Ouna Bay Cozy Mystery Boxed Set (4-Book Bundle)

by Deany Ray

  "But he wouldn't do that," Pete said, shaking his head. "The day he came into town, he came into the café before you got there. He and I had a nice little chat and he implied that if I can convince you to sell the Blue Bay Café, he would make me manager. So, here we are. I will get you to sell, no matter what it takes."

  The thought that Pete could hurt me just for some extra money was terrifying. There were people out there who would do just about anything to satisfy their greed and it seemed as though Pete was one of those people.

  "Pete, you don't need to do this," I said, getting desperate by the second. "There are better ways to get money than hurting people."

  Pete laughed.

  "You are so naive, Becky. The only way to get what you want in life is to take it."

  Oh my God, he really meant it. He would hurt me in a heartbeat. And the street was empty and nobody could stop the madness. I was on my own.

  At that moment, I remembered the pepper spray Rosalie had given me. It was in my pocket. More out of instinct than anything else, I quickly jerked my arm toward his thumb and pulled my arm away. I reached into my pocket and quickly pulled the pepper spray out, pressing the button on the top and spraying Pete's eyes. My hands were shacking so bad, it was a miracle I aimed in the right direction.

  He let go of my arm and cried out, dropping to his knees. This was my chance to run away and call for help. I ran a couple of feet away, my heart still pounding in my ears, but bumped full speed into someone standing there. I screamed and began to turn away, thinking that Pete had an accomplice. But then I heard Houston's voice saying, "Becky! Becky, it's me. It's Houston!"

  I stopped and turned to him, breathing in relief. Pete stood up and tried to run, but he still couldn't see. Houston jumped on him, knocking him to the ground and pinning him there. "Call the police," he told me.

  I ran into the café and used the phone to dial 911. It took only a few minutes for the police to come. Roger, of course, was the first one to arrive, but his crew joined him shortly afterward. Roger directed his crew to arrest Pete and take him away. While they did so, Houston came over to me. I was visibly shaking, so he wrapped his arms around me.

  We watched as the policemen put handcuffs on Pete and placed him into the back seat of the police car. It wasn't until after they drove away that I could finally fill my lungs with clean, fresh air.

  Chapter Fifteen

  I woke up Wednesday morning feeling completely rested. I had Maia run the café Tuesday. I took the day off and caught up on some much needed sleep.

  As I got ready for the day, I realized I had a big smile on my face. I hadn't even meant to be smiling, but I couldn't stop. I was finally looking forward to opening the Blue Bay Café and serving my customers, like I had before the harassing fiasco had begun. It had been two days since it had ended and I was feeling great.

  My plan for the day was to make miniature chocolate and cream cakes with strawberries on top and I was excited at the thought. After I dressed and got myself ready, I locked my front door – again happy not finding any dead flowers on my steps – and climbed into my car.

  “Ouch! What the...?” What was I sitting on? I pulled a small, shiny thing, at first not recognizing what it was. Ah, Rosalie's earring. I shook my head and smiled to myself, wondering how that girl always manages to lose her things.

  I parked my car in front of Dev's kiosk and began to browse through his magazines. I took my time, finally enjoying the delicious-looking cake pictures again.

  As I browsed, Rosalie joined me.

  “Hey, hon. Whatcha doing?”

  “Oh, just wondering which magazines to pick today. Wait. What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at work?”

  Rosalie looked at me sheepishly.

  "I took the day off from the bank. I'm going to accompany you at the café for the entire day." I looked at her questioningly. She shrugged. "I want to know what it's like to work there."

  "I see," I told her. "You're working on your exit strategy from the bank. Well I'm glad I get to spend the day with you. Just remember, the cakes are for paying customers only.” I gave her a friendly nudge between the ribs.

  “Don't worry, hon. After that whole poisoning incident, I don't think I'm going to eat a lot of cake in the near future,” she said making a disgusted grimace.

  She was right. I wouldn't be able to do that either.

  As we talked, I spotted a cooking magazine with the most beautiful velvet cake on the cover and went to pick it up. However, at the same time, another hand grabbed the magazine as well. I turned to my left and saw that it was her. I hesitated for a split second before deciding I just didn't care anymore. It was one of the most liberating feelings I ever had. Smiling at her, I handed her the magazine. She looked surprised and I thought I almost noticed a not-so-hostile expression on her face. She accepted it, nodded, walked over to Dev to pay, and then left.

  "What is up with that?" Rosalie asked me. "Why were you so nice?"

  I smiled to myself, feeling a little extra bit of peace. "You know, I think I'm over the fact that Roger cheated on me with her while we were engaged. It's pointless to hang on to that baggage and let it ruin parts of my life."

  The woman we were talking about, Adele, was a secretary at the police department. I had gone to Roger's work one evening when he told me he had to work late. I was going to surprise him with take out from our favorite place. Instead, I found him and Adele together. On his desk. After I caught them, Roger ended the affair, but what I thought we'd had was already ruined.

  Together, Rosalie and I walked to the café and I was pleased to see that the window was still in place. I unlocked the door and we walked to the back. With Rosalie's help, I began to prepare the chocolate and cream cakes. Noticing how well we worked together, I thought that it might be perfect for Rosalie to start working at the café. With Pete out of the picture, I needed to hire another employee anyway.

  "How are you feeling, now that everything is done and over?" Rosalie asked as we placed the cakes in the oven.

  I sighed. "So much better. It's nice knowing that I can just get on with my day and not have to worry about whether somebody else is going to get poisoned or if my window is going to be broken again."

  Rosalie nodded.

  "I hear you, sister. Who would have thought that Pete was the culprit all along?”

  “Nobody had thought of that. He didn't quite strike us as someone who would do such a thing. And to think that we suspected almost everyone, especially Angela when she went into that house on Lavender Street.” We sat at the counter and Rosalie poured us freshly brewed coffee.

  “Oh, about that. Rumor has it that Angela is dating the guy that lives in that house on Lavender Street. That's why she was over there that night."

  "Really? I guess that makes sense," I said. "I still kind of feel bad for suspecting her."

  Rosalie shook her finger at me. "Don't you go feeling guilty. We had no idea who it was and she just happened to be on Lavender Street the night we were looking for clues. How could you not suspect her?"

  I looked at Rosalie and smiled. I was grateful to have her in my life.

  "I also heard something else," Rosalie said. She suddenly made herself look very busy with her hands.

  "And?" I prompted.

  Rosalie resigned and looked at me. "Roger saw how Houston was holding you the night you caught Pete. It's taken him long enough, but he's finally realized that you're moving on with your life. He says he's not going to bother you anymore. He's going to let you go."

  I was shocked at this news. Roger had been trying to get me to forgive him for quite some time. Inside, another piece of me rejoiced. Not only for myself, but also for Roger. It was about time he moved on and found someone who would make him happy once more.

  At ten, Maia came in to begin her shift. We opened the café and everything ran smoothly. Rosalie did a great job helping in the kitchen as well as helping with customers. After the rush, she said, "I thi
nk I wouldn't mind working here. It seems kind of fun."

  I smiled and made a mental note about hiring Rosalie. Right at lunch time, Houston walked through the door. I swear my heart did a flip in its cage. I'd been expecting him, but I was still nervous and excited at seeing him.

  As he took his seat at the counter, Rosalie walked up to me. "Please tell me that is Houston."

  Smiling at her I said, "The one and only."

  Rosalie fanned herself. "What a hunk."

  "Come on. Let me introduce you." We walked over to him and I said, "Houston, this is my best friend, Rosalie. Rosalie, Houston."

  "Pleasure to meet you," Houston said and held out his hand. After they shook, Rosalie walked away, leaving us to talk. "I'd like a piece of your delicious chocolate cake and, of course, some coffee," he told me.

  I placed his order before him and then told him about the piece of spice cake that I'd kept that had been poisoned with the can of paint thinner. "Besides his confession, the police said the cake was a very incriminating piece of evidence."

  "Unfortunately, though, it isn't enough to incriminate my uncle," Houston said. "He was questioned by the police about the entire situation, but he told them he never told Pete to do such terrible things. He said that by promising Pete to make him manager, my uncle thought Pete would just try to persuade you verbally to sell the café. I guess that means he's off the hook."

  I shook my head. "Well, at least we have the actual culprit."

  "True," Houston said. "So, let's move on to happier topics. Are we still on for dinner tonight?"

  I tried not to smile as butterflies fluttered in my stomach. "Yes, of course," I told him.

  "Great." He finished his last bite of chocolate cake. "Well, I should go get some work done. I'll see you later." He brushed his lips against my cheek and walked away.

  Rosalie joined me and as we watched him walk out the door she sighed and said, "I should really give that car mechanic one more chance."

  Vanilla Bean Murder

  by

  Deany Ray

  Chapter One

  It was a lazy Friday afternoon in June. The temperatures were up to eighty degrees and I loved it. Summer was my all-time favorite season. The sky was blue, bright sunshine was reflected on the water in Ouna Bay, near Lake Erie, and tourists were swarming.

  My name is Becky Chambers and I own and run the Blue Bay Café. It's a place for people to get together and enjoy a lovely cup of coffee with delicious cakes and pastries. I spent all my childhood in the cafè and took on the business when my parents died. Perhaps some people aspire to have a desk job, which I guess does have its advantages, but I wouldn’t trade my job for anything in the world.

  While Maia served the customers, I filled the pastry case that held homemade brownies and muffins as well as cupcakes that came in flavors like chocolate coconut, lemon cream, Oh My Darlin' Clementine, and triple cinnamon. The Oh My Darlin' Clementines were my favorites, with their sweet citrus flavor and whipped topping with clementine zest. I always loved to watch the customers' faces as they studied the options and I didn’t have to wait for long. A customer’s eyes lit up as she saw my blueberry muffins with a yummy crumble on top. She asked me for one and I handed it to her, asking if she would pay Maia at the cash register.

  Maia was the most loyal and hard-working employee one could ask for. She was the mother of an eight-year-old daughter and I admired her ability to juggle family time and work time. Her husband could easily support the family but Maia always said, she wants to earn part of their income.

  It was time to pull out another batch of the cake of the week: German chocolate with pecan and coconut caramel drizzled over a pecan frosting. I was proud of this one as I had taken a typical German chocolate cake recipe and tweaked it so that it was my own. It was a brand new recipe that I was trying out this week and people seemed to love it.

  Just as I finished placing it in the pastry case, my best friend Rosalie walked through the door. She sat on one of the stools at the counter before asking, “Have you seen a pair of neon green and yellow flip flops? I seem to have misplaced them.”

  Rosalie Gilbert had been my best friend since our days in school and the one I could go through thick and thin with. She had short, light brown hair and today she wore surfer shorts and a t-shirt with a big yellow sun printed on it. If there’s anyone who can put a smile on my face, it’s definitely her. I blame it on her dimples.

  “Well hello to you too,” I smiled.

  “Hi hon. Sorry, I’ve been looking all over the place for those flip flops.” She eyed the pastry case.

  I shook my head as I bent down and grabbed her flip flops from under the counter. She took them with a grin on her face.

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you. I really love these flip flops.”

  Laughing, I wondered how she could lose so many of her things. I did have to admit, though, that I seemed to have misplaced one of my favorite necklaces. I really loved it with its blue opal held to the chain by a silver casing on the back.

  “Have you by any chance seen my necklace?” I asked, pouring her some coffee.

  “You haven’t found that yet? I haven’t seen it anywhere. And this is weird, you losing stuff.” She grinned.

  “It’s not stuff,” I said. “It’s one thing. And it bugs me.”

  Rosalie sipped her coffee and kept her eyes on the muffins.

  “So, are you excited to be finished at the bank?” I asked. She had just finished her last day as a cashier at the bank. Starting in July, she’d work for me.

  She nodded. “Thank heavens I only had to work a half day. I don't think I could have lasted any longer, knowing I wouldn't be going back on Monday. Or ever again. I came straight here when my shift was over and changed in the car.”

  “You came straight here even though you'll be spending most of your time here once you start?” I teased, handing her a muffin.

  She shrugged. “What can I say? I'm excited to start a new chapter in my life. Not only will I be learning a new hobby, I'll be getting to know your recipes very closely, and I'll be able to spend more time with you. It's a win-win situation, if you ask me.”

  Wasn’t she a sweetheart?

  “I'm glad you're excited. So am I!”

  “I’m just going to have to be careful not to gain any weight, what with all the cakes and sweets around here.” She gave a soft nod towards the pastry case.

  “Well, you’re just going to have to restrain yourself, aren’t you? And keep in mind that the cakes are for the customers.”

  “I know, I know. But it’s gonna be hard.” She sighed.

  “Oh, that reminds me. I have to put the finishing touches on another cake. I've got a party coming in tomorrow. The ladies from the Contemporary Book Club reserved a table so they can discuss their latest book.”

  “How fun,” Rosalie said. “I've never been part of a book club. I’m more of a watch TV kind of gal. But if I’m gonna talk about books, I’d rather do it in a place with all these muffins.”

  “I have made a vanilla bean cake for them with a chocolate ganache frosting that needs to sit in the fridge overnight. I really think they'll like it.”

  “Oh my. You better save me a piece of that cake,” Rosalie said.

  “You bet,” I said with a wink.

  “So how's Houston?” she asked leaning her elbows on the counter. Leave it to Rosalie to ask about my boyfriend within fifteen minutes of walking through the door. I tried not to roll my eyes.

  “He's great. He finally decorated his new office. It's on the other side of town.”

  “I've been there, remember? He asked me for tips on how to decorate.”

  “Oh that's right,” I said.

  I'd completely forgotten. Houston hadn't so much asked Rosalie for help as she had insisted that he let her. He had worked for his uncle’s company in Chicago until a few months ago. But he’d had enough of big city life so he quit his job and moved to Ouna Bay. He was a corporate lawyer a
nd while our town was small, he'd already landed a job, legally representing a local company in Ouna Bay.

  “What I don't understand,” Rosalie said, popping a bite of muffin into her mouth, “is why he didn't just move in with you.”

  “Rosalie!” I swatted her on the arm. “It's way too soon for that. We haven't been dating that long and, really, we barely know each other.”

  “But you make such a cute couple,” Rosalie said with a mischievous smile.

  She laughed when I blushed, then she wiped the crumbs off of her hands.

  “Okay hon, I'm going to leave for now, but I'll be back when you close. Would you come with me to the bank to pick up my final check? And after that, we could go grab a pizza and celebrate me leaving the bank.”

  We sure know how to party. “Sure. See you then?”

  Rosalie grabbed the rest of her muffin before walking out the door. I smiled as I watched the door close behind her.

  ***

  Later, just as I was locking the doors, Rosalie pulled up in front of the café. She rolled down her window and called. “You want to hop in or drive your own car?”

  “If you don't mind, I'll just drive my own car.”

  Rosalie nodded. “Sounds great.”

  As we drove toward the bank, I admired the view of the bay. The sun was just getting ready to set and the colors of the sunset sprayed out across the waters in a show of colors: first yellow, then orange, before turning into blue. The few clouds in the sky reflected back the rainbow of hues. I became so immersed in the changing scene that I hadn't realized the light I was waiting at had turned green. The car behind me honked and I lightly pressed on the gas pedal.

  Once we arrived at the bank, Rosalie drove around to the back and I followed, parking in the open spot next to her. At the back door, she typed a code into a keypad.

  “They change it once a week,” she explained to me. “Guess you got to be careful when your business is other people's money.”