Baked to Death (Cookies & Chance Mysteries Book 2)

by Catherine Bruns

  "I don't think he'd come here," I said. "Especially after what happened tonight."

  Mike stared. "The guy is on edge, Sal. He's obviously into drugs or booze and God knows what else. I've seen that crazed look before. My mother used to…" He stopped suddenly as a haunted expression permeated his handsome face.

  My throat was tight with tears as I reached for him, but he only shook his head and attached the leash to Spike.

  "I'll just take him around the block. You look beat, baby. Hop into bed, and I'll be there soon."

  It was useless to argue. I cleaned up the stuffing on the floor and changed into a pair of cotton pajamas. I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and then flopped down onto Mike's comfortable double bed. The front door opened a minute later. Spike started to bark, and Mike immediately shushed him. As I began to drift off, I heard him in the bathroom brushing his teeth. He entered the darkened bedroom, and I could make out his figure as he undressed.

  When he lay down, he gathered me into his bare chest. "Sal."

  "Hmm," I said, half asleep.

  Mike brushed a light kiss across my lips. "He's never going to hurt you again. I promise." He started to say something else, but I went out like a light and never heard the rest of the sentence as I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

  It seemed like only a minute later that I was awakened by Spike barking, and the front door slammed. Spike barked again as a vehicle drove off. Still in a subconscious state, I was unable to decipher if the vehicle was a figment of my dream or reality. The gentle quiet lulled me back to sleep.

  The door slammed again after what seemed like a short time later, and I bolted upright in bed. Red digits of the alarm clock on the nightstand flashed 5:30. The sky was still black outside. Darkness was endless this time of the year.

  Mike's side of the bed was empty. I yawned and rubbed my eyes. "Mike?"

  "I'm here." His shadow was reflected by the fingernail of the moon that shone in through his bedroom window. Mike shut the bottom drawer of the dresser then straightened up and stripped his clothes off, laying them across a chair. He got into bed and wrapped his cool, strong arms around me.

  "Where were you?"

  His body tensed against mine. "Just taking Spike for another walk. Go back to sleep, baby." He kissed my hair, and I immediately obeyed, my head resting against his solid chest.

  It was almost eleven o'clock before we actually rolled out of bed. I made scrambled eggs and toast, and then we went back to bed for another hour. Sunday was without a doubt our favorite—and most relaxing—day of the week.

  "I love lazy days like this," I sighed.

  "Time for a shower?" Mike kissed my ear and chuckled.

  Grinning, I shook my head. "You need to behave. I'll go first. And alone. You can't get that bandage wet."

  After I finished showering, Mike got in and proceeded to call several times for me to come back and join him. I laughed as I tied my pink robe around me. I had started to blow-dry my hair when someone rapped on the front door. Puzzled, I padded barefoot out to the living room with Spike trailing after me.

  Two uniformed policemen were standing at the door. My heart skipped a beat when I recognized one as Brian Jenkins. I'd first met Brian last September after my bakery had opened, and a former nemesis had dropped dead on my front porch. Brian had been the cop on duty that night. We'd become fast friends—and almost something else—as the investigation proceeded. Both he and Mike had asked me out for the same evening, and I'd been forced into a decision I hadn't wanted to make and also wasn't sure I was ready for. Now I knew for certain I had made the right one.

  Brian hadn't been pleased when I'd turned him down and tried unsuccessfully to get me to change my mind. I'd only seen him once since then. He no longer frequented my bakery like he used to. Mike and I had been out to dinner at the Olive Garden a few weeks back when Brian and a leggy blonde were seated near us. He'd nodded politely, but the overall situation had been awkward. On the way home, Mike had grumbled that he'd caught Brian staring at me several times during our meal.

  A look of surprise registered on Brian's face as I opened the door. It appeared that he hadn't planned on finding me here.

  Brian's gaze fell to my robe, and his face reddened. "Hi, Sally."

  "How are you?"

  He cleared his throat. "I'm fine, thanks."

  I couldn't help but admire how handsome he looked in the dark-blue uniform and matching jacket. Brian had thick dirty-blond hair and warm green eyes with flecks of gold in them. He also had a Greek godlike profile that could make any woman swoon.

  Well, almost any woman. I belonged to someone else now.

  He nodded to the dark-haired man with a moustache beside him. "You remember my partner? Adam Engster?"

  Adam gave a small smile and tipped his hat. "Hi, Miss Muccio."

  "Sorry if we're interrupting anything," Brian said. "Would it be okay if we came in for a minute?"

  "Of course." I stepped aside, allowing them entrance.

  Brian's head turned in the direction of the bathroom where the shower could still be heard running. Then he glanced back at me while warmth heated my face. Heck, everyone in town knew Mike and I were a couple. Still, I couldn't help it. Embarrassment flooded through my entire body.

  "Is Mike here?" Brian asked politely, although it was obvious he already knew the answer.

  "Shower." I pointed toward the hallway. "Um, are you here about what happened last night? At the bar?"

  I'd figured we'd both be questioned at some point today. Josie had texted earlier, relaying that a friend of Rob's who'd been at the bar said the police had shown up right after we'd left. They'd questioned several patrons about the incident. I knew it was only a matter of time until they found their way to us.

  Brian looked uncomfortable. "Sort of. It's a little more complicated than that."

  The shower stopped, and a minute later, Mike yelled out to me. "Where'd you go, baby? Come on back to bed. These stitches need more loving."

  I winced in discomfort and stared at the floor.

  When I didn't respond, he entered the living room with a towel wrapped around his waist—and nothing else. He was about to say something when his eyes came to rest on Brian.

  It was moments like this when I wished the earth would swallow me up whole.

  Mike managed a lopsided grin as he nodded to both of them. "Hi, Jenkins." He addressed Adam, "Officer. Something we can help you with?"

  "We've come to talk to you both about Colin Brown." Brian stared at me. "Your ex-husband, correct?"

  Mike drew his lips together and frowned. "What's that bastard done now?"

  Brian cut his eyes back to Mike. "Colin hasn't done anything," he said quietly. "He's dead."

  CHAPTER FOUR

  The room swam out of focus for a minute. I inhaled sharply and stumbled back until I found the couch and sank into it. "No. He can't be."

  "We found out where he was staying, so we went to his hotel room to question him early this morning." Brian was watching Mike's blank expression. "The door was slightly ajar, and Colin was lying on the bed. He'd been shot to death."

  The horror of the situation started to sink in. Then I remembered Grandma Rosa's words from last night. Colin and his threats will not amount to anything. I clamped my hand over my mouth before a giggle could escape. Was I insane? A man was dead. My ex-husband, for crying out loud. I'd once loved this man. So why was I even thinking about laughing?

  Maybe it was the thought of Grandma Rosa killing someone. That was truly insane. Or perhaps I was in shock. The panic rose inside me. Who hated Colin enough to kill him?

  At that moment, the true reality of the situation hit me like a snowball to the face, leaving me breathless. "No."

  Mike stood there silently, his gaze transfixed on me.

  Brian gestured to the hallway. "Go put some clothes on. We need to talk."

  Mike gave me one last look. His face gave away nothing as he turned and walked down the hallway
without a single word.

  I stared at Brian in confusion. "There's something you're not telling me. What exactly is going on here?"

  Deep down, I already knew. I remembered the door slamming in the middle of the night and the truck roaring off. Mike hadn't taken Spike for another walk—he'd gone to visit someone about unfinished business. He also knew where Colin was staying, thanks to Luke volunteering that information earlier.

  I looked up to see Mike standing in front of me, dressed in a gray Nike T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. His eyes moved from me to both policemen, expressionless.

  Brian's face was also unreadable as he shied away from me and reached down to his belt for a pair of handcuffs. "Turn around."

  Mike did as he was told, still not saying anything.

  Brian's voice remained calm as he snapped the cuffs on Mike's wrists. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say may be used—"

  "No!" I screamed and bolted to my feet. Adam lunged forward and caught my arm before I could reach Brian. "He didn't do anything! Are you crazy?"

  He ignored me and went on talking. "You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you."

  A sob escaped from my lips. "Please don't do this, Brian."

  "Sal." Mike's tone was low. "Let the man do his job."

  I stopped cold in my tracks and stared at my boyfriend. His entire face was devoid of emotion, almost as if it'd been set in stone. A chill encompassed me as I thought the entire situation through. Mike had disappeared last night. Could he possibly have killed Colin?

  No. I would never believe that.

  Brian finished reading Mike his rights. Adam grabbed Mike's jacket lying on the couch and escorted him outside to the waiting police car. I started to follow, but Brian grabbed me.

  "Don't touch me!" I jerked my arm away. "You're going to arrest him for being in a bar fight? What the heck is the matter with you? Is this all because I chose Mike instead of you?"

  I caught an intense look of hurt on his face. It was brief yet unmistakable. "Sally, you're dead wrong. I do happen to care about you, but that has nothing to do with the situation at hand. Not in the way you think." He stood at the screen door, watching Adam put Mike in the backseat of the patrol car. "I prayed you wouldn't be here today. I didn't want to do this."

  I bit into my lower lip and tried to force back tears as I lightly touched his arm. "Then don't. Please. I'm begging you. Mike didn't do anything."

  Brian stared at me for a long moment and reached over to tuck a stray curl behind my ear. "They found his fingerprints in Colin's hotel room. The readout came back a little while ago."

  "No." I repeated stubbornly. "It's not possible. You don't know Mike like I do."

  He put his hands on my shoulders. "I hope you're right. Really, I do. If the judge will grant bail, Mike might be out of jail tonight. Doesn't Gianna practice criminal law?"

  "She isn't licensed yet." I knew nothing about the process myself.

  "I'm sure she has a friend who can represent Mike. Call her. And call a bail bondsman. If bail is granted, it will be high because of the murder charge. My guess is around $200,000."

  My heart stuttered inside my chest. "I don't have that kind of money! Where the heck would I—?"

  He held up his hand. "You'd only have to put up a percentage of the bond, and if they can get the DA's office to recommend bail and the judge will grant it, Mike has a good chance of being released tonight." He looked at me soberly. "I've got to get going. There is one other thing that might help his case, and that's where you come in."

  "What? I'll do anything."

  He blushed. "If you can prove that you were with him last night—all night—that would help. It's always good to have a solid alibi." He stared at me again for a long moment, and I thought he was going to say something else. Instead, he gave me a small, sympathetic smile and let himself out the front door.

  As the patrol car backed out of Mike's driveway, lights flashing, all I could do was stand there in shock, like someone had smacked me in the face and knocked the wind out of me. I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. Some girlfriend. I couldn't even provide him with a solid alibi. Mike hadn't been with me all night. Plus, they had his fingerprints. I knew he hadn't killed Colin but had no idea how to prove his innocence.

  I went into the bedroom to get changed. Before I did anything else, I had to talk to Gianna. She would tell me everything I needed to know. Then I'd see if my grandmother might loan me some money. I had about five thousand dollars I could put toward the bail bondsman's fee. Maybe I could put the bakery up as collateral as well. I didn't know what might be required, and panic continued to rise within until it threatened to suffocate me.

  As I stuffed my feet into my sheepskin boots, my eyes fell upon Mike's dresser, specifically the bottom drawer. It was the same drawer I'd heard shut when he'd returned home in the wee hours of the morning. I knelt down on the floor, blood pounding in my ears as I pulled the drawer open. I breathed an immediate sigh of relief. Socks and some CDs. An eight-by-ten framed photograph of us taken at a high school dance. Reassured, I lifted the picture out for a closer look. Then my blood ran cold.

  Lying beneath the photo was a shiny black revolver.

  No, I wouldn't touch it. In fact, I kept telling myself it wasn't really there because I'd imagined the whole thing. I replaced the picture and shut the drawer with a trembling hand. I remained sitting on the floor, immobilized. Spike toddled over to me, and I gathered him into my arms while I started to shake.

  A gun. Fingerprints. No alibi. The truck roaring off in the middle of the night. Things were quickly adding up into a disastrous equation for my boyfriend.

  * * *

  "Don't worry, honey," my mother assured me. "Everything will be fine."

  We were sitting around the dining room table in my parents' house after a long, stressful day. Grandma Rosa had loaned me the money, and Gianna's friend Jeff English had agreed to represent Mike. The arraignment had been over in a matter of minutes. Since Mike had no prior record, the DA recommended bail. I shivered as I remembered the look Mike had cast in my direction. He hadn't wanted me there.

  After I posted bail, Mike was released and was now back at his house. Jeff had followed him over, and they were busy discussing details of what might happen if the case went to trail. Mike made it clear to me—in front of Jeff—that he'd like to speak to his attorney in private. Although hurt and taken aback, I'd left his house without another word.

  I tried to understand this from Mike's perspective. He wanted to take care of me, not the other way around. I didn't know what sickened me more at this point, Mike's obvious anger or the thought he might soon be on trial for the murder of my ex-husband.

  Gianna squeezed my hand. "Mom's right. We all know Mike didn't do this."

  I tried to eat a bite of the braciole my grandmother had made especially for me. It was my favorite dish—thin slices of pan-fried meat filled with herbs and cheese and dipped in Grandma Rosa's rich homemade tomato sauce. Tonight it stuck in my throat like sawdust. "What will happen now?"

  Gianna lifted her wine glass to her lips. "Since Mike waived his right to a preliminary hearing, the grand jury will meet and decide if there's enough evidence for the case to go to trial. The date is set for a week from Friday. Mike won't be present, but Jeff will be there, and he'll take care of everything. He's a fantastic defense attorney."

  I gripped her hand tightly. "Do you think it will? Go to trial, I mean?"

  Gianna sighed. "I don't know, honey. But it's never a good thing when they have fingerprints. Let's just hope they don't find anything else."

  I thought of the gun, and fear gripped me again. If the police found the revolver then what would happen to Mike?

  I kept checking my phone. I honestly didn't know how Mike would react when we had a chance to talk. My gut instinct told me he'd be angry at me for putting the money up. He'd told Jeff earlier to let him rot in jail.

&nb
sp; My father grunted as he swiftly turned pages of the newspaper. "You've got your hands full this time, Sal. This town's going to eat him alive and spit him out when they're done. No one's going to hire your guy for another job."

  "Stupido," my grandmother yelled at him. "You keep your mouth shut."

  My father's face took on a pained expression. "Dump him, Sal. You don't need that kind of grief. You've had enough, sweetheart."

  "Mike didn't do this." I stared at my father in shock. "I think someone is setting him up to take the fall for Colin's death."

  Grandma Rosa nodded in approval. "Mike is a good boy. We will find out the truth. It will all come out in time."

  But would it be soon enough? When my phone pinged, I glanced down at a message from Mike. Jeff and I are done. Going to bed. See you tomorrow.

  The words stung like a wasp. If he thought I would leave him alone tonight, he had another thing coming. I jumped to my feet then leaned down to give my father a kiss. "I'm going back to Mike's. Thanks for everything."

  My father patted my arm and looked at me with a wistful expression. "I only want what's best for you, my bella donna."

  "I know." I blinked away tears as I placed my arms around his neck. "And Mike is what's best for me."

  I grabbed my coat and headed for the door where my grandmother was waiting. I kissed and hugged her tightly. "Thank you so much, Grandma. Mike thanks you as well. I'll never forget this."

  Her large brown eyes were solemn as they observed me. "Sally, my love, the days ahead will be hard for the both of you. Do not push him too hard right now. He is angry, and his pride has been wounded."

  Tears streamed down my face. "I don't understand why he's being so cold to me."

  She patted my cheek. "Mike feels it is his responsibility to take care of you, not the other way around. He has been kicked around so much that he does not know what it is like to be needed. But no matter what he says, he does need you. Give him time to come around, and make sure he knows you believe in him. Remember the words of the song."