Death by Chocolate Sundae: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 2) by Constance Barker Page B

created a chasm that neither one of us could repair. So I understood how Brandon felt about letting another person in.
     
    “So how are you lovely ladies today?” Brandon was also known to brighten our day since he grew out of his boyish ways.
     
    “We are just fine dear brother,” Stormi answered. “What brings you by?”
     
    “Well one of Tara’s specialty shakes of course,” Brandon answered. “I’ll take a chocolate peanut butter with no whip cream.”
     
    “No whip cream!” Stormi admonished. “Trying to keep your girlish figure?”
     
    “No, attempting to keep my masculine frame thank you very much. It’s hot out there and I had a craving for a shake.”
     
    Brandon worked for a construction company, which had a job remodeling a store a few doors down from us.
     
    “I’ll also need three vanillas and one strawberry shake to go.”
     
    “So you’re the errand boy today huh?” Paige asked.
     
    “I volunteered,” Brandon answered. “That way I could gossip with you hens.”
     
    “Well we were just talking about Mr. Jenkins and his lawsuit,” Paige informed Brandon.
     
    Brandon leaned against the ice cream case. “Yeah, I heard about that too. That old goat will squeeze every last dime out of the Parker’s. I hear he’s got some hot shot lawyer.”
     
    “It’s the same one from the last lawsuit with Landry’s,” Paige revealed. “I think his name is Reginald Brooks.”
     
    Stormi poured the rest of her coffee down the sink and rinsed the mug. “I wouldn’t doubt he’ll take them for everything they have. Teresa and Dan Parker have two kids in college and the store is just getting by since the economy slid downhill. Makes me so mad! I’d like to slap Mr. Jenkins into next week!”
     
    “Simmer down now Sis. Eventually what comes around goes around and I have a feeling Mr. Jenkins will get his soon enough.”
     
    We didn’t know it then, but Brandon’s words were about to come true.
     
     
     
     
    *****
     
     
     
     
    The evening crowd was enormous much to my delight, but my feet would argue. Standing for four hours straight without a break doesn’t do much to quiet my howling dogs, but my bank account loved it. Not that I was getting rich mind you, but the Shoppe was providing a nice living and allowing me to pay Stormi a decent wage as well. Around 8pm, Sam called her mother to say she was running late. She was staying to help close the library and prepare spreadsheets on their computers. She’d be by just as we were closing at 9pm.
     
    The last hour, between 8 and 9 is usually slower, so the girls and I chatted behind the counter and waited on customers as they dribbled in. At a quarter till nine no one had come in for the last 15 minutes and Stormi suggested I close early.
     
    “I don’t like doing that,” I said. “What if a regular customer comes by late wanting to order an ice cream cake? I could be losing out on a sale.”
     
    Stormi shrugged. “Yes that’s true, but I kind of doubt it. Besides, most of your ice cream cake orders are done over the phone.”
     
    Paige started to wipe down the tables. “Oh Storm, it’s only a few more minutes. What’s the harm?”
     
    By that time, it was five minutes until closing and the door chime tinkled.
     
    “See, what did I tell you,” I said to Stormi.
     
    As we all looked at the person who entered the store, I more than ever wished I’d taken Stormi’s advice and closed early.
     
    In walked Mr. Jenkins in all his balding glory. Stormi turned to Paige and said, “What’s the harm? It just waltzed in the door.”
     
    Paige rolled her eyes.
     
    Mr. Jenkins sauntered up to the counter and gave us his usual glare. “You’re still open right?”
     
    “Yes we are Mr. Jenkins, but we’re getting ready to close,” I said. Stormi and Paige stood like sentries on either side of me.
     
    “Well I want a double sundae with double chocolate and heavy on the whip cream,” he said.
     
    “Is that to