Christmas Chocolate Murder (A Maple Hills Cozy Mystery Book 9) Page 5

  Tori and Seth were behind the counter. They were laughing and joking, helping the customers. There were Christmas carols playing over the speakers, and everyone seemed to be having a good time. Lidia came out of the back with another tray of the white chocolate peppermint sticks. Those had been Lidia’s idea, and they were a hit. Some customers brought them and melted them into their hot chocolate so the shop smelled like peppermint and chocolate. Nikki would definitely make the peppermint sticks again next Christmas. For once she could say ‘next Christmas.’ For awhile she was not sure if she would stay in Maple Hills. Her past came back to haunt her a few times, but with Hawks help, they had managed to keep it at bay. While she was upset that Susan had died, she was grateful to be able to help Hawk with the investigation.

  Seth waved her over to the counter. She went back and said hello, kissing him on the cheek. Nikki went to the back and took off her coat. There were chocolates covering all the flat surfaces. From peppermint sticks to gingerbread spoons, chocolate caramels, and chocolate covered strawberries –everywhere she looked there was chocolate. She stuck her purse under her desk and went out front and told Seth and Tori to take a break. She and Lidia could watch the shop. She reminded them to come back soon so that Lidia could eat lunch. They promised they would be quick and walked out the door hand-in-hand. Nikki smiled and turned to the next customer. It was a young girl and boy.

  “Can I help you?” Nikki asked.

  “We would like to buy our mother some Christmas chocolates,” the little boy replied.

  “We have been saving our allowance. We wanted her to have the best gift in Maple Hills - your chocolates,” the girl proudly beamed.

  Nikki asked what kind they wanted, and they spent fifteen minutes picking out the perfect box. When Nikki rang up the total, they put their dollars and change on the counter and slowly counted it. They came up a couple of dollars short, but the woman behind them offered to pay the difference.

  They looked at her with bright eyes and thanked her. Lidia offered to gift-wrap the box. Nikki thanked the woman, and she said it was fine. She appreciated the time Nikki took with the children.

  “It is not often, especially during the holidays, you find someone willing to slow down and take the time to help a couple of kids.”

  “I am happy to help all of my customers no matter how slow, fast, old, or young. They are my customers, and I treat them all with the same respect and dignity.”

  “That is why I love living in a small town,” replied the woman.

  “You have a Merry Christmas,” Nikki told her.

  “You, too,” called the woman as she left the shop. Nikki looked over and saw the children looking at Lidia wide-eyed as she wrapped the present.

  “That is the biggest bow I have ever seen!” exclaimed the little boy. His sister nudged him, and he got quiet.

  Nikki walked over. “Can I tell you a secret?” she asked the children quietly. They nodded their heads. “That’s the biggest bow I’ve ever seen Miss Lidia make. You are very lucky.”

  The boy and girl beamed and accepted the present from Lidia.

  “By the way, these are for you,” said Nikki handing them each a peppermint stick. They looked at her, grinning, and thanked her for the candy. They ran out of the shop.

  “Watch your step,” cried Nikki and laughed as they scooted around the corner.

  Nikki and Lidia helped a few more customers. Nikki heard her phone ringing and went to the back to answer it. Hawk was on the other end.

  “I found out the name of Brian’s professors. The college was hesitant to disclose the information, but once they heard I was investigating Susan’s murder, they gave me a list of professors’ names and addresses. I looked them up and one of them lives about an hour away. I was thinking of taking a ride over to talk with him. Would you like to come along?”

  “I would love to. Seth and Tori should be back at the shop, soon. I will call you when they get here.”

  “I’ll just come over in a few minutes,” Hawk said.

  “You just want some chocolate,” Nikki teased.

  “You read my mind,” he laughingly replied.

  Nikki went back to the front of the shop. She helped out some other customers, and a few minutes later Hawk showed up. Tori and Seth walked in after him. Nikki told them that she and Hawk were going to follow up on something regarding Susan’s case. She told them that Brian was at the house studying for the afternoon.

  “Oh, he called a little while ago,” Seth said, interrupting her. “He asked if I could come and get him and bring him into town. Tori said I could use her car, so I was just about to go and get him.”

  “No,” said Nikki a bit sharply.

  “What’s wrong, Mom?” asked Seth, a bit hurt by her response.

  “Nothing. It’s just that there was some ice on the road and I do not want you hurting yourself or Tori’s car driving to the house.”

  “I have to learn to drive on snow, sometime,” Seth pleaded.

  “You’re right, but not today.”

  “I can run up and get him,” offered Hawk. “That way Lidia can get some lunch and Tori and Seth will not be stuck in the shop by themselves for too long.”

  “Thank you, that sounds great,” answered Nikki relieved.

  Hawk left and got into his truck. He started the engine and thought about Nikki. She sure is a strong woman. After everything she had been through, she was still willing to take life by the horns. He admired her, and if he let himself think about it, he was growing quite fond of her. He turned on the radio and started the truck. A country Christmas song came on, and he waved as the mayor’s wife crossed the street in front of him. She smiled and waved back. It is nice to live in a small town.

  Hawk arrived at Nikki’s house a few minutes later and saw Brian waiting outside. He seemed surprised to see Hawk.

  “I thought Seth was picking me up,” Brian said, getting into the truck.

  “Nikki didn’t want him driving on the icy roads,” Hawk told him. “Buckle up.”

  Brian put on his seat belt. He had tossed his backpack into the back seat.

  “So, what are you studying?” asked Hawk, looking at the backpack.

  “I love science, but my father wanted me to major in business. I decided to pursue a biology minor and a business major.”

  “That sounds like a lot of work,” replied Hawk.

  “It is, but it’ll be worth it. With that degree I have a few more opportunities when I graduate. My father wants me to come work with him. I probably will for a while, but then I want to be able to go out on my own.”

  “That sounds like a good plan,” Hawk replied. “Where is your father’s company, in New York City?”

  “No, it’s located in upper state New York. Dad wanted to be out of the rush of the city, so we have a house in the country.”

  “That is a beautiful area,” said Hawk, “especially in the fall.”

  “Yeah, that’s what my father said. My parents love it there.”

  Hawk did not say anything, but he remembered that Susan was also from upper New York. He made a mental note to check Seth’s address. They drove the rest of the way listening to the radio.

  Tori and Seth manned the front of the store. Nikki went into the back to check on some orders. I’m glad Hawk stepped up. I do not want Seth being alone with Brian in a car. She still did not have any evidence to support her hunch, but she did not want to put Seth’s life in danger. And, it was true that there was ice on the road. One wrong acceleration, and Seth could end up driving off the side of the road and over a guardrail. Nikki shuddered thinking about it. She made a mental note to ask Hawk to help Seth learn to drive in snow while he was home on break. That would be a skill that would come in handy living here. In fact, I should ask him to give me some lessons, too. It was nice of Hawk and the others to give her rides to the shop, but she was an independent woman, and she was getting uncomfortable relying on them so much.

  Seth called her from the
front of the store. “Hawk and Brian are here.”

  Nikki put a smile on her face and walked into the shop.

  “We won’t be too long, and we should be home in time for dinner,” Nikki said.

  “We can take care of dinner,” Tori and Seth offered. Nikki thanked them and said she would take them up on their offer, but only if they were not too tired from working in the shop.

  “They’re young, they can handle it,” Hawk teased.

  Nikki thanked them and she and Hawk left the shop. As if he could sense her nervousness, Hawk took her hand.

  “Don’t worry, they will be fine. We will be back just as the shop is closing, so Brian will be with them in a public place all day.”

  Nikki smiled and thanked him. She squeezed his hand and jumped into the truck. She thought about Seth and hoped he was okay. He had talked with her a bit about Susan, and Tori reassured her that they were talking about Susan a lot when they were together. It helped to have someone you could talk to when things were out of your control. She was glad Hawk was there for her and was a good role model for Seth.

  “Hey,” she said to Hawk. “Do you think you could teach Seth to drive in the snow when this is all over?”

  “Sure, I would be happy to,” replied Hawk. He smiled to himself. The radio came on and started to play an upbeat country song. Hawk hummed along and glanced at Nikki. She was looking out the widow, lost in her thoughts. Hawk let her sit and think. He knew that was how she came up with solutions to the hardest problems.

  After awhile, Nikki asked the professor’s name.

  “His name is Dr. Steven. He’s a business professor that taught both Brian and Susan.”

  Nikki turned to look at him. “Brian said he wasn’t in any of Susan’s classes.”

  “He was not. They had the same professor for different classes. I thought it would be interesting to hear what he has to say about his star students.”

  They pulled up to Dr. Steven’s driveway. His house was a nice sized ranch. It was in a small suburban area, but with a lot of space between the houses. A dog was loping down to greet them and wagged its tail as Hawk got out of the truck. Nikki hesitated, but the dog let Hawk pet it. Nikki got out, and the dog came over and sniffed her. She was a beautiful golden retriever. She was friendly and led them to the front door. They knocked on the door, and Dr. Steven answered. He was an older gentleman with graying hair. He asked who they were. Hawk told him he was a detective and showed the professor his badge. He told the professor that Nikki was helping with the case. Dr. Steven let them in and offered them some coffee.

  “No, thank you,” Hawk said. “We have a long ride back.”

  Dr. Steven showed them to the kitchen and told them to make themselves comfortable. Hawk and Nikki sat down, and Dr. Steven sat across from them.

  “So, are you here about Susan’s death?” the professor asked. When Hawk looked at him quizzically, Dr. Steven explained that the college had sent a notice out the other day. It was common practice for the college to keep the professors informed. That way if students had any questions their professors could supply them with the information they needed. Hawk and Nikki were impressed. Dr. Steven was visibly shaken. He was drinking his coffee, and his hands shook.

  “I wanted you to know that it has been officially classified as murder,” Hawk informed Dr. Steven.

  Dr. Steven turned pale. He asked if there was anything he could do to help with the investigation. Hawk told him he could answer a few questions. Before he could begin, Nikki asked Dr. Steven if he knew Seth.

  “Yes, I do. Susan brought him by my class one day. He is a very bright young man. He’s your son? I can see it in your eyes. I think he will go far in college. I look forward to teaching him someday.”

  Nikki glowed inwardly. It was always nice to hear about your child’s accomplishments and potential. She was always proud of Seth and it made her heart sing to hear a professor compliment him.

  “What did you think of Susan?” Hawk asked.

  “Oh, Susan,” the professor glowed. “Susan was the student every professor dreamed of. She would ask questions, do her homework, and do extra research if she was unsure of a topic being discussed in class. She would stop by my office and show me the books she was reading. It was a wide variety. It showed her open-mindedness and charm. She had many friends and was in the running for valedictorian, although I am sure you are aware of that.” Hawk nodded and encouraged the professor to go on.

  “Susan did not miss classes or make excuses. I know we’re not supposed to have favorites, but I will admit she was one of my favorite students. She studied hard and was sane. Some students cannot handle the pressure of academia, but Susan showed strength of mind and character. I loved having her in my class.” Dr. Steven fell silent for a minute. He looked out the window and cleared his throat.

  “You also had a student named Brian; he is Seth’s roommate,” Nikki said.

  Dr. Steven’s brow furrowed. “I am sorry, but I cannot talk about current students. It is against government regulations.”

  “I understand, professor,” replied Hawk. “However, this is now a murder investigation. It trumps all confidentiality clauses.”

  Dr. Stevens thought for a minute. “You are right, of course. I just enjoy talking about Susan more. Brian is one of those students who felt life owed them something. He studied for my class, but missed classes and failed an exam. He did not come to my office to talk and when he was in class he would sit there and brood. This course work did not come easy to him, and unlike Susan he was not willing to go the extra mile to try to comprehend what I was teaching. He was failing my class. I took him aside before finals and apprised him of the situation. Brian threatened me. He got very angry and yelled. He kicked my garbage can and said he would have my job. He told me his father was rich and gave a huge donation to the college, but I was not swayed. He stormed out of my office. I am not sure how he managed it, but he squeaked by with a low C. It was enough to pass him, but he was still upset. He told my department head about the situation and my department head held firm. I explained that Brian had earned a C and he should be happy he got that. I know this because Brian stopped by after his meeting and threatened me again.”

  “Did you call the police?” asked Hawk.

  “I did, but they brushed it aside. They told me it was just an angry student venting. I protested, but they said he had not committed a crime, so there was nothing they could do. They told me not to worry, and they did not even file a report. They chalked it up to student angst at the end of the semester.”

  Nikki’s jaw had grown wider with the professor’s account. “Seth never told me this,” she exclaimed.

  “He might not have known about it,” Hawk replied.

  “I asked around and I found out that Brian had done similar things to professors in my and other departments,” Dr. Steven continued. “He had the reputation for being a hot head. Some of my colleagues had tried to file reports, but they were also turned down. There was nothing the police could do. It is a small college town, and Brian’s parents had money invested all over the place. They have influence and money and sometimes, unfortunately, that speaks louder than common sense.”

  “Did Brian know that Susan was running for valedictorian?”

  “I think so. She was definitely his biggest competitor. She had something most students lack. She could hear something and comprehend it. She would study, but she also had time to hang out with friends. I would hear her and Seth laughing down the hall before they got to my office. Brian was withdrawn and kept to himself. He studied hard, but he was not gifted with the same brain that Susan had. He did not have too many friends. I am sure it did not help the situation when Susan would get better grades than Brian. Susan wanted to earn the title of valedictorian through hard work. She would never cheat or do anything to harm another student’s chance to succeed.”

  “And Brian?” Hawk asked.

  “To be honest, I am not sure. He could be loud,
but I never heard about him getting physical with anyone. I would not put it past him, though.”

  Nikki had turned pale. Dr. Steven looked at her. “If it helps, Brian always has kind words for Seth. He really seems to like him. They are certainly friends.”

  Nikki and Hawk thanked the professor for his time. They walked back out to the truck and got in. Nikki called Seth, but his phone went to voice mail.

  “What if something has happened?” Nikki asked Hawk. “I will never forgive myself for leaving Seth and Tori with Brian.”

  “I am sure everything is fine,” Hawk said reassuringly.

  “How can you be sure?” Nikki demanded.

  “Well, we know more about Brian, but he does not know what we know. As far as he is concerned everything is fine and break is going well. I bet when we get back we will find Tori and Seth making candies in the back of the shop. You know how involved you can get when you’re creating your chocolates. I am sure that’s what’s going on.”

  “Okay, I believe you,” said Nikki, “but could you drive a little faster to get home?”

  “Sure,” said Hawk, accelerating gently. He understood Nikki’s concern, and he shared it. He just hoped what he said was true and that they found the kids working at the shop.

  Chapter Nine

  When they arrived back in Maple Hills, the Christmas lights were being turned on. It was a beautiful warmth in the cold weather. Some shop owners were putting the finishing touches on their light displays. There was a contest each year for best-decorated shop. The owner got a plaque to hang on her wall and bragging rights for the year. Nikki was not thinking about that, though. Hawk pulled up to the shop and Nikki got out. She saw Tori and Seth closing up inside. She opened the door and asked why Seth had not answered her voicemail. Tori and Lidia came to his rescue. They explained that they had had a big rush right before closing. They did not hear any phones ringing. Seth apologized, and Nikki hugged him.