The Case of the Bullfighting Builder (Buttercup Bend Mysteries Book 6)

The Case of the Bullfighting Builder

Cathy Jefferson’s new home is supposed to mark the start of a fresh chapter. But when her builder is found dead at the construction site, the project comes to a halt—and Cathy is drawn into a murder investigation with more questions than answers.

As she works to uncover who killed Jorge Rios, Cathy makes a startling discovery in her grandmother’s attic: her parents’ fatal car crash years earlier may not have been an accident. With help from fellow detectives Nancy and Howard, she begins searching for the truth behind two mysteries—one tied to her future, and one buried deep in her past.

The trail leads to a ranch, a prize bull, an estranged uncle, an old college roommate, and secrets that someone is willing to kill to protect. As danger moves closer, Cathy must decide who she can trust before another life is lost.

A cozy mystery filled with family secrets, small-town intrigue, and unexpected twists, The Case of the Bullfighting Builder is the sixth book in Debbie De Louise’s Buttercup Bend Mysteries series.

Read The Case of the Bullfighting Builder and follow Cathy Jefferson as she searches for a killer, answers about her parents, and the future waiting just beyond the walls of her unfinished home.

Excerpt from the book

After returning from her brief honeymoon where she was nearly murdered, Cathy Jefferson and her husband, Steve, moved in with Cathy’s grandmother, Florence. A home was being built for the couple near their second pet rescue center, but it would take time before they could move in. A year had already passed, and they were still at Florence’s house.

As much as Cathy was eager to have her own place with Steve, she enjoyed being with her grandmother and living next door to her brother, Doug and his wife, Becky. She also loved being close to her five-year-old nephew, Doug, Jr., whose nickname was Dougie.

Although it would be months before she and Steve would move into their new home, Cathy was already preparing by packing up items that she’d stored in her grandmother’s attic after she moved to Buttercup Bend when her parents died in a tragic car crash in which her right cheek had been scarred. She no longer covered the scar with her hair but applied light makeup over it.

Cathy hadn’t been up in the attic for a long time. As she sorted through the boxes, memories flooded her mind, photos of her mother and father, a scrapbook her mother had created of Cathy’s school years, a folded kite she’d flown with her father. She paused in her work when Gran yelled up to her.

“Catherine, one of the builders called. He says it’s urgent and that you should go to the work site immediately.”

Cathy assumed the call was from Ferdinand. The Spanish builder who worked with his brother, Jorge, and owned the F&J Construction Company, described every issue with the build urgent. Just the other day, he had her rush over to the site because a brick wasn’t fitting. By the time she got there, Jorge had handled the emergency. Unlike his brother, Jorge was more experienced and less anxious.

Cathy debated on whether she should bother going, but it gave her an excuse to leave the attic and the painful memories she was finding there. When she got downstairs, her grandmother said, “Ferdinand sounded upset, Catherine. I hope everything’s okay.”

Cathy sighed. “I’m sure it is, Gran. Ferdinand is always finding things wrong and holding up the construction until Jorge deals with them.”

“He’s only doing his job, Catherine. I know he calls a lot, but his voice was different this time. He was crying.”

“Alright, Gran. I’ll check it out. I should be home soon.” Cathy grabbed her purse and keys, left the house, and drove to the construction site. She reflected that Ferdinand never called Steve or Doug, partly because he knew Steve worked at various landscaping jobs around Buttercup Bend. Cathy worked at home, managing her and her brother’s pet business, while Doug held a job at the Buttercup Bend post office.

When she arrived at the construction site, she was shocked to see Sheriff Miller’s car and a yellow police tape strewn across the area. She rushed from her car. Ferdinand was talking with Leroy, gesturing with his hands. When he saw Cathy, he yelled to her, “Senora Jefferson.” The sheriff turned toward Cathy but before he could answer her unspoken question, she saw what lay beyond the tape; Jorge Rios, sprawled face down, a bullet hole in his head, blood soaking the ground around him.