by Amber Crewes
“It looks delicious,” she admitted, slowly biting into the pastry. “It tastes just like my éclairs though, Mrs. Sheridan! I even taste some cinnamon in this pastry; that’s my secret ingredient for éclairs!”
Mrs. Sheridan smirked at Meghan and rapped her cane on the floor. “It’s better than one of yours,” she declared. “Everyone across the street is saying so! That line is winding around the block, and I just thought you should know about this, Meghan. And, I’d like to make my return.”
Meghan shook her head. “No,” she said firmly. “I will not allow you to return an item that didn’t even come from my bakery. I’m sorry, Mrs. Sheridan, but that just won’t do.”
Mrs. Sheridan rolled her eyes at Meghan and turned away from the counter. “You’re too stiff for your own good, Meghan,” she said. “That Stephanie girl was a real nice lady. You better be careful, girl; if you aren’t nice to your customers, Truly Sweet might just lose out to Duly Doux….”
Meghan held back harsh words as Mrs. Sheridan hobbled out of the bakery.
“That was so rude,” she muttered under her breath. “I’m happy for Stephanie. I’m happy to have shared some of my experiences with someone new. I just need to stay positive, and everything will be okay.”
Meghan returned to her work and began cutting up thick, red slices of rhubarb for a fresh pie. “I just have to stay positive,” she repeated to herself as she admired the long, perfect stalks of rhubarb. “I just have to keep my chin up.”
As Meghan sliced through the rhubarb, she heard her cell phone begin to ring. “It’s Karen,” she said to herself as she answered the call. “Hi, Karen! How was Duly Doux?”
“It was good,” she admitted. “It was fabulous, even! You know that I don’t eat sweets often; with my marathon coming up next week, I really shouldn’t have indulged, but Stephanie’s desserts were very good.”
Meghan laughed. “You’re the only person over fifty I know who runs marathons, Karen. How do you do it?”
Karen giggled. “It keeps me young, sweetie. Anyway, I had a quick question for you; did you share your éclair recipe with Stephanie? I had a taste of one of hers, and it tasted just like yours!”
The hairs stood up on Meghan’s arms as she frowned. “No,” she said. “I didn’t share any recipes with her. She didn’t ask for recipes; she only asked me for some business advice.”
Karen paused. “That’s strange,” she finally replied. “When I took a bite of the éclair, I asked her if she had talked with you about your secret recipe, and she said that you had shared some of your favorite recipes with her….”
Meghan’s heart began to pound. “I didn’t share with her, but my cookbook was on the counter when she stopped by,” she said slowly as she remembered the morning of Stephanie’s visit. “I turned my back to fetch tea and croissants for us….maybe she copied down some of my recipes when I wasn’t looking!”
Karen groaned. “I hate to hear that, sweetie,” she said. “Stephanie seems so nice. We had a fabulous chat while I was in there, and I’m disappointed to hear this.”
Meghan sighed. “It sounds like I may need to pay her a visit. My recipes are for my customers! I’m happy to share tips and advice, but I can’t have Stephanie jeopardizing my livelihood by stealing my recipes.”
“I agree,” Karen said. “Just be careful; she is new in town, and maybe there’s been a misunderstanding, sweetie. Just be kind and be truly sweet; this could all be resolved by a little chat. Just hang in there.”
“I will,” she promised. “I will.”
After Meghan and Karen hung up the phone, the bakery’s main line began to ring. “Hello?” Meghan answered.
“Ms. Truman? This is Dave Dane at Majestic Incorporated? I wanted to touch base regarding the corporate order we placed last week. Is now a good time?”
Meghan smiled. Receiving the Majestic Incorporated corporate order had been a huge milestone for the bakery; the company was an internationally acclaimed tape conglomerate, and Meghan knew the order would significantly advance her business.
“No problem, Mr. Dane,” Meghan cooed. “So happy to hear from you. I received the order last week and have been busy preparing the first shipment of treats to send over.”
Meghan heard Mr. Dane sigh. “I’m sorry to tell you this, Ms. Truman, but we are going to have to retract our order.”
“What?” she cried. “You are cancelling the order?”
“I apologize for any inconvenience, but due to recent developments, we have decided to go a different direction with our order. You will of course be compensated for your initial efforts, but we will no longer be requiring your services.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she replied flatly. “Please let me know if that changes. Thank you.”
As Meghan hung up the phone, her hands began to shake, and she felt thick, hot tears welling up in her dark eyes. “I barely have any business today, Mrs. Sheridan taunted me, Stephanie may have stolen my recipe for my special éclairs, and Majestic Incorporated cancelled my corporate order! What else could possibly go wrong today?”
3
M eghan nervously gripped the straps of her red leather purse as she and Karen walked across the street to Duly Doux. It was a chilly afternoon; the harsh, salty winds from the Pacific were blowing mercilessly into town, and Meghan shivered as the cool air cut through her thin coat.
“Don’t be nervous,” Karen ordered as they arrived outside of Duly Doux. “From what we know, Stephanie stole your éclair recipe! I know you don’t like confrontation, but this is unacceptable behavior, especially from someone who sought help from you only days ago!”
Meghan nodded. “I know,” she breathed softly. “I know, Karen. I need to do a better job at standing up for myself. I just don’t want to jump to conclusions. Stephanie moved to Sandy Bay for a fresh start, and who knows if this all isn’t just a big coincidence?”
Karen stared into Meghan’s dark eyes. “Meghan,” she began. “Stephanie told me that you gave her your secret recipe! I didn’t mishear her. We need to get to the bottom of this; I hate thieves and cheats, and you don’t deserve to have your kindness wasted. Come on!”
Karen turned on her heel and strode into Duly Doux. The shop was bustling with customers, and Stephanie smiled warmly from behind the counter as Meghan and Karen approached her.
“Meghan! Karen! What a surprise!” Stephanie cooed, tossing her hair behind her shoulder as Meghan glanced around at the crowded bakery. “What can I do for you two ladies today?”
Karen glared at the owner of Duly Doux. “Stephanie,” she hissed. “When I was in here the other day, you mentioned that dear Meghan had given you the recipe to her wonderful eclairs….”
Stephanie’s eyes widened as she looked over at Meghan’s face. “Ummm….I didn’t quite say that, Karen. You must have heard me wrong.”
Karen leaned across the counter. She was only inches from Stephanie’s nose, and she took a long, deep inhale. “Are you sure?”
Looking horrified, Stephanie leaned away from Karen and shook her head. “Meghan? Can you get your friend under control? I don’t know what she’s talking about. I seem to recall saying that I wish you would share some of your recipes with me, but I never said you did share them.”
Meghan raised an eyebrow. “Oh? I’ve heard that some of our desserts taste very, very similar, Stephanie. Can you help me understand why that is?”
Stephanie folded her arms across her chest and looked nervously at Meghan. “I don’t think this is a good time,” she whispered, jerking her chin to gesture at the customers who had grown quiet and were now watching the three women interact. “Can we take this outside?”
“Stephanie!”
All three women turned to see a short, plump woman emerge from the back room. “Stephanie, where are those recipes you copied down? I’m about to make another batch of the eclairs, and I need the recipes you copied down so I can make them the way you told me to.”
Stephanie turned
and frowned at the woman. “Not now, Trudy….”
Trudy shrugged. “I’m just trying to be a helpful assistant, Stephanie! Come on! I followed the directions perfectly earlier. You told me to make the eclairs exactly as you had written down the recipe, and I did.”
Stephanie’s face paled. “This is not a good time, Trudy! Please go wait for me in the back.”
Trudy rolled her eyes, but she obediently left the counter and returned to the backroom where she had come from.
“What was that all about?” Karen demanded. “What was she referring to, Stephanie? Just tell the truth! We know that you copied down Meghan’s recipes without her permission, and we want to hear the truth!”
Stephanie pursed her lips. “What I am making for my customers is none of your business,” she said coolly. “I’m sorry that your little bakery hasn’t seen much success since Duly Doux opened, but I can’t help the fact that my treats are made better.”
“You treats are made just as mine are!” Meghan shouted as Karen’s face shone with pride. “I know you copied down my recipes! Just admit it, Stephanie!”
Stephanie smirked. “Or what? What are you going to do, Meghan?”
Karen balled her hands into fists. Meghan’s eyes widened as Karen’s impressive biceps bulged out from beneath her tight athletic top. “What is she going to do?” Karen taunted. “More like what she won’t do. You picked the wrong girl to mess with, Stephanie; Meghan has worked hard to perfect her recipes and earn her client base, and I won’t stand by while you steal from her! I hate thieves, and this makes me sick!”
Stephanie narrowed her eyes. “Get out of my bakery!”
Karen batted her eyelashes. “Gladly,” she said. “I do yoga, Stephanie; I don’t believe in violence, but I wish I could just snuff the life out of you and this terrible shop. People like you make me sick. How dare you take advantage of my fabulous friend, Meghan?”
“Get out before I call the police,” Stephanie ordered. “Now!”
Meghan and Karen shot Stephanie one last frustrated look and then left the shop. “I’m proud of you,” Karen said to Meghan as she pulled her into a hug. “You stood up for yourself, and from what we could see, it’s pretty clear that Stephanie had something to hide. You don’t act that nasty if you are innocent, I know that for sure.”
Meghan shook her head. “I just don’t understand how she could be so rude.”
Karen bit her lip. “I could just kill her,” she said. “Your recipes and your bakery are the best Sandy Bay has ever seen! I hope her silly shop folds up soon. She deserves it.”
Meghan smiled at Karen. “Thanks for going with me. You help make me brave, Karen.”
Karen shook her head. “You’re brave on your own, Meghan,” she replied. “You’re brave on your own.”
***********
The next morning, Meghan awoke to the sounds of sirens outside of her window. She rubbed her eyes and tiptoed out of bed, careful not to disturb Fiesta and Siesta, her two tiny twin dogs who had been curled up on both sides of Meghan’s body.
“What is that sound?” Meghan groaned as she peered through the blinds and looked out upon the street. Firetrucks and ambulances were parked carelessly along the sidewalk, and Meghan gasped as she saw the coroner's truck pull in.
“What’s going on?” she said aloud as she watched Trudy, Stephanie’s assistant, walk outside of Duly Doux, her face red and her body shaking. The coroner walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Trudy turned and led the coroner inside of the bakery.
“Oh no….” Meghan muttered. She threw on a bathrobe and slippers and ran downstairs. She spotted Jack Irvin, the handsome, tall, blonde police detective she had been dating for the last few months, and she ran into his arms.
“Meghan!” Jack said in surprise. “What are you doing out here?”
Meghan looked into Jack’s blue eyes. “What’s going on?”
Jack sighed. “There’s been a death, Meghan. I can’t say much more.”
Meghan nodded. “I understand,” she said, surveying the police and EMTs running in and out of Duly Doux. “Is there anything you can tell me?”
Suddenly, Trudy burst out of the bakery, tears streaming down her face. “She’s dead!” Trudy bawled. “Stephanie is dead! Someone strangled Stephanie!”
4
E very day comes with its unique package of surprises and opportunities. Some are welcome, while some are not. Meghan’s package so far today, had been very unwelcome.
“Okay, Meghan, I think you’re good to go,” Jack said as Meghan buried her face in her hands.
The couple sat across from each other in a windowless room at the Sandy Bay Police Station, and Meghan was exhausted from nearly two hours of Jack’s rapid-fire questioning.
“He is a thorough detective,” Meghan had thought to herself as Jack read his questions from the notepad. “I hate that I’m here, but I’m so impressed with what Jack can do….”
A few hours after Meghan had awoken to the sirens outside of her apartment, Jack had collected her for questioning. “It’s standard,” he assured her as he ushered her into his police car. “You live right across the street from the murder scene, and with your close proximity, Officer Nunan thought it best that we talk.”
Meghan had nodded and complied with Jack’s request. She had not been concerned about talking at the police station; she had been sound asleep in bed before being awoken by the sirens, and she had no doubt the GPS coordinates on her cell phone would match up with her alibi. Meghan had only grown worried when she walked into the station and saw Karen crying on a bench.
“Karen!” Meghan had exclaimed, rushing forward to take her friend into her arms. “What are you doing here?”
Karen had wiped her nose on her sleeve and sniffled. “Officer Nunan insisted I was brought here to talk. Someone overheard our little conversation with Stephanie at her bakery, and they thought I was serious when I threatened her! Meghan, you know I wasn’t serious; I was just fired up about your recipes. I would never lay a hand on anyone!”
Meghan nodded earnestly. “I know that,” she whispered into Karen’s ear as they embraced in the police station. “Everyone knows that! You are Sandy Bay, born and raised, Karen. There is surely nothing to worry about. Just tell the police what you were doing last night when the murder happened, and it will be fine.”
It wasn’t fine. While Meghan’s alibi was airtight and corroborated by phone records hastily obtained by the police chief, Karen’s whereabouts seemed to be more difficult to trace; she had been signed up to take a midnight yoga sculpt class at the local studio, but she had not shown up to her reserved class time.
“That isn’t like Karen,” Meghan insisted when Jack informed her of the news. “Karen shows up for everything; she is the most dependable woman I know.”
Jack shook his head. “I just don’t know, Meghan,” he said softly as they huddled together in the windowless room. “Her alibi is shaky. She can’t seem to give us a straight answer as to where she was, and from the reports of her outburst at Duly Doux….I think we’re going to have to book her, Meghan.”
“Book her?” she cried, her dark eyes wide in horror. “Jack! She is over seventy years old. She wouldn’t hurt a fly! You can’t book her.”
Jack bit his lip and pushed back his blonde hair. “She could hurt someone, though,” he argued gently. “She has biceps the size of a horse’s! Stephanie was strangled, and it was done by someone strong. Karen is one of the strongest ladies in town….it just doesn’t look good.”
Meghan frowned. “Can I just talk with her? Please, Jack? She’s really upset, and I’m sure I could get some information out of her.”
Jack sighed. “I’m not supposed to do that, Meghan, but just this once….”
Meghan leapt up from her chair and hugged Jack. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Jack nodded curtly. “Don’t mention it. Seriously, I could get in trouble if Officer Nunan finds out I did a favor for you while I was
on the clock.”
Meghan smiled. “I won’t tell. Come on. Let’s go find Karen.”
Jack led Meghan into the hallway. Karen was still sitting quietly on the bench, but just as Meghan approached her, a clatter broke out.
“She did it!”
Meghan turned to see Trudy, Stephanie’s assistant, marching down the hall and pointing a finger at Karen. “She did it! Everyone knows it. She and the girl stormed into Duly Doux and caused a ruckus! Karen even threatened to kill Stephanie. Lock her up, officers!”
Karen rose from the bench and glared down at Trudy. “Trudy, how could you say that? You and I go back way longer than you and Stephanie! We’re both from Sandy Bay. How could you say something like that about me? Is this because I made the cheerleading squad fifty years ago and you didn’t? Trudy! This is ridiculous!”