Killer Chocolate Pecan Pie Read online

  “It’s the sequel to that video game I bought you last year.”

  Bert could hardly believe it. How could a man know her so well? He must love her, she realized. “I didn’t even know they made a second game.”

  “Well, I know you enjoyed the first one, so here it is.”

  “Thank you, thank you,” she whispered, leaning in and giving him a hug.

  “We better get in there before all the good seats are taken.”

  “I don’t think we’ll have to worry.”

  The cathedral was packed to the brim with patrons. The jumble of friendly and cheerful voices all talking at once bounced off the roof of the building, creating a strange echo over the Christmas organ music that played as everyone found a spot. Standing room only.

  Bert would have usually taken a spot in the upper balcony of the building. She loved it up there. It provided a great view of the stage and allowed for great vibrations of the music. This year, however, she was sitting at the front with the rest of the directors waiting to take a turn to lead their choir.

  Harry sat on one side of her and Gracie sat on the other, a big smile on her face. After being released, Bert had offered her the opportunity to lead the choir at the concert. She had happily agreed.

  Turning her attention toward the stand, Bert saw familiar faces looking down at her. Their choir was up first and the members, all dressed in red and white clothing for the event, were getting into the seats up on the stand.

  Bert eagerly squeezed Harry’s hand

  “Oh,” came a voice from nearby.

  The man who had saved Bert’s life by making an important phone call, the neighbor from next door to the church, stood there in front of the wooden pew where they sat with a bundle of flowers and a box of Christmas cherry chocolates in his hands.

  “Chap Clapton?” Harry asked, recognizing the star witness for the case.

  “I-I just brought these for Bert. For good luck,” he said, flushing redder than the roses he held. “Here,” he said, plopping the gifts down in her arms and making a quick and embarrassing escape into the crowd of audience members.

  Harry furrowed his brow. “What the heck was that about?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “Shh, they’re starting,” someone said from behind.

  The whole audience quieted down as the lights in the old cathedral dimmed. The master of ceremonies welcomed everyone and announced the first choir. In minutes, Gracie was on her feet, looking less wobbly than the week before.

  Coming to the conductor’s stand, she looked up at the smiling faces of the choir. Men and women she’d worked to the bone the past week to get ready.

  Smiling in return, Gracie raised her hand and signaled the beginning of Joy to the World.

  It was fitting, seeing as it was a truly joyous Christmas after all.

  Also by Carolyn Q. Hunter

  Diner of the Dead Series

  Book 1: The Wicked Waffle

  Book 2: Battered and Buttered Waffle

  Book 3: Sinister Strawberry Waffle

  Book 4: The Wayward Waffle

  Book 5: Pumpkin Pie Waffle

  Book 6: Turkey and Terror

  Book 7: Creepy Christmas Waffle

  Book 8: Birthday Cake Waffle

  Book 9: Spooky Sweetheart Waffle

  Book 10: Eerie Irish Waffle

  Book 11: Savory Spring Waffle

  Book 12: Benedict Waffle

  Book 13: Scary Sausage Waffle

  Book 14: Murderous Mocha Waffle

  Book 15: Red Velvet Waffle

  Book 16: High Steaks Murder

  Book 17: Hole In One Waffle

  Book 18: Fireworks and Waffles

  Book 19: Games, Ghouls and Waffles

  Book 20: Waffling in Murder

  The Wicked Waffle Series

  Book 1:Hot Buttered Murder

  Book 2: Bacon Caramel Murder

  Book 3: Thanksgiving Waffle Murder

  Book 4: Christmas Waffle Caper

  Book 5: Buckaroo Waffle Murder

  Book 6: Wedding Waffle Murder

  Book 7: Cactus Waffle Murder

  Book 8: Zombie Waffle Murder

  Book 9: A Very Catty Murder

  Pies and Pages Series

  Book 1: Killer Apple Pie

  Book 2: Killer Chocolate Pie

  Book 3: Killer Halloween Pie

  Book 4: Killer Thanksgiving Pie

  Book 5: Killer Christmas Pie

  Book 6: Killer Caramel Pie

  Book 7: Killer Cocoa Pie

  Book 8: Shamrock Pie Murder

  Book 9: Killer Easter Pie

  Book 10: Killer Cheesecake Tart

  Book 11: Summer Smore Murder

  Book 12: Maple Nut Murder

  Book 13: Tea, Thyme, and Murder

  Book 14: A Harvest of Murder

  Book 15: Perfectly Pumpkin Killer

  Book 16: Killer Acorn Pie

  Dead-End Drive-In Series

  Book 1: Sisterly Screams

  Book 2: Moans, Mummies and Murder

  Book 3: Blue Eyed Doll

  Book 4: Movies and Murder

  The Cracked Mirror Series

  Book 1: The Biker and The Boogeyman

  Author’s Note

  I’d love to hear your thoughts on my books, the storylines, and anything else that you’d like to comment on—reader feedback is very important to me. My contact information, along with some other helpful links, is listed below. If you’d like to be on my list of “folks to contact” with updates, release and sales notifications, etc.… just shoot me an email and let me know. Thanks for reading!

  Also…

  … if you’re looking for more great reads, I am proud to announce that Summer Prescott Books publishes several popular series by Cozy authors Gretchen Allen and Patti Benning, as well as Carolyn Q. Hunter, Blair Merrin, Susie Gayle and more!

  Contact Summer Prescott Books Publishing

  Twitter: @summerprescott1

  Blog and Book Catalog: http://summerprescottbooks.com

  Email: [email protected]

  And…look up The Summer Prescott Fan Page and Summer Prescott Publishing Page on Facebook – let’s be friends!

  To download a free book, and sign up for our fun and exciting newsletter, which will give you opportunities to win prizes and swag, enter contests, and be the first to know about New Releases, click here: http://summerprescottbooks.com