Faerie Cake Dead

by Неизвестный

  Wiping his lips on the back of his hand, Doc Hardy asked, “Who’s the contractor?”

  “Annie recommended Devin Radford. Do either of you know him?”

  The corners of the sheriff’s mouth bent into a squiggly line and he cast a furtive glance at Doc Hardy, who studied the table linen.

  “Is there something I should know about this Radford guy?” Luna asked, noticing her voice had become strident, indicating she was still nervous.

  Doc Hardy looked at Luna and smiled. “No, he’s a good fella. You’ll get along just fine. He does great work and is honest as they come.”

  Relief left Luna weak. She’d been worried about dealing with a new contractor. The previous builder she had used relocated to Portland, about fifty miles from Swanscott. When she needed work done, Luna had to rely on her staff or a referral. Dilly and Annie both had answered with the same name, leaving her confident his was a credible company.

  “He’s a local man with a great reputation. His wife passed away several years ago, so you wouldn’t know her. She would have liked this shop a lot, just like your employees and everyone else seems to,” Sheriff Tiddler said. “Is Dilly working today?” he wondered aloud as he considered his newly found girlfriend.

  “Yes, both of the women are.”

  Luna glanced toward Doc Hardy. “Is this still a crime scene, or do you think I can open on time?”

  Doc Hardy’s glance swept toward Sheriff Tiddler, and the sheriff nodded to him.

  “I don’t see why not, if the sheriff thinks it’s all right. As I said, the man wasn’t killed here, just dumped here.” His quizzical blue-eyed stare settled on Luna. “You have absolutely no thoughts on how he came to be in your shop?”

  “The sheriff asked the same thing and I have no idea,” Luna said. “I’m in the dark much like you are.”

  The clock chimed six times. Luna glanced up at the painted faerie clock. She needed to bring the cakes upstairs for their debut.

  Both men rose at once and dropped their cloth napkins onto the table. Sheriff Tiddler cleared his throat. His face held a speculative expression. Doc Hardy waited with obvious interest.

  “I’ll be back with further questions once I’ve finished investigating the dead man. You’ll be around, won’t you?”

  Where does he think I would be? Luna hid a grimace and nodded in answer.

  “I have patrons to feed, a contractor to meet, and a cat that needs to go outside for a pee break. I’ll be here all right, Sheriff.”

  He placed his hat atop his head and walked to the door with Doc Hardy not far behind. They murmured to one another as they left the shop. Neither of them looked back, but got into their cars and drove away without another look or word for Luna.

  She watched them leave the parking lot and breathed a sigh of relief. Though she didn’t have a clue over the corpse’s appearance and how he got there, Luna worried over how the negative publicity might impact Faerie Cake Junction’s business.

  Swanscott, a town with around three-thousand residents, hummed with activity, gossip mongers and tourists. Two of those three things kept Luna in business. Gossip mongering didn’t fit into the equation and annoyed the hell out of her. Though soul mates, Sheriff Tiddler and Dilly rivaled one another with the gift of gab, and more often than not they tended to talk too much. Annie, the older of the two employees, refrained from gossip and storytelling of any sort; supporting Luna from the beginning in her business and private life, she was the person with whom Luna shared her doubts, triumphs and concerns. Just then, the door opened and Annie strode forward. Gray hairs sprung from the bun at the back of her head like wiry antennae in search of information. Luna smiled as she beheld the woman. “Good morning. I was just thinking of you.”

  “Are you all right, Luna? I just saw the sheriff and Doc Hardy driving away.” Annie plunked into the chair closest to her.

  She ran a hand across her forehead while considering an answer to Annie’s question. Luna glanced around the lovely room and then straightened in the chair.

  “This morning, I found a dead man sitting at a table over there.” Luna’s thumb jerked to her left. “I don’t know where he came from or how he arrived, but I do know I didn’t kill him. Doc Hardy said he was dead before he got here. Strange, don’t you think?”

  Annie gasped and a wide-eyed, shocked expression crept over her face. She covered Luna’s hand with her own.

  “My dear girl, you must be a wreck.”

  “It certainly was disconcerting to see him here at four in the morning. I never heard a thing either, but the basement deadens sound from above.”

  Annie shook her head. “You don’t think this is a ruse to ruin your business so you’ll sell out to Gribblederd Real Estate, do you?”

  “You know I hadn’t thought of that.” With a nod, Luna said, “Arvi Gribblederd wouldn’t be so cruel as to leave a dead man here.”

  “People will do anything when it comes to greed, Luna. You should know that better than anyone else. Remember, you were married to a man who wanted your money, no matter what he had to do to get it.”

  Luna nodded and thought of Thomas Devere, her ex-husband, a cold-hearted businessman who demanded things were done immediately and to perfection. In a life filled with pressure, Luna soon realized no matter what she did, it would never be good enough for the tyrant. The day he had told her she was inept and a total fruitcake was the same day he’d said their marriage was over.

  “Life with Thomas was filled with a kaleidoscope of emotions,” Luna said. “When we first met, he seemed to accept my beliefs concerning faeries and the like. He charmed me and swept me off my feet.”

  Annie’s eyes filled with sadness. “Unfortunately, he only accepted you because your parents were wealthy. Eccentric, but wealthy. It’s a good thing you had no children. Divorce is so hard on them.”

  Luna’s deceased father, a well-known writer of scientific phenomenon, studied, wrote about and illustrated bugs, birds, and faerie creatures. The faerie part of his writing took place in his later years.

  In a small, northern Maine town of less than a few hundred inhabitants, Mr. and Mrs. Rille resided in a ramshackle Victorian home. The town lay surrounded by forested mountains and lakes. Luna remembered running through fields and swimming as a child. The faeries danced for her at night near the edge of the forest. Those precious days, she thought.

  “The creep walked out on me and though we had no children I always wanted scads of them. Did I tell you my father was instrumental in Thomas’s business success?”

  A look of surprise came over Annie’s face. She shook her head.

  Luna explained. “He did it for me so I would be financially provided for. When my parents died, their estate turned to me. What concerned Thomas was the codicil in the will, stating I wouldn’t come into my entire inheritance at once, but it would be doled out over time.”

  “Is that how you managed to buy this place?” Annie asked.

  With a nod, Luna said, “My father may not have been the half-witted flake Thomas considered him.” Luna smirked at the memory of his response when he heard the news.

  Summoned to the attorney’s office for the reading of the will, everything turned to Luna because she was an only child. The house, the land and the money were all hers. After the attorney read the will, he’d settled back in his chair and watched Thomas. Thomas’s attitude changed from arrogant to sulky as he glanced at Luna and then back at the attorney.

  “He asked the attorney to break the will so I could access the total inheritance. The man nearly choked at Thomas’s audacity, but he stood firm, stating there were no grounds on which to break it. He said my father wanted to provide for me should I ever find myself alone. I thought it strange at the time, but soon realized Dad and his attorney knew Thomas couldn’t be trusted.”

  “You’ve been divorced for what, two years now?” Annie asked.

  “Just about that long. It seems longer. I’m so happy with the shop and my new life. I try n
ot to think of Thomas and his rotten treatment of me.”

  Luna watched Annie’s face change from warm to sly and secretive.

  “I’m rather leery of serious relationships, though I have had a date or two since my divorce,” Luna said. Wondering at Annie’s attitude, she asked, “What’s that look for?”

  “Oh, nothing, nothing at all, except it might be time you moved on and got a new man in your life.” Annie glanced at the clock and shooed Luna from the room. “While you get ready for the day, I’ll bring the cakes upstairs. When you’re all set, you can help me. Has Riddles been out for his morning routine yet?”

  “Not yet, but I’m sure he’s fine. I’m so stunned by this whole thing, I can’t seem to get on track.”

  In the corridor, Luna stopped to watch the tall angular woman hustle down the stairs. As she disappeared from view, Luna ran up to the loft.

  The door swung inward at the top of the wide landing as Luna entered the bright living space. Riddles, her eighteen-pound yellow tabby cat, seized the opportunity to escape down the stairs. On the bottom step, he yowled until Luna opened the back door. She watched him race outside, startling birds and butterflies as he went.

  Showered and changed, Luna hurried to the basement. Three trays remained on the counter. Scooping two of them up, she loaded the dumbwaiter and sent it to the first floor. She took the steps two at a time with the final tray in her hands. In a matter of moments, the cakes lay spread out in the glass cases, all set for the day.

  “You know, your basement is awful quiet. I never heard a thing while I was downstairs,” Annie said.

  Luna smiled and agreed with the older woman, aware Annie had been right about her not hearing the culprits who’d brought in the man.

  “That occurred to me, too. I couldn’t hear you moving around up here and yet I knew you were,” Luna said. “The basement will make a wonderful office, don’t you think?”

  “It will. You’ll have to install an intercom if you spend too much time down there though,” Annie recommended with a chuckle.

  “I’m only setting the space aside so I can get paperwork done without Riddles’ interference. The minute I start placing orders or figuring my taxes, he jumps on the table and scatters papers far and wide. He isn’t exactly petite.”

  As if on cue, a loud yowl sounded at the rear door. With a roll of her eyes, Luna strode along the corridor and let the beast in. In his usual fashion, Riddles pranced through the first floor into the gift shop. When he’d finished his inspection of the premises, he offered a dignified sniff, lifted his chin and meandered past the two women. Luna followed him upstairs to close him in the loft.

  “I’ll be down in a few minutes, Annie,” Luna called from the top of the stairs. A mumbled answer was all Luna heard and she shrugged.

  Riddles waited for breakfast, the usual fare of high-octane cat food and fresh water. He paced restlessly in front of the dish. Dumping food into the bowl, Luna spoke to him all the while. She smoothed his coat, scratched his chin and left him to eat a solitary meal. A disdainful growl left her wondering what his problem could be so early in the day. After all, he wasn’t the one who found the dead man. She opened windows and checked the security of the screens before leaving.

  With a hurried glance in the mirror, Luna smoothed the silky brown hair that hung straight to her shoulders, surrounding her oval shaped face. Tilted gentian blue, almond shaped eyes, and a perky nose sat above her mouth which often held a hint of humor. Satisfied she was presentable for the upcoming onslaught of customers, she left the room.

  The door snapped shut behind her. Voices and laughter echoed up the stairs. The shop hadn’t opened yet and Luna glanced at her watch in dismay. Could the sheriff have returned so soon?

  A tall, rangy man leaned against the door jamb of the kitchen. Dark hair edged the collar of his plaid shirt and faded blue jeans adorned his long legs and perfect butt. His rich laughter reached her as Luna ambled down the hallway toward him. This must be Devin Radford. Luna considered him as he turned toward her, a smile on his sculpted lips, his dimples deep with the laughter and the cheekbones of a Scottish highlander.

  His head dipped in greeting while he reached a hand out to her. His gaze locked onto hers, he stared at her intently.

  “You must be Luna Devere. I’m Devin Radford, pleased to meet you.”

  She grasped his hand and gave it a firm shake. His smile lingered while he studied her features before his eyes moved downward.

  “You’re early, aren’t you, Mr. Radford?” she asked, removing her hand from his. A spark of excitement ran along her nerves, causing a tingling sensation. She wasn’t sure if she liked his ogling behavior or if she felt flattered. Tipping her head to the side a fraction, she decided this man was too sure of himself.

  “We had agreed to meet at ten, but I figured it would be easier to get here before the crowd did.”

  Chafed at the contractor’s arrogance in changing their appointment to suit himself, Luna stared at him for a moment.

  “It isn’t convenient right now. You’ll have to come back at ten for our appointment. I’m sure you won’t mind,” she said.

  His eyes widened and the engaging smile turned serious in a fraction of a second.

  “I didn’t realize it would be an inconvenience for you. I’ll remember that the next time we meet. See you later.” He turned and strode toward the front door. With a glance over his shoulder, he offered a mischievous wink before he left.

  Her face a mask of surprise, Annie stepped around the counter. “You were a bit rude, weren’t you?” she asked.

  “I won’t have any man tell me when and where I can meet with him. I have a business to run and the day is off to a crappy start. A dead man came for tea, the faeries won’t tell me a thing, and the cat is pissed off. The last thing I need is a bossy man.”

  A snort of laughter issued from Annie until her eyes met Luna’s sparkling ones. To quell Luna’s indignation over Devin’s assumption, Annie handed her a cup of tea and returned to work without a word.

  Guilt slid over Luna like water over a dam. Her temper fled in a heartbeat, the same way it had arrived. The contractor wasn’t at fault for her early morning find. Nasty and rude were not her usual actions and Annie was right to point it out. A sigh left her as she walked into the gift shop.

  The quaint room held books on folklore and faeries, gnomes, elves and sprites. Porcelain statues rested on tabletops and all manner of wind chimes featuring nature’s creatures hung from hand-carved wooden racks.

  She ran a hand across the music boxes. A local artisan painted them for Luna to sell on consignment. Several other crafters also sold their wares through the shop. Luna studied the woven bookmarks, blown glass creatures and intricate pins. All the gifts, books and treasures were unique, geared to nature and the wallets of customers.

  Suspended in the windows, leaded glass sun catchers glittered in the morning rays. A luminous blue-winged faerie, Luna’s favorite, brought a smile to her face.

  Cars parked at the side of the building like they always did first thing in the morning. Dilly’s sat alongside the rattletrap Annie drove. Luna watched Dilly speaking with Devin, her hands gestured wildly and her head dipped toward the building every now and then. Devin nodded, but he didn’t say much. The side view of him allowed Luna to see his handsome features and lean, hard body, both of which tended to raise her pulse. In a second or two, he backed away from Dilly and left her still talking.

  The blue-eyed hunk with a heart-stopping smile glanced toward the windows of the tea room. He grinned, winked again, and saluted Luna. Embarrassed, she quickly stepped away from the window, aware he’d caught her spying on him. She scooted into the dining area. A buzz developed in her stomach when she thought of Devin Radford. Shaking off her reaction to him, she greeted the first guests of the day.

  Chapter 3

  Chatter, laughter and the clink of china cups against saucers filled the room. A few of the regular customers gave Luna side
long glances and whispered behind their hands, but others waved them off and told them to shush. Bad news spread fast. Luna gave a slight shake of her head.

  The first onslaught of customers readied to leave when a tour bus idled to a stop at the outer edge of the lot. Twenty or so people disembarked and wandered toward the shop. Luna sucked in a deep breath and rushed toward the kitchen.

  “A tour bus just landed. A slew of tourists are about to descend upon us any second.” Luna grabbed a large tray and hurried into the dining area. Cups, teapots and serving ware clattered as she stacked them on the tray for washing.

  Dilly followed and swept the tablecloths with the crumb finder, a sweet antique dustpan made for sweeping and catching crumbs. She’d no sooner finished when a number of the tourists settled at the tables while others scrambled into the gift shop.

  The din from the rooms rose to a crescendo. Luna’s ears settled on one voice in particular who asked for her personally. In search of the speaker, she leaned around the edge of the gift shop opening and gazed around the room.

  “Would Luna Devere be available?” the man asked.

  “Uh, um, why yes,” Dilly said. “Can I get her for you?”

  “If you would be so kind.”

  Unable to see who spoke, Luna poked back inside the room and rearranged books and gifts on the countertop. With a sense of intrigue she walked toward the dining room.

  On her way to the glass cases filled with sweet treats, Dilly motioned to Luna.

  “A man over there wants to see you,” Dilly whispered.

  “What does he want, did he say?”

  “No, but he’s the one in the light green jacket.” Dilly pointed to a man with his back to them.

  Somehow he seemed familiar to her. Luna stared at him and thanked Dilly, leaving the plump woman to fill cupcake orders while Annie handled shoppers.

  Across the room, the man turned in his seat. Luna stopped short, her heart frozen.

  “Hello, Luna. You’re looking well,” her ex-husband said.

  “Thomas, what are you doing here?” Luna asked. Trepidation cloaked her like a shawl.