Cake and Punishment

by Maymee Bell

  “Hello, Natalie Devin,” I said out loud as I wrote her name.

  If she had had an affair with Emile, how was I really going to find out? She was also the one with a husband who could have been jealous of the flirting between his wife and Emile. Arnold Devin was going on the list. Had Natalie caught Emile with another member and gotten jealous? These were all questions I needed to look into.

  Last but certainly not least and the person I couldn’t wait to talk to tonight, there was Ella Chapshaw. I used the pen to circle her name. Since she was single, had she killed Emile because he wanted to end it? Had she caught him with another member?

  I glanced over at my phone to make sure it was on. Not that I’d turned it off, but I sure did want to hear from Danny Mischler, the delivery guy from the cleaners. I wondered how Emile was the morning of his death.

  “Who’s in here?” The voice caused me to jump in my seat.

  I could feel my panic rising when I knew that deep voice wasn’t Madison’s. I grabbed my keys off the desk and tiptoed over to the door. The heavy footsteps were getting closer and closer. Taking very small breaths in and out my nose, I positioned the key between my forefinger and middle finger with the jagged edge sticking out, making a plan to swipe and run.

  “Come out!” the voice demanded. “I know someone is in here.”

  The door to the office swung open and the shadow of a figure lay out across the floor with the shadow of a gun sticking out from the hand.

  “Don’t shoot.” I dropped the keys and lifted my hands in the air.

  “Sophia?” Carter let out a sigh of relief. “What on God’s green earth are you doing in here? I almost shot you. Why didn’t you answer me when I called out?”

  “Oh, I don’t know.” Panic and fear were still racing through my veins. “Maybe something to do with your words that I’d better watch out for my own safety.”

  “Your own safety isn’t trespassing in a building that you do not own.” He snapped his gun back into his holster. “Why are you here?”

  “I have a key.” I put my hands down and pointed to the set of keys on the floor. I fumbled over my words. “I … um … Madison gave me the keys so I could bake her son’s birthday cake to make sure the ovens and stoves work before she officially puts it on the market. How did you know I was here?”

  “I didn’t know it was you.” He walked around the room. He stopped at the desk and looked down. He dragged my list of suspects to the edge. “Someone radioed in that they’d seen someone creeping around inside the abandoned bakery. I never figured it’d be you I’d run into, and with a list for me to use in my investigation.”

  He picked up the paper.

  “Give me that.” I tried snatching it out of his hands, but he lifted his arm so high, I couldn’t get a grasp of it.

  He stared at me with a half smile on his face.

  “I was just doodling until Madison came to pick me up.” I folded my arms across my body. “And I’m just trying to figure out how to make sure Charlotte has her wedding.”

  He took a better look at the paper.

  “It’d take me longer than a twenty-four-hour period to look into all these people.” He held the paper out, facing me. “So if you’re wanting me to check out all these leads, three of these people have to do with Charlotte’s wedding and would set the wedding back.” He held up fingers as he counted them off. “Brett, groom. Patrick, busboy working the wedding. Ella Capshaw is host…”

  “… of the shower.” I finished his sentence. “What about the skillet?”

  His face went grim. “The skillet came back with only Emile’s handprints on it.”

  “And the note he had next to him?”

  “It was a list of the menu items that correlated with his inventory list.” His lips thinned into a smile. “It appears he was looking at his list with his head down when he got hit by the skillet.”

  “He didn’t see it coming.” The sadness of the situation hung in the air between us for a few silent minutes.

  His eyes focused on my Operation Wedding list of suspects.

  “But I see on your list that you name more than just Evelyn. Is all that hearsay and gossip, or is there more you can tell me with substance?”

  “Working with Emile’s staff, I’ve learned that Emile wasn’t the nicest of people. Not only did he have a beef with Evelyn, but also with the busboy.” I unfolded the paper and pointed to Patrick.

  “Is this the whole gum-pack-in-the-fridge theory?” he asked. I nodded. “I got the call from the RCC sous chef. Patrick is off tonight, but I’m going to make a visit tomorrow afternoon when he comes to work.”

  “According to the staff, Patrick comes in early in the morning too.” I’d forgotten to write that down, so I rushed over to the desk and scribbled more notes next to his name. “They said his family needs his paycheck to help with the bills. Since he’s got ball practice at night, Evelyn lets him come early in the morning to do other odd jobs around the RCC.”

  Carter transferred his gaze from the paper to me. He took a step closer to me. “Sophia, I need you to stop looking into this. This is a real murder. There is a killer out there and it’s dangerous. I’m not only worried about your safety, but mine too.”

  “Your safety?” I asked.

  “From your mama.” He let out an audible long breath and took another step closer. He was close enough for me to get a whiff of his aftershave, and it sure did tickle my insides.

  “Bitsy. Pfft.” I waved him off. “I can deal with Bitsy.”

  “Then for me.” His words stuck in my throat. “I can’t have you going around Rumford playing Columbo with no credentials and questioning people.”

  “Can you promise me that you won’t arrest Evelyn at least until after the weekend and our friends get married?” I wanted him to promise me, even if he did cross his fingers behind his back.

  “Sophia! Let’s go!” Madison walked into the office. Her mouth opened into a wide grin. “Did I interrupt something?”

  Ahem. Carter cleared his throat and took a step back. “From now on, if you decide to give someone keys to a property, can you please call dispatch so we aren’t called to a burglary in progress?”

  “Sophia? A burglar?” She busted out laughing. “The only thing Sophia has ever stolen was a bunch of boys’ hearts when she lived in Rumford.”

  “Is that right?” He turned back to me with a blank stare.

  “Oh, hush up.” I shook my head and walked past them.

  “See you later, Carter. We are on our way over to Natalie Devin’s to—”

  I jerked Madison’s arm.

  Carter’s expression grew still and serious.

  “To talk to her about the menu for the Garden Club’s flower show.” I’d yet to promise him I’d stop snooping, and I wasn’t about to. He didn’t need to know that I was going to question Natalie about her relationship with Emile, nor did he need to know that I was going to make a detour around her house to snoop while I looked for a bathroom. “I’m going to help her plan the menu.”

  “The menu? It’s not for a few weeks.” His brow cocked. “I thought you were just visiting. Going back after the wedding, or you keep telling everyone that.” He smiled.

  “Just pull the door shut behind you when you leave. It’s already locked.” I wasn’t going to argue with him. Not when he was acting like Mr. Know-It-All.

  I dragged Madison out of there as quickly as I could.

  “What was that all about?” she asked once we got into the station wagon.

  “While I was waiting for you, I made a list of suspects and motives,” I said.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Carter through the back window standing behind us with his hands on his hips.

  “Just drive and I’ll tell you.” I snagged the paper back.

  “You sure are touchy.” She put the key in the ignition and threw it in drive. “Did I interrupt something? It felt like I interrupted something.”

  “He almost
shot me.” I turned and looked over my shoulder, where Carter was still standing watching us drive off.

  “Shot you?” she asked nervously.

  “Yeah. He thought I was a burglar like he said. I didn’t respond when he called out.” I chewed on my lip. In hindsight, that hadn’t been the smartest idea, but how was I to know he wasn’t the killer?

  “Sophia, that man is smitten with you.” A satisfied sigh escaped her. “I can’t wait to see how this turns out.”

  “There’s nothing turning out.” I turned my head to look out the window to disguise my smile.

  “I think you are just as smitten.” She took her eyes off the road for a quick look at me under her furrowed brows.

  “Road.” I pointed. I’d decided to change the subject, because no matter how many times I’d told her that I wasn’t staying in Rumford, she just didn’t get it. “Anyway, as I said, I made a list of suspects.”

  I opened the paper and read down the list, giving a quick rundown.

  “Natalie Devin is an obvious suspect just because it’s rumored she’s been having an affair with Emile. There are two things I’m thinking.” I held up my two fingers. “One, she found out he was having an affair with other RCC members and got jealous. Two, Emile was going to come clean about the affair since she and Arnold were already on shaky ground. She wasn’t about to leave her cushy life for the kind of life Emile could give her.”

  “This is so interesting. You’re like a little investigator,” Madison squealed. “So much more fun than my boring life.”

  “Which reminds me, I need to find out where Emile lived. Maybe there are some clues as to who killed him there, not that the police haven’t been there. I’d just like to see things for myself.” I stared out the window.

  “Let me look around. I have a way of finding out real estate stuff. What did you think about the bakery? Did you see all the baking ingredients left in there?”

  “Yes, and most of them are still good. When did they close?” I asked.

  “A couple of weeks ago,” she answered.

  “Gosh.” I chuckled. “Everyone in town, Bitsy, and you made it sound like it’s been years.”

  “It does seem like years. Especially since I went every day for a sanity sweet break.” She pulled up to an old Victorian house with a pond that curled around it like a kidney bean. “We’re here. What’s the plan?” She changed the subject back to my suspicions about Emile and Natalie.

  She pulled the keys out of the ignition and reached around the seat. She grabbed her satchel and dragged it over the front seat.

  “I’ll go over the menu with her so she gets comfortable with us there. After we’ve done that, I’ll excuse myself to go to the bathroom, and you keep her busy with whatever work you’ve got.”

  We nodded at each other. I almost felt like we should put our hands in a huddle and yell “Break!”

  “This place will sell in a heartbeat.” Madison was practically salivating over the massive house with the beautiful backdrop. “Look at the reflection of the sunset on the pond.”

  Both of us stopped before we walked up to the front porch and took a nice long gander around the property. There was a small bridge that led to a small island in the center of the pond. The island had a gazebo with twinkly lights strung all around it. The orange sun reflected off the water and created a halo around it. If I had owned this place, I’d never have sold it.

  “Right on time.” Natalie stood at the front door. “Come on in, girls.”

  Madison and I walked up the steps and greeted Natalie.

  “Sophia, I’m so glad you’re home. Bitsy has a joy in her that I’ve not seen in a long time.” She exaggerated. Bitsy got joy from walking into her fancy designer closet on a daily basis, but I liked her kind words. “I’m beyond thrilled to have you making the pastries for the flower show. The designs of the treats are just as important as the flowers themselves.”

  “I do love a good design.” I realized I should’ve brought my bag, which had some great designs in it, but I hadn’t known I was going to be jogging so long and not going to be able to make it back to my parents’ house. “No matter what we come up with, I’m sure all the women of the Garden Club will be pleased.”

  There was no way I was committing to make the pastries for the event. I was going to be long gone by then and she’d probably be someone’s girlfriend in jail. The idea made me giggle inside as I looked at her standing there.

  She had on her cardigan sweater and pearls around her neck. The woman at the Garden Club had been right. The ring on Natalie’s finger was as big as her head.

  “Gorgeous ring,” I blurted out.

  “Thank you.” She dragged her hand up to her chest as well as dragged out the vowels in her words. “My Arnie gave it to me for our wedding anniversary.”

  “Congratulations,” Madison and I said in unison.

  She swung the door wide open and we stepped inside.

  The entry had a marvelous, dark wooden staircase, with an Oriental red carpet tacked to the center of each step. “I’m anxious to talk to you about selling the property.”

  “I’m sure we’ll get asking, if not a bidding war.” Madison was practically foaming at the mouth.

  “For that area?” Natalie smirked. “We figured fifty thousand for both.”

  “Excuse me?” Madison’s eyes narrowed, her chin jutting forward.

  “Now that Emile is—you know…” Her voice cracked. “… dead, we don’t feel like trying to find another renter.”

  “Renter?” Madison asked.

  “Emile rented our little house in town.” Her head leaned to the side and there was a blank stare on her face. “Did you think I wanted to list this house? My house?”

  “I guess I didn’t hear you correctly. Sure, I’d love to talk to you about the house Emile rented.” Madison did a good job of covering up because we needed to know where Emile had lived. It would be much better to have a key to get in to look around instead of breaking and entering.

  * * *

  “Great. Come on in and we can discuss that and the menu.” Natalie offered a smile as we walked into her home. “You two can have a seat in there while I go grab us some tea.”

  “Are you okay?” I asked Madison when we sat down on opposite sides of the couch.

  “No. I’m about to have a nervous breakdown.” Madison buried her head in her hands. “I can’t believe I honestly thought they were going to sell this house.”

  “But we also learned that she has yet another connection to Emile. He rented from them. Arnold caught Emile and Natalie in a compromising position, so he killed Emile.” It was a perfect motive.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me!” Natalie had come into the room with a tray. The glasses clinked because of her shaking hands. Was she shaking because she was mad about me accusing her husband of killing Emile or mad that I had put it together? “I’d never cheat on my husband, and I’d be ashamed if I were you,” she scolded me.

  “Oh, no,” I groaned, wondering why Madison hadn’t warned me that Natalie had walked in behind me. I turned around to face her and the music. Her face was fire red and the olives in the martini glasses she had in both hands shook back and forth as her anger erupted inside her.

  “My husband didn’t kill anyone. Especially Emile. Nor did Emile and I have any sort of affair.” The anger spewed from her eyes. “Your mother will be so embarrassed by your behavior. I invited you into my home. I trusted you to cater the food for the flower show, and you treat me like a common whore? Get out,” she spat. “Get out before my husband gets home and hears your lies and gossip.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m just trying to…” I apologized, but she wouldn’t let me finish.

  “Get out,” she said through gritted teeth and tight lips.

  “Let’s go.” Madison shoved past me and out the front door.

  “Really, I’m sorry,” I said as I walked past her. She wouldn’t look at me. I had to get it out of me. “It’s just th
at…”

  “Out!” she shouted, before turning her back to me.

  “Can I get that key to Emile’s rental so I can take a look at it?” Madison asked meekly.

  “Out!” The door slammed in our faces.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “That didn’t go so well.” I broke the silence after five minutes in the car. “For either of us. I guess you’re going to have to come up with the flower show menu on your own.” I sighed.

  “I don’t think so. You agreed to it just as much as me.” She was good at reminding me what I’d agreed to.

  “I’ll come up with some ideas and put them on paper so you can have them when the time comes.” It was my way of actually being present to bake the items. Surely Madison could bake a few simple things. “At any rate, I’m sorry she didn’t give you the listing tonight.”

  “Well, I’m hoping it’ll turn around with my showing tonight. Can we get all the ingredients from the Piggly Wiggly?” she asked, steering us back toward Rumford.

  The poor pig snout and hat were the only two working bulbs on the sign for the only grocery store in town.

  “Yes.” I pointed ahead. “You can pull up and I’ll run in.”

  Madison pulled up in the no-parking zone in front of the store to let me out.

  “I’ll be right back,” I called out over my shoulder as I jumped out.

  The store was exactly the way I remembered it. The automatic front door slid open. The carts were pushed into each other on the right and the coin-operated horse and cow rides were on the left. It felt like yesterday that my dad had brought me here just to ride the toys. It’d become a weekly treat after my friends would talk about the fun they’d have if they’d been good while their mamas were grocery shopping. Bitsy never went to the grocery, and I’d begged her to go so I too could be good and get to ride the cow. Weeks of begging went by until my dad finally gave in. After that, we went every week. He’d enjoy a candy bar—which Bitsy would’ve thrown a hissy fit if she’d seen—while I enjoyed a few coin trips on the cow or the horse.