Chili to Die For (A Willow Crier Cozy Mystery Book 1) (Willow Crier Cozy Mysteries) Read online

  Willow returned the smile. “Please, call me Willow.” She handed him a Willow Tree Sweet Shoppe business card.

  “Willow it is. I’ll be talking with you soon.” He let go of her hand and walked her to the door.

  Willow left in her jeep with a lot less to carry than when she had arrived. The police officers took everything from her station. Nothing was left behind. It all had to be tested. Everyone’s chili had to be tested. The police chief said, “Just in case.” Her question was, “Just in case of what? Poison? E.coli? Salmonella? Certainly not!” At least hers wasn’t the only chili to be singled out.

  Chapter 4

  Willow was glad to see Embry’s car in the driveway. Her daughter was working as a waitress in downtown Oklahoma City. She liked the big city. Willow did not. This suited them both. Embry had a small apartment in the city and came out when she needed to breathe some fresh country air, or she needed something from her mom, which ever came first. Willow hoped today was a fresh country air day. She wasn’t sure if she had the stamina for anything else.

  She opened the door and the burn of chili peppers assaulted her nose. Embry found the chili she’d saved for supper.

  “Mom, this stuff rocks.” She said in-between bites.

  Willow tossed her purse down on the coffee table and plopped down next to her daughter.

  “You okay? Didn’t you win? I can’t imagine what the winning chili tasted like if you didn’t win. That stuff must be off the charts cause this is the best chili I’ve ever eaten.”

  “Nope, I didn’t win. In fact, I didn’t even place. Because the cook-off got cancelled. Why?” She asked with sarcasm before answering her own question. “Because remember that woman who was road rage central yesterday?”

  Willow waited for Embry to nod.

  “Well, she was a judge.”

  “Oh no, Mom. You’ve got to be kidding me. What are the odds?”

  “Oh, that’s not the best part. The best part is, she dropped dead after taking a bite of my chili. One bite. Face dive right into the bowl.”

  Embry pushed the bowl away from her. “Sheesh, Ma, you could have told me this before I ate half a bowl full.”

  “The chili is fine. I had a bowl for lunch. I’m still living.”

  Embry took the bowl back. “Okay, I’ll trust you.” She took another bite. “Wait a minute. You mean the lady who went postal on you yesterday…the same lady you took pictures of and put them on your Facebook wall, is dead? From eating your chili?”

  “Yeah, I mean no. I don’t know. It could have been anyone’s chili. Now you’re getting the picture.”

  She spoke with her mouth full. “See what happens when you instigate? Not only could she have had a gun and shot you, but she could end up dead with a face full of your chili. You should have just ignored her. At least you wouldn’t have a string of pictures on Facebook incriminating you. Now what are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What do you mean you don’t know? You’re going to investigate. You’re going to prove it wasn’t you. With all the evidence stacked up against you, you gotta do something.”

  Embry pulled her laptop out of its case and typed in the name Willow provided, Delonda Posey. Willow nudged closer so she could see the screen. The woman had made enough people mad, that was for sure. Her Facebook page alone was a gold mine. Now who and why. She already knew the when. Her chili and her mantle’s lack of a trophy would testify to that.

  Embry found Delonda’s vlog with ease and watched the several posts. She had video of home cooked dishes being prepared, interviews with unsuspecting restaurateurs, chefs who needed to be put in their place, and local businesses that had received a rating in the Delonda Rating System, some of which were brutal. She even secretly recorded trips to restaurants and local food businesses and had the gall to post the recordings on her vlog, especially the ones in which she got into an altercation with the owner over how a certain dish is prepared or the service she received.

  Willow’s mouth dropped when she saw an argument between Delonda and Richard Sutton, the other judge who owned the Barbecue restaurant, nearly come to blows. “We have our work cut out for us. This could be anyone’s doing.”

  Embry patted her mom’s knee. “I have off tomorrow. Want me to come in to the shop with you? We could dish up ice cream and make a list. I’ll bring my laptop. You got wireless internet installed, right?” She quickly added. “And we need to get back into the high school and peek around. Maybe somebody missed something.”

  “Yes and yes. It’s been in for a couple of weeks now. And I’d love to dish ice cream with you and make a list. Maybe Police Chief Grice will have an update by then. If you’re at the shop, I could run down to the police station and check on things.”

  “Great idea, Mom.” Embry looked a little closer. “Mom, did you just smile when you said the police chief’s name?”

  “Why would I do that?”

  Embry narrowed her eyes. “Mom? Fess up.”

  “Oh, Embry. There isn’t anything to tell. Except he has a smile that could knock a girl off balance. I will say that much.”

  “Oh? Tell me more.”

  Much later, Willow slipped into her bed thinking about a pair of dark blue eyes, a wide pair of shoulders, and a dimple that only she could see.

  Her dreams on the other hand had her running for her life from a smoked pig wielding a knife. She woke up with the name Richard Sutton on her lips. Perhaps revenge was the why and could the “who” be Richard Sutton? She looked at the clock. 5:30. She didn’t have to set an alarm when she only sold ice cream. Now that she added sweets to the menu, she had to go in a bit earlier and stay later to get her baking done. If she added coffee, it would mean an even earlier day. A girl has to earn a living.

  She flipped on the news and there she was. In all of her glory. Taking pictures from the safety of her jeep while a woman taunted her. Not just any woman. A woman who was most certainly murdered. She realized several people videoed her interaction with Ms. Posey but who already knew about her murder? And who wanted to make sure Willow was the first in line to take the blame?

  Chapter 5

  Willow’s phone started ringing shortly after the newscast ended. Her best friend, Janie, was the first to get through.

  “Did you see yourself on the news?” Janie was a morning person. Somehow, their friendship survived.

  “Yes, I did.” After explaining the whole sordid ordeal, Janie insisted on joining her and Embry at the shop, even though it was her day off. The “three heads are certainly better than two” argument won out.

  By nine o’clock all three ladies were gathered around one of the café style tables in Willow Tree Sweets Shoppe brainstorming. The place was decorated like an old time soda fountain shop. Her grandfather’s doing. She wanted to update the décor but hadn’t gotten around to it yet. It still had red and white striped curtains, an ice cream counter with red topped round bar stools, a black and white checked floor, even a candy counter. Willow had installed a case for the baked items but that was about it. If she decided to add specialty coffees she would need to invest more money in the shop. She had to figure this murder out so she would feel comfortable making it her own. Until then, she was stuck. She had to save where she could.

  Willow wasn’t even sure the woman was murdered. She could have had a heart attack. Willow started to declare the whole gathering of the minds a waste of time when police chief Grice opened the door.

  Willow frowned. Not one small glimpse of that dimple. It must be bad news.

  “Can we talk for a minute?”

  “Sure. Let’s go back to my office.”

  Embry started humming He’s So Fine and Willow gave her a look to shut her up. Not that it worked.

  Willow closed the door once they both managed to finagle themselves in her tiny cubicle of an office.

  Police Chief Grice took off his hat. “Good morning, Ms. Crier.”

  “It’s Willow, remember?�
�

  Yes, Willow. Um, call me Steve.” He smiled and revealed the sweet dimple she so wanted to see then he quickly went straight faced. “Well, it’s official. Ms. Posey was murdered. She had a severe reaction to peanuts. She was highly allergic. Someone with that information used it to murder the food columnist. Our medical examiner found traces of peanuts in her stomach contents.”

  Willow leaned back against her desk and pictured the stomach content scenes in crime scene shows, labs, and gothic lab assistants testing food. She nodded her head. “I was afraid of that. You don’t know whose chili it was yet, do you?”

  “No, those tests won’t be back for a few days.” He looked a bit nervous. “I saw the news this morning. And I saw your posts on Facebook. You seem to have put yourself right in the middle of a murder.”

  “It would appear that way, wouldn’t it?” Willow sighed. “There is only one thing I can do.”

  Grice raised his eyebrows.

  “Solve it.”

  “Ms. Crier, I mean, Willow, I think it best if you leave the murder solving business to the professionals. One person has already been murdered. We don’t need another body showing up. And certainly not yours.”

  Willow watched the police chief’s face turn bright red.

  “I mean, we don’t want anyone else hurt. No one, including you.”

  “Chief Grice, I’m a newcomer here. People don’t know me yet. I have a business to run and that business won’t support itself. If the town doesn’t trust me, they won’t buy my goods. If they don’t buy my goods, I’m outta business.” Willow stood up. “And I cannot let that happen. I won’t let it happen. My grandfather spent his entire life serving this town his very favorite treat. I won’t let anything happen to this shop.”

  “Promise me you’ll be careful. And if you find anything out, come to me first.”

  Willow nodded. “Okay, well, we already have a suspect.”

  “We?”

  “Yes, my daughter, Embry, and my best friend, Janie. We’re making a list of suspects now. Did you know that Richard Sutton got into a heated argument with the deceased and she posted the argument on her vlog?”

  “Vlog? What is a vlog?”

  “Oh, it’s like a blog but instead of writing an article, you use video.” She opened the door. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

  “I have to be honest. I don’t even know what a blog is.”

  “You’re not on the computer much, are you?”

  He shook his head. “Well, not outside of work. I have to be on the darn thing so much at work I don’t even own one at home. I have an old fashioned typewriter I use for personal use. If I have to send email, I do so from work.”

  “You’ll be a pro by the time I’m done with you. Or perhaps I should say when Embry is finished with you. She’s my go-to girl for anything computer related.”

  Janie and Embry were still watching posts on Delonda’s website when Willow and Chief Grier rejoined them.

  “Hey guys, bring up that post with Richard Sutton again. Steve wants to see it.”

  Embry smiled at the use of the police chief’s first name. “Okay, mom. I’m sure Police Chief Grice will find this useful.”

  A few seconds later Delonda Posey was trashing the Barbecue Palace like it was the worst dining establishment on the face of the earth. She even went so far as to say that Richard stole his barbecue recipe. That is when things really got ugly. Of course Willow experienced Delonda’s “ugly” during a fit of road rage. Using video to trash someone’s means of supporting themselves was a whole other form of ugly. And it would appear Delonda had no issue with that kind of ugly.

  Richard was screaming he would sue her. She was shouting her right to free speech. Customers and employees were holding them both back and the police ended up escorting Delonda out of the restaurant. And she was banned for life.

  Willow speculated. “I’m betting Richard didn’t know she was videotaping the whole thing. Or having someone else do her dirty work for her. He couldn’t have. He must have been livid when he found out.” She thought back to the judge introductions. “And how they could have been so cordial to one another on that platform is beyond me. And why were they both judges for this competition? Surely someone knew they were enemies.”

  Steve saw the validity in her questions. “It would seem that someone at the chili cook-off did the deed. They had the means and the opportunity.”

  “Yes. Richard seems the obvious choice. But I’m guessing she made enemies of a lot more people than just Richard. The question becomes…how many of her enemies were also at the cook off?”

  The front door bell tinkled and all four looked up.

  Willow rolled her eyes. Annabelle. Two days in a row was more than anyone could handle. Entering right behind her was Molly. Molly on the other hand, put a smile on Willow’s face. It was good to see the contest hostess again.

  “What brings you two in here this morning?”

  Annabelle answered. “Scones. We need scones for our morning Bible study. The store I normally get them from is out. So that left you. I wouldn’t have come in for the world but Molly insisted we give yours a try. I have no doubt they will leave me wanting.” She turned to Molly. “I’m sure the little ones won’t care where they get their cookies from. Their taste buds are not quite developed just yet.” She turned back to Willow. “I’ll take two dozen of your cut out cookies as well.”

  Willow wanted to throw her southern backside out the door but a dozen scones and two dozen cookies would help today’s bottom line. And judging from the line extending out the door, rather, the lack of one, this might be today’s grand bottom line. She opened two boxes and arranged the scones and cookies.

  Annabelle wandered to where the police chief, Janie, and Embry sat. “So, I heard she was murdered. I also heard it was Beau Lovett. They had a big falling out a little while back. Rumor has it he vowed he would pay her back.”

  Willow wanted to ask her how spreading rumors and Bible studies mixed but kept her trap shut. Wasn’t gossip a no-no? Instead, she let the chief answer.

  “Yes, it would appear someone wanted to get revenge.” He stood up and made for the door. “And it’s my job to find who that someone is.” He nodded in the direction of Willow, replaced his hat and left. Leaving no doubt whatsoever in any of the ladies’ minds he meant business.

  Annabelle turned to Willow. “Of course the first person on the suspect list is you, Willow. Did you really let yourself be recorded for national television without a single drop of makeup on? Honey, you really should pick up some good makeup. And make sure you get some bb cream. It will help fill in all those little lines by your eyes.” She moved her finger around, as if she was applying the make-up herself. “We Southern women wouldn’t be caught dead outside our bedrooms without our face properly applied. Heaven forbid. Someone might come over.” She shook her head in exasperation. “The horror. Being caught on television ‘au natural.’ Goodness.” Annabelle turned to Molly. “The things we must teach those who didn’t have the good fortune of a proper upbringing.” She paid her bill and started for the door. “Come, Molly. We mustn’t be late.”

  Annabelle was gone before Willow could form a response. She sat down next to her daughter and all three ladies busted out in laughter.

  Chapter 6

  Willow remembered why they were gathered at her shop and sobered up. “We need a way to get everyone who was at the chili cook-off together so we can interact with them. There must be something we can do.”

  Embry’s eyebrows shot up. “Mom, what if we hosted everyone out at the ranch? Maybe a commemorative get together to remember Ms. Posey by.”

  Janie added. “We could even ask Molly about re-doing the chili cook-off. I bet she would be all for it. I’m guessing everyone would come. Even the killer. They would have to come or they would look guilty.”

  Willow nodded. “That’s a really good idea, you two. I’ll give Molly a call later this afternoon when I know she’ll be finis
hed with her Bible study. Of course it means I’ll have to enjoy the presence of Annabelle once more, but what can I do?” She paused and blushed a little. “I’ll have to run it by Chief Grice as well.”

  Embry grinned. “So, it’s chief now. What happened to Steve?”

  Willow tapped her shoulder playfully. “That’s enough out of you!” She was back to business. “We’ll all need to be there to keep our eyes and ears open. Will that work?”

  Janie answered first. “I don’t know. I think I’m scheduled to work that day. I’ll have to check with my boss.”

  Willow chuckled. “I have a firm in with the boss. I think you’ll be fine.” She turned to Embry. “What about you? Don’t you have to work at the restaurant on Saturday?”

  “I’ll get someone to cover for me. I’ve done so many favors they all owe me. Someone should be available.”

  “Okay, as long as Molly is okay with it and the Chief gives me his okay, we’re on. I’ll have our part time girl cover the shop. Heaven knows we haven’t had much business since the murder. She should be able to handle it.”

  Surprisingly, a few people ventured into the shop over lunch time. Willow guessed they wanted to see who the number one murder suspect was, because they sure didn’t buy much. A cookie or a muffin and a couple of bottles of water. Something had to change quickly or she’d be in the hole faster than the gopher living in her front yard.

  In between customers, Willow made a list of everyone she remembered being at the cook-off. She left a message on Molly’s voicemail asking her to call then got busy making the dough for tomorrow’s banana bread. The town loved her banana bread. Probably the chocolate chips and nuts she added. Maybe the smell alone would bring them in droves. At least she hoped so.

  Embry reminded Willow of the quick trip across town that was needing their attention. Willow glanced at the empty tables and told Janie where they were going. The high school.