by Jody Holford
When she came back, her eyes were dry. She stopped at the table and looked down at Molly.
“I’m sorry. I’m being snappy.”
“That’ll happen when you’re questioned about a death.”
Bella slipped back into the booth. “The truth is, I was running behind this morning because Callan and I got in an argument. When I arrived, I was already frazzled and I felt horrible for leaving Trina on her own for the morning rush.”
Molly’s brain twisted and turned with questions. What had she and Callan fought about? That’s irrelevant. Though, the last time she’d looked into a murder, she’d learned no detail was irrelevant. You are not looking into a murder!
“What did the police ask you?” Molly itched to take out a notebook. Not necessarily to make notes, but just to have something to do with her hands. She picked up her tea instead, sipping carefully.
“Did I know Skyler. Did she come in this morning, did I go to her, had we argued, did anyone from her staff come by, where was I between midnight and six o’clock this morning.”
That sounds like a timeframe for her death. “That’s a lot of questions. What did you say?”
Bella leaned back against the cushion of the booth. “I just told them the truth. I didn’t know the chef, I hadn’t seen her, why would I go visit her, I don’t know her staff and at six o’clock I was arguing with my boyfriend who doesn’t want me to call him boyfriend because apparently that’s juvenile.”
Molly cringed. She hadn’t given Callan a fair shake when she’d met him, but knowing he’d make Bella feel bad didn’t warm her over. What chilled her more, however, was knowing Bella was lying. Even if she didn’t know about the beverage, Georgie had said Bella went there the night before. And had come back abnormally upset.
A buzzer rang and Bella bolted upright, as if surprised. “I forgot, I put a batch of scones in.”
She hurried toward the kitchen and turned for only a second when Molly called her name.
“Where’s the staff? Where’s Trina?”
“I sent them home. I may not have a summer cold, but I’m definitely not feeling well today.”
Molly sat at the table, trying to figure out if the reason for the officer’s visit this morning was solely because of a latte with Bella’s business symbol on it. Did Chris know that Bella had gone to see the chef about the ovens and left angry? Had someone pointed him in Bella’s direction? And since when did lattes kill? She’d heard of death by chocolate, but death by coffee?
Her phone chimed in her purse so she dug it out and answered when she saw Alan’s name.
“Hey.”
“Hi. I’m just checking in to see if you’re alright.” His voice was tired.
She appreciated his concern. “I am. The police were there when I arrived but something came up and I’m meeting with Bella.”
She hoped he didn’t press for answers on that since she didn’t have any.
Alan’s deep sigh sounded through the receiver. “Didn’t we just put a death behind us? I thought we’d be able to focus on the merriment of a wedding. On something happy. Who on earth would kill a chef with no ties to this town?”
Molly didn’t know, but the lives of several people she cared for would be tipped upside down if they didn’t find out reasonably soon.
Bella came back to the table carrying a plate of four, fresh apple cinnamon scones with a cream-cheese drizzle.
Molly’s mouth watered. “I need to go. Alan, are you guys okay at the paper today? I’d like to go back to the bed-and-breakfast and see about talking to the wedding staff and perhaps the wedding party.”
And the man who argued with Skyler last night.
“Of course. Keep me posted. I’ll see you later.’
She hung up and smiled at Bella who seemed more composed. “These smell delicious. Did you bring anything for you to eat?” Molly pulled the plate toward her with a grin and as she hoped, Bella gave a small smile.
“I’m not hungry.”
Molly selected one of the scones after grabbing a napkin. She broke it apart and inhaled the cinnamon-scented steam. The woman was a genius with flour. If Chantel’s family had done their research, they could have saved themselves a lot of headache by hiring local. No outside ingredients. Katherine had said the chef had strict guidelines. Molly’s thoughts popped back to Chantel crying earlier that morning and wondered at the timing. She forgot about everything, though, when she took her first bite and the scone all but melted on her tongue.
“Molly.”
Looking at her…were they friends now? She decided to be positive. They were friends. Maybe Bella would confide in her.
“Yeah?”
“There’s something I didn’t tell the police.”
Even having an inkling of what Bella was going to say, her stomach dropped, like the bite of scone had been weighted down with a rock. No longer hungry, herself, she pushed the plate forward and leaned on the table.
“What, Bella?”
Bella’s lips pursed up, like she wasn’t sure she should say it out loud.
“I did go to see Skyler last night,” she whispered.
Her eyes fluttered shut and when she opened them, they were glassy. “Nothing happened,” Bella said. “I stopped by to let her know if they needed anything such as off-site cooking facilities, they were welcome to use my ovens.”
Molly shook her head. At least that matched Georgie’s story, which was a relief. Bella just didn’t suit the role of liar. And Molly had only known her for a few months. The police officer had probably lived in Britton Bay for far longer and must know that Bella was no more a murderer than liar. It’s routine. Or, they know something you don’t. Which would make sense since you’re not a cop and not supposed to be getting wrapped up in this. But Bella had called her and she was determined to prove to her that she wanted the woman’s friendship.
“Okay. That’s really nice. But why didn’t you tell them?”
“Because they’d come to ask me about her death and I panicked.”
That was understandable. The idea of death shook everyone up, but to have it so close to home was more than unsettling. It was completely unnerving.
She reached across the table and covered Bella’s cold hand with her own. “Bella. I’m sure that it’ll be okay. You can tell Chris that. Officer Beatty? I’m sure he’ll understand.”
Bella looked down at the table and Molly’s stomach flopped like a kid diving off the highest board.
“What else, Bella?”
“Trina didn’t know why the police were here. They often come in for coffee, like everyone else. So when the officer came to the counter and asked if she knew about the celebrity chef in town, Trina said yes, but her name wasn’t allowed to be said in the bakery.”
Cringing, she patted Bella’s hand and pulled hers back. She wondered if Georgie had gossiped about her boss’s reaction or if Trina had been working the evening before as well. “That’s okay. It was a joke, right?”
Eyes crinkled and mouth turned down, Bella nodded. “Sort of. When I got back last night, after talking to Skyler, I may have said something about her being an uppity wench who wouldn’t know good food if it smacked her in the face. Then I might have said her name was a curse word in this place and my staff better watch their words. But I was just mad, Molly. She riled me up, she was so rude and dismissive. She told me she’d rather use an EASY-BAKE Oven than borrow my small-town dinosaur.”
Bella picked up her tea but didn’t drink it. Her hands turned white as she pressed them against the porcelain.
“My ovens—all of my equipment—are top of the line. Callan told me I was being ridiculous and to get over it.”
Ahh. Supportive boyfriend one-oh-one: don’t say get over it.
Still, Molly didn’t think Bella was in any real trouble. “What happened after Trina joked wit
h the officer?”
“She asked to see me and asked me about what Trina said. I didn’t tell her about the visit. I told her I was just joking because who likes competition, right? But Georgie was working last night when I got back and she and Trina are friends.”
Taking a deep breath, Molly let it out. She checked the time on her phone and realized she needed to get going. “Bella, I think you should tell the officer everything, just the way you told me. It’s very unnerving to have a police offer question you for anything. If you explain that, you’ll be fine. After all, you didn’t hurt Skyler and the truth has a way of floating to the top.”
The faraway look in Bella’s eyes made Molly less sure of her own belief that the baker had nothing to do with the death of the celebrity chef. Molly waited a beat, hoping Bella would say, “You’re right! The truth will come out and everything will be fine. After all, I did nothing wrong!”
But Bella remained quiet so long that Molly felt uncomfortable and far more unsettled than she had when she came. Which was saying something since she’d come from the scene of what was feeling a lot more like a murder than a possible suicide or accident.
“I need to go,” Molly said.
Bella only nodded. She didn’t stand to walk Molly out. She simply stayed seated, staring at nothing and leaving Molly with the sinking feeling that even with what she’d told her, Bella hadn’t told her everything.
Chapter Nine
It didn’t make sense, Molly thought as she drove the quiet roads home, the streets quieter than they had been for weeks. What would make the police think Bella was involved? If they didn’t find out about the argument Bella had with Skyler, they were going off the simple fact that a beverage bearing the Morning Muffins logo was in the room. If there’d been a household brand name coffee cup in the room, would they have questioned those workers? Maybe Bella hadn’t shared everything with her either, but Molly’s gut told her the woman was no killer. Right, because your gut is always on target? Perhaps if it had been, she wouldn’t have come home to her Lancaster apartment six months ago to find her boyfriend heating up her high thread count sheets with his ex-girlfriend. Molly didn’t miss her ex, but she definitely questioned her own judgment. Sam is completely different than any other guy you’ve known. And, it was still early stages. She didn’t have to pressure herself into defining feelings or anything else.
“It’s the wedding,” she muttered, turning on to Barker Street. The event was, literally, taking over the town, the people, the news, and Molly’s own thoughts.
She pulled her Jeep into the gravel driveway, noting that there were several vehicles parked in the bed-and-breakfast’s makeshift lot. Katherine didn’t usually have so many guests at once so the five spots that were nicely paved alongside her shed weren’t sufficient.
It would be another hot day in Britton Bay, even with the ocean breeze making it this far inland. The bed-and-breakfast sat far back at the top of a low hill, far enough from the beach to avoid the steady thrum of tourists, but close enough to walk. The white tents would provide a nice shade for the guests who were due to arrive Sunday for the late-morning wedding. Sunday. Providing it was still a go.
Molly got out of her vehicle and looked around, uncertain where to point her focus. Katherine was on the deck with the bride, her mother, and a few of the bridesmaids. Mini lanterns were being hung along the edges of the tents, which suggested the wedding was a go. An elevated 12x12 dance floor had been constructed under one of the tents and chairs had been set up to create an aisle that led to a sweet little spot under a magnolia tree. Molly wondered if, as a child, Patty had a tire swing hanging from that tree. Then she dismissed the thought, certain that the bride’s mother had probably not been a playful child.
Molly was surprised when she turned and saw Calliope walking alongside Sam, down the front steps. She hurried through the various groups of people working on a variety of wedding-related chores to greet them.
Sam’s smile was wide and instantaneous, making Molly’s heart skip. Calliope’s was just as wide and completely genuine. The red-headed owner of the Come ‘n Get It Eatery was one of Molly’s favorite people. The queen of gossip, she had a heart of gold, a backbone of steel, and knew more about Britton Bay than any database Molly could access.
“Hey, sweetie. How you doing?” Calliope pulled Molly into a tight hug and Sam winked at her from behind the cook slash owner slash mother-hen. The rib crushing embrace felt good. It soothed the shakiness inside of Molly that she hadn’t even acknowledged.
“I’m good,” she said, pulling back.
Calliope stepped to the side and Molly went to Sam, meeting him halfway when he leaned in to kiss her hello.
“Hey,” he whispered.
“Hey. Your day okay?”
Sam nodded and brushed a hand down her hair in that way that made her feel like her friend’s hug had. “I have to head into the shop for a bit. Calli was just dropping off some flyers for the bed-and-breakfast.”
Molly remembered the coupon from last month’s Britton Bay Bulletin in which Come ‘n Get It Eatery offered fifty percent off the second meal. She’d suggested to Katherine and Calliope that they support each other by recommending one another at each of their establishments. So far, it was going well.
“Okay. Well, I’m actually going to ask around, see if anyone spoke to Skyler before…well, before,” Molly said, looking down at the paved walkway.
“Thank goodness you didn’t find this one,” Calli said, squeezing Molly’s shoulder.
She shuddered without meaning to and caught the look of concern in Sam’s glance.
“I’m fine. I’ll talk to you later?”
“Definitely. Stay safe.”
He waved to both of them and they watched him walk the path, interrupt his mother and say his goodbyes.
“Good lord that man is a walking, talking, adorable temptation. He has no idea how sweet he is. Or how good-looking.” Calliope crossed her arms over her ample chest and shook her head, side to side, while she continued to stare at Molly’s boyfriend.
Molly laughed, looking at her friend with a mix of amusement and pride. “He really is.”
Calli looped her arm through one of Molly’s and squeezed her close. “Walk me to my car. How you holding up?”
Molly frowned. “Me? I’m fine. I feel horrible about another death in Britton Bay, but honestly, they haven’t officially labeled it a murder.” Though that made questioning Bella even stranger. Didn’t Bella say something about her mom and Patty not getting along years ago? From what she’d seen and heard of the bride’s mother, Patty wasn’t missed when she left town, so it wasn’t surprising that people were unhappy with her return. Or her over-the-top display of success via her daughter’s special day.
“I heard it looked like foul play,” Calli said, her tone more of a stage whisper than a polite muttering. A few heads turned their way and Molly waved to say hello with her free hand.
“I don’t know who was there that could have told you that,” Molly said. She hadn’t seen any locals or regulars other than Corky. “Hey, do you know if the police brought Corky in at all?”
They walked along the side of the house that was edged by trees and away from the guests. Calliope had obviously parked on the street and there was a little path that led from a private sitting area to a white picket fence and gate.
“No. Do you know something I don’t?”
Molly snorted. It wasn’t likely. Or typical, but maybe today she did. “Corky found the body.”
Her friend yanked her to a stop. “Shut the barn door!”
Molly laughed. “Front door.”
“Whose front door? The hotel’s?”
Happy that she could find laughter in this already off-putting day, Molly shook her head. “No. The expression is shut the front door.”
Calliope’s lips quirked up at the same tim
e she shrugged her shoulders. “Oops. Well, neither door should be left open. But did he really? That poor man. I’m going to send Dean out to find him. I don’t want him wandering too far off and getting himself all worked up.”
Another car door slammed and Molly wondered how many more people could show up at this house. It wasn’t even the wedding day. On Sunday, over one hundred guests were expected. The hotel in town was booked—though guests might not feel so comfortable with the current situation. She really should go check with Katherine and ask her some questions. Or better yet, the bride. Sam’s cousin, Jill, stopped when she saw Calliope and Molly on the thin walkway. Again, Molly wondered about the conversation she and Sam had heard the night before. Skyler and the man she’d been speaking to would have been standing close to where she and Calli were now.
“I was hoping to sneak in and blend in with the crowd. Alan thought you might not want to be nosing around considering the close quarters and all,” Jill said. She smiled at Calliope. “Hey, Calli. How’s things?”
“Good enough.” Calli dropped her voice a register and leaned into them. “Are you two investigating?”
Molly stiffened, Chris’s warning clear in her mind. “No. That’s for the police to do.” She looked at Jill. “But if we can get some information, we can share it with the Britton Bay Bulletin readers before gossip starts working its roots into the ground.”
Jill nodded enthusiastically, her short, blonde bob bouncing up and down. “What she said.”
“What are you girls doing hiding in the bushes like this?” Katherine came down the stone steps that led from the backyard and parking area to where the women were standing. Molly frowned. Whoever Skyler had been talking to had taken those steps. Unless Skyler went that way. But why would she? If she was walking back to the hotel, she would have gone through the front. Which means whoever took those steps is likely staying here.
“Trying to get the scoop,” Jill said, giving her aunt a hug.
Katherine hugged her niece back with enthusiasm and kept an arm around her waist even when she released her. “I’ll say there’s enough scoops to go around. My home and business have been turned into a prime-time soap opera.”