by Harper Lin
“No one asked you, Adam,” Meg snapped.
“Adam, do we say booby-hatch? Really?” Amelia pursed her lips at her son. “That’s not very nice.”
“Sorry, Mom.” Adam chuckled.
“I heard people say that Kennedy wasn’t assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald and that it was a CIA cover-up,” Meg added before taking a mouthful of bread she had dunked in her stew.
Dan looked across the table at Amelia, who was grinning with amusement.
“I’m just glad she knows who Kennedy and Lee Harvey Oswald were,” she said before finally sitting down and starting to eat.
Meg carried on her conversation about UFOs and aliens while Adam interrupted, adding the fact that NASA and the SETI projects relied on computers to search for signals of intelligence in space.
Amelia and Dan sat quietly listening as the kids argued and joked and dominated the conversation at the table, giving the grown-ups a chance to unwind.
Finally, after deciding that aliens do exist but would never come near Adam because he’s too big of a nerd and that Meg would bore them to death, triggering an intergalactic war, the kids retreated to their rooms to start their homework.
“Maybe coming here wasn’t the best idea,” Amelia joked. “It’s not always a fortress of silence.”
“I’ve come to enjoy it. It’s my favorite part of the day, to tell you the truth.”
“You’re an easy man to please, Detective.” Amelia took a deep breath and patted her full stomach. “Are you interested in keeping me company while I work on this new recipe?”
“Tell me it requires tons of butter and cream and sugar.”
“Actually, I’m thinking of a green tea cupcake.”
Dan wrinkled his nose.
“You may as well have said a broccoli and Brussels sprout cupcake.”
“Come on. You’ve had green tea ice cream?”
“Where in the world would I ever eat that?” Dan stood up and helped Amelia reach into a top cabinet for a bag of flour.
“At a Chinese restaurant,” Amelia answered, taking the bag and bumping Dan with her hip. “I’m making it with applesauce instead of sugar, and I’ll be using almond milk instead of the hard stuff. And instead of frosting, I was thinking a light dusting of confectioners’ sugar.”
“That sounds real pretty. But I’ll believe it when I taste it.” Dan had been in Amelia’s kitchen more than once when she was baking and had learned where she kept most of her supplies. As she grabbed the jars of applesauce and a small bottle of vanilla extract, he got her mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons, and electric blender.
As she started to dabble with the basic ingredients, slowly measuring them, she couldn’t help but ask about Bud.
“He lives in a nice part of town,” Amelia stated as she sifted the flour. “It’s a shame that is what occupies his time.”
“The guy is really no trouble. Just once every month or two he gets a bee in his bonnet. His nearest neighbor is Luann Jameson. You’ve heard of her, right?”
“Heard of her? Who hasn’t?” Amelia’s eyes widened at the mention of the woman. “Her real estate business is blasted all over every park bench and billboard across town.”
“Yeah, she’s got to love having that Fort Knox bunker on the adjoining property.” Dan harrumphed.
“Why would you say that?”
“You’ve obviously never seen the Jameson property.”
Amelia shook her head.
“Her late husband left her quite a bit of scratch. Plus, the real estate in Gary has always been a cash cow for those who know how to work it. From what I gather, she does. The place is professionally maintained. Flowers, shrub sculptures, koi ponds, aesthetically lit at nighttime. It is quite a sight.”
“Well, Luann is quite a sight, too.”
The billboard images of Luann Jameson didn’t do her justice even though they were the most flawless glamour shots ever taken. With blond hair down her back and a 36DD chest in front, also compliments of her late husband, Luann was someone everyone knew about. But unless you were looking into buying one of her properties in Sarkis Estates, she had very little use for you.
“Her daughter looks just like her,” Dan added.
“I never see her,” Amelia said. “She’s been kept under wraps for years.”
“Yeah. She’s real protective of her. We had a unit go out to the property because someone had vandalized their mailbox along with half a dozen others on the same stretch of road. Her daughter, Colleen, was telling the officer about finding the mailbox in pieces. Just a normal girl giving the facts, and Luann pulled in the driveway, yelling like a banshee for the girl to go inside.”
“Yikes.”
Dan leaned on the counter.
“The uniformed officer said that Luann told him to get any ideas about dating her daughter out of his head.”
“Really?”
“Yup. Officer Harvey was engaged to a real sweet girl. Patricia, I think her name was,” Dan continued. “Didn’t matter to Luann. She was convinced that everyone was out to get her daughter. ‘No daughter of mine is going to date a civil servant.’”
“She really said that?”
Dan nodded and gave a slight eye roll.
“How old is Colleen now?”
“She’s got to be in her early twenties, and she still lives with Luann.”
“Who does she want her daughter to marry?”
“Anyone with a seven-figure bank account is my guess.”
Amelia measured out the applesauce in the correct proportions to take the place of the sugar and tasted the batter before deciding it needed one more scoop.
“Maybe I’m a bad mother,” Amelia admitted. “I’ve never talked about that kind of stuff with Meg. I mean, she’s still just a baby, but I know soon enough boys are going to become important. I just want her to be happy.”
“Most mothers think the way you do.”
“Is John back from his honeymoon yet?” Dan asked, letting her know it was okay to talk about it.
“Does it show on my face that much?”
“No. I’ve just learned how to read you a little bit.” Dan took a step closer to her.
“He gets back next week,” Amelia admitted. “I had that big bank account, too. It went with John when he left. Now it’s Jennifer’s.”
“Does that bother you?”
“It does and it doesn’t. He pays his alimony, and that is enough to cover expenses for school and little else. I was just telling Lila today he is desperate to know about the books on the Pink Cupcake, but I’d rather cut off my own arm than tell him the truth. I’m nowhere near retirement, but Christmas ought to be a good one this year. We should be able to get the big goose hanging in the butcher shop before Mr. Scrooge does.” She winked playfully.
Dan slipped his arms around Amelia’s waist.
“I don’t have a fortune to offer you, Amelia. I wish I did.”
“That isn’t what I’m saying at all, Dan. You know that.” Amelia leaned against him. “I’m just wondering if Luann is really all bad for encouraging her daughter to find someone who can provide for her in that way.”
“How would you feel about a woman dating Adam for his money? Would you tell him that a girl like that would be a wise endeavor?”
“You got me there. No. I wouldn’t.”
“That kind of puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah.”
“So what other kinds of poison are you adding to these health muffins?” Dan asked, kissing Amelia on the top of the head.
“You’re going to love these.” She stepped back to her mixing bowl and continued to stir the batter. “I don’t have a fortune to offer you, either, Dan. But you’ll get all the cupcakes you can swallow for as long as you like.”
“I’ll take it.”
Chapter Three
“So the minute John is back from his honeymoon, he’s calling you to renegotiate the alimony?” Lila nearly choked the words o
ut. “I don’t think I need to spell out whose idea that was.”
“Right?” Amelia dumped a cup of flour in a bowl so hard it mushroom-clouded up into her face. “I told him to have his lawyer contact my lawyer and that I was not even going to entertain the idea. You know what it is? He is so desperate to know what kind of money the Pink Cupcake is making, and this is the only way to find out.”
“You want me to cook up a special batch of books for you? I can do it,” Lila said, her face as serious as a tombstone.
“What? No. It’s not worth going to jail for.”
“What jail? Who is going to look into the validity of the financial records of a small time baker-slash-divorcee with a food truck?”
“You can’t be serious.” Amelia chuckled.
“I did it for Jacob.”
Amelia stared at her friend.
“Don’t look so shocked. That’s another reason he sends such a sizable check every month. Hush money.” She winked.
“Lila.” Amelia felt the need to whisper. “Cooking the books is a felony.”
“If you get caught, yes, that is what I think it is.” She shrugged. “But it’s not like I did it all the time. Some years were harder than others. Jacob asked for a little help, and so I did what I could. I’m good with numbers.”
“That you are.” Amelia grinned. “And I appreciate your risking your freedom to help me out.”
“What are friends for?”
“Well, usually they are to talk you out of making bad decisions, but in this case I see it’s with a giving heart you are offering to help.”
The ladies continued to talk, when a female voice interrupted their conversation.
“Excuse me, do you have any of those double-chocolate raspberry cupcakes left?” Amelia turned and looked straight into the blue eyes of Colleen Jameson.
“We’ve got a fresh batch just coming out of the oven. Can you give me about five minutes?” Amelia grinned.
“That’s fine,” the young lady chirped. Her demeanor seemed to be the complete opposite of her mother, who Amelia had heard was as demanding with her mortgage negotiations as she was buying tomatoes at a vegetable stand.
After ringing up Colleen’s sale, Amelia watched her walk away and realized how right Dan was. She looked just like her mother with an unstoppable hourglass figure, blond hair, and blue eyes. The thing that wasn’t like her mother was the man Colleen was holding hands with.
“Lila,” Amelia whispered, tossing her head to get her to come to the service window. “Who is that man? I’ve seen him before.”
“That’s Greg Scottson.”
“I thought so. He’s worked on my car a couple times not that long ago.” Amelia bit her lower lip. “He’s over there at the Gary Service Center. Does he own that place?”
“Ha!” Lila laughed. “No. Nelson Leman owns that place. He’s been the main mechanic in town for years. That’s his place. He’s a nice fellow but a little pushy, if you know what I mean.” Lila adjusted the collar of her blouse.
“Yes. I knew that. I’ve had Nelson work on my car a few times, too. Now that I think about it, I think every mechanic over there has seen under my hood. Maybe it’s time I get a new car. Wait. Did Nelson make a pass at you?”
“No. He’s after my Cadillac.”
Amelia shook her head.
“That’s funny we see her today. Dan and I were talking about her just last week, and Dan told me her mother…”
“Her mother is an interesting woman,” Lila offered. “I’ve only seen her a handful of times. From what I hear, she’s a real workaholic. You’d have to be to pay the property taxes on that chunk of land she owns. Or should I say inherited. Anyway, the last time I saw her at the hair salon, she was getting that mane of hers trimmed, and she just gushed over the woman trimming her hair as if she were creating a Rembrandt.”
“Is that weird?”
“Well, it was just a little over-the-top. But what do I know? I’m as over-the-top as they come, so I shouldn’t be throwing stones.”
“Dan told me she was real protective of her daughter.”
“Now that is an understatement. I’ve seen Colleen out but never without Luann at most five paces behind her. But you know how mothers can be. Colleen’s not just her only daughter, but her only child.”
“So isn’t it weird that her daughter is with Greg? Alone?”
“Yes. It’s weird. Definitely.” Lila stood on her tiptoes to get a better look at the couple. “But maybe Greg jumped through all the right hoops? Or maybe Luann decided it was time to give her daughter some space. It’s anyone’s guess.”
Amelia finished the cupcakes then popped them carefully into the pink paper boats with a couple napkins. She strolled out to the picnic table where the couple was sitting across from each other, holding hands.
“Here you go, guys. Sorry for the wait.”
“I’d wait a lot longer than that for your cupcakes. My mom brings them home all the time,” Colleen bubbled.
“Really?” Amelia knew what her mother looked like and was sure she had never once seen her at the Pink Cupcake. She might have had her assistant come get them for her.
“I just love them. These are my favorite. I’ll have to do an extra three-story climb on the Stairmaster, but it’s so worth it.”
“I am so glad you like them.”
“Do you cater?”
“As a matter of fact, we do. Any occasion, and we can custom-design your cupcakes to fit your theme.”
Colleen looked at Greg and pulled her shoulders up to her ears and grinned giddily. He raised his eyebrows but said nothing.
At the same time, Amelia pulled a hot-pink business card from her pocket.
“If you’ve got an event coming up, please give me a call.”
“We will. It might be my mom calling. Her name is Luann Jameson.”
At the mention of Luann’s name, Greg leaned back as if the words might bite him. He pinched the skin right above his nose.
“What?” Colleen asked innocently.
Greg shook his head but still said nothing.
“I’ve seen your mom’s picture around town. I know who she is.” Amelia smiled. “Just tell her I’ll be happy to answer any questions.”
“I will.” It seemed that Colleen was only like her mother in the looks department. She was friendly and almost hysterically chipper.
Amelia thanked Colleen, wished her a good day, and came back to the truck, shrugging to Lila.
“Nothing weird there?”
That afternoon, Amelia had a chance to tell Dan when he called about her coincidental encounter with the mysterious Colleen Jameson.
“And you saw her with who?” Amelia could hear the surprise in Dan’s voice.
“With Greg Scottson.”
“No. That can’t be.”
“I’m telling you. Ask Lila if you don’t believe me.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t some guy who looked like Greg?”
“I’m sure. They came and bought cupcakes from us. Well, Colleen paid, but they were right at the service window and then took a seat at the picnic table, and I had a pleasant chat with her for several minutes. Why is this so hard to believe?”
Dan cleared his throat.
“For one, Greg Scottson has a record.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, and we’re not talking petty theft either.” Dan went on, “About six years ago, he was arrested for lewd behavior with a minor. He said the fifteen-year-old girl in his car said she was eighteen. He was twenty-two at the time.”
Amelia couldn’t help but immediately think of Meg. She was only fourteen herself and so pretty and bubbly. The thought of her being in the same room as someone who thought like that made her skin crawl.
“The evidence seemed to jibe with what he said, but due to the nature of the crime and the judge presiding, there was no way Greg was going to get off without something. He got three years’ probation. In that time, he was arrested for public in
toxication a couple of times and possession of a misdemeanor amount of marijuana on his person.”
“I’m sorry,” Amelia interrupted. “But didn’t you tell me that Colleen’s mother held some pretty tight reins when it came to her precious daughter and who she was allowed to date?”
“I did. Why do you think I’m so shocked?”
“Well, they were holding hands when I saw them. Gazing into each other’s eyes like two people I know,” she teased.
“How in the world did those two even meet?”
“Come on, Detective. You mean to tell me you can’t figure that out?” Dan could see Amelia’s smirk over the phone, and it made him grin. “Obviously, her mother took her Lexus in to Nelson’s for some work. That might even require a couple trips there. Plenty of time for him to get to know Colleen.”
“You might be right. Very good, Miss Harley.”
Amelia smiled at the smile in Dan’s voice. “I might have to pop by and have a couple words with Nelson and see if this is what we think it is.”
“Well, Greg isn’t lacking in the looks area. You know how some women fall for a bad-boy reputation and a handsome face. Look at me.”
Amelia laughed. “I’ll probably be left in ruin before all is said and done.”
It was true that whatever Greg was lacking in smarts he made up for in looks. He had wild black naturally wavy hair that reminded Amelia of Kurt Russell in his younger days. His shoulders were broad, and there didn’t seem to be any kind of paunch or gut hanging over his belt.
“Right.” Dan scoffed. “Even with his criminal history, he’s never had a problem with the ladies. I think that’s part of the reason Nelson keeps him at the garage because of all the girls that come looking for him.”
“And here I thought Nelson was just a harmless old grease-monkey, and it turns out he has a deviant side.”
“I wouldn’t call Nelson deviant. He just has a pulse. You can’t blame a man for looking at what someone has put on display.”
“I suppose.” Amelia had never been much of an exhibitionist, and she hoped her conservative ways had rubbed off on Meg. So far, she hadn’t had any problems.
“But then there are those guys who like a little more substance to their women. A good head on their shoulders. Common sense. A sense of humor. That’s what’s attractive.”
