by Неизвестный
Flabby arms fell to her sides no matter how many times they were propped on the table.
The sound of a car screeching to a halt in front of the shop sent the trespassers into flight. They tripped over one another and the light bounced as they stumbled down the stairs. Luna heard heavy footfalls hit the paved walk and fade away. The silence lasted a second or two before the sound of pounding on the door began.
Devin yelled, “Luna, open up. It’s me, Devin.”
The doors flung wide as Luna unlatched them. Hurtling into his arms, she clung to him like a life raft.
“There were two of them. They left me another body, a woman this time.” She pointed toward the side porch.
“Did you call the sheriff?”
“The phone is dead. I couldn’t get a dial tone after I called you. I think they may have cut the wires, and I don’t have a cellphone.”
Luna flicked the switches, and lights blazed around the room. She listened as Devin called the police station and demanded the sheriff or a patrolman be dispatched to the shop.
Unwilling to approach the body as they strode around the corner of the porch, Luna waited for Devin to make the first move. Close behind him, she tiptoed toward the obese woman with the twisted wig of bright orange hair. Luna peeped around Devin’s shoulder before they glanced at each other.
“She’s not dead, she’s breathing,” Luna said as she watched the huge bosom rise and fall. “Who is she?”
“Search me.” He shrugged. “She’s got to be eighty, if she’s a day, though.”
“Why would they leave a live body this time?”
“Look at how limp she is. Maybe they thought she was dead. Maybe they aren’t very bright,” he snorted and began dialing 9-1-1 on his cellphone for the second time within minutes.
Chapter 8
Flashing lights from the cruiser brought the couple around the front of the shop. Luna stood beside Devin as the sheriff climbed the steps.
“Luna, my dispatcher says you’ve got another body?” His bushy brows hiked and his eyes narrowed. “You’re just racking them up, aren’t you?”
Ignoring his remark, she said, “Over here. She’s still alive, though. I didn’t get a look at the two men who left her here, but she seems to be asleep.”
Sheriff Tiddler stepped around Luna and stared at the rotund woman who had slumped down in the chair. Her breathing apparent, it was now shallow and slow.
“She’s not breathing very well. I think she’s been drugged.” He reached down, lifted her eyelid and swept the beam of light from his flashlight back and forth across the woman’s pupil.
“Yep, she’s been drugged, there’s hardly any reaction at all.”
Sirens whined in the distance, coming closer until the rescue slowed to enter the parking lot. EMTs vaulted up the stairs with a crash kit in hand.
“What’s the problem, Sheriff?” Gus asked.
“We’ve got an unconscious woman here and I want her taken to the nearest hospital. She’s losing ground fast, so hurry up.”
Blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes and other paraphernalia landed on the table next to the woman. The EMTs did their assessment and then figured out how to load the obese woman onto the stretcher they had rolled to the side porch steps. Gus finally issued the order to take the woman, chair and all, down the steps, to make the job easier. Luna watched, fascinated by their abilities, but worried all the while over the incident.
The rescue left with the patient. Sheriff Tiddler stepped back onto the porch and shook his head.
“Luna, what the hell is going on here?”
The three of them entered the shop. Within minutes Luna explained what she had seen, her theory and the fact that the phone wasn’t working, while the sheriff’s face took on a skeptical expression.
“So, you really think someone is out to take your business away from you?” He shook his head. “Maybe your ex-husband has mended his ways and realizes what a fine catch you are.”
Hadn’t he listened at all? Was she speaking a foreign language? Luna’s temper flared as she leaned back in the chair, her eyes narrowed at the sheriff. He was an idiot if he thought she bought his line of bullcrap.
“Are you for real? I just said he’s broke and desperate. He doesn’t want me back, he wants my property. Is it too much for you to take in?” Her voice jumped an octave at a time until Devin reached over and laid his hand on hers.
“Luna and I are considering getting married. There’s no way she would take Thomas Devere back. I think the situation is just as Luna has explained. Thomas and Arvi are in this together, they want the land for condos. By discrediting Luna’s shop and business, they’ll destroy her customer base and she’ll have to sell up.”
“Well, congratulations to you both on the engagement. But, I don’t have any proof to these accusations.”
“There isn’t proof as yet, but if I find out Thomas and Arvi are in this together and they mean to do me harm, I won’t be responsible for what happens,” Luna fumed.
“Now, now, don’t get all hot and bothered. I’ll do some investigating and see what I can come up with. Then we’ll take it from there.” Sheriff Tiddler’s gaze searched her face. “You really think they’re the ones who brought the first body here, don’t you?”
“There’s no other explanation. I know you think I did that as a publicity stunt, but I don’t need to resort to those types of antics. I do just fine without them, thank you.” She glared at both men.
The chair scraped against the floor as the sheriff rose to leave. He folded his notebook and placed it in his pocket. Luna wondered if he only took notes to satisfy complainants. He certainly hadn’t helped her out at all. She shrugged and gave herself a mental head slap. If the evidence didn’t take the sheriff anywhere, then she would follow the trail wherever it took her. Damned men.
The shop locked up tight, Devin and Tiddler gone, Luna headed to bed. It was nearly time to get up and make the cupcakes. At the rate she was going, she’d be too exhausted to work. Three days of excitement and lack of sound sleep wore on a person.
She passed the back door and glanced out the window. Tiny lights flickered near the back steps and Luna realized the faeries were present. She opened the door and strolled onto the porch. The lights grew closer until one of the faeries lit on Luna’s outstretched open palm.
“Hello, faerie,” she said.
“Trouble is brewing, beware of the makers,” The faerie remarked while settling her feather weight into the middle of Luna’s palm.
“I need to know how many primroses it takes to bring about bad tidings for someone. Can you tell me the number?” Luna asked.
Voices twittered in a chorus, but Luna couldn’t make out the words. Instead, she remained completely still and calm.
“It is a myth, but one many humans believe in. Bad tidings are for those who offer up bad deeds to others. You worry, Luna?” the faerie asked, her large, almond-shaped eyes mournful.
“I do, faerie. I do. I worry we’ll be driven from our homes. I wouldn’t want us to be in such a position.”
Her wings spread wide like those of a butterfly, the faerie asked, “Shall we call the pixies, Luna?”
Luna knew pixies, though clever and cunning, were tricksters who could only be trusted to a certain degree. Otherwise, their tricks could take a turn for the worst. Luna considered the offer, then shook her head. Best not. Things were bad enough. She didn’t need to take the risk. The faerie rose gently into the sweet night air and fluttered in front of her.
“I think not at the moment. But I will hold the invitation if I may?”
“You may.” With the words sung, the blue faerie swept away into the cluster of others.
Swarm-like they descended into the garden and disappeared. Luna paused at the top step, deep in thought over the idea of what catastrophes the pixies would rain on the shop, its visitors, or maybe just the troublemakers. She yawned, stretched and headed to bed for a few hours of rest.
C
hapter 9
Froufrou cupcakes gathered together in boxes, nestled in their individual holes so the frosting and decorations didn’t touch one another. Raspberry swirled coconut cakes with layers of cream cheese frosting and pink chocolate shavings sat in two boxes while lemon meringue cupcakes filled another.
Their swirled coconut meringues peaked like tiny mountains on each cake. Two dozen satiny-white chocolate cupcakes with apricot puree filling were frosted with white chocolate buttercream and Luna garnished each one with white chocolate rosebuds.
She stood back to gaze at the specially made creations for Mrs. Gregory’s friends. These would do nicely and if the guests enjoyed them, her business would flourish even more.
The shop’s cupcakes lay spread across counters on trays, waiting for their trip to the glass cases by way of the dumbwaiter. Luna left the basement and climbed the flight of stairs to the shop.
When she passed the dining area, she flipped the light switch and stared around the room. Assured that no dead or alive bodies had found their way into the building, she turned the lights off and scrambled to the loft, flopping into the soft mattress of the bed.
Several hours later, she awoke to knuckles rapping on the door. Startled, Luna jumped from the bed and hustled to answer the summons.
Annie stood on the landing, her eyes worried.
“You all right? I had to let myself in,” Annie said as she glanced around Luna at the room beyond.
“I’m fine, just tired. Come in, I’ll make some coffee.” She turned away and headed toward the corner counter where the coffeemaker stood ready and waiting. She hit the start button and took two cups from the cup holder in the cabinet.
“I got worried when you didn’t answer the phone. I called to see if we needed anything from the market before I arrived.”
“The phone is out. There was an incident last night and the line was damaged or something. I didn’t look, but just know the phone is dead.” Luna brushed her hair off her face and sat at the small table.
With a nod, Annie waited for the rest of the explanation. When it wasn’t forthcoming, she prompted Luna.
“What kind of incident, exactly?” Annie asked.
“Two men dragged a huge woman, a live one, onto the porch and stuffed her into a chair. They would have brought her into the teashop, but couldn’t get the door unlocked. Not very good break-in artists, I guess.” She snorted and rose to pour the steaming brew into the cups.
“Again? You had intruders again?” Annie jumped from the chair and paced the room. “You did call the sheriff this time, didn’t you?”
“Of course. I also called Devin and between the three of us, we can’t figure out the purpose of these stunts except that they are harmful to my business.”
“You said the woman was alive? It’s quite a difference, isn’t it? And how did she come to be here with them if she was alive?”
“They drugged her, the sheriff said.”
“Drugs? Now we have to worry about drugs? Dammit all to hell.” The words spit from Annie’s mouth like a shot as she took the cup and gulped a deep draught of coffee.
“I’m sure they weren’t the kind of drugs you’re thinking of. More like sedatives.” Luna sighed. “Anyway, with the happenings of the past couple days and nights, I haven’t gotten much sleep and it’s starting to show. I’m sorry I wasn’t up when you arrived.”
“Not to worry. I brought the cakes up and left the special order for you to handle. You get dressed and I’ll make you some breakfast. It’s still a bit early, so you can take your time.”
With relief, Luna took the offer and set about readying for the day. When she left the bathroom, she could smell fragrant grilled muffins, fried bacon and saw the orange juice on the counter. Her mouth watered and Luna realized how ravenous she’d become.
Left alone, Luna swooped down on the food like a starving waif before she joined Annie in the galley kitchen. The clock stuck eight at the same time Devin knocked on the rear door. Dilly stood at his heels. They clambered in together, Dilly trying to squeeze past the tall man in the hallway.
Annie’s snort of humor brought a chuckle from Luna as they watched the fiasco. Finally Devin smacked his lean body against the wall so Dilly could get by. He shook his head in disbelief as his dimpled grin deepened.
“Dilly, you’re in an awful big hurry this morning. Got a hot date or what?” He joked.
“It’s getting late and I wanted to get Luna’s take on last night’s break-in.” Her eyes widened as her breath came in short gasps.
A gleam entered Devin’s eyes while he watched the woman. He glanced at Annie before his gaze settled on Luna and he gave a slight shake of his head as warning.
“Nothing much happened. I’m sure the sheriff has filled you in, Dilly,” Luna said.
“You know Henry doesn’t gossip, but he did say he’s concerned about you and this shop.” Her head wobbled around like a bobble-head doll’s as she spoke.
If Luna hadn’t known better, she’d have downright believed every word out of Dilly’s mouth, but as it happened, she did know better and was wiser for it. She reached out and squeezed Dilly’s arm with affection.
“Thanks for your concern, Dilly, it means a lot to me. No need to worry, though. Devin and Henry took care of everything.” She glanced at her watch and asked if the women would get the teapots ready for serving, then walked away to join Devin.
The couple marched down the basement steps into the construction area. Devin chuckled out loud as Luna turned toward him. In one swift motion, he scooped her up in his arms and plunked a kiss on her lips.
“What was that for?” Luna asked.
“You know how to play the woman like a harmonica. Nicely done, Luna.” He sneaked another kiss before he let her go.
The containers of cupcakes stacked one atop the other in the dumbwaiter sped to the upper level as Devin started work on the construction. Luna left him to it.
“Don’t forget Luna, I’m moving in soon, so we have to figure out how to break the news to the ladies upstairs.” He called to her. “I’ll get the phone back in service, too.”
On the third step up, she glanced back and said, “I’m sure the news has hit the front page of the paper by now. After all, you did tell the sheriff last night we were planning nuptials.”
“Oh, yeah, I did. Funny Dilly never mentioned it, huh?”
She paused and then remarked, “You’re right. If she knows, she’d have been broadcasting it to anyone and everyone she came across.” Her brow wrinkled. “Maybe dear Henry kept that tidbit to himself, huh?”
“Why, I wonder?”
Deep in thought, Luna remembered he’d used his computer to draw up plans for the basement and a sudden idea occurred to her.
“Do you have your computer with you?” she asked.
“Yeah, it’s in my bag.” He tapped the microfiber bag at his feet.
“Would you do some research on Henry Tiddler for me? I know he was a divorced, retired Boston cop before he took this job in Swanscott, but I know little else. It might make interesting reading.”
“Good idea. I’ll look later when I take a break.” He saluted her as she turned to ascend the stairs. He began closing in the walls of the framed room with wallboard.
Hours fled, the customers came and went with bags of gifts, books on faeries and folklore, and well wishes for the summer months. Luna watched Dilly and Annie clear the tables in haste as other cupcake diners entered the room. Dilly whispered to Annie, who gave her a cold stare and uttered sharp words Luna couldn’t quite hear. Annie’s expression was enough to show trouble brewed between them.
Minutes later, the two women entered the galley where Luna stood. They watched customers browse the gift shop and tearoom before settling at the tables.
Luna turned to Dilly and asked with a grin, “Why don’t you take a lunch break and let Annie and I handle this crew? There aren’t that many people and you could use the time for a rest.”
With a nod and gleeful smile, Dilly turned toward the rear porch and hustled out the door, her lunch bag in hand. Annie glared after her.
“That woman is a hazard to your business,” she said and strode toward the tearoom.
As the tall woman walked away Luna looked around the room and then scooted toward the rear door. She stopped short as Dilly’s voice reached her ears.
“She’s busy as a mad hatter today.” Dilly paused, and then said, “Uh huh, yeah. I know what to do. There are lots to be had here and I, for one, want some.”
The wicker chair creaked under Dilly’s weight. In fear of being caught eavesdropping and curious over who had been on the other end of the phone call, Luna backed down the hallway and entered the tearoom to stand behind the glass cases filled with cupcakes.
Orders sat on the flat top of the case. Annie’s bold handwriting covered each slip with cupcakes needed. In haste, Luna started to place cakes on china plates and set them out on the large round tray for delivery. Dilly strode through the door and offered to take them to Annie for her. Luna smiled, nodded and checked her watch. It was time to deliver the order to Mrs. Gregory. She told Annie where she’d be and loaded up the car.
Ten minutes later, her Ford Focus climbed the winding driveway leading to Mrs. Gregory’s estate. A wide balcony sat above the portico and the home reminded her of a miniature replica of the White House in Washington, DC. A middle-aged man in a suit answered the door when she rang the bell.
“Yes ma’am, may I help you?” He stared down his long nose at her.
“I’m here to deliver the cupcake order for Mrs. Gregory.” Luna peered past the man into the spacious foyer. Bouquets of fresh flowers rested on high polished surfaces of round marble topped tables. Warm hued parquet floors gleamed, leaving a stunning effect.
The man opened the door and ushered Luna inside. “We usually take deliveries at the rear entrance of the house, but Mrs. Gregory is waiting to speak with you. Follow me.” His imperious attitude was straight from an old British film where the butler never said what he thought, but conveyed it by his actions.