"Hallo, Robert? It's Donald. I've got a question for ye and I need an honest answer."
"Alright. What is it?" the baker asked.
"What oil do ye use to fry yer fritters?"
"What?"
"Ye heard me. What oil do ye use when making yer fritters?" Donald repeated.
"It's a trade secret," Robert replied.
"Robert, do I need to call Jimmy Smythe in on this?"
"Ach, it's bacon grease. I fry the fritters in bacon grease," he admitted.
"Robert, I've got a plan. I'll meet ye tomorrow behind the bakery at five a.m.," Donald declared.
Chapter Three
The next morning, the innkeeper worked his way across the road to his friend's place of business. Robert was waiting outside the back door when the he arrived. It was still dark, but Donald could make out the glow from the tip of the cigarette his friend smoked.
"All right. This is the plan. Set me behind the sandwich case on a chair and go about yer business as usual. Be sure to set about frying up those fritters in the bacon fat. I want ye to take a smoke, take several smokes. Just pretend I'm not even here. Load up the baked goods box, but save back some items, and be sure to include some fritters in the case. I'll sit in the dark and wait for the culprit to strike."
Donald gestured for his friend to get busy and retreated to the dark customer area of the bakery.
Soon the smell of dough frying wafted into the front, where Donald parked himself. His eyes had already adjusted to the darkness, and with the clear skies outside, moonlight illuminated the room. The baker entered and filled the display area with goodies. The innkeeper found the smell difficult to resist. He sat, frozen to his seat, and tried not to move or doze. He heard the back door slam. Robert must have gone out for a smoke. He held his breath and watched as the villain crept into the shop from the kitchen and headed straight for the glass case holding the fritters. Donald still did not move. He wanted to see how the thief accomplished his task.
Painstakingly, the culprit pushed the sliding glass door aside just a smidgen. Then, he pried the door open wider, finally squeezing his shoulders through the opening and leapt into the case.
"Gotcha!" Donald yelled and flipped the switch for the lights.
He tottered towards the case as the Jack Russell furiously scratched at the glass door, trying to escape. Donald placed his hand on the door, trapping the small dog inside. Frightened, the terrier retreated to the other end of the case and sat on Robert's baked goods.
"Robert, come in here!" Donald shouted over his shoulder towards the back door.
The baker ran in, a lit cigarette dangling from his mouth.
"Here's yer man," Donald said, pointing towards the case.
Robert squeezed past his friend, who was still holding the glass door closed.
"Well, I'll be. How'd he get in here?"
"Did ye close the back door, just now?"
Robert worked his way back around him and checked to make sure the door was shut. He nodded at the innkeeper and Donald eased open the door to the case.
To his surprise, Robert knelt down and started, "Here boy, here boy."
He followed up his call with a loud clicking. Once the glass door was open, the Jack Russell jumped from the case, fritter in his mouth, and dashed for the back of the bakery. Robert followed, scooping the terrier in his arms near the back door. The baker returned with the dog, scratching the hound behind the ears and under the chin.
"Well, how did the little fellow do it?" Robert asked.
"I observed him sneaking into me own kitchen at the inn. He had a way he'd follow an employee in through the back door without being noticed. I assumed he left the same way. I just needed to catch him in the act. Once I found out about the bacon grease, I figured it was him. Mutts love bacon. I'm positive he came and went as he pleased, every time ye took a smoke. I saw him sneak up to the glass. He stood on his hind legs and caught his paw on the handle of the case. It took several tries, but eventually he pushed the sliding door open enough to get his nose inside. Then, he wriggled his head in and finally his shoulders, as the door slid farther open. At that point, a small leap got the mutt in yer bakery box."
"He's not a mutt," Robert huffed. "He's a Jack Russell Terrier. Any bampot can see that! They're might smart, Jack Russells are. Me uncle had one when I was a lad. Always wanted one meself, but the wife wasn't too keen. Do ye think he belongs to anyone?" Robert asked, hope in his eyes.
"As far as I know he's an orphan. Ye going to keep him? Ye'd be doing me a favor. He's over at the inn, begging every day. After his breakfast here, of course," Donald chuckled.
"I reckon I could keep him here, as a watchdog. I'll put a rod in the track of the bakery case doors preventing him from opening them and helping himself to the goods. I could tie him to the tree in back of the bakery during the day. The wife wouldn't mind that way, at least that's how I'll start. We'll work her down, won't we Boy?" Robert said, looking at the dog.
"Aye, I expect ye will," Donald said. Then he added, "Why don't ye put a few of yer goodies from the kitchen in a bag for me for breakfast. I think I've earned it this morning, don't ye?"
"Aye, ye certainly have, Donald. Thank ye for yer help. I reckon I owe Abigail an apology now," he added.
"Yes, ye do. I have it on good authority she's ready to forgive ye though. Take her a scone or two as a peace offering and explain the thief's identity. She's an animal lover. She'll enjoy the tale."
As it was, everyone in Taye enjoyed the tale, when the story got out. So did the good people of Tyne and the other nearby villages. It took all of three days for word to spread about the Jack Russell Terrier who terrorized the baker. Robert saw a spike in business as people came by to get a look at the talented pooch.
I hope you enjoyed this Duncan Dewar Mystery short story. The Scottish detective returns in The Cook's Comeuppance, available now on Amazon.
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A Crime at the Bakery is part of the Duncan Dewar Mystery Series. While Duncan does not appear in this tale, many of his friends from the village of Taye are featured. If you enjoyed reading this, check out my other, full-length Duncan Dewar Mysteries. Thank you!
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About the Author
Victoria Benchley lives with her husband of over twenty years and their two children on the West Coast of the United States. She grew up reading the classics and counts Dickens and the Bronte Sisters as her favorite authors. After a career in corporate America, spanning public accounting, cash management, and real estate investments, at national and international firms, she chose to become a stay-at-home mom and full time taxi cab driver for her children. She is a Christian and enjoys quilting, cooking, and traveling (including road trips!), as well as reading and writing. On Sunday afternoons during football season, she can be found enjoying an NFL game.
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Mystery: A Crime at the Bakery: A Duncan Dewar Mystery Featuring Villagers from Taye (Duncan Dewar Mysteries) Page 2
