Below is an excerpt from the new novel, A Shot of Scandal: A Cafe Crimes Cozy Mystery Book by Simone Stier. The entire novel is available for purchase by clicking here.
Prologue
The night of the Beauregard gala, two things happened in the small town of Magnolia Grove.
First: a robbery.
Second: a murder.
But before we dive into that piping-hot mess, let me introduce myself. I’m Parker Hayes, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my podcasting days, it’s that you can’t brew a good story without first grinding the beans.
Picture this … Magnolia Grove, a charming Southern town where sweet tea flows like water and gossip spreads faster than butter on a hot biscuit. Enter yours truly, a former true-crime podcaster trying to reinvent herself as a cafe owner. Throw in a cast of colorful characters, each with their own secret recipe for trouble, and you’ve got yourself a right fine setup.
Oh, and did I mention the murder? Yeah, we’ll get to that. But first, let me pour you a cup of my signature blend and tell you how I, Parker Hayes, went from serving up true-crime stories to serving lattes in a town where the secrets are as rich as my espresso. Trust me, this tale is best savored slowly, just like a good cup of joe.
Now, where should I begin? Ah yes, the day after I rolled into Magnolia Grove with nothing but three suitcases and a dream …
Chapter 1
In the heart of the charming storybook town of Magnolia Grove, the square buzzed with activity, the air was alive with the chatter of locals and the rustle of shopping bags. The scent of fresh-cut grass drifted in the warm breeze as I strolled through town. Hope and determination fueled my steps. After all, I was starting a new chapter in my life. Just the previous day, the Greyhound had unceremoniously dropped me and my three bags at the edge of town, the bus’s exhaust was a final farewell to my old life.
I recently hung up my microphone as the host for my popular podcast Criminally Yours, Your Daily Shot of Murder, and left the big city to relocate to the slower pace of Magnolia Grove, North Carolina. Just a blip on the map nestled near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where crime was non-existent, and the tree-lined streets radiated with charm. Their motto: “Where Our People Are as Sweet as Our Blossoms.” I poured my life savings into a worn-down corner store located in a historical building once known as Elliot’s Drugs, a bustling pharmacy and soda fountain back in the day, to fulfill my dream of opening a coffee and dessert cafe, Catch You Latte. My reason for taking such a huge leap of faith? Peace of mind. I wanted to shift gears from the fast lane into a slow mosey. My big plan was to sell specialized coffees and scrumptious desserts to the community. According to my research, what was lacking from Magnolia Grove was a neighborhood cafe. And the closest thing to passable coffee was the Dunkin’ Donuts in the next town over. Despite the enormous decision to uproot my life and plunder my savings account, I couldn’t wait to get started renovating the location for my future cafe.
I’d been dreaming of a fresh start for several years. The wear and tear of doing the podcast and living in the big city had finally taken its toll, and my nerves were shot. As I said, I longed for a simpler life where I could brew coffee, serve yummy desserts and pastries and have light-hearted conversations with regular folks that didn’t involve, well, crime. I pictured my shop as an inviting haven where locals could meet up and share quality time together. I could see myself in the early morning hours, mixing ingredients for my easy-to-bake, yet tasty treats—blueberry muffins, my grandmother’s famous cinnamon rolls, and of course my favorite, chocolate chip cookies. I could already smell the enticing aromas of sugary sweets filling the place, coupled with the aroma of my favorite coffee blends. And after the last customer strolled off to do whatever it was people did in Magnolia Grove, I’d commute to my cozy and welcoming apartment right upstairs, above the shop. That was my plan, anyway.
These thoughts lifted my weary soul as I walked through town. But as I approached the vacant building, I felt a pang of fear and doubt. The crumbling facade and cracked windows evidenced years of abandonment.
“Uh-oh.”
Suddenly this project of whipping the building back into shape appeared colossal and daunting, if not impossible.
Think positive, Parker. Look beyond the decay and glimpse the possibilities.
Yes, it would take serious hard work, but it would be worth it in the end. That’s what I hoped, anyway.
I crossed the street and headed to the entrance, where an older man stood waiting in front of the chain-locked door. He wore baggy jeans, a faded tee and a raggedy baseball cap that looked like it had been around for quite some time. His puffy white beard was a bit unkempt and gave him a slight resemblance to Santa. He seemed like the kind of man who could hug you and remind you that everything would be okay. He smelled like fresh soap and sawdust. I liked him immediately.
“You must be Parker Hayes.” He extended his hand and widened his smile. “Clyde Honeycutt, your handyman extraordinaire.”
I reached out and put forth a hearty shake. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Honeycutt.”
“Aw, you can call me Clyde, sweetie. No pretense here.”
“Well, nice to meet you, Clyde.” I looked at the neglected building. “Looks like we’ve got our work cut out for us.”
He tipped back his cap, gazed up at the building and whistled. “She’s a beauty, though. Well, she was in her heyday.”
I dug around in my bag and pulled out a key for the chain lock. “I’m excited to see the inside and start working on a plan of attack.”
I slipped the key into the lock, and Clyde helped me unwrap the clanking metal chain. When I couldn’t get the door to budge, he used the better half of his weight to force the wooden door open with a loud crack. I winced as some of the wood splintered and fell to the ground.
“It’s fixable,” Clyde said, kicking a large piece of the splintered wood to the side.
I would come to know the words “it’s fixable” were Clyde Honeycutt’s mantra.
