Velvet Cake and Murder (Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Book 22)

by Amber Crewes

  The woman pursed her lips, but she gathered her children and left the bakery.

  “Thank you,” Meghan told him, thankful for the help. “She was quite riled up…”

  “Tensions are high in town,” he shrugged. “Don’t take it too personally. Anyway, I wanted to drop by and get things settled for the fishing trip,” he told her. “Your husband sent over a payment, and he wanted me to check with you about dates and times. Can we talk?”

  Her eyes lit up. “My husband?”

  “He arranged an excursion for you two,” he explained. “As a date night.”

  She remembered Jack’s text message from a few days ago and grinned. “That was thoughtful of him,” she remarked, imagining her husband sorting out the details with James. “What do you need from me, exactly?”

  “Your preferred dates and times,” he told her with a smile. “He said you’re a busy person, and he wanted you to pick a day and time that worked best for your schedule.”

  Meghan nodded. “I don’t have time to go through my calendar right now,” she apologized. “Can I reach out to you later today with that information?”

  “No worries!” he assured her as he waved goodbye. “Call me anytime.”

  On her lunch break, she felt her back tighten, and she grimaced as she thought of all the time she had spent that day sitting. Meghan liked to move her body and stay active, and she had been huddled over a mixing bowl for the better part of her day.

  “I’ll check my schedule and walk over to Big Catch,” she decided as she looked through the calendar on her cell phone and selected a few dates and times that would work for the excursion with Jack. “If I walk there and back, I can get some fresh air and help these stiff legs.”

  As she set off toward Big Catch, she felt joyful as she thought about the date Jack had planned. Things were going much better with Sarah, Jack had been in a good mood, and now, she was happily enjoying time outside as she headed over to the store to plan their date. Despite the chaos in town surrounding the mayor and Anthony’s murder, Meghan felt a glimmer of hope in her heart, and she happily made her way down the street.

  She rounded the corner and turned onto Washington Street, one of the main streets in town. She looked down at her watch and realized the walk was taking longer than expected, and she ducked off onto New York Street for a little shortcut. The road was less populated, and she moved with ease across the freshly plowed sidewalks.

  As Meghan walked down New York Street, she spotted a familiar figure ahead of her. Dressed in a pair of red wide leg silk trousers and a matching coat, her hair tied back in a low knot, was Mrs. Anthony Diggs.

  “Bonnie,” Meghan murmured as she moved closer to her. Bonnie was not alone; she stood with a tall man Meghan had never seen before, and as Meghan drew close enough to see him clearly, they embraced.

  “Who is that?” she wondered, but before she could approach them, she was stopped.

  “What kind of trouble are you causing today? Shouldn’t you be at home with your husband?”

  She groaned. It was Mrs. Sheridan. She smiled politely, but inwardly, she was furious. What was Bonnie up to? Who was the man she was with? Could Mrs. Sheridan have picked a worse time to interfere?

  “I want to give you some feedback,” Mrs. Sheridan croaked as Meghan forced herself to smile. “About your desserts.”

  “What’s that, Mrs. Sheridan?”

  Mrs. Sheridan stared at her. “I’ve never liked your desserts,” she told her with a straight face. “They have always been too sweet or too ugly. They haven’t tickled my fancy.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Meghan sighed, making every effort to be cordial.

  “But then, I heard about your red velvet cake,” her eyes glittered. “I love red velvet cake. My mother used to make it for me when I was a girl. I want to place an order with you for a red velvet cake, and I want it by tomorrow morning.”

  Meghan laughed, but Mrs. Sheridan did not. “You’re serious?”

  “As a heart attack,” she said solemnly. “I want a red velvet cake, and I want it badly.”

  Meghan exhaled. “I will let the girls at the bakery know,” she promised. “I have to go, but I will see you tomorrow.”

  “Wait!” Mrs. Sheridan called out after her, but Meghan hurried away. Bonnie and the man were walking down the street, and Meghan had to follow them.

  They turned onto a side street, and Meghan kept her distance; she did not want them to know she was on their tail. She waited fifteen seconds, and then proceeded, charging ahead as quickly as she could without giving herself away.

  When she turned the corner, she sighed; she had lost sight of Bonnie and the strange man, and they were nowhere to be found.

  “Who is she with?” she thought to herself as she surveyed the empty streets of Sandy Bay. “And what’s going on?”

  18

  M eghan looked left and looked right, craning her neck as she tried to see where Bonnie and the strange man had wandered off to. Who was Bonnie meeting with, and why were they embracing? Meghan did not know, but she had a gut feeling that she needed to find out.

  After ten minutes of searching, she gasped as she looked down at her watch. Her lunch break was nearly over, and she turned on her heel and rushed over to Big Catch. James was in the lobby when she arrived, and he greeted her with a grin. “Let’s plan that date night.”

  She nodded, but as he led her to a table and pulled out several brochures, she started to worry about the trip. Did she have the stamina or courage to survive a deep-sea fishing expedition? She was not sure.

  “And this is our Shark Tale package,” he told her as he pushed a folder across the table. “In this excursion, we sail out to the middle of the ocean and fish for sharks. We’ve caught big ones on this trip; it’s a bit intense, but the look on Jack’s face when he catches his first shark will be worth it, I promise you.”

  She shuddered. “I don’t know if I can handle sharks,” she politely declined. “Do you have anything less... involved?”

  He laughed. “Of course,” he assured her. “What about our Coastal Cruise?”

  “That sounds nice,” she admitted. “Tell me more?”

  “It’s a quiet boat ride down the coast,” he laughed. “Very self-explanatory. Guests have the option of doing a little light fishing, but most of the time is spent inside of the boat. This is the perfect package for guests who tend to be a little seasick or nervous about being in the open water.”

  Her face brightened. “I think that’s the perfect package for me. How did you come up with that one? It doesn’t sound quite as adventurous as the rest of your offerings.”

  His face darkened. “Bonnie.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “Huh?”

  James’ face darkened. “Bonnie hated the open water,” he complained as he gathered the brochures and placed them back in their respective folders. “She always whined to Anthony about the trips we offered, and eventually, he demanded we add one for our more delicate guests. No offense.”

  She smiled. “None taken.”

  “Anyway, we designed this tour for her, and of course, she never bothered going on it. Bonnie hated the business and business dealings. She honestly would have been a good politician’s wife—she’s more of the fancy type than the adventure company type. It’s a shame she won’t get to live out her dream…”

  Meghan pursed her lips. “What was it like to work with Anthony?”

  James smiled. “He was a great face for our business,” he told her. “Quite literally, in fact; his good looks helped us snag so many deals, and he certainly had a way with people. I did more of the behind-the-scenes work. I worked on the daily operations of the business, and this arrangement worked for us.”

  “I’m sure it’s been hard to lose your friend,” she offered. “I’m sorry. Were you at the town hall meeting on the night he died?”

  James ignored her question. “Anthony was obsessed with the limelight,” he continued. “But most people d
idn’t realize he was a big loner; he hated spending too much time with people, and he always needed his space and quiet time.”

  She stared at him. “James?”

  “I was working when Anthony was killed,” James mumbled. “Working behind the scenes, as always.”

  She pursed her lips. “Who did it, James?” she asked softly. “Do you know who did it?”

  James looked into her eyes, a cloudy look on his face. “Anthony had a lot of enemies,” he murmured. “He hurt a lot of people, Meghan. He made a lot of promises to a lot of people. But he wasn’t a bad guy. He was a broken man. It’s like that saying goes: hurt people, hurt people. That’s what Anthony was. He was hurting.”

  “So, who hurt him?”

  His face fell. “I’m sure someone came for payback,” he stated matter-of-factly. “Someone he hurt or cheated. But he hurt and cheated many people. Who knows if we’ll ever know who killed him?”

  Just then, the receptionist waved James over. “Boss? Someone is here to see you.”

  “Excuse me.”

  James rose from his seat and walked over to the reception desk. “Can I help you?”

  A burly man with a thick beard greeted him. “Just needed to turn in my locker key and uniform,” he told James. “And I wanted to pay my respects to Anthony. It’s a shame that he is gone, and with no funeral, I felt like coming by. The shop was as close as I could get to paying respects.”

  James nodded. “That’s very kind of you,” Meghan heard him reply.

  The man started crying. “Anthony was one of a kind,” he sighed, wiping his eyes. “He was a good man, and a good boss. I’ll always think highly of him.”

  “I know you will,” James smiled weakly. “Thanks for stopping by. It was nice of you to pop in.”

  “Of course,” the man told James. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

  The two men hugged, and then the man left. James returned to the table; his face drawn.

  “What was that all about?” Meghan asked. “Who was that man?”

  James scowled. “He was a former employee,” he told Meghan. “Business has been down, and we’ve had to make some difficult layoffs. Barry had worked for us for five years. He has a family and three little kids, and we had to let him go.”

  Her dark eyes grew large. “Why? What’s going on with your business?”

  James shook his head. “I can’t quite put my finger on it,” he admitted. “But something has been off. Funds have been disappearing, and with no paper trail, it’s been hard to figure out the issue.”

  “Anthony?” she whispered, and he shrugged.

  “I don’t know,” he glowered. “But whatever happened, it’s now affecting people’s lives. It really stinks.”

  “I’m sorry,” she told him. “I’m really sorry for all you’ve been through.”

  “Me too,” he smiled. “Hard times help you remember the important things, though. Family, friends, and making good memories are what matters. Let’s finish your paperwork and get you ready for that romantic trip with your man. What do you say?”

  Ten minutes later, Meghan walked out of the Big Catch office, her mind abuzz with questions. Who had taken funds from the shop? Had Anthony Diggs embezzled money from his own business? Could James be responsible? She was not sure, but as she headed back toward the bakery, she could not stop thinking about the burly man who had cried over Anthony. Who was Anthony Diggs, really? Did anyone in town know the real Anthony, or had he swindled every single person he knew?

  She crossed the street, and her face brightened, seeing a familiar face walking toward her.

  “Hey,” she greeted warmly. “It’s so good to see you.”

  “I’ve been looking for you. We need to talk.”

  19

  M eghan blinked as Erin Rogers hurried over to her. “We need to talk?” she asked, worried that Erin was upset with her. “Is everything okay?”

  Erin smiled, and Meghan felt relief. “Of course it’s okay,” she assured her. “I just wanted to go over a few more notes about the dessert tasting.”

  “Ahhhh,” Meghan breathed. “We can certainly do that, Erin. When are you free?”

  Erin shrugged. “Does now work? I was just stretching my legs during my lunch break. We could walk and talk?”

  Meghan nodded. She needed to get back to the bakery, but technically, this was a business meeting. She could spare another hour.

  “Sure,” she told Erin. “Let’s walk and talk.”

  They made their way to the beach, both women shivering as the frigid ocean breeze hit their faces. “I love it over here,” Erin murmured as she opened her arms and inhaled the salty air. “I sometimes meet my fiance here on my lunch breaks. I love it when we walk along the shore, arm in arm.”

  Meghan looked out over the dark waters of the Pacific Ocean. “I never get tired of it,” she declared. “I grew up in Texas, but now, after living in Los Angeles and Sandy Bay, I could never be landlocked again.”

  “You’re so lucky to have lived in Los Angeles,” Erin told her, gathering up her curls and tying them back into a low ponytail. “I always wanted to try my hand at acting or modeling, but I’ve only ever lived in Sandy Bay. When I was a teenager, I dreamed of moving to Hollywood and making it big! Can you imagine what it’s like to be a famous actress? You would make so much money, and you would never have to worry about anything.”

  Meghan giggled. “Actresses and models have their demons. Trust me. And the acting and modeling scene in Los Angeles isn’t all it’s cracked up to be,” she promised, thinking back to the long days of auditions, barely being able to pay her rent, and the nasty comments about her appearance or performances from arrogant directors and assistants. “Sandy Bay is so relaxed and quiet. It’s the perfect place for me.”

  Erin stared out at the sea. “It’s not so quiet anymore,” she muttered, trudging through the sand. “What do you think about Anthony Diggs’ murder? Isn’t it crazy?”

  Meghan shook her head. “I didn’t know him very well,” she told her. “It is sad, though. I feel bad for his wife.”

  Erin’s face darkened. “I think she did it,” she stated as Meghan turned to stare at her. “And so does everyone I know. Bonnie Diggs has always thought she was too good for this town, and killing Anthony was her ticket out.”

  “You really think so?”

  “I do,” Erin told her. “My colleagues think it was Marty, that guy at the radio station; apparently Marty and Anthony had some beef over money. But the more we talked about it, the more we thought Bonnie had something to do with it all. Who knows, Meghan? Maybe Bonnie and Marty are having some sort of affair and they both killed him.”

  “That could be,” Meghan agreed, thinking of the mystery man she had seen with Bonnie. “Do you know Bonnie well?”

  “No one does,” Erin sniffed. “She’s haughty and stiff, and she doesn’t mingle with us Sandy Bay folks anymore. I guess her days of modeling in Paris made her too special to connect with us normal people.”

  Meghan detected a hint of jealousy in Erin’s voice. “I think the police will get to the bottom of it all,” she finally sighed. “Sooner than later, I hope…”

  Erin changed the subject. “How did you like wedding planning?” She asked Meghan. “Most people say it’s a bother, but I’ve really enjoyed it.”

  Meghan saw the excitement in her eyes. “You will make a lovely bride,” she complimented Erin. “All of us gals at the bakery are really looking forward to your big day.”

  Erin beamed. “I’m so fortunate to be marrying my Prince Charming,” she cooed. “He is such a wonderful, genuine person. He’s always been laid back and low key; he prefers to be behind the scenes, so I don’t know how much attention he’ll be able to stand on our wedding day, but I hope it is the best day of his life.”

  Meghan nodded. “You both will definitely be in the limelight on your wedding day,” she promised Erin. “I remember when Jack and I got married, we felt like celebrities; everyone wa
nted to take our picture and make sure we were happy and comfortable. It was such a fun day.”

  “I can’t wait,” Erin exclaimed. “We will get married and live happily ever after.”

  “I love how excited you are about your big day,” Meghan told her.

  “You have no idea,” Erin sighed, looking down at her watch. “Oh, Meghan, I am so sorry, but I have to get back to work.”

  They turned to walk back toward town. As they passed Big Catch, James Kittle stuck his head out the front door and waved at them. He blew a kiss toward Erin, and she blushed.

  “Love you, hon!” she called out, blowing a kiss back at him.

  James went back inside, and Erin grinned. “He is such a doll,” she gushed as they crossed the street. “Isn’t he handsome? He will make such a darling groom. I love James Kittle with all of my heart!”

  20

  M eghan pulled her phone out of her pocket and dialed Trudy’s number.

  “Where are you?” Trudy squawked as Meghan turned back toward town. “You told us you would be back an hour ago.”

  “Sorry,” she apologized, quickening her pace as she realized it was nearly two in the afternoon. “I got caught up talking with Erin Rogers.”

  “Did she have any more notes about her wedding?” Trudy asked. “She emailed the bakery and mentioned that she had some more suggestions, but she did not specify exactly what she wanted.”

  Meghan gulped. “We didn’t get around to talking about that,” she admitted. “But we did chat about James. Did you know Erin is his fiancée? I had no idea. They are such a cute couple. She really loves him.”

  “James Kittle and Erin Rogers?” Trudy asked. “Really? They just seem so different.”

  Meghan shrugged. “I guess what they say is true: opposites attract.”

  “That James Kittle is a good-looking fellow,” Trudy told her. “His father and I went to school together, and John Kittle was the star of the baseball team. James was even more talented; they always wrote about him in the local papers. He loved to wrestle, though; he wasn’t into baseball like his father.”