Death of a Chocolate Cheater: A Food Festival Mystery

by Penny Pike

  I gagged a little.

  Aunt Abby explained her plan to Dillon. Opening day of the festival was in two weeks and she’d hoped Dillon and I would join her and help serve her apple tarts. She must have caught my hesitant look.

  “Of course, there will be some perks,” she added.

  “Like what?” Dillon asked.

  “I’ve booked three rooms at the Enchanted Apple Inn, a bed-and-breakfast farm, for the weekend. You’ll get to see a real working apple farm.”

  Dillon and I looked at each other.

  “Plus, the fest is offering apple wines and beers, a bunch of craft booths, scooter rides, and a hay maze! Doesn’t that sound fun?” Her dimples deepened with her widening grin.

  “I don’t know, Mom,” Dillon said. “I’ve got a bunch of stuff to do on the computer . . .”

  “And I was planning to take Jake out for his birthday that weekend . . .” I said weakly.

  “No excuses. Dillon, you can bring your computer with you. I’m sure they have Internet service there. And, Darcy, apparently you haven’t talked to Jake this morning?”

  “No. Why?”

  “He’s signed up too.”

  “Jake’s coming?” I asked, surprised. He hadn’t mentioned it when I’d talked to him last night.

  “So is Wes—if he can get some time off. We’ll all be up there together!”

  OMG. My nemesis, Detective Wellesley Shelton, had been dating my aunt for several weeks, and I still wasn’t used to it. Most of my encounters with the detective had been interrogations about various homicides that had occurred recently. I couldn’t imagine sitting around the breakfast table making small talk with the man.

  “But—” I started to argue.

  She cut me off. “Plus, I’ll pay you overtime.”

  Dillon wiped off the milk mustache. “I’m in.”

  I sighed. I could truly use the extra money. “I guess we can celebrate Jake’s birthday with some apple birthday cake.”

  “Wonderful!” Aunt Abby said. “Now, let’s get to work!”

  So much for a romantic birthday weekend alone with Jake.

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