A Case for the Cookie Baker

by Candace Havens

  “No,” he said. “I went home and crashed Friday night. I’d been working with the boss on some big reports for the upcoming board meeting. He said he was going out of town to see a friend and for me to get some rest. It wasn’t until I saw the news on Saturday night that I knew what happened.”

  He was home with no alibi, and who knew were the brother was. I had to call Greg, but not tonight. Maybe they’d finally been able to get alibis at least.

  Two hours later, everyone but me had tattoos. I’d been fascinated by the different techniques. My friends were so excited and the art was gorgeous.

  After we dropped Jere off at his apartment, we headed to the hotel. It was past midnight and we were all exhausted.

  The suite was amazing, but we were all too tired to enjoy it. Lizzie passed out on the couch as soon as she sat down. Jasmine helped me straighten her out, and we put a blanket that had been draped over one of the chairs on her.

  I went to see which room Shannon had picked out, and she’d fallen asleep on a chaise longue by the balcony doors.

  “I guess we get the beds,” Jasmine said, and she draped another blanket over our friend.

  “I know Shannon got a coffee cup on her wrist. What did you get?” I whispered as we headed down the hallway to the bedrooms.

  She pulled her T-shirt down and lifted the bandage over her heart.

  I’m sentimental, and my eyes watered. There were two candles, one with ‘dad,’ the other with ‘sis.’ Jasmine made candles in her spare time, and those two family members had been killed in tragic circumstances.

  I waved a hand in front of my eyes so I didn’t cry. “That is so sweet and meaningful,” I said.

  “It just came to me when I was standing there in the lobby. It felt right, and I love the way it came out. I don’t think I’ll have regrets in the morning.”

  “You shouldn’t. It’s gorgeous. You have a meaningful piece of beautiful art there.”

  “Thanks. Night, Ainsley.”

  “Night, Jas. See you in the morning.”

  In the bedroom, I sat on the edge of the bed and stared out onto the Austin skyline.

  Jasmine’s case reminded me of just how twisted family dynamics could be. If Jere was right, and there was about to be a power play, what better way to get rid of the stumbling block, than to kill him?

  Of course, Jere might have been covering for himself. It was such a jumbled mess. Though, I still couldn’t imagine him killing anyone.

  But I’d been surprised before.

  What I needed was access to my brother’s files and a distraction. Maybe not in that order.

  Access to the family interviews was a necessity. I had this gut feeling I’d be able to tell if they were guilty.

  Whatever was at stake, the person might kill again and my gut, which I always trusted, made me feel like we were on borrowed time. We had to find the killer before he or she found us.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The next afternoon, Shannon dropped me off at my shop. With the festival beginning the next week, we were more crowded than normal. I jumped in to help where needed. By closing time, I was dead on my feet. But I had three stops to make.

  The first was to check on Gran. I was grateful to see that it was like trying to get into Fort Knox to see her. When I was finally allowed access, Carrie was reading out loud to her.

  “She likes thrillers and so do I,” Carrie said, as she held up the book. What sixteen-year-old girl reads to an unconscious curmudgeon? Carrie did. She really was an amazing girl. I was reminded of that almost every day.

  “I didn’t know you had a shift tonight,” she said.

  “I don’t. I just wanted to check on her and it’s good to see color in her face. She’s been pretty pale lately.”

  “I did some research about that,” Carrie said. “There’s a therapist who comes in twice a day and moves her arms and stuff around. That gets the blood and oxygen flowing. It’s good for the brain. She’s been twitching a lot tonight. I’m hoping that means her synapses are firing back up.”

  “Me too,” I said. “Thank you for doing this.”

  “I like hanging out with her. I like it better when she’s awake and shares her stories. She’s had a very interesting life. Mine is so boring.”

  “But you still have a lot of life to live,” I said. “That totally sounded like a greeting card.”

  We laughed.

  “Do you want to stay?”

  “I’d like to, but I have some errands to run. Are you okay in here by yourself?”

  “Yep. During the summer, it’s nice to get away from my brothers at home. It’s why I’ve been working at the shop so much. They are loud and crazy. I love them, but this is a treat getting to sit and read.”

  “All right. Well, I guess I’ll be going.”

  “Uh. There is one thing I need to tell you,” she said. She frowned and I couldn’t imagine what could be so bad.

  “You’ve been really busy, so I wanted to let you know that we’re almost done with the float,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  I flattened my hand against my forehead. “I totally forgot about the float.”

  “I figured. Mom and Don said it was okay to move forward. I had to make some changes to the original design because it was too elaborate for the time we have. I’m pretty sure you’re going to like it.”

  “I’m sure I will. I owe you, Carrie. Anything you want, it’s yours.”

  She smiled. “You don’t owe me anything. It’s our shop and we all work together. But…later this year I’ll be sending out college applications and I’d love to get a recommendation letter. I mean, that’s not why I’ve been doing all of this.”

  I believed her. Like her mom, Maria, Carrie had the loveliest heart.

  “Say no more. It’s the very least I could do. I’ll write you a glowing one.”

  “Yay. Thanks.”

  “We should restart book club in the fall,” I said.

  “I’m old enough to go now. I think that’s a great idea. I love talking about books. I keep changing my mind about careers, but I think I might want to be a doctor. I’ve been going through her charts and asking questions. Then I look it up to make sure I understand what they’re saying.”

  “You, my friend, can do anything you set your brilliant mind to. Thanks for looking after Gran. You are officially my favorite human for the 400th time.”

  “Ditto,” she said.

  I loved this kid.

  *

  Next, I was headed to the station. It was only four in the afternoon, and I hoped Greg wasn’t in the office. Distracting Kevin was often easier than doing the same thing to my brother. I had my hand on the glass door, when my phone rang.

  “Hey, Jake,” I answered.

  “Ains, I need you to come to the vet clinic. I’m here with George, and…”

  I didn’t hear the rest. I just took off running as fast as I could. It was two blocks down and then another one to the right of the park.

  My heart pounded. Please be okay. Please be okay, I chanted.

  By the time I arrived, I was sweating and sobbing like a child.

  No one was in the lobby. I dinged the bell. Maybe a little harder than I should, while I reached for some tissues to blot my face.

  Poor George. If anything happened to him, I—I couldn’t go there. He was going to be okay. For a dog that ate just about everything, he had a sensitive stomach. I hoped he hadn’t eaten Mr. Squirrel. It wouldn’t be for lack of trying.

  “Please. God. Let him be okay.”

  I dinged the bell. Still no one answered. I turned around in a circle.

  There was a sign on the door. “Please bring your pets to the back of the building.”

  I ran back and around, and then stopped. There were tons of people there holding champagne glasses and milling around. A party? Didn’t they know George was sick?

  I glanced around and I was about to scream, when Jake came jogging toward me. He was dressed in a nice
button-down and his jeans.

  “Where’s George?” I cried. “Why are you at a party?”

  “George is here,” he said. He pulled me to the side of the building.

  “But vet. George.” I couldn’t quite get the words out.

  He yanked a handkerchief out of his pocket and blotted my face. “George is fine. You hung up on me so I didn’t get to finish. He’s not sick. He’s happy. Do you understand me?”

  Everything was a blur.

  “Breathe, Ainsley. Did you eat today?”

  “Why are you asking me about food? I want to see George.”

  “I’ll take you to him, but you have to calm down. You’re pale again. I need you to tell me you’re okay.”

  “I just want to see George,” I whined.

  He blotted my face, and then handed me the hanky. “Blow your nose. And then I want you to take a deep breath.”

  I did what he asked.

  Then he took me by the hand and we moved around the outside circle of the party.

  It was a hot June day, and I sweated from every pore. I’m not a runner but nothing was going to keep me from my dog.

  And that’s when I saw him.

  George was in a gated pen lying on the ground. There was something on his side, and he was licking it.

  “What is that?”

  My boyfriend cleared his throat. “It’s a kitten,” he said.

  “Why is there a kitten on George? He doesn’t like cats. I’m so confused.”

  “Let’s sit down,” Jake said.

  “That’s a good idea.”

  “Is Ainsley okay?” It was Shannon, but she stood in front of the sun, so I couldn’t see her.

  “I think she misunderstood me and ran all the way here. She thought George was hurt.”

  “Not hurt,” I said. “Kitten.” My brain was fried. It was a combination of being tired and having way too much adrenaline in my system.

  “I’m going to get you something to eat and drink,” Shannon said.

  “That’s a good idea,” Jake said.

  “The good news is that thanks to George, the clinic has had a record number of adoptions at this party,” Jake said. “There were about fifteen kittens in that pen. A few dogs, in another one. And several gerbils. Every animal has already been adopted, except for that kitten.”

  “Where are we?”

  “It’s the fundraiser for the free vet clinic, remember? I went to the shop to pick you up, but you weren’t there. So I brought George here and decided we’d wait for you. George climbed in the pen with the kittens, and has been quite gentle with them. But I can’t get him to leave. And he won’t let anyone else take that last kitten. That’s why I called you.”

  It was all beginning to make sense.

  “Why does Ainsley look like she ran a marathon?” It was my brother.

  “I think she did,” Shannon said as she put a cup in my hand. “Drink this.”

  The cool water was like a blessing on my parched throat.

  “Did you tell her about the kitten?” my brother asked.

  “I was getting to it.”

  Then it hit me what he’d said. George had the kitten in his mouth.

  I was about to scream at him, but then he stepped gently over the gate, and brought the soggy kitten to me. He plopped it in my lap, and then did that weird thing where it looks like he’s smiling.

  “You can’t have a kitten,” I said. “I’m allergic.”

  George barked loudly. And everyone went silent. He’d never barked at me like that.

  “He or she is your friend, but we can’t take it home.”

  George moved closer and put his jaw on my shoulder. This was his idea of a hug. Then he backed away and nudged my hand so that it was on top of the kitten. I pet it, and it mewled at me. It was all black and had the most beautiful green eyes.

  I scooped it up, and the kitten put a paw on my nose.

  “Tell her the name of the cat,” Greg whispered, as if trying not to destroy the moment.

  “Julia Roberts,” Jake said.

  I started laughing, maybe somewhat hysterically, but they all joined on. The free clinic often named their animals after celebrities. That’s how George ended up with his name. You’re allowed to change it, but I made it official on his registration. It fit him. He was handsome, protective, and funny.

  George cocked his head.

  “Fine,” I said. “We’ll take your friend home. But we are not going to have the whole Ocean’s Eleven cast staying at the house. Understood?”

  “Ruh-ruh,” George grumbled.

  “Okay, I guess I’m adopting a kitten.”

  “Pushover,” Greg said.

  “Pay up,” Shannon said. “I told you she’d do it. I couldn’t deny George either.”

  “Cats are great,” Jake said. “Ains, I hate to do this to you, but my shift begins in ten minutes. Are you okay? I need you to say the words.”

  “Yes. I’m fine. I thought George was dead all the way over here.”

  George put his paw on my knee, as if to reassure me.

  “I would do anything for you, silly dog. Including, adopting a kitten.”

  Jake kissed my forehead. “Do you have ride home?”

  “I’ll take her,” Greg said.

  My legs had started to cramp. I wasn’t even sure I could stand up they hurt so bad. I hadn’t run that fast or far in a really long time.

  Jake rubbed his fingers across my cheek. It was a sweet gesture, but I wondered if he was trying to take my temperature. “They have a small crate and food for her, as part of the adoption package,” he said.

  He bent down and hugged George. “Congratulations, dude, on your new kitten. Be careful with her. She’s super tiny.”

  George cocked his head, and then licked Jake’s nose.

  We all laughed.

  After he left, Greg found one of vet techs at the clinic, who brought by a clipboard full of papers. “Normally, we make people wait forty-eight hours, before we complete the adoption, but since you are a repeat customer, we’re going to let her go with you today.”

  “Thanks,” I said.

  “Well, I’m not sure George Clooney would have let her stay another night. They are very attached. He’s going to be a great substitute mom,” the tech said.

  “I have to admit, I don’t know anything about caring for cats.” Of course, when I’d adopted George at the same event years ago, I didn’t know anything about Great Danes. I thought I’d go home with a much smaller dog, but he won my heart. Now, he was making me adopt a cat.

  “Basically, you put food, water, and a litter box down for them, and that’s it. They pretty much take care of themselves.”

  The kitten crawled up to nestle on my shoulder.

  I sneezed, one hand holding the kitten so she didn’t fall off and the other covering my mouth. “I think I’m allergic.”

  “She probably has some pollen in her fur,” the tech said. “I’m kind of allergic but I use Flonase every day.”

  Great, and now I had to buy drugs. This was not how I saw this day going. Still, the purring in my ear was totally winning me over. That George so obviously adored her didn’t hurt either.

  By the time we loaded everything up in Greg’s SUV, I was ready to go home and sleep for a few days.

  “That might have been the cutest thing I’ve seen in a long time, but I still can’t believe you adopted a cat.”

  George had insisted the kitten ride with him in the middle seat. He was stretched out and the kitten was curled up on his back.

  “I was on my way to see you, when Jake called.”

  “What about?”

  “Did Shannon tell you about Jere?”

  “The guy who went with you guys last night?”

  “Yeah. He had a tattoo that said Bros.”

  “Uh. Okay.”

  “The top of the B was that same serif font I saw on the guy who ran past me in the park.”

  Greg frowned. “Do you think he’s
our guy?”

  I sighed. “I don’t know him that well, but he really seemed to respect the victim. He got a tattoo representing him last night. And he’s a nice guy.”

  “Is there motive?” Greg asked.

  I’d half expected him to bite my head off for interfering. “None that I’ve seen so far. He says they were just friends but I wonder if there might have been a relationship there.”

  “What about all the money?” Greg asked.

  “I was there when they found out about the inheritance. He and Lizzie were shocked. He could have been faking. I’ve been thinking about that but I don’t know.”

  “Is that all you wanted to tell me?” he asked as he pulled up in my driveway.

  “No. You always tell me I need to pay attention to the facts? I’m trying to do that but my gut is saying something really different.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I feel like the killer is right in front of our face. We have lots of motive, but how much opportunity? I’d like to take a look at the files.”

  Cue the yelling.

  He pulled into my driveway and turned off his car.

  Then he opened his door and got out.

  “Are you going to sit there all night? Get your laptop and let’s find our murderer.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  The next morning I woke up with a kitten on my head and George snoring loudly at my feet. Greg and I had gone over all the details so many times there was little room left for anything else in my brain.

  Luckily, we’d narrowed down our suspect list. There were those who were involved in the incident, and the family and coworkers. Lucy had done her due diligence by talking to most of the staff who worked with Mort.

  Everyone said the same thing: He was the best boss they’d ever had. He insisted on excellence but he was fair and kind. All of his employees mentioned he made work fun and had a great sense of humor.

  It didn’t make sense for this guy to basically write the family out of his will. There were conflicting stories about the brothers, but it was all hearsay. No one had talked to Levi yet.

  Greg left around midnight, but I’d stayed up another couple of hours going over everything one more time.