Cake Tastings and Killers

by A. R. Winters

  With those words, it wasn't just about me and my family anymore. Our versions of the world couldn't have been more different, but I genuinely liked Caroline Delany.

  "If you see yourself at the Paradise that day, I'll do everything I can,” I said.

  Caroline squealed softly and clapped her hands together. “Then I will absolutely take you up on that offer to help with the planning. When can you start?”

  “They don't expect me back until dinnertime. Let me grab a coffee and we can talk about your vision and what's already been booked.”

  "And you can come with me to the bakery!" Caroline said. "Paige has been begging me for the final details on the cakes and desserts. If the Paradise is definitely available, I can give them to her now.”

  My smile held barely, but my stomach turned to jelly. The last time I saw Paige, she hadn't exactly given me a friendly reaction. At the time, I'd figured she was spooked by Charlie's death. She must have gotten over it. Or she needed the money from the contract so badly, she couldn't afford to cancel it.

  There was a third possibility, and that was the one making my heart sink. For whatever reason—and I could hazard a guess at the reason—Paige didn't like me. But if that were the only reason, she probably would most likely hide it in front of Caroline.

  "Sure, that sounds perfect." I excused myself from Caroline and finally went to the kiosk to order my coffee. An extra-large today because I was sure I would need it.

  While I was waiting in line, I reminded myself of Detective Reid's rules.

  Don't ask questions about Charlie. Don't pry about things connected to the investigation. And definitely don't play investigator.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The bakery was three blocks up from the coffee shop and four blocks over. During our walk, Caroline told me how she and Simon met. I'd expected her to tell me they were high school sweethearts going by their body language. They just seemed so comfortable together.

  "Actually, my brother introduced us," Caroline said. "He never gets credit, but he helped Simon and Charlie start the company. Their first year was so good that Charlie and Simon threw a huge party as a thank you to the employees. I went with Jason. That was four years ago.”

  "Did you know when you saw him?" I asked, taking a sip of my coffee. My eyes widened in shock as icy caramelized cane sugar, ice milk, coffee, and an espresso chaser punched me in the tongue.

  One sip of caffeine made my whole body buzz. I didn't need to grab my car; I could fly back to Paraiso. Shoot, I might have had the energy to make it to Seattle.

  Three days straight of café con leche had left me burned out on it, so I'd decided to experiment with a Cuban frappé. That would teach me to be adventurous.

  "Are you all right?" Caroline's eyes wrinkled in concern. Her hand went to my back and she rubbed gently. "Too sweet?"

  "I didn't think it was possible," I said, swallowing hard and took another sip, shivering as another bitter-sweet rush ran over my taste buds. "But it’s way too strong."

  Caroline giggled. "That shop doesn't play around. Strongest cup in Key West. Simon keeps a bag of their beans at the house so he has it whenever his meetings with overseas suppliers run too late into the night."

  "I'll remember that." I took another swig of coffee. It's a sin to waste caffeine.

  "But to answer your question, no way." Caroline shook her head and pursed her lips. "He reminded me too much of the guys I grew up with that night. All flash, no style or substance. Does that make sense?"

  I nodded. “The picture is pretty, but there's no meaning behind it. Nothing that grabs your attention and keeps you mesmerized all night?”

  Her smile widened. "Yes! That exactly. Most people don't get it. Four years is a lot of time to learn the substance of a person. I guess it’s a lot of time for them to develop more of it, too. There's the bakery." She pointed to a building on the corner with a wrought iron bench in front and a pink and white awning that cast a circular shadow onto the pavement. A bell rang as she opened the door, and we walked inside.

  Paige, or whoever owned the bakery, hadn't done much in the way of decorating. There were six sets of wrought iron chairs arranged and heavy-duty plastic tables, all of which looked like it could be put outside at a moment's notice. Judging by the faded color of the plastic tables, they often were. An extra-long glass case displayed various small cakes and cupcakes. The second smaller case was next to the cash register and contained a wide assortment of frosted cookies.

  The bakery had an industrial-strength air conditioner in the small shop that blasted away the creeping Floridian heat, but it didn't tamper the sugary-sweet aroma in the air. Thank goodness for small miracles because it smelled like heaven.

  "Oh, wow!" I took a deep breath, letting the smell saturate my senses. Cinnamon, vanilla… I think I even smelled orange blossom.

  "Right?" Caroline closed her eyes, tilted her nose in the air, and took an audible whiff. "We tried other bakeries, but nobody combines flavors like Paige. I may end up using her for everything from now on."

  "I've had a lot of wedding cake over the years," I said. "Never smelled one that amazing."

  If life were a cartoon, I would have happily floated away on the cloud of amazing coming out of the kitchen. I wouldn’t even care if there were a witch or crazy hunter or a wild coyote on the other side. As long as they let me take a bite first.

  Paige came out of the back area, wiping her hands on the clean white apron she wore over her jean shorts. She blinked in surprise when she saw me but slid into a warm smile when she saw Caroline.

  "Hi! It’s good to see you again, Caroline." Paige nodded to me.

  Her face didn’t twist, and she didn’t grimace. There was no outward sign that my presence made her uncomfortable. So I took another sip of my cold coffee-flavored syrup and tried to relax.

  "Do you have some free time?" Caroline asked. "Simon and I have made the last decisions about desserts, and I wanted to confirm them."

  "I'm just finishing up with a client right now," Paige said. "Can you give me fifteen minutes, twenty at the most?"

  "Sure! That'll just give me and Laura more time to chat."

  Before I could argue, or ask Paige to sell me one of her cupcakes, Caroline took me by the arm and dragged me back outside. We sat down on the bench, shielded from the sun by the large circular shadow.

  Caroline took a deep drink from her coffee cup and let out a deeper sigh. “I can't tell you how relieved I am to be getting things back on track. You know, I was beginning to wonder if…” Her eyes moved to the concrete.

  "If the whole thing had fallen apart?" I asked. Her fiancé’s best man died during the cake tasting. Caroline Delany didn't strike me as superstitious, but she didn't have to think it was bad luck for the sour association to linger.

  She nodded, using her thumbnail to toy with the lid of her coffee cup. "I know it's wrong to speak ill of the dead, but… Simon and Charlie are very different. They were different. If there was a good side to Charlie, I never found it."

  "That day must have been so hard for you," I said. "Especially the part with your brother."

  Caroline rolled her eyes. "I wish Simon had put his foot down and dumped him as best man."

  I blinked in surprise. "There was a chance of that?"

  "More than a chance. I begged him to." She tilted her head back and sighed. "He said he was afraid it would mess with the business. Charlie and Simon went to college together, and they made a pact back then that each would be best man for the other. With Charlie's temper, Simon couldn't be sure he would take a refusal well. Jason told me Charlie always blew a gasket if a deal or a big order fell apart."

  “He thought Charlie would make a scene at work?”

  “Worse. That Charlie might pull out entirely."

  Simon was afraid of Charlie. My mind buzzed with the new information helped by liberal doses of coffee and sugar. I didn't think Simon Lambert needed the insurance payout to help his finances, but would he g
et rid of his partner to make the woman he loved happy?

  I shook my head. Stop right there. Reid said I could only talk to the other witnesses if it involved official wedding business. Besides… I liked Caroline. The last thing I wanted to do was cause her more pain.

  "And it wasn't just his temper," Caroline went on. “I don't know what he was like before, but in the four years that I knew him, Charlie got worse. So much worse. The last year has just been…”

  On instinct, I reached out and touched Caroline's arm. I didn't want to ask any more questions. This was a path I'd sworn not to go down. Been commanded not to go down. But Caroline wanted to talk. When I offered to help plan her wedding, it officially became one of my jobs to listen.

  Caroline tucked a lock of her wavy hair behind her ear and smiled sadly. "It came to a head last Christmas. Charlie came to the party loaded on way more than scotch, if you know what I mean."

  I nodded and took another sip of my coffee.

  "Well, near the end of the night he tried to kiss me."

  "He what?" I choked and coughed, clearing a stray drop of coffee from my lungs. "Charlie?"

  “I was out on the beach alone trying to get a little quiet,” she said. “The company parties get wilder than I like. I turned around, and there’s Charlie with this stupid grin on his face. I started to ask if he was okay, but I realized I didn’t really want to know, so I tried to move past him. But he grabbed me and tried to force his mouth on mine.”

  My stomach roiled. I knew Charlie was a scumbag, but pushing himself on his partner’s future wife was farther—and lower—than I thought him capable.

  “How did you get away from him?” I clutched my cup to keep my fingers from trembling.

  "I've never seen Simon so mad," Caroline said. "He pulled Charlie away from me and punched him. Almost broke his nose."

  The last dregs of the sugary coffee turned bitter in my mouth. "How did they get past that?"

  Caroline shrugged, a sad smile coming to her lips. "Charlie apologized when he came to his senses. He even offered to pay for the catering. That's how we found out about this bakery."

  Charlie Porter knew a bakery? Of course he had! He said so himself. This bakery could make week-old grouper taste like creme brûlée. Charlie could only have known that if he'd tasted the product at least once.

  The coffee shop was near their office. Simon went there. So did Jason. What if Charlie had more of a sweet tooth? That would explain the ease with which he turned his venom on Paige. Maybe that wasn't the first time she’d been a target.

  My mind tried to resist slotting the new information into my mental notes on the case. I failed miserably. Would Detective Reid have uncovered this? I doubted it.

  The door swung open. The bell rang.

  "Thanks so much for being patient," Paige said. Her apron was gone. "Shall we get started?"

  "I'm so sorry, Caroline, Paige, but I just remembered I told my sister I'd help her get ready for a showing tomorrow." I stood up, pausing to squeeze Caroline's hand. "Do you mind if I get your number from Danielle? That way I can text you."

  "Sure. I hope you make it back in time." She smiled, and my chest tightened.

  Caroline was the sweetest person I'd met connected to this. I really wanted her to have the wedding of her dreams. If I stayed any longer, I wouldn't be able to help. I might not be able to stop myself from hurting her.

  If the choice was between the Delany family's happiness and mine, I knew which one I had to choose.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I walked back to my car. On the way, I finished the last of my coffee syrup and dumped the cup. I don't know if I passed anyone. A full marching band could have crossed my path, and I wouldn't have noticed. I was too deep in thought.

  This wasn't something I could just do without thinking. Detective Reid had already warned me against sticking my nose into his case. I had used the work excuse already, and he saw right through it. There was no reason to think he would believe me this time just because it was true.

  I started my car and drove back to Paraiso, running through everything in my head. When I got to town, I kept going past the turn off for the Paradise and drove straight to the Sheriff's department. Reid had to hear what I knew. He had been right about one thing: I was in over my head. All I was supposed to do was save Danielle's contract.

  My nerve faltered about twenty feet from the front door. I stopped in the middle of the path, mid-stride, and stared at the door. Once I walked through it and talked to Reid, I had no control over what he would do with the information I gave him. But he had to see that it took suspicion off me.

  I marched into the sheriff's department before I could stop myself. When the officer behind the desk asked what I wanted, I told him my name and that I needed to speak with Detective Reid. He led me down a hall and to a wood door. A placard near the top said "Detective Conner Reid" in brassy letters.

  The officer told me to have a seat and he'd find Detective Reid. Then he left me by myself.

  Reid's office wasn't what I expected. Most of the lead detectives in Granny's cop shows had tiny offices where every flat surface stacked with papers and every wall streaked with shadows. Reid's desk was bare except for a keyboard, a cup of ballpoint pens, a phone, and a single manila folder. And the fluorescent lights gave shadows no place to hide.

  I sat down in the chair opposite Reid's nameplate and tried to make myself comfortable. The buzz from my coffee with Caroline still hadn't worn off. I crossed and uncrossed my legs, twiddled my fingers, and even tapped my foot, but the energy wouldn't dissipate.

  Finally, the door opened and Reid walked in carrying another folder. A wave of sun-dried cotton, fresh greens, and lemon came with him. Something about the smell itself was comforting, even if the man who wore it always came with a rush of dread.

  "Ms. Fisher, this is becoming a bad habit." He tossed the folder onto his desk and sat down. "You have fifteen minutes. I hope it’s good."

  I took a deep breath. Reid saw through every lie or clever trick I tried, so I may as well lead with the truth.

  "Do I look nervous to you, Detective Reid?" I asked.

  Reid didn’t answer for a few seconds, but his eyes never left my face. His neutral expression never changed. It was almost deadpan.

  "Extremely," he said.

  I exhaled. "Good, then you'll believe I'm not lying. I had coffee with Caroline Delany today. You told me not to butt into your case anymore, and I wasn't. Her wedding is still scheduled to happen at my sister's venue. I was trying to save the contract. That's all."

  "I believe you." Reid held my gaze. Something about his tone made me think he wouldn't have said anything if he didn't believe me. Why not give me enough rope to hang myself with? "Don't see how a coffee chat with Caroline Delany led you to my office."

  "It's what Caroline said that brought me here. She gave me reason to believe that there was bad blood between Charlie Porter and Simon Lambert."

  Reid leaned forward and rested his forearms on his desk. He folded his hands and shook his head. "I told you not to talk about the case, Ms. Fisher."

  "We were talking about the night they met," I said. "Which led to her venting about Charlie Porter and his behavior."

  Reid’s eyebrow raised slightly, but otherwise, his expression didn’t change. He opened his desk drawer, pulled out the familiar spiral notebook, and grabbed a pen from the cup.

  "What about his behavior?" he asked.

  Finally, I had Detective Reid's attention.

  "She told me that Charlie Porter had a history of abusive behavior––"

  "Don't embellish or interpret, Ms. Fisher," he said. "Give me her words as best as you remember them."

  I took a deep breath and nodded. "She said Simon Lambert considered ditching Charlie as best man, but he was afraid of an outburst that would destroy their company."

  "Over a spot in the wedding party?" he asked.

  I shrugged. "Even back in the old days, Charlie had a te
mper. And I told you what I saw Charlie do to Jason Delany on the afternoon he died. And what he said about Paige Hawkins."

  "So he was a jerk with a sharp tongue. That's still a big leap."

  "There's more. She told me that Charlie Porter tried to kiss her and almost got his nose broken over it."

  Reid wrote something down on his notepad. "That is interesting. She happen to mention how they patched things up? Seeing as four months later Charlie was still part of the wedding party."

  I got the sense from Reid's tone that he didn't care for that and if it had been his wife-to-be on the receiving end, Charlie would have been lucky to escape with only a broken nose. I approved.

  “He offered to pay for their catering," I said. "Starting with the bakery. He introduced them to it.”

  “You learned all of this from a coffee chat with Caroline Delany?” Reid asked. I nodded. “How?”

  "In my grandmother’s kitchen, you said you get people to tell you things when they’re nervous?"

  "Not exactly, but something like that."

  "Well, I do it when they're dreaming," I said. "When people think about their wedding day, they want it to be the happiest day of their lives. No matter how they feel before, when they start planning everything changes. It becomes the biggest dream they have right now.”

  “You got Caroline Delany to spill the intimate details of her social circle by dreaming about her wedding day?" Reid's brow furrowed, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

  "By getting her to share her dreams about her future. How they met, the wedding, all of that was just the first step. And as her wedding planner, it’s the background I would need to know to anticipate a disaster." I slumped back in my chair.

  "Why didn’t your sister know?" he asked.

  "She was a little busy last year growing a small human," I said. "Danielle probably just missed it. She didn't warn me Charlie was the best man before he showed up that day either."