Fudgement Day (Chocolate Cozy Mystery Book 3) Read online

  Fudgement Day

  Chocolate Cozy Mystery #3

  Wendy Meadows

  Copyright © 2017 by Wendy Meadows

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

  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.

  Printed in the United States of America

  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

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Thanks for reading

  Be the First to Know

  About the Author

  Also by Wendy Meadows

  Chapter One

  Sebastian Cloud hovered in front of the counter in the Block-a-Choc Shoppe and rubbed his palms together. “I told you you’d love it here, Jase,” he said and nudged his friend, another college-aged kid at his side.

  “I’ve got a special treat prepared today,” Olivia said and smiled at her son. He’d been back in town for a few days, but she hadn’t seen enough of him. He’d opted to stay with his friend rather than uproot Alphonsine from his old room above the store. The French woman had planned to stay with friends—or at the only motel in Chester—at first.

  “What is it?” Sebastian asked, and ruffled his curly brown hair.

  Olivia bent and brought out the silver tray she’d prepared that morning for this very occasion. “My latest chocolatey invention,” she announced. “The caramel fudge drop.”

  The chocolate balls sat on a decorative white paper towel, streaked with fine swirls of pink. They jostled for attention, dark as little blobs of coal but much more palatable. She hadn’t dusted these with cocoa powder. They didn’t need the extra kick this time around.

  “Awesome,” Sebastian said.

  “Wow,” Jason breathed. “I’ve never seen chocolates like these before.”

  “Yeah this isn’t a Hershey’s bar,” Sebastian replied and snorted a laugh. “Or one of your favorites, bro. A Snickers.”

  “Whatever.” Jason shrugged.

  The boys stared at the chocolates but didn’t touch.

  “Help yourselves. I made them as testers. You two can give me the final verdict.” Olivia dusted off her apron and spared a glance for Alberta at the coffee machine. The oldest ‘A’ loved the front of the shop—absorbing the gossip and relaying it to Olivia, whether she wanted to hear it or not.

  The boys helped themselves to the chocolates. Sebastian bit into his and shut his eyes. “Mom, these are awesome.”

  “Thank you,” she said. “I didn’t make them by myself, though.”

  Jason Horn chewed noisily. “What’s in them, Mrs. Cloud?”

  “Miss,” Olivia said and tapped the side of the tray. “They’re basically fudge balls, flavored with a caramel essence, and covered in smooth dark chocolate for a kick. Do you like them?”

  “They’re great,” Jason said, his teeth coated in the chocolate. “Sebastian told me you were a chocolatier, but I didn’t believe him until we got back into town.”

  “You’re originally from Chester, I hear,” Olivia said. Sebby—gosh, her son hated that nickname—hadn’t filled her in on much, apart from where he’d decided to stay and the bare basics about the Horn family.

  Olivia had resisted the urge to participate in an extracurricular search of her own. After the past few weeks, she could use a break from mysteries and suspicion, after all.

  “That’s right. Born and raised,” he said and gave her two thumbs up. “I think my dad was born here, too, but my mom was one of those darn city folk.” Jason chuckled at his own joke.

  Sebastian had gone into ‘chocolate devourer’ mode. He gobbled down drop after drop.

  “Sebby,” Olivia said.

  He met her gaze and stuck out his tongue. “C’mon, Ma, you know how much I hate it when you call me that.”

  “And you know how bad it is to eat that many chocolates in a row. I hope you don’t do this when you’re at college.” Ugh, since when had she become a super protective mom?

  Sebastian rounded the counter and gave her a quick hug. “We just stopped by to say hi, Mom. We’re on our way to go check out a movie.”

  “But Chester doesn’t have a cinema,” Olivia said. She reprimanded herself in her head. She’d hardly spent time with Sebastian, sure, but she’d never been the clingy soccer mom type. Now, she’d likely made a fool of herself in front of his friend.

  “Yeah, we’re going to watch it at our other friend’s house,” Jason said, and his cheeks colored slightly. “But hey, I wanted to ask if you’d like to come over for dinner tonight, Miss Cloud. My dad and mom would be thrilled to meet you. Sebastian’s spoken so much about you, and I think my mom’s come in a few times to get some of your chocolates.”

  Delight scraped away the humiliation of seconds before. “That would be lovely,” Olivia said.

  Alphonsine wouldn’t mind looking after Dodger, her doggy pal, for the night. They always enjoyed each other’s company, even though the dastardly doggy loved causing trouble in the most haphazard ways.

  “Awesome,” Jason said and smoothed his short black hair. “We’ll see you then.”

  “Have a good day,” Olivia said.

  Sebastian planted a kiss on her forehead—he’d shot up as a teen and towered above her—then high-tailed it out of there. The store’s glass front door swung shut behind the boys.

  Olivia sighed and risked a smile. The week had started out great, and it was good to have her son back, even if it was only for winter break.

  She focused on the street outside and the low bank of thick, gray clouds which confirmed the snow forecast in Olivia’s mind.

  “You look happy as a clam,” Alberta said and popped a coffee mug down in front of her. “What’s the occasion?”

  “The occasion? No occasion and that’s exactly the point. I think it’s high time we enjoy a relatively event-free week, Albie. Don’t you?” Olivia asked, lifting her coffee mug. She tilted it toward her A in a salute, then took a sip. “I’ve had enough adventure and mystery to last me a lifetime.”

  “Famous last words,” Alberta called as she hurried toward the coffee machine to brew a pot this time.

  The cold weather and the lead-up to Christmas had drawn customers into the store like moths to a flame. The scent of roasted coffee beans and melting chocolate, rich and aromatic, raised the comfort level in the store to new heights.

  Olivia didn’t let Albie’s joke get to her. She’d enjoy this evening and this week with her son back in town, no matter what.

  Chapter Two

  Olivia stood beside the walnut table in the dining area of the Horn abode and clutched a glass of wine between her palms. She gazed out the wall-length window into the fading light that hung above the forest.

 
The Horns had to have paid an arm and a leg to afford such an amazing view. The trees encroached on their back garden, and the soft calls of animals added to the serenity that surrounded their home.

  “Lucky it hasn’t snowed yet.”

  Olivia turned and met the eagle-eyed gaze of Jason’s father. Mr. Horn was all mustache and no humor. He’d greeted her with a formal handshake and a somber expression.

  “How so?” Olivia asked.

  “Hate the snow,” Mr. Horn said, and whipped a cigar out of the breast pocket of his jacket—he’d obviously come from work. He gestured with the Cuban. “Makes the weather up here unbearable. I hate having this much nature around.”

  “Oh, come on, darling,” Mrs. Horn said from beside the rich wooden counter. “It’s lovely.”

  “She chose the place,” Mr. Horn grumbled. “Loves camping and birds and twigs.”

  Olivia kept her opinion to herself, but in truth, she couldn’t love nature more. She’d taken Dodger on plenty of walks, though she’d hadn’t braved the scraggly forest that surrounded Chester just yet.

  “Mom!” Sebastian burst into the room, his friend Jason close on his heels. “There you are.”

  Two people entered behind the boys. A middle-aged man with a neatly clipped brown beard and hard eyes, and a young lady, probably around Sebastian’s age.

  Sebastian hurried over and gave Olivia a quick hug, then looped his arm through hers and dragged her toward the pair who’d just entered.

  “Mom, this is Mr. Walter,” he said. “He’s a teacher at Chester High School.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Olivia said and extended a hand.

  Mr. Walter didn’t shake it. He stared at her digits as if they’d transformed into a pit of coiled vipers, prepared to strike.

  Sebastian brushed over the moment. “And this is our friend, Kerry Walter. She goes to college with us.”

  Kerry took Olivia’s hand and gave it a firm shake. “Nice to meet you, Miss Cloud. Sebby’s told us so much about you.”

  Olivia raised an eyebrow. “I thought I was the only one who called him that.”

  Sebastian went red as a tomato. “I, uh—”

  “Dinner,” Mrs. Horn said and spread her arms. “Please, everyone take a seat.”

  Olivia carried her glass of merlot to one of the upholstered high-backed chairs. She lowered herself into it, and her son took a seat beside her. Mr. Walter, who hadn’t said a word since he’d come in, sat on her other side.

  The scrapes and chatter continued, even after everyone had settled. Sebastian chatted to Jason on his other side.

  Olivia cleared her throat and avoided Mr. Walter’s gaze. What was the guy’s problem? Olivia didn’t enjoy rudeness at the best of times, and this was one of those times.

  “You’re a friend of the Horns,” Mr. Walter said, with a bite to his tone.

  Olivia flinched and looked at him, at last.

  His liquid brown eyes bored a hole into her soul. “Goodness,” she said, then took a sip of her wine. “I’ve just met them, actually. Sebastian is friends with their son. You know them well?”

  “I know them well enough,” Mr. Walter said, and his gaze sliced to Mr. Horn at the head of the table. His eyes narrowed to slits. “Oh yeah, more than well enough.”

  Olivia didn’t push the issue further. Mr. Walter gave her a ‘no-go’ vibe which curled her toes.

  A waiter—an actual waiter—set down a plate of soup in front of her. “Ham and pea soup, madam,” he said, then swept back to a tray beside the counter to fetch the next bowl before she had the chance to thank him.

  “Ham and pea soup,” Sebastian said and placed his hands on either side of the bowl. “I love it.”

  “Me, too,” Jason said, beside him.

  Mr. Horn stiffened at the head of the table. “You love it, Jason?” he asked.

  “Yeah, it’s great. Thanks, Dad.” The young man’s cheeks colored again.

  “Pity you don’t love studying as much as you love ham and pea soup.”

  That was the most bizarre statement Olivia had ever heard—and after the past few weeks, that said a lot.

  “Darling, stop,” Mrs. Horn whispered and touched him on the arm. Her long hair hung in a sheet over one shoulder and glimmered with each movement. “He’s doing the best he can.”

  “The best he can?” Mr. Horn asked. “Is that right, kid? Is that what you’re doing? Wasting my dime on your pathetic social studies? The best he can. He could’ve been a lawyer.”

  “Not everyone wants to be a lawyer,” Jason said through gritted teeth.

  Sebastian kept his gaze on the soup, but Olivia couldn’t tear herself from the argument. It was the last thing she’d expected at a civilized dinner party with one of the richest families in Chester.

  “You don’t have to like it,” Mr. Horn growled. “You do it because it’s an obligation.” Mr. Horn dropped his spoon into his bowl, and green soup splattered onto the clean, white placemat.

  Kerry Walter sat beside Mrs. Horn, her green eyes as wide as the bowl of soup in front of her, minus the floating peas and ham.

  Jason glared at his father across the room. “I’m never going to be a lawyer.”

  “Insufferable failure,” Mr. Horn grunted. “You can get the heck away from my table. And the heck out of this house.”

  “Gregory.” Mrs. Horn clapped her hands to get her husband’s attention.

  “No, Sandra. The boy’s an idiot. He’s doing this to spite me. To spite us.”

  Jason rose from his seat and threw his napkin down in his bowl of soup. More green fluid shot across the table.

  This was worse than a soap opera.

  “I’m done,” Jason said. “I’m done, Dad. You can’t even be civilized for a meal with friends. You’re triggered by everything. I might be a failure to you, but I’m not a failure to myself. That’s all that matters.”

  Good for him.

  The young man turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, toward the back exit, which led to parts unknown.

  Silence fell around the table.

  The back door slammed, followed by the storm door.

  “Gosh,” Olivia muttered under her breath.

  The lights in the shell wall sconces flickered, and Mr. Horn glowered at them. “Not again,” he said. “Whenever this weather starts we lose—”

  The power went out, and the room was plunged into darkness. Olivia couldn’t see a hand in front of her face.

  A chair scraped back.

  “Nobody move,” Mr. Horn said. “Jeff, go outside to the breakers and—”

  Another chair moved, but Olivia stayed glued to her seat. A thrill of alarm traveled up her spine. The wind shifted to both her left and right. A murmur. The slam of two more doors. Footsteps on the wooden boards outside the dining area and on the back porch. Or was that upstairs? Olivia couldn’t tell.

  Another bang sounded.

  “What was that?” Olivia asked.

  No one answered.

  The house creaked in the silence, but a resounding slam, followed by a thump, came a second later.

  The lights flickered on at last, and Olivia blinked away the darkness. She squinted around at the other guests, but most of them were gone, including her son.

  She met Mr. Horn’s gaze.

  “Where did everybody—”

  Sandra Horn’s scream split her sentence wide open.

  Chapter Three

  Olivia leaped from her seat at the same moment as Mr. Horn.

  “What’s going on?” he asked.

  She didn’t answer him. How on earth would she know? Everyone had disappeared, her son included, during the blackout.

  Another scream pierced the night, and Olivia launched herself toward the noise—the same exit that Jason Horn had used mere minutes before. Mr. Horn’s heavy steps followed hers.

  They burst into the kitchen, where a group of waiters and chefs stood side by side, staring at the open back door. An icy breeze gusted through and blew Ol
ivia’s hair back from her face.

  She slowed but didn’t stop moving. She moved onto the back porch, lit by lanterns on either side of the entrance.

  Mrs. Horn kneeled beside a figure on the floor.

  “Jason,” Olivia whispered.

  The young man lay on his face, draped half across the back stairs which led out onto the frost-brittle grass and into the forest, and half across the porch. He didn’t move or breathe.

  “Out of the way, woman,” Mr. Horn said and pushed Olivia aside. He rushed to his son’s side, concern wrinkling his brow instead of anger.

  A gasp shuddered behind Olivia.

  “Jason?” Kerry Walter stumbled forward a step.

  Sebastian rushed out after her, pale as the snow that threatened to drop from the bruised sky. “No!” he said. “Mom, what happened?”

  “What happened?” Olivia repeated. “I have no idea. Where did you run off to?”

  “I—”

  “Someone call an ambulance,” Mrs. Horn wailed.

  Mr. Walter stepped up beside Olivia, a cell phone clutched in his right hand. “On it,” he said—the first words that hadn’t been negative since he’d entered the Horn house. He strode down the porch to the far end, phone against his ear.

  Olivia had had just about enough of this. She pressed her palm to her forehead and stumbled back a step. They couldn’t do a thing for the poor boy. She backed toward the kitchen door and away from the scene.

  Sebastian swiveled and stared at her. “Mom, how did this happen?”

  “I don’t know,” she replied. “The lights went out, and we heard the scream. I wasn’t out here when it happened.”