by C A Phipps
Maddie frowned. “You were the one who said it must have been the wind.”
Ethan ran his hand through his hair. “I was trying not to scare you, and I really didn’t know for sure either way.”
She was confused, and so was the deputy, who had turned slightly so he could see Ethan.
“Let me get this straight. There was a suspected break-in and you didn’t report it?”
Ethan raised himself from the chair he’d been occupying. His six-foot-four body was noteworthy on an ordinary day. Right now, it was positively impressive as he glowered at his subordinate.
He spoke very slowly. “I didn’t report it because I wasn’t sure if it had been a break-in. I believed at the time that Ms. Flynn had found nothing missing. Therefore, there was no reason to think anything illegal had occurred.”
The last thing Maddie wanted was to make Ethan look incompetent. She hadn’t actually checked because she and Gran hadn’t yet moved in any of their personal belongings, and she’d wanted to believe it was the wind.
“The thing is, Deputy,” she said, “I wouldn’t have had a clue if any boxes had been taken, because they were still in their packaging at that time. Once I started selling, I didn’t keep track of how many I had in stock. It was a large order, sent to me as a present from a friend in New York City.”
The deputy frowned at them both. “And you have no knowledge of the mayor’s secret admirer?”
“None at all.”
After several more questions in the same vein, Maddie was allowed to leave. She found her shell-shocked Gran already in the hallway.
Ethan followed Maddie out, and he gave Gran a worried look. “Take her home. I’ve got some tidying up to do around what happened in there, but I’ll let you know if I hear anything.”
She was about to do just that when another deputy handed Ethan a piece of paper. He held up a finger for them to wait while he read, then smiled.
“The report came back. Your place is clear.”
Maddie shook her head. “That’s good news, but it’s a shame we didn’t get it before we got dragged down here.”
“I know, but we can’t hurry the investigation. Go ahead and open the shop when you feel up to it.”
“I think we’ll leave it until after the funeral. Gran looks how I feel.”
He nodded. “Try to get some rest, both of you, and please take care,” he said earnestly, as he followed them out to the car.
When she had Gran settled and shut the door she turned to him and almost whispered, “Ethan, what did you mean, just then about taking care? Are we in danger?”
He ran his fingers through his hair and gave her a penetrating look, before glancing around them. Then he took her arm and pulled her a few feet away from the car. “Okay, I’m going to tell you something that you are not to share with anyone, and I should not be sharing with you.”
He was also whispering, and she could hardly hear him from the pounding of her heart. She nodded, barely breathing.
“There was someone in the parking lot before you got there. With Denise. There was a scuffle. She had bruises on her wrists and throat. None of those things killed her—the poison definitely did that.”
“Which means there really was someone walking around our town with the intention of killing her.”
“Or maybe they miscalculated badly, and things went wrong. The point is they could still be around. Like I said before, I don’t want you to be frightened, but please be careful. Make sure you lock up properly every night.”
It was easy to say don’t be frightened, but that didn’t stop the thoughts running rampant through her head. Still, she must put on a brave face for Gran and it wouldn’t hurt to practice. “I’ll be fine. You don’t need to worry about us when you’ve got a manhunt to take care of. Good luck.”
“Thanks,” he said, but she could see he was already thinking about what he needed to do.
Driving slowly, the drama of the last few hours making her head feel as though it was full of pudding, she’d never been happier to get out of a car.
“I wish we knew what was going on,” Gran said.
“Me too. I don’t like any of it, but I’m glad the shop has been cleared, and my pie.”
“That’s the only ray of light in all of this.”
Maddie gave her a hug. This was more than a woman her age should have to deal with.
They drank several cups of tea, but their appetites were gone, so Gran went off to take a nap and Maddie called the Loughlins, Denise’s parents, to say she could help out by catering the food for the funeral if they’d like her to.
They were lovely about it and made sure she understood that they knew Denise’s death was no fault of hers, which was a huge relief.
Chapter Seventeen
On Monday, a deputy called to say the results were back. Gran had minute traces of arsenic in her blood, but they shouldn’t worry because her kidney function was almost normal. That was good news, but it meant Gran might have died had she eaten more of that cupcake. It could have been her and not Denise, and that was an awful road for the mind to be traveling down.
Maddie couldn’t help fussing over Gran, who wanted none of that and was getting antsy at being made to feel like an invalid, but the tension wasn’t confined to their apartment.
Reeling from Denise’s death and the just-released knowledge it was officially classified as murder, the town went wild with gossip. Gran had been informed via her friends from the community center of suggestions ranging from Denise having an affair with a prominent politician to being involved with a married man.
None of that sounded like the Denise she knew, and it made Maddie angry that people could be so tactless and disloyal. Of course, it wasn’t everyone. People were naturally upset and wanted answers.
Every entrant in the competitions which had been judged by Denise was a suspect and treated warily, especially Maddie and Laura, until the sheriff’s department ruled out all of them as suspects, since none of them had any poison in any of their pies, cakes or cookies on the day of the fair.
That was a major breakthrough, and it came as a relief, even if it only created more questions and suspicion. Maddie’s bakery had been closed all week out of respect, and considering several people had reported stomach upsets prior to the fair—which was the same week as her grand opening—she could understand if the townspeople had misgivings about returning when she reopened.
She also didn’t feel she could donate her unsold baking until the matter was totally cleared up. It was all a mess, and she was exhausted from trying to come up with theories that might be the truth.
The funeral was the next day, and even though she had the all-clear, she was nervous about making food for the gathering afterwards. Denise’s parents had stood by their decision to include Maddie’s baking, and for that she was grateful. She just hoped the few bad eggs who’d be attending wouldn’t make a big deal of her food being there, which would upset the Loughlins.
Making dozens of cupcakes, brownies, sandwiches, and cookies, would be a bit much to do all in one day, so she’d make some of it tonight. It wasn’t as if she could forget what had happened, so there was no relaxing going on, but baking had a way of making things clearer.
With that decision made, she decided to get some fresh air first. When she made a kissing sound, Big Red appeared by the door. He liked the evening walks she’d started after moving in, and he could do with the exercise since Gran was still feeding him tidbits when Maddie wasn’t looking.
Together, they walked to the end of Plum Place, which ran along the back of all the stores to pick up her mail. They dawdled to smell the flowers along the edge of the road, and Big Red swatted a butterfly or two, but he saw no need to chase anything these days. She admired all the small gardens, so unusual at the backs of shops, which wouldn’t be found anywhere except a small town like theirs.
The shop next to hers sold second hand appliances. Then there was the Angel’s salon, and finally a but
cher. Before the next block was the post office, where Maddie had a P.O. box. She’d thought that was a good idea, since Gran’s house was going to be sold, but she often forgot to pick up her mail.
Maddie unlocked the small door of the box and pulled out her mail. There was a fair amount of it, most of which would be bills.
Big Red dawdled when they got back to the butcher’s. It had caught his eye, or more likely his stomach, the day they moved back to Maple Falls, and he often wandered this way to see if the butcher had left out any treats for him.
Gruff Thomas Calder didn’t tolerate animals, so it was a source of amusement that Big Red had formed this unlikely alliance.
“Come on, cat. The shops are all closed at this time of day.”
Big Red sniffed and huffily followed her back to the bakery and into the kitchen. He jumped up onto an easy chair he had decided was his while she flicked through the mail at the counter. She was right: it was mostly bills.
Apart from one envelope. It had her name and address typed on it by a real typewriter instead of being computer generated. She took it from the pile and caught the scent of perfume. Lifting it to her nose she sniffed. It was familiar, but not one she could name.
Her interest was piqued. She ripped the envelope open, and a single sheet of paper unfolded and fell to the floor. Maddie’s heart skipped a beat as she retrieved it and smoothed it out on the table. In a classic whodunit way, the note was also typed.
If you know what’s good for you, leave now!
Slumping onto a wooden chair, she reread the note. Who would have sent her such a thing, and why? What had she done, and how was she involved in whatever this was? It didn’t make sense.
Gran chose that moment to come downstairs. “There you are. Any mail for me? I’m expecting—Maddie, what’s wrong?”
She didn’t have time to hide the letter before Gran plucked it from her shaking hands.
“Is this a joke?”
“I wish it was. It was in with the mail.”
“I wonder what it means. Leave the shop, or Maple Falls in general?” Gran twisted her apron looking upset.
“The letter could have been posted yesterday, or days ago. I haven’t bothered checking the mail this week.”
Gran slapped her hand on the table. “Well, I think this is the work of a coward out to frighten you.”
“Even so, I think I’ll give Ethan a call. It must have something to do with Denise.”
“Good idea. It doesn’t hurt to have a big, strong man around the place.”
Maddie turned to face her. “You’re not scared, are you, Gran? I can take care of us.”
“Of course you can, sweetheart. I’m just saying that Ethan, looking the way he does, could frighten any murderer away just by being here.”
Maddie shivered. “Please don’t use that word.”
Gran took one of Maddie’s hands in hers. “It isn’t like you to be so jittery over anything.”
“That was before I found Denise, and before I got the note. Now, I’m not sure who to trust.”
“Most of the people in town know you, and they wouldn’t do anything to hurt you. The police have ruled out your pie, and Denise wouldn’t like you to feel guilty about not saving her, if that’s what concerns you most.”
Gran was right, but it was hard for Maddie to get her mind to accept she couldn’t have done more. Since the murder, she hadn’t slept for more than an hour or two at a time. Her go-to thought was, if only she had gone to her car earlier. She might not have been able to capture the killer, but she might have been able to prevent Denise’s death. She knew it was a what-if that couldn’t change anything, but the mind could be a trap when an idea wormed its way in there, in real life as well as in your dreams.
“It’s true and in my head I know it, but my heart is struggling to accept it. I should give Ethan a call and let him know about the letter.”
“You do that, sweetheart, and I’ll start on dinner.”
The phone went to voicemail, and Maddie left a message for him to call her. She’d try again soon if she didn’t hear back, but right now she needed to bake. It might not fix anything, but it sure made her feel better.
With relish, she pounded the dough while Gran cooked. The easy silence and the physical work soothed her more than a stiff drink ever could. She was setting the dough aside to rest when the bell rang, and footsteps sounded in the shop. Startled, she managed to knock over the container of flour, and a cloud rose up over her. She’d forgotten to lock up, and that was a stupid thing to do right now.
Maddie picked up the rolling pin and crept to the curtain that separated the two rooms, motioning for Gran to stay where she was. Instead, Gran picked up a large knife and stood her ground, which didn’t make Maddie feel even slightly safer.
“Maddie?”
She squealed and dropped her weapon of choice on her toes. Thank goodness she was wearing shoes, but it still hurt.
“What’s going on?” Ethan burst through the curtain, from the shop.
Running straight into her, he knocked her flat on her back, landing on top of her. The air was forced from her lungs even as he put his arms out to catch most of his weight. He looked down at her with shock, his blue eyes so wide she could see several flecks of green in them. Had they always been there?
A movement caught her eye, and there was Gran standing over them, her hand at her mouth, her eyes crinkled with laughter.
“Gran,” she warned.
“I see you two have everything under control, so I’ll go about my business. Nice to see you, Ethan.” With a noticeable spring in her step, she turned and went up the stairs, her shoulders shaking with laughter.
This was awkward.
“Ethan? Could you get off me?”
His eyes went wide, as if he hadn’t realized where he was.
“Sorry. I heard you cry out and thought you were hurt.” He climbed off and hoisted her to her feet.
“I was. Just not as bad as now.” She rubbed her ribs.
“I’m sorry. I had no idea you were there, and when you yelled out, I really thought you were in trouble.”
She gave him a doubtful look. “That’s sweet of you. But I heard the bell, and since I’m not open, I thought you were an intruder.”
“I could very well have been. I wasn’t happy when I tried the door and found it unlocked. You need to be more careful right now. We did talk about that.”
She didn’t like being reprimanded, but she knew he was right. “It was a silly mistake, and one I won’t be repeating. To be honest, I’ve been all over the place since the murder. I was outside cleaning the window this morning, and I must have forgotten to lock the door.”
His face softened, and it seemed like the right time to tell him about the latest development.
“I tried to call you earlier.” She pulled the note and the envelope from her apron pocket. “I got this today.”
He took it from her, and as he read, his other fist clenched. “This is serious. Someone is watching you, and we should probably assume it’s someone involved in the murder.”
Maddie grimaced. “I was trying not to go there.”
Ethan laid the paper and the envelope on the table. “When did you get this?”
“It was in our box at the post office when I went to clear it earlier.”
He took a plastic bag from his inside jacket pocket and placed the note and the envelope carefully inside. “We’ll check them for fingerprints,” he said in answer to her curious look.
“But why am I being targeted? I don’t understand what anyone would have against me.”
He gave her a skeptical look. “I’m sure you can think of one or two reasons.”
“You can’t mean the pie competition?”
“If jealousy was a motive, then I’d say definitely. Then there’s the fact you were first on the scene. Perhaps the murderer imagines you saw them arguing. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. I’m glad you’re doing okay. I appreciate you mu
st be scared, and I want you to call me anytime if something else happens, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant it is. Or if you think of something that may help.”
She nodded, feeling her stomach twist at the knowledge someone might be out to harm her. Potentially someone she knew.
“I’d better get going,” Ethan said. “Please remember to lock up.”
“I will.”
They walked through the shop, and he stopped for a minute at the door, looking like he wanting to say something else. Instead, he nodded and waited outside until she had locked the door.
Having Ethan concerned about her was nice. Having a murderer watching her, not so much.
Chapter Eighteen
Maddie had been up since dawn preparing the food. She wanted it to be special. Denise’s parents had offered to pay her, but, guilt aside, this was the last thing she could do for her friend, and she thought of it as a privilege, not a job.
The cupcakes, brownies, small sandwiches, and other items were all ready to go, and she was putting the final touches on the mini chocolate croissants, Denise’s favorites.
The wake was to be at the town hall, which the family had set up to receive the anticipated large number of mourners. People stopped by and carried Maddie’s wrapped goodies to the hall on their way to the church. Suzy, Laura, and Angel had done a wonderful job organizing this via the phone tree which was run through the school. It was touching how many people wanted to be involved. It gave everything a personal feel and restored a bit of faith into the community.
After Maddie and Gran dropped off the last few plates, they followed the procession to the church, which was packed. People had to stand in the doorway, but the Girlz had saved Maddie a seat. Gran’s group from the community center had saved her one near the front. The Girlz held hands as the minister began the service.
Denise’s parents cried quietly in the front row, with close friends and family around them. It was as nice a service as it could be. Flowers adorned the church and the coffin, but nothing could take away from the somber mood.
