The Chocolate Magic Cozy Mystery Box Set Books 1 to 7 Read online

  “I’ll take a couple of days off when we finish the tree house,” Sam told her. “We can go and see Michele.” They spent some time on wedding details, and Magda asked if he could find time to move the little chocolate vat from her kitchen to his.

  “I don’t use it a lot now that we have the one at the café, but I like to try new flavors on my own.”

  Sam said he would do that on his days off as well, deciding to leave for his own house, ready for another early start in the morning. She watched him swing into the truck from her front door and roar away into the night.

  “Right, cats, no more silly photos. Let’s snuggle down for the night.” Crystal cuddled close and knew that she was back in favor again.

  Rising early, Magda spent another fruitful morning making cheesecakes and chocolate decorations for the tops of them. It was a job that needed concentration, but she heard Rula call her name. The man at the counter was Karl Perez from the distillery, and alongside him, a regular customer.

  “Hello,” Magda said and came to meet them. “My pecan and marzipan customer,” she said.

  “I come bearing a gift,” Karl told her. He introduced his wife Meghan and held up two bottles of something that looked like raspberry syrup.

  “You made some already?” she asked, and he nodded.

  “I need to know what you think,” he answered. They headed over to a table while Magda went to find some glasses and spoons.

  Karl poured a small portion into the glasses and used a spoon to take a small amount.

  “It is quite strong,” he warned, and Magda copied what he did and took a small sip. She savored it on her tongue and looked at her new partner.

  “I have never tasted anything quite like that before,” she told him. “It is . . . it is quite magnificent.”

  “Told you,” Meghan Perez said. He covered her hand with his own on the table.

  “She’s always right,” he smiled. Magda called for Rula and Katie to try this elixir as well. They sipped, thought about it, and Katie exclaimed that they just had to use this in truffles. The raspberry syrup was declared an overwhelming success.

  “Now tell me it cost a fortune to make,” Magda smiled. Karl shook his head.

  “Surprisingly, it was comparatively easy and used up some brandy that was left from ordinary bottling. To sell it as a liqueur, I would have to make it a little milder, but for cooking, you would get the best effect from this very strong version.”

  “That is fantastic,” Magda replied, “because I know there is a lot of American folklore about the raspberry plant and its fruit. It is associated with a feminine goddess, and the stories are about patience, love, and goodness. It would be magical.”

  “Your truffle selling would help my advertising as well. It can be a win-win situation,” Karl told her. She held out a hand.

  “We have a deal, Karl. Thank you so much.” Then she suddenly looked at him. “If it was easy to make, could you make a whisky one as well?”

  “It would cost more because we would buy the whisky, but yes, not a problem.”

  Magda looked at Katie.

  “I think the syrup would work better than the untouched whisky. What do you think Katie?”

  Katie nodded in agreement.

  “Easier to measure and a strong punch of flavor from a very small amount,” she agreed. The visitors were offered coffee or hot chocolate and sat to enjoy the drinks. Magda told him that she was going to apply for a license to sell alcohol.

  “It is only so that I can offer Irish coffee or, say, bottles of your brandy and liqueur, but it might be very useful.” Karl agreed that it was a good idea. They talked about other things and he left her the two bottles of syrup to make the first batch of truffles. Katie asked if she could make a batch straightaway to see if it really worked, and Magda handed her the bottles.

  “I’ll just go back and look up this folklore and refresh my memory,” Magda said. “The stories would go up nicely on the walls or on cards.” She was on her way over to the computer when she came back. “Katie, what about greeting cards with the raspberry plants or things from the folk tales? Could you make them?”

  “Easy peasy,” Katie smiled. She took a piece of paper and sketched a plant and a raspberry, a heart and a truffle. “I would take more time and add color but they would work and we could print them ourselves on the normal printer.” As Magda went over to the computer, Katie added that they could do the same for oranges, pecans, violets, and roses.

  “I like it,” Magda answered and opened up the laptop. By the time the afternoon was over, she had downloaded quite a few stories about the raspberry plant, leaves, and berries. She printed them off and put them to one side to take home and read over in the evening.

  Katie was waiting anxiously for the chocolate to dry so that she could try one of the new local, raspberry liqueur truffles. She had a circle of others all waiting to sample them as well, and finally, Rula, Josh, Rita, Magda, and Katie herself all lifted one at the same time.

  “Three, two, one,” Magda said, and each truffle was devoured. She looked from one to the other and then saw a smile spread across each face.

  “Magic,” Rula said. “Absolute magic.”

  “Lock that syrup away,” Magda said, “It is pure gold.” They cleared up but Magda had decided to take the new truffles home with her. Then she held out a plastic box with four of them to Rula.

  “Mikey’s ocean-spotting taste buds should give us an opinion.”

  Rula grinned and took them off into the store next door. Magda locked up and went home and found a sweet surprise. Sam’s car was parked out in front of the house and there was a delicious aroma coming from the kitchen. He was wearing an apron and had a towel over his shoulder.

  “Welcome to your own kitchen,” he said, and she stood on tiptoe to give him a kiss.

  “Smells wonderful.”

  “I confess, I cheated and bought it, but the thought was there.”

  “It was a lovely thought,” she told him, took her plate, and kicked off her shoes as she settled on the couch. “For dessert, there is the fabulous new raspberry syrup truffle.”

  “The wood from Scotland is in the trunk and I’ll leave it there until tomorrow night,” he told her. “The cats are not bothered at all.”

  “Did you finish the tree house?” He nodded and told her that the boys had come down with their dad.

  “The looks on their faces were priceless. They ran up the stairs and along the walkway and tried to make the whole thing sway back and forth a lot.” He laughed. “Declan’s construction held up well.”

  “Did he see any ghostly figures?” Magda asked.

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  “He wasn’t absolutely certain but thought there was something beside the wood, though he never actually saw it.”

  “We are meeting tomorrow night if that is okay with you and Declan. The wood might give us some extra help,” Magda told him and then brought him up to date about the raspberry syrup. She held out the box of truffles. “I need serious opinions.”

  Sam slowly let the truffle melt in his mouth and reached for a second one.

  “That is seriously the best truffle you have ever made,” he told her, and she let him take the second one from the box.

  “Praise indeed,” she smiled and ate the last sample herself. She pulled out her notes about the raspberry folklore and read them out to him.

  “People will like that,” he said. “It ties in with native folklore and really old stuff like Greek gods.”

  “It is still used in raspberry leaf pills to relieve feminine discomfort. It seems to be associated with love and patience and waiting for your plans to mature. I’ll write it up in a sensible sort of way, and I can do the same thing for the rose fondant because the raspberry and the rose are related.”

  “And everybody associates roses with love,” Sam added. “I can see a theme developing here.”

  Magda told him about the idea for greeting cards. “The roses would work beautiful
ly with that,” she said and smiled. “Katie was quite keen. I bet she brings some in tomorrow.”

  Sam said that he had some work to do at the office but would be around if she needed him for anything.

  “If we have the séance tomorrow night, Declan, Branston, and I can see about suits for the wedding the next day,” he added.

  “And the day after, we can see Michele and choose the menus. Then we are just about organized.” She sighed contentedly and told him that she was really keen to make these raspberry brandy truffles. “Karl can make a whisky syrup that is similar, and I don’t need to buy the expensive Scotch. It is a beautiful whisky but really a bit of a waste to flavor chocolate.”

  The cats were sleepy and undisturbed and Sam left her working on the cards with the raspberry stories.

  The next day, she was up and about at the crack of dawn and starting on the truffles well before anyone else arrived at the café.

  “My my,” Katie said as she donned her chef’s jacket and tied up her hair. “You are keen.” Magda nodded and told her that the centers were chilling if Katie would make the chocolate.

  “I’ve set up the labels to be printed for the boxes, and I’ve also printed off a sample of the cards with the raspberry folklore.”

  “And I,” Katie told her, “have made some cards.”

  “I knew you would,” Magda said and washed her hands to look at the artwork. “Oh, Katie, you are such a brilliant artist. I am lucky to have you helping here.”

  Rula, Rita, and Josh all looked at the cards and declared them to be wonderful.

  “Josh, can you take time off from the café and print the cards? I can pop out and buy some envelopes to tide us over until I can get a supply.” Josh said he was happy to do any technical stuff she needed and switched on the printer.

  “We have a supply of blank cards, so I need these notes about raspberries printed,” she added and carried on with her truffle making. The smell of the warm chocolate filtered through the place and Katie said that she would soon be able to do the coating.

  Rula and Rita served customers, and when there were small, chilled pieces of center available, asked the customers if they would like to try the newest flavor and then give their opinion.

  There was no doubt that the new variety was a huge success, and even as Josh printed off the cards, there was intense interest in them. Magda insisted that the cards stated that the designs were by Katie Welling. They took turns to stop for lunch and Declan phoned to say that he would bring the sculptures with him in the evening. Magda looked at the shelves and was satisfied that the stolen things had been replaced.

  “Can you make a new area for paper things like cards, please?” she asked Katie.

  Katie was just finishing the final coating of the new truffles and said that while they were setting, she would do the display.

  “Your artist’s eye is invaluable,” Magda told her as Josh handed over the printed cards and envelopes. He went back to clearing tables.

  Sam came in later in the day and asked if there was anything he could do to help, but they were just about finished.

  “I’ve made some sandwiches to save time before we come back here,” Magda told him and then noticed the large bag.

  He smiled. “Declan sent the sculptures instead of bringing them later.” He showed her the pieces, and all the girls came to look.

  “He truly is an artist,” Katie said. “They are such wonderful shapes.”

  “I did bring the Scottish piece of wood as well,” Sam added and went back to the car to bring it in.

  “I suppose we could just leave it here for now and take it outside with us later,” Magda said and put it on the floor in the corner. It’s just a piece of wood, she told herself but cast another suspicious look at it as she was locking up.

  They called to each other that they would meet later, and Josh asked if they wanted him to be there as well.

  “No hot date tonight, then?” Magda asked. He shook his head.

  “You are welcome to come and join in,” she said as she left to drive home.

  Sam was already ahead of her and came to help her carry things from the car.

  Sandwiches eaten, they sat with a coffee before going back to the café. Crystal stalked around the table and was a lot more restless than usual.

  “I wonder what she’s thinking now,” Magda said and lifted the cat onto her knee, but Crystal struggled to be back on the floor. Rula called to say she would be a few minutes late for the evening session, and Magda put the cell phone on the table. Crystal reacted immediately, jumped lightly onto the coffee table, and knocked the phone onto the floor.

  “It’s a good thing I have a cover on this, or it would be broken to bits every other day,” Magda said as she retrieved it. The photo of the wood against the tree was on the screen. She handed it to Sam. “She’s at it again.”

  Sam agreed and wondered if the cat knew he had carried the piece of wood.

  “Maybe she can sense it or something,” he wondered aloud.

  “Psst!” Magda said, “The little minx is telling us to watch out tonight.” Then she smiled. “I guess she’s trying to help.” She went and found some of the special treats that Crystal loved and gave one to all of their furry friends.

  Sam and Magda drove back together to the café and opened up so that Sam could set up the chairs. Josh came to help.

  Karla, Jeanette, and Carrie all came together and were quite excited. Merle and Branston arrived and Merle took over organizing everyone.

  “Rula said she would be a little bit late,” Magda said, but as she said it, Rula and Mikey arrived at a run.

  “Sorry, had to go to the precinct about the robbery,” Mikey told everyone.

  “We’ve all just arrived. Don’t worry,” Sam answered and then realized that Declan was missing.

  “Take a seat everyone,” Merle told them, “but I won’t start until he gets here. Have you got climbing shoes on, girls?” The girls were set to climb if need be and Mikey had ropes to use as well.

  Sam brought out the piece of wood and laid it against the climbing wall.

  “This,” Magda told the girls and Carrie, “Is the wood that they sent from the old castle in Scotland. It seemed to be what brought the Viking. We had taken it to the forest so it was out of the way.”

  “Then we thought it had better come back in case Utric was upset but when I took a photo of the tree house with the wood against the trunk of the tree, this is what we saw,” Sam added. The girls and Carrie passed the cell phone from one to another.

  “The tree house is fantastic,” Karla said, and then Carrie took the phone back again and put on her reading glasses.

  “Did you think you saw something unusual?” she asked Sam, and he nodded.

  “What do you see?” She looked up as Declan arrived and joined the group. Carrie looked around the circle and said that she could see the outline of a woman.

  Jeanette gasped and had another look at the screen. “I think I see what you mean,” she said.

  Declan had brought some greenery in a plastic bag and laid it on the ground. He said that it was material he had brought for Katie because she needed some real leaves to copy.

  “It is actually raspberry and there are some berries on it. From my garden,” he added by way of explanation.

  “Let’s see if the wood makes a difference,” Merle directed. She went through her protection routine, and then they held hands and she called out.

  “We are all here to talk to you again, Utric,” she said loudly. “Can you come forward and join us? We only want to help.” There was no response, and when Merle looked at Declan, he shook his head. She repeated the same thing again, and this time Declan said quietly that there was movement in the corner by the wall.

  “Carrie, can you try please?” Merle asked the older woman.

  Carrie took a breath and tried to stop her nerves from showing. “Utric, my boy. Are you there? Can you make a noise to let me know you can hear me
please?” There was a pause and then a bang. Most of them jumped, but Merle spoke again and asked Utric to come forward. Declan pointed to the climbing wall without saying anything .

  “Magda, can you call out as well?” Merle asked, and Magda thought for a moment.

  “Utric, thank you for coming. We brought the wood back from the forest. The wood that came from the castle. I think you came here with the wood.” A slight breeze rippled around the group.

  Josh asked his aunt if she could ask about the wood again. She raised an eyebrow and he smiled.

  “Utric, if you are still listening, can you tell me if the wood is really special for you?” She looked at her nephew and he made a sign with his hand to say it again.

  “Please, Utric. Tell me or tell Josh about this piece of wood. Was it part of the castle?” The breeze that swirled around her was not the friendly one. “So, it wasn’t the castle. Is that right?” The breeze turned to a gentle one. Josh opened his eyes and looked at Merle.

  “Every time the wood is mentioned, I can only get images of water. It happened each time.”

  “Is the wood from the longboat?” Magda suddenly asked the spirit. “The book keeps opening at the picture of a longboat.” The breeze touched all of them with a gentle caress. Merle asked him to make a noise if the wood came from his longboat. There was a slight delay and then a bang.

  “Oh, my,” Karla exclaimed. “He replied.”

  “He’s attached to the longboat but sad as well,” Merle said. “He has such a sadness. I wish I could help.”

  Declan spoke for the first time. “Maybe we can get the woman to appear. I know she’s just out of sight.”

  “Do you think that they were happy in the longboat but he was left on his own?” Carrie asked Merle.

  “You ask him, Carrie. He seems to respect you,” Merle answered. Carrie took a deep breath and thought for a few seconds.

  “My son,” she said gently, “I lost my husband, I know how you feel. Did the longboat bring you and Racksha to the castle? Were you happy then?”

  “Can you keep on talking, Carrie?” Declan asked as he looked at the piece of wood. The raspberry shoots and leaves were beside it.