Soufflé Murder: A Seagrass Sweets Cozy Mystery

by Sandi Scott

  Ashley couldn't really decide whether she thought him innocent or not. He really hadn't said anything that helped her eliminate him as a suspect, but there was nothing to convince her that he was a killer either. She thought of another question that might help clarify things.

  “Cash,” Ashley said softly, “you were missing for a while right after the toasts. You left Robin, Patty, and me to speak with someone, you said. Is there someone who could tell the investigators where you were during that time? That has to be when Howard was killed and being able to prove where you were could quickly take you off that suspect list.”

  Cash’s face flushed, and he dropped his head. After a moment, he looked toward the kitchen before leaning toward Ashley again. “Please don't tell Robin, Ashley. I really don't want her to know where I was.” He noticed the look on Ashley's face and quickly added, “It's nothing illegal or that kind of bad. It’s just that I don't want her to know what I was doing if there's any way to avoid it. She'd be so disappointed, and I don't want to add that to everything else she's dealing with right now.”

  Ashley's heart sank. The thought that Cash was keeping a secret from Robin didn't sound like a good thing. Nodding, though, Ashley agreed. She figured that if it was relevant to the case, she could tell the detective without mentioning it to Robin—maybe that was splitting hairs, but it let her keep her promise to Cash without withholding key information.

  “I've been so stressed with the wedding plans, with Uncle Howard's snarky attitude, with my publisher's looming deadline, and with the accompanying writer's block that I started smoking again a few weeks ago. I don't want Robin to find out, and I'm already trying to quit. I only have a cigarette when I start to feel like I'm drowning—like after Howard's rant at the dinner—but you know how Robin is about keeping our bodies clean. She would hate the idea of me smoking even one cigarette, ever!”

  Knowing Robin's near obsession with maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Ashley understood him wanting to keep his smoking a secret. His bride-to-be would, indeed, be disappointed in him although Ashley didn't think she would be as upset as Cash believed and that she'd be forgiving, especially since he was already working to stop.

  “I can see that,” Ashley replied. “Do the police know? Do you think anyone saw you and could maybe confirm that to them?”

  “I told the sheriff,” Cash said. “I don't think anyone saw me, though. I worked too hard to make sure no one did so that no one could spill it to Robin. I went out into the parking lot where I could hide behind a car. But I found a small bench at the very edge of the lot with some bushes just in front of it so I sat behind them. I couldn't see the building so I'm pretty sure no one could see me either. I showed the sheriff where I was, and he did find the cigarette butts I left. Of course, there's no proof that I'm the one who dropped them or when they were left there, but he said that he believed me. I offered to let them do a swab for a DNA test, but he said that what that would tell them wouldn't be worth the expense since I'd already admitted that the butts were mine.”

  “Listen, Cash,” Ashley said as she reached out to touch his arm, “do you remember my partner, Patty?” At his nod, she continued, “She was a heavy smoker when she got to Seagrass, and she had a hard time when she decided to stop. I remember that she had very bad cravings for cigarettes, especially in the first couple of weeks. She found that if she could distract herself for about 15-20 minutes she could get past the cravings without giving in to them. She took a lot of short walks during those few weeks, and she said that keeping her hands busy helped. When she couldn't take a walk, she would knead a ton of bread dough. Maybe there's something there that could help you, too”

  Cash smiled weakly. “I don't know about making bread, but I could definitely take a walk. Maybe playing a game on my phone or something like that would work, too.”

  “That's a good idea,” Ashley encouraged him. “Patty also said that it helped when she spent time with non-smokers in places that don't allow smoking. You know, I bet she'd be able to give you some more tips. You could give her a call or even drop by our kitchens if you want.”

  “I appreciate that, and I might need to take you up on the offer,” Cash said. “We've been busy enough with the wedding plans that I haven't been eating and gaining weight, but I had been having trouble sleeping. I'm pretty sure my current problems concentrating on my writing is from the nicotine withdrawal when I try to stop—and I'm pretty sure I've been a lot crankier lately!”

  Ashley gave him the phone number for The Southern Bird, along with Patty's cell phone number, and she encouraged him again to give Patty a call. That done, Ashley sat back to think about what she'd learned.

  Just then, Robin came back in from the kitchen; carrying a tray with the coffee carafe, cups, cake plates, and forks on it. Cash jumped up and took the tray from her, setting it carefully on the coffee table and helping Robin settle onto the sofa. He gave Ashley a pleading look before turning back to Robin. Ashley nodded to let him know she would keep his secret. She couldn't find a reason to tell Robin or anyone else at that point.

  Taking a bite of the cake after she'd served the others, Robin exclaimed, “Oh, my gosh! Ashley, this is delicious! This is the first thing I've eaten since the rehearsal dinner, that has tasted even a little good to me! I don't remember what foods were served yesterday or for lunch today. You have to teach me how to make this!”

  Ashley smiled. “It's a pretty basic recipe. The secret is to put jam on the cooled cake before adding the frosting. We can get together sometime, and I'll show you how to make it.”

  After taking a sip of her coffee, Ashley asked, “Are y'all staying in town after you're married? I kind of got that impression from something you said last night, but it seemed like it might still be something you were keeping quiet, so I didn't want to ask then.” Robin had told her several times that she was unhappy in her high-pressure advertising job in Houston, and that she and Cash both would prefer to live at the slower pace of a small town.

  Robin nodded. “We haven't told anyone except our immediate families, but we have decided to move to Seagrass. In fact, we've already found a darling little house close to downtown, and we'll settle in there after the wedding. As a writer, Cash can work pretty much anywhere as long as he has an Internet connection. And he's been talking forever about writing a novel based on some of the events in Texas history. This is the perfect place for doing the research for that, too, since so much of that history happened within a couple of hours' drive. I'm going to open a small boutique that will specialize in accessories—purses, hats, jewelry, and that sort of thing. Well, I was planning to open it. Uncle Howard was going to be my silent partner, but now, I just don't know if I have the heart for it anymore.” Her voice broke on the last statement.

  Cash wrapped her in a hug and kissed the top of her head. “He was so proud of you, hon. He was over-the-top excited about having you here in town, and he was happy to help make that happen. He worked hard to keep from having to admit it, but it came through loud and clear when he talked about you. You made him happy, sweetheart, and he would expect you to keep going on your dream. If you don't, it wouldn't surprise me if he came back to haunt you over it.”

  Robin wiped tears from under her eyes, smiling wanly. “I know you're right, honey, and I'll get there eventually. Ashley, we are going to wait to reschedule the wedding ceremony until after Uncle Howard's funeral. We talked about just having a courthouse ceremony, but my parents insisted that Uncle Howard would come back to haunt us forever if we did that. Robin laughed weakly. “Right now, we don't know exactly when Uncle Howard’s service or the wedding will be because the medical examiner hasn't released his ... hasn't released him to the funeral home yet, but we think that will probably happen this afternoon based on what the detective said. The service will likely be the day after tomorrow, and we think we'll be able to have a small wedding next weekend. I know it's short notice, but would you and Patty be able to put together food for a small recepti
on, for no more than 20 to 25 people?”

  “We would be honored, Robin,” Ashley replied. “And what about after the funeral? Would you like for us to prepare some sandwiches, salads, and sweets? It would be totally on the house—our way of extending our condolences to you and your family—but we don't want to overstep if you've already made other arrangements.”

  For a moment, Robin seemed unable to speak so Cash stepped in. “Ashley, that would be great, but we don't expect you to give away your food or your time. We can pay you for it.”

  “No,” Ashley was adamant. “Patty and I discussed it yesterday, and we want to do this for you. We want to help any way we can, and this is where we shine. All we need from y'all is a list of any food allergies or preferences, an approximate head count, and a time and place. Ryan offered to come along and help set up so we've got it all covered. This is what friends do for each other. It's also part of living in a small town—one of the good parts—and you're part of our town now!”

  Robin stepped over and hugged Ashley. “I'd forgotten just how good a person you are, Ashley, and how much you have always helped others. And I see that Patty has a giving heart as well. Thank you so much!”

  Cash gave Ashley a quick side hug then took Robin's hand. “We do appreciate everything, Ashley. Graham offered us the use of Estes Mount for both gatherings. We can call you about the funeral as soon as we can confirm it, and we're planning on Sunday afternoon for the wedding, assuming there are no more delays with the funeral. Will that work for you?”

  “Absolutely,” Ashley smiled. “You just let us know when it's set, and we'll take care of it for you. You can focus on more important things.”

  The three of them visited for a few more minutes. Then Ashley excused herself, promising to check on the couple again the next day. She hadn't learned much about the case, but she had a little more information to contemplate, and she might be able to push one more person to the bottom of the suspect list.

  CHAPTER SIX

  After she got home, Ashley tried to keep busy to distract herself from her whirling thoughts. She started some laundry, swept and mopped the kitchen and bathroom floors, and then settled down on the couch with both a book and one of her favorite 1950s comedy movies. No matter what she tried, though, her mind wouldn't let go of the murder case.

  “Dizzy, I can't stand seeing a friend so upset and not being able to help,” Ashley told the dog who was snuggled up next to her. “There has to be a way to solve this case so that Robin can move forward, but I've got no idea where to even start. The other times, I've known the victim or the suspects a lot better, or I've learned something about the case from the sheriff or witnesses that told me where to look for suspects and clues. But this time, I don't know much, and, as far as I can tell, there weren't any witnesses to the actual murder.”

  Ashley considered it for a moment. “One thing that I do know is that Howard Andrews was a mean-spirited man so there were probably a lot of people who didn't like him. But was that enough to make them want to kill him? Graham and Cash both said he was all bark and no bite.”

  “Woof!” Dizzy interjected. She cocked her head and looked up at Ashley.

  “Sorry, girl—I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I guess that expression might be a little offensive to those of the canine persuasion!” Ashley laughed. Getting serious once again, she mused, “I know that Howard didn't approve of Cash and wasn't shy about making sure everyone knew it, and I know that Cash was missing from the dinner for a while. But he says he was sneaking a cigarette or two, and it sounds like the sheriff has already checked on that and cleared him from immediate suspicion. On the other hand, what if he ran into Howard on his way back to the dinner and Howard said something that just really made him angry? I need to check the timeline to find out if he could have shoved Howard into the pond on an impulse and then gone back into the house another way.” After a few moments' thought, she realized that scenario probably wouldn't work. Someone most likely held Howard's head under the water in case he regained consciousness too soon, which meant that it would have taken longer than an impulsive shove. Plus, Cash had been wearing long sleeves, and they would have gotten wet. He wouldn't have stopped to roll them up if it was a crime of passion and opportunity.

  Ashley sighed deeply, causing Dizzy to whine and snuggle in closer, bumping Ashley's thigh gently with her nose. “It's okay, sweetie,” Ashley reassured her. I'm just frustrated because I don't have any more suspects or clues. I just hope Luna has more leads than I do, or this thing may never be solved!”

  After trying again to read and realizing that she had read the same paragraph four times and didn't have a clue what it was about, Ashley decided to head back to the commercial kitchen and do some cooking. She did that often when she couldn't sleep. Because of her habit, the kitchen’s large walk-in freezer was always well stocked for last-minute catering opportunities.

  Dizzy curled up on her bed in the storage area at the back of the shop and was soon snoring happily. Ashley watched her dog for a few minutes, smiling as Dizzy’s feet jerked in her sleep and wondering just what the dog was dreaming.

  Ashley shook her head and went into the pantry where she gathered basic baking supplies: flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda. She wasn't sure yet exactly what she felt like baking, but she knew she'd need those things for most anything. Placing the items on the large stainless-steel prep table in the middle of the cooking area, she walked over to the bookcase near the door. There, she ran her finger along the spines of the cookbooks until she found her grandmother's handwritten recipe collection, stashed in a three-ring binder that was held together with a rubber band. Pulling it from the shelf, she carried it to the table and sat down with the cup of tea she'd made when she and Dizzy first arrived.

  Ashley began flipping through the recipes, trying to clear the murder case completely from her mind. As she looked at them, she smiled at the memories of baking with her grandmother and talking through her teen angst. She gathered a few recipes, deciding to make biscotti and tea cakes. She thought she might also work on that chocolate hazelnut soufflé recipe again. If it worked well, the soufflé would be perfect for Robin's wedding reception.

  “Hey, Dizzy,” Ashley called. “What do you think about orange-walnut biscotti and lemon tea cakes?” She laughed when the dog woofed energetically, and then she started measuring the ingredients for the biscotti.

  While the biscotti baked, Ashley mixed up her grandmother's recipe for tea cakes, substituting lemon extract for the vanilla. She popped them into the oven and put the first baked biscotti on the wire rack to cool before she sliced them and put them back into the oven.

  Ten minutes later, as Ashley pulled the tea cakes out of the oven, she heard a knock on the locked back door. Before she could react, Dizzy jumped up, spinning around and barking happily. Watching her silly canine, Ashley was pretty sure she knew who was at the door.

  “Hey, Ryan,” Ashley greeted him as she opened the door. “What are you doing here so late?”

  “I was about to ask you the same thing,” Ryan said, leaning in for a quick kiss. “I was out with some IT guys I know, and when I was driving by and saw the lights, I thought I'd stop and check to be sure everything was okay. What's up? Are you all right?”

  “Oh, I couldn't focus for thinking about Robin and her uncle, and I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep so I decided to come do some baking. You have remarkable timing, too. I just pulled some lemon tea cakes from the oven!”

  Ashley put a few cookies on a plate and handed them to Ryan. “Wow!” he exclaimed. “The aroma is delicious, but they're cookies! I thought you said you were baking cakes.”

  Ashley laughed. “Yeah, I have no idea how British cakes turned into Southern cookies, but there you are! Tell me what you think. This is my Nana Nancy's recipe, except I used lemon extract instead of vanilla. I remember baking them with her. It was so special because that was the only time I was ever allowed to drink tea. Nana would fix chamomil
e tea and pimento cheese sandwiches with the bread crusts trimmed off. She would take out two of her grandmother's cups and saucers, and we'd share the sandwiches, hot tea, and the freshly baked cookies. It was so much fun—both for the yummy food and for the time I got to spend with her. It was really great.”

  “And so are these cookies,” Ryan said. “I love everything you cook, Ash, but I'm thinking these may be my new favorites!”

  “Well, we'll see how long that lasts,” Ashley giggled. “The biscotti should be out in just a few more minutes, and I'll bet you like those, too. They were Grampa Sam's favorites. Nana teased him all the time that he would choose a favorite that required extra work.”

  “Biscotti?” Ryan asked. “Aren't those the ones that get baked twice? And they're crunchy—supposed to be perfect for dipping into tea or coffee or something like that?”

  “Yep,” Ashley answered. “These have a subtle orange flavor so I'm going to make us a pot of cranberry blood orange tea to go with them.”

  The couple shared the events of their day while enjoying hot tea and cookies. When she finished her tea, Ashley mixed up a simple chocolate hazelnut soufflé while they chatted some more. If it turned out well, the recipe would make serving soufflé to 25 people a lot easier, and it would add a special touch of elegance to Robin's reception.

  Ryan kept her laughing with stories about his IT customers who were technology challenged, including the one who called in a panic because her business computer “has the flu” instead of a virus. They talked and laughed through the soufflé tasting and the kitchen cleanup. Ryan declared the soufflé an undeniable success, and Ashley was inclined to agree. If Patty also like the dessert, Seagrass Sweets would have a new menu item.