The Annual Gingerbread Man Cookie Jamboree benefiting the Central Park Zoo is in full swing. Dozens of revelers are even dressed up like Gingerbread Men watching the seals and sea lions feeding nearby.

Everyone’s declining Max’s kale hot cocoa. Admittedly the smell isn’t that appealing. Hopefully, our judges, who are approaching, will have a different opinion. 

Oh, my! What I thought was an over sized collar around Natasha’s neck is an actual python. Let’s hope Max is too busy pouring cocoa to notice the anaconda. Too late! ‘Diamonds’ hissed at Max and he jumped clear across the table

He just knocked over the ‘Queen of Cream’, Sweet Sally Buttercup as she was sipping his kale hot cocoa. Brave woman. Oh wait, she’s grabbing her throat – she’s convulsing on the ground. Sounds like she is moaning, ‘Diamonds’, Diamonds’. This is terrible. Oh, no! The blonde celebrity chef has stopped breathing.

Ambulance Wow! That was quick! The EMTs are lifting Sweet Sally Buttercup’s lifeless body onto a gurney, covering her with a sheet and rolling her to the waiting ambulance. But even this tragic event can’t prevent the Gingerbread Man Cookie Jamboree competition from continuing.

Tonya: Max, isn’t it ironic for a celebrity chef to drop dead at a cooking competition? I’ve got a hunch Sweet Sally’s death was meant to be humiliating.  Take off that silly spotted apron. You owe it to her, as one of her devoted fans, to solve this murder!

Max:  No-no-no! I don’t have time to get mixed up in another one of your crazy investigations. I’ve got to focus on winning.

Tonya: The other competitors are the least of your worries. If you don’t stop tampering with the evidence. People are already blaming her death on your kale hot cocoa

Max: That slimy snake bit her! I’m as innocent — as my mother!

Natasha: There she is! Officer arrest that woman with the leopard purse. She killed my sister!

Sally’s twin sister, Natasha ‘Knock-Out’ Buchanan rushes forward with several police officers. She waves a stack of letters in Mama Rose Marie’s face. 

Natasha: See for yourselves, Officer! Here’s the proof! She’s  a cold blooded killer!

Mama Rose Marie: Me? Oh dear. 

A quick scan of the letters in Natasha’s hand confirms they contain deranged descriptions of what will happen to the star of Chew TV’s show, Triple Buttercream, Sweet Sally Buttercup, if she doesn’t comply with the demands to send money.

Natasha: You can drop the ‘sweet old lady’ act. Officers, she sent these letters to my sister. Her signature is right here at the bottom.

Mama Rose Marie: Oh dear, that is my signature. 

Natasha: Lock her up! 

Max: Officers, Officers this is a terrible mistake! She’s not a killer!  She’s my Mama!

Natasha: Save your tears for the courtroom. She’s going to prison!

The police take Mama Rose Marie off in their squad car. I can’t help to wonder ‘is this true’? Is our sweet Mama Rose Marie a modern-day Ma Barker? Could she pen dozens of vengeful threats in such gory detail? They seem to be the work of a sick, twisted, demented Wacko.

Max: I wrote those letters. But they’re funding requests, not death threats. Honest. I signed my mom’s name at the bottom, hoping Sweet Sally couldn’t say ‘no’ to a sweet little old lady. I have to confess to the police before my mother’s mug shot ends up in the Post Office.

Tonya: I’ve got a better idea, Max. Let’s just solve Sweet Sally’s murder. Now, what ingredients did you put in that lethally laced cocoa?

Max: My kale hot cocoa is NOT deadly. I drank several cups and I’m fine.

Tonya: After you added in the Almond Milk? I read somewhere that almonds are poisonous. 

Max: There’s only one thing poisonous around here. Natasha’s pet viper!

Patricia: Max, pythons aren’t venomous but wild almonds contain cyanide.

Tonya: Ah ha! That’s it!

MaryAnn: No, no, no you can’t buy poisonous almonds in the United States. And domesticated sweet almonds used to make Almond Milk don’t contain cyanide. It had to be something else! 

Tonya: Whoever did it, had to be very accurate with the dosage. The amount of poison you need for one particular person might not be enough for someone else. 

Max: And where did you get that little tidbit, Tonya?

Tonya: Research – my newest book – “Motorhomes, Maps and Murders”. 

Patricia: Of course! The same principle applies for managing blood sugars. I tell my patients all the time: what works for one person may not work for someone else. Everyone’s different.

MaryAnn: The best way is to know how different foods will affect you is to check your blood sugars before you eat and then again two hours after you eat

Tonya: Whoever killed Sweet Sally Buttercup had to be knowledgeable in both math and science. 

MaryAnn: Or have a culinary background. 

Max: Using that logic, everyone here competing is a suspect — including my mother!

Tonya: In my book, “Scene of the Grind”, Roxy Bloom faced your same situation, Max. The only way she could clear the name of her beloved Aunt was to prove who did do it! Now, who else was close enough to tamper with the cocoa?

MaryAnn: The other two judges were standing next to Sweet Sally. 

Patricia: Maybe Max is right – Natasha’s snake is at fault. Sweet Sally was moaning ‘Diamonds’ as she was gasping for air.

Max: And I wouldn’t be surprised if Renata Whisk was involved. 

Agnes: Max!  Max! Come quick! She’s disappeared!

Max: Who? Renata? 

Agnes: No, ‘Diamonds’ is on the loose!

Enjoy Divabetic’s 6th Annual Mystery podcast, Gingerbread Men Prefer Blondes features Mama Rose Marie, Best-Selling Author Tonya Kappes, the Charlie’s Angels of Outreach (Patricia Addie-Gentle RN, CDE and MaryAnn Nicolay BA, DTR), The Happy Diabetic Chef Robert Lewis, Seveda Williams, Coach The Cure’s Trisha Artman, Jillian Walsh, Wendy Radford, Dave Jones, Lorraine Brooks and Max Szadek.

Throughout this podcast we will be featuring music from the original Broadway cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes courtesy of SONY MUSIC.

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