The Sweet Dreams Bake Shop (A Sweet Cove Mystery Book 1)

by J A Whiting

  “Euclid?” Angie glanced into the dining room for the cat. She turned to the left of the entrance and headed for the living room. She turned on one of the lamps that stood on a side table and the light cast a warm glow over the room.

  “Here, kitty. Euclid?” The room was empty of any feline presence. I hope I don’t have to search eighteen rooms looking for him.

  Angie decided to head for the kitchen. She walked through the foyer, and turned down the hall that led to the back of the house. She couldn’t find a light switch so she placed her palm on the wall and felt her way along into the kitchen. The room was black except for a tiny bit of starlight coming through the window. Where’s the darn switch? She decided that she would bring a flashlight next time she came to the house at night.

  A crash from the second floor rocked the quiet and Angie jumped. Her heart started to race and a flash of anxiety shot down her spine, but then she realized what must have caused the noise. The cat must have knocked something over upstairs. There was a second staircase in the kitchen and Angie thought there must be a light switch at the bottom of the steps so she edged through the dark kitchen to find it. Passing the kitchen table, two green glowing eyes stared at her. Angie yelped in surprise. She put her hand to her face and chuckled.

  “Euclid. You need to stop scaring me.” She shook her head at how jumpy she was. She started to reach out to scratch Euclid’s cheek when the thump of hurried footsteps from the front staircase caused Angie to freeze in place. Someone is in the house! Euclid turned towards the noise, arched his back, and hissed low in his throat. Panic flooded Angie’s veins, fear practically choked her. She held her breath and listened trying to hear which way the footsteps were headed. The foyer wood floor creaked. The front door opened and shut. A rush of air escaped from Angie’s lungs. Who had been in the house?

  The back door opened behind her with a creak. A scream escaped from Angie’s throat.

  Chapter 4

  A figure stepped into the kitchen through the back door. The person let out a piercing scream in concert with Angie’s shriek. The open door let a stream of moonlight into the dark kitchen and recognition stopped Angie’s panic.

  Gasping, she said, “Courtney. I didn’t know it was you. I didn’t know who was coming through the door.”

  “You scared the heck out of me,” Courtney said, her breathing quick and shallow. She had her hand pressed against her chest over her heart. “Why are you standing in the dark screaming?”

  “I couldn’t find the light.” Angie wheezed.

  Courtney felt along the wall, found the switch plate and turned on the lights.

  Angie let out a long breath and plopped onto one of the kitchen chairs, rubbing her forehead.

  “What’s wrong with you? You’re screaming because you can’t find the light switch?” Courtney stood in front of her sister trying to understand what was going on.

  Angie stood up abruptly. “Someone was in the house. Upstairs. I was in here and I heard a crash, then someone’s footsteps on the front staircase. Whoever it was, he left through the front door. I was terrified. Then you came in through the back and scared me to death.”

  Courtney stepped closer to her sister, her eyes wide. “Who was it? Who could it have been? He must have heard you in here and took off.” She took hold of Angie’s arm. “Come on.” She tugged Angie towards the hallway. “Let’s go upstairs and see what he was doing up there.”

  Angie hesitated. “I don’t know. We need to go and lock the front door. Oh, wait. Lock the back door first.”

  Courtney’s blue eyes were blazing with anger over the intruder. She asked Angie, “Where’s your phone? Call the police. Report it. No one is supposed to be in this house.”

  Angie reached for her phone and made the call to the police while her sister locked the back door.

  “Where’s Euclid?” Angie looked around the kitchen. “He was right here. He heard the person, too. He was hissing.”

  “Let’s see if he’s in the dining room.” Courtney led the way through the hall and back into the foyer. They locked the front door and then searched the two front rooms without locating the cat. A meow from upstairs brought the young women to the bottom of the staircase. Euclid was looking down at them from the second floor landing.

  “Come on. Let’s go see.” Angie and Courtney climbed to the second floor.

  When they reached the top, Angie pointed and said, “Look over there.” A door was open to one of the rooms off the landing that the professor had obviously used as an office. A roll top desk’s drawers were open. Several mahogany file cabinets lined one wall and the drawers were pulled open, the contents hanging in disheveled disarray. Some manila folders and papers were strewn across the floor.

  Euclid was standing in the doorway peering into the room.

  “Who would do this? What were they looking for?” Angie’s brow furrowed as her eyes swept over the room.

  The doorbell chimed.

  “The police.” Courtney started down the stairs. “I’ll let them in and bring them up.”

  Chief Martin and Officer Talbot entered the mansion. Angie called out a greeting to them from the landing and they climbed the steps to the second floor. Angie explained what had happened and pointed to the study. The police stepped into the room. They took some photographs. Angie and Courtney stood at the edge of the den watching the police investigate.

  "Doesn’t look like any damage, but it will be nearly impossible to tell if anything’s missing since the only person who could tell us has passed away.” The chief shook his head. “I’ll get a locksmith out here in the morning. It can’t hurt to change the locks. Get something more secure on the doors. And, the windows.”

  “Did you speak to the lawyer? Are there any relatives?” Angie asked.

  “I left him a message. I haven’t heard back. I’ll pay him a visit tomorrow morning.” The police officers finished up taking the photos and then they all returned to the foyer. “We’ll head outside now to look around.” The chief flicked on a heavy, black flashlight.

  “I haven’t fed the cat yet,” Angie said. “Should I drop the key at the station once I finish up here?”

  “I’d like to stick around until you’re done with the cat and then drive you two home,” the chief said. “Officer Talbot and I are going to check the back of the house, look around the grounds. Let me know when you’re ready to head out.”

  Officer Talbot was inspecting the front door while the chief spoke to the girls. “Chief, there’s no sign of forced entry here.”

  “Oh, wait.” Angie thought of something. “The back door was unlocked. That’s how the intruder must have gotten in.”

  Courtney nodded. “I came in that way, too. I thought Angie left the door unlocked.”

  Angie shook her head. “I came in through the front. The back door must have been unlocked all day. I didn’t think to check it before I left to go back to work this morning. That must be how the intruder got inside.”

  The chief’s eyes narrowed and his forehead creased. “No. I made sure the back door was closed and locked when I left you here earlier today. The suspect must have forced the lock and come in that way. We’ll have a look. We’ll send a couple of officers over tomorrow to straighten up the upstairs room.”

  The officers went outside to make a check of the property while Angie and Courtney tended the cat. When they were getting ready to lock up and head home, Angie gave Euclid a pointed look.

  “I wish you could talk, Euclid. I’m sure you’d have a lot to tell us.”

  Euclid trilled at them.

  “Goodnight, kitty,” Courtney said. She petted the top of the orange cat’s head.

  The girls met the chief outside. He told them, “There isn’t any evidence that someone forced the back door. Either the intruder has a key or he knows how to pick a lock. That’s how the door was open.”

  Angie’s face clouded with worry.

  “We’ll get the locksmith here first thing in the mor
ning. We’ll get something sturdy on the doors and windows.” As they headed for the police car, the chief added, “Wouldn’t hurt to look into getting a security system installed. I’ll speak to Attorney Ford about getting that done.”

  Angie thought that a security system was a good idea. Who knew how long the Victorian would be empty.

  The chief drove the young women the few blocks to their apartment in the patrol car and saw them safely inside.

  ***

  Courtney and Angie put on their pajamas, made tea, and curled up on the sofa. Courtney pulled a blanket over her legs. “I need to work on my paper for my class. I’ll do it right after I finish my tea.”

  “How did you decide to come to the professor’s house tonight?” Angie asked.

  “I loaded the dinner dishes in the dishwasher and just didn’t feel like doing schoolwork. I decided to walk over to the house and see the cat.”

  “I’m glad you did. I was never so happy to see you.” Angie hugged her arms around herself remembering the terror of hearing someone in the house.

  “What do you think about it?” Courtney sipped from her mug.

  “I don’t know.” Angie pulled part of the blanket over her knees. “I wonder if it was someone who heard that Professor Linden had died and got the idea to break in looking for money or valuables. The person probably knew that the professor lived alone, didn’t have relatives in the area. He must have assumed that the house would be empty, so it was a perfect time to break in and rob the place.”

  “It makes sense.” Courtney frowned. “It’s sad. It must be someone from Sweet Cove. No one else would have known yet. There hasn’t been time for a death notice in the papers.”

  The thought that someone from the little town would do such a thing gave Angie a chill. “You’re right. Word about her death spread through town today. Someone decided to break in before a friend or relative could be notified and take possession of the house. It’s just awful to think that someone from town would do something like that.”

  “There are creeps everywhere,” Courtney said. She placed her mug on the little coffee table in front of the sofa.

  “I wonder what they stole. What they took.” Angie’s brow furrowed. “I guess we’ll never know.”

  Chapter 5

  The café was in full swing with customers coming and going, conversations at full volume, and Angie, Courtney, and Lisa alternating between making drinks, serving treats, cleaning off tables, and ringing up sales.

  The door opened and a young man who looked to be in his early thirties entered the café. He stood straight, his eyes darting over the patrons for several seconds. The man was slim, had close-cut brown hair, big eyes, and a pale face. He wore black rimmed glasses and had on a brown tweed jacket. There was a red bow tie at his neck.

  Angie was behind the counter serving a chocolate croissant to Tom, one of her regular customers. Tom owned a building and carpentry business in town and he came in every morning for coffee before heading off to his projects. He was a little older than Angie, with strong shoulders and large hands. The two of them enjoyed chatting and cheerfully teasing each other. Tom spotted the man and leaned forward to speak to Angie in a quiet voice.

  “That’s the new lawyer. Jack Ford’s his name. He’s the nephew of Blake Ford. I went to see Ford recently to have him handle some legal work for me. I didn’t like him. He’s odd, seems sort of stuck up. Thinks he’s a smarty pants. He’s not like his uncle, not by a long shot.”

  Angie glanced at the newcomer and wondered why he was just standing near the door. She re-filled Tom’s coffee and was turning away, when the lawyer approached the counter. His movements were clipped and quick like he was trying to conserve energy by not making any extraneous motions. Angie looked up, the coffee pot still in her hand, just as the attorney spoke.

  “Angela Roseland?” His voice was firm and formal.

  Angie nodded. Courtney sidled up next to her sister wondering what this man wanted. Tom swiveled on his stool and eyed the guy.

  “This is a letter for you requesting your presence at the reading of Professor Marion Linden’s will. Tomorrow at eleven in the morning.” He held the envelope out to her.

  Angie blinked and stared at him. She didn’t reach for the letter. “You’re the …?”

  Before she could finish her question, the man said, “I’m Jack Ford. Professor Linden’s legal representative.”

  Angie looked at the envelope that he held out, but didn’t take it. “Why would I be asked to the reading of the will?”

  “Because, Ms. Roseland.” The attorney placed the envelope on the counter. He adjusted the lapel of his jacket. “You are mentioned in the will.”

  Conversations quieted and many patrons turned their heads to look at Angie and the lawyer who where standing on opposite sides of the counter.

  As the lawyer turned to leave, he gave a slight nod of his head. “We will see you tomorrow.”

  Angie watched the attorney exit the café. She shifted her gaze to the envelope. Customers started talking again in hushed tones.

  “See,” Tom said, shaking his head. “He’s a weird-o.”

  Courtney picked up the envelope and turned it over in her hand. She held it out to Angie who took it and stared at it. “Why would I be mentioned in the will?”

  Tom took a swig of his coffee and said, “Maybe she left you her fortune.” He chuckled and Angie gave him a nervous smile.

  “Open it,” Courtney said. “Let’s see what it says.”

  Angie opened the envelope and read the enclosed letter. She handed it to Courtney. “It’s just an invitation. Just like, he said.”

  Courtney read, “The last will and testament of Marion Linden will be read at Professor Linden’s home at 32 Beach Street, Sweet Cove, Massachusetts, tomorrow at eleven o’clock in the morning.” She raised her eyes to Angie. “You’re going, aren’t you?”

  Angie nodded. “Can you go back to school a day later? I’d like you to come with me.”

  “You don’t need to ask me twice. You bet I’ll go with you.” Courtney moved to the register to ring up a sale.

  Tom grinned at Angie and teased. “Want me to come, too?”

  Angie gave him a mock scowl and said, “I’m only allowed one guest.”

  “Darn. I was hoping to share in your riches.” Tom winked at her and went back to reading his newspaper.

  ***

  “I’m nervous.” Angie reached into her black blazer for her phone which she silenced. She wore black slacks and a crisp white blouse under her jacket. Her honey blonde hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders.

  “You don’t need to be nervous.” Courtney had borrowed her sister’s black skirt and tights and wore a pale blue sweater. She had her long caramel hair pulled into a high ponytail which swished from side to side as she walked.

  “I know it isn’t logical, but I’m still nervous.” Angie smoothed her hair with a shaky hand. “It’s just because I don’t know what to expect.”

  “Professor Linden liked you. You were nice to her. She probably has a favorite piece of jewelry that she wants you to have.”

  Angie’s eyes got misty. “That would be so thoughtful of her.”

  The sisters turned onto the brick walkway that led to the steps and wraparound porch of the Victorian mansion. The front door was open so they entered into the foyer. There were two rows of chairs set up in the living room and a number of people had already arrived. Some had taken seats and several people were conversing standing by the windows. Angie recognized most of the people in the room from town and from being her customers, and she greeted them with a smile and joined one of the groups.

  “Ladies and gentlemen.” Jack Ford entered the room dressed in a similar outfit to what he wore when he delivered the envelope to Angie at her bake shop, only today his bow tie was yellow with blue polka dots. “Please take your seats and we will begin.”

  People shuffled to sit down and once everyone was settled, Jack Ford clea
red his throat and stood in front of the small gathering. “I will read aloud Professor Linden’s wishes.” He began to read from a document that he was holding.

  “Thank you, all of you, for coming today. As most of you know, my dear husband, beloved son, and brother predeceased me and I have no family left. The town of Sweet Cove has been a special place for me and I consider many of you old friends and others of you, new friends. I have appreciated your kindness as I have grown older therefore, I wish to thank you by leaving town departments part of my estate. To the Sweet Cove Public Library, I leave fifty thousand dollars.” The head librarian gasped and lifted her hand to her mouth. Jack Ford shot her a disapproving look. He went on, “To the Sweet Cove Police Department and Emergency Services, I leave one hundred thousand dollars.” Chief Martin’s eyes went wide. The attorney went on listing several other bequests to town departments and charities, the museum, the school, and the historical society.

  Courtney leaned close to Angie. “Who knew the professor was so wealthy?”

  “To my alma mater and the university where I worked for over thirty years, I leave one million dollars.” A buzz of surprise filled the room. Several times, Attorney Ford had to ask for quiet. He continued. “And, finally.” He looked over his glasses at Angie for a half second. “I leave my beloved Victorian home, property, and all of its contents to Angela Roseland.”

  Angie’s eyes went wide and she gasped. Courtney’s jaw dropped.

  “As well as seventy-five thousand dollars to Ms. Roseland to make the necessary changes to the house to suit her needs. In addition, I leave my dear cat, Euclid, to Ms. Roseland. I trust she will treat him with kindness and love.”

  The edges of Angie’s vision were sparkling and her head was spinning. She blinked hard several times, and then she swayed and keeled over out of her seat. She hit the floor with a soft thud. The last thing Angie heard was Attorney Ford saying, “And this concludes the reading of Professor Marion Linden’s will.”

  Angie opened her eyes to see a crowd of people peering down at her. Courtney slipped her hand under her sister’s arm and helped Angie to sitting position. “Good thing you wore slacks today since you ended up on the floor,” she gently kidded her sister.