Bagels and Blackmail
Page 19
The Girlz glowed under the praise.
“It was a pleasure, Sheriff. Making the calls and then handing over a beloved animal has to be one of the most rewarding things I’ve ever done,” Angel gushed.
The other’s agreed loudly, and Maddie had to concur. It had been pretty cool, if emotional.
“You might like to know how things are going. Unofficially, of course.”
“Of course,” they chorused.
Ethan grinned. “Luke’s brother was up to his neck with Mickey Findlay. He not only confessed, but explained how his father insisted he get some business experience by working for Mickey. I’m pretty sure, when he suggested it, his father didn’t have what they did in mind.”
The women nodded, waiting for more.
“What started out as scare tactics around the election, ending up with Johnny getting greedy. He thought the owners would keep paying indefinitely, but some called his bluff and to his credit, he couldn’t kill those pets.”
“Hmmm. He showed no such compunction with us?” Maddie interjected.
“It would seem so, but he was running scared and Mickey had washed his hands of him. He had no idea how to get himself out of it. With them both trying to blame the other, and the blackmailing charge from Irene Fitzgibbons, it will take a pretty good lawyer to get this to go away.”
As much as she liked to turn the other cheek, Maddie couldn’t be happier that Mickey was finally getting caught.
“But what about the original murder?” Gran asked.
“The death outside of destiny? He was the owner of a missing pet, but it was an accident. He drove too fast for the conditions and lost control.”
Maddie was glad that it wasn’t murder. Now, she had one more important question she’d put off asking. “What about Luke?”
Ethan smiled. “Turns out he’s a bit of a hero. He knew nothing about his brother’s involvement, but found out that Johnny was hurting Beth. Initially, he gave her your leftover bagels thinking they were for her. When she broke down and told him they were for the pets he didn’t know what to do, but it was Luke who told her to come and tell you everything.”
Maddie’s heart lifted again. She was certain he was innocent, but sometimes facts got in the way of the truth. “What about Beth?”
“I’m not sure. There are extenuating circumstances, of course. With her own life in jeopardy, I daresay she did the best she could, but she should have told someone.”
Angel sucked in a breath. “I’ll be a witness to the bruising and the arguments, if I can?”
“You’ll all likely be called to give evidence.”
Suzy tutted. “I do feel for those two. Are they back home?”
“Yes. Their parents came for them.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I bet that wasn’t a picnic for any of them.”
“No, but Detective Jones handled it well. He spoke to them all about the gravity of the situation, and both mother’s broke down. I think Beth’s days of living rough are done, and Luke’s father will be having a good look at his parenting skills.”
“Maybe he could find a way to be proud of Luke.”
“Let’s hope so. By the way, we found Johnny’s bike among the trees where he’d tossed it over the hedge. With a bag of bagels in a backpack. Beth’s, I believe.”
Maddie smiled. “So those are the missing pieces. He swapped his broken down bike for Honey, then accidently killed Maude—or so he says. Thanks so much for coming to tell us. I know I’ll sleep better tonight.”
Ethan smiled, his dimple flashing non-stop and Maddie could feel her cheeks warming.
“Would you like to sample our baking? It would be nice to get an outsider’s opinion and a Sheriff never lies.” Angel pulled a seat up to the counter for him.
He looked at Maddie for approval. “I don’t want to interrupt.”
“We’ve finished. Sit down and I’ll make more tea while the Girlz butter you some scones. Or would you like coffee?”
He grinned. “Now, that’s an offer this Sheriff can’t refuse.”
Maddie made his coffee and more tea for the rest, then sat back and let her friends fuss over him, and when he had sampled them all and declared them excellent, they finally let him be. He stood and patted his stomach with a groan.
“I had better get home before I burst out of these clothes, and Amy might be fussing if I’m gone too long.”
Maddie was walking him to the door when he delivered this, and she stilled. “Amy?”
He turned with a blush to his cheeks. “Maude Oliver’s Amy. We tried to find her a home. I thought Maude’s sister might take her, but she breeds Siamese cats, and they don’t like dogs apparently. What could I do?”
Her mouth twitched at his perplexed look, as if he was still surprised by the outcome. “So you’re looking after her?”
Ethan grimaced as he looked back at their audience, who were silently awaiting the answer. “Ahhh. Not exactly. I’m going to keep her.”
“Really?”
“What’s wrong with that? I have a house plant that’s still alive.”
She was trying so hard not to laugh at his defensiveness. “I think it’s wonderful. She seems a lovely little thing. You’ll be good company for each other.”
He took her arm as gently as he could, mindful of the bruises that were already colorful yellows and purples, and pulled her outside. He also dropped his voice. “I think it’s high time I stopped being such a loner. Maybe now that things are calming down you might like to have dinner with me?”
Maddie was never more aware of the changes in Ethan, and in herself, and she couldn’t help thinking they were all for the better.
“Give me a couple of days to unwind, then ask me again.”
“Really?”
His eyes twinkled and she nodded. He dropped a quick kiss on her lips, with a cheeky grin, he went down the path with a noticeable spring in his step. She had the urge to call him back for a repeat performance, maybe with a little more substance, until she remembered the Girlz. As she came through the door, there was a mad scramble to regain their seats as they tried to look innocent.
“Were you lot looking out the window?”
Angel was in the process of shaking her head, but her mouth opened as well. “Absolutely. And I think it’s fabulous that you two are dating again.”
“Hold the phone! We’re only having dinner.”
“I guess a girl has to eat,” said Suzy with a wink.
“Go home the lot of you!”
With lots of nudging and giggles, they left. Laura turned at the gate.
“I told you the bagels were a good idea.”
Maddie shook her head as she went inside. Who would have thought how important the innocent bagel could be? It may have even helped keep the animals alive, thanks to Beth and Luke. She hoped they would be back at work very soon, because despite all the things they’d done wrong, they’d so much right. And, like Gran said, everyone deserved a second chance.
Big Red jumped from the chair and stretched. Then he strutted to the bottom of the stairs, turned and gave her a long look.
The boss had spoken, and there was no mystery around it being time for bed.
Pick up your copy of Book 3 - Cookies and Chaos here!
Thanks
Thanks so much for reading Bagels and Blackmail the second book in the Maple Lane Mysteries series. If you enjoyed it don’t forget to pick up the next one, Cookies and Chaos, I’m adding an excerpt for you a bit further on.
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C.A. Phipps Author
By the way, I’d love your review. Your opinion matters to me.
Cookies and Chaos
Maple Falls - home of delicious treats.
Of yard sales and a sense of community.
And now . . . Murder!
Using her bakery
and expertise, Madeline Flynn’s keen to help a pair of young locals with their cookie sales.
But strange things are happening at the community center where they hope to make their sales. It might be no place for children just now.
Once again Maddie is whisked up an investigation that will take all her sleuthing skills and Gran, a posse of girlfriends, as well as Big Red, her faithful Maine Coon, won’t let her do it alone.
Along with the handsome Sheriff, they’re wading through clues as thick as cookie dough, hoping that the timer won’t go off on another murder.
Have they taken on more than they can chew?
The Maple Lane Mysteries are light, cozy mysteries featuring a quirky cat-loving bakery owner who discovers she’s a talented amateur sleuth.
Excerpt from Cookies and Chaos
“Bernie won’t be too happy about that.”
Unsurprised by her appearance, he glanced over his shoulder, stood and replaced his hat giving her his dimpled smile. The sheriff towered over her 5’6” form, and she blocked what he didn’t of the fall sun with her hand to look up at him.
“He was the one who told me about it, and no he’s not amused. Looks like a van has taken a joy ride.”
She bent over the marks to see what he saw. “How can you tell it what type of vehicle it was?”
He pointed at the marks. “The width of the tires, and how deep they’ve sunk into the grass. It must have had a considerable load in it.”
He spoke to her as he would one of his deputies and a trickle of pleasure ran through her. Was that weird?
“They’ve driven over the path there and come back the same way but on a slightly different trajectory.” He pointed.
“Then they’ve headed across the park. Why would they want to do that?” she asked.
He shrugged. “That’s the second question.”
She tapped her thigh. “The first is where were they going?”
He gave her an appraising look. “Exactly. If we can figure out the where, we’ll eventually get to the why.”
She stood up, unable to hide her excited and hopeful tone. “We?”
“I meant the department ‘we’.” He gave her a wry grin.
She screwed up her nose. “Sure, you did.”
“Maddie.” Ethan warned, in his growly voice, which resembled more of a teddy bear than anything scary.
“What? It’s not a murder, is it?” she asked, innocently.
“Definitely not,” he said, without conviction.
Having known the Sheriff since they were children, she knew when he was worried. “Did something else happen?”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
She ignored his terrible attempt at outrage. “What was it? More tire tracks? Another vehicle? Maybe a crash?”
“Calm down.” He sighed, looking around them, then pulled her close. “Since there won’t be any peace any other way, I’ll tell you what I know.”
Book #3 in the Maple Lane Cozy Mystery Series, Cookies and Chaos is now available!
Recipes
These recipes are ones I use all the time and have come down the generations from my mum, grandmother, and some I have adapted from other recipes. Also, I now have my husband’s grandmother’s recipe book. Exciting! I’ll be bringing some of them to life very soon.
Just a wee reminder, that I am a New Zealander. Occasionally I may have missed converting into ounces and pounds for my American readers.
My apologies for that, and please let me know—if you do try them—how they turn out.
Cheryl x
Bagels
READY IN: 2hrs
Makes: 12 Bagels
INGREDIENTS
1 1⁄2 cups water
2 packages yeast
1 1⁄2 ounces sugar
1⁄2 ounce salt
3 1⁄2 cups bread flour
2 quarts water, to boil
1 egg white
cinnamon (optional)
raisins (optional)
poppy seed (optional)
dried onion or garlic (optional)
sesame seeds (Optional)
DIRECTIONS
1Mix yeast, sugar and warm water together and let stand 3 minutes.
2Mix 2 cups of flour with the salt in a large bowl and add the yeast mixture.
3Stir until combined and slowly mix in the rest of the flour (If making cinnamon raisin bagels, add these to dough now).
4Knead on a floured surface for 5 minutes, adding additional flour if needed, dough should be firm. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover and let rise until double.
5After rising punch down and divide dough into 12 balls. Allow to rest for 4 minutes.
6Bring 2 quarts of water to boil.
7With your thumb, make a hole in each ball of dough and pull open about 2 inches, making a bagel shape.
8Preheat oven to 180ºC or 350ºF.
9Place the shaped dough onto a cookie sheet and cover for 10 minutes.
10Lower heat under water for it to be simmering. Drop 2 or 3 bagels at a time into the water for about 45 seconds, turning each once. Drain and place on greased baking sheets.
11Brush tops with beaten egg white and top with optional toppings.
12Bake for 35 minutes, turning once for even browning. Bagels are done when they are golden brown and shiny.
Scones
Ingredients
Plain
3 cups of plain flour
6 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 3/4 ounces of butter
1 cup of milk
Preheat oven to 180ºC or 350ºF
Instructions
1Sift flour baking powder and salt into a bowl. Using a knife, cut in butter until the flour mixture looks like breadcrumbs.
2Make a well in the middle of the mixture and pour in milk. Lightly mix with hands until it forms a ball.
3Split ball into 12 even smaller balls and place on baking tray. Flatten slightly and brush with milk.
4Bake for 10-12 minutes
Plain scones have been served as a Devonshire tea in England for decades. It is usual to serve them with your favorite jam and a good dollop of whipped cream.
Cheese
As above but add 1/2 cups of grated cheese to flour mixture prior to adding milk.
When you have flattened them, instead of brushing with milk top with a little more grated cheese.
Gran likes to add some chopped capsicum and onion to her cheese scones, but you could also add ham or spring onions.
Sweet
Use the same recipe for the plain scones but add 1/2 cup of sugar to flour mixture and 1/2 cup of sultanas or raisins before you add the milk.
About the Author
C.A Phipps is a USA Today Bestselling Author.
‘Life is a mystery.’
Cheryl loves a good mystery filled with feisty heroines, and wonderful small towns with heart-warming tales of strong family ties mixed in with a little romance and humour.
She lives in a quiet suburb of New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, with her wonderful husband, who she married the moment she left school (yes, they were high school sweethearts).
A lover of animals, with a few children, and even more grandchildren, who keep her young, she loves family times, dining out, and travel, in that order.
www.caphipps.com
cherylphippsbooks@gmail.com