The Cupcake Capers Box Set

by Polly Holmes

  “A person of interest? That’s ludicrous. I’ll come down to the station right now, if that would help sort out this mess as quickly as possible,” Charlotte said. Liam’s frown deepened and he looked at her in question, obviously impatient for an explanation. “That suits me just fine. Goodbye.”

  “Charlotte, what is it? What happened?” Liam asked.

  She swallowed, unable to articulate any sort of response. Her blood turned to ice in her veins and it felt as if all the air had been drained from her lungs. They burned.

  Dead. Mr Hutson was dead from cyanide poising and I’m a person of interest? This can’t be happening.

  Concern etched in Liam’s eyes. “Charlotte, you’re really starting to worry me now. Please tell me what happened?”

  Tears burned her eyes like acid. “That was the police. Mr Hutson is dead.”

  Liam’s features froze, and shock registered bleakly in his eyes. “What?”

  “Cyanide poisoning,” she whispered. The words slicing her heart like a knife. “And I’m a person of interest. They think he was murdered and I had something to do with it.”

  “What? Did you even know him?” Liam asked.

  She shook her head. “No, not very well. He pretty much kept to himself when he wasn’t doing council business or trying to plan the annual town fete. Although…he had started making waves recently, by bringing high-name businesses from Sydney in to help promote Aston Point. I know it wasn’t taken well by some of the locals.”

  So much for Clair’s nonchalant view that this mess will blow over. Charlotte shivered and bile rose in her throat. “You know what this means don’t you?”

  Liam’s brow furrowed.

  “It means that someone in town is trying to kill people, people they know and supposedly care about,” she said, looking around at the other patrons nearby. What if the killer was sitting right here, in this very restaurant? “Who knows who will be next on their list?”

  “Why would someone want to kill anyone in this town, especially someone they know?” Liam asked.

  “That’s a good question, but I’ll be damned if they’re going to use me and my business as a scapegoat. Detective Anderson wants me to go in to answer a few questions. I figured the sooner the better.” She pushed her chair out and stood, her jelly knees almost gave way. “I’m sorry to cut our dinner short, but if you could drop me at the station on your way home, I’d really appreciate it, since I haven’t got my car with me.”

  Liam threw two twenty dollar notes on the table and stood. “I’m coming with you.”

  Charlotte’s eyes widened. “That’s really not necessary. I’m sure I won’t be there for long. I know this has nothing to do with my cupcakes and Clair will be able to come and pick me up when I’m done.” She sucked in her breath, trying desperately not to overreact.

  “I know we’ve only just met but do you really think I’m going to be able to go home and settle in for the night, when I know you’re at the police station, answering who knows what questions?” Liam asked through gritted teeth.

  She didn’t want to be alone and she could do with a friend. She smiled. “I’m sure I’ll be fine, but I’d really appreciate the company. Thank you.”

  “Say no more,” he said as he guided her from the restaurant.

  By the time Liam had parked the car and they’d headed into the police station, anger had replaced shock and her calm insides were now a simmering cauldron. “This is ridiculous. I’m sure they have no evidence, no proof, that my cupcakes had anything to do with this.”

  “I’m sure you’re right, and it’s probably just routine questioning, but what do you say we find out?” Liam said.

  “Excuse me, Alison,” she said interrupting her conversation. “Detective Anderson is expecting me.”

  Alison’s gaze hardened. She pursed her lips together and raised her eyebrows above her red, strawberry-coloured glasses. “Charlotte. One moment and I’ll let him know you’re here.”

  It had only been a few minutes before she heard her name called across the reception area. “Charlotte, thank you for coming down. This shouldn’t take too long,” Detective Anderson said as he opened the interview door.

  Of course, it shouldn’t take too long. “The sooner we get this sorted the better,” she said, through a determined grimace.

  His hand shot up and stopped Liam in his tracks. “I’d like to speak to Miss McCorrson alone.”

  Liam’s eyes darkened and a scowl twisted his features. “But…”

  Please don’t make a scene. Charlotte squeezed Liam’s arm for reassurance. “If you just wait here, I’m sure I won’t be too long,” she said then quickly turned and entered the interview room. Detective Anderson closed the door behind them.

  Chapter Three

  LIAM PACED THE waiting room, his gut churning. “How long does it take to answer a few questions?” he muttered. Charlotte had been in there for over forty-five minutes and the longer it took, the antsier he became.

  When he’d arrived for the wedding Friday morning, Ashton Point seemed like the perfect quintessential town, not dissimilar to Dunsborough. And now it looked like someone was determined to destroy the peace and tranquillity in the worst way imaginable. Murder.

  Charlotte had been a pleasant surprise. He hadn’t planned on staying in town, but getting to know the feisty redhead was a much more appealing option. He enjoyed her company, but unless the police found what really happened to Mr Hutson, his time with her would undoubtedly be cut short.

  His head whipped around as the sharp click of the door signalled its opening. The expression on Charlotte’s face roared anger. In three strides, he was by her side.

  “You haven’t heard the last from me, Detective Anderson,” she said through gritted teeth.

  “As I explained, Charlotte, the investigation is still underway.”

  “I’m not sure how, with the skeleton staff you have working this week,” she blurted.

  Liam’s jaw dropped as she shook her hand at an unsuspecting detective.

  “And as I said to you, I’m not going to become a sitting duck for whoever is behind this calculated attack.”

  Detective Anderson frowned. “And as I said to you, plan to stay around town till this is sorted out and don’t do anything that is going to get yourself in trouble.”

  “Charlotte?” Liam asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. He nearly recoiled from the heat radiating from her body. “What’s going on?”

  She held up her hand, immediately halting his line of questioning. “I’ll expect to be kept updated on each development, Detective Anderson. CC’s Simply Cupcakes will not take the fall for this. I will clear our name, you can count on it.”

  Both men watched in amazement as she stormed from the station.

  Liam ignored the detectives’ outstretched hand and gave chase. Concern filled his chest as he saw Charlotte pacing beside his car. What happened in there? “Charlotte…Charlotte,” he said quietly as he approached, not wanting to become a target on the end of her anger.

  Her gaze shot to his and her eyes conveyed all the answers he needed. Anger, grief, sorrow, confusion. Worry knotted his insides. “Talk to me, tell me what happened, so I can help,” he said as he opened the car door for her.

  He had no idea where she wanted to go, so they sat in the car in silence, staring out the windscreen. Helplessness roared through him like a runaway train. He couldn’t help if she wouldn’t talk to him. “Come on, Charlotte, I thought we were friends. The least you could do is talk to me instead of behaving like a spoilt brat.”

  Her mouth dropped open and her gaze shot daggers at him. He could feel each blade as it sliced his chest. He braced himself for the impending explosion. Anything would be better than this awful tense silence.

  “Spoilt brat…spoilt brat. Ha. You don’t know anything,” she yelled.

  “Of course I don’t, because you won’t tell me,” he said enunciating each word to drive his message home. He reined himself in be
fore he said something he’d regret. “Friend, remember? I’m here as a friend, so let me help you.”

  Her face fell and he suddenly wanted to wrap his arms around her and tell her everything would be okay. He continued, “When I feel like my life is falling apart, I usually head down to the beach and scream at the top of my lungs. No-one can hear me but the fish and they usually don’t have much to say. Is there a place we can go that would make you feel better?”

  Her face softened and relief swarmed his chest.

  “Well, there is one place I usually go when life gets a little overbearing,” she said just above a whisper.

  “Great.” He smiled. “Point me in the right direction,” he said starting the car.

  “Johns’ Cape. It’s the lighthouse up by the lookout. The entry is up on the highway. We passed it on the way here.”

  Liam nodded. “Yes, I remember. Sounds like the perfect place.”

  They drove in silence, but every now and then, Liam glanced Charlotte’s way. She seemed relaxed, as if she was back to her spirited self.

  “I’m sorry,” Charlotte said as they pulled into the car park, her fingers twisting in her lap. “That man just made me so mad I couldn’t even think straight. He refused to give me any straight answers, except to confirm that it was, indeed, cyanide that killed Mr Hutson.”

  “Why don’t we take a walk and get some fresh air?” Liam suggested.

  She nodded and eased herself from the car.

  They walked side by side and he watched the rise and fall of her chest as she took several deep breaths. His eye caught the way her breasts moved with each breath. Friends, remember.

  “So, how long do I have to wait to hear what happened back there?” he pried.

  “You’re very sweet to want to help but it’s really not necessary. I’m fine now,” she said as they walked along the path to the lookout.

  “Yes, now you are, but back then you looked like you would rip the head off a lion with your bare teeth. You even scared me, and I don’t scare easily.” The poor crack at humour was his attempt to lighten the mood.

  “You, scared? I hardly think so.” She chuckled. “I’m sure a man like you could handle yourself if the need arose.”

  A man like me? What did she mean by that?

  Liam paused midway, leaned against the rock wall and crossed his arms. “So, spill. Let’s hear what the nice detective had to say.”

  She must have sensed his determination to get answers because she sighed and once she started it was hard to stop the continuous stream of words that sprouted from her mouth.

  “Detective Anderson asked me all these questions about my whereabouts, when and where I made my cupcakes, you know the usual boring monotonous questions. And then he had the gall to tell me they were going to close down CC’s Simply Cupcakes, even though the cupcakes from the wedding were tested and came back negative for cyanide poisoning. He said that there was no proof it wasn’t the cupcakes, as they could have been destroyed before they were able to retrieve them. I think he thinks he’s a modern-day Sherlock Holmes.” She only stopped to suck in a deep breath and then continued. “I argued that there was no proof that it was the cupcakes and that if he was going to close me down, they’d better have concrete evidence, otherwise my lawyer would have a field day with a wrongful lawsuit.”

  Liam’s eyes widened. “Really?”

  She nodded. “Damn straight.” She giggled. “Not that I have a lawyer, but he doesn’t know that. And as for the death of Mr Hutson, he’s lived in Ashton Point longer than most people, he’s almost a part of the furniture and a councilman. I have very little to do with the council. Apart from the fact that we didn’t even know each other, he’s never set one foot inside my shop.”

  Liam’s mind boggled. “So did he disclose who else was poisoned?”

  A glint of mischief gleamed in her eyes. “He wasn’t going to, but by then I was furious. Eventually, I convinced him to tell me. Mr Calderson, the local councilman, was the other person who fell ill with Mr Hutson at the wedding and Mrs Boothman, the librarian after Mrs Stevenson’s party.”

  A sharp inhale sounded and her nostrils flared. Not again. He hadn’t wanted to excite her again. “Let’s walk,” he said and she followed his step.

  “There is absolutely no connection between any of those victims to me or our shop, except they were in the same place at the same time as my cupcakes, but he wouldn’t believe me. And to make matters worse, most of our trusty loyal crime fighters are out of town, on some sort of police training course. So how the hell can I expect a thorough investigation?” She squeezed her hands into fists and shrieked. “He’s a typically arrogant, chauvinist male, just like all men.”

  Stifling the tension, he gasped in shock. “Well, thank goodness I’m not one of them.”

  She stopped and gazed at him. “I didn’t mean that.” She play-shoved him out of the way. “I’d hardly put you in the same category as Detective Anderson.”

  “I am relieved about that,” Liam said. “So, what happens now?”

  “What happens now is pretty simple.”

  His brow creased. “Oh.”

  “Yes.” She paused. “It’s up to me to find the answers before I lose everything.”

  Dread filled his stomach. She couldn’t be serious. He took one look at the conviction in her expression. Holy cow, she is serious. Fear vibrated through every nerve ending.

  He turned her by the shoulder until he was facing her square on. “You’re serious?”

  “Of course, I’m serious,” she snapped.

  “Absolutely not,” Liam spat before he could recall the words.

  She pulled away from his grip. “Excuse me?”

  Her sudden withdrawal caught him off guard and he didn’t like it one bit. “Have you forgotten someone is killing people in this town? What do you think’s going to happen, if you start snooping around, looking into other people’s business?”

  “Perhaps I’ll find the truth,” she said. “By the time the police do their job, I could be out of a job.”

  Anger boiled up from his chest. “This isn’t some little Nancy Drew crime novel, you know. It’s murder and you could be in the firing line if you start interfering where you don’t belong.”

  He felt like shaking some sense into her. The idea of Charlotte, or any woman for that matter putting herself in harm’s way sent a shiver up his spine.

  She sighed. “Listen, Liam, this isn’t your problem or your fight. It’s mine and I have to fight for what I’ve worked so hard to build. I don’t trust the police to do the job properly and I’m not exactly inept when it comes to defending myself. I’ve had my fair share of battles over the years.”

  She really is serious. “This is crazy. Do you even know what you’re saying?”

  Her face paled and her eyes narrowed. “Yes, I know exactly what I’m saying and I’m not asking your permission. This is my choice. Now, if you wouldn’t mind taking me home I’ve got some planning to do.” She turned on her heel and stomped toward his car.

  He shook his head as he watched her strut away. Crazy woman. She was as feisty and determined as she was beautiful. But that feistiness could get her injured, or worse, killed. If he couldn’t stop her, he could make sure he was there to prevent any uninvited confrontations.

  “Charlotte, wait…please.”

  Chapter Four

  CHARLOTTE CLENCHED HER hands by her sides and stopped. She knew he meant well, but why is it, men think women are weaklings? You’d be surprised what I could do when push comes to shove, Mr Bradly.

  She stood and waited for Liam to catch up to her before continuing toward the car. “Liam, I really do appreciate your concern, but my mind is made up and there’s no changing it.”

  She froze to the spot as the deep throaty laugh beside her riled her insides. “Are you laughing at me?”

  “No. Absolutely not,” he said as an apologetic expression crossed his face. “Sorry, that was bad timing. Your determination i
s impressive. It’s just I know when a woman makes up her mind I’ve got Buckley’s of changing it. Growing up with two older sisters has taught me that.”

  “Oh.” Two older sisters?

  “Let me help you, Charlotte. I promise you won’t regret it and you never know, I may be able to teach you a thing or two,” Liam said continuing to move toward the car. “Surely, two minds are better than one.”

  She stared at him wide-eyed, his unexpected offer hit her square in the chest. “Um…”

  Liam continued. “And you’ll have the advantage. I’m not from around here and I doubt people will remember me that well from the wedding, especially out of my ‘monkey suit,’ as Mrs Stevenson so elegantly put it. I’ll be able to go places without being noticed, eavesdrop, you know, whereas no-one is going to able to miss you when they see you coming.”

  She frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  His hand flew to his forehead and he gave himself a playful slap. “I did it again. I only meant that you’re not exactly hard on the eyes, beautiful, in fact, and it would be hard not to be distracted.”

  Beautiful…he thinks I’m beautiful?

  “My mouth is going to get me into serious trouble one day,” he said. His playful banter softened her heart, just a little. “What…you mean it hasn’t already?”

  “Touché,” he said giving her a mock salute. “I deserved that. I really am serious, though. Let me help you. It’s not like I have anything else to do this week.”

  Charlotte bit her bottom lip. Should I? Her stomach did a little backflip at the thought of spending the week together. Her gaze caught the slight crease in his brow and her mind raced. He’s afraid…afraid for me. “Liam, I will be okay, you know that, right?” Charlotte paused, the salty sea air laced her lips.

  “No, I don’t know that. These people mean business. Someone is already dead. Who knows what will happen when you start snooping.”

  “Liam, nothing…” she started to speak, but he continued, oblivious to her words.