Rest, Relaxation and Murder: A Bakery Detectives Cozy Mystery

by Stacey Alabaster

  I shook my head. I can't stomach orange juice at the best of times; it gives me a stomachache. But I definitely didn't want any right when I was about to turn over evidence against the guy I had a crush on.

  I started to question whether I was doing the right thing while I watched Stacey pour Wilson a cup of orange juice, beaming at him as he threw it back.

  I took a breath. "Yes," I said flatly. "It is about the drowning at the lake. Ann's murder."

  Wilson and Stacey looked at each other slowly, the beams fading from their faces. "Well, we don't know that yet," Wilson said to me.

  I interrupted him to tell him what Aaron had told me, about Ann seeing some mysterious guy before she died.

  It was very hard to read the look on Wilson's face. Stacey listened to my story over the top of her cup of orange juice, her face still.

  When they didn't ask me any further questions—seriously, had anyone in this town had even the most basic training at how to do their own jobs?—I kept talking, finally getting to the bit that I really didn't want to tell. "I have reason to think that the guy she was seeing before she died was Robert." I paused. I didn't know his last name. "Robert, at this resort," I said lamely, some of the confidence going out of my own voice. Man, I don't even know this guy's last name...and yet I'm willing to name him as a murder suspect? I wondered if I was anymore competent, at the core, than Wilson or Stacey were. At least they had badges. I just had flour and sugar.

  Wilson nodded and scratched at his mustache. He looked first at Stacey—who nodded—and then back at me. "We've been wondering about this guy for a few days now. It's a good thing we made him stay here at camp," Wilson said.

  It's a good thing I made him stay here at camp, I thought. But it wasn't the time to dent his pride.

  "You're right. It was a really good decision you guys made. And I'm sure you'll make another good decision now."

  Stacey rubbed her hands together and leaned forward. "Is there anything else you can tell us about this Robert guy? Any other reason you might have for thinking that he is dangerous?"

  I shrugged. "Just what I already told you." I thought back to the dance. About the way I'd landed in the water.

  Had he been helping me up? Or pushing me down?

  "That's it," I finished. "I hope that's enough for you to go on."

  Wilson flicked his notebook shut. "Well, we've got a few other things to take care of today first," he said quickly, placing his aviator sunglasses on.

  "But," Stacey tried to argue with him. "Shouldn't we..."

  I thought I caught Wilson shaking his head slightly at her. She shut up. Then he turned to me and shook my hand with his usual beam plastered all over his face. "Thank you very much, Miss Robinson. You've been a tremendous help."

  But as I watched the jeep pull away, kicking up a huge dust cloud in its wake, I had to wonder...had I really been a help? Was I reaching out a helping hand? Or just pushing this investigation down into the lake, drowning it.

  "Let it go, Rach." Pippa put her fork down and shot me a look. "You did the right thing."

  We were sitting in the dining room, having dessert after the end of my shift in the kitchen. There were still a few stragglers a couple of people playing board games and Lucille, the old widow, sitting and reading a murder mystery in the dying light.

  "I'm not sure," I said, sipping my hot chocolate. Across from me, Pippa picked up her fork and plunged it back into her black forest cake. "You should have seen the rangers, Pippa. They didn't seem to take what I said seriously at all. They didn't even stick around to question Robert. What if I've just put myself in greater danger now? What if Robert saw me talking to them and..." I leaned in closer to whisper to her. "And he has a serious problem with that."

  Pippa finished the last of her cake and scraped the fork across the bottom of the plate to scoop up the last bit of frosting. "If he has a serious problem with it, then we'll give him a serious problem in return."

  I made a face. "What does that mean?"

  Pippa laughed. She'd clearly had too much wine with dinner. "I don't know. Just that we'll be okay. We've survived so far, haven't we?"

  "But Robert hurt his last girlfriend," I whispered.

  "You don't know that for certain," Pippa pointed out. "Besides, you weren't his girlfriend."

  "I know." I tapped my mug absentmindedly. "I just wish I could have gotten the rangers to take me more seriously. They seemed to think it was more salacious gossip than something that could help a murder investigation." I let out a heavy sigh. "Maybe I should give them another call..."

  We each stopped when we heard a vehicle pull into the gravel driveway. "Is that them? The rangers?" I asked, jumping up. We didn't get a lot of cars pulling up at the resort. Just my own and the rangers' jeep.

  There was still enough light to see outside as we both ran to the window. It was no yellow jeep sitting there. It was a small, black hatchback, probably the latest model by the look of it—you could tell it was shiny and new and expensive even in the fading light—but I don't know very much about cars.

  "Who on earth could that be?" Pippa asked.

  "I don't know," I murmured.

  A woman, young and gorgeous with thick glossy brunette hair that cascaded down her back like a flowing river, stepped out of the car, wearing a short black suit dress that clung to her curvy figure.

  "Whoever she is, she doesn't look like she belongs here," I said, watching as she marched to the door of the dining hall and glided right through it. She seemed to know where she was going, even if she didn't belong there. Pippa and I just looked at each other. With no one else around, I supposed we were the honorary welcome guests.

  "Hello?" I called out.

  The woman spun around, her handbag dangling off her arm. "Who are you?" she called out, looking me up and down as she took a step closer.

  "My name's Rachael," I said, a little unsurely. Who was this woman and what did she want with us? I hadn't held that much tenderness towards the resort or many of its guests up until that point, but now I felt protective of them. Who was this woman to just waltz in like she owned the joint, demanding to know our names?

  She stopped. "Where is Robert?" she asked.

  I looked her up and down again. For a moment, dressed as she was, expensive and professional, I thought maybe she was a detective.

  Maybe they really are taking this case seriously.

  She looked at me again. "Did you hear me? Where is Robert? I know he’s here. I know that for a fact."

  Pippa and I looked at each other before I turned back to the woman, who was still waiting expectantly with her hands on her hips.

  "Who are you exactly?" I asked.

  "I'm Robert's girlfriend," she shot back at me, with a look that said, and who the heck are you? "So are you going to tell me where he is, or not?"

  Chapter 10

  The sounds of arguing spilled out through the walls and into the hallway. First her voice, raised and high-pitched, then his, low and angry. "What the heck are you doing here? This is crazy, Bethany!"

  "I should be asking you the same darn question, Robert!" Another voice screamed back.

  "Maybe I should just leave," I said to Pippa, my hand poised at the door, about to knock but thinking better of it. I had heard the arguing late into the night but I never saw Bethany leave. Maybe my apology could wait until later.

  Actually, I didn't even know why I was there. I'd told Pippa I just wanted to make things right with him, check that he was okay after his unexpected visitor, and she'd agreed to accompany me, but we both knew she was chaperoning me to make sure I didn't do anything stupid. Like try to hook up with him again.

  Pippa nodded. "Come on, there's a group hike planned. Morris and Jane told me all about it. We can still catch up to them if we hurry."

  A group hike sounded like the last thing I wanted to do right then. So by the time we got to the lake and the rest of the group was already halfway around the other side of the lake, I wasn't
too disappointed that we'd missed the boat, so to speak.

  Pippa kicked at the deckchairs beside us. "Looks like it's another day lounging around for us," she said. "Drinks?"

  I nodded and after returning with them, we settled in. "I can't say I mind," I said. "I think a hike would have just about killed me."

  "We're both joining the gym when we get back," Pippa said pointedly as she handed me my drink.

  "Yes," I said firmly. "When we get back. But for the rest of this vacation, we should try to relax. Finally."

  "So, you're giving up trying to solve this case then?"

  I leaned back and threw my hands up as my face basked in the sun. "Officially! Robert wasn't seeing Ann, he was seeing Bethany. Honestly, Pips, I have no idea who did it. And I'm not sure it's any of my business."

  Pippa was quiet for a second while I sat up to fix my towel. "Are you really sure?"

  I sighed and sat back against the lounge chair. "It's just my luck, isn't it?"

  Pippa turned to me with her dark glasses shading her eyes so I couldn't read her expression entirely. "Maybe you should stop going after guys that are taken."

  I threw a spare towel at her. "What I meant was, it's just my luck that I thought a case was cracked, and then I turn out to look completely stupid!"

  Pippa was still staring at me with her tongue sticking out slightly. I knew she was still waiting for me to respond to her earlier remark.

  "I didn't know he was taken Pippa, did I?!" I frowned. "And Jackson wasn't either. At least, he wasn't when I first met him."

  I thought Pippa was raising her eyebrow, but I couldn't be sure. "Ah, so you do still like him?"

  I shrugged. "It doesn't matter anymore anyway. He's with Detective Emma Crawford now. She's a much better match for him."

  Pippa laughed. "Why, because she's a detective? Because detectives always have to fall in love with and date their partners?"

  I didn't answer her. But, yes, I thought, because she's a detective. Jackson actually took her seriously. They actually got to work together on cases, officially. She wasn't just some silly baker who had gotten ideas above her station.

  When I didn't answer, Pippa laughed again. "Maybe you should become a full time detective then."

  My stomach sank. And not only because I hadn't told Pippa anything about my plans and she'd accidentally guessed them without even realizing it. But because I had to wonder...was that the only reason I was considering the full time career change?

  I shook my head. No, that can't be it. Maybe I'm just a silly baker, but I'm not a STUPID one. I wouldn't make a huge career change and throw away everything I'd ever worked for just to impress a guy.

  Pippa interrupted my train of thought. "Are you still with me, Rachael? What are you thinking about?"

  "Nothing," I said, jumping up to stare into the water. "Let's go for a swim."

  "All right," I said to Vikki, clutching her shoulders between my hands. "Are you ready for this?"

  She stared at me a little uncertainly, then took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, I am."

  I looked down at the counter next to us. "Don't worry. None of this food is going to kill anyone. You've done an amazing job..."

  Vikki still looked as nervous as if she was awaiting a trial verdict. "But will they like it?"

  I took my hands away from her. "Hey. You've come up with this menu yourself, cooked it from scratch—with the help of Aaron and I, of course. It's a menu worthy of a resort, trust me."

  Vikki nodded but looked away. "With a lot of help from you and Aaron. I'm just still really embarrassed after what he told you."

  "You don't need to be embarrassed. I'm glad he told me. Now you've got a chance to prove yourself properly." I folded my arms and grinned. "You've even got some special guests here tonight."

  Vikki looked up in surprise. "I do?"

  I nodded. "The resort's most hard to please residents: Morris and Jane."

  Vikki's jaw dropped open. "But they never eat our stuff."

  "They've promised me they're going to be here," I reassured her. "So that means they trust you. And so do I."

  While Vikki and I were putting the finishing touches on the trout and salmon, I asked Aaron to go out to the dining room and give me a headcount so that we sent out the exact right amount of dishes.

  When he came back with the number, I nodded at Vikki. "It's go time then! Let's serve these guys some fish!"

  I snuck a look out the kitchen doors while everyone was eating. Vikki was cowering behind me back in the kitchen. "I'm too nervous to look."

  "Don't worry," I said with a laugh. "Everyone is enjoying it. Relax."

  "Even Morris and Jane?" she called out.

  I stopped and squinted, checking for them. I'd forgotten all about them, and hadn't even noticed them up until that point.

  Maybe that was because they weren't there. I just shook my head and pulled back.

  "All good!" I said to Vikki with a bright smile. "Hey, I'm just gonna go say hello to my friend Pippa. I am still technically a guest at this retreat after all," I said with a little apologetic shrug before I tore off out of the room, hoping that Vikki would remain too nervous to look through the doors.

  "Hey," I whispered to Pippa as I kneeled down next to her. "Where are the protein bar lovers?"

  Pippa placed her fork down and shrugged. "I guess they decided they couldn't handle it after all," she said.

  "Are you kidding me?" I asked. "Morris and Jane promised me they'd be down for dinner this evening."

  "Rach, don't you think you're overreacting a little?"

  I shook my head. "Vikki worked really hard on this meal tonight. It's just plain rude of them not to show up."

  Pippa looked a little amused as she took a sip of water. "I guess it is a little rude."

  No, it was very rude.

  "That's it!" I said as I stormed back into the kitchen and dusted my hands off. "Aaron!" I commanded, pointing at the stack of empty plates. "Make me up two extra dishes."

  Aaron looked unsure. "Didn't we already send all the meals out?" He looked at Vikki for backup. "Was someone unhappy with their food?"

  "Just do as I ask please, Aaron," I said with a sigh as he relented and started plating up the extra meals.

  Vikki looked worried so I reassured her. "No one was upset about the food, Vikki. Don't worry. There's just a couple of extra guests I want to pay a special visit to."

  I knocked loudly on the door. I didn't even call out their names, just pounded until I heard footsteps scampering towards the door and Morris standing there in a robe.

  "Here," I said, pushing the plate against Morris's chest, bare where his dressing gown had fallen away. "You're eating this. And I'm not taking no for an answer."

  He didn't take the plate though, just looked helplessly back at Jane who was sitting naked—with her back to me, thank goodness—on the floor behind him.

  She turned quickly and grabbed a robe before I could see anything. "Rachael!" she said, standing up. "We thought...we thought you were someone else..."

  Who on earth were they expecting?

  I moved my gaze from Jane to the floor behind her. What I saw there caused my jaw to fall open. Littered all over the carpet were cutouts of pictures of Ann's face, surrounded by dripping candles and incense, and small statures and figurines with foreign symbols and signs on them that I didn't recognize.

  "What the heck is going on in here?" I said, dropping both plates on the floor.

  "Rachael," Jane said, quickly standing up and running for the door. "You weren't supposed to see this."

  I just left the empty plates on the floor and ran.

  "So did they eat the food?"

  I took a moment to hear what she was saying. "Huh?" I asked, still in daze after what I'd just seen in Morris and Jane's room. Vikki's voice had to fight through the fog, like I was listening to her speak under water.

  Vikki's face was crumbled in worry. "Did Jane and Morris eat the food? They hated it, didn't
they?"

  I shook my head and Vikki's face fell. "I knew it," she said with a heavy sigh. "I knew I should have just quit after Ann left. I never should have worked here in the first place. It was never a real kitchen."

  She had my attention now. "Ann didn't leave," I pointed out. "She was killed."

  Vikki looked up sharply. "Didn't she drown?"

  I walked over to the stove and made sure that all the gas lights were turned off. We didn't want to blow up the hotel and kill those of us that remained here. "We don't know for certain," I said quietly, fumbling with the last of the lights.

  I turned back to Vikki.

  "Vikki, you did nothing wrong tonight. Believe me, Morris and Jane not eating the food had nothing to do with you." I stared at her so that she understood. "Nothing."

  Vikki looked at the floor. "That's only because you saved the dish," she said. "Seriously, as soon as you all leave, I'm out of here as well."

  "Vikki," I said. "Why did you decide to be a cook in the first place?"

  "I loved making other people happy," she said as a smile crept onto her face. "Knowing that I made something that brought them joy, even for a little while."

  "There you go," I said. "Vikki, it's easy to teach someone the skills in a kitchen. How to hold a knife, how to skin meat, the science behind baking. And shame on Ann for not teaching you, by the way. But you can't teach someone to love cooking. And you have that. Please don't quit."

  Vikki looked up at me. "Can you teach me some of those things, in the time you have left here?"

  I grinned at her slowly. "I would love to."

  I groaned and turned away as I saw the figure, in shorts, coming towards me.

  "It's been a long day," I said, shaking my head. "Seriously, Robert, I'm exhausted. I just want to go to bed."

  "What's been so long about it?"

  I hated the cheery casualness in his voice, the way it sounded like he genuinely wanted to know. It made me want to tell him, tell him everything I'd seen. But I couldn't do that.