The Cupcake Capers Box Set

by Polly Holmes

  Christina huffed. “Good old James, ha. Yes, I killed him and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

  Holy cow, she actually admitted it. That was way too easy.

  “That lying piece of garbage.” Christina narrowed her eyes at Clair. “You know, for months he had the gall to string me along, telling me that he was going to leave that woman, telling me how much he loved me and how I was the only woman he really cared about and he was going to marry me. Then I find out he had no intention of leaving her. I was the other woman and he was dumping me? Suddenly, I’m not good enough, I’m yesterday’s trash. Well no-one throws me away and gets away with it.”

  Clair’s brow creased. “You killed him because he dumped you? It had nothing to do with your taxes?”

  “My taxes?” Christina said in a high-pitched tone. “Don’t be stupid, my taxes are the least of my worries. I killed him because he was going to run off with the money we worked so hard to swindle, and share it with that woman and no good piece of garbage, Roland Trent. He was going to leave me with nothing. That’s why Roland had to go as well. I couldn’t leave the one person alive who could destroy everything with his big mouth.”

  I don’t believe this? She framed me for murder over money and a lover’s spat. Clair’s feet were frozen to the spot. Her fists clenched so hard in anger that her nails dug into her palms. The increased drone of the rain on the roof was grating on her nerves. “I don’t understand. Why would you frame me? What did I ever do to you? And what about that nonsense about the curse on this house? There is no curse, is there?” Clair asked through gritted teeth.

  “Master stroke of genius, if I do say so myself. If I had all the time in the world, I couldn’t have planned it better.” Christina let out a stifled giggle that riled Clair. “You walked straight into it. You were the classic fall guy, all I had to do was plant a few doubts about you in the community, make up that curse baloney, run a few articles that painted you as a killer and sit back and wait for you to be arrested. Murdering Roland and leaving his body behind your shop, his shirt smeared with cupcake icing from the cupcakes you left here was just an added bonus. What I didn’t plan on was James’ phone disappearing.”

  “What’s the phone got to do with anything?” Clair asked, determined to find out the whole truth.

  “Everything,” she snapped picking up a lone candlestick from the small wooden table. Her eyes focused on the brass object in her hands. “You know what’s so ironic?”

  Round object, the base the size of a wine bottle. Clair shook her head, a cold chill engulfing her limbs. “What?”

  “It’s almost like a game of Cluedo, with history repeating itself.” She laughed and raised the pitch of her voice like a Hollywood movie trailer. “James Hapworth, in the foyer with the candlestick. Roland Trent, in the alley with the same candlestick. It seems you’re going to meet the same untimely death. After all, I can’t have you telling the truth, now can I? It would spoil my perfect ending.”

  Clair’s heart jumped into her throat as Christina raised the candlestick above her head and took a step toward her. Throwing up her hands, she yelled, “Wait. If you’re going to kill me anyway, the least you can do is tell me the whole truth. What’s so important about the phone?”

  “Oh, for goodness sake,” she said dropping her arms down. “Fine, what’s a few more seconds?”

  Seconds…seconds? What can I do in seconds? Now she was regretting not waiting for Mason. Her blood was pumping so fast she thought her brain would explode. If only she had her can of mace in her bag, she could disarm Christina long enough to escape. Clair carefully angled the right side of her body away from Christina’s view. She paused, waiting for her to be so wrapped up in the sound of her own voice that she wouldn’t notice Clair’s slight movement. Easing her hand into her bag, Clair’s heart exploded in her chest when her hand encircled a small deodorant-like cylinder at the bottom of her handbag. It wasn’t mace but it was the next best thing. She’d only get one chance to make it count.

  “I used the other candlestick to kill James and it’s now sitting at the bottom of John’s Cape. I threw it in the water after Roland met his end. As for James’ phone, it’s my ticket to retirement. I find the phone, I’m set for life. You see, my dear, Clair, not only does it have some pictures of James and I in compromising positions, it has private emails about some of our rather dubious business transactions that even his partner wasn’t privy to. But the most important piece of information is the passwords and account details for the money he embezzled from his company. Five million dollars and with you out of the way, it will all be mine.” Christina raised the candlestick above her head and charged in Clair’s direction.

  Clair’s heart pounded against her ribcage. Christina’s face turned hard and the sinister glare in her eyes was only surpassed by her evil words. “Prepare to join James in hell.”

  Jerking back, Clair held her breath, butting up against the stack of boxes, trapped, seconds from the end of her life. Clair’s blood froze, her gaze fixed to the silver candlestick poised above Christina’s head ready to strike.

  Now! Clair flung her hand out of her bag, cylinder clutched in her hand thrusting it toward the advancing woman.

  Her heart leapt into her throat as she squeezed the trigger. Whoosh. A steady stream of metallic gold glitter dust shot into Christina’s eyes. She stopped, throwing her hand up to protect her eyes, the candlestick tumbling to the ground with a clang.

  “Ahhhhhh,” Christina screamed unable to keep her eyes open much longer. Stumbling off balance, Christina toppled into the boxes. Clair jumped out of the falling line just in time.

  “Ah, my eyes. My eyes,” Christina wailed, her arms flailing around like a fish out of water. Clair took off for the front door, not bothering to look back, her body on auto pilot. The faint echo of sirens in the distance struggled to breach the now pelting barrage of rain on the roof. Clair took a deep breath. The suffocating air outside clogged her chest. The rain had made the warm summer evening turn muggy and humid. It was like being wrapped in a wool blanket on a hot summer day.

  Clair’s gaze turned as the screech of Christina’s voice rung out from inside. “There’s no use running.”

  Like I want to run all the way to the police station with Christina hot on my heels. She scanned for the perfect hiding place and spotted a planter box housing a tall overgrown bamboo plant at the end of the porch. Perfect. Clair waited for what felt like forever until finally she breathed a sigh of relief at the crescendo of sirens and flashing lights that came to rest on the verge, it was like opening night of the Royal Show. Triumph filled her chest as Robert and Mason both sprinted from separate cars toward the porch. But before she could stand, Christina took the stage one more time.

  “Oh, thank goodness you’re here. You have to help me,” Christina sobbed, her hands moving like the wind fanning her face. “I thought I was going to die for sure. Clair McCorrson tried to kill me.”

  Clair saw red. I did what? How dare she turn the tables and blame me?

  “What are you talking about?” Mason demanded, his eyes wide.

  “Calm down,” Robert said eyeing Mason to behave and leave the questioning to a professional. “Now, take it slow and tell me what happened.”

  “I-I-I was on my way home from the dinner as I wasn’t feeling well and I spotted Clair McCorrson looking suspicious. So, I followed her and she came here and I knew she was up to no good. After all why would she come here, to this place, after what happened, unless she was hiding something? I cornered her and she confessed to killing James and Roland. She was going to frame me for their murders.” Christina began to hyperventilate, giving the impression of the perfect victim.

  This is crazy, hasn’t this woman made my life hell enough?

  Mason stepped back and folded his arms across his chest. “That’s ridiculous. Clair is the most amazing, wonderful woman I’ve ever met. She doesn’t have an evil bone in her body and to accuse her of trying to kill you is j
ust plain ludicrous. Where’s your evidence?” he asked.

  Clair paused a moment and let her gaze wander over Mason as he fiercely defended her. She couldn’t get over just how handsome he looked in his white dinner shirt and tie. His trust in her was infallible and she’d be stupid to let him leave town without telling him how she felt. She smiled at the flutter of butterflies in her stomach.

  “I’m telling you the truth.” Christina continued her babbling as she thrust out her arm. “See, look at these scratches. She attacked me and when I tried to defend myself, she threw me into a pile of boxes to escape. She’s probably not far. If you go now you’ll probably catch her.”

  Trepidation pitted in the base of her belly as Robert looked like he was starting to believe her lies. She couldn’t, no she wouldn’t let Christina call the shots any more.

  “I’ll give you the truth,” she whispered. Clair pulled her phone out of her bag and her chest warmed when she saw that it was still recording. She stopped it and reset it mid-way through and prayed when she hit play it would be Christina’s confession.

  Clair slowly stood from behind the planter box and held her breath as she hiked up the volume and hit the play button.

  “Why not? You’re no match for me. I’ve already taken care of one back-stabbing nuisance. What’s one more?”

  “So, you admit you killed James?”

  “Good old James, ha. Yes, I killed him and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

  Three sets of eyes flew to the sound of the recording as she slowly edged herself toward them. Mason’s blue eyes met hers and she felt a shiver zing up her spine.

  “What is that?” Christina asked her face pale.

  “That lying piece of garbage. You know, for months he had the gall to string me along, telling me that he was going to leave that woman, telling me how much he loved me and how I was the only woman he really cared about and he was going to marry me. Then I find out he had no intention of leaving her. I was the other woman and he was dumping me? Suddenly, I’m not good enough, I’m yesterday’s trash. Well no-one throws me away and gets away with it.”

  “Sounds like a confession to me,” Robert said as he pulled his handcuffs from his belt.

  Christina’s face turned beetroot red. “Why, you little cow. Of all the deceitful, underhanded things to do. How dare you record me without my permission? I know my rights.”

  Robert held his hand up to silence Mason. “So, you’re denying the allegations of murder?”

  “Of course, I am,” Christina snapped folding her arms.

  “Even though they’re as plain as day and at least three people have heard you confess to the murder?”

  Christina paled as her guilty words continued.

  “I used the other candlestick and it is now at the bottom of John’s Cape. I threw it in the water after Roland met his end. As for James’ phone, it’s my ticket to retirement. I find the phone, I’m set for life. You see, my dear Clair, not only does it have some pictures of James and I in compromising positions, it has private emails about some of our rather dubious business transactions that even his business partner wasn’t privy to. But the most important piece of information is the passwords and account details for the money he embezzled from his company. Five million dollars and with you out of the way, it will all be mine.”

  A smile spread across Robert’s face and he winked at Clair. He tapped his handcuffs in his palm. “You see, Ms Jacobs, this is what we call a reliable source. And it appears there is incriminating evidence on the victims’ phone, regarding dubious emails and allegations of embezzlement. Most importantly, it points to you as the murderer and something about a candlestick at the bottom of John’s Cape, which could be the murder weapon. I have no doubt it can be retrieved by police divers.”

  Christina’s jaw dropped and her face reddened.

  Robert continued, his tone a little cheerier than it should be when arresting another human being. “And now, if you’ll accompany me down to the station, I think Detective Anderson will probably have a few questions.”

  Clair couldn’t be sure if it was from embarrassment at being caught or the humidity of the evening rainstorm, but perspiration beaded Christina’s forehead. Either way, triumph bled through Clair’s veins. Finally, the nightmare was over.

  “Never,” Christina blurted as she sidestepped Robert and ran down the porch stairs into the pelting rain in her cream suede stilettos, toward the street. Her escape abruptly stopped as another police car pulled up.

  Robert sighed and threw his hands up in the air. “Seriously, why do they always run?” he asked, shrugging his shoulders.

  Before he could give chase, Detective Anderson cut her off as he stepped out of his car. Christina darted to the right and tried to escape out the driveway instead of the garden gate, but Anderson was too quick and blocked her exit.

  A giggle erupted from deep within Clair’s chest and she was quickly joined by Mason. His hearty laugh warmed her heart.

  “Hey, Loughlin, get your backside down here and help me,” Anderson called as he gave chase.

  Robert shrugged again. “Duty calls.”

  It was like watching an episode of Two Broke Girls with Han Lee and Oleg chasing Caroline Channing around the diner, hoping to score a kiss.

  “I don’t think I’ve laughed this hard in a long time,” Mason said as he rubbed the side of his belly.

  “Me neither. Feels good to laugh after such a horrible week.”

  Mason threaded his fingers through hers and pulled her toward the swing chair at the other end of the porch. “Come, sit with me. Let’s enjoy the show.”

  Clair couldn’t deny the way her stomach flip-flopped when his hand held hers. She could feel the heat from his hand work its way up her arm and she was suddenly more intensely aware of him than ever before.

  “Sure,” she said, trying her best to cover her butterflies. Her attention was torn between Mason’s charismatic pull and the entertainment playing out before her on the front lawn.

  The game of cat and mouse quickly came to an abrupt halt when Christina’s heel snagged on the soaking grass and she catapulted head-first into the muddy garden bed. Clair’s stomach shook as she laughed and a sharp pain shot across her belly. “Oh, this is just too good. Wait ’til I tell Charlotte. She’ll be on the ground rolling in hysterics.”

  Although the rain seemed to be easing, all three were drenched, as if they’d just walked through a waterfall. Robert handcuffed her and pulled Christina up while he spoke to Detective Anderson. He eventually led Christina to his patrol car, her mouth motoring along one-hundred miles an hour. A sight Clair would never forget. That will teach you to mess with a McCorrson.

  Mason stood, his shoulders squared as Detective Anderson joined them on the porch. “There appears to be a new development in my father’s murder. Wouldn’t you agree, Detective?”

  Anderson and Mason stared each other down. “So, it seems.”

  Clair wiped her clammy palms down her thighs. She half-smiled. “Perfect timing, Detective Anderson. Did Robert explain the situation?”

  “Yes, indeed, he did and while I was off investigating the break-in at Mr Hapworth’s place of business, all the action was happening here. Ms Jacobs has some explaining to do.” He took his jacket off, dispelling the raindrops with a few calculated shakes. “Robert tells me he has a reliable source that can provide evidence indicating Christina was here at this location and he believed there was enough evidence incriminating her in the murders. Is that the way it happened?”

  Clair swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. “Who am I to challenge the word of one of Ashton Point’s finest officers?”

  “I see. You know you put yourself in a very precarious position this evening,” he said, sliding his arms back into his jacket. “You were very lucky.”

  Mason shook his head and said, “I wouldn’t call it luck, but I am very thankful that she came out unscathed.” His gaze caught hers and he brushed a stray strand of
hair off her face.

  She smiled up at him and they both stood in silence.

  Detective Anderson cleared his throat. “Listen, this is the second murder one of you McCorrson ladies has inadvertently solved. Can we make it the last? Otherwise, I’ll have to file for early retirement if you’re going to do my job for me.”

  Clair chuckled. “Suits me just fine.”

  Mason piped up. “I’d like to keep her in one piece for a while longer.”

  Anderson continued. “I’m sure you know the drill by now. I’ll require you to come down to the station to make a statement about the events of this evening.”

  Mason frowned. “Tonight?”

  Clair encircled Mason’s hand with hers and rubbed her thumb over the back of his palm. She smiled at his startled expression. “I don’t mind,” she said softly. “It’s not like I’m in any mood to head back to the dinner, but I wouldn’t mind a lift. If it’s no trouble.”

  She barely heard Detective Anderson’s goodbye, her focus was solely on the man that could possibly be the answer to her dreams. If she could persuade him to stick around town. A variety of words tried to battle their way from her brain to her mouth, but she struggled to string any together in a sentence.

  Mason looked thoughtful for a few seconds and Clair could feel the heat where her hand held his. “I’m not usually this forthcoming, but would you mind terribly if I kissed you again?” he asked with a glint in his eye.

  No, absolutely not. Definitely not. You’ll get no argument from me. “I could think of nothing I’d like more than for you to kiss me.”

  Mason’s hand entwined in her hair and he pulled her toward him. Their lips met eagerly and her arms snaked around his neck, her body pressed in close to his. His lips were warm and they tasted of sweet caramel. Mmm, yum. Her body hummed to life under his touch, he’d reawakened something inside her that had lain dormant for years.

  Reluctantly, she pulled away and gazed up at him and her heart did a somersault inside her chest at just how handsome he was, especially with his sexy glasses on. Clair fought the urge to pull him close and kiss him again.