Bagels and Blackmail

by C A Phipps

  A movement in the kitchen caught her eye. Laura was by the back door, her eyes wide with fear. With her own family situation not the best, it was inevitable that this loud showdown would scare her. Maddie wanted to go comfort her but she couldn’t leave Luke and Ethan to deal with the other Chisholms. Although, she doubted she could do much damage with a tray of eclairs.

  Luckily, her baker’s defense wasn’t called for since Luke’s father finally saw sense.

  “You come home after work and we’ll discuss this privately,” he scowled at Luke. Then, ignoring Maddie and Ethan, stormed from the bakery, followed by the silent Johnny.”

  As he turned to face them, Luke seemed to shrink with embarrassment.

  “I’m so sorry about that. Obviously, it would have gone a little better if I hadn’t asked you to hire me until I finished college, but when I heard about the job, I knew everything else was a waste of my time. I saw your ad the first time, and I wanted to call you straight away, but I didn’t. Then it was too late. When you advertised again, it was as if I was being handed a second chance. I remembered the sense of failure at not having the courage to go against my father.”

  He shook his head. “I guess I still don’t have a heap of courage, but I’m learning, and this just proves that as far as he’s concerned, it doesn’t matter what I want. To be honest, I really don’t believe the outcome would be any different whether I finished college or not. He would still have wanted me to go into his line of business. Working for Mr. Findlay in any capacity is something I have no interest in.”

  Maddie had never heard such passion and frustration from anyone. Laura came out from the kitchen with tears in her eyes. “You did the right thing, Luke. Even people we love can be bullies. We don’t have to stop loving them, but there is no law to say we have to like them, or be their victims. Well done.”

  He gave her an adoring look and stepped readily into her outstretched arms for a hug. It was the sweetest, most awkward thing Maddie had ever seen. She could feel her eyes prickle, and fortunately Ethan chose that moment to cough. Or, was it a deliberate ruse to dial back the emotion?

  “Never let it be said that there’s ever a dull moment at Maple Lane Bakery,” she said gently.

  Luke and Laura gave nervous laughs and Maddie couldn’t help blurting out an idea, as she did when her heart was full of love and desire to help.

  “If you need a place to stay, I can offer you a room here until you can afford a place of your own.”

  His eyes widened and she thought he might actually cry, but he took a deep breath and gave her a watery grin instead.

  “Thank you Ms. Flynn. I’d be grateful and I promise to repay you when I get some money.”

  She flapped her apron at him. “We’ll worry about that later. At least you’ll never be late.” She just hoped she wouldn’t regret her decision, because living and working together could be difficult. Too late now. “And, by the way, my name is Maddie, and Gran, who you haven’t met yet, is just Gran.”

  He nodded. “Okay,” he said, not sounding convinced.

  “We’ll be side by side most days, and I don’t answer to anything else.”

  He grinned at her insistence, and Maddie could see that he was already getting a handle on her teasing. She had such a good feeling about him, and hoped for his sake that his family would come around to the idea of him being a baker. She simply didn’t get his father’s attitude. Then again, she had no children, if you didn’t count Big Red, but still...

  Thankfully, she did have Gran, who would move heaven and earth to make her happy.

  Chapter Twelve

  Having had a meeting and a birthday party at the community center that day, Gran called by the bakery, while Maddie was out, to meet Luke. She told Laura that she was expecting Maddie for dinner again, because she wanted to hear all the gossip first-hand, and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

  Not feeling up to cooking for herself, Maddie was happy to succumb. The whole day had been crazy. From the ransom letter to Mrs. Oliver’s bizarre behavior, then Luke’s father showing up, it had been one drama after another.

  As she got to the door, a sudden downpour hit. She hoped it would be over by the time she left.

  “He seems a pleasant young man,” Gran said, once Maddie was settled at the table. “Is he a good worker?”

  “He really is, don’t you think so, Laura?”

  “I do. He has lovely manners and is great with the customers. I won’t be letting him near the coffee machine any time soon, but he seems to have the knack of the basics, and can use the register like a pro, already.”

  “Well done on hiring him. Now if we can just do the same with that fluffy boy of yours, life will be grand.”

  Maddie grimaced. “I’m so pleased to have him, but I feel like I need to do more to find Big Red, and I’m worried about poor Sissy, Mr. Clayton, and even Mrs. Oliver.”

  “Darling, you and the Girlz are doing wonders. I’m sure he’ll be found soon.” Gran kissed her cheek on the way to the kitchen to help Laura bring in the meal “I’m also worried about Jed. He was totally preoccupied at the birthday party and kept hold of a small bag as if it held the Queen’s jewels. And what’s this about Maude?”

  Maddie told her how agitated the woman had been, but not what Mr. Clayton might be carrying. Clearly, Laura hadn’t said anything either.

  “Poor Maude has always been highly strung. She’ll no doubt be right as rain once she’s gotten the bee out of her bonnet.”

  Gran had a way of making things seem plausible, without trivializing them, and Maddie decided to tell her about Luke’s family, just in case they turned up when Gran was in the shop.

  “The father sounds like a thoroughly nasty piece of work. I’m glad Ethan was there to protect you.”

  “It wasn’t me that needed protecting.”

  “Still if the boy needs a roof, you send him my way. You have too much on your plate as it is.”

  Maddie snorted. “And you don’t?”

  Gran laughed. “We Flynn’s like to keep busy, make no mistake,” she told Laura.

  “Hah! As if I couldn’t tell.”

  Then Gran kept them amused with tales from the community center. Older people could be hilarious, as Maddie was now only too well aware. Because of Gran’s involvement, every one of her friends, of which there were many, stopped by the bakery several times a week. Often just to chat, but most times they couldn’t resist a treat while they were there.

  They were relaxing after a superb roast lamb dinner with all the trimmings, when there was a loud squeal of brakes. It sounded very close, which was particularly unusual. Apart from Gran’s cottage and the block of four shops, Plum Place had very few houses as the right side of the street was farm land that merged into the park opposite Maddie’s bakery. Running out to the porch they were too late to see anything except tail lights in the distance.

  “Hooligans, no doubt,” Gran grumbled, and went inside to serve up peach cobbler.

  “Do you want a hand with anything tonight?” Laura asked as they headed back to the table.

  Maddie shook her head. “No, thanks. I’m actually exhausted, so I might try for an early night.”

  “I hear you. The trouble is as soon as my head hits the pillow, I’m wide awake.”

  “Really? Me too.” Maddie commiserated.

  Gran looked at them fondly, insisting on doing the dishes this time. “Off to bed you two and try and get some rest. You both have eyes as black as used teabags. Go dream of handsome Sheriffs and deputies.”

  “No thank you. But I am off. I’ll see you both in the morning.” Maddie gave them both a peck on the cheek, noting how pleased Laura was to be included in this small act.

  Thankful that the rain had cleared, Maddie slowly walked home. It was dark now, but not too dark down this side of Plum Place because of the security lights at the back of the library and shops. The smell of summer was still strong, from the fields on her right to the small gardens on her left.
The recent rain had its own unique smell and the trees dripped musically.

  The walk also gave her time to think about Ethan. Sometimes it was a good idea to take feelings from the box where they’d been figuratively stored and occasionally have a darn good look at them. She hadn’t wanted to in this case because it was still a little painful.

  When their relationship ended because of her moving to New York City, and his inability to be accept that she had to go, she thought that was it. Coming home and buying the shop meant she was staying put and suddenly Ethan was in her life again. What did it really mean?

  They both had some history, which was understandable given the years apart. She’d had a steady boyfriend and Ethan by all accounts had had his share of girlfriends. This wasn’t a big deal. Apart from his affair with the late mayor. The relatively new knowledge still rankled, since Denise had been one of her friends. It probably shouldn’t, but it did.

  She wasn’t the kind of woman who jumped from man to man and found it hard to accept that others did. Before she’d met Dalton, there had been no one since Ethan. As they’d only broken up a few months back, it didn’t seem right to be thinking some of the things she was. Plus, there were so many women in town, and maybe in the county, who found him just as appealing. These were the things that held her back from a relationship with him. As well as losing their newly regained friendship.

  As she got closer to her gate she noticed a dark lump half on the curb and half on the verge. Annoyance destroyed the happiness she’d gained from being with Gran and Laura. Sometimes out-of-towners dropped their rubbish, which was infuriating to the residents who prided themselves on a clean and tidy town. She walked over to it with no thoughts of anything more sinister. Until she saw that it wasn’t rubbish after all.

  It was a body!

  All she could think while rooted to the spot was ‘not again’. After being first on the scene at Denise’s murder, she had never imagined that scenario being repeated. She gave herself a mental shake. What if this time the person were alive?

  She bent down to the body and gently turned it over. Maude Oliver. Maddie felt sick as she checked for a pulse on the cold wrist. Nothing. Cold and clammy, despite the balmy night, she pulled out her phone and dialed the paramedics. What on earth was the woman doing out this way at this time of night? She lived clear across town, near the country club.

  After giving the few details she knew, and sure they were on their way, she called Ethan. Having the Sheriff as a friend was a blessing at times like these. Times? Should there ever be any ‘times’ like these?

  He answered groggily as if she had woken him, but it really wasn’t that late. Perhaps he’d fallen asleep in front of the television the way she did. She shook her head to get back some focus

  “Ethan. It’s Maddie. Can you please come to my place?”

  “Now? Sure. What’s up?”

  She took a gulp of air. “Another dead body, I’m afraid.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Following her announcement, there was the kind of silence that either signified some heavy duty information digesting or a lewd phone call. The latter was a revolting phenomenon she’d experienced several times while living in New York City. She could appreciate Ethan’s struggle and waited, although, not as patiently as he might think. She actually squeezed the phone, which did nothing but hurt her fingers, as if that might force a reaction from him.

  “You’re not serious?” he finally answered.

  She was trying to keep her feelings of panic in check, and was relieved to hear a rustle and the jingle of keys in the background.

  Her breath came out on a shaky whoosh. “Deadly, I’m afraid.” He could have asked a million questions. Thank goodness he didn’t.

  “I’m on my way.”

  Maddie went inside and grabbed the flashlight she kept by the fuse box, turning on lights before she went back to the curb to wait with Maude Oliver, so the poor woman wouldn’t be alone. The soft light from the kitchen behind them, and the brighter one from the flashlight were reassuring while she looked across the road to the semi-darkness of the fields opposite.

  When Ethan screeched around the corner, followed by the paramedics she couldn’t have been more pleased to see someone. He jumped out of his dark sedan, ran across the edge of the grass and knelt beside them to see who it was.

  “Mrs. Oliver?” He was naturally as surprised as she had been.

  Maddie nodded, despite knowing the question was rhetorical, as the paramedics arrived.

  “I can’t believe this is happening again. Please don’t tell me she was poisoned, Ethan.”

  He stood and gave her a funny look, then took her cold hands in his. “Go inside. We’ll talk when I’ve finished here.”

  As much as she wanted to be in her apartment, pretending this horrendous thing hadn’t occurred right outside her bakery, she couldn’t. A hundred questions were racing around in her head. First she needed to know that this had nothing to do with Denise’s murder.

  While the paramedics were attending to Mrs. Oliver, Maddie left the flashlight with Ethan and moved away to stand at her gate, not sure what to do or how to feel. It was surreal and yet reminiscent of what had happened not so long ago.

  Ethan was taking pictures with his phone when his team arrived. One of them took more pictures, with a proper camera, while another placed taped around Mrs. Oliver, and a third began to run crime tape around the area, as per Ethan’s instructions. It was a very large area, she noted.

  From a distance, she’d seen this happen with the police in New York City. It had been chilling, but impersonal. These things always happened to someone else. Until they didn’t.

  Finally, they put Mrs. Oliver into the ambulance and the paramedics took her away.

  “I guess there wasn’t any hurry,” she said to Ethan as he approached.

  He followed her gaze to where the ambulance had been. “I’m afraid not. They think she’s been dead for some time. How are you holding up?”

  She shivered. “Now I can’t see her—a little better.”

  “Good. Here’s your flashlight.”

  He was about to leave her again. Maddie frowned, not liking that idea just yet.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I need to check the area to see what happened. I’ll get a better look in the morning, but I don’t want any evidence to be lost if it rains again.”

  The sky held no promise of rain, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t. “Exactly what evidence?”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Tire tracks for a start.”

  Maddie gasped. “She was run over?”

  “It’s a distinct possibility. I’ll know more after the autopsy.”

  She gulped, not wanting to imagine how he knew that she’d been run over, but it was too late. A clear vision of it happening was already in her mind. Fortunately, the lights from Ethan’s and the deputies cars made the area much brighter, along with the flashlights. While they were there and with her kitchen lights shining, not to mention Ethan’s large presence, she wasn’t so afraid of the dark and who might be out there.

  “I’ll wait for you here.”

  “That’s best. I want the crime scene to stay clean.”

  He didn’t have to explain, nor did he insist she go inside. While she waited she wondered who could do such a despicable thing? As far as she knew, Ralph Findlay, Denise’s murderer, was still in jail so it couldn’t be him. Could it? Had he escaped and no one had thought to tell the sheriff?

  She couldn’t take that idea seriously. Ethan had his finger on the pulse of the town. Usually. She watched him search the grass, and when his deputies joined him they walked up and down the road. The flashlights picked up a thick black mark and they followed this down the road towards Gran’s, then back. After this, they came back to the edge of the grass where the tape, in lieu of the body, was.

  For some time he studied the area, making notes on a pad. Another car arrived and a man walked over to Ethan. They
shook hands and spoke, then did another circuit of the crime scene, with Ethan pointing in several places.

  When they were done they made their way to her. Maddie was colder, but found watching him work fascinating.

  Ethan introduced the man who wore a long black coat and a sober expression. He was a little shorter but much broader, than the Sheriff.

  “This is Detective Jones. He’d like to ask a few questions.”

  Maddie shook the man’s hand. “Shall we go inside?”

  “You two go ahead. I’d like to take a look at something, but I won’t be long.”

  Ethan followed Maddie into the kitchen. He watched out the window while she made coffee and she could see he was curious.

  True to his word, the detective came in just as she was putting the mugs on the table.

  “Please, have a seat.”

  They all sat at the table and sipped the coffee appreciatively. The detective had a notepad out and checked his facts with Ethan.

  Suddenly there were footsteps outside and the door burst open. Gran and Laura came inside looking pale. Gran ignored Ethan and the detective, which was not like her.

  “What’s going on? Are you okay? We saw the lights from the sitting room, and came as fast as we could. I asked a deputy who was injured, but he wouldn’t say anything. I had the horrible thought it was you.”

  Maddie stole a look at Ethan, to see if she was allowed to give the information she knew, but he was explaining the visitors to the detective.

  “I’m fine. It was Mrs. Oliver.”

  “Maude? Oh, my. What happened?”

  Gran grasped the edge of the table and Maddie jumped up to help her to a chair, while Laura made tea.

  “She might have been hit by a vehicle.”

  Gran gasped. “How terrible. Do you think it was the one we heard earlier?”

  Ethan’s head shot up so quickly Maddie wondered if he might get whiplash. “You heard a car hit her?”

  The detective had been watching the interchange introduced himself, then motioned for them all to take a seat.