by Cindy Bell
“You shouldn’t be. After those cupcakes you made I had to hunt you down. I hoped you might be able to make me something similar, without the popcorn, for a private party.”
“Sure we can use the same recipe, but make them as individual square mini-cakes. They look much more refined.”
“That sounds perfect. I am hosting the party tonight.”
“Tonight?” Ally glanced at the clock, then nodded. “Sure, I can do that. Is there anything else you might need?”
“Maybe just a little information.”
“What kind of information?”
“About that boy, the one that was killed. Did you know him?”
“Yes, I did. He was a customer at the shop.”
“It’s such a shame that he was killed. I couldn’t believe it when my security officer told me. I wanted to find out more, but they whisked me away so fast I didn’t have a chance to. Do you know why he was murdered?”
“Unfortunately, no I don’t. Hopefully the police will be able to figure it out.”
“Yes, I hope so, too. As I said, I’ll need the cakes by this evening, say seven? If you could bring them yourself I would appreciate it. My security detail doesn’t like too many people to know the exact address of the property, but I’m certain that I can trust you.”
“Yes, you can. I’ll be sure to deliver them on time.”
“Wonderful.” She jotted down the address on the order form and handed it over. “Thank you for your help. I’d really like it if you would stay for the party. Perhaps you could bring that young man that you were with last night. In fact, I would like it if you did.”
“Okay. I’ll ask him. Thank you for the invitation, Mrs. Davis.”
“Clara, please. If you happen to hear anything more about the young man who died, I would appreciate it if you let me know.”
“Certainly. Thank you, Clara.”
“You’re very welcome.” She turned and walked out of the shop. Ally stared after her for a moment. She noticed that two men in dark suits flanked her and then helped her into a car. She did have quite a bit of security. It made her wonder how with all of the security in place the night of the murder, a killer had managed to slip past. As she was about to enter the order into the computer, the door swung open again. She looked up to see her grandmother walk in.
“Mee-Maw, you’re supposed to be at home resting.”
“I know, but I just couldn’t. Was that Clara Davis that just left?”
“Yes, it was.” She smiled. “Isn’t it amazing?”
“What did she come in for?” Charlotte glanced back out through the front window as the car pulled away.
“She requested some more cupcakes for a private party. I offered to make her mini chocolate cakes instead using the same recipe. She liked the idea and then invited Luke and me to stay for the party.”
“Oh, how nice! I’ve seen a magazine spread about her house. It’s so beautiful. You’ll have to tell me everything about it.”
“I’m sure that you could come along, too.”
“No, I think it would be a nice evening out for you and Luke. Do you think he can make it?”
“As far as I know he should be able to. But I have to admit it does feel a little strange to be going.”
“Why is that?”
“With Shane’s murder, it just seems like the wrong time for a party. She was quite curious about him.”
“Maybe it will give her some comfort for you and Luke to be there. It may be one way she can find some peace. If I were her I’d probably be pretty upset.”
“I guess you could be right about that. I’ll text Luke then we’d better get to work on those cakes.”
She sent a text to Luke about dinner that night, then joined her grandmother in the kitchen to make the cakes. Baking with her grandmother was one of her favorite escapes. No matter what was on her mind, she could forget about it, and feel as if she was still an awkward twelve-year-old learning the tricks of the trade. By the time the cakes were in the oven she’d almost forgotten about the party. Then her cell phone buzzed with a text from Luke.
“Good news, Luke says that he’ll be able to join me for the party.”
“Great, now all you need to do is go home and get dressed. You can’t go to dinner at that house in those clothes.”
“I know. I wore my nicest dress last night. I have one other dress that might be smart enough.”
“Nothing in my closet will fit you.” Charlotte glanced at her watch. “You get home and get ready, I’ll finish cleaning up here.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely, you can’t turn up in chocolate-covered clothes.”
“No, that would be a disaster. I’ll take the van you can take my car. I’ll let you know as soon as I get home tonight.”
“Good, I’ll be waiting up to hear all of the details.” Charlotte gave her a quick hug then Ally left the shop with the cakes in tow.
When Ally got home she was greeted by two hungry animals. After feeding them she had a shower and got ready. She looked in the mirror and was relieved to see that her knee-length, spaghetti strap dress looked smart enough.
As time ticked by she wondered whether Luke was going to turn up. Had she misunderstood his text. Just as she looked at her phone to make sure that she hadn’t missed a text from him there was a knock on her door. She opened the door to find Luke smiling at her.
“Seeing you in a suit two nights in a row, I must have done something right.” She grinned at him.
“Wow Ally!” Luke took a sharp breath as he looked at her. “You look so beautiful.”
“You don’t think it’s too short for a formal occasion?” She tugged at the edge of the skirt which hovered above her knees.
“Not at all. It looks perfect on you.”
She blushed and nodded. “Thank you.”
“Shall we?” He offered her his arm.
“Yes, we don’t want to be late.” She picked up the cakes on the way out the door. “I still feel bad that Mee-Maw can’t join us.”
“I’m pretty sure she has plans. I spotted her walking towards the center of town.”
“Hmm. Maybe she has a date.”
“Maybe.” He opened the car door for her. She settled the cakes on her lap as he started the car.
Chapter 8
As Luke and Ally drove towards Clara’s house Ally tried not to think about her grandmother out on a date. It wasn’t that she didn’t want her to enjoy her life, but she still worried that she might end up hurt. She still worried about that for herself sometimes. A quick glance over at Luke reminded her that she didn’t have to worry about that so much anymore.
“Did you know that Clara started working in films when she was only in her teens?” Ally asked.
“No, I didn’t know that.”
“Her last movie was shortly after she turned fifty. It was just a small part, but she’s been in the film industry for most of her life. I find that fascinating.”
“She must have really loved her work,” Luke said.
“It’s wonderful to be able to spend life living your passion, don’t you think?”
“Yes, I do.” He smiled and looked over at her for a moment. “I never thought about being anything other than a police officer. Even though it’s dangerous, and sometimes thankless, I still look forward to putting on my badge every day.”
“I never thought I’d end up back here, working with my grandmother in the small chocolate shop, and yet I love it. I couldn’t imagine my life being any other way.”
“I guess we’re all pretty lucky then.”
“I know I am.” She gazed through the windshield as the traffic dwindled. Clara’s house was located on a peninsula that stretched out from the edge of Geraltin. It was the only house on the strip of land and was bordered by high gates. Luke rolled to a stop in front of the gates. A man in a dark suit walked up to the car and peeked inside.
“We’re here for the party.” Luke nodded to him.
<
br /> “Any weapons?” The security officer leaned further towards the car so that he was face to face with Luke.
“No sir, no weapons. I don’t usually bring my gun along to a party.”
“Okay, I’ll open the gates.” As he walked away to open the gates Luke looked over at Ally.
“That was a little strange, don’t you think?”
“Well, she is a movie star.”
“I guess.” The gates slid open and Luke drove through them. He looked back in the rear view mirror as the guard closed the gates again. “High security.”
“Look at this place, she’s very wealthy.” Ally couldn’t help but marvel at the three story mansion that looked more like a castle to her. It was filled with small architectural details that set it apart from any home she’d ever seen before. Some windows were round, while others were rectangular, and still others had a diamond shape. The exterior was built from a multi-colored stone that sparkled in the large security lights that surrounded the house. When Luke rounded the driveway, another man in a dark suit walked up to the car.
“You can leave the car here. I’ll walk you in.” The offer sounded more like a command. Ally took Luke’s hand as they followed the guard to the tall front doors. He opened one and waited for them to walk through. The foyer was majestic with a wide, grand staircase and several works of art on display. Ally took a moment to gaze at them, before a shadow caught her attention. Clara stood at the top of the stairs, one hand on the marble railing, the other on the hip of her emerald gown. She looked just as beautiful as she had in the movie they watched the night before. With graceful steps she made her way down the stairs until she paused before them.
“Welcome Ally, I’m so glad that you were able to come.”
“Thank you for the invitation. This is Luke.”
“Luke, yes.” She gazed at him for a long moment. “I hoped that you would be able to make it.”
“I’m honored to be invited.” He smiled and took her hand when she offered it.
“Let’s go through.” Clara started to push the door open, but Luke leaned over and pushed it open for her.
“I see there are still gentlemen in the younger generation.” She smiled. “Right this way.” She led them down the hall and through an archway. Inside was a large dining room with a dark wood table and matching tall chairs. Ally noticed right away that there were no other guests sitting in them. She wondered if they were early and was surprised to find that it was a sit down dinner, she expected that it would be a more informal get-together.
“Is there somewhere you’d like me to put the cakes?”
“Oh, just leave them on the table. We can have them after dinner. It’s just about ready.”
Ally met Luke’s eyes as Clara sat at the head of the table.
“Luke, sit here beside me, please.” Clara patted the arm of the chair.
“Sure.” He waited for Ally to sit in the chair beside his, then sat down next to Clara.
“I’m so glad that you came here. When I found out that you worked with Blue River PD, I thought this is a young man that deserves to be honored.”
“Oh well, I just do my job.” He smiled at her.
“And Ally, I’ve known of your grandmother’s shop for so long. I’ve had my assistant order chocolates from the shop on so many occasions, I just think it’s wonderful that you two work together now. What a lovely family.”
“Thank you. My grandmother and I are both big fans of your work.”
“Oh, it seems like so long ago that I did anything on screen.” She sighed and gazed at a large photograph hung on the wall beside the table. It was of her accepting an award. “It seems like another lifetime, to be honest.”
“I can understand that.” Ally nodded. “Before I moved back home, my life was very different. Everything changes so fast.”
“Yes, it does.” She stared at Ally. “One minute you’re young and beautiful, the next you’re…Well.” She shrugged. “Me.”
“You’re still beautiful.” Ally smiled at her. “Stunning.”
“Why thank you.” She grinned.
A woman in a crisp white dress carried two trays out into the dining room.
“Dinner is served.”
“Shouldn’t we wait for the others?” Ally glanced at the other table settings on the table.
“No, there are no others coming. I invited some of my family, but they are all quite busy. None even bothered to call me back. It will just be a small party, just the three of us I suppose.”
“Thank you for inviting us. We’re happy to keep you company.” Ally smiled at her. “I suppose even in this big house it can get a little lonely out here.”
“I find myself never alone.” She glanced at the corner of the room where two of her security officers stood and then looked over at Luke. “It depends on who keeps you company I guess. Do you agree, Luke?”
“I guess so.” He picked up his glass of wine. “It’s good that you have so much security. You’re quite vulnerable out here so far from any neighbors. It looks as if these men are well trained.”
“Yes, I am quite vulnerable.” She stared down at her plate. “When I bought this property it was back when I was quite popular, and I worried about just anyone being able to walk up to my door. Now, no one visits.” She laughed and sipped her wine.
Ally’s heart sunk for the woman. She’d been one of the most sought-after actresses, and now she found herself in a fortress, surrounded by strangers, with no one she considered a friend. How did that happen to someone as successful as her? As they ate their meal they chatted a bit about Geraltin, its history, and her experiences with other celebrities. Then the topic shifted.
“Did you know Shane well?” Clara asked.
“Not very.” Ally shook her head. “He was a regular customer, and from what I knew of him he was very kind.”
“Yes, he seemed that way to me. Before the screening he came here to talk to me. He wanted to make sure that everything was the way I wanted it. Isn’t that sweet?”
“Yes, it is.” Ally took the last bite from her plate. “I know he was very passionate about film and was working on a project himself. Did he talk to you about that?”
“No, he didn’t mention it.” Clara’s eyes widened. “Did he tell you much about it?”
“No, I just know he was working on it.” Ally shook her head.
“He did talk about his hopes for his future. It was very touching to witness a young artist preparing to bud.” She waved her hand with a flourish through the air. “I guess that’s why his death has hit me so hard. Have you heard much about the case, Luke?”
“Not much I’m afraid. It’s out of my jurisdiction.”
“Oh, I see.” She nodded. “So you only help people in Blue River?”
“I wouldn’t say that, but I do have to respect Geraltin PD or it can cause a rift between the two police departments. I wouldn’t want that to happen as we work well together on many cases.”
“That’s very professional of you, Luke. How do you feel about it, Ally? You knew Shane, so do you have any idea of who would have done this?”
“No not really. I’m sure the police will find his murderer. Did Shane mention anything to you about being upset with anyone?”
“Yes, actually. But I doubt it is anything significant,” she said thoughtfully. “He apologized for being late. He said that someone had just left a bad review on his website so he was a bit upset by it and running late.”
“Did he mention anything else about it?” Ally asked.
“No, I did most of the talking.”
“What about you? Has anyone threatened you lately? Maybe someone was jealous of the celebration?”
“You think someone killed Shane because of me?” Her eyes widened.
“Ally.” Luke frowned. “It’s best not to speculate.”
“No I don’t think that, I just wondered if anyone had been bothering you lately.”
“Who could get to me?” She forced
a laugh and glanced at the security guards.
“So, do you plan on being in any more films?” Luke picked up his glass of wine. Ally sensed that he was uncomfortable with the topic and allowed the subject to change.
After they finished their cakes they said their goodbyes and Clara walked them to the door.
“I have a boat at the pier, we should all go out on it sometime, we can enjoy the fresh air,” Clara said.
“That sounds wonderful.” Ally smiled as she walked outside.
“Please, come back anytime.” Clara locked eyes with Luke. “I mean it. Please do, come back, Luke.”
“Uh, okay.” Luke straightened his tie and smiled at her. “Thanks for the invitation.”
Ally glanced back at him as she stepped out the door. He raised an eyebrow as he met her eyes. Behind Clara, two security guards stood very close. No wonder she always felt watched, she literally always was. Luke placed his hand on Ally’s back and guided her towards the car. Once inside she heaved a sigh.
“That was something.”
“It was strange.” Luke snapped his seatbelt into place, then started the car.
“It was, wasn’t it?” Ally tilted her head to the side and watched as the house disappeared from view. She couldn’t be certain, but it did look very similar to the house in the video clips that Shane took. “And sad.”
“Sad?” He turned down the road that led away from the house.
“Yes. She’s so lonely. How can someone so famous become so alone?”
“Fame isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. She might have been a starlet once, but now she’s just someone with a lot of money, which makes her a target.”
“She must be pretty scared to have so much security.”
“Yes, it did seem a little overboard. I felt a bit like an intruder.”
On the drive back to the cottage Ally sorted through her experience at the mansion in her head. Although she still liked Clara, she was now very curious about her. How had her life changed so much that she ended up in that position? Was there anything that could keep her from sinking any further into isolation? Luke parked in the driveway then took her hand as they walked up to the door.
