would have time to go shopping and pick out something new and sexy before Friday. Jammin’ Honey was filled with half empty shelves, boxes of jams, jellies, honey candles, lotions and balms everywhere, she doubted she would have time to sleep much less go on a shopping trip.

  She hummed along with the music and priced the merchandise to the beat, invigorated by the thought of the grand opening and Leo. When the phone in her apron pocket vibrated. She answered it without glancing at the caller ID.

  “I knew you couldn’t stay away. Are you bringing me lunch instead of breakfast?” asked Mona.

  “Excuse me?” asked the voice on the phone.

  Mona realized it wasn’t Vicki, she looked at the phone and saw that the caller was Lacey MacInroy from the bakery.

  “Lacey, I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else.”

  “Obviously,” said Lacey in a condescending tone, “I need to meet with you at once, can you come by the bakery before lunch?”

  “Lacey, this isn’t a great time. I have so much to do before the Grand Opening. Can you just tell me what’s going on over the phone?”

  “I only called because this is important. It affects the catering menu for the Grand Opening. One of my suppliers has informed me that he’s out of that gluten-free almond flour you wanted, so I’ve had to make a few last-minute changes. I think you’ll find the substitutions suitable, but I need your approval before I can proceed,” explained Lacey in a tone that Mona felt sure betrayed the fact that Lacey was rolling her eyes.

  “I’m sure whatever you substitute will be fine, as long as it’s gluten-free,” Mona said.

  Lacey made a clucking noise in the back of her throat. Clearly, she was put out by Mona’s request. It had been a struggle to get Lacey to agree to cater the event at all, much less make it gluten-free. But, after the great write up in the Magnolia Falls Gazette, Mona had been able to persuade her.

  “Do you really need me to come right now?” Mona asked. “I’m in the middle of prepping the shop, and I have so much left to do. Can I just give you my approval over the phone?’

  “Not if you want me to cater this affair. I must have you taste the final recipe. I need to know that you will be pleased with the pastry selections, and this morning is the only time I have available.”

  Mona stuffed down her impatience. Lacey’s bakery was the only caterer in town and with only few days left before the grand opening, she didn’t have the time or energy to make enough food for the event. Obviously, Lacey wasn’t giving her a choice.

  With a sigh, Mona said, “Give me ten minutes. I’ll be right over.”

  “Fine,” answered Lacey.

  Mona was about to say goodbye, but Lacey had already hung up. She slipped the phone into her jeans pocket and tried not to think about how infuriating Lacey was. Pulling the apron over her head, she vowed not to let Lacey’s attitude ruin her day. Despite the inconvenience of having to stop work and test drive a few pasties at her caterer’s insistence, the day was going well. If she kept working at her present pace, all her stock would be ready to sell by the weekend.

  Walking to the back, she was tempted to burst out in song. She loved everything about her new shop, it was truly a dream come true; thanks to Aunt Cee’s investment and belief in her.

  She turned off the burner and unplugged it for safe measure.

  Aunt Bee’s coupon clippers would have to wait for their special, at least for the moment. Then, sliding her purse onto her shoulder, she walked out of the store and locked the front door.

  <><><>

  The bell above the door chimed cheerfully as Mona walked into the bakery. A quick glance at her watch confirmed that there was no time to spare in her hectic schedule for this last-minute errand. Checking off the items on the endless to do list was Mona’s priority, not placating the caterer.

  Fresh baked bread and sweet pastries crowded the glass cases, and their aroma combined to create a decadent ambrosia. Mona inhaled the soothing scent, surprised that a woman as cold as Lacey MacInroy could create warm and delicious baked goods.

  “Can I help you?” asked a freckle-faced young man.

  Glancing at her watch once more, Mona answered, “I’m here to see Lacey.”

  The man disappeared behind the door that said Kitchen.

  The door swung open, and a woman wearing a white apron over tailored capris and a crisp pink polo greeted Mona, “Mona, please join me in the kitchen.”

  As Mona crossed toward the kitchen door, Lacey smiled and wiggled her fingers in a friendly wave at an older gentleman waiting in line. With her shoulder length honey-blond hair pulled back in a ponytail and only a hint of bronzer on her cheeks, Lacey appeared to be as fresh faced and beautiful as she had been in high school.

  That’s Lacey, everyone’s friend except mine.

  Whatever did I do to get on her bad side?

  Lacey’s warm smile disappeared as the kitchen door closed behind them.

  “Do you have any idea how difficult it has been to find that gluten-free flour you wanted?” Lacey
asked with a frown.

  The grand opening was only days away, and Mona didn’t want risk upsetting Lacey. If the caterer backed out now Mona didn’t know what she would do.

  Mona met Lacey’s frown with a smile, it wasn’t sincere, but it was the best she could muster under the stress. “Lacey, I don’t understand why your supplier was out of this flour, gluten-free is popular. My request wasn’t that unusual, I have seen that flour at all the big grocery chains.”

  “That’s just it, it’s very trendy, so every bakery from San Francisco to New York is using it for wedding cakes, breads, you name it. My supplier told me I should have ordered it over two weeks in advance.”

  I tried to book your catering service for over a month.

  Hiding her frustration, Mona tried a different approach and said diplomatically, “I appreciate your efforts to find a solution. You said you may have found a suitable substitute?”

  Opening a drawer, Lacey pulled out a card that was covered in neat rows of handwriting. Handing the card to Mona she asked, “What do you think of the recipe? I can use half gluten-free almond flour I found at the health food market and half gluten-free self-rising flour.”

  “What’s in the self-rising flour, and will it taste the same?” asked Mona.

  Mona planned to offer samples of her jams and Vicki’s honey along with the pastries. They had to be good!

  “Garbanzo beans, ground fava beans, it sounds disgusting, but by the time it’s all mixed up, no one can tell the difference,” Lacey answered.

  Mona was certain that she would be able to tell a difference between almond flour and ground beans, but it was too late to argue over ingredients. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, she was almost willing to agree to the changes in the recipe when a question popped into her head, “If you could find almond flour at the health food market, why can’t you buy enough of that to use instead of using it for half of the recipe?”

  Lacey rolled her eyes as she answered, “Do you have any idea how much that stuff costs? I’m already doing you an enormous favor just accepting this job, and now you want me to not make any money on it?”

  Her first impulse was to tell Lacey to forget it, instead Mona said, “Lacey, I understand you have to make money, just bill me for the additional amount and please use the good flour, no ground beans.”