Pastries and Pilfering

by Danielle Collins

  Pastries and Pilfering

  A Margot Durand Cozy Mystery

  Danielle Collins

  Fairfield Publishing

  Contents

  Copyright

  Message to Readers

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Thank You!

  Copyright © 2017 Fairfield Publishing

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Except for review quotes, this book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the author.

  This story is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual people, places, or events is purely coincidental.

  Thank you so much for buying my book. I am excited to share my stories with you and hope that you are just as thrilled to read them.

  If you would like to know about all my new releases and have the opportunity to get free books, make sure you sign up for our Cozy Mystery Newsletter.

  FairfieldPublishing.com/cozy-newsletter

  Chapter 1

  Margot Durand stepped off the airplane and into the warm California breeze. It was hard to believe that just five hours before, she had been bundled up and running through freezing rain into the airport after Tamera dropped her off.

  She made her way through the airport and down to baggage claim three where her suitcase would soon arrive. As she waited, she pulled out her phone and began to answer her messages.

  One text came from Dexter Ross, her newly hired assistant of two months. He’d proved himself more than worthy to take over for her while she was gone for two weeks on vacation, but she was still like a nervous mother leaving a child in the hands of a stranger. Though Dexter wasn’t a stranger and The Parisian Pâtisserie, her French style bakery located in North Bank, Virginia, was nothing like a child.

  He sent a few pictures of the creations he’d made, along with her regular baked goods, and then a selfie with he and Bentley, the shop’s daily patron and subsequent leader of the burgeoning senior community in town.

  Her phone beeped and she saw it was a text from her sister, Renee, saying she was on her way to pick her up. Margot thought about how good it would be to see her sister and niece, Taylor. Despite the trouble that Taylor had run into in North Bank when she’d come to be an assistant for the summer at the bakery, she was now doing well and back in school studying to be a lawyer, to the shock of her parents and her aunt. Margot couldn’t wait to hear all about it.

  Then came another text from Adam Eastwood, North Bank’s resident detective and a special friend of hers. Somehow he had managed to arrange attending a temporary assignment with the Long Beach police department during the same time she would be in town. Trying to hide her smile, she typed in a quick response to his request for dinner that night. She would have this evening free and then the next morning, it was off to enjoy a four-night cruise with one of her longtime friends and the residing French Pastry Chef on a Carousel Cruise.

  Seeing her bag, Margot rushed forward and grabbed the handle of the rolling suitcase. Thankfully, she’d been able to pack light, the nice weather on the West Coast affording her the opportunity to wear light, flowing dresses and shorts. She was ready for a bit of relaxing, a bit of fun sharing the kitchen with her friend, and exploring the exotic locals of Mexico.

  Stepping out into the traffic of the Southern California airport, the scents of the ocean mingled with exhaust in a distinctly Los Angeles smell. To complete the effect, tall palm trees waved back and forth in the breeze and a man sat on the corner playing a guitar and crooning out a Beach Boys’s top hit.

  Yes, this was Southern California personified. But after the last few months she’d had, it was time for some relaxation and a change in scenery. Especially after the more recent case against her friend Tamera’s new husband George. He’d been suspected of murder and Margot had joined forces with Adam to clear his name.

  But that was in the past and now—

  “Margot! Over here!”

  She spun around at her name and saw her sister hopping out of a sporty, silver BMW, arms waving. Taylor sat in the front seat, her head resting in her hand as if she wished she could disappear.

  “Oh, it’s so good to see you,” Renee said, crushing Margot in her thin, tan arms. “It’s been too long.

  “We just saw each other a few months ago,” she said through a laugh. “But you’re right. It is good to see you. You too, Taylor,” she said, bending down to look in the window.

  The young woman grinned. “Good to see you, Aunt Marg. Want the front seat?”

  “Nope, you stay there. I’ll take the back and get the royal treatment.”

  Renee deposited Margot’s luggage in the trunk and then took off as Margot sunk into the plush leather seats.

  “New car?” she observed.

  “Dillon,” her sister said with an exasperated breath.

  “He gave me their old car and got this one. Said he got a promotion or something. How cool is that?” Taylor leaned around the seat to look at Margot.

  “Cool indeed.” She saw her sister’s grin all the way from the back and knew it was a welcome surprise.

  “So what’s the plan again?” Renee asked as she deftly wove in and out of traffic.

  “Well, I was asked to go out to dinner tonight…”

  “Oh, oh,” Taylor said, “Aunt Marg has a date.”

  “Is that true?” Renee asked, her eyes flicking to the rearview mirror momentarily.

  “It’s with Adam and—”

  “That cute detective!” Taylor injected.

  “And he’s in town for a temporary assignment. I don’t have to go if you’d planned anything.”

  “We didn’t,” Taylor jumped in before Renee could respond.

  “Actually,” Renee said, giving her daughter a look, “that works out well. Dillon has some work party he has to go to, so you were going to be on your own anyway.”

  “Perfect,” Margot said, feeling excitement bubble up inside of her.

  “And then the cruise?” her sister prompted.

  “Yes, I’ll need to be at the docks by ten tomorrow morning. I’ll be gone for four nights and then I’m here for the next week to spend time with you guys.”

  “Ugh, do you have to?” Taylor said, winking back at Margot.

  Renee laughed and Margot felt relief to see the growing relationship between Taylor and her adopted mother. She was sure things weren’t perfect, but they were doing so much better than at the beginning of the summer.

  Confident that things were going as planned, Margot leaned back against the cool leather and took in the sights of Long Beach as they drove toward her sister’s Spanish-inspired bungalow. Yes, this was going to be just what she needed; a relaxing vacation.

  Adam stood at the front door of her sister’s house dressed in khaki slacks, a brilliant white button-down shirt, and a sharp, navy blue blazer. He pulled off his sunglasses as she opened the door and she couldn’t help the smile that slipped onto her lips, or the feeling of warmth that pooled in her stomach.

  “You look like you just walked off the cover of Southern Californian Man magazine,” she said with a light laugh.

  “Is that a real magazine? Because I may want to forsake my job and move here. This weather is incredible.”

  “You couldn’t be anything other than a detective and you know it,” she quipped, grabbing her clutch purse from the hall table and waving goodbye to Taylor, who winked back.

  “True,” he said,
placing his hand on the small of her back as he ushered her down the sidewalk. “But it sure is nice to get a little reprieve from the dreary weather back home. Your carriage, milady.”

  She gasped when he led her to a cherry red Mustang convertible parked at the curb, top down. “This is the rental car the department gave you?” Her eyebrows hiked.

  “Well…” He shrugged. “When I explained to the nice woman at the rental office why I was here, she felt obligated to offer me something fun—since I’m here for work and all.”

  Margot rolled her eyes at his pouty face and slipped onto the leather seat warmed by the sun. “You’re amazing.”

  “Why, thank you,” he said, flashing white teeth her way. Was it just her imagination or did he already look tanner? “Hope you don’t mind a little wind.”

  Her hair flew free and loose as he pulled into traffic, but she didn't mind. The warm breeze and feeling of freedom was worth a few tangles in her hair.

  “Where are you taking me?” she asked, closing her eyes and resting her head back against the seat to truly enjoy the experience.

  “You’ll see,” he said. She heard the smile in his voice.

  A few minutes later, she felt the momentum of the car slow and opened her eyes. They were near the ocean, she could smell the salt on the breeze, but she also saw hundreds of boats in slips, their masts shooting up into the sky. Then Adam pulled the car to a stop in front of the valet station.

  With a grin, he handed the keys to the valet and came around to offer her his arm. Margot took in the towering palm trees and the golden glow of the sun making its way into the ocean in the distance. There truly was nothing like a West Coast sunset.

  They walked through an open courtyard area where a small band played festive jazz music and then he opened the door to The Bay View, a high-end restaurant from the looks of the exterior. Marveling that Adam was going to such an expense for her, she glanced at him sideways.

  “You know I would have been happy with a burger on the beach,” she said as they waited for the couple in front of them to be seated.

  “But then I wouldn't have gotten to surprise and awe you with my expansive knowledge of—” He looked around the man in front of them. “—cob.”

  She burst into a girlish giggle, shaking her head. “Cob, huh?”

  “Oh yes,” he said, standing up straighter. “This restaurant had the best cob.”

  The waitress stepped in front of them before Margot could refute his claim and they were rushed to a small table on the deck overlooking the ocean. Wine and calamari appetizers ordered, they both took in the view.

  “Thank you, Adam,” she said, breathing in the warm, fresh air. “This is perfect.”

  “I thought you deserved a night off before going on that exhausting cruise.”

  She laughed again, loving the more relaxed side of the usually ultra-focused Detective Eastwood. “I do plan to work on it, you know.”

  “You do?” he frowned, taking a sip of his water.

  “Didn’t I tell you? One of my former students, Addie Petit, is the French pastry chef and principle baker on the Carousel Luxury. She’s enlisted my help because she’s receiving an award for her pastry work and they are throwing a large party in her honor. It’s a bit of a thank you to me as much as I’ll be helping her. I’m not complaining. It got me on for free, so I see a day or so of work for five days on a cruise as a good tradeoff.”

  He nodded slowly. “You can’t just take a break, can you?”

  “And when was the last time you took a break?”

  He hunched his shoulders but was relieved from answering when their appetizer and drinks arrived.

  “Well?” she pressed when the waitress was gone.

  “I’ll admit it, it’s been a while. But this assignment here will be like a vacation, I’m sure.”

  “What are you doing, exactly?”

  He averted his gaze. “Nothing too taxing. Just a few lectures and such.”

  “You’re lecturing?”

  “Yeah,” he said, his voice coming out thin.

  Was he hiding something?

  “On what?”

  When he looked up, she thought she saw a hint of apprehension on his features but then his gaze flicker over her shoulder and his eyes widened. “Gabe?”

  Turning around, her gaze landed on a tall, handsome man who struck an impressive profile in a dark jacket, designer jeans, and a button-up shirt with a few buttons left open. He turned at the sound of his name and she immediately saw the shock on his face.

  “Adam Eastwood?” he said, coming toward their table, “I can’t believe it. What are you doing in my neck of the woods?”

  Adam stood and shook the man’s hand then gestured to Margot. “I’m on a temporary assignment and…” He looked at Margot and his expression softened. “Having dinner with a friend.”

  “Ravi de vous rencontrer,” Gabe said with a suave smile that was meant to convey his confidence with such an introduction.

  “Et vous aussi,” she said in reply, matching his look.

  “She speaks French,” he said to Adam. “I’m impressed.”

  “She is French,” Adam said with a chuckle as he sat back down. “This is Margot Durand. Margot, this is Gabe Williams. One of Long Beach’s finest.”

  “It’s nice to meet you,” she said.

  “I haven’t seen you in ages,” Adam continued. “How have you been?”

  Gabe kept his eyes on Margot an instant longer then turned to look at Adam. “Things are good. Just the same old, same old. Doing the daily grind and all. How are things going with the—”

  “Sound’s good,” Adam said, interrupting the man before he could finish his sentence. “Busy, I’m sure.”

  Margot noted the awkward nature of the exchange and then saw Gabe’s eyes narrow for a moment. “Right, well, what is life if you aren’t busy?”

  “Exactly.” Adam laughed but Margot could tell it was forced. What was he hiding?

  The waitress arrived with their entrées and Gabe stepped back. “I’ll let you two get on with your dinner, but it was good to see you, Adam, and nice to meet you, Margot.”

  “We should catch up sometime. Maybe grab some coffee while I'm here?”

  Now it was Gabe’s turn to look uncomfortable but he forced a smile. “Sure. That’d be great. I’ve got a few things on my plate this week, but maybe next week if you’re still around?”

  “Sounds good.”

  Adam turned back to the table but before Margot could ask about what Gabe had been about to say, Adam interrupted her thoughts.

  “This looks great! Let’s dig in.”

  Chapter 2

  They were back at her sister’s home and Adam had just stepped out to walk her to the door when she stopped him with a hand on his arm. The bright moonlight warred for attention with the streetlights running down the street and, if it were possible, Margot thought the weather had gotten even warmer while they had dinner.

  “Adam,” she said, sliding her hand from his forearm down to this hand, “are you going to tell me what you kept Gabe from saying at dinner tonight?”

  He feigned a look of confusion. “Gabe? What do you mean? Was he saying something?”

  “Are you going to stand there and lie to my face, Adam Eastwood? Because if so, I’m going inside and you may never hear from me again.” Though her words held weight, she kept them light. He was silent for so long she grew more frustrated and started to turn.

  “Margot,” he said, pulling her back and gripping her hand more firmly, “just hold on.”

  “I don’t like secrets,” she said. “And, maybe I'm foolish for thinking this, but I thought things between us were going…well. Maybe I’m just kidding myself and you can stop me right here if I’m wrong, but—”

  “You’re not wrong.” His words effectively silenced her. “But…” He looked up, his gaze trailing down the street then back to her. “There are things that I won’t—can’t—share with you. At least not y
et.”

  She understood the silence of his career. A detective held many things close to the vest, something she’d experienced firsthand with her late husband Julian, but this felt worse somehow. They weren’t in North Bank, what could he be hiding from her here?

  “Your buddy can know these things but I can’t?”

  He grimaced. “Look, I want you to trust me. Not just as a detective in your hometown, but as a friend and…maybe as more someday.” He took a breath. “And believe me, when I can tell you, I will, but I can’t. Not yet. I’m sorry.”

  “So you’re not going to tell me?”

  “Not yet.” He grimaced but she could tell, despite his tightlipped response, that he wanted to tell her. At least it seemed that way.

  “I understand.”

  He opened his mouth as if prepared for an argument but then closed it. “You do?”

  “I do.”

  “Margot, have I told you how amazing you are?”

  She laughed and shook her head. “You’ve resorted to flattery, Detective Eastwood? I thought that was below you.”

  “Never,” he said, pulling her closer.

  Her breath caught at his sudden nearness and she was aware of how warm and comforting his hand felt wrapped around hers. She craved that comfort more than she wanted to admit.

  When they had finished the last case exonerating her best friend’s husband from a murder charge, Adam had taken her out for their first official date. That had been just over two months ago, but she still wasn’t sure what they were. A couple? Just dating? Even more? He’d called her his friend to Gabe Williams…

  Her mind drew back to the present and the reality that Adam was drawing closer to her. Her heartbeat thundered in her chest but she didn’t draw away. She didn't want to. They had only kissed one other time in a stolen moment after a street festival in DC. The festival had been interrupted by rain and they’d taken cover under an awning, drawing close to stay out of the downpour.