by Devon, Cat
“Well, um, I’ve got to get started. Oh, here’s Xandra. She’s one of my employees.” Daniella let her in.
Nick abruptly got all dark and broody. “Later, ladies,” he said curtly before leaving.
“Who’s he?” Xandra asked as she trailed Daniella into the back work area.
“His name is Nick St. George. He’s in charge of the local business association.”
“St. George. He’s the one who killed a dragon to rescue a beautiful lady.”
“I don’t think Nick has killed any dragons lately,” Daniella said as she reached for one of the oversized stainless bowls she used to mix the cupcake batter.
“I didn’t mean him personally, although he does look a little…”
“Like a hero from a Brontë novel?” Daniella inserted. “Or maybe Austen?”
“More a combo of Brontë and edgy rock and roll.”
“Hmm, an interesting observation. You know, when I first met him, I thought he had a bit of a Mick Jagger thing going on. I mean, with the fierce lips and those cheekbones.”
“Are you a Stones fan?”
“Not at all,” Daniella said.
“Yet you like Nick,” Xandra said.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
“Let’s focus on getting this batter done. Then you can use the ice cream scoop to fill the cupcake liners,” Daniella said.
“Okay.”
She and Xandra worked well together. The baking tins held twenty-four cupcakes and the oven held four tins at a time. Twenty minutes later, she switched out the vanilla cupcakes for red velvet ones.
Daniella was a bundle of nerves until the room filled with the aroma she loved so much. The warm and sweet scents of freshly baked goodies never failed to take her back to her childhood days, when her mom would open the oven door and retrieve the cupcakes. “Don’t they smell just heavenly?” her mom would say. “Like a vanilla cloud of happiness or a joyful breath of divine chocolate.”
Those memories made Daniella feel all warm and safe inside, as if her mother were looking down on her now with approval. Her mom’s frequent use of the word heavenly resulted in the name Daniella had chosen for her cupcake shop.
Xandra interrupted Daniella’s sentimental flashback to ask, “Do you mind if we play some music? Would Coldplay be okay?”
“Sure.”
Seconds later, the sound of the unique piano opening of “Clocks” boomed out of the iPod docking station. “Too loud?” Xandra asked.
“No.” Daniella tilted her head to the beat of the music while using the hand mixer on the bowl of powdered sugar, melted butter, and warmed milk. Seeing Xandra’s quizzical look, Daniella said, “Warming the butter and milk prevents lumps in the buttercream frosting. That’s why I use the microwave to do that.”
Xandra appeared to be impressed. “You’ve got such a great bag of tricks. Neither one of the other shops I worked in did that. They used lard for the frosting.”
“Everybody has their own thing,” Daniella said.
Time flew by after that as they both focused on getting the cupcakes baked, cooled, frosted, and decorated.
The night before Daniella had used special neon-colored chalk to write the cupcake descriptions on the front of the glass case. An hour before opening time, she took the first tray of completed Blood Red Velvet cupcakes out. The sun was just coming up. And a line was just beginning outside her door.
She blinked. A line? Really? She had a line? For her cupcakes? That BOGO special offer must be working.
The first woman in line actually had a stool she was sitting on. She looked up from the People magazine she was reading and waved at Daniella, who waved back.
A second later Suz appeared at the door. Daniella quickly let her in.
“It’s wild out there,” Suz said. Despite the early hour, she was looking fashionista-fabulous in a leopard-print fuzzy vest, black sweater, and pants. Even her glasses sported an animal print. “The people in line are saying that Xandra is tweeting updates from the kitchen. Look.” Suz showed her the screen of her smartphone. “‘Just frosted the cookies ’n’ cream.’ She even includes a link to a photo she calls a cupcake cam close-up.”
“Good job, Xandra,” Daniella said as she returned to the back to frost and decorate more cupcakes. It was bedlam after that with Suz carrying completed trays out to the display case as fast as Daniella and Xandra finished them.
The three of them took a brief moment to share a three-way high five before Daniella opened the door. “Welcome to Heavenly Cupcakes!”
* * *
“I’ve got good news,” Neville told Nick the moment he entered the Vamp Cave that morning. “I finally got that vampire facial recognition software to work. It’s running right now. Ah.” Neville pointed to one of the large flat screens. “Bingo. Those three outsider vamps have worked for the Gold Coast clan before.” He hit several keys and more info popped up. “You’re right. They were recent recruits.”
“And the ones who egged Daniella’s shop?”
“I don’t know yet. But I did discover something interesting about Daniella a few minutes ago.”
“What?”
“She’s adopted.”
Chapter Nine
“Adopted?” Nick repeated. “Why didn’t her brother tell me that?”
“Maybe he doesn’t know.”
“Does she know?”
“You’d have to ask her that question,” Neville said.
“Right. Like that would be a wise move.”
“Like what would be a wise move?” Pat asked as he and his partner Bruce entered the Vamp Cave. He glanced at the surveillance screens before adding, “All quiet on the cupcake front this morning?”
“What a colorful crowd,” Bruce noted. “Look how politely they’ve all lined up.” He moved closer. “Oh, I want that person’s scarf!”
“Daniella is adopted,” Nick said.
Bruce turned to face him. “So? I’m adopted. Do you have something against adopted people?”
“No, of course not. It just means that we now have a new line of investigation to follow in the attempt to find out why she’s resistant to mind compulsion.”
“She’s not just resistant, she’s completely immune,” Pat said.
“I suggested Nick ask her about being adopted,” Neville said.
“Ah.” Pat nodded. “I see where not the wise move comment comes from.”
“Her brother never said anything about her being adopted,” Nick pointed out. “There is a good chance she doesn’t know.”
“What do you know about her birth mother?” Pat asked.
Neville answered, “Nothing yet.”
“Keep digging,” Nick said.
“Okay. I will say this much. The fact that Daniella was adopted was buried very, very deep. Someone clearly didn’t want that information easily accessible—and believe me, it wasn’t. It was barely accessible at all. It’s one of the strangest things I’ve run into on the Internet, and there’s plenty of weird stuff out there,” Neville said.
“Strange in what way?” Nick demanded.
“I’m not sure. I haven’t figured it out yet but I will.” Neville pointed to the surveillance camera display. “I thought maybe Tanya would try to use mind compulsion on some of them to get them to leave.”
“She knows better than that,” Nick said.
“Does she?”
Neville pointed to the screen and turned up the volume. Nick watched and listened as Tanya handed out coupons for her business to those standing in line for Heavenly Cupcakes and told them, “You don’t want a cupcake. You want a tan.”
Pat put a hand on Nick’s arm to prevent him from going outside and doing Tanya bodily harm. “She’s not using compulsion on the humans,” Pat pointed out. “She’s using marketing skills but no vamp powers.”
“Let me handle this,” Bruce said. “It could be the perfect opportunity for me to use my clown skills.”
&
nbsp; Pat rolled his eyes but stopped the instant his partner looked to him for support. “What did you have in mind?” Pat asked cautiously.
“Everyone loves a clown,” Bruce said.
“Actually some people are afraid of them,” Neville said, ending in a gasp as Pat elbowed him behind Bruce’s back.
“I thought I’d get in costume and makeup and work the crowd on Daniella’s behalf.” Bruce’s face lit up.
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Nick said.
Bruce’s face fell. “Why not?”
“We don’t want this turning into a circus,” Nick said.
Pat glared at him.
Nick frowned and gave him a what now? look. “Not that a circus is a bad thing,” he grudgingly added.
“Of course it isn’t.” Pat put his arm around his partner’s broad shoulders and hugged him. “Circuses are good things.”
“Providing they don’t abuse their animals,” Neville said. His comment resulted in him getting another subtle elbow from Pat.
“I totally agree,” Bruce said. “No animals would be harmed in the idea I’m proposing today. No humans or vampires would be injured, either. I’d better go get ready. My public awaits.”
He was gone an instant later. Nick wondered if Bruce could apply makeup with vamp super speed. “I don’t believe this,” he muttered. “We have a quiet existence in Vamptown for years and now we’ve got a PR-crazed vamp pushing tans and a clown handing out balloons.”
Since Bruce was already out on the sidewalk, Nick got his answer. Apparently vamp super speed did work on clown makeup and costumes.
“I want a balloon in the shape of a cupcake,” one kid told Bruce.
Nick stood there watching, as Bruce patiently said, “How about a cat or a dog instead?”
“No! I want a balloon cupcake!”
Nick winced. “Turn down the volume,” he ordered Neville. Super hearing was another vamp ability, and this kid’s voice had a sharpness to it that was worse than fingernails on a blackboard.
“Hey, this is my turf,” Tanya said. “Who invited you?”
“Who invited you?” Bruce countered.
Tanya made a grand gesture to those in line. “The people did.”
“They invited me, too.” Bruce turned to the crowd. “This is America, so let’s have a vote. How many of you want a tan?” A few hands were raised. “How many of you want a clown?” A few hands went up.
“How many of you want a mini cupcake?” Daniella demanded from behind them. The crowd cheered their approval.
“It’s me, Bruce,” he told her. “I was just trying to help.”
“If you want to help, hand these out,” Daniella gave him the tray of samples before fixing Tanya with a glare. “What are you doing here?”
Nick was outside in a millisecond. “Tanya, we need to have a talk.”
“This is a public sidewalk. I have as much right to stand here as she does.” Tanya pointed to Daniella.
“I don’t have time for this,” Daniella growled. To the crowd, she added, “Thanks for your patience, folks. The line will be moving faster now because we’ve added another cashier.”
Nick clamped his hand around Tanya’s arm and dragged her back to the Vamp Cave. “Watch her,” he told Pat.
“I’m going to file an official complaint about your behavior,” Tanya said. “The council will not be pleased.”
“No, they won’t,” Nick agreed. “Because once again you were making trouble and drawing attention to yourself.”
“I didn’t use mind compulsion on anyone,” Tanya protested. “I was merely doing what any good businesswoman would do, vamp or human.”
“The line is really moving now,” Neville said. “I think we’re over the worst.”
Nick sure hoped so. He watched Bruce wave good-bye and hand out his last balloon. Humans were more trouble than they were worth. One female human in particular was making him gnash his teeth, which for a vampire was not a good thing.
* * *
“Let’s talk, Gordon,” Nick told Daniella’s brother a few moments later. “In your office.”
Gordon’s eyes got that slightly glazed look that indicated the mind compulsion was working. He obediently went and sat behind his desk while Nick closed the door. “Did you know Daniella was adopted?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know anything about her birth mother?”
“No.”
Nick swore under his breath. He’d been hoping that Gordon would know something, but it was obvious he didn’t. “When does your father return?”
“Halloween morning.”
Nick would have to wait until then to question Jay Delaney.
“Why do you keep asking about my sister?” Gordon’s question startled Nick.
“I haven’t asked you anything about your sister,” he told him. “You won’t remember this conversation at all.”
“My dad always treated her like she was special,” Gordon rambled on. “I think he likes her better than me.”
“Did your dad ever tell you why he thinks Daniella is special?” Nick leaned forward, hopeful that perhaps he’d finally gotten a clue.
“She has ESP.”
“Yes, so you said.”
“But she won’t help me with the cards.”
“What about your dad?”
“He doesn’t play cards,” Gordon said.
Nick found himself grinding his teeth again. “Why does he think Daniella is special?”
“How should I know?” Gordon sounded as irritated as Nick felt.
“Did he ever tell you she was special?”
“All the time.”
Nick leaned forward again. “What else did he say about her?”
“That she’s his little princess.”
“Don’t a lot of fathers tell their daughters that?”
“I guess. He always gives her compliments but always acts like I’m going to screw up.”
“Yet he selected you to run the business.”
“Only because she didn’t want to do it. She wanted to open her own business instead.”
“Are you unhappy that she’s opening a business?”
“Not really,” Gordon said. “It keeps her out of my hair.”
“Don’t you like your sister?”
“Of course I like her,” he said indignantly. “She’s my sister.”
Nick sensed something odd about Gordon, but he couldn’t put his finger on exactly what. Had another vamp come to compel Gordon? Was that why he brought up the fact that Nick was asking about Daniella? That had never happened before. He tried to read the other man’s mind.
Two viewings this afternoon. Should I bet on the Bears winning tomorrow’s home game? I want a deep-dish pizza. I need to get laid. No one wants to hook up for party sex with a funeral director. Did I pay my Visa bill? Maybe I should download some porn. Or play online poker with a naked porn star. Scratch two urges at once. Did the flowers arrive yet for the Grabowski viewing?
Gordon’s thoughts were in such a jumble that Nick couldn’t make out any consistent train of thought—aside from sex and gambling. The experience was more like mental buckshot. Mind reading had never been Nick’s forte.
He’d check with Neville about any surveillance footage that might indicate another vamp had visited Gordon. But Nick didn’t sense or smell any recent vamp trespassers.
This was all making him realize how precarious their situation was. They’d spent a great deal of time and money to get things going here in Vamptown. Now more than ever they needed to secure their investments.
Somehow Daniella was the key. Identifying her birth mother would bring them much closer to finding an answer to this puzzle. Or so he hoped.
* * *
“We did it!” Daniella high-fived Suz, Xandra, and Lois.
“And you did it without getting into a fight with Tanya,” Lois said. “Well done!”
“I didn’t have time to stay out there and yell at her,” Daniel
la said.
“I volunteered to do it for you,” Lois said.
“You have such a kind face, I can’t imagine you yelling at anyone,” Xandra said.
“I believe in standing up for what’s right,” Lois said. “Sometimes it gets me into trouble.” A strange look crossed her face before her customary smile chased it away. “But not today.”
“Because I needed you more working the counter and acting as cashier rather than going out to confront Tanya. Your being here got the line moving much faster, so thank you for coming in early when I called you.”
“No problem,” Lois said.
“I just want to thank you all for making today’s grand opening such a huge success,” Daniella said. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Knowing you, you probably could have,” Suz said with a grin. “But it would have been a lot harder.”
“And special thanks to Xandra for all her online marketing and tweets,” Daniella added. “And for constantly reminding people that we close when we run out of cupcakes. You even created a sign for the window that is great.”
“Reminding customers about the possibility of running out of cupcakes adds a sense of urgency,” Xandra said.
“Speaking of urgency, I think it’s time we all call it a day. I’ll see most of you tomorrow.” She paused to give each a hug. “Lois, are you okay? You feel chilled.” Daniella rubbed the older woman’s arms a little.
“Poor circulation,” Lois said, stepping away.
Suz stayed with Daniella while she secured the shop, set the alarm, and locked the doors. “Thanks again for everything. Are you sure you don’t want to come up?”
Suz shook her head. “I’ve got a date tonight.”
Upstairs in her apartment, Daniella kicked off her shoes and wiggled her toes. She’d learned early in her days working in the culinary arts that comfortable shoes were a must so she invested in the same shoes that nurses wore. Being on her feet for twelve hours or more a day was something she and the medical profession shared.
Checking her watch, Daniella realized that she had to hurry or she’d miss her Skype setup with Cookie in New York City. A few minutes later her mentor’s face filled Daniella’s laptop screen. From her corkscrew silver gray hair to her slightly crooked nose, everything about Cookie screamed Individual.
