Cookies and Chaos

by C A Phipps

  She was glad to hear that, because she was worried, but more for Gran who knew Nicholas Brack and was also a regular visitor at the retirement community.

  “Okay, but should he be so obvious?”

  “When there’s only one officer around, sometimes it pays to be obvious.”

  “That does make sense. Would you like something more substantial than cake to eat?”

  “I thought you’d never offer.”

  She laughed and went to the walk-in chiller. I have quiche or pasties?”

  “Yes, please.”

  She poked her head out the door and saw his grin. “You want both?”

  Ethan shrugged. “I think you know that’s a rhetorical question.”

  She tutted as she warmed his food, then refreshed his coffee.

  “Are you ready to tell all?”

  “Eat first. You’ll need your strength to hear this.”

  Ethan took her at her word and wolfed down his food. When it was time for the cake he slowed down to savor it.

  It was time for the sad tale of Nicholas Brack and it took a while to get through it.

  Ethan ran a hand through his hair, having been silent the whole time, which was not like him. Usually he had a million questions. Now his hair stuck up at odd angles as he tried to condense everything.

  “So, we have a man who loses his wife. Turns to gambling and is on the cusp of losing all he owns. Smith allegedly contacts him and gives him a way to keep his house. Covering expensive paintings with other works they are then taken out of the country to be sold elsewhere?”

  “That sounds right so far,” she agreed.

  “Where do Cora and the gallery fit in?”

  “Nicholas was upset that Cora had been involved and said that there had been few paintings going through the gallery. I do have a hunch though.”

  “Your hunches are often spot on. Tell me about this one.”

  She smiled at the way Ethan had slipped into Sheriff mode. “I believe that there are two white vans.”

  He nodded. “You’re absolutely right. Detective Jones is looking for it.”

  “Does he know whose it might be.”

  “He does, and you look like you do too.”

  “Bertram Langham’s?”

  “We don’t know where it is, but Langham has a white van registered to him. He also has a garage adjacent to the apartments. The floor of that garage is covered in oil leaks.”

  “Wow, it’s all coming together.”

  Ethan ran a hand through his hair. “I’d like to think so, but we are a long way from proving anything. If we could find Smith and Chance we’d do a lot better.”

  “You’ve been warning me to be careful, Ethan. I hope you’ll take your own advice. They are dangerous and if they could kill Owen so easily, they won’t hesitate to do so again.”

  He took her hands and held them between his. “I will be careful and you better stay away from the retirement community for now.”

  “Okay. Keeping Gran away will be harder.”

  He sighed. “It’s like herding cats.”

  She laughed. “Cats are inquisitive.”

  “Not the word I was thinking of. Speaking of which, where is that monster of yours?”

  “He’s right beside you, under the table.”

  “Hah. He didn’t whack me when I came in.”

  “You should take that as a compliment. It seems as if you’ve won him over.”

  “Since he owns a large portion of your heart, I’d better keep it that way.” He kissed her palms then came around the table to kiss her thoroughly.

  “That’s better,” she said with a grin.

  He rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip. “I’d stay longer, but I need to stop by the station before I catch up with Detective Jones.”

  “A secret meeting?”

  “No need to get excited. We have a catch up every day when there’s a case on.”

  “Oh.”

  “Disappointed?”

  “Not really. If it’s just a thing you do, then it can’t be dangerous.”

  “Good point. See you tomorrow, Sherlock.”

  “Arrgh! Not you too?”

  He laughed all the way to his car and Maddie shut and locked the door with a smile. There was no point in worrying about Nicholas Brack tonight and with Ethan and Detective Jones in town she felt safe.

  “Come on, Big Red. Let’s have an early night for a change.”

  Chapter Twenty

  The next morning Jesse and James flew through the door of the shop. It banged against the jam while the bell jangled maniacally. Maddie dropped a tea tray on the table in fright, thankfully not breaking anything and grateful that the cup and pot were empty.

  “Whoa, you two. Where’s the fire?”

  They screeched to a halt, giving Maddie the time needed to figure out who was who.

  “I didn’t see a fire.” Jesse looked at her like she was crazy.

  “I meant, why are you in such a hurry?”

  “We just met a man who wants to buy a whole batch of cookies. Is that a tray? Anyway, he wants them before we go to the community center this weekend. He wants to get some before the others.”

  Nora Beatty was sitting at the table by the window, giving the boys a disapproving look, so Maddie pushed the wriggling boys into seats at another table.

  “Inside voices, please, guys.” She sat beside them. “Who is this person, and how do you know him?”

  “We don’t know him. He’s a stranger.” James said.

  “Should you be talking to a stranger?”

  Their faces reddened.

  “But he wants a heap of cookies.” Jesse grumbled.

  “I think that’s the point. You know nothing about this man and yet he knows about your cookies.”

  “So, it’s a no?” James looked upset.

  “Look, I know you have your hearts set on the bikes, and you’re doing a great job with raising money for them, but slow and steady is preferable to risking your safety.”

  “He seemed nice,” Jesse said sullenly.

  “Okay. I get it. You’re annoyed, but I’m not as happy as you about this, so give me some details.”

  James sensed capitulation. “Like what?”

  “What did the man look like? How does he know about your cookies? Where does he want to collect them from?”

  “He said it was a surprise for his friend and he’d contact us before Saturday to get them. We’re only telling you because we have to use your kitchen and your ingredients to make them.” James looked like he wished he hadn’t mentioned it at all.

  Maddie went cold. Telling a child that they couldn’t tell anyone about a meeting rang all her alarm bells. “You haven’t said what he looked like.”

  Jesse frowned. “He was really big and he had dark hair. He was wearing a suit and a big coat, which is funny because it’s warm outside.”

  Maddie swallowed the fear that the image of Chance brought on for the sake of the boys.

  “I want you two to promise me that you won’t meet with this man, no matter how much he offers to pay you.”

  Reluctantly they did.

  “I’m going to trust you while I find out about this man. If he’s okay then we can make more cookies for him, but he will need to come here and collect them from me or pick them up from the community center. Okay?”

  Hope spread across their less than clean faces.

  “You’re the best, Maddie.” James said.

  Nora made a rude sound, making Maddie think that she had heard every word.

  “Thanks guys, and I’m so glad you told me. You can have a cookie to take to school for listening so well.”

  They shot over to the display case where Laura was loading a tray with peanut butter cookies. The choice was quick and easy.

  Maddie put one each in separate paper bags. “Off you go and no talking to strangers.” She saw them out then turned to her customer. “Do you need anything else, Mrs. Beatty?”

  �
��You can top up this teapot with hot water.” She said gruffly.

  “Certainly.”

  Nora had placed a notebook on the table beside her cup and she rubbed her hand over the worn cover. “You did the right thing there. ”

  “Sorry?”

  “What you said to those boys. They shouldn’t be talking to strangers.”

  Maddie couldn’t believe Nora was on her side. “I agree.”

  “There are a few in town right now.”

  Prickles raced along her skin. “Strangers? Can you tell me about them?”

  Nora shook her head. “I could, but I wouldn’t like to get in trouble.”

  “It might help with the investigation into Owen’s death.”

  Nora pursed her lips, something she did so often that her lips had small lines around the outside. “How come you want to involve yourself in that business. You have everything going for you, unlike others.”

  Maddie was surprised by the jealousy she heard in Nora’s words.

  “I do feel very lucky, but I work hard to achieve it. I love Maple Falls. It hurts us all when something ugly happens to one of us.”

  “Owen Kirk wasn’t one of us,” Nora stated, flatly.

  “He was a nice person.”

  “A nice person wouldn’t hang around retirement communities or galleries for hours, without talking to people, would he?”

  “You know about that?”

  “Everyone knows about him parked up at the retirement community. Mavis made sure of it. She likes to feel important, that one.”

  “And the gallery?”

  “I saw it with my own eyes. I walk the town every day for exercise and there he was, most mornings in the alley way, just sitting in his delivery van. Watching everyone.”

  “I wonder why?”

  “You should ask Bertram Langley. He’s another dodgy one. Always in and out of everyone’s apartment asking questions.”

  “I believe he has been brought to the attention of the Sheriff. What about the other strangers.”

  “Scary lot, they are. Slinking around in the shadows. Making poor Nicholas worry. I hope you and the Sheriff get them out of town real soon.”

  “Can you tell me what they look like?”

  “The boys did a good enough job of that. Now, where’s my water?”

  Maddie blinked a couple of times. The connection with Nicholas Brack was very interesting. He was definitely involved in the paintings, but Nora was confirming more than that. Their conversation was clearly done, so she picked up Nora’s teapot and went to refill it.

  When her customer was served and had turned her back, Maddie went to call Ethan from upstairs. Big Red followed her and pushed between her and the table so he could sit in her lap. He looked at the phone as she dialed as if he was interested in the call.

  “Smart cat. Let’s hope things are going to fall into place.”

  He didn’t pick up so she had to leave a message and before she could go downstairs Gran joined her in the apartment, sitting opposite her at the table.

  “I just saw Nora leave. She made a snide comment about you and the Girlz interfering in police business. Something’s up and I want to know what, young lady.”

  Maddie sighed and explained what she could.

  “So we really have ourselves a big fat mystery?” Gran leaned in to give Big Red a scratch between his ears.

  “You knew that. Once Owen was found with no clear reason for his death. Then the whole painting thing.”

  “I did, but I was hoping it would be something that wouldn’t affect anyone else any more than that did.”

  “I’m afraid that was wishful thinking. I feel that we’ve only just touched the tip of the ice berg. So many things have happened and yet a cohesive link is eluding me.”

  “What does Ethan say?”

  “I’m still waiting to hear from him. He’ll be really worried about the boys and I imagine Layla will be incensed about it too.”

  Big Red growled at Maddie’s fingers as they tapped his back. She returned to the soothing pats he preferred.

  Gran nodded. “As a mother, this will be a shock. Grown men coercing children into meeting secretly.” She made a rude noise.

  “Exactly. The hardest thing is that Ethan will need to catch these guys in the act of doing something, otherwise it’s all hearsay and conjecture.”

  “The law can be a tricky beast.” Gran frowned.

  “It can be, that’s for sure.” Maddie agreed. Everyone was frustrated it seemed.

  Gran looked to the stairway and lowered her voice. “I wonder if Laura is going to spend time with Deputy Jacobs.”

  Maddie’s eyebrows rose. “Wait. Where did that come from?”

  “Seriously? Those two have been flirting with each other since the animals were found. He goes red in the face every time he sees her and she’s doing her best to avoid him. Classic shy people attitude when they’re interested but scared to do anything about it.”

  “Gran, you old devil. I had a feeling you were up to your matchmaking tricks again.”

  Gran sniffed. “I don’t know what you mean.”

  Maddie laughed. It was a relief to talk about something else with a lighter mood. Maybe this was another of Gran’s plans. “Sure, you do.”

  “All I’m saying is that they need a small push. Speaking of which . . .”

  A knock on the stairwell heralded Ethan’s arrival.

  “That was quick,” she said to him while giving Gran a warning look.

  Gran returned the look with an innocent one

  “Sorry, did I interrupt something?” he hesitated at the doorway, hat in his hand, as he studied the undercurrent.

  “Nothing that won’t keep,” Maddie said.

  Gran waved his worries away. “I’m just going. I have a meeting at the community center.”

  “Be careful.” Maddie and Ethan said together.

  Gran gave them a knowing smile. “I will. Jed’s taking me and bringing me home, so don’t worry about me. With a minder like that, I’ll be right as rain.”

  Ethan waited until she had reached the last step. “She knows?”

  “Everything. Sorry, but Gran has a sixth sense when it comes to sniffing out something cooking and she has so many friends who want to update her that having reciprocal information really works.”

  He laughed. “Sounds like someone else I know.”

  She shrugged, unable to deny it and surprised she hadn’t thought of this connection, yet another one, herself.

  “Is that why you let me tag along?” she asked sweetly.

  “Let you? That’s an interesting way of putting it. Seems to me that I don’t have much of a say in whether you ‘tag’ along or not most times.”

  Maddie shrugged. “I can’t help it if people want to tell me things when you’re not around so I have to follow them up.”

  “Really? You and Gran have the town eating out of your palms. Almost literally. They feel a closer connection with both of you that I can ever hope to emulate.”

  “I think you’ll find that the female population would be only too happy to be interrogated by our handsome Sheriff.”

  His cheeks pinked up and he waved this away. “Pure fabrication on your part.”

  “Does Deputy Jacobs have a girlfriend ?”

  His eyebrows shot up so high they touched the wavy lock of hair he tried to slick back.

  “Good grief how does that even come up in this conversation?”

  “Just something I heard about him liking a certain woman, not too far from us.”

  “You mean, Laura?”

  It was her turn to be surprised. “You think it’s true?”

  “He’s been talking non-stop about her baking. They see each other in the park every Saturday, and sometimes walk his puppies together.”

  “He does yoga?” she asked.

  “I guess it’s a new thing,” he smirked.

  “Well, well. Laura hasn’t said a word about it.”

  He s
hrugged. “Makes a change for someone to keep things to themselves around here. Although, I am surprised that Gran hasn’t picked up on it.”

  “She did, but Laura won’t acknowledge it.”

  “And we know what that means. You’ll be looking for something that might or might not come to fruition and wanting to help it along. No wonder she hasn’t mentioned it.”

  She shook her head. “Not me. I think a couple has to move at their own pace. There’s no hurry, is there?”

  “A couple like us?” He moved closer and pulled her to her feet so that they stood toe to toe, forcing Big Red to jump to the floor.

  She nodded, liking the way his breath touched her face as he bent towards her. Liking his arms around her. Liking the way he kissed her gently.

  He leaned back a little. “We might have plenty of time, but I’m not as patient as you.”

  “You think I’m patient?” She wrapped her fingers in his dark hair and pulled his head down to hers once more.

  They kissed as if they wouldn’t let go and when they stopped they were both short of breath.

  Maddie gazed into his usually calm blue eyes. They seemed to spark as if an inner heat was trying to escape. The fireworks she’d just experienced reflected how she felt about him. How she thought about him every day.

  “Owww!”

  Big Red had nipped Ethan’s ankle. Now he curled around Maddie’s legs as if to say she should step away from the Sheriff.

  “You stop that. Ethan is our friend and he can kiss me anytime he likes.”

  Big Red growled and slunk off to the couch, jumped up, settled himself while continuing to glare at Ethan.

  “Sorry about that.”

  “You might be. He looks anything but sorry.”

  “He is very protective of me and he is usually fond of you. I guess he’d be fine with you around if you don’t actually touch me,” she teased.

  He shook his head. “That’s helpful.”

  “Hopefully the more I see you the more he will get over his jealousy.”

  “Then I’d better stop by more often.” He grinned. Now what was so important about the boys and their cookies?”

  Maddie had been dreading this, but she took a deep breath and explained that the twins had been approached and what she had said. Ethan’s face went dark and his eyes flashed dangerously.

  “I’d better get to Layla’s and tell her.”