Scornful Scones

by Mildred Abbott

  She gave another shrug, completely unconcerned, and once more settled back in her chair, this time folding her hands in her lap. “That’s only because you didn’t have long enough to know him.”

  I hesitated, examining the implication of her words. She hadn’t been subtle in her implication to begin with, so I followed her lead. “And you? Did you hate Eustace Beaker?”

  She hesitated as well, though her smile returned, and strangely, it seemed approving. “Hate isn’t something a person should give in to, Fred. We should fight against it, rise above it. Seek forgiveness and find a way to cleanse such darkness from our souls.” Her gaze held mine, unashamed and unflinching. “But yes. I hated Eustace Beaker. Completely.”

  I flinched, enough that Watson glanced up at me in concern.

  Athena blinked, but didn’t look away. “Don’t let me down, Fred. I know I’m the one working for the paper, and that you’re not a reporter, but go ahead. Do your follow-up.”

  I couldn’t stand being told what to do. By anyone. It was probably at the top of my list of things I detested. But Athena’s demand felt different somehow. “Did you kill Eustace?”

  And still she smiled.

  Athena didn’t answer for several heartbeats. For a moment, I thought I was about to get a confession. Finally, her smile faltered. “No. I didn’t. But I’m glad he’s dead.”

  I let out a breath I hadn’t been aware I was holding and relaxed somewhat. “Do you know who did?”

  “If you ever leave that bookshop of yours, you’d make a great career here at the paper.” She studied me for a moment and then shook her head. “Darling, as far as I know, the only thing that happened was a miracle taking the form of a scone.”

  “Katie Pizzolato, I can’t believe you.” I’d just entered the bakery after locking up the bookstore downstairs and gaped at the dough Katie was cutting into pie-shaped slices.

  Leo chuckled softly from his kneeling position on the floor as he stroked an utterly content Watson.

  For her part, Katie made another slice and then looked up, her brown eyes full of innocence. “What? You’ve seen me bake before, nothing new.”

  “Scones? You’re actually making scones at a time like this? On the very day Eustace Beaker was buried?” Though I’m certain it made me a horrible person, it was taking all my willpower not to laugh.

  She shrugged. “It’s not my fault I’ve had a strange craving for them for days. I suppose it’s because you won’t quit talking about them.” The corner of her lips twitched. “And why shouldn’t I make them? I can promise that nobody will choke on mine.”

  The room went still, the three of us looked back and forth at each other, and then Leo threw back his head and laughed, causing Watson to flinch.

  And that was the end of it. Katie lost control and began to laugh as well, and then I threw in the towel and gave up any semblance of self-control.

  We laughed until tears rolled, and I was nearly doubled over, hands on my knees and battling for breath.

  After several moments, and for the first time since Watson had met Leo, he gave us a condemning glare and scurried away from Leo’s affection to shelter underneath the table along the far wall. His condemnation only made the three of us laugh harder.

  After a while, I managed to catch my breath and wiped my eyes. “This officially makes us absolutely horrible people. You both realize that, right?”

  Leo nodded, but hadn’t managed to quit chuckling.

  “Maybe so, but we’ll be well-fed and satisfied horrible people.” Katie sniffed and motioned toward two bowls containing unrolled-out dough. “This recipe is hands down the best scone recipe around. Completely simple, and utterly customizable. I’m making mine plain and just doing a quick sugar glaze on top after they’re baked. But you two can pick out your own ingredients if you want, and I’ll mix them in.”

  “Just because they’re made to order doesn’t mean this isn’t the tackiest thing any of us have ever done.” Despite my protests, I wasn’t overly concerned. It wasn’t as if the rest of the town were there to overhear.

  “So…” Katie cocked an eyebrow. “You don’t want yours with chocolate, pecans, and drizzled in caramel?”

  “Never mind, sign me up for being a truly horrible person.” I smacked the marble countertop. “You had me at chocolate.”

  Leo stood and lifted a hand in the air. “And this horrible person wants white chocolate chips and dried cherries, with powdered sugar on top.”

  “You two are so easily corruptible.” Katie winked and got to work pouring copious amounts of chocolate chips into one of the bowls.

  No wonder I loved my best friend.

  After a few seconds, Leo joined her behind the counter and helped himself to the supplies and added his own ingredients. “Did you guys settle on an assistant after the interviews the other day?”

  I halted at his question, surprised that Katie hadn’t already filled him in. Maybe there wasn’t a romance growing between them.

  “No. None of them felt right.” Katie sighed as she folded toasted pecans into my batter. “Although I’m not sure if anyone will be right. I know Sammy and I were starting to struggle toward the end, but it just seems wrong replacing her.”

  I didn’t feel quite so strongly as Katie about that, but none of the people who we’d interviewed had clicked with me, either. “Well, we will need to pick someone soon. We can’t keep going like we are. Not with the season picking up. But I bet there will be a spike in Carla’s business for the next few weeks after the drama, so that might give us a little breathing room.”

  “That’s good for Carla. I’m glad of that.” Katie shook her head, a shadow flitting over her expression. “People are strange creatures, aren’t they? You’d think having someone die eating your scones would make people run away, but instead they want a piece of the drama. Exactly what happened here after Sammy was killed, and… everything else…”

  When the truth about Katie’s past had emerged after Sammy’s murder, our already busy bakery had been filled to overflowing for weeks. It had been a bittersweet time for Katie. Finally feeling known and accepted, but also a bit like a circus freak on display. As that had died down, though, she’d become brighter and happier than I’d ever seen her, which, given her already cheerful disposition, was saying something. And nice to watch.

  Leo appeared to pick up on her mood as well, but for once, didn’t seem sure what to say.

  I wasn’t either, so I opted for distraction. “I hadn’t gotten to talk to you since I spoke with Athena. But it was quite the experience. She is one intense lady.”

  Katie latched on to the topic as she began to roll out my batch of scones. “I’ve noticed she and Paulie hang out quite a bit. She’d have to be somewhat intense to be able to do that successfully.”

  That was a true story. If for no other reason than having the ability to put up with his two insane corgis. “She actually came out and stated plainly that she hated Eustace. That she was glad he was dead.”

  Both Katie and Leo paused and looked up at me in unison, but it was Leo who spoke. “Are you thinking she had something to do with it?”

  “I’m not sure. I don’t think so.” I reached out and snagged a bit of dough and popped it into my mouth. I knew it wasn’t recommended to do such things, but I couldn’t help myself. Katie had the same proclivity, so she never got on me for it. Scone dough wasn’t as scrumptious as cookie dough, but good, nonetheless. “Although if Athena did, just coming out and saying it would be one way to throw me off.”

  “You still think he was murdered?” There wasn’t judgment in Leo’s tone, which I appreciated.

  “I can’t shake that feeling. Branson agreed to have the scone tested for poison, if they still have a sample.”

  “Then we’ll know soon enough.” Katie returned to the new dough and began to slice it into wedges. “I can’t imagine how Athena would’ve pulled it off, though. I mean, she and Paulie were there before we were, but how would she have
access to Carla’s scones?”

  “I was wondering the same thing. Plus, how would she know which scone Eustace would choose.” I nearly stopped myself from saying my next thought, and if it had been with anyone else, I would’ve. “Athena brought up what a horrible father-in-law Eustace must’ve been…”

  Again, Katie and Leo looked at me in unison, and once more, Leo was the one who spoke, though he sounded hesitant. “She thinks Carla might have killed Eustace?”

  I shrugged. “She definitely didn’t say it in that many words, but it seemed she was raising the possibility.”

  There was a loud clunk as Katie cut through one of the pecans. She cleared her throat, but didn’t say anything.

  Leo and I exchanged glances, and I focused on Katie. “Your thoughts are so loud, you might as well say them.”

  Katie looked up, like she’d been caught, and then sighed. “I don’t think Carla would do that. I mean, we all know she has a temper, but she’s not a murderer.”

  “I would agree”—I held Katie’s gaze—“but that’s not all you were thinking.”

  Another sigh. “Well, it was miserable working at Black Bear Roaster, even though I didn’t do it for very long. Carla was not pleasant to work for, but Eustace was a nightmare. Not that he came by that often, but when he did, he was ranting and raving, bossing everyone around, including Carla. And he treated us baristas as if we were dirt under his nails.” She shook her head, her spiral curls dancing above her shoulders. “But that doesn’t mean she killed him. I just don’t see it. It’s not who she is. Plus, she just had a baby. She wouldn’t kill Maverick’s grandfather.”

  It was a good point. Although, if the man was that horrible, maybe she felt she was doing her son a favor, not having to grow up with such a mean grandfather. Still, I couldn’t picture Carla committing murder either. “You’re probably right, and maybe that wasn’t Athena’s intention. Goodness knows I can’t get a good read on her. But she seems blunt enough that if she thought Carla had killed Eustace she might’ve just come out and said it.”

  We were silent for a while, each lost in thought, the only sounds filling the room was Katie rolling out Leo’s mixture of scones and Watson licking his paws from across the room.

  Finally, Leo cleared his throat. “Anyway, I don’t suppose there’s any point speculating, at least not until we find out if the scone was poisoned or not.”

  “I guess you’re right.” I forced a lightheartedness into my voice I didn’t quite feel. “Besides, even if the scone was poisoned, it’s not my job to figure out who did it, right?”

  Katie and Leo both smirked, and this time it was Katie who spoke. “Right, because that would stop you.” She finished loading the scones onto the baking sheets and checked her watch. “But you’re running late, aren’t you?”

  I looked at my cell. “I am.” I slid the phone back into the pocket of my skirt and patted my thigh, calling Watson over to me. “Are you sure you two don’t mind helping us tonight?”

  “Are you kidding?” Katie chuckled. “I love seeing your entire family together. It’s better than watching a sitcom. I’ll bring over the scones when they’re finished baking. There’ll be enough for everyone.”

  “I’ll come with you, Fred. You’re going to need as many hands working as possible.” Leo started to walk around the counter.

  I waved him off. “No. Stay with Katie, help her. Believe me, there’ll be enough of us for a while. Besides, knowing my family, we’ll spend a good hour debating what plan of action we should choose before we actually start any work. Plus, there will be pizza to order and that always takes a while to reach topping consensus.”

  Katie shook her head as if clearing a fog and glanced toward either side of the shop. “I am glad we avoided the Garble sisters taking over the candy stores, but I gotta say, it’s going to be a trip having Verona and Zelda on one side, and Jonah and Noah on the other.”

  “Tell me about it.” My stepsisters were twins, and they had married twin brothers. The shops on either side of the Cozy Corgi had been empty since I’d moved in, but now each set of twins was setting up shop. It was going to be a lot of family, a lot of the time. I loved them, but they were intense. “One thing’s for sure, we’re never going to be bored again.”

  “Bored?” Leo guffawed. “Fred, has there been one solitary moment where any of us have been bored since you moved to town?”

  “He’s not wrong. Even now, somebody chokes on a scone, and we’re all thinking it’s murder.” Katie chuckled along. “You go on, Fred. We’ll meet you there shortly.”

  All it took to get Watson ready to go was to mention my stepfather’s name, Barry. He hurried out from under the table, darted toward the steps, then cast a longing glance at Leo. Poor little guy. He clearly was having a crisis of conscience leaving one love affair for the next.

  Noticing, Leo waved him on. “I’ll be there in a few minutes, little man. Go have fun.”

  And with that, Watson rushed down the steps and waited at the bottom, staring up at me in a manner that conveyed I was taking entirely too long.

  “You’re a mess, you know that?” I ruffled his fur when I reached the bottom, eliciting one of his rare full-mouthed grins, and he pranced alongside me as I gathered up my purse and headed toward the front door. Considering we were going all of five feet, I didn’t bother with his leash, and he stayed by my feet as I locked up.

  The Garble sisters had owned the candy stores on either side of the bookshop. One of them had been a genuine candy store, the other had been an alternative health-food version and sold things that didn’t come close to resembling candy. Verona and Zelda were taking over the one that had housed the actual candy store, which sat to the left of my shop. Their husbands were taking over the other. We were starting on my sisters’ shop that evening.

  “Fred, darling!” A happy screech greeted me as I turned from the Cozy Corgi. Before I could react, my tall, balding, nearly scarecrow-thin uncle threw open his arms in a flourish and wrapped me in a hug.

  Watson took a couple steps back. Percival was always a little much for him to handle.

  “Can you explain why the family got roped into clearing out the shops when your parents have more money than God?” Percival released me and held me at arm’s length, lifting both his perfectly plucked eyebrows. “And on family dinner night as well.”

  “Always the gracious one, aren’t you?” Gary, his linebacker of a husband tsked and squeezed my arm in greeting as Percival let me go. “Good to see you, as always, Fred.” He grinned down at Watson and gave a wave of his large hand. “And you too, of course.”

  A couple of tourists squeezed past our small group, and then Percival slipped his arm through mine. “I’m so glad we’re not the only ones running late. Although, the three of us—” His gaze flicked to Watson, then back up. “—four of us, I suppose… could go to the movies, send a text saying we got caught up, and be even later.”

  “Knock it off. How many times have Phyllis and Barry helped us?”

  Before Percival could offer a smart-aleck comment to Gary, I jumped in, knowing that once they started bickering, we could be standing there for the next half hour. “Katie and Leo are inside right now, finishing up some freshly baked scones. I don’t think you want to miss that.”

  “Scones!” Percival and Gary both reared back as they looked at me, and for once, Gary managed an expression just as dramatic as his husband’s.

  Percival laughed and clapped his hands together. “Oh my goodness, that is delicious, and somewhat scandalous, which makes it even more delicious.” He cackled again. “Well, we’ll have to toast them to old Eustace’s memory.”

  Surprisingly, though he was typically the calming force, or at least the more socially appropriate one, Gary didn’t bother to reprimand Percival’s callous comment. It seemed there were two more people who weren’t fans of the late Mr. Beaker.

  “I don’t really think that was what Katie had in mind.” Despite my protestations, I c
ouldn’t keep the grin off my face. I started to motion toward the front door to suggest we go and start helping the others but paused as my attention was captured by the lettering over the window. With the brown paper taped over the inside, the scarlet script reading Sinful Bites almost looked like blood. Appropriate, in many ways. “Strange to think that this is all going to be something new, finally. I think part of me expected Opal and Iris to come back somehow.”

  “They almost did.” Percival walked over, standing in front of the lettering as Gary joined Watson and me at the door. “Thank goodness Barry gave the Garble nieces a price they couldn’t refuse. Who knows what life would’ve been like.”

  Before Gary or I could speculate, tires squealed, someone screamed, and the three of us whirled toward the street.

  A silver Ford Contour cut across the opposite lane of traffic and zoomed toward us.

  I reared back, trying to get out of the way, but my feet collided with Watson, tangled, and I stumbled backward, taking Watson down with me.

  In a moment that seemed to take hours and yet was less than a heartbeat, I saw the world as if in slow motion as I fell. Tourists scattered. The old man behind the wheel, eyes wide, wild, and glassy. The silver car picking up speed and heading right at Percival.

  There was a dark flash as Gary launched himself toward his husband, smashed into him, and then the car crashed through the window of Sinful Bites, erupting in an explosion of glass and bricks.

  Everything was silent. Oddly so. The only sound was a ringing in my ears. For a second, or maybe much longer, I’m not sure, I couldn’t figure out what I was seeing. Everything seemed upside down.

  Then, I realized that’s exactly what it was. Well, kind of. I was staring up at the bright blue sky, thick with white, cottony clouds. In front of it was the pitched roofline of the Cozy Corgi. I blinked, trying to make sense of this new perspective, when Watson’s nose shoved against my cheek with a rough, wet nudge.

  His whine broke through the reverberation in my ears, and he licked my face desperately.