Traitorous Toys (Cozy Corgi Mysteries Book 2)

by Mildred Abbott

  She lifted her chin primly. “Possibly.”

  She really was something. “I don’t think Google is your friend. I’m afraid you might dive in and never come back.”

  “You have your ways, and I have mine. You might think you can solve a murder by talking to all the big gossips in town, but I happen to think research could shed the most light on things.” She flinched a little, though I hadn’t said or reacted in any way, and then her tone changed, almost wary, but some other emotion was there as well. Maybe… hope? “It’s a different topic, but you want to hear what else I researched?”

  From the sound of her voice, I nearly said no, afraid of what was coming. “I bet you’re going to tell me.”

  “Well….” Katie took a shaky breath and then turned away from me, focusing on the books once more. “There’s lots of studies saying that bookstores are more successful when there’s a bakery up top. Something about the smells of fresh bread and cookies and things making customers below buy more.”

  The change in topic completely threw me off. “What?”

  Still she didn’t look at me. Her fingers trembled as she retrieved another book. “It’s true. I also read that it’s considered good fortune to have bookstores and bakeries together.” She cleared her throat. “Something about… the alliteration, I believe. Bookstores and bakeries. B and B. You know, for, um, good luck or something….”

  And it clicked. The moment it did, I was nearly ashamed it hadn’t clicked weeks before. All the hints she’d dropped, even the irritation Katie always showed when I brought up Peg and turning the second floor into Cozy Corgi merchandise. “Katie?”

  “Hmm?” She turned toward me, all wide-eyed innocence, but then looked away again quickly.

  “Are you wanting to open your bakery upstairs?”

  There was a long pause. She seemed to consider, and then she sucked in her breath. “Well, what a thought? Well, I just don’t know… is it something you would want?”

  It was so ridiculous, and Katie was more nervous than I’d ever seen her, and I couldn’t keep from laughing. I walked over to her, gripped both of her shoulders, and turned her to face me. “How long have you been thinking about this?”

  “I don’t know.” She shrugged unable to meet my gaze for more than a moment, then looking away. “Ever since you found Opal. I mean there’s already a kitchen up there. It seems to make sense.” She grimaced. “I know that makes me awful. I shouldn’t have been thinking about such things when Opal had just been killed. But I’ve wanted this for so long. And it just seems so utterly perfect. You and I get along…. We have a lot of fun together. It could be this great adventure….”

  “Katie. I….” It was so out of the blue. A bakery upstairs. In my bookshop. Another business partner.

  She pulled away, and though she sounded disappointed and possibly hurt, she didn’t sound angry. “Never mind. I know that’s not why you’re here. You came up to have your own adventure. To be Winifred and Watson. Just the two of you. I don’t want to intrude.”

  I started to speak, to agree, and then to argue, but then the picture started to form. She was right. I had come up here to have my own adventure. To finally make life on my own terms. But I hadn’t been sure what to do with upstairs. I’d wanted the bookstore to be small and cozy, not some large rambling houseful. I didn’t want to rent it out as an apartment either. But a bakery? Katie had a point. It would make the bookshop smell wonderful. It would be a great business to have together. People would come in for pastries and leave with the book, or they’d come in to buy a book, and then they’d wander upstairs to read it over coffee and cake.

  It felt right. Scary, but right.

  Branson had been correct. I’d always been a by the book kind of woman. In everything. In my studies, my time as a professor, in my marriage, and starting the publishing house with Charlotte. Until everything hit the fan and I decided to hit Reset and throw caution to the wind. That hadn’t been by the book. None of this was by the book. And yet I felt like it was working. Bookstore and bakery. What a perfect combination.

  I sighed and sank back against the bookshelf. “You’re going to make me gain a thousand pounds, aren’t you?” I met Katie’s gaze as she looked over at me in surprise. “Just remember, there’s already been one dead body up in that kitchen. There can easily be another.”

  “You mean…?” Katie’s eyes widened and her expression shifted from disappointment, to confusion, to awe. “You mean…?”

  I laughed and felt a giddy sort of thrill course through me. “I mean, Katie, would you consider opening a bakery in the top part of my bookstore? I’ve heard studies saying that the smell of baked goods can greatly increase the sale of books.”

  Katie froze, then jumped up and down, and then jogged in place as she squealed. “Yes! Oh, yes! It’s going to be amazing, Fred, you wait and see. Absolutely perfect!”

  At Katie’s commotion, Watson let out a yelp from upstairs and rushed down to inspect. I shook my head at him. “You’ve already claimed upstairs as your own. You’re gonna be so happy for it to be turned into a bakery. So much for your diet, I won’t be the only one gaining a hundred pounds.”

  Katie’s eyes twinkled, and she bent down to rub Watson’s haunch. “I haven’t told anyone this, but I know the recipe for Lois’s all-natural dog treats. I was going to wait and make you a bunch for Christmas. But now I’ll make you a new batch every week.”

  At the word treat, Watson began to whine in frantic anticipation.

  I grinned at the two of them. Despite not wanting a business partner, a part of me relaxed. Yes, this was right. And I’d lived enough to know that nothing was ever perfect, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t be wonderful.

  “Well, since you brought up that word, we have to follow through. I’ll go get one out of my purse.” I headed toward the main counter, then paused, looking back at Katie with another thought. “You didn’t really find those studies about bookstores and bakeries online, did you?”

  Katie shrugged, all unconvincing innocence. “Well, if you give me five minutes, I can show them to you. You can put about anything you want to on Wikipedia.”

  “That is just the best news, sweetie.” Mom snuggled her birdlike frame against me. There were five of us crowded into a four-person booth, but thanks to her small stature, it was doable. “Oh, that reminds me.” She reached below the table, snagged her purse, and began to dig through it. “I made this necklace for Katie. I’d like for you to give it to her.” As she spoke, she made a pile of junk on the table. Travel-size bag of tissues, lipstick, seashells, a spool of wire, and a wide assortment of coins and pieces of lint. Finally, she pulled out a long string of clear crystals and beads, with a large smooth stone as the centerpiece. It was a muddy-dark color with a rainbow sheen over it like an oil slick. “This is labradorite. It protects against evil wishes and psychic attacks. I figured she could use it right now. I realize they’re no longer thinking she’s a valid suspect, but you and I both know that can change on a dime.”

  Barry leaned over from his spot on the other side of Mom and pulled a matching necklace outside of his tie-dyed shirt. “She made me one too. Except my stone is fluorite. It protects against sorcery and curses.”

  Mom gave me a knowing glance. “I was going to use black tourmaline, which is best for all-around general protection, but Barry had other ideas.”

  “Did you get a witch’s knickers all twisted up, Barry?” Percival beamed from the other side of the table as he forked some of the fajita chicken from the sizzling plate he and Gary were sharing. “What have I told you about leaving Myrtle Bantam to herself?”

  “Oh, stop.” Gary elbowed him in the side. “Quit making fun of Myrtle. She’s a harmless little thing.”

  “Harmless!” Percival screeched. “Harmless? Please don’t tell me you forgot about when that sparrow flew into our store and Myrtle saw me try to encourage it back outside.”

  Gary cocked an eyebrow in my direction. “He was encourag
ing it with a broom.”

  “Exactly. A broom is full of twigs and sticks. Birds sit on twigs and sticks. They make nests out of them. They raise their babies in them, for crying out loud.” Percival placed the fork on his plate, the chicken forgotten so he could use both of his hands. “She was walking by and then came rushing in with both arms waving in the air, screeching and squawking and clucking like you’ve never heard before. It was like I was trying to kill the poor thing.”

  Despite himself, Gary chuckled.

  So did Mom, though she swatted her brother. “Stop it. You’re being unkind. And Myrtle is most definitely not a witch. She’s just a lover of all things with wings and feathers. Even if she does squawk sometimes.”

  Having been subjected to a Myrtle Bantam squawking tirade myself, I didn’t feel overly inclined to come to her reputation’s rescue.

  The only one who hadn’t chuckled was Barry, who now shook the pendant of cloudy blues, whites, and purples at Percival. “You mock all you want, but there are forces out there that none of us are prepared to deal with. Don’t come crying to me when you get cursed.”

  Percival did a waving motion with his finger encompassing the entirety of Barry. “Honey, you’re the one dressed in head-to-toe tie-dye. Which, I hate to tell you, those pants and that shirt clash, which is saying something, considering its tie-dye. If either one of us is cursed, it’s you.”

  Still chuckling, Mom spread her hands out over the table, between Barry and Percival. “Now you two, save some of the drama for Christmas Day. I’m sure the grandkids wouldn’t want to miss it.”

  “It really will be nice to have the whole family together.” Gary smiled gently at Mom. “Are you sure the only thing you want us to bring is the sweet potato casserole?”

  “Absolutely. Everything else is covered. Verona and Zelda are making the rest of the side dishes. Barry is in charge of appetizers, and I’ve got the turkey and the vegetarian roast handled.” She patted my arm. “And Fred is bringing Katie, so technically, she’s bringing dessert.”

  I wasn’t the worst cook in the world, but I wasn’t the kind of cook you leave in charge of something for a family gathering. “I offered to bring grilled-cheeses.”

  She patted my arm again. “I know you did, dear. Bringing Katie will suffice.”

  “What exactly is in vegetarian roast?” Percival leveled a stare at Barry once more. “Or is that the curse you’re trying to guard against?”

  As Percival and Barry launched back into exchanging harmless barbs, Mom put Katie’s necklace in my hands. “I really do think it’s wonderful she’s opening a bakery. I bet it’s just what the Cozy Corgi needs. I’m so glad you found each other. I do wish she could have joined you for dinner tonight.”

  “I invited her to come, of course. But she’s so over the moon that she wanted to go home and start shopping online for exactly what cooking and baking equipment she’ll want to install upstairs.”

  Confusion crossed Mom’s face. “But there’s already a kitchen. I thought she could just move right in.”

  “So did I. But apparently not. While it worked well enough for Opal to make her edibles, it is not going to cut it for what Katie has in mind. It seems she’s thinking full-on industrial-bakery-sized—” I had no idea. “—everything, it seems.”

  “Goodness, sounds expensive.” She looked concerned and then shrugged the emotion away. “But I’m sure it will pay off. It’s going to be absolute perfection.”

  “I hope so. She’s been saving for a long time. Didn’t have enough to open her own place entirely, but she has enough to redo what she needs. I’m glad we went ahead and redid the floors and walls up there. That was thanks to you.”

  Mom smiled and shrugged away the compliment just as easily as she had the concern. “So glad you’re here, darling. I hope this new life treats you better than the old one.”

  I bent down awkwardly to give her a quick kiss on the cheek. “It already is, Mom. It already is.” The truth of those words hit me, surrounded by the older generation of my family, as we were all squished into a brightly painted booth at Habanero’s, Barry and Percival still bickering, and Gary simply enjoying the show. Even with the drama since I moved into town, I was certain this was the life I not only needed, but wanted.

  We continued eating for a while, the conversation ranging from speculation about the first lawsuit Noah and Jonah would have over their Christmas garland, to listing the gifts they were getting for the grandkids so no one got the same thing, to their hopes of what would happen to the empty shops next to the Cozy Corgi.

  By the time the sopaipillas were delivered, I didn’t think I could eat a bite more. But sure enough, I managed, and before long my fingers were sticky with honey.

  Mom had just stuffed another bite into her mouth when she looked over and stiffened slightly. I followed her gaze.

  Gerald Jackson, who was nearly as wide as he was tall, was making his way from across the restaurant toward our booth. She leaned in to me, uncharacteristically speaking with her mouth full. “Be nice, Fred.”

  I was a woman pushing forty and yet could still get reprimanded by my mother for not even doing anything. It was like she knew me.

  “Howdy there, boys! So good to see you!” Gerald nearly trumpeted over the background music as he reached us.

  All three of the men in our booth let out similar sounds of greeting, and there were rounds of handshakes and backslapping.

  When the male camaraderie died down a bit, he tipped his hat in Mom’s and my direction. “Always a pleasure to see you, ladies.”

  I managed a noncommittal nod, and my mother a sweet “You too, of course, Gerald. Happy holidays.”

  Maybe someday I’d be as gracious as my mother. But I doubted it.

  “And to you, Phyllis. I’m sure you’re glad to have your girl back.”

  “That’s very true, Gerald. It’s nice to have the family together at Christmastime again.” And though her other hand reached out and slid over Barry’s leg under the table, I was certain that a part of her was also thinking of my father. I often felt he was still watching over us, also pleased that we were all together.

  Pleasantries exchanged, Gerald refocused on the men at the table. He started to squat slightly to rest his elbow on the table to be closer, then, finding that difficult, seemed to think better of it and stood straight once more. “Terrible business with the Diamonds. Just terrible.” He patted his chest. “Just breaks your heart, all that Duncan has sacrificed and this is where it leads.”

  It took all my willpower to keep from pointing out that Gerald was the reason Declan had managed to get his father declared incompetent. Having Mom pressed against me probably didn’t hurt.

  There was a round of agreement from the table. “And then that scene the night before last at the Chinese restaurant.” Percival tsked. “And to such a charming, beautiful girl like Daphne. After all Declan’s years of philandering, she deserved better.”

  Somehow in the chaos of it all, I’d never passed on to them about Dolan and Daphne. Well, I definitely wasn’t going to do so with Gerald Jackson in our midst.

  Gerald nodded his agreement with Percival. “That is true, but I take it you haven’t heard the latest?” His wild eyebrows rose nearly halfway up his bald head as he leered over his glasses at each man in turn.

  All three of them shook their heads. Mom and I didn’t bother.

  This time, Gerald managed to support his weight with his hands on the edge of the table as he leaned nearer. “Well, with Declan’s death, certain things came to light. One of which was he changed his will, less than a week ago, in fact.”

  Barry, Percival, and Gary all sat silently with their mouths open, waiting. It was Mom who ushered him forward. “Well, do you know how he changed it?”

  He looked at her in surprise, like he’d forgotten Mom was there. Then cleared his throat as if uncertain he should continue with the gossip.

  It was a good thing the waitress had taken Gary and Perci
val’s sizzling cast-iron fajita plate away. I would have been tempted to smash it over his head.

  “Don’t worry about Mom and I being delicate, Gerald. We handled things the night Barry was arrested for Opal’s murder. All on our own, if you remember.” To my surprise, Mom didn’t elbow me or anything. Gerald, who acted as Barry’s lawyer—and apparently every other man over the age of fifty in Estes Park—had been so late that all the drama had been over, all because he had to drive to his little house in Glenhaven for a bottle of his homemade kombucha.

  “Ah, yes. Well….” Gerald blinked rapidly a few times and then once more promptly forgot Mom and I were there. His gaze darted back and forth between Gary and Percival but then finally came to rest on Barry, seemingly judging him to be the most worthy of the news. “As I’ve been told, the original will left the entire business to Daphne and Dolan. Those two, of course, would take care of Duncan, just as always.” He pulled his glasses farther down his nose and leaned in even closer to Barry. “But now, he’s left everything, and I do mean everything, to Sarah Margaret Beeman.”

  “You’re kidding! He left it all to another woman?” Percival gasped, startling Gerald. “Now that’s a scandal!” Gary nodded his agreement.

  “Poor Duncan. Poor, poor Duncan.” Barry just sounded sad. “And Daphne and Dolan too. He managed to betray his entire family.”

  Gerald nodded his agreement. “I don’t see how such a thing would hold up in court, but it is Declan.”

  I couldn’t imagine it holding up in court either, although, with Gerald defending the rest of the Diamonds, who knew…

  After a few moments in silence, Mom spoke up, her voice timid. “Who’s Sarah Beeman? I don’t think I’ve ever heard of her.”

  “No idea.” Gerald shrugged. “That’s part of what makes it so confusing. No one knows her.”

  I did. I almost said so, then stopped myself.

  Maybe I didn’t. Sarah Beeman. It sounded so familiar. I knew that name. If it hadn’t been for the reaction of the others around the table, I would’ve assumed it was someone I’d met downtown as I was trying to clear Barry or Katie. But if that were the case, all of them would’ve known who she was. There was no one in town I knew that they didn’t. So I must not know her.