by Emily James
I leaned back in my chair, clutching the mug to my chest to borrow some of its warmth. “He’ll still come looking for me here. Eventually he’ll find Adam Brooksbank’s article online, he’ll recognize me, and he’ll know.”
Dan took his mug to the sink and rinsed it out. His posture said problem solved, but that might have been something that had been trained into him as well.
He turned back around and leaned on the counter with his hands behind him. “I can have that article pulled. I can also call Amy’s husband, and tell him that we don’t know where his wife is but that we think she left town to avoid having to testify in a case where she was a witness.”
Something bubbled in my chest, like my rib cage wanted to expand. His wording couldn’t have been accidental. “Amy’s husband?”
“Yeah. ‘Cause I know an Isabel…”
“Addington. Isabel Addington.”
He gave me that smile that made me think he felt it rather than that it was calculated to get the result he wanted. It was a smile that said he knew how big an act of trust that was. “I know an Isabel Addington, but I don’t know where to find Amy Miller. I assume she skipped town.”
Dan might be the one person who could fool Jarrod into believing I’d actually left Lakeshore. Dan had tricked whatever criminal syndicate he’d been asked to infiltrate in his undercover work. And Jarrod wouldn’t expect a member of law enforcement to lie to him. He wouldn’t expect I’d have confided in anyone in law enforcement after how many years he’d spent brainwashing me into believing that all of them would side with him.
There was only one flaw in the plan. “The DA will still want my real name, and I’ll have to use my real name in court.”
“When I talk to Jarrod, I’ll tell him Amy was a witness, so he won’t find anything new if he’s able to access the case files.”
“And what about when I have to testify? He’ll be there waiting.”
“That’s months away. It gives us time to figure out how to deal with it if you still want to stay hidden.”
Dan’s plan might be bold enough to work. Jarrod would continue his search for me everywhere but here. It wouldn’t protect me forever, but it might in the short-term. I’d be able to keep my truck. I’d be able to continue building up my clientele and get on better financial footing should I have to run again down the road.
Dan caught my gaze and held it. “You’re safer here where you have friends than you’ll be anywhere else.”
Nicole had tried to tell me the same thing when she wanted me to stay in Fair Haven. She’d been worried about my health as well as my safety. I’d been worried about her safety in return. But maybe Dan’s plan solved that for me in Lakeshore. Jarrod wouldn’t rough up another police officer for information the way he might feel he could a civilian. Dan’s story would have Jarrod believing he didn’t know anything about my whereabouts anyway.
“Friends plural?”
“Well, there’s me and Janie.” He ticked them off on his fingers. He must have realized how pathetic having only two friends sounded because he ticked another finger. “And Claire.”
I raised an eyebrow at him. “Claire?”
His expression turned sheepish, like he was a little boy I’d caught stealing a cookie. “Eventually. She’ll come around.”
Maybe if we had decades rather than months. Still, for now at least, he’d won the argument over whether I’d stay or go. “I guess I’ll have to stay then. I’ve always wanted to see pigs fly.”
Recipe: Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Harold Cartwright wasn’t able to try his birthday “cake,” but you can. If you’re not allergic to nuts, feel free to add them! A 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts works great in this recipe.
To receive Isabel’s Top 10 Tips for Amazing Cupcakes and two additional bonus recipes that go along with this story, sign up for my newsletter at www.subscribepage.com/cupcakes.
INGREDIENTS
Cake:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1/3 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups grated carrots
Icing:
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
INSTRUCTIONS:
To Make the Cake:
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, and line a muffin tin with cupcake liners.
2.In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
3.In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, eggs, buttermilk, applesauce, oil, and vanilla.
4.Stir in grated carrots.
5.Add dry mixture to wet mixture. Mix until just combined.
6.Scoop batter into cupcake liners. Fill the liners 2/3 to 3/4 of the way full.
7.Bake for 18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8.Remove to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
To Make the Icing:
9.In a large bowl, using a mixer on high, beat together cream cheese and butter until creamy.
10.Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat on low for 30 seconds (to keep the sugar from poofing out in your face), then increase the speed to high for 2 minutes.
11.Ice cooled cupcakes with frosting.
Makes 12 cupcakes.
Letter from the Author
I hope you enjoyed getting to know Isabel better and solving this mystery alongside her. I have many more stories planned for her. You’ll be seeing a lot more of Dan, Claire, and Janie in the future too!
You might have caught that Nicole mentioned two murder investigations that Isabel was a part of after leaving Fair Haven.
When was this other murder? you might be wondering. It must have happened sometime between when she left Fair Haven and now.
It did. You’ll be able to read that story soon. It’s part of a Christmas box set I’m working on. The box set will also include a mystery that Nicole and her new husband solve on their honeymoon. (You didn’t think she’d stay out of trouble just because it was her honeymoon, did you?)
If you want to know when this box set or the next Cupcake Truck mystery releases, make sure to sign up for my newsletter at www.subscribepage.com/cupcakes.
And if you enjoyed this book, I’d really appreciate it if you’d leave an honest review on Amazon or Goodreads. Reviews help fellow readers know if this is a book they might enjoy. Even a short sentence helps!
Love,
Emily
About the Author
Emily James grew up watching TV shows like Matlock, Monk, and Murder She Wrote. (It’s pure coincidence that they all begin with an M.) It was no surprise to anyone when she turned into a mystery writer.
Alongside being a writer, she’s also a wife, an animal lover, and a new artist. She likes coffee and painting and drinking coffee while painting. She also enjoys cooking. She tries not to do that while painting because, well, you shouldn’t eat paint.
Emily and her husband share their home with a blue Great Dane, six cats (all rescues), and a budgie (who is both the littlest and the loudest).
If you’d like to know as soon as Emily’s next mystery releases, please join her newsletter list at www.subscribepage.com/cupcakes.
She also loves hearing from readers.
www.authoremilyjames.com
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