by Lyndsey Cole
“Where have you two been?” Leona asked. She stood in their kitchen with a potholder in one hand and a spatula in the other. A mountain of cookies was piled on the counter with one tray ready to go in the oven and another ready to be emptied of just-out-of-the-oven deliciousness.
Annie groaned.
Jason pushed her further inside so he could close the door.
“Well?” Leona asked with obvious irritation in her voice that they had the nerve to be gone when she let herself in.
“A breakfast invitation. What are you doing here?” Annie hung her coat on the hook next to the door. She tried not to be annoyed with Leona, but the way she felt so at home in what was now Annie and Jason’s home didn’t sit well. Leona had a tendency to overstep boundaries and Annie had to figure out how to make new ones that Leona would respect. Without hurting any feelings in the process.
Jason added a few small pieces of kindling and a big chunk of oak to the fire and poked it to get the flames going.
“Making Christmas cookies,” Leona said with a look on her face that said are you blind? “What else would I be doing? I can’t work at the café until the police are done investigating and I need to make cookies. Here, try one.” She held out a Santa.
Annie looked at the design and knew Leona was in trouble. The Santa’s mouth was turned down in a grimace with frosting trailing from the corner of his mouth to look like bits of partially eaten cookie.
“Leona? What’s your plan with these cookies?” Annie kept her voice soft and gentle. Leona was right at the edge of something and it wasn’t good.
“What do you mean? I’m bringing them to the police station. Don’t you think it’s a good joke?”
“Not really. How about you turn the oven off and we’ll sit down and talk? I’m certain that the police won’t see any humor in this.”
“I’m sending them with a card that they’re from Cookie Snow’s shop, Cookies ‘n Dreams. She’s the one that sabotaged my cookies last night.”
Annie turned the oven off herself. She took Leona’s arm and led her to the couch. “We need to work through this in a methodical manner, not by pulling jokes from the seat of our pants. And sending those cookies to the police department is a really, really bad idea that will backfire on you in the worst way possible.”
Annie sat next to Leona, and Jason sat across from them in his recliner.
“Annie’s right, Leona. The first thing we need to do is make a list of everyone that was at the party last night that had a gripe with Nelson,” Jason said.
“That,” Annie agreed, “and a list of anyone that had a gripe with Paul Ames.”
Leona’s head whipped around. “Why Paul?”
“It’s a thought I had while we were walking back from his house. Hear me out about this. Paul has been the Santa for this event since it started. What if the killer thought it was Paul in the Santa costume last night and didn’t know Nelson was filling in? Maybe it was a case of mistaken identity. After seeing Paul this morning, I started to think that if someone didn’t know he cancelled, he could have been the real target.”
Leona’s eyes were as big as one of her cookies. “He’s a divorce lawyer. There’s probably plenty of people that have more than a gripe with him. They probably would love to see him dead. Especially Cookie Snow.”
Leona paced back and forth in front of the fireplace. At least her attention was diverted from making dying Santa cookies to figuring out who might want Nelson, or Paul, dead if it was a case of mistaken identity.
Jason found containers for Leona’s cookies and carefully packed them. Fortunately, only a portion were the dying Santas and the rest were beautifully decorated reindeer, snowflakes, and Christmas trees.
He put the unused dough in the refrigerator after he snuck a taste of it. Annie saw his action and wagged her finger at him. Jason put his finger to his lips and nodded toward Leona. It was their secret.
All the while, Leona paced and talked about people at the party.
“The only ones that make sense to me are Cookie and Charlene. Of course, that’s not how the police are going to see it. I’m sure they have me at the top of their suspect list.”
Annie hadn’t told Leona about Detective Christy Crank’s visit first thing in the morning. And she wasn’t planning to. Leona had enough to worry about.
“We should find out what Camilla heard last night. She was Mrs. Claus and spent time next to Nelson. Mostly fighting him off, but maybe she heard something, which at the time didn’t mean much, but now, in hindsight, would have more significance.” Annie opened one of the cookie containers. “I can’t resist. I never got a chance to sample any last night.”
Leona lit up like the star on the top of a Christmas tree. “You aren’t worried you’ll die?”
After biting off the head of a reindeer and swallowing, she grabbed her throat with both hands. “Aaack. Call 911.” She dramatically swooned onto the couch.
“Not funny, Annie.” Leona sputtered through a face that couldn’t stay serious. “Thanks for that, though. I know it’s not a laughing matter but if I can’t laugh about it I’ll be a blubbering fool before long. And, just between us three,” she straightened her face back into serious mode, “I don’t think anyone will miss Nelson Abbott. He was a lecherous old man and Catfish Cove is safer without him around. There. I’ve said my true feelings about him. Now, let’s get to work to find the killer.”
Annie sighed deeply. Leona on a mission was much better than Leona having a huge pity party and baking dying Santas. At least now they should be able to gather some clues since there wasn’t even a remote possibility that Leona poisoned her own cookies.
“Bundle up,” Annie warned Leona. “It’s cold out and getting colder.”
“What’s our first stop?”
“The Heron Inn. I think Mrs. Delaney has some explaining to do.”
Jason handed the fanciest container to Annie. “Bring her something to drool over.”
Leona smiled. “Let me check that box and make sure you didn’t sneak in any of my dying Santa cookies. I don’t know what I was thinking to make those.”
Annie said a silent thank you. Leona was back on track and she planned to keep her there. Annie’s vacation was over, Leona’s pity party was dead, and the hunt for Nelson’s killer was officially on.
Chapter 8
Annie drove and Leona fidgeted.
“What if we don’t find any clues?” Leona whined.
Annie glared at her. “Did you poison Nelson Abbott?” She’d had enough of Leona feeling sorry for herself.
“Of course not! How can you even ask me a question like that?” Leona had fire in her eyes and her hand on the door handle as if she was ready to jump from Annie’s speeding car.
Annie gave herself a virtual pat on her shoulder for pushing Leona out of her funk. “Then we’ll have to find something to take the focus away from you. There’s a trail of cookie crumbs and we have to find where they lead.”
Leona smirked. “Is that a pun? Cookie crumbs or Cookie’s crumbs? I might have heard something last night that could help.”
Annie waited for Leona to continue. She heard plenty the night before, too, but it was all threats toward Nelson, including one from Leona that proved to be cryptic when she told him he might end up being carried out on a stretcher. Annie wondered who else heard that and if anyone mentioned it to Detective Crank.
“I heard Cookie tell her date, Daryl Hansen, that she would leave a key at her shop under the pot next to the front door. I guess he has to bring something to the shop for her.”
“And what are you thinking you’ll do with that information?” Annie didn’t like to even think what Leona might do to get herself out of the frying pan and right smack into the fire.
Leona shrugged. “Nothing. I was just telling you what I heard in case we need to search her bakery, or something like that. You know, if the cookie crumbs lead us there.”
“We’ll have to be more creative than to b
reak into her bakery if we need more information. That could back fire. In a serious way. Do you know anything about Daryl Hansen that could be helpful?” Annie asked as she parked at the Heron Inn.
“Only that he and Cookie met after they both went through messy divorces.” A sly grin crept across Leona’s face. “And you’ll never guess who else was involved in those two messy divorces.”
“Who?”
“Paul Ames. He represented Cookie’s and Daryl’s exes. For all I know, maybe they met at Cookie’s bakery when Daryl needed something sweet to cheer himself up and they cried on each other’s shoulders.”
“Interesting.” Paul seemed to have connections to all kinds of names around this murder. “Daryl could be another possible suspect if the murder turns out to be one of mistaken identity. Maybe his ex-wife got the better end of the divorce stick and he wanted to take it out on Paul.” Annie locked her car and they headed to the grand entrance of the Heron Inn.
Fitting for the season, the entrance was glittering with white lights, sparkling ornaments and lots of fresh greenery. Soft Christmas music filtered from hidden speakers and the sound of laughter drifted from the dining room.
Leona leaned close to Annie. “Mrs. Delaney has holly here. She’d better hope no one drops dead or she’ll be blamed for poisoning them.”
Cookie’s grating voice hit Annie’s ears as soon as she was three steps inside the entrance. “Look what the wind blew in. You’re too late if you’re here to twist Mrs. Delaney’s arm about the Christmas Eve gala. She already told me she wants my cookies and cupcakes since mine aren’t tainted with any scandal.”
“Is that so?” Leona asked with a voice dripping with sugary sweetness. “And did she order them topped with poisonous berries?”
The color in Cookie’s cheeks faded to match the snow outside. She threw her head back, and with a swinging stride she marched right between Annie and Leona.
Annie couldn’t resist reaching out and tugging on Cookie’s ginormous tote. “What’s in your bag today, Cookie?”
Since she wasn’t expecting Annie’s action, the tote easily slipped from Cookie’s grasp. Her face immediately turned a new color—scarlet—to rival Santa’s outfit. “Give that back to me.” She grabbed for her bag but Annie had already swiveled around and easily held it out of Cookie’s reach.
“My, my, my. Look at this, Leona.” Annie handed a container from deep inside the tote to her aunt.
“So that’s why you stole my cookies from the party last night? You’re pawning them off as your own?” Leona jabbed Cookie with each question. “First, you sabotaged my work last night to make me look bad, or worse, then you have the nerve to pretend you can make cookies as beautiful as mine? You’re coming right back into Mrs. Delaney’s office with us so I can expose you for the fraud you are.”
Cookie’s jaw dropped and it flopped up and down but she couldn’t manage to get any words out.
Leona pulled Cookie past the grand staircase to the hall leading to the back of the inn where Mrs. Delaney had her office. Annie jogged to catch up. Wow, the fire that burned in Leona’s eyes must have torched her pity party to ashes, she told herself. This was more like the Leona she was used to: rough, tough, and focused.
Leona pushed Cookie through the open door.
“Cookie, did you forget something?” Mrs. Delany mumbled as cookie crumbs flew from her mouth. “I was just enjoying one of your beautiful cookies. They’re light and crisp with the perfect amount of sweetness. How did you do it?”
“Tell her, Cookie,” Leona hissed.
Mrs. Delaney’s hand stopped midway between her mouth and the plate of cookies on her desk. “Hello, Leona…and Annie. What are you all doing here?” The cheerfulness in her voice from moments earlier disappeared like a snowman in front of a roaring fire.
“As a matter of fact, I came to give you a sample of some of my favorite cookie creations for the Christmas season but I think Cookie beat me to it.” Leona shoved Cookie in the back, pushing her closer to Mrs. Delaney’s desk. “Why don’t you tell Mrs. Delaney how you tried to pawn my cookies off as your own?”
The half-eaten cookie in Mrs. Delaney’s hand slipped from her fingers. She looked from Leona to Cookie with her brows furrowed. “Tell me what? Did I just eat a poisoned cookie?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. There’s nothing wrong with those cookies except for the fact that I made them and Cookie stole them and tried to pass them off as her own creations. So, there you have it, Mrs. Delaney. Whatever story Cookie tried to flatter you with was one big fat lie.” Leona placed her own container on Mrs. Delaney’s desk and popped the top off. “Take a look. Have you seen anything more beautiful?” She crossed her arms over her chest and waited.
And waited.
Finally, Mrs. Delaney smiled. She picked up one of Leona’s cookies and examined it. “They are perfection.”
Leona smiled broadly and elbowed Cookie in her side.
“I have the perfect solution. You, Leona,” she turned her head, “and you, Cookie, can work together to create the most fantastic sweets ever for my Christmas Eve gala.”
Leona’s mouth fell open as she turned her head toward Cookie Snow who had the exact same expression on her face as she stared at Leona. They both said an emphatic no way at the same time.
Mrs. Delaney shrugged and threw up her arms. “Well, I’ll have to find someone else then.”
“But Cookie cheated,” Leona shouted.
“And Leona poisoned someone last night,” Cookie screeched.
“Take it or leave it. You have,” she checked her watch, “ten seconds to decide.”
“Fine,” Leona mumbled, and Cookie nodded her agreement.
“And no more shenanigans or I’ll fire whoever gets into trouble,” Mrs. Delaney added. “I’ll expect Leona’s beautiful cookies and Cookie’s delicious cupcakes at my Christmas Eve gala.” Her phone rang and she turned her attention away from the women. Obviously, there was no more room for discussion about this arrangement.
Annie had a bad feeling about Mrs. Delaney’s words that she would fire either one that got into any trouble. Leona desperately wanted the exposure of her skills at this big event and she might try anything to undermine Cookie which would get Leona fired. Annie would have to keep a close eye on Leona to be sure she didn’t get herself in trouble by trying to sabotage her competition to get her out of the picture. She rolled her eyes and wondered if she’d be able to stay a step ahead of her aunt plus get her off the suspect list.
As the three women left Mrs. Delaney’s office, Cookie sneered at Leona. “I’m not worried about working with you. You already have one foot across the trouble line, and with your hot temper, you’ll be fired before my first batch of cupcakes are out of the oven.” She tossed her head and pushed through the front door first.
Annie held Leona back. “Let her leave. Cookie’s trying to get under your skin and you can’t fall into that trap. We have to be smarter than she is and force her to make the mistake.”
“You’re right, Annie, but it doesn’t make it any easier to watch her sashay out of here like she owns the baking world in Catfish Cove. She’s going to be sorry she decided to mess with me. That’s a promise.”
Annie drove back to Cobblestone Cottage. It was a quiet ride, giving her time to think about all that had happened since she returned from her Hawaiian vacation. It was as if she woke up in a nightmare when all she really wanted to do was sleep in, unpack, relax, and turn Jason’s house into their home. She sighed.
“What are you sighing about, Annie?”
She needed to be careful and keep those emotions inside. “Our vacation.”
Leona turned in the passenger seat to face Annie. “I was so wrapped up in my problems, I never even asked you how it was. Did you have a fantastic time?”
Annie smiled. “We did. It was everything I expected and then some. Quite the shock to come back here to winter and—”
“And what? My mess?”
�
��I wasn’t going to say it that way, but Jason and I didn’t even get a chance to have a morning to ourselves. First you showed up yesterday, and this morning—” Annie’s hand covered her mouth with that slip of her tongue.
“Who showed up this morning?” Leona asked when Annie didn’t continue.
“Detective Crank.”
“And you’re only telling me this now? It must have been bad. Did she have more evidence against me?”
Annie turned into her driveway. “Slow down and don’t jump to conclusions. She only told me to stay out of the investigation; that she would get to the bottom of it.” Annie flicked her wrist dismissively hoping to deflect Leona away from obsessing about Detective Crank. “You know, her typical rant.”
Leona opened the car door. “I can’t be distracted by what she thinks at the moment. Thanks for getting my head turned in the right direction. I’m going home to piece all this together.”
“Please don’t do anything before you talk it over with me. Promise?” Annie looked at Leona over the roof of her car.
Leona nodded but didn’t meet Annie’s eyes. A bad sign for sure. This would require some careful intervention to keep Leona out of trouble. And Annie knew she’d need reinforcements—Jason, Mia, Camilla, and Martha—but that would have to wait for now.
First, she needed to take Roxy for a walk and find out what Jason was up to for the day before she ran off to be Leona’s babysitter.
Roxy was all wags and wiggles when Annie walked inside. The fireplace had burned down to glowing embers. The two cats barely lifted their heads off the couch to see what blew in with the cold air.
But Jason wasn’t home.
Annie found a note on the table: Running some errands. Roxy needs a walk. Thelma Dodd called to see how the vacation was. Be home later. XOXO – J
“Well, it’s you and me, Roxy.” Annie wrapped a scarf around her neck, pulled on a warm wool hat and thick wool mittens instead of her thin driving gloves. Roxy danced around with anticipation, obviously impatient to get outside. Annie snapped a winter jacket on Roxy and tucked a bag of Leona’s cookies in her pocket before she opened the door and ventured back into the cold winter day.
