Hell Hath No Cookie: A Culinary Cozy Mystery Series: Twin Berry Bakery, #6

By Wendy Meadows

Death is waiting in the Deep South.

After she embarks on a seemingly routine cross-country road trip to Alabama to visit her close friend's sick aunt, Rhonda Knight looks forward to a quiet journey that will let her spend quality time with Zach, the man she secretly loves.

But when they're struck by a series of strange – and near-deadly – events, Rhonda begins to suspect that there's something far more insidious going on than meets the eye. Teaming up with her twin sister Rita, the pair begin to unravel a sinister scheme that threatens to destroy the life of the man she loves.

From a bumbling cop to a close shave with death, it quickly becomes clear that somebody is out to get them. Struggling to catch the would-be killers and get to the heart of their scheme, Rhonda must uncover Zach's history… and why he's become their target. But there's one more surprise in store – and it could throw all of Rhonda's plans for a loop.

Can Rhonda use her cunning detective skills to outwit a cruel scheme? Or will she become the next victim and lose the man she's desperately trying to save?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Majestic Owl Publishing LLC
• Release date: Dec 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201531591

Wendy Meadows

USA Today bestselling author, Wendy Meadows, is a passionate Cozy Mystery Author whose meticulously crafted stories showcase witty women sleuths and engaging plots. Her primary influences include but are not limited to mystery genre greats Joanne Fluke, Ellery Adams, and James Patterson. To date, she has published dozens of books, which include her popular Sweetfern Harbor Series, Maple Hill Series, and Alaska Cozy Series, to name a few. In a previous life, Wendy worked as a Graphic Designer, earning her Graphic Design Certification at the prestigious New York based Sessions School of Design. With this valuable artistic background, she designs her own book covers. In fact, she began writing fiction soon after designing numerous book covers for other fiction authors. When she isn’t writing about female detectives and their tactful crime solving, you can find Wendy either tending to her hobby farm, playing video games, relaxing on her back porch, or coloring in her growing collection of adult coloring books. She also loves spending quality time with her husband, two sons, two cats, and one adorable Labradoodle. Together, they call “The Granite State” home sweet home. To find out more about Wendy Meadows both personally and creatively, feel free to visit her official website at www.wendymeadows.com

Book preview

chapter one

Rhonda was a little shocked but happy that Zach asked her to visit his Aunt Lula with him. Aunt Lula, Zach explained over a bowl of homemade vegetable beef soup, was in poor health and insisted she see Zach before she took a six-foot-deep nosedive.

Why was Aunt Lula insisting on seeing Zach before she died? Zach wasn’t sure. Last time I saw Aunt Lula I was…thirty or thirty-one, he explained to Rhonda.

You’re my age, so it’s been a while, Rhonda replied, staring into Zach’s handsome face and hoping the lovely pink dress she had put on was making her appear pretty. It was no secret, at least not to Rita and Billy, that Rhonda was hoping Zach would take their friendship one step further and ask her out on a real date instead of just friendly meetings, as Billy called them. Rhonda wasn’t going to make a fool out of herself and step out into the lava flow first. No way. Instead, Rhonda used dresses, new hairstyles, and enticing perfumes to toss subtle hints at Zach. So far, the hook had caught only air.

I know, Zach answered in a confused voice. He raised his eyes from his bowl of soup and looked at Rhonda. Rhonda sure was beautiful. The perfume the woman wore reminded him of mysterious moonlight stars mingled with bight, romantic walks on the beach. The perfume complemented Rhonda’s soft, glowing eyes and beautiful features the way a poet takes a pen and complements a gentle kiss with tender whispers of love. And the way Rhonda looked in the pink dress she was wearing made Zach imagine her standing under a pillow of roses. There was no way Zach would—or could—express his thoughts to Rhonda. I’m a failed lawyer working for a farmer…real winner, he thought and looked back down at his soup. I was never close to Aunt Lula. The woman was always…a little strange.

Rhonda saw Zach lower his eyes. Before he did, she witnessed doubt, humiliation, and defeat snatch his courage down into a drainpipe. Zach felt like a failure—and a loser—because he could no longer practice law. The majority of the money Billy paid him was delivered straight into the hands of a greedy court that insisted he pay for his ex-wife’s crimes, leaving Zach with a few pennies he carefully placed under his pillow.

Zach, Rhonda knew, felt he was in no position to begin a relationship with a woman—and, to be honest, he was right in drawing such conclusions. Rhonda wanted a stable, handsome man with a steady income to come charging into her lonely heart and rescue her. Zach was handsome, yes…but stable and financially strong…uh…no. But for some reason Rhonda didn’t completely understand, the wild horse Zach was riding didn’t scare her.

Strange? she asked, standing up from her kitchen table holding a Bugs Bunny coffee cup. She walked over to the kitchen counter to get a refill. Rita was over at Billy’s farm and she had the whole cabin to herself. More coffee?

Zach studied his Snoopy coffee cup and shook his head no. I’m sorry to throw this at you on such short notice, he told Rhonda, feeling like a bum wearing a green and white flannel farm shirt and a pair of work jeans. It was really Rita’s idea.

Rhonda stopped pouring coffee into her cup. Oh? she asked, feeling the warm kitchen that smelled of fresh pumpkin pies and coffee suddenly take on the odor of a skunk.

Zach nodded. Rita said you had some downtime because the bakery was a little slow and that you wouldn’t mind driving me to Alabama to see Aunt Lula for a couple of days.

She did, did she? Rhonda bit down on her lip. In her mind she saw Rita tying wedding bells to the back of an old 1967 Volkswagen convertible she had recently bought. My sister seems to think all I have time for is to read my collection of Charlie Brown comics. She seems to forget that I have been with her on every single murder case—including our recent adventure in Maine. And I’m still trying to figure that case out. The old man that went missing in the cave has yet to be found.

Uh…if you’re busy…I mean…Rita assumed—

Rhonda sighed. I’m not busy, she assured Zach. The truth is the bakery has taken the form of a slow faucet leak right now. Erma really doesn’t need Rita or me hanging around baking pies that aren’t going to sell. Rhonda filled up her coffee cup and walked back to the kitchen table. Where does your Aunt Lula live in Alabama?

A town a little south of Huntsville called Grayston, Zach explained and then remembered, even though he had been sitting in the kitchen for close to an hour, that he was still wearing his baseball cap. The habits of a single man quickly returned when there wasn’t a wife around to tell him to take off his hat. Guess I better take off my hat…sorry.

Rhonda watched Zach remove his hat and then run a hand through his hair. The poor guy looked tired and worn down. Billy working you hard?

Work? Zach asked. Billy pays me good money to move some hay around his barn, prune a few trees, and work on some farm equipment with Jose. A two-year-old could do what I do. Zach shook his head. I know Billy’s being a real friend, and I honestly appreciate all he’s doing for me, helping me keep my head above water, but…

You feel lower than a snail being run over by a steamroller? Rhonda asked.

Zach raised his eyes and looked at Rhonda. Lower, he confessed. Sometimes I wonder if I should go back to trucking. The money wasn’t great…wasn’t bad, either.

But? Rhonda asked, hearing an icy wind howl around the kitchen window like a curious eavesdropper desperately trying to hear the scoop. It was nearly noon, and the frozen day outside, clothed with deep gray skies and bare trees, didn’t exactly offer an inviting hand to Rhonda’s imagination. She had planned to stay inside all day wrapped up in her bathrobe reading comics instead of hurrying to get all fancied up for Zach, pretending that the reason she had got all fancied up was because she had a chore to run later on in the day.

Zach picked up his coffee cup, took a sip, and then looked down at his hands. Rhonda, I’m not a trucker. To be honest, driving those big trucks always made me nervous, he explained. I was always in a hurry to get from one destination to another, losing sleep, counting weigh stations, trying to figure out how to use the back roads to make better time, worrying about my logbook…traffic. Zach glanced up at Rhonda. Driving a truck down a crowded interstate isn’t easy, especially with the way kids drive today. They speed up, cut in front of you. I can’t tell you how many times I almost—oh, it doesn’t matter.

Does to me, Rhonda promised. I can’t imagine driving one of those semi-trucks through the Atlanta rush hour.

Zach shook his head. It’s a nightmare, he acknowledged. He looked into Rhonda’s eyes, saw an authentic kindness that warmed his heart, and felt his mind relax. Being around Rhonda made him feel comfortable and…what? The word Home floated into Zach’s mind. Zach had married his first wife supposedly for love but soon learned after the marriage began that he had really married for image and stature—an error that had nearly destroyed his entire life. But now he was sitting in a warm kitchen looking into the face of a beautiful woman who whispered into his heart…whispered…hope. But why? Why was Rhonda so special? The woman was a retired cop who owned a bakery, nothing special…right? No. Rhonda was special, and Zach knew it; the very heart beating inside of Rhonda’s chest was special.

I doubt the drive to Grayston will be a nightmare, he tried to joke.

Rhonda smiled, took a sip of her coffee, and nodded. We’ll take the back roads, she joked back.

The back roads, Zach agreed. Feeling his palms become a little sweaty, he forced his eyes away from Rhonda’s lovely face. I was thinking we could leave tomorrow morning around nine? The drive to Grayston is a great stretch and we should arrive in good time.

Works for me, Rhonda promised and then asked: Uh, are there any hotels in Grayston?

I think there should be one or two? Zach answered. Grayston is a small town but the last time I was there I stayed at a little hotel called the Banana Peel Inn. Not sure if it’s still there or not.

The Banana Peel Inn? Rhonda asked, picturing a giant wooden banana. You’re kidding, right?

Zach blushed a little. The hotel was started by a man who spent years working as a clown. If I’m not mistaken, his name was Michael Potter…Pratters…something along that line. Zach took some coffee down. Anyway, this guy was supposedly famous in his time and when he retired from the clown business, he went back to the town he was raised in and built the Banana Peel Inn.

Sounds like Grayston, Alabama might be a colorful little place, Rhonda suggested and then laughed. The Banana Peel Inn? Sounds like my kind of town.

Don’t get your hopes up, Zach warned Rhonda. Rhonda was the type of woman who enjoyed jokes and even pulling a practical joke a time or two. She was bright, brilliant, and beautiful as well as charming and funny—Grayston, Alabama, on the other hand, was a drab little southern town that had one red light and a Dairy Queen, as far as Zach remembered.

Well, we’ll see, Rhonda assured Zach. Don’t underestimate a woman’s ability to turn a gray rainstorm into a rainbow.

Zach studied Rhonda’s eyes and then heard himself ask without being able to catch his mouth first: Murder doesn’t bother you, does it?

Rhonda stared at Zach, shocked at such a question. I— she struggled to answer.

Zach quickly put down his coffee cup and shook his head as if he were on fire. No—I didn’t mean for the question to sound like that. What I meant was…I mean…in Vermont…you handled that murder case. Very smart.

Vermont was a circus, Rhonda told Zach and rolled her eyes. Rita and I struggled to help a little town that was beyond hope, and because we stepped outside of the rules, we became tangled up in a giant mess.

But the killer was…well, justice was served.

Not the right way, Rhonda told Zach in a disappointed voice. You know, just because Rita and I were cops doesn’t mean we hit a home run every time we step up to bat. We’re not perfect detectives, and we sure make some lousy hits sometimes. But somehow we seem to come out of each murder case alive. Maybe a little scratched up, but alive. Rhonda forced a pretty smile to her face. I’m glad all of that ugliness seems to be behind us…lost in the fog.

From what Billy told me, the murder case you and Rita solved in Maine was a hard bear to wrestle with.

Rhonda sighed. Zach, I spent most of my time wrapped up in a blanket coughing my brains out. Rita was the cop who tackled that case. Rhonda bit down on her lip. Billy wasn’t no slouch.

Zach grew silent for a minute and thought about Rita and Billy. I think your sister and Billy are going to end up married. Maybe not today…but soon.

I know so, Rhonda said, allowing her voice to change from tired to excited in a flash. Rita has completely fallen for that big old teddy bear. I can’t blame her. Billy is a prince.

Yeah, I guess he is, Zach sighed. The type of man I always thought was below me has rubbed my face into the dirt. I sure deserve it, too, he assured Rhonda. If I would have met Billy before I was kicked out of the courtroom, I would have considered him…mentally slow and…a burden on a civilized society. Why? Because I always judge people with my eyes and not my…well, not my heart, I guess you can say.

Why are you telling me this? Rhonda asked Zach in a confused voice.

Zach shrugged his shoulders. Because I’m jealous of Billy. I’m jealous of the way Rita looks at him…and the way he looks at her. Those two have something that I’ve always hungered for.

And what’s that? Rhonda dared to ask, feeling her heart begin to race. Was Zach finally about to take a daring stance and move their relationship into a cozier corner?

Zach felt his thoughts return to his ex-wife. He saw a beautiful, cunning, intelligent woman appear before his eyes with a manipulative grin on her face. He saw the woman wave long black hair into the air and say Together forever, Zach as waves gently washed up on a tropical beach. Together forever…that’s what she said, Zach whispered in a bitter voice.

What? Rhonda asked.

Zach raised his eyes and looked into Rhonda’s beautiful face. Rhonda wasn’t his ex-wife, but weren’t all women the same? Of course not, Zach scolded himself…but as bitterness filled his heart, he wasn’t so sure. Nothing, he told Rhonda. He drained his coffee and stood up. "Look, maybe I should catch a bus and