by Cat Chandler
“How many will she be baking?” Jenna asked as she slipped out of her heels and back into her flip flops.
“With three flavors we’re going to allow two per guest, plus fifty extra. Alex’s mom said the final head count is three hundred and twenty-four, so we’re rounding up to seven hundred cupcakes.”
Jenna whistled. “Wow. That is a lot of cupcakes.”
“And decorating,” Nicki said. “We can get by with shiny silver sprinkles for the champagne cakes, and pieces of peanut brittle for the chocolate-peanut butter ones, but the cherry cakes would look fantastic with roses on top.”
“So we need to buy roses?” Jenna frowned.
“No, my culinary-challenged friend, they’ll be piped on. I can do that, but that means all the rest of the decorating will be up to other people. And we need someone to assemble the structure and shelving. And so far, we don’t have anyone.” She smiled. “Except of course you and Matt.”
“And me,” Alex spoke up. “Don’t shake your head like that. I’d rather spend the day before my wedding decorating cupcakes then entertaining a roomful of relatives I haven’t seen since high school. Or referee the cold war between my divorced parents.”
“Can’t say I blame you there,” Jenna’s head bobbed up and down in a sympathetic nod.
“Me either,” Nicki agreed. “But even with all of us, we could still use a couple more people. Gin said that Robin kept the names and contact information for his occasional workers on his computer, and she really has no idea how to get hold of them. But Clay said he might know someone who can help.”
“How about three someones?” Alex smiled.
“Three?” Nicki grinned. “That would be ideal.”
“Do you have some spare cousins lying around?” Jenna asked.
“No.” The doctor shook her head. “But I do have a fiancé, and he has two groomsmen. Ty called last night and said all three of them will be here in a couple of days. All I have to do is bribe them with something so they’ll be willing helpers.”
Looking out the window at the huge forest going as far as the eye could see, Nicki was struck with an idea of what to do with three rugged firemen. “I might have an idea.”
“Great,” Alex said. “Let’s hear it.”
“How about a guided overnight trip in the rain forest?” Nicki gestured toward the window. “There’s a man downstairs, Kevin, who arranges that kind of thing for the guests.”
“That sounds perfect!” Alex’s enthusiastic response made Nicki smile. “I was wondering how to keep Ty and his friends busy, and shipping them off to the forest would be ideal. That way he and Mom can’t dream up more ways to complicate this wedding.”
“Is he coming so much earlier than he’d originally planned to be sure you don’t fly the coop?” Jenna made a flapping motion with her arms as both women burst into laughter.
“Maybe. It was a close thing there a couple of times,” Alex admitted. “And it still might happen if Brad is tossed into jail for murder and we end up without a caterer.”
“That brings us to our second to-do list.” Jenna glanced over at Nicki. “Maxie wanted to know if there’s anything new to add to the murder board.”
Nicki shrugged. “Not really. We can take the daughter off the suspect list. She’s inheriting the business, but has a solid alibi for the night Robin was killed.” She hesitated, not wanting to upset Alex, but knew the doctor did not like to be kept in the dark about anything. “And a new motive for Brad.”
Alex was silent for a moment. “Which is?”
“It seems he and Robin have been arguing the last three months about selling the business.”
“Selling the business?” Alex’s eyebrows winged upward. “Did Brad or Robin want to sell?”
“How does that give Brad a new motive?” Jenna asked. “You said he isn’t inheriting the business, so how can he sell it?”
“No, but Robin’s twenty-year-old daughter might be willing to do what her father would not. Especially if her mother is in favor of the idea. Which she is.”
“Oh.” Jenna glanced over at Alex. “Oh dear.”
“Alex? How well do you know Gin and Brad?” Nicki’s question fell like a dead weight into the silence of the room.
The doctor sighed. Walking over to the large picture window, she stared out into the soft sunlight of the late afternoon. “I’ve known Gin since the sixth grade, when Mom and I moved to Henley Bay after the divorce.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Not that long for Brad. He was her college sweetheart.”
“Has she changed much since she’s been with him?” Nicki asked.
“No more than the typical growing up stuff. Probably exactly the same way I’ve changed.” Alex rubbed a thumb against her forehead. “We don’t talk as much as we used to since we’re both pretty busy, but she’s still Gin. I don’t think Brad’s turned her to the dark side of anything, if that’s what you're thinking.”
“What about money?” Nicki persisted. “Are they having any financial problems? Something that might make Brad want to sell the business?”
Alex returned her gaze to the window. “Maybe. I simply don’t know, Nicki.”
“Okay. Then I need to pay them a visit. Only this time, I’d like to talk to both of them.”
Her friend nodded. “I’ll give Gin a call and set something up for tomorrow.”
“I’ll go with you,” Jenna volunteered, but Nicki shook her head.
“You have to work on that slide show. I’ll take Matt.”
“And me,” Alex declared. “And that’s not negotiable, Nicki. If Gin is in some kind of trouble, I want to know.”
Chapter Ninety
“What are you going to do about the Natural Foods For All account?”
On the ride to the Ashtons’, without Alex since her mother had set her foot down about sticking around to deal with her father who’d arrived the night before, Matt had told Nicki about one of his major advertisers wanting a lower rate, or they threatened to pull their business from Food & Wine Online.
It had been the reason for Matt’s emergency call that morning, and it had Nicki worried. Not just for the business headache it had to be causing him, but because he wasn’t at his desk in Kansas City. Instead he was here, next to the national forest with bad cell service, because she’d once again gotten involved in a murder. The last thing she wanted to do was to hurt Matt. And the loss of a major advertising account sounded as if it would hurt. A lot.
“Maybe you should fly back?”
He pulled up in front of the address that Alex had given them and turned off the engine. “Why? Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“I’m being serious, Matt.” Nicki actually caught herself wringing her hands and forced them to be still in her lap.
He leaned over and gave her a quick kiss on the mouth. “I’m handling it just fine from here. He’s just a new vice-president at the company who’s trying to make a name for himself.”
He pushed open the car door and climbed out. Nicki did the same and met him on the sidewalk. “But what if this new vice-president makes good on his threat and takes his business elsewhere?”
“What if he does?” When Nicki narrowed her eyes, Matt shrugged. “Look, honey. The advertising price is set at a fair market rate, and it is what it is. If Natural Foods For All wants to take their business elsewhere, that’s entirely up to them. Our ads are booked a year out, with a waiting list. I can fill their slots if I have to.” He winked at her. “One of their major competitors just happens to be on that waiting list. I might have Jane give them a call.”
They walked hand-in-hand up the narrow daisy-lined path leading to the front door of the duplex where Gin and Brad Ashton lived. Matt rang the bell and the door was immediately answered by Gin.
She was wearing jeans topped with a yellow t-shirt, and her hair was pulled away from her face into a messy ponytail on top of her head. From the red rims around her eyes, it was obvious that she’d been crying.
Nicki smiled at the
frazzled woman. “Hi, Gin. If this is a bad time, we can come back later.”
Gin didn’t move from the doorway as she let out a short laugh. “It won’t be any better later, so you might as well come in.” But rather than step aside, Gin stared at Matt.
“This is Matt.” Nicki finished a quick introduction, and when Gin still didn’t move, wondered if the catering manager intended for them to talk out on the cramped front porch.
“The magazine editor,” Gin said slowly. “And Nicki’s new boyfriend. Alex told me.”
“That’s right,” Matt nodded. His voice was low and soothing. “And Alex has told us all about her good friend Gin.” When her lips curved up into a faint smile, Matt’s did as well. “May we come in?”
She gave a start, as if she’d just realized she was still standing in the doorway. Stepping aside, Gin held the door open while Nicki and Matt entered the duplex, walking straight into a living area with two comfortable-looking sofas and a giant-screen TV hung over the fireplace.
“Brad’s in the dining room.” Gin pointed to an opening off to their left. “I made coffee.”
“That’s a great idea,” Matt said, ushering Nicki into the long, narrow room. “We’d love a cup if you have some extra.”
“There’s plenty.” She looked at Nicki. “Why don’t you introduce Matt to my husband while I get more cups?”
Brad was watching them from his seat at the far side of a dining table that could easily seat eight. Nicki walked over with Matt by her side, and waited while he pulled out a chair for her.
“Brad, this is Matt.”
Their host stood and offered Matt his hand. “I heard. You’re some kind of editor and Nicki’s boyfriend.”
Acknowledging both statements with a nod of his head, Matt shook Brad’s hand and then took a seat next to Nicki, draping one arm over the back of her chair.
“We do meet under some strange circumstances,” Brad said, shifting his gaze to Nicki as he sat down. “First over a dead body, and now because the popular theory is that I’m the reason for that dead body.”
“No one’s accused you of anything, Brad,” Nicki said.
“Not formally. But the whole town acts as if I’m guilty, and I’m pretty sure Chief Thomas thinks so too.”
“How was it working with Robin? Everyone we’ve talked to said he was a difficult man.” Nicki shook her head. “That must have been very hard to deal with.”
“Difficult is an understatement,” Brad snorted. “Pig-headed, with a foul mouth and a worse temper. The only people he wasn’t abusive to were his daughter and Kylie.”
Nicki had heard the same thing from Paul Franklin. “His daughter I can understand, but why did Kylie get special treatment from him?”
“Because of Benson, I’d imagine,” Brad shrugged. “He’s the only man I’ve ever met who’s nastier than Robin. He used to pick on Kylie, who would never stand up for herself. So Robin did it for her.” The caterer laughed. “If the company goes under, at least I’ll have the pleasure of laying off Andrew Benson. He’s an excellent chef, but like Robin, he’s just not worth the aggravation.”
“Is that why you wanted to sell the company?”
Brad did a visible double take, his surprised look quickly turning into a hard stare. “That was confidential information. Where did you hear it?”
“Probably Lydia,” Gin offered, walking back into the room with a tray holding two cups and a pot of coffee. She held it up a little higher. “I thought I’d bring the whole thing in.” After she’d set it down, she looked over at her husband. “You had to talk to Lydia about a possible sale because she owns a piece of the company.” She looked at Nicki. “Lydia told you, didn’t she?”
“Well it couldn’t have been Mink,” Brad grumbled. “She’s as dumb as a post.”
“Don’t underestimate her,” Gin warned. “She got her share out of Robin, even if he refused to marry her.”
Nicki listened to the exchange, tucking tidbits of information away along with the distinct impression that neither Brad nor Gin acted as if they had something to hide.
Matt cleared his throat. “Why did you want to sell the company? It seems like it’s doing pretty well.”
“It is. Or it was until Robin started pissing off the clients by refusing to do anything but what he wanted to bake. I even had an argument with him about that—accused him of trying to sabotage the business so we couldn’t sell it. And now he’s turned up dead.” The bitterness in Brad’s voice had Gin reaching over and interlacing her fingers with his. “So it’s probably only worth half as much anyway, even if I could find another interested buyer.”
Nicki jumped on that. “You had a buyer already?”
“A couple of nibbles. One was pretty serious,” Brad nodded. “But he called yesterday and backed out. He’s not interested when one of the principal partners has been murdered, and there’s a rumor going around we’re about to lose our biggest contract.”
Wanting to skirt around that issue, Nicki chose a different direction. “You never answered Matt’s question. Why did you want to sell the company in the first place?”
“Life’s too short to spend any more time with the Robins in this world than you have to,” Gin said.
Brad nodded his agreement. “We’d built the company from a one-client local outfit, to something a lot more substantial, with several big clients in Tacoma and several more in Seattle. We have a branch office in both places and kitchen space available for us to rent. The company was worth a lot more than when I came on board five years ago. Which is how I planned it. I knew how Robin was, although he’d gotten worse over the years. But I also saw the potential. He was a great baker, all I needed to do was leverage that a bit and build on it. Create enough equity in the company that when we sold it, Gin and I would have enough money to start our own catering business, without having a Robin to deal with.”
“But Robin didn’t go along with your plan?” Nicki asked.
“Not when it came time to actually sell the company. Which put him in breach of the contract. I could have sued and forced the sale.”
Matt adjusted his glasses as he stared at Brad. “You had the future sale in your partnership agreement?”
“You bet,” Brad snapped out. “That was a condition for me to come on as a partner. Now I’m going to have to wait and see who Robin left his part of the business to before I can find another buyer.” He sighed and looked down into his coffee cup. “That’s assuming there will be anything left to sell.”
There was a long silence as Nicki and Matt exchanged looks. He made a subtle motion with his hand toward the front door, then frowned when Nicki shook her head.
“Brad, who do you think killed Robin?”
He glanced over at Nicki and gave her a blank look as if he’d never considered the matter before. “I have no idea. Anybody and everybody, I guess. Except maybe Kylie and his daughter. Kylie because she could never do something like that, and his daughter is too far away.”
“Did you ever discover anything missing from his office?”
This time it was Gin who shook her head. “Nothing. Not one single thing.”
“What about one of the bottles of wine he had on display?” Nicki asked.
“Which one?” Brad rolled his eyes. “He had at least half a dozen on his wall or in that temperature-controlled glass cabinet.”
“The one his father gave him,” Nicki said. “It was in the center of the cabinet?”
“I remember it. But his father didn’t exactly give it to him. He inherited it after his father died. I remember because when it suddenly showed up, I asked him about it, and he said he got it as part of his dad’s estate.”
“Did he mention what kind of wine it was? I understand his mom was a collector.”
“I’m not a big wine guy, I have a distributor I leave that to. But I remember it was some kind of Cabernet or Bordeaux. Definitely French. And his dad wouldn’t have gotten it from Robin’s mom.”
S
urprised, Nicki flashed a quick look at Matt before returning her attention to the caterer. “Why not?”
“If he had, Robin wouldn’t have put it on display. He didn’t get along with his mom.” Brad laughed. “Now there’s a big surprise. Robin didn’t get along with anyone except his dad, his daughter, and Kylie. I don’t even think he called Paul in the last few months, and those two have known each other since they were in diapers.”
“Yes, Paul told me that.” Nicki’s forehead wrinkled in thought. It was several long moments before she brought her gaze back into focus on Brad. “Do you remember the last time you saw that bottle of wine?”
“Not really. It hadn’t been there that long since his dad only died six months ago. And he didn’t seem to want to talk about it, so I just ignored the whole thing.” Brad looked over at his wife. “Do you remember that bottle of wine?”
“Not specifically,” Gin said slowly. “But it was there the day before he died.”
Nicki eagerly leaned forward. “Are you sure?”
“Positive,” the woman nodded. “I was in Robin’s office telling him that the cleaning service had said they were going to charge extra for having to dust all the stuff he had on display. I remember looking over at that wall and there weren’t any empty spaces. Every bottle was there.”
“How about the pin?”
Gin shook her head. “What pin?”
“The one on a blue ribbon. It looked like it might have been hanging on the bottle?”
“I never noticed any pin.”
Chapter Ninety-One
Since Brad and Gin only lived a block from the harbor, Matt suggested they leave the car where it was and take a walk along the water. Thinking he might be more worried about the possible loss of a large advertiser than he let on, Nicki quickly agreed. A little time taking in the fresh air would be good for both of them.
As they strolled toward the water, hand-in-hand, Matt matched his long stride to Nicki’s much shorter one. The silence between them was comfortable, just like everything was with Matt. Natural, easy, and safe. Enjoying the warmth of their friendship, and something deeper beyond that, Nicki moved closer, smiling when Matt looked at her.