by Beth Byers
Table of Contents
Cinnamon Rolls & Cyanide
Dedication
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
Also By Beth Byers
Also By Amanda A. Allen
Copyright
Cinnamon Rolls & Cyanide
By Beth Byers
The 2nd Chance Diner Mysteries
Book 5
For Emily Baldwin
Why you love us, no one knows. But we love you to the moon and back.
ONE
It all started with Zee. It always did. And I should have been no more surprised by the fact that Zee dragged me into the latest round of trouble than I was that it was drizzling outside. I glanced out the window and back at Zee. Through the window, I could see the sort of rain that still left blue skies. It always paused me to see it since it was so weird to see the sun shining through the raindrops. Across the diner, Zee had a sparkle in her eye that shone with her typical meanness. Yep. Nothing surprising happening in The 2nd Chance Diner.
Zee sniffed and tossed her ponytail before her gaze narrowed tightly on the mayor and then Zee snarled, “What are you even doing here, Roberta? Do you come into 2nd Chance to bug me?”
Roberta gave Zee a nasty look and then ordered, “Coffee. Black.” She seated herself at her favorite booth, the first one near the window, where she could watch the street and the diner.
Zee’s gaze narrowed. She wasn’t a woman who took orders. Not even when she worked in a diner as a waitress. Zee tucked a loose white hair behind her ear. Her old-school shirt dress showed her knobby-knees and the tight lines of her calves. As a string of a woman, her feistiness seemed to be all the more powerful, and her eyes flashed in challenge.
I shook my head and hoped for the best. Zee had worked for me about a half of a year, but she’d worked in this diner probably since the dawn of time. Zee no more cared that Roberta was the mayor of Silver Falls than she did that she was going to be getting—yet another—bad Yelp review today after telling off that family from Spokane.
“Did you know that the breakfast special is $2.00 cheaper over at Rose’s Diner?” Roberta asked me.
I pasted a smile on my face and pretended that the new diner in Silver Falls didn’t frustrate me to no end. It was called Rose’s when the owner’s name was George. My name, my menu, I’d say my town, but I was barely newer in town that George. The stupid diner served the same things I served. It…they were stealing what we did. I tried not to think about it, but it bothered me more than I could say.
“Rosie luv,” our cook, Az, called to me. I knew what he was doing—he was giving me a reason to escape Roberta and her poking at me and Zee and her madness. It was an opportunity I snatched as I hurried down the hallway towards the kitchen. The second I stepped inside, I pulled my hair back into a ponytail, washed my hands, and glanced over to check Az’s status. He had the orders well in hand, so I took the chance to clear out the dishes.
The truth was, I loved my diner. But sometimes I liked the washing dishes and avoiding the customers side of it better than others. Like when Roberta was in the place. I was pretty sure she only came to 2nd Chance to see the look on my face when I saw her. Especially since the new diner had opened, Roberta had come in only to tell me how well the other diner was doing.
I knew she hated me, but something had to give right? It wasn’t my fault that she had dated my boyfriend before I did. I hadn’t even been aware there was history there when I started dating Simon. They were broken up when Simon and I met over a pile of puppies. The rest was history.
Simon swore that despite my entrance into his life, he’d never have dated Roberta again. But Roberta didn’t believe that. In fact, I was pretty sure she still didn’t believe it. She was tall, svelte, and gorgeous. The most that could be said of me was that I was cute. My hips were bigger than I liked. The consequence of being a banking minion before I fled to the Oregon coast. My red hair was frizzy and my nose had freckles. If you were to compare us by looks, I’d never win. Not ever.
Simon, bless him, didn’t agree. Or at least knew not to say he agreed that she was prettier than me. I tried not to let my mind linger on those things. Simon was the type of man who both told you he loved you and showed you by the things he did. All the showing made me believe him even though I was always a little baffled. Before Silver Falls…I had been pretty invisible. This life Silver Falls with the diner, my relationship with Simon, my new, real friends—it was all that I had ever wanted when I was in call center purgatory.
As much as I found myself doubting that something this great could continue, I pushed those feelings away. No matter how tempting it was when my hormones were out of whack. Like, I thought, today. I had a pimple in the center of my forehead, and Roberta had a new figure-hugging dress that showed off every single perfect curve.
I told myself to shake off my mood. I shouldn’t focus on Roberta, on the new diner, or anything else. This was my first busy season in Silver Falls, and I should have my game face on. Even if I was a bit tired. Since I’d moved from the Portland to Silver Falls, I had made several friends, fallen in love, and been embroiled in four murder investigations. My fervent hope was that the madness was behind us and I could spend the May through September months playing with recipes, loving my dogs, walking on the beach, and spending time with those I cared about.
“Oh my lands,” Az said. He’d been volunteering at a local nursing home and it had started to reflect in his language. “Rosie, luv…”
The way his voice trailed off into silence told me that I wasn’t going to like what I saw. Probably Zee crossing a line. Probably a big one. Maybe one where I’d be facing some sort of liability style lawsuit. I pushed up onto my toes and saw that Simon had walked into the diner. I wasn’t surprised. He came in nearly every day for lunch. What froze my heart was the way that Roberta had placed her palm on his chest.
Slowly, ever so slowly, she was running it down the trail of his uniform buttons. I…didn’t know what to do. I stared and his gaze met mine. I’d never asked if their relationship had been physical. Given the familiar way her hand was touching his chest, I would guess that it had been.
I closed my eyes and dropped back onto my feet. I didn’t say a word. I didn’t have one to say. I turned to the sink and stared the new stack of plates. My eyes were burning as I used the hose to spray the plates off and then send them through the industrial dishwasher. If I moved fast enough, maybe I could wash that picture out of my mind.
“Rosie, luv?” Az’s gentle voice was freaking me out.
“Az?” I didn’t turn to face him because my hands were shaking. I stared at them for a moment and then sighed. I reminded myself that Simon loved me before I turned around, but it wasn’t Az’s gaze I met, it was Simon’s. He was standing so carefully which sounded crazy, but I could see the tenuousness in his frame as though he were afraid to come into the kitchen and afraid to speak.
I wasn’t like that, was I? Scary? Too crazy to say something after what I’d just witnessed?
“Rosemary Baldwin,” Simon’s voice cut into my thoughts. I had been trying to figure out what was wrong with me. Was it just that I was PMSing? Or perhaps I was actually hurt? If it was hurt, was it a justified feeling or jealousy?
I looked up and he strode into the kitchen of my diner, cupped my face, and kissed me. All tenuousness was gone when his lips pressed into my own. Generally I preferred to keep physical affection private, but I had to admit that at that moment, feeli
ng the touch of his lips again my own reassured me as nothing else might have.
A shriek broke through our kiss, but I didn’t pull away from Simon very quickly.
“Zee,” Az shouted. I heard him move out of the kitchen and sighed before Simon and I followed.
Roberta was standing in a puddle of coffee while Zee was watching the mayor curse at her. Zee’s arms were crossed over her chest and she smirked even as she was thoroughly chewed out.
“I…I…I should press charged,” Roberta snarled.
“It was cold coffee,” Zee said. “But go ahead.”
“You…” Roberta was squeezing out her dress and Zee tapped her toe. “You…”
“Of course…the next election is coming up…isn’t it? I wonder how many people will wonder about you pressing charges against constituents?” Zee’s grin was pure evil as Roberta snarled and then spun and ran out of the 2nd Chance Diner.
“I guess we won’t be getting paid for her coffee,” Zee laughed and then dropped a towel on the ground and started wiping up the mess.
“There goes our Yelp reviews,” Az muttered and headed back to the kitchen while I cleared several tables and tried to account for what had just happened with the customers who didn’t know Zee personally. When I took Simon’s order, I channeled a little Zee and put in an order for stir-fried veggies and rice instead of the cheeseburger he ordered. I didn’t even feel bad when I delivered it, but then again…he didn’t even look surprised.
* * * * *
“Given as many murderers as we’ve caught…” Zee began.
“As Rose has caught,” Az cut in. His dark chocolate voice was tinged with humor and I felt my lips twitching even though I’d been in an iffy mood since the episode that morning.
Lyle and Roxy, the other staff still there, laughed until Zee growled. Both of them fell quiet as Az repeated, “As Rose has solved.”
“She wouldn’t have solved anything without me,” Zee sniffed.
“Because after the first, Rosie luv wouldn’t have gotten involved at all,” Az inserted. He towered over Zee who wasn’t bothered by his height or the way he was looming over her. “Rosie is a gentle soul. You’re a bad influence.”
Zee growled even louder and Az broke into a deep laugh. I giggled and then laughed at the sound coming out of my mouth and the look it caused on Zee’s face.
“What are you doing?”
“She’s giggling,” Az replied for me, “Otherwise known as laughing at you.”
“Would you shut it? I’m trying to get to a point here,” Zee demanded. The other two staff still there—Lyle and Roxy—were also giggling instead of sweeping. Zee grabbed the broom from Roxy and snarled, “Finish the dishes.”
Az and I glanced at each other and then at Zee who stood with her arms crossed, tapping her toe.
“Given as many murders as Rose has solved,” Az started and then trailed off looking at Zee to finish it.
She sniffed. “We should be able to get rid of Roberta and not get caught.” Her voice trailed into nothing since her sarcasm had been ruined by Az. Zee was irritated enough to growl at us again before she crossed her arms over her chest.
I laughed at the look on her face until my sides started to hurt. I knew suddenly that I wanted wine and cake. Maybe wine and cake and then shopping. Before I even finished making the cookies, I messaged Maddie and Jane. My doctor friend, Jane, couldn’t make it but suggested Sunday. Maddie and I decided to take her up on Sunday but still get together. I blamed the picture I sent to Maddie of the cake. It was four layers of spice cake with cream cheese frosting and a solid sprinkling of cinnamon over the top.
Maddie sent a message that she was on her way and I placed the last of the cookies in the oven. I would do a quick dip frosting, so I could be done sooner rather than later. As soon as I was finished with the cookies, we could gossip with our wine and then shop. The mere idea of the afternoon cheered me up especially as Simon would bring me home, cook me diner, and probably light a fire.
Sure, Roberta had tried to make a move on Simon, but she failed. I didn’t need to let PMS and jealousy and Roberta’s attitude to ruin my happiness.
“You guys are bugging me,” Zee said. “I was just trying to say, I’d help you bury the body. Or something. I’d help you get rid of her and then you wouldn’t have to let her machinations after Simon bother you so much.”
I grinned at Zee, winked at Az, and said, “It’s probably too soon to kill her. You did just pour coffee on her. We need to wait until she makes someone other than you angry, hold you back from going after her again, and then enact our murderous plans.”
“I poured coffee on her,” Zee said. “I have to do everything! What are you all doing to move this plan along?”
Az’s laughter rolled out across the diner as Maddie walked in. He said, “You did it for you, Zee not our Rosie luv. Rosie didn’t need you to show Roberta who the winner was, Simon did that when he kissed Rose senseless.”
TWO
“So Zee offered to help you murder Roberta and bury her?”
I nodded a bit woozily. I’d crossed the line from blurred to something more. “Too bad she’s not willing to kill new diner guy too.”
“He even makes me mad. I’ve heard from a few of my regular customers that they’re boycotting.”
That made me feel happier than I’d have expected. A tear even formed at the corner of my eye. Of course, I’d combined hormones and wine, so I wasn’t sure if this was something I’d normally have cried over.
“I’d help too. For both of ‘em,” Maddie said. Her streaked hair tossed around her shoulders as she threw her head back and drained the last of her wine glass. We were a full bottle in with only cake to soak up the alcohol.
Simon had messaged me approximately seven times more than usual and his level of panic had done more to allay my concerns about Roberta than I would have thought possible. I grinned at this latest test and offer of cheesecake. Maybe he was starving? A lot of his messages had been about food, and he was definitely a carnivore. His vegetarian lunch probably hadn’t lasted him out the door of the diner, let alone the hours since then.
Maybe I should feel bad? But if it led to steaks and grilled asparagus, I was going to accept the consequences.
“I’m hungry,” Maddie said. She looked down at her cake plate and then at my empty plate and sighed.
“We are in a diner,” I said helpfully. “There’s food in the kitchen.”
Everyone else had left and the two of us looked at the kitchen and then back at each other.
“No,” Maddie whined. “I don’t want to cook or watch you cook. Let’s go get some food and then get some shoes.”
“K,” I said. I stood and called Daisy. My sweet, mostly basset hound followed me to the office where she got into her basket to wait for me while we went out. “How about Chinese?”
I grabbed my hoodie and my bag and went back to the dining area where Maddie was scrunching up her nose at the idea of Chinese.
“Thai?”
Nose scrunch.
“Italian?”
Nose scrunch and shiver.
“What do you want?” I demanded, zipping up my hoodie and making sure my debit card was actually in my bag.
“Cinnamon rolls,” Maddie slurred. “And fries. And pizza.”
I laughed at her and said, “I can only think of places that have cinnamon rolls or fries or pizza.”
Maddie hemmed and hawed for a minute while she zipped up her own jacket and then said, “I can leave everything but cinnamon rolls.”
I laughed and locked the diner after us as we walked down the street, now thick with tourists. There was a line outside of the new diner that sold cinnamon rolls, but Maddie went inside to order them while I found us a bench.
I wasn’t going to go in there. I wasn’t even ok with Maddie going there, but…drunk Maddie had cravings that couldn’t be denied. If she got her pastries, we’d be that much closer to new shoes.
Yet agai
n I wondered if I hated the new diner simply because I was selfish? I don’t think I would have loved another diner in such a small town no matter what. But surely I wouldn’t have despised it like I did if it had done its own thing instead of targeting mine? I had heard they sold a lot of the same things as we did. They even had banana split waffles on their menu. Some of my daily customers had started alternating between Rose’s Diner and mine. But that didn’t bother me.
Ok, that was a total lie. It drove me insane that George Lavender who owned Rose’s Diner had patterned it after my diner. There was a glass counter with a slew of funky cake plates—just like mine. There was a rotating special that included spaghetti & meatballs, pot roast, and meatloaf—-just like my diner. There were specialty nights—just like my diner. I hated everything about that diner which was why I hadn’t gone in to get the cinnamon rolls and it was Maddie’s money that was going to the plagiarizing George Lavender.
While I was sitting in the sunshine which wasn’t going to last long, I watched the tourists pass. I hadn’t lived in Silver Falls during a tourist season even though it had gotten pretty busy around Spring Break and Christmas. Now though, the streets were full. The parking lots were always clogged, the line was always out the door of the diner, and Zee was raking in the tips even though she was mean to everyone.
I kicked my feet up on the bench and watched Hector from the nursery check on the flower pots that lined the road. He scowled as he pulled some trash out of a wooden planter full of pansies and then muttered under his breath.
Behind him the door of the mayor’s offices opened and Jake, Jenny, and Roberta left. The moment they walked out, George from the new diner joined them. It was almost as if he’d been waiting for Roberta and her crew.
I tried not to stare too hard even though a part of me wanted to help Hector find the trash and throw it at Roberta or George. My biggest problem would be to decide which one of them to hit with trash first.