Bake Off

by S. Y. Robins

  “Mr. Galloway.” Officer Johnson sounded grim. “Earlier today, we went to ask Mr. Pike’s coworkers if they knew of any threats he might have received. And they did. You threatened him earlier this week.”

  “That’s a lie!”

  “You came to the office and promised that you’d get back at him for what he’d done to you,” the other officer said. “There were numerous witnesses, all of whom offered the same story.”

  “Miss Hayes’s work, no doubt!”

  “Oh, come on,” Audrey said, sounding deeply annoyed. “No one’s going to believe that.”

  “Especially given that Mr. Pike went to talk to his manager after your meeting on Tuesday to say he didn’t feel safe during that meeting,” Officer Johnson concurred. He paused. “Apparently, you took the news that you were facing bankruptcy pretty hard.”

  “Bankruptcy?” Audrey’s voice rang out furiously.

  “We wouldn’t be if he’d just given me the loan!” Marvin snapped.

  “What did you even need the money for?” Audrey asked him. “It’s not like I go shopping or anything, and I always asked you before making contributions. I don’t understand.”

  “I needed the house! I needed the car, and you needed clothes.”

  “I have clothes!”

  “I wanted you to have diamonds and something nice to drive.” Marvin’s voice was pleading.

  “I didn’t need any of that,” Audrey whispered. “Why…why?”

  “Because I wanted you to stay with me!”

  There was a stricken silence.

  “Audrey, you’re thirty.” Marvin was pleading. “You’re more beautiful than I deserve. You wanted children, and I couldn’t give you that. Someday you were going to wake up and realize you married an old man, and you were going to leave. People were already saying you married me for my money.”

  “And you believed them?” Her voice was cold. “I loved you. That’s why I married you. We’ve been together seven years, Marvin. If I wanted your money, I’d have spent it by now. I would never have left you…until now. Because now I realize you don’t trust me at all. You didn’t listen to me when I told you what I wanted. You let people poison you for years against me, believing I only wanted your money. I can’t…I can’t believe this.” There was a sob building in her voice.

  “Ma’am, Officer Giles will take you home if you want.” Officer Johnson’s voice was soft. “Mr. Galloway, you’ll need to come with us.”

  “Audrey!” Marvin’s voice was stricken.

  “Goodbye, Marvin.” Audrey walked away without looking back.

  6

  “Did she sleep at all?” Nick asked softly the next morning.

  “I don’t know. She was crying for a while.” Emmeline looked toward her guest bedroom, her forehead creasing with worry. Even the smells of bacon and French toast hadn’t tempted Audrey out yet, and it was close to 10 AM.

  The woman had said she would drive home, but by the time they reached Nick’s car, tears were streaming down her face, and they all knew she couldn’t drive. Emmeline had bundled her into the guest bedroom with a hot water bottle and a cup of herbal tea, recognizing that Audrey just wanted to be alone, but wanting to help any way she could. She’d lain awake listening to Audrey’s sobs for a while after that, her heart twisting.

  “She took it hard,” Nick said. He grimaced into his coffee. “I feel bad for thinking she was a trophy wife. I guess it just always made me think less of him, you know? I hadn’t realized it hurt her so much.”

  “I’d never thought of it that way, either.” Emmeline cut a bite of her toast and frowned. It didn’t seem right to be eating when there was someone so miserable in the next room; the whole world seemed off kilter. “And of course no one ever said it to her because she was doing so much for the community. She really was just trying to be nice.”

  “You know, I met Marvin once or twice around the time I won that big book award.” Nick cradled his coffee mug in his hands. “He was a really smart guy, seemed nice. Lot of interests. Looking back on it, I feel like I should have seen how insecure he was about Audrey. But I see why she loved him—they had a good life together. If only he’d believed her that what she wanted was peace and quiet, not expensive clothes.” He raised his eyebrow. “You know, this is the sort of thing I’d write about, but it seems too close. Too real.”

  “You don’t have to let anyone see it,” Emmeline offered. “Just write. Get it out. Writing for you is like baking for me.”

  “That’s true.” Nick nodded. “You’re right. Maybe they’ll show up in one of my novels in fifteen years or so. Unless I’ve fizzled out. Awards curse and all that.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Don’t be falsely modest, it’s not becoming.” Emmeline took a bite of French toast and smiled. “This is delicious, by the way.”

  “Cooking—another one of my talents.” Nick raised his mug in a mock salute. “You’re going to be late for work, you know.”

  “Ugh, yes.” Emmeline looked down into her own mug and drained it in one long gulp. “For once, I’m in no mood to make all those pastries.”

  “No?”

  “No. I just want to crawl back into bed. But you know everyone’s going to want to come in and talk about the arrest. Tea shops are the new bars.”

  “Mmm.” Nick grinned and then looked up as the paper thudded against the door. “I’ll go get that. Eat your breakfast.”

  “Yes, sir.” Emmeline attacked her toast with a vengeance.

  “Well, this is interesting.” Nick’s voice filtered back from the porch.

  “What is? Close the door, it’s cold.” The mornings were chilly now. Emmeline poured herself another cup of hot coffee and cradled it in her hands until the shivers subsided. She watched as Nick walked back in slowly, reading the front page article. “Spill, what is it?”

  “Well, they don’t know about the arrest yet, but it turns out a great many people saw Mayor Galloway go down that hallway alone before James’s body was found. You’ll be pleased to know that a great many people did seem to think, ‘her? Never!’ about you, by the way. One or two of them thought to wonder why Galloway said it was you, and the rest, as they say, is history.”

  “Last night it sounded like even the police didn’t believe him.”

  “I don’t think they did. It was just their job to come talk to you and try to work any angle they could to see if you might be guilty.”

  “Mmf,” Emmeline said grumpily.

  “I’m pretty sure you looked surprised enough that they decided right off it wasn’t you. Galloway insisting it was just set the blame back on him.” Nick sighed.

  “What is it?”

  “I feel bad for James. He had everything ahead of him. And you know what? In a way, he would have been perfect for Audrey. Both of them were quiet and good with crafts, and maybe he would have believed her about wanting to live a quiet life. I think they would really have hit it off. She tried to hate him for her husband’s sake, and between that and the lies…” He shook his head.

  The door to the guest bedroom opened and they turned to see Audrey, her eyes red. She tried to smile, but her chin trembled.

  “Come sit,” Emmeline offered. “I’ll get you a plate.”

  “I don’t think I can eat.”

  “You have to. Everything will just get worse if you don’t have any food or sleep.” Emmeline retrieved some slices of French toast from the oven, piled a few strips of bacon on the plate, and brought out another mug for coffee. “Sit.”

  “What’s in the paper?” Audrey was staring at Nick’s hands, still holding the front page.

  “Nothing.” He closed it and shoved it off to the side.

  “Tell me.”

  “They don’t know about the arrest yet,” Nick said grudgingly. “That’s all, really. You should eat.”

  Between the two of them, Emmeline and Nick managed to coax Audrey into eating a piece of the toast and all of her bacon, and drinking a bit of coffee.

  �
��Isn’t that better?” Emmeline said encouragingly.

  “I have to go home,” Audrey whispered, clearly terrified. “All the news trucks will be there, won’t they? And people staring, and…I can’t do it.”

  “So stay here today. I’ve got plenty of books, and I’ll make up another pot of coffee. Maybe call your family?”

  “That sounds nice.” Audrey gave a smile so grateful, she looked like she was going to cry. “And I just remembered my truck is still in the woods.”

  “We’ll go pick it up tonight,” Emmeline promised. “And now I have to go, because I really am late for work.”

  “I’ll walk you out.” Nick followed her onto the porch. “Are you okay, Em?”

  “I’m already late,” Emmeline said as she buttoned her coat.

  “Exactly, you’re already late. People will understand about the scones.” His face sobered. “But you’ve had a hard couple of days. Seriously—are you all right?”

  “I am. I will be.” Emmeline shook her head. “I’m just glad it’s over.”

  “Yeah.” He sighed. “Okay, then. I’ll see you tonight.”

  “Tonight?” Emmeline frowned.

  “Steaks and wine, remember?”

  “Oh. Right.” Emmeline paused. “Look, Nick… I love these dinners, but…”

  “But.” For some reason, he looked crestfallen. “I get it.”

  “No! I really do, I love them. But don’t you have other things to do?” When he frowned at her quizzically, Emmeline waved her hands. “Dates to be going on, maybe?” When he only stared at her, his mouth twitching, she frowned at him. “What?”

  “I…oh, screw it.” He ran his hands through his dark hair. “Emmeline, the first time I asked you to come over for dinner, I was trying to ask you out.”

  “What? …Really?”

  “Yes!” Nick waved his hands. “Don’t you remember, I had candles, I had wine…and then you said something about it being good to know your neighbors and I just…?”

  “You didn’t correct me?” Emmeline demanded.

  “I panicked! I thought you were trying to shut me down gently. And then sometimes it seemed like you were flirting, and sometimes it seemed like you were dressing up for our dinners, and I got to know you and I just kept falling for you harder and harder. Every time I told myself I’d be brave enough to ask you out, and every time…anyway, I had plans for tonight.”

  “You did?” Emmeline was blushing.

  “Yes! Well, last night. I was finally going to ask you out. You know, really.”

  “What were your plans?”

  “Drink a whole bunch of wine for courage, mainly.”

  Emmeline started laughing, and once she’d started, she couldn’t stop.

  “What?” Nick asked, sounding aggrieved.

  “You mean we could have been dating this whole time?” She sank her face into her hands. “I was so convinced you’d never go for me that I said that about neighbors so you wouldn’t think I thought it was a date. And then I kept falling for you, but I thought you’d have a girlfriend or something.”

  Nick started laughing as well.

  “I can’t believe…no. You know what? No more talking.” He pulled her close and his lips met hers.

  Emmeline gasped. Her skin was tingling, her stomach seemed to have disappeared entirely, and she couldn’t feel her feet. She realized her arms had come up around Nick’s neck and she pressed herself close as she returned the kiss. She felt tumbled over, as sick with fear as if she’d leapt off a cliff—and at the same time, comfortable in Nick’s arms. She was home.

  “You’re going to be late,” Nick muttered against her mouth.

  “People will wait for the scones,” she murmured back.

  “Good point.” He smiled and pulled her close. “Very, very good point.”

  The End

  The Death Next Door

  Cozy Mystery

  About the Book

  In the midst of the crush of a lifetime, Milly Dupont finds herself entangled in a murder mystery. Quiet little Milly that runs the quiet little tea shop across from the corner shop discovers that the shop owner has been possibly kidnapped, maybe even murdered. But where’s Davina’s body? With the help of Edgar, her ever observant cat and companion, Milly starts to put together clues that may lead to Davina, or to her killer. Wanting only to find out the truth about what happened to Davina, her friend and surrogate mother, Milly sets out to find the truth. But can she get to the truth before the assailant gets to her?

  Coping with a snarky detective, few clues, and trying to run her business, Milly may be in over her head. Through persistence and a need to know what happened to Davina, Milly starts to find clues but is the suspect Davina’s boyfriend; Callum, Davina’s shop helper and Milly’s crush; or the unknown boyfriend Milly had only just found out about? With a cast of suspects to choose from Milly isn’t sure who to look at first but she has to find the real suspect before they find her, that’s the one thing she does know.

  1

  August

  Milly Dupont danced around her kitchen, singing along to the song she had blaring in the shop’s kitchen as she decorated cream cakes and scones, completely oblivious and happy as she moved her round little body in what she considered to be a sultry and sexy manner. She was perfectly aware any viewer might have collapsed in fits of laughter but she let herself go with abandon, laughing with joy as she belted out the song.

  She ended her dancing by singing along to the long “Ahhhhhhhhh” that finished the song, and smiled to herself. Her morning routine usually resulted in oddly decorated cream cakes and this morning was no different, she noted as she scrutinized her handy-work. Those three were far too rudely decorated to put out in the shop; she thought to herself as she moved the plates away. She’d share them with Edgar, her black cat, later after she had her tea. Or maybe she’d break into the treats earlier, for lunch, perhaps. Giggling, Milly exited the kitchen to the front of her tea shop to put the confections into the display case, turning on the machinery that would allow her to make tea, specialty coffees, and heat up whatever pastries her customers might want.

  Finally, Milly had everything set up and she allowed her green eyes to trail off to the world outside as morning commuters began to pass by her shop. Most of the locals wouldn’t be in until later, preferring to frequent Milly’s shop at a later time of day so they could learn any gossip they might have missed on their morning rounds from their friends, before going home to prepare their family’s tea.

  Wirkster was a tiny village but if one paid attention, Milly thought, there was a good deal going on. She knew for instance, that Mr. Carpenter passing by the window now was only going to drive up to the barn a mile up the road before turning off to meet his secretary for their morning assignations. For the last year, his wife had thought he was driving into work early to pick up a co-worker, when in fact, he was only going for a tryst. And there went Miss Carpenter, off to the market where she openly sold her crocheted crafts but secretly slid different pirated films into the towels and potholders she’d fashioned when her customer asked for a specific colour. Apparently this week’s best seller was candy-apple red cloche hats and came with a copy of a film about a man that made himself a suit out of metal. If customers only picked up their purchase or asked for a plain colour, the film was not included and Miss Carpenter did not tack on an additional fee. She’d not been caught yet but Milly suspected she would be before long.

  Tying her long dark hair up into a braid and setting up the tables for her first customers, Milly wondered what news today would bring. She noticed it was almost 7 am now; Callum would be walking by her window soon. Pushing her glasses back up her nose Milly walked behind the counter, not wanting Callum Davidson to catch her waiting expectantly by the window again. Callum worked next door at the corner shop. He used to come in for a cup of tea every morning but his visits had become fewer after he’d caught her waiting for him at the window. Callum liked the young model types and
at 31, with a frumpy waistline, Milly didn’t fit that bill. Sighing, Milly prepared a cup of tea anyway, in case he stopped by this morning.

  She sighed as she saw his tall, curly and dark-haired frame walk by the window. Not today either, then. She sipped from the cup then put it down, focusing on the couple that walked in the door, obviously tourists because Milly had never met them before. Milly had grown up in Wirkster; she knew who every one of the villagers were, who they belonged with, and where they lived. These were strangers, therefore they must be walkers at least, tourists most definitely.

  “What can I get you then?” Milly asked with a smile as the couple walked to the counter.

  “Two cuppas and a toasted teacake for the Missus, please.” The man asked as they moved over to a table. Milly prepared their order and carried it over, collecting their payment before returning to the counter. Tourists sometimes forgot to pay, after all.

  She listened to the couple discussing the path their walk was going to take today and thought it was a good day for a walk. The sun was out and some of last night’s chill had left the air, although the sun had yet to make it over the council building. Winter was coming but it still had a while yet. Milly would walk more if she had a dog but all she had was Edgar and he’d as soon drag Milly all over her small flat on top of the shop, as to go outside for a walk. His only walks outside happened in the night, when he could escape out the door, to do whatever cats do when they went out on the prowl.

  Milly stood back up as Callum came running through the door, barely shutting it before shouting at Milly to call emergency services. Milly’s blood began to pound, worry settling in, but she could see Callum was fine so it wasn’t him needing looking after. She picked up the phone, and asked Callum what was wrong as she dialled.

  “Davina isn’t in and the shop’s a wreck! There’s even blood on the counter! Something’s happened in there but Davina’s not in. I think she’s been murdered, Milly!”