The Cupcake Conspiracy

by Sara Bourgeois

  "He was still pretty ticked off about the bad merchandise Doug sold him,” Tom said. "He went into detail about how he sent his crew out with hedge clippers that barely cut. The rakes had handles that kept falling off, and two of the lawnmowers overheated and just shut off before the yards were mowed. It made him look really bad to his customers."

  "Oh, wow,” I said.

  "Yeah, and Alex felt like Doug and his business partner were sabotaging his business. He got himself all worked up and angry during the interview,” Tom said. "I don't think he helped himself look not guilty by the display of anger he put on in our interview. If he got that mad in front of the cops, I can only imagine what he was like when we weren't around."

  "So, I guess he's not going to the bottom of the suspect list?" I asked.

  "Nope. He's staying right near the top,” Tom confirmed.

  We finished our sandwiches and threw the trash in a nearby can. Gracie was raring to go on her walk, so we took her on the full loop around the pond.

  "I can take her back to your apartment if you want,” Tom said. "That way you can just go right back to work."

  "That would be great,” I said. "Camille and Ginny had something they wanted to talk to me about this afternoon. I'd probably better get back."

  While we worked on special orders that afternoon, Camille and Ginny finally brought up the thing they'd wanted to talk with me about. Camille was actually the one who finally told me.

  "We were hoping to talk to you about hiring another worker for two afternoons a week,” Camille said.

  "Camille is looking for a part-time job so she can continue to go to school too,” Ginny offered.

  "Yeah, and I like Crystal,” Camille said. "I think she'd make a good addition to the team a couple of afternoons a week."

  "You guys are right. It might be helpful. Especially on the days I have to be at the studio. I'll go over the books tonight and let you guys know if we can swing it financially,” I said. "If we can, then I'll post a job sign and I'll interview candidates. Crystal will be at the top of my list, but I'm still going to do this the right way. I do want the best hire for my business."

  They both said they understood, and I was glad. I'd probably end up hiring Crystal, but I wanted to at least accept applications from other candidates. It was important as the owner for me to do my due diligence when it came to hiring staff. I'd done the same when I'd hired Ginny.

  I had to put off doing the books for a while that evening, though. Tom had invited Gracie and I over for dinner. He planned on grilling up some steaks, and I couldn't say no to that. The man made a mean ribeye.

  When I arrived, he had baked potatoes in the oven, and he'd bought salad makings as well. I busied myself with chopping veggies for the salad while Gracie supervised Tom at the grill. She had her nose going and her tail twitching the entire time.

  The steaks were delicious, and even Gracie got a few bites. She liked the potato too but wanted nothing to do with the salad. I had to laugh when Tom tried to get her to eat a cherry tomato.

  She wouldn't take it, but she did take another bite of steak and a tiny piece of buttered potato.

  "Dinner was delicious,” I said. "Thank you so much."

  "You have to go, though?" Tom asked.

  "I do. I have to go home and go through the books. I'm looking at hiring another part-time staff member, and I need to make sure I can afford it before I bite off more than I can financially chew."

  "Sounds like a wild evening,” he said and kissed me on the forehead. "Thank you for putting off your super fun plans to have dinner with me."

  "You're welcome,” I said. "I wish I didn't have to leave, but I do."

  "It's okay. I'm glad you were able to find time at all. I mean that."

  We finished saying our goodbyes and I went home. After a walk around the block with Gracie, it was time for me to settle in and dig through spreadsheets.

  Spreadsheets are the absolute worst part of running a business. If I could get away with just baking my heart out, I would. Alas, spreadsheets were a necessary evil.

  The good news was that mine told me I could afford to hire a new worker for up to twelve hours per week. All I had to do was make sure I hired the right one.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The next morning as I was putting on my sweats to walk Gracie, I saw something scurry out from under my bed and into the hallway. I screamed and jumped on the bed while Gracie joined me and barked.

  It had to have been a mouse, and I was terrified of mice. "Okay, on the count of three, we're going to jump down and run,” I said to Gracie. Not that she could understand me, but it was more to prepare myself.

  I counted to three, jumped off the bed, and ran to the front door. After I grabbed my shoes, Gracie and I went out into the hallway. She danced around, thinking we were having great fun, while I put them on.

  I needed to buy some traps, but they had to be the humane type. I tried to remember where I'd seen those before. My brain would not spit it out, though, so I'd have to call Tom after he woke up.

  Still traumatized by that morning at home, I looked around the bakery for mice. I needed to make sure there weren't any lurking there. It was silly, but the whole thing had left me on edge.

  "Snap out of it,” I said and took out my phone.

  I sent Tom a text to see if he was up. When he responded that he was, I went ahead and called.

  "What's up, honey?" His voice was thick with concern. I must have scared him by calling so early in the morning.

  "There was a mouse in my apartment this morning." I tried to keep my voice even. I was too embarrassed to let Tom know I was practically hysterical over a little, fuzzy mouse.

  "Oh, okay,” he said.

  "I need to get some of those humane traps. I don't want it in my apartment anymore, but I can't fathom killing it horribly,” I said. "But I can't remember where to get those things. I suppose I could order one online, but it would take too long."

  "I'll get some today,” he said. "You'll have them by tonight. So please don't worry about it all day, okay?"

  "You're the best,” I said.

  "I know,” he responded with a chuckle.

  Before I started working on the soup, I made a sign for the front window of the bakery. Part-time Worker Wanted. Apply Inside.

  I taped it up in the front window and hoped that I'd get some applications. I really liked Crystal, and I wished I could hire her without thinking about it, but I had my reservations. She and Ginny were so close, and I worried that neither one of them would get work done when they were both together. If I didn't get anyone else who amazed me, though, I knew I'd give her a chance.

  Camille and Ginny showed up, and I got Ginny started making lemon poppy seed muffins and crescent rolls. The rolls were to go with the stuffed pepper soup that I put on to simmer.

  The morning rush was more intense than usual, but by mid-morning, it had begun to calm down a little. At the tail end, Angela Reed came into the shop. She was the maid for Martha and Tom Ramon, Doug's parents.

  Apparently, they had sent her in to get some soup and baked goods, Angela told me as I ladled the soup into a to-go container for her.

  Angela was an old friend of mine, but we'd lost touch. I hadn't known she was working for Doug's parents.

  Once I had her order bagged, we stepped off to the side to chat and I let Camille and Ginny man the counter.

  "How are the Ramons doing?" I asked once we were out of the other customers' earshot.

  "It's so sad,” she said. "They are still completely devastated. You know you're not supposed to outlive your kids."

  "It is horrible,” I said.

  "I was out running errands for them the morning it happened,” she said. "I went right by the park, but I wasn't paying any attention to the area where they found Doug. The only time I even looked in that direction was when I heard a loud splash. I thought someone was just throwing rocks in the pond. I figured it was kids being goofy. Maybe they'd th
rown a huge rock in or something. You know how boys can be. I really wish I had walked over there. I might have seen who was with Doug."

  "You should tell Tom what you know,” I said.

  "I don't know anything, Cathy. It was probably just kids messing around. I mean, surely I wasn't right there at the exact time of the murder."

  I left it alone. There was no reason to push her. It was obvious to me she was feeling bad about the whole thing and did not want confirmation that she could have done something about Doug's murder. I would pass onto Tom what Angela had told me.

  Angela took her food and left after that. As she was walking out the door, I noticed that Susan and Mitch were back. They were seated at a table a few feet from the front door, so I knew they couldn't have overheard my conversation with Angela. Still, I felt a cold sweat break out on my forehead at the notion that they might have heard.

  Time flew the rest of the morning. Hailey was going to walk Gracie that afternoon, and I had my lunch at the shop. In fact, I stood at the counter in the back and ate a bowl of soup and a muffin.

  I had hours of prep work ahead of me on the wedding cake for Saturday. Wedding cakes were one of my biggest and most expensive orders. I put my all into them because the last thing I wanted to do was disappoint a bride on her wedding day.

  Tom called me later to let me know he'd gotten the traps. I thanked him, but I'd been so busy that I'd forgotten about the mouse entirely. He said he was going to run by my apartment and put them in so that I didn't have to be afraid to come home. I thanked him profusely, and then he had to cut our conversation short. Something with work was demanding his attention, and I didn't get to tell him about what Angela had said. He was coming over that night to watch a football game, and I'd tell him then.

  Crystal came in after her classes and officially put in an application for the job. I was happy that she'd done that and wasn't just hoping I'd hire her because her friend asked.

  "I'm super busy with a huge order right now," I said "but how about if you come in tomorrow for an interview?"

  She agreed and we set a time. I had to admit that her enthusiasm was winning me over.

  I went back to the kitchen and dove back into my wedding cake prep. By the time it was time to close for the day, I was satisfied with the progress I made.

  Even better was when I got home and saw the humane mouse traps in my bedroom and hallway. Gracie had left them alone, which was a huge relief.

  "Good girl,” I said and she hopped up for a treat despite not knowing what she'd done right. I laughed and gave her one anyway.

  Knowing that Tom cared enough about me to take time out of his busy day to set the traps made the butterflies in my stomach dance. He was such a good guy, and I was lucky to have him. Of course, he was lucky to have me too.

  I knew he was coming over to watch the game that night, and I looked in the fridge to see what I had to make for dinner. He'd said something about ordering pizza, though, so I closed the door. I was willing to take a night off from cooking. Especially if he was buying.

  My hair was crusted with flour and shortening, so I hopped in the shower. After a blow dry and a touch of makeup, I was presentable for our at-home date. My sweats were calling to me, but Tom and I weren't at that stage just yet. I put on a nice pair of jeans and a casual blouse. Even if it was just pizza on the couch, I still wanted to look nice for him.

  Tom must have thought the same thing. He showed up freshly showered and dressed in jeans, a gray t-shirt, and a nice flannel shirt. He must have been working out more, because his biceps were filling out the flannel more than usual. When I greeted him, I gave his arm an appreciative squeeze, and his face lit up.

  "You noticed,” he said proudly.

  "How can I not? You look great,” I said and kissed him.

  "It's your wonderful cooking that's helping me fill out,” he said.

  "Yeah, I think it's helping me fill out too,” I said with a chuckle. "You're going to drop me for a bodybuilder babe at the gym."

  "Nonsense. You are gorgeous, and there isn't a single woman at the gym that holds a candle to you,” he said.

  "Oh, but you've been looking," I teased.

  "Honey, the hours I go into the gym, the only women there are seniors there for morning aqua aerobics. Don't get me wrong, they're beautiful, but just not my type."

  I couldn't help but laugh. He was such a sweetheart, and I would have been willing to bet money that he flirted with those seniors who were there for water aerobics. He probably made their day telling them how pretty they looked. I had really won the jackpot when it came to my man.

  "So, you said something about pizza?" I asked.

  "Yeah, I'm buying."

  "Great, how about you order, and I will take Gracie out. I want to make sure she's good and calm when the game starts,” I said.

  "Sounds like a plan,” he said.

  Pizza delivery from our favorite place usually took just under half an hour. Since we had time, I let Gracie have fun sniffing around and greeting people who were out on their evening walk. She even got to say hi to an adorable little corgi. Both of us were excited about that. I was even more so than Gracie.

  We arrived back at the apartment at the same time as the pizza. Gracie was a good girl while the pizza delivery guy gave her some ear scratches. Apparently, he was used to delivering to people with dogs, and he had treats in his pocket.

  "Can I give her one?" he asked.

  "Sure,” I said. "I appreciate you asking first."

  "Oh, I have dogs myself, ma'am. I know the deal."

  I gave him an extra five dollars in tip for being so conscientious.

  Pizza in hand, the three of us settled in on the sofa to eat and watch the game. Just before the action started, I filled Tom in on what Angela had told me earlier in the day.

  "She might have been right there when the murder happened. Angela doesn't think she has anything to report?"

  "That's what she said. I don't think she wants to believe that she might have been there when it happened. She'd feel guilty,” I said.

  "I'll handle it delicately,” Tom assured me.

  Our team won the game which put us both in a good mood. It was over early enough too that neither one of us had to worry about being overly tired the next day at work.

  Tom had to go, though. We both had early mornings ahead of us.

  "Hey, I want to ask you something before I go,” he said.

  "What's up?"

  "I was wondering if you wanted to go to that fancy new seafood restaurant with me on Friday?"

  "I would love to,” I said. "Thank you."

  We made arrangements for him to pick me up at six thirty on Friday evening. After a quick goodbye, Tom was off, and I was ready for my pajamas.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Thursday morning I got into the bakery a bit early. I wanted to make beef stew as the soup for the day and use it as my demonstration on the TV spot. I had to have some ready to go for the "after" on the show, and it took a while to simmer. Plus, there was all of the chopping of vegetables and potatoes.

  It was a cold morning, so the stew would be welcomed by all the customers coming in from the cold for a hot lunch. The people who watched me make it on television would have a nice, hearty supper to feed their families as well.

  The morning was busy as usual. The nip in the air hadn't kept people away, and it was a good thing I'd come in early and gotten the stew ready. Even the morning crowd was buying it in droves to heat up at work for their lunches. Given how popular it was, I decided to make it a regularly occurring menu item for as long as the weather stayed cold.

  At eleven thirty, I packed up everything I needed for the show and headed out. When I arrived, I noticed that someone was in my usual parking spot. I had to park behind the building next to the studio. I quickly ran inside and got one of the stage hands to come out to my car and help me carry my boxes inside.

  Despite the snafu with parking, the segment went great. A
s I was walking back to my car, I saw Angela coming out of the building I'd parked behind. I waved her down to chat.

  "How are you doing today?" I asked. "How are Doug's parents?"

  "Still not great, but his mom got up and got dressed today. His dad made tentative plans to play golf with some friends. I'm going to take it as progress. They need to get out and see their friends. I think they feel guilty about it, but it will help them heal,” she said.

  "You're absolutely right,” I said.

  Instead of responding, Angela's eyes got as big as saucers. I turned around to see what had scared her so much.

  Susan and Mitch had come up behind us, and they boxed us in against the wall. Mitch grabbed Angela's coat collar and slammed her against the wall.

  "You couldn't just keep your mouth shut, could you? I heard you were running your big, stupid mouth about that day at the park."

  Angela started to cry and Mitch slammed her against the wall again. She hit her head and cried out in pain.

  I pulled out my phone and tried to call Tom, but I was shaking so badly that I dropped it. Susan's face was bright red and contorted with anger.

  When I stooped down to retrieve my phone, she snarled at me. "We're going to put you both in the hospital if you don't stop running your mouths about us."

  "Maybe even the grave," Mitch countered. "I'd like to see you snitch to the cops when you're dead."

  Susan kicked my phone out of reach. My fear turned to anger when I realized they were just bullies. They wanted to scare us, but they were the ones with something to fear.

  Instead of cowering, I verbally laid into Susan. "Why did you kill your husband, Susan? You know that threatening me and Angela won't change what you did. Why'd you do it? Did Mitch put you up to it?" And then I asked the question that got her. "Why'd you throw the rock in the pond?"

  All of the anger, along with the color, drained from Susan's face. Her shoulders slumped with sorrow. Susan tried to say something but was overcome with sobs.