by Holly Plum
“What the heck is going on here?” Sara Beth hissed. She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back, hitting her head on a can of peas. “Ouch.”
“How could this happen?” Joy sighed. “Someone is out to get us, Sara Beth. You better pray that wedding cake wasn't poisoned like the chocolate tart. Anyone of us could've snuck a piece into our mouths.”
“Let's not jump to conclusions yet," Sara Beth replied.
Joy gave her a skeptical look, and Sara Beth sighed in surrender.
“If someone tampered with our wedding cake, it has to be the same person who killed Tony Florentine. We have to figure out who did it, Sara Beth. It's the only way to clear our names, and to stop it from happening again.” Joy took a deep breath.
“Who would want either of us dead?” Sara Beth grabbed the can of peas she kept knocking her head against.
“Maple from The Sugar Room for starters.”
Sara Beth fumbled with the can and dropped it on her toe.
“Geez!" Sara Beth whimpered. "I don't see anyone from The Sugar Room here, though. Do you? Ouch. Stupid can.”
“I guess not.” Joy picked up the can and inspected it thoughtfully. “How did they even get to the cake? We were with it at all times.”
“True. Well, almost true.” Sara Beth sighed. “I'm sorry. I had to leave the cake unattended to get more sweet tea from the car.”
“Oh, Sara Beth,” Joy responded. “You have a real problem, you know that?"
"Yes." Sara Beth hung her head.
"Well, I guess that makes the likely culprits the catering staff," Joy continued. "Who else would have had access to the kitchen?"
"Crystal, maybe?" Sara Beth added.
“Or Lucas.”
“Lucas is as sweet as pie," Sara Beth insisted. "He couldn't be responsible.”
“Hmm.” Joy wondered if the catering staff had been infiltrated by a Sugar Room employee, but she knew the idea sounded so crazy that she didn't say it out loud. “No matter who it was, I don't think they could have tampered with the cake when it was already frosted, could they?”
“Probably not." Sara Beth shrugged. "I don't know much about putting poison in a cake, but I would think that they would have needed a lot of poison in there to knock that guy out so quickly.”
“Right," Joy agreed. "So the killer probably put it in the cake, right? In the mixture, or at least into the cake itself. I guess the ganache could be poisoned, but I tasted it myself yesterday, and I'm fine.”
Joy passed the can of peas from hand to hand as she remembered being in the bake shop the night before. She thought she had seen a shadowy figure outside the window. Could it have been real? Someone could have broken into the shop and poisoned the cake that night.
There was a loud knock on the pantry door that made Joy jump. Joy and Sara Beth looked at each other, startled. Suddenly the doors opened, blasting bright daylight into the pantry. Joy and Sara Beth shielded their eyes.
“What're you doing in here, ladies?” Detective Sugar reached over their heads and switched on the light. “I have to say this all seems a little suspicious.”
“We were, um,” Sara Beth began.
“We were looking for these.” Joy held up the can of peas, grabbed Sara Beth's hand, and quickly scuttled away from the detective.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Sara Beth went to inspect the new wedding cake for any traces of evidence, and Joy ventured upstairs to speak to Crystal. She found her in her dressing room, slumped in a chair. She didn't look panicked or anxious. She just looked very sad. Her wedding dress hung on the wall, and Crystal wore a tight, nude-colored slip. Crystal looked up and forced a grin as Joy entered the room.
“This is supposed to be the best day of my life,” Crystal said sadly.
“I'm so sorry –,” Joy began.
Crystal held up her hand to stop her.
“Joy, this isn't your fault. You have been nothing but kind to me. This is all about me, and how the universe is testing me for some reason.”
“Testing you?” Joy tried to be gentle in her skepticism, but it came out harshly.
Crystal turned in her chair and faced Joy directly, “Do you think Lucas loves me?”
"Why do you ask?” Joy stammered.
“I don't know if our union is meant to be,” Crystal explained.
"Crystal, listen.” Joy put a hand on Crystal's shoulder. “Don't read too much into what's happening. These bizarre events could be completely random. You know? Random things happen in the universe all the time.”
Crystal considered this silently for a moment. She nodded and contemplated the possibility.
“It's just that Lucas is never around. What if our relationship isn't meant to be? We're so different. His work is his whole life, and I'm not sure if I fit in. Last night we held a dinner for our families, and he was called into work at the last minute. I had to entertain everyone by myself.”
"Sounds painful," Joy joked, hoping that it would lighten the mood.
Crystal slowly pulled her hand away from Joy and held it at her heart. She looked down, and her eyes began filling with tears. Joy prepared herself to experience another one of Crystal's explosive panic attacks, but it didn't happen. Instead, Crystal broke down into genuine, sad tears.
“My step-mother was right," Crystal sniffled. "I am hopeless." She quickly wiped away her tears. "It's a good thing I didn't invite her to my wedding. She'd be up here gloating right now."
Joy tried to be supportive, but her brain ticked like crazy. According to Crystal, Lucas had been unaccounted for all of last night. He could have been the shadowy figure at the bake shop. And if he wasn't that shadowy figure, he had plenty of opportunities to poison the cake at the venue.
“Have you spoken to Lucas?” Joy asked. "Where is he now?"
“I don't know," Crystal admitted. "We were trying not see each other before the wedding, but it wouldn't surprise me if he were at work right now.”
“Well, I'm going to go and find out,” Joy replied.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Joy was only a few steps out of the dressing room when she heard something strange. Hushed whispers were coming from down the hall. Joy crept quietly towards them and thanked the building's recent construction that there were no creaking floorboards.
Joy reached a corner and peered around it. The hall opened up into a balcony that overlooked the foyer below. And there was Lucas dressed in a tuxedo with a bright orange flower pinned to his lapel. Joy admitted to herself that he scrubbed up pretty nice, and for a moment she could see what Sara Beth admired about him.
Lucas leaned closer to Kendra and whispered, pointing a finger at her. Joy strained to hear what they were saying.
“I can't believe you would do something like that,” Lucas hissed.
“What are you talking about?” Kendra replied.
Joy watched as Kendra tried to walk away, but Lucas grabbed her arm.
“Don't you dare go back in there.” Lucas held Kendra back. “You ruined Crystal's veil. I saw you with it. And where's her engagement ring, Kendra? What else have you done to sabotage this wedding?”
Kendra ripped her arm out of his grip.
“How dare you?" Kendra replied. "How dare you suggest that I'd do anything to hurt Crystal. She's my best friend.”
“Please." Lucas laughed. "I know what you and Tony were up to.”
“Excuse me?” Kendra's eyes went wide.
Joy held her breath, leaning in further to hear their conversation as clearly as she could.
“Don't play dumb, Kendra. I've known about your affair with Tony for months. I haven't told Crystal because I know how much it would hurt her. Don't say you're her best friend when you've been sleeping with her ex-boyfriend this whole time. Was it you who poisoned that chocolate tart in order to kill him? Or were you meaning to kill Crystal?”
“WHAT?” Kendra was furious. She grabbed Lucas by the lapels of his jacket and pushed him backward. Although he was much
taller than Kendra, Lucas wasn't ready. The sudden surprise made him trip backward.
“Whoa!” Lucas shouted as his back hit the banister of the balcony.
“Stop! What do you think you're doing?” Joy yelled as Kendra pushed Lucas hard. It was enough for his feet to leave the ground, his weight pushing him farther over the railing. Joy raced over and grabbed Kendra, giving Lucas the opportunity he needed to break free. Lucas regained his balance and glanced down at the foyer below.
“Thanks.” Lucas was out of breath. Joy double-checked that he was on solid ground before she looked up in time to see Kendra darting off upstairs to the third floor.
“Thank me later,” Joy responded.
Joy raced after Kendra, her feet thudding the stairs as she sprinted after the bridesmaid.
Joy had almost caught up with Kendra when she reached the top of the stairs, but she tripped. Kendra sprinted down the hall and turned a corner. By the time Joy was able to follow, Kendra had vanished. Nothing was in the hallway but a cleaning cart.
The doors of the rooms lining the hall were all open. Joy jumped in surprise when a cleaner popped his head out of a doorway, and she asked him in a whisper if he saw a woman come by. The cleaner pointed out a room that was two doors down.
Joy quickly approached by pressing her back against the wall, and tiptoeing. She cautiously peered into the open room and saw that a chair had been knocked over. Joy moved into the room, and quietly closed the door. The curtains had been ripped down, but the third-story window remained bolted shut. Kendra was hiding … somewhere.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Joy had shut herself in a room with a potential murderer. She breathed slowly, trying to calm her heart-rate. It was possible that Kendra's only crime was trying to throw Lucas over a railing. It was also possible that what Lucas had accused her of wasn't true. Or it could be entirely possible that Kendra had been the shadowy figure outside the bake shop the night before. But if Kendra was responsible for the murders, why had Joy seen the car with the Sugar Room logo?
Joy shook her head. Kendra had proven herself to be reckless, and strong enough to push Lucas off balance. Joy would have to be very careful.
“Kendra," Joy called out. "I know you're in here. Come out so we can talk.”
No answer.
Joy slowly opened the bathroom door.
“Kendra," she repeated. "I just want to talk to you about what's been going on. I'm sure this is all just one big misunderstanding.” Joy inched towards the shower curtain which was covering the tub.
Joy pushed back the curtain, her heart pounding.
No Kendra.
Joy continued searching the bedroom as best as she could. She checked under the bed. She checked in the closet, but there was still no sign of Kendra. Joy wondered if she was in the wrong room.
"Fine," Joy said out loud. "You win. I'm leaving now. I guess I'll just have to tell Detective Sugar everything I heard, and hope that he doesn't take it the wrong way."
Laughter came from behind the dresser on the far side of the bed. Kendra climbed her way out and grabbed the bedside lamp, holding it like a baseball bat. She locked her eyes on Joy and began walking towards her.
“You will do no such thing. You have no idea what's going on here. No idea!” Kendra's voice sounded nothing like a calm, peaceful yoga instructor.
Joy stepped backward until her back pressed against the wall. She had nowhere to go, and Kendra was closing in. And by the psychotic look on face, Joy guessed that Lucas had been right. Kendra had to be the murderer. But why?
"Then tell me what's going on," Joy replied. "Surely, poisoning your friend's ex-boyfriend isn't worth this."
“Oh, I'm not doing this for free. I'm being paid very handsomely." Kendra swung the lamp, but Joy ducked and jumped out of the way. Kendra cried as the lamp smashed against the wall.
“Who hired you?” Joy's heart thudded as she eyed the door. "Was it Tony, the jealous boyfriend?"
“You don't get it, do you? I guess that's why you're suited for baking and not police work." Kendra laughed, grabbing another lamp she could use as a weapon. "Crystal's step-mother hired me, of course."
“What? Why?” Joy crept closer to the door, hoping to keep Kendra talking long enough to get out safely.
“It's very simple, Joy," Kendra confessed. "Crystal doesn't even know it, but she'll inherit her dead grandmother's fortune as soon as she marries. But if she waits it out a little longer, the fortune goes to the widowed wife of Crystal's father. Now that you know, I'm afraid you can't leave this room … alive.” Kendra lunged forward, and again Joy ducked.
While Kendra regained her balance, Joy darted towards the door. The lock was stuck. Kendra let out a scream, held the lamp above her head, and ran straight for Joy. Joy spun around and darted to the side of the bedroom, but Kendra's strike had hit her on the shoulder.
Joy fell over and clutched her shoulder in pain.
“Are you …” Joy tried to talk through the pain. “… are sure the money is worth destroying your best friend?”
“Are you kidding me? Crystal isn't my best friend. Crystal's step-mother will get the money eventually. She was married to Crystal's dad longer than Crystal's mom was.”
“So you've been lying to everyone this whole time?" Joy asked.
“Well, everyone but Tony," Kendra continued, inching closer to Joy. "You see we started seeing each other even before he and Crystal broke up. I thought I could trust him, so I told him about my deal with Crystal's step-mother. And then that idiot decided to blackmail me. He said he was going to tell Crystal everything if I didn't give him half. What a rat!" Kendra took a deep breath. "But then again, that's what Crystal is. She would betray me too in a heartbeat.”
“So you did kill Tony." Joy gulped.
“I saw an opportunity, and I took it. Tony showed up at the apartment right after Crystal dropped off the chocolate tart. She had already left for the studio. Tony harassed me some more about the money, so I made my move, and offered him a peace offering.” Kendra took another breath as if recollecting the day it had all happened. "He's a rat, so I gave him some rat poison. I knew that greedy little jerk would gobble up the tart the first chance he got."
“And the wedding cake today?” Joy tried to keep her voice from shaking as Kendra stood over her ready to finish the job she'd started.
“How else was I supposed to stop the wedding? Things kept going wrong left and right, and Crystal wouldn't take a hint. All I had to do was get that waiter guy to taste a tiny piece of cake before the ceremony. It was easy.” Kendra stood over Joy. She held the broken lamp by her side and slowly started to raise it. “I've come too far to stop now.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The bedroom door flew open, and Sara Beth came hurtling into the room. Kendra was shocked for a moment, and Sara Beth swung at her with a full gallon of sweet tea. Kendra fell to the ground, and the container burst open, spraying sticky liquid all over Kendra.
“Oh darn,” Sara Beth sighed at the lost tea, then quickly helped Joy to her feet. “Are you alright?”
“Let's go.” Joy held her shoulder in place and hurried out the door.
"Stop," Kendra yelled after them.
Joy and Sara Beth ran as fast as they could. Kendra raced after them. Sara Beth was uninjured and faster, and she quickly made it to the stairs first. Joy was slower, and her shoulder seared in pain every time her feet hit the ground. Kendra was fit. Her long legs and yoga flexibility quickly closed the gap between her and Joy.
Kendra grabbed Joy's shoulder at the top of the staircase. Joy screamed in pain and tried to push Kendra back. Kendra lunged again and grabbed Joy, attempting to throw her down the stairs.
“No!” Sara Beth screamed from the bottom of the staircase.
Joy used all of her strength to kick Kendra's shin. The pain loosened Kendra's grip on her shoulder, and Joy twisted to get out of her hold. She freed herself, falling back against the wall. But Kendra lost her balance.
Kendra's arms fluttered in the air as she tried to steady herself. She was unsuccessful. In one swift movement, Kendra toppled down the staircase and landed at the bottom with a sickening thud. Detective Sugar raced to the scene immediately, followed by the bride and groom.
“Kendra!” Crystal cried, rushing towards her.
Detective Sugar bent down and felt for Kendra's pulse.
“Call an ambulance," the detective shouted to his deputy. "She's just unconscious.”
* * *
Detective Sugar sat with Joy as the paramedics examined her shoulder. Joy told him what Kendra had said, trying not to let her emotions get in the way. She still couldn't believe the lengths Kendra had gone through for a pile of cash.
“So Kendra told you that she was hired by Crystal's step-mother to stop the wedding?” The detective checked his notes.
“Yes, and apparently murdering Tony was her own idea. He was going to tell Crystal everything.”
“Hmm.” The detective nodded. “Do you know how she got access to the wedding cake?”
“I think she may have broken into the bakery last night,” Joy confessed. "I remember seeing someone outside before I closed up, but I don't know how she would've gotten inside."
“Okay," the detective responded. "Thank you for your cooperation. I think I've got what I need for now."
Sara Beth joined Joy as Detective Sugar finished his interview. She reached into her pocket and held out a tiny box.
“I was going to give you this at the end of the day," Sara Beth said. "Here.”
Joy looked at her with curiosity. She took the box and opened it up. Inside was a single, white chocolate truffle. Joy smiled at the sight of it.
“I know it's not much, but I figured we'd both need lots of sugar after today." Sara Beth laughed. "I guess I was right."
“Thanks, Sara Beth,” Joy opened her mouth popped the chocolate truffle inside. It tasted like cream, butter, sugar, and heaven. The sweetness exploded in Joy's mouth and sent some much-needed warmth through her bloodstream. "But I should really be thanking that gallon jug of sweet tea."
