Cupcakes and Celebrities

by Leena Clover

“He was engaged to you, wasn’t he?”

  “Wait a minute. Are you suggesting he was seeing Bella after we were engaged?”

  Jenny nodded.

  “Who told you that?”

  “Never mind who told me. Did you know anything about it?”

  Crystal’s eyes hardened.

  “I didn’t.”

  “Would you have broken off the engagement if you knew?”

  “Probably not.”

  Jenny was taken aback. She was surprised Crystal was being so upfront. But she didn’t understand why Crystal was so desperate to get married.”

  Crystal leaned forward and whispered in Jenny’s ear.

  “I turned thirty this year.”

  Jenny reacted appropriately.

  “I thought you were in your early twenties.”

  Crystal gloated a bit.

  “I work very hard to look that way, Jenny. What I mean is, I have an expiry date. Turning thirty is like a death sentence in the industry. I can pull it off for some time, maybe. But the roles will start drying up in a couple of years. I need to make my fortune before that.”

  “Sounds harsh.”

  “That’s just the way it is.”

  “What does this have to do with Wayne cheating on you?”

  “Wayne’s very popular right now. Being his wife will elevate my status instantly. I need that, Jenny.”

  “So you are willing to overlook a few transgressions like an affair or two.”

  “Neither of us are kids. Our rose colored glasses have been ripped off long ago.”

  “Why is Wayne marrying you? Does he love you even a little bit?”

  “He says he does,” Crystal laughed shrilly. “We both have something to offer each other.”

  “How far will you go? We already know Wayne’s a womanizer. What if he does drugs? What if he is abusive?”

  “I can deal with all that once we are married. It will make great news copy. The tragic wife! I can earn a lot of sympathy from the fans.”

  Jenny stole a glance at Heather. Heather’s shock was evident in her expression.

  “You mean you’re marrying Wayne even after knowing all this bad stuff?”

  “Heather, you’re such a sweetie. I’m marrying him because I know these things.”

  Jenny wondered what kind of twisted world Crystal Mars lived in.

  “Where do you draw the line?” she exploded. “What if Wayne wanted you out of the way?”

  “He wouldn’t do that! We have an understanding.”

  “What if he got rid of Bella?”

  “He could have dumped her any time. No one gave a damn about Bella Darling.”

  Jenny slapped her hand on the table.

  “Are you being stupid on purpose? What if Wayne tampered with that parachute, Crystal? Would you still want to marry him?”

  “Wayne had no reason to do that. Don’t you have any other suspects?”

  “Wayne’s the only one who had an opportunity to harm Bella. He was up there with her on that plane.”

  “Why would he do it on our wedding day?”

  “I don’t have an answer for that. Have you come up with any other names?”

  “Maybe someone wanted to hold up my wedding.”

  “That’s a stretch.”

  “Bella might have gotten away with a broken arm or leg. Why did she have to die?”

  “It’s hard to predict what will happen when a person drops from ten thousand feet. Only a fool could have thought that.”

  “Have you met the girls? They are not really bright, Jenny.”

  “Are you saying one of your bridesmaids did it?”

  Crystal shrugged.

  “They could have.”

  “Do you really believe that?”

  Crystal settled back in her chair and looked around. She stifled a yawn and looked at Jenny.

  “This is all a big waste of time. I am sure this was an accident. Bella was just unlucky.”

  “Didn’t we just talk about the slashed parachute?” Jenny asked her. “Pay attention, Crystal. This was no accident. Someone very definitely wanted Bella out of the way. This is a murder investigation.”

  “The police said that. I thought they were bluffing to get some reaction out of me.”

  Jenny wanted to tell Crystal the police didn’t bluff about such things.

  “Did any of your bridesmaids know Bella?” Heather asked.

  She didn’t know about Jenny’s talk with the girl called Rainbow.

  “Rainbow did.”

  “Were they friends?” Heather went on.

  “Anything but,” Crystal snorted.

  “What was that?” Jenny asked sharply.

  “Rainbow hated Bella. They got into a big fight. She got Bella banned from the set.”

  “But I thought Bella wasn’t part of your show?”

  “This was before they signed me on. There was some scandal and Bella got fired.”

  Jenny’s head was spinning with possibilities.

  Crystal clutched the bridge of her nose suddenly. She closed her eyes and started massaging her temples.

  “Are we done here? I think I’m getting a migraine.”

  Jenny and Heather expressed their sympathy. They took a circuitous route back to the car.

  “She could’ve offered us a drink,” Heather complained. “I’m dying from thirst.”

  “I’ll make you a smoothie when we get back to the café,” Jenny promised.

  She was deep in thought. She couldn’t figure out who was lying, Rainbow or Crystal? Rainbow had claimed to be friends with Bella.

  “Did you feel we were going around in circles?” Heather asked.

  “Led by Crystal,” Jenny nodded. “Is she always like this?”

  “Like what?”

  “A bit dumb.”

  “I don’t know her that well, Jenny.”

  “She is either completely hare brained or very clever. Wanna bet it’s the latter?”

  “Did you believe all that stuff about marrying Wayne inspite of knowing bad things about him?”

  “Exactly! How do we know she wasn’t on to the affair? She could have wanted revenge on Bella.”

  “Why would she want to ruin her own wedding?”

  “That’s exactly why. No one would suspect her of doing it.”

  They spotted a bunch of girls seated in a gazebo overlooking the ocean. One of the girls waved at them and walked over.

  “Hello,” Rainbow said, smiling sweetly at Jenny. “Were you here to meet Crystal?”

  Jenny nodded.

  “Can you walk with us? I would like to ask you a few questions.”

  Rainbow fell in step with them. Jenny waited until they were a good distance away from the gazebo.

  “You told me you were friends with Bella.”

  “Of course! We shared an apartment for some time.”

  “According to Crystal, you didn’t get along at all. She says you got Bella fired.”

  Rainbow froze, looking like a deer in the headlights. Jenny placed her hands on her hips and quirked an eyebrow questioningly.

  “I may not have told you everything,” Rainbow mumbled.

  “You hated Bella, didn’t you?”

  “We had a falling out,” Rainbow agreed. “But we weren’t always like that. I treated her like a younger sister.”

  “What went wrong?”

  “She stabbed me in the back,” Rainbow said bitterly. “I didn’t see it coming. She acted all innocent, you know. But it was all fake.”

  “What did she do?”

  “I’d rather not talk about it.”

  “Were you angry with her?”

  “She made me so mad!”

  “Mad enough to kill?”

  Rainbow gasped.

  “What? Of course not. This kind of thing is very common. That doesn’t mean we go around killing people.”

  “But someone did kill Bella. Or have you forgotten that?”

  “Look, I thought about what you said.
Maybe Crystal was the target here.”

  “Crystal said she’s afraid of heights.”

  “She is. But she’ll do anything for a bit of attention.”

  “Any update on the wedding?”

  “Wayne is still holding out. Crystal’s trying to convince him.”

  “How long are you going to stick around?”

  Rainbow shrugged.

  “We haven’t been cleared to leave yet. We don’t mind though. This place is so beautiful. It’s like an impromptu vacation.”

  “You didn’t tell me Bella was married.”

  Rainbow looked away, refusing to say anything.

  “Why did Bella have an affair with Wayne? Did he promise her something?”

  “I don’t know. Bella wasn’t sharing stuff with me by that time.”

  “Was Wayne forcing her, do you think?”

  “Have you seen Wayne Newman?” Rainbow exhaled. “He doesn’t force women. They fall at his feet, begging to be noticed.”

  Jenny wondered if there was a note of bitterness in Rainbow’s voice.

  “That dinner you had with Bella and Wayne? Did that really happen?”

  “It did,” Rainbow said.

  “Let me know if you think of anything else, Rainbow.”

  Jenny and Heather waved goodbye and walked to their car. It was a considerable distance away.

  “Shouldn’t they offer us those golf cart things?” Heather complained.

  Jenny pulled a tissue out of her bag and mopped her brow. The car had been toasting out in the sun. Jenny turned the air conditioner on full blast and stuck her face in front of the vents.

  “I could use a cold shower right about now,” she groaned.

  “I’m getting a headache,” Heather said.

  She pointed back toward the club.

  “Crystal doesn’t seem like a good person, does she?”

  “She’s single minded. I’ll say that for her.”

  “Sometimes I feel I lead a very sheltered life,” Heather confessed.

  “There’s a big bad world out there, kiddo. Pelican Cove is like our own bit of paradise.”

  “I’m glad you came here, Jenny. I know you’re a bit older than me but I like having you for a friend.”

  “Anymore of that and you’ll make Chris jealous,” Jenny joked.

  “Chris has forgotten I exist.”

  “Weren’t you complaining he was getting too close?” Jenny teased.

  “I guess I spoke too soon.”

  Chapter 12

  Mandy James walked along Main Street, waving her phone in the air.

  “What is she doing now?” Petunia asked Jenny.

  “I think she’s taking pictures.”

  “She couldn’t use the ones we have in the town archives?”

  The ladies at the Boardwalk Café were enjoying a respite after the breakfast rush. Mandy walked in a few minutes later with Barb Norton in tow.

  “Can I have one of your famous chocolate cupcakes? The ones with the raspberry frosting?”

  “Sure,” Jenny drawled. “Can I get you anything else?”

  Mandy took the cupcake out on the deck. She fiddled around with it, putting it on different spots on a table. She took pictures from different angles, climbing up on a chair once to take a top shot. She finally cried in triumph and sat down in one of the chairs.

  “What are the photos for?” Jenny asked.

  “Pelican Cove is now on Instagram. I’m taking pictures of the best things the town has to offer. The beaches, sand dunes, the flowering trees, anything that will make people flock to Pelican Cove.”

  “I thought your focus was on Main Street.”

  “It is. But Main Street is not up to snuff yet. I will start taking photos after the refurbishment.”

  “So you want to take before and after photos?”

  “Not really. Some things don’t need a makeover, like the ocean and your delicious cupcakes.”

  Jenny looked at Mandy suspiciously.

  “What do you want, Mandy?”

  Mandy dropped all pretense.

  “You have Petunia’s ear. Please get her to go through the list I sent. You guys need to start on those improvements right away.”

  “I’m not sure she can afford them.”

  “That’s a problem, Jenny.”

  “Are you going to force us to shut down?”

  “A defunct business will look worse. The café is just too prominent.”

  “What would you have us do?”

  “Get a facelift. Get with the program. Don’t you want your town to win? You win once but you can carry the tag forever.”

  “Is that your usual spiel?”

  “You’re from the city, aren’t you? I thought we’d be on the same page. What can you do to make these hicks see the light? I’ll make it worth your while.”

  Jenny bristled at the suggestion. Her hands went to her hips and she glared at Mandy James.

  “Get out. Now.”

  “Don’t get me wrong, Jenny. At least read the list. Please?”

  “Alright. I’ll give it a look.”

  Mandy James walked down the steps to the beach.

  “What did she want, dear?” Petunia asked, coming out of the kitchen.

  “Nothing in particular. Forget about it.”

  Heather arrived some time later with Betty Sue. Molly wasn’t far behind. Petunia told them about Mandy.

  “That Mandy James was walking around clicking pictures.”

  “Does Barb know that?” Betty Sue asked, pulling a ball of blue wool from her bag.

  “Barb was following her around. Jenny knows all about it.”

  Jenny told them about the Instagram.

  “What is that?” Betty Sue thundered.

  “It’s like Facebook, grandma, but it’s different.”

  “How is that going to help us win?”

  “Why don’t we go over the list you have, Petunia? Maybe we should ask a contractor for an estimate.”

  “We may not need a contractor,” Heather told them. “We can get the guys to pitch in, have a potluck. Everyone will help.”

  Jenny didn’t look convinced.

  “What if there’s some structural work to be done?”

  “The list is not going to tell you that,” Petunia argued. “We will need to get an inspector here to check on everything.”

  “I say let’s do that,” Jenny urged. “Let’s get an estimate for a complete makeover.”

  “Are you out of your mind?” Petunia asked. “I don’t have that kind of money.”

  “What’s the harm in getting an estimate?”

  Jenny widened her eyes at Heather. She caught on immediately.

  “Bring that list out. We can check off the easy things.”

  “That’s it then. We know what we can do ourselves. We’ll get an estimate for the rest.”

  “Can you imagine Mandy’s face if we do all of this?” Heather squealed.

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself, girls. There’s no way I can get all this done.”

  “Any update on that poor girl?” Betty Sue asked.

  “I learn something new every day. She was married, for instance. She had an affair with Crystal’s fiancé.”

  “Maybe she wasn’t as innocent as she looks,” Molly said.

  “She is the victim here, Molls,” Jenny reminded her.

  She looked at the rest of them.

  “Everyone I talk to is lying about something. I am not sure I can trust anyone.”

  “You should take some advice from Adam,” Betty Sue hinted. “See what he thinks.”

  “Adam keeps things close to his chest,” Jenny complained. “He’s not going to help.”

  “So what’s the plan?” Molly asked her.

  “I’m not sure,” Jenny admitted reluctantly. “I’m still thinking.”

  She took Betty Sue’s advice to heart later that day and decided to go meet Adam. Adam was having a bad day.

  “What is it, Jenny?” he scow
led. “I’m busy.”

  Jenny sat down and smiled at him. She had brought over a plate of cupcakes for the staff. She was sure no one would disturb them.

  “How’s the leg?”

  “As usual…what do you want?”

  “How are the twins? Are they coming home soon?”

  Adam banged a fist on the desk.

  “Jenny, I don’t have time for small talk. What do you want?”

  “Can’t I just come in to say hello?”

  “Of course you can,” Adam sighed. “But I really don’t have time to take a break.”

  “Are you working on Bella’s case?”

  Adam rolled his eyes and tried not to grin.

  “So you’re on a hunting expedition.”

  Jenny shrugged.

  “I talked to Wayne and Crystal. And Bella’s husband came to talk to me.”

  “Good for you. If it were up to me, none of them would have told you anything.”

  “Did you know Bella was having an affair with Wayne?”

  Adam sat up with a start.

  “What?”

  “Bella and Wayne had an affair.”

  “Where do you learn these things?”

  “I can be useful to you, Adam. We should work together.”

  “Be serious, Jenny. How sure are you about this?”

  “They definitely had an affair before Bella got married. And they were still seeing each other.”

  “Even though that Wayne guy was engaged?”

  Jenny nodded.

  “That changes everything.”

  It was Jenny’s turn to be surprised.

  “You are hiding something from me.”

  “I am not,” Adam argued. “That’s because I am not required to tell you anything.”

  “We can agree on that. Now can you please tell me?”

  Adam was quiet for a minute.

  “Bella was pregnant.”

  Jenny let out a cry.

  “Oh! That poor girl. How far along was she?”

  Jenny tried to remember if Bella Darling had been showing her baby bump on that fateful day. She realized she hadn’t really looked closely.

  “A couple of months, according to the autopsy report.”

  “It could be Wayne’s.”

  “You realize what this means, don’t you?” Adam asked. “This is a double murder.”

  “You’re right,” Jenny said softly.

  She sat stunned for a few minutes, saying nothing. Then she remembered something Ray Fox had said.

  “What about the sapphire?”

  “She was supposed to wear it for a photo shoot,” Adam explained. “That’s how she got her hands on such an expensive piece.”