Urchin Dishes and Deadly Wishes (Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Book 21) Read online

  URCHIN DISHES AND DEADLY WISHES

  A Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery

  By

  Amber Crewes

  Published by Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing in 2020

  All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  CONTENTS

  About Urchin Dishes and Deadly Wishes

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  23

  24

  25

  26

  About Jingle Bells and Deadly Smells

  ALSO BY AMBER CREWES

  About Urchin Dishes and Deadly Wishes

  Released: December, 2020

  Series: Book 21 – Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Series

  Standalone: Yes

  Cliff-hanger: No

  THANK YOU FOR GETTING THIS BOOK IN THE SANDY BAY COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHY DON’T YOU SIGN UP FOR UPDATES AND GET THE PREQUEL STORY SENT TO YOU FOR FREE

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  1

  I t was an uncharacteristically sunny day in Sandy Bay, and Meghan Irvin was pleased to feel the sunshine on her cheeks as she made her way to work. She smiled as she heard the familiar sound of the seagulls squawking above her; she adored living in a town only steps away from the Pacific Ocean and never tired of the sounds and smells of the sea.

  She glanced down at her watch and gasped; she was running late, and after being away from work for a few weeks, she had a busy schedule ahead of her. She quickened her pace, moving with vigor to reach the bakery before eight.

  Meghan Irvin had only been back for a week in Sandy Bay since her honeymoon, an eventful cruise with her new husband, Jack. After being away from her adopted hometown for several weeks, she was happy to be home and ready to settle into life as a newlywed. She could not wait to share details of her honeymoon with her friends, and she eagerly walked inside of Truly Sweet, the bakery she owned and operated, with a grin on her face.

  “Good morning!” sang Pamela, the teenager Meghan had hired to work part time, as Meghan swept into the kitchen. “How’s it going, Mrs. Irvin?”

  Meghan laughed. Pamela’s cheerful spirit was always a breath of fresh air, and the teenager perfectly balanced out Trudy, the middle-aged woman who worked at the bakery full-time. Trudy could be somewhat of a wet blanket, but today, she was beaming.

  “You look incredible,” Trudy complimented Meghan as she removed her sweatshirt and reached for her Truly Sweet apron. “Newlywed life looks good on you, girlfriend. I swear, you lost some serious weight on that cruise of yours. You were supposed to be relaxing and stuffing your face on that all-inclusive trip, not working out.”

  Meghan blushed. “Can you tell a difference?” she asked as she placed her hands on her hips. Meghan had always been a curvy woman; with her hourglass figure, she had had a womanly look since she was in middle school, and she had always been a bit self-conscious of her looks. On the cruise, she had taken up an exercise program, and now, she was pleased her friends could see the results.

  “I did a few workout classes,” she admitted as Pamela and Trudy admired her. “I really love running. I learned some better techniques while I was on the cruise, and I think I am going to stick with it.”

  “Did I hear that correctly?”

  The three women turned to see Karen Denton, one of Meghan’s dear friends, stroll through the front door. Karen was in her seventies, but she was the most active person Meghan had ever known; she was constantly training for marathons, taking yoga classes, and trying new ways to workout. “You’re a runner now, Meghan? I can tell; you’re looking great, my friend. Maybe we can go for a run together soon.”

  Meghan smiled at Karen. “You are looking extra fabulous today,” she told her friend. “Did you start a new workout routine, Karen? Something looks different!”

  Karen posed and preened. “Maybe it’s the new green supplements I’ve been taking? Or the banana cleanse I did last weekend? Oooooh, I know. I started taking a ginger vitamin each morning, and I think it’s keeping my waist extra trim.”

  “Whatever you’re doing, it’s working,” Meghan praised her.

  She gave Karen a hug. “I’m so glad to see you,” Karen told her. “I had to drop by and check in. I haven’t seen you since you returned. How was the honeymoon?”

  “Let’s go sit in the dining room and catch up; customers won’t start coming in until nine, and we can take some time to visit.”

  The four women made their way to the dining room, settling at one of the white iron tables by the bay window facing Main Street. “So, tell us all about it,” Pamela urged.

  Meghan began to recount the honeymoon, sharing her favorite stories from the trip. “We were upgraded to a suite,” she told them. “And we even had our own butler.”

  “A butler?” Trudy cried in disbelief. “You didn’t tell us that. You weren’t a bride...you were a queen.”

  “It sure felt like it,” Meghan agreed. “We loved reading on the private balcony outside of our suite; I read the newspaper there every morning, and Jack finished an entire true crime novel. We would sip our coffee and eat snacks out there, and it was so relaxing.”

  “A private balcony,” Pamela mused. “I bet you shared more than breakfast out there. I bet you two spent the whole time making out.”

  “Pamela!” Trudy scolded the teenager. “That’s an unladylike thing to say.”

  Karen nodded, but she reached over to kindly pat Pamela’s arm. “A woman’s romantic life is her private business,” she told her matter-of-factly, and then turned back to Meghan. “Did you make any interesting stops on the cruise?”

  “Alaska was my favorite,” Meghan shared. “It’s so hauntingly beautiful up there. I want to go again. I told Jack that we need to go for our first family vacation.”

  “Alaska is grand,” Trudy agreed. “I went on a trip to Wasilla a few years ago to visit my Aunt Mabel, and it was the time of my life.”

  Meghan told them about the adventures and mishaps of her honeymoon, trying not to repeat stories she had already told Pamela and Trudy, and then turned to the group. “So, what did I miss around here? There is always something happening in Sandy Bay...did I miss anything interesting?”

  Pamela shot Trudy a look, which Meghan picked up on instantly. “Why did you make that face?”

  Trudy raised an eyebrow at Pamela. “Go on. Tell her.”

  Pamela took a deep breath. “Don’t be mad,” she cautioned Meghan.

  “Mad? At you?”

  Pamela bit her lip. “There’s a new restaurant in town.”

  Meghan laughed. “Why would that make me angry with you, Pamela?”

  Trudy jabbed Pamela in the shoulder with her elbow. “Tell her.”

  Pamela’s face darkened. “It’s called Urchins Paradise
,” she began. “It’s an upscale seafood restaurant, and they just opened on Green Street.”

  “That sounds great,” Meghan told her. “Seafood isn’t big competition for my bakery, and honestly, we need more good restaurants in town.”

  Pamela’s face brightened. “They have two gorgeous dining rooms, and the waiters and waitresses have to wear tuxedos.”

  “So, it’s that kind of fancy, huh?” Meghan asked.

  “It’s very pricey,” Karen commented.

  “It’s worth every penny,” Pamela shot back. “The seafood is brought in daily from the coast, and the exotic dishes have fish flown in from South America. The menu was custom crafted by the owner, and it rotates daily. They offer a diverse range of dining options, including lobster, scallops, crab, and vegetarian dishes.”

  Meghan raised an eyebrow. “That was an impressive speech,” she commented, and Pamela’s face turned red. “Almost like you memorized it or something…”

  Pamela nodded. “I did,” she told Meghan. “I was asked to apply for a job there, and I went through the interview process…”

  Meghan’s stomach dropped; she adored Pamela, and Pamela had a true talent for baking. Meghan had hoped to keep Pamela at the bakery for as long as possible, but now, it sounded like Pamela would be leaving Truly Sweet.

  “Did you get hired?” Meghan asked, working hard to control her emotions and paste a smile on her face.

  “They offered me the job,” Pamela said quietly.

  “That’s great news for you,” Meghan praised her, though secretly, she was disappointed. “I hope you know how much we will miss you around here. You have so much talent, Pamela. You are truly one of the best young bakers out there, and I think you could go far in a baking career. That said, I support you in this new adventure, and I hope we can come visit you at the urchin house.”

  “Urchins Paradise,” Pamela corrected her. “It is an incredible restaurant, Meghan. The aesthetic is simply stunning. They asked me to run the social media pages for them as well as be a server, and I would be able to diversify my knowledge of the restaurant industry.”

  Meghan took a deep breath. “Well,” she said. “That’s great for you. We will miss you so much around here, but we are so happy for you. It’s just a bummer that I won’t be able to give you the raise I was planning to give you…”

  Pamela laughed. “Are you trying to bribe me to stay?”

  Meghan winked. “Maybe. Is it working?”

  The teenager giggled. “I wasn’t going to accept the job offer, Meghan. It would take a lot for me to leave this bakery. Trudy is just mad that I went through the interview process. I told her that my parents suggested it; they thought it would be a good opportunity to practice interviewing before I do my college interviews. Trudy thinks I sold you out, though.”

  “She shouldn’t have wasted her time or their time,” Trudy firmly stated. “And it’s a bad look for the bakery to have one of our employees interview elsewhere.”

  Meghan shrugged. “As long as she’s staying, that’s all I care about.”

  Pamela grinned. “So, about that raise?”

  Before Meghan could reply, a leaflet was shoved through the mail slot on the front door. “Speak of the devil,” Trudy grumbled.

  “What is it?” Karen asked.

  Pamela went over to pick it up. “Ohhhh...”

  Meghan took the leaflet from her hands. “It’s a pamphlet for Urchins Paradise,” she remarked. “That was funny timing. We were just talking about it.”

  Karen bit her lip. “You need to take them seriously, Meghan,” she warned her friend as Meghan studied the leaflet.

  “It’s a seafood place,” Meghan argued. “Seafood places and bakeries don’t have a lot in common, Karen.”

  Karen narrowed her eyes. “They opened last week and their business has been booming,” she informed Meghan. “Rumor is that they are in talks to expand the business and add a cafe... a cafe filled with healthy options and drinks.”

  Meghan shook her head. “I don’t take rumors too seriously,” she told her friend. “Besides, Truly Sweet is one of the most popular bakeries in the region. I’m not worried.”

  Karen bit her lip. “Maybe you should be,” she said quietly. “If you don’t keep an eye on them, they could run you out of business…”

  2

  T hat evening, Meghan was exhausted as she returned home from work; she had received fifteen different corporate orders, and her day had been more chaotic than she had anticipated. She was ready to slide into her pajamas and enjoy a lazy evening, and she hoped her husband would be in the same mood.

  “Babe,” Jack greeted her warmly as she walked inside. He was sitting on the couch watching television, his feet propped up on the oak coffee table. Their dogs, Fiesta, Siesta, and Dash ran up to Meghan, each wagging their tail and licking her as she stepped into the living room and set her purse on the entryway table. “How was your day?”

  “Hectic,” she sighed as she walked over to her husband and kissed him on the lips. “How was yours?”

  “The same,” he told her as he patted the spot next to him on the couch. “Come sit with me. Let’s relax together. I need some snuggles from my wife.”

  Meghan grinned. “Let me change first; I need to get out of these clothes and into something comfortable.”

  She scurried upstairs and swapped out her messy jeans and sweater for a pair of beige joggers and a matching t-shirt. “Much better,” she told Jack as she returned to the living room and threw herself dramatically onto the couch.

  He handed her the remote control. “I know you don’t want to watch football,” he said good-naturedly. “Why don’t you pick a movie or show we can watch together?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t have the mental capacity to choose between things right now,” she moaned dramatically. “Why don’t you just pick?”

  “Okay,” he agreed, and he took the remote back and began flipping through the channels. “A crime drama?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “I need something lighter.”

  “You got it! A comedy?”

  Meghan frowned. “No, I don’t think we have the same sense of humor,” she told her husband. “I like witty comedies better, and you like slapstick humor…”

  Jack gave her a kiss on the cheek. “You are a tough one to please tonight,” he teased. “So no crime shows, no comedy... a documentary?”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t know,” she sighed. “I just don’t know what I’m in the mood for, sweetheart.”

  Jack nodded and then rose from his seat. “I know what my wife is in the mood for,” he declared. “Dinner! Are you hungry?”

  She nodded. “Yes, I am starving.”

  Jack went to the kitchen, and Meghan could hear him rustling through the refrigerator. A few minutes later, he returned to the living room empty-handed. “Invisible dinner?” she asked with a hint of an attitude.

  “I just don’t know what to make,” he shrugged. “We don’t have anything prepped, and I know you were planning to do something tonight, right?”

  She frowned. “I wanted to make eggplant pizza, but I just don’t have it in me tonight.”

  “I love your eggplant pizza,” he said sadly, and Meghan felt a tinge of anger as his face fell. “I was looking forward to it…”

  Meghan sighed. “I guess I can whip it up,” she told her husband. “It shouldn’t take too long.”

  Jack put a hand on her shoulder. “Babe, no,” he whispered as he leaned in to kiss her forehead. “I can tell you are exhausted... let’s forget about eating here and go out. I can take my wife out to a nice dinner to celebrate our first night home since our honeymoon.”

  Her face instantly brightened. “Are you sure? We spent a lot of money on our honeymoon, sweetie. Can we afford to go out tonight?”

  He nodded. “We’ll make it work,” he assured her. “Don’t worry about a thing. Go get ready, and we’ll leave in fifteen minutes.”

&
nbsp; “Where are we going?” she called out behind him as she walked upstairs to get dressed. “Can I go in my sweats?”

  “Maybe throw on that blue sweater I like,” he suggested. “With that tan skirt? You look so nice in that outfit.”

  Meghan rummaged through their closet and retrieved the outfit. “Where are we going?” she asked again. “Just tell me, Jack!”

  “No!” he called from downstairs. “It’s a surprise, Mrs. Irvin!”

  Thirty minutes later, Mr. and Mrs. Irvin arrived at their dinner destination.

  “Ta da!” Jack announced as he parked on Green Street. “Urchins Paradise. This is the newest place in town. My entire team was talking about it at work today, and Chief Nunan said it’s the best dining experience she’s ever had.”

  Meghan bit her lip. She had a bad feeling about the restaurant, and her conversation earlier with her friends and employees made her feel unsettled.

  “What do you think?” Jack asked excitedly. “I read the reviews, and this place is beyond amazing; they have all kinds of seafood, and it’s really fancy.”

  “That’s great,” she commented as Jack left the car and came around to open her door. “Just great.”

  He took her by the hand and led her inside. Megan was stunned by the interior; the restaurant had a modern aesthetic, with stark white walls and black-painted ceilings. The gleaming white marble floors shone beneath bulbous black light fixtures hanging from the ceiling, and the high-top bamboo tables were each set with an elaborate tablescape.

  “This is really nice,” she remarked quietly as the host led them to a table. “I’ve never been anywhere like this.”

  “Here you are,” the host announced as they arrived at a table set for two. He pulled the black metal chair out for Meghan and took her purse, hanging it on a discreet hook below the table. “Enjoy.”

  Jack sat down and reached for Meghan’s hands. “I’m glad we could do this,” he told his wife. “I don’t ever want us to stop dating each other.”