Easy Bake Coven: Book One of the Vivienne Finch Magical Mysteries

by J. D. Shaw

  Vivienne rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “I don’t know, but the sun is up.” She reached into her purse and glanced at the clock on the phone display. “It’s half past nine.” She couldn’t help but notice there were six missed calls, but it was the two empty bottles of wine on the table that stood out the most. Had they really drank that much?

  Joshua massaged his temples with his fingers. “I’m glad I don’t go in until five tonight. I’m going to need the entire morning to get ready.”

  Vivienne slipped the phone back into her purse. She rocked her head back and forth, as the loveseat didn’t provide the most comfortable sleeping accommodations. “I’m sorry about falling asleep like that. I don’t have much of a tolerance for holding my liquor.

  “Well, I wasn’t exactly sober myself after finishing that second bottle.” He agreed.

  She wrapped her arms around his shoulders in a warm embrace. “Thank you for being a gentleman.”

  He nuzzled her left ear. “Thank you for a wonderful second date.”

  Vivienne was about to respond when a loud knock shook the front door.

  “What the hell?” Joshua leapt up from the loveseat. “Sorry about that.” He marched over to the door and pulled back the side window curtain to find two police officers waiting on the other side. He opened the door partially. “Greg, Frank. What’s going on?”

  The taller of the two officers, Greg, was first to speak. “Sorry to bother you Deputy Arkins, but we received a phone call about a possible missing person that you are acquainted with.”

  Officer Frank interrupted. “Have you seen a Miss Vivienne Finch?”

  Upon hearing her name, Vivienne leapt up from the loveseat and ran over behind Joshua. “There’s no missing person, officers. I’m Vivienne Finch.”

  Officer Greg looked at Frank and shook his head. “I told you this wasn’t another crime.”

  “Gentlemen, what is going on? Who called in Vivienne as missing?” Joshua eyed them both with a little bit of resentment.

  Officer Frank flipped open his little black book. “The call was placed this morning by Mrs. Nora Finch.”

  “I should have known.” Vivienne fumed and tapped Joshua on the arm. “I’m sorry about this.”

  Officer Greg tipped his hat. “After what happened to Mona Clarke, we couldn’t just ignore the call. With her car parked outside your home, we had to follow up.”

  “I understand, gentlemen. You were only doing your jobs and I thank you for your vigilance.” Joshua looked at Vivienne for support.

  Vivienne felt her face flush red. “I truly am sorry for this. As you can see, I’m just fine.”

  “Sorry to bother you folks.” Officer Frank smiled. “You both have a good morning.” He turned and walked away as Officer Greg followed.

  Joshua shut the door and sighed. “We must be cursed or something.”

  “I know.” Vivienne agreed. “We spoke too soon about having a great second date.” She stomped over to her purse and grabbed the phone. “Excuse me a moment, I need to check in with a certain concerned mother.”

  Joshua nodded and headed for the kitchen. “Would you like some coffee?”

  “That would be great.” She spoke as she dialed the number and waited for Nora to answer.

  Nora answered on the first thing. “Oh, thank God you’re alive. I thought they were going to find you dead in the dumpster outside your store.”

  “Mother, I can’t believe you.” Vivienne’s voice raised a notch. “Sending the police on a search for me? Have you lost your mind?”

  “I tried calling you at home and the bakery and then your cell. When I didn’t hear back I just started to panic. With a serial killer loose in town, I was more than a little concerned for your safety.” Nora frantically explained.

  “I was with Joshua.” Vivienne snapped. “For the entire night, if you must know.”

  “Oh.” Nora’s voice cracked a bit in shock. “I never thought to try calling him. Actually, I don’t think I even have his home number.”

  “Mother, that’s not the point.” Vivienne took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. “I do have a social life and you’re not always going to be aware of what I’m doing every minute of every day.”

  “I know that dear.” Nora kept her tone neutral. “This murder has just got me all twisted up inside.”

  “You and the entire town it seems.” Vivienne agreed.

  “There was a police statement on the local news this morning. The medical examiner ruled Mona’s death a homicide.” Nora continued. “Can you believe it?”

  “My beliefs have been pushed all over the place lately.” Vivienne confessed. “Do they have a suspect?”

  “I don’t know yet.” Nora answered. “They’re supposed to have another update this afternoon.”

  “Well, thank you for your concern but in the future please don’t send the police out for me whenever I’m out of touch for more than a few hours.”

  “I’m sorry dear.” Nora apologized. “I hope it didn’t ruin the date.”

  “Let’s just say it setup a familiar pattern we hope to break in the future.” Vivienne smiled at Joshua who returned from the kitchen with two mugs of coffee in his hands. “I love you and I’ll call you later today.”

  “Love you too, dear.” Nora replied. “Glad to hear the date went so well last night.”

  Vivienne shook her head. “Goodbye, Mother.” She ended the call and graciously accepted the mug of steaming coffee. “Thank you.”

  Joshua moved over to the loveseat and sat down. “I put cream and sugar in it.”

  “That’s fine.” She took a sip and relished the smell from the steam. There was nothing in the world like the aroma of fresh brewed coffee. No matter how sleepy the senses, it always managed to do the trick.

  “So it sounds like things are okay with you and your mother.” Joshua smiled. “I’m glad about that. My family was never all that close growing up and it’s nice to see that bond still intact.”

  She joined him on the loveseat. “Yes, she just went overboard because the news reported that Mona Clarke’s death has been officially ruled a homicide.” Vivienne spoke between sips of coffee.

  “I didn’t think they were going to announce that yet.” Joshua paused in thought. “They must have a suspect in custody.”

  “Who would that be?” Vivienne asked.

  “I don’t know. It must have happened after my shift ended yesterday.” Joshua shrugged. “There weren’t all that many leads.”

  “I didn’t mean to pry.” She added. “I just wondered if it was someone local or a random stranger.”

  “Murder at the hands of a complete stranger is quite rare.” Joshua explained. “Unless there is a history of mental instability involved and then it’s quite possible.”

  “There aren’t many strangers that come into Cayuga Cove.” Vivienne reasoned. “At least, it would be very hard to not get noticed by someone in town.”

  “I agree.” Joshua took another sip of coffee. “I can only imagine what the neighbors are thinking about this morning.”

  “Well, I don’t know anyone who lives on this street.” Vivienne said with relief. “So that factor is in our favor.” She glanced at the sun streaming through the windows. “But, I really need to get a start on my day.”

  “I’m working until after midnight tonight, so I guess a third date will have to wait.”

  Vivienne handed him her coffee mug and stretched her arms up into the air. “Let’s hope it’s less eventful.”

  She gathered her purse and the grimoire together. After giving him a kiss goodbye, she crept out the door and let the sunshine warm her face. It was shaping up to be another beautiful fall day. At least, it looked that way until she reached her car and was barked at by Eunice Kilpatrick’s mean gray poodle.

  “Why, Vivienne Finch.” Eunice hushed her little poodle by giving a gentle tug on the pink leash that was embellished with fake gems. “What brings you over to our little neighborh
ood?” The poodle gave a little growl and bared its tiny teeth.

  “Good morning, Eunice. I didn’t know you lived on this street.” Vivienne’s stomach tightened into little knots. Eunice was perhaps the biggest gossip in all of Cayuga Cove, as any of the customers in her line at the Colonial Bank could tell you. In fact, there were really only two things Eunice seemed to delight in for recreational activities: spreading gossip and attending funerals. The latter always struck Vivienne as a bit morbid, but she supposed funerals were filled with a myriad of opportunities to strike conversations in hushed tones without drawing attention.

  “Oh, I moved into a home here about a month ago.” Eunice’s eyes lit up with pride. “One of my customers down at the bank, Audrey Simmons, has a son who works as a realtor. She told me about this little gem and how it was twice the space for the same amount of rent I was paying over on Whiskey Springs Road.”

  “Well, that was a blessing.” Vivienne reached into her purse and retrieved her keys, hoping it would signal her that it was time to wrap up the conversation.

  Eunice ignored her cue. “I couldn’t help but notice the police here earlier. Was anything wrong?”

  “Oh that?” Vivienne swallowed hard. “No, it was just some routine police business.”

  “And this little beauty is your car?” Eunice gestured to Vivienne’s sedan. “It’s so cute.”

  “Thank you.” Vivienne chose that moment to press the unlock button on her key fob. “It never gives me any trouble.”

  Eunice remained oblivious as her poodle sniffed the rear tire of Vivienne’s car and raised his leg to sprinkle it with urine. “I thought maybe the police were trying to enforce that ridiculous odd-even overnight parking.”

  Vivienne gave her a little smile. “I’ve already had one parking ticket this month and I certainly don’t need another.”

  “Well, don’t let me keep you.” Eunice gave the leash a little tug and the gray poodle barked at Vivienne once more. “I feel so much safer knowing a deputy lives here on the street.”

  “That’s great.” Vivienne clenched her teeth together and waved goodbye as she slid into her car. As she slammed the door shut she watched Eunice pick up her pace and disappear around the corner. “That’s just great.” She lowered her head and bumped it a few times on the steering wheel.

  Chapter 16

  When she had returned home she found Tom Cat curled up on her sofa sound asleep. His golden eyes flickered open to see who was invading his privacy and upon seeing her, stretched his paws out and then curled them over his little head.

  “Well, good morning to you too.” She shut the door and hung her keys on the entry wall hooks. “At least one of us had a comfortable bed to sleep in.”

  Tom Cat let out a sigh and returned to sleep.

  She went about taking a shower and getting herself ready for another day. With Mona’s memorial service taking place, she decided she would go down to the bakery and whip up some sort of dessert for Richard and the many guests that would surely follow back to his home afterwards.

  She debated whether or not to let Tom Cat stay inside, but seeing how the temperature had warmed considerably she figured he would benefit from the fresh air and escorted him out as she left her home. Besides, she didn’t have a real litter box or any cat food. She made a mental note to stop at the Monarch Grocery and pick up both items on her way to the bakery in case Tom Cat faced another night in the cold. ‘Oh, who am I kidding?’ She thought to herself. If she was investing in a litter box, she was committing to a long term relationship.

  It was half past noon when she arrived at the Sweet Dreams Bakery after picking up her cat essentials. After studying several dessert books, she ditched the professional recipes for something more personal from her collection of three by five recipe cards she kept in a candy tin that once held chocolate covered cherries. She went about creating an old family favorite, Treavis cake. The simple Bundt cake, flavored with pistachio and sugared walnut filling, tinted green and finished with a simple sugar glaze, always proved a crowd pleaser. The name was derived from an old family friend, Virginia Treavis, who brought it to many neighborhood potluck dinners over the years. Nana Mary started calling it ‘Treavis Cake’ and eventually so did everyone else who were fortunate enough to enjoy a slice. After her death a few years back, Virginia’s daughter had tucked the recipe into a thank you card for the flower arrangement she had sent to the family. ‘Mother insisted you inherit the famous recipe. Nothing would please her more than for you to carry on the legacy.’ She had written.

  She had no sooner finished drizzling the glaze onto the cooled cake when her bakery phone rang. Seeing Kathy’s number on the caller ID display, she answered on the second ring. “What’s going on, Kathy?”

  “Did you see the news?” Kathy asked.

  “That they set the time and date for Mona’s memorial service?”

  “Who cares about that?” Kathy mused. “You always have your head stuck in a cookbook so you miss the really good stuff.”

  “Well, I am a baker who works in a bakery.” Vivienne set the bowl with the sugar glaze down on the stainless steel workstation. “So what’s this sudden news flash?”

  “The police arrested Suzette Powell for Mona’s murder.” Kathy spit out breathlessly. “What do you think about that?”

  “Suzette Powell?” Vivienne couldn’t believe it. “Why on Earth would she kill Mona Clarke? The only thing they had in common was that they were both on the historic commission. That’s a motive for murder all of a sudden?”

  “Who knows with that bunch?” Kathy replied. “I highly doubt it was all sunshine and rainbows between them.”

  “That’s true.” Vivienne stared at the Treavis cake on the rotating stand. “I’ve known Suzette for years. I just can’t believe she would resort to cold-blooded murder.”

  “Do we ever really know our neighbors?” Kathy asked. “Isn’t that always what people say when they find out someone who lived among them did something terrible?”

  Vivienne thought back to yesterday when she had nearly collided with Suzette’s catering van. She seemed to be in an awful hurry and she definitely was having words with someone. “Come to think of it, I saw her van over by city hall where people were gathering and leaving flowers at the makeshift memorial.”

  “You did?” Kathy’s voice brightened. “Did you tell the police about it? Is that why she was arrested?”

  “No. It wasn’t anything big. I was driving over to Joshua’s last night and I almost ran into her van.”

  “Oh.” Kathy’s bright tone morphed into disappointment. “I thought maybe you were the key witness to the whole case.”

  “Oh, please.” Vivienne protested. “I did talk to Sheriff Rigsbee about Mona being in here but frankly he didn’t seem to act like my story added anything remotely useful.”

  “I wonder if you’ll be called to the trial as a witness? Wouldn’t that be exciting?”

  The very thought made Vivienne feel nervous. She had never even served on a jury, but the thought of being grilled by opposing attorneys was just too much. “Perish the thought.”

  “Well, you never know with these big trials.” Kathy added. “Why can’t my life be this exciting?”

  “You want to trade places with me?” Vivienne asked. “Be my guest.”

  There was a moment of silence on the line. “Well, not really.” Kathy continued. “But I’ll take the part of dating a gorgeous sheriff’s deputy.”

  “Thanks.” Vivienne glanced at the clock and decided she had better deliver the confection before too much longer. “I’m going to drop off a Treavis cake to Richard’s home today. Want to come along?”

  “I wish I could but I have a shipment arriving today.” Kathy whined. “You really need to start making those for other occasions besides funerals we aren’t invited to.”

  “I will.” Vivienne smiled. “Talk to you later.”

  The home of Richard and Mona Clarke was close enough for Vivienne to
walk to from her bakery downtown. In fact, she was glad to get out in the sunshine and take in the majesty of color that the trees were providing to all the residents. With the pink and brown cake box bundled securely with twine, she walked briskly along the businesses on Main Street and turned off onto Presidential Circle where most of the grand homes were located.

  The stately Victorian that they had chosen to call home was a three-storied structure with a large porch wrapped around the front. Painted in a pale yellow shade with white trim, it gave no sign of the sadness within its walls. The sidewalk leading up to the front door was lined with a dozen hardy fall mums in alternating colors of burgundy and orange.

  As she walked toward the front steps, Vivienne wondered why two people required a home that probably had no less than fifteen rooms inside. Richard and Mona had never had children or any pets. It just seemed like an awful big waste of space, but then again she tried not to judge. They both may have liked the style of architecture and the extra space probably came in handy whenever they threw a fundraiser for some political cause.

  She pressed the doorbell and waited with the box in her hands. Her mind wandered back in time to when the home was first built. She imagined maids in pressed uniforms and butlers in tails scurrying about to keep the home neat and tidy for the residents. As the door opened, she recognized one of the blond ladies from the Trade Winds Clothier that had buzzed around Fiona. “Hello, I’m Vivienne Finch.”

  The woman, the one from the group with the darkest blond hair and dressed in a simple black dress, regarded her coldly. “You’re late.”

  “I beg your pardon?” Vivienne blinked in response.

  “Where’s the rest of your catering staff?” The woman asked. “If it’s just you, I don’t see how you can possibly have the buffet setup in time before the mourners arrive.”

  “I think you’re mistaken.” Vivienne smiled. “I’m not the caterer.”

  “Oh.” The blond woman frowned. “Fiona is going to be furious.”

  Vivienne handed her the box. “I baked a Treavis cake for Richard. I thought he could use it for when the guests return from the service.”