by Holly Plum
When the group reached the area, Saffron had chosen she urged everyone to sit in a circle. The self-proclaimed psychic took out a candle and placed it in the center of the group. The circle of participants watched in silence as Saffron lit it a few times. When the flame was finally burning strong, Saffron shut her eyes as if she were about to begin a sacred ritual.
A strong gust of wind hit them and blew out the candle.
Saffron rolled her eyes and tried lighting the candle again. Resuming her contemplative expression, she once again shut her eyes. It wasn’t a moment before another strong wind came, extinguishing the flame.
Joy heard Sara Beth muffling her laughter behind her hand as Saffron once again fumbled for the matches, muttering to herself the whole time.
“Good grief, I feel a bit sorry for her,” Sara Beth whispered. “She’s so serious about this, but the wind isn't.”
“And me,” Joy remarked. “This is ridiculous.”
“This is sad," Sara Beth said.
Saffron kept her eyes closed for quite a long time, but Joy’s eyes drifted around the group. Ruth sat curtly with her hands clasped together. Joy thought it was odd that she had chosen to wear gloves, but this wasn't the first time Ruth had worn gloves while she was out and about. Joy also noticed the way Ruth held her elbows close to her body as if her neighbors were infected with a nasty virus.
Vivian, who sat on the other side of Joy, watched the look on Joy's face. She looked at Joy until she made eye contact. It seemed Vivian had already lost interest as well.
"You get used to it," Vivian whispered.
“Is she afraid of catching a cold?”
"Germs," Vivian muttered. "She's a horrible germaphobe. Don't even get me started."
The women were stopped from making any further comments when Saffron began chanting. Now it was Joy who had to fight back laughter. Saffron's chanting voice was far from soothing, and she’d chosen to recite a nursery rhyme type of song about a dog. The situation became even more chaotic and bizarre when Minnie burst into tears. Colby wasn’t far from her, and he did his best to comfort the distraught author as Saffron continued, adding in Miss Doodles' name in random spots.
“Um, what’s going on?” Joy asked Sara Beth.
“I didn’t know this was going to turn into a musical production,” Sara Beth answered. “I should have brought some earplugs with me.”
Joy’s sides ached in her attempt to control her mouth. She glanced down at Cheesecake who was happily sleeping in his carrier. Sara Beth was nearly coming undone as well.
“I see her," Saffron said dramatically.
The group regained some composure at Saffron’s words.
"What do you see?" Minnie asked.
“She’s running in a field,” Saffron continued. "She is happy."
"One would hope so," Joy commented.
“Shhh,” Sara Beth scolded her, though a smile tugged at the sides of her mouth.
“She’s in doggy heaven,” Saffron went on, seriously.
“I could have told you that," Joy whispered again.
“Shush,” Colby responded.
Saffron’s expression was even more intense now. Everyone waited in silence for her to continue. It was then that Cheesecake meowed, making everyone in the group but Sara Beth and Joy jump. It was then that Joy lost it. She released a laugh, unable to help herself. “Sorry,” she murmured, pushing Cheesecake’s carrier bag behind her back.
Saffron continued to talk about Miss Doodles' frolicking. She described the dog’s physical appearance too, probably for Minnie's sake. The author didn’t appear to care about the discrepancies in Saffron's descriptions, although she made a note of every single one. Minnie looked as if all she cared about was justice, despite Saffron's ill accounts of her deceased pet.
After rattling off a few more descriptions of Miss Doodles, most of them being wrong, Saffron swept her eyes over the group.
“It’s time to ask Miss Doodles to reveal the identity of her killer. It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for.” Saffron took a deep breath.
The sky was dark, and the candle in the center of the circle was as bright as the stars overhead.
"I'm ready," Minnie said quietly.
“Miss Doodles,” Saffron went on. “Who killed you?”
The group waited in silence for a reply.
Saffron once again closed her eyes. Ruth looked just as done with this whole display as Joy was. Vivian, Colby, and Frances all waited anxiously, and Minnie appeared the most undone of all.
After a few long moments, Saffron’s eyes popped open, and she scanned the group. Then an expression of fright covered her face.
“What is it?” Minnie begged.
Saffron stood, her gaze becoming distant.
“That’s the end of the séance," she blurted out. "Please excuse me.” One more moment passed, and Saffron pushed through the group, leaving everyone stunned and confused.
"I guess she finally realized she is a fraud," Sara Beth mentioned, thinking no one would hear her.
"Be nice," Joy scolded her. "If I have to be nice then so do you."
CHAPTER SEVEN
Joy jotted down the last of the ingredients she needed for the pie display, not forgetting to include a sinful amount of pecans. She wanted these to be the stickiest, most delectable ones that had ever been pulled from Patty Cakes Bake Shop's oven.
“I think that’s just about it,” Joy said, rejoining her assistant in the front room and holding out the list.
“Great,” Sara Beth replied, her face shining with excitement.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to do the shopping?” Joy offered. “It’s a huge trip.”
“I don’t mind, honey,” Sara Beth answered. “Besides, you have plenty to do to get everything set for Saturday. Just focus on the planning, and I’ll get the shopping done.”
Joy was reminded for the thousandth time how fortunate she was to have found Sara Beth. She didn’t know what she would do without her.
Once Sara Beth was out the door, Joy sat down with the intention of making sure every last detail was set for the book launch party that was only two days away. There was knock on the front door. Though there was a sign that read closed, any local knew that all they had to do was knock. Joy made her way to the front, seeing a familiar face through the window.
“Hi, Miss Morin,” Joy greeted Minnie once the door was open. “Come in.”
Minnie’s hands were clasped in front of her, and she looked more nervous than ever. Joy wasn’t sure what to make of it.
“Is something wrong?” Joy tilted her head. "I mean, other than what happened when you arrived in town."
Minnie nodded. “I’m afraid so. There’s just something I thought you should know. I had a visitor yesterday.”
Joy’s brow furrowed.
“A visit from whom?” She was tempted to crack a joke and ask if she’d been visited by the spirit of Miss Doodles, but she knew that Sara Beth would never approve.
“Maple McWayne.”
Joy knew that she should have seen it coming. She’d known that the woman was up to no good when she'd visited the bakery. Joy did her best not to look too annoyed.
“Oh? And what did she have to say?”
“She brought me a plate of pies,” Minnie explained. “She wants to cater my book launch. She kept telling me how well-known her baking skills are and she assured me that she is the better bakery around here.”
Joy shook her head. “Don’t worry, Miss Morin. Maple has pulled stunts like this before. She will do anything to steal my customers. You are in good hands here. I promise.”
Joy was grateful when Minnie nodded. She wasn’t sure she could maintain her professional composure quite so well if the author had continued to press the subject. Maple had some nerve trying to steal a very good job right out from under her. Not that she should have expected any different. Of course, Maple McWayne would be jealous. Though Joy insisted that she shouldn’t let it get t
o her, the entire situation was definitely irksome.
“I have a question for you,” Joy said to Minnie. Maple McWayne’s impertinence had ignited a fire under Joy, and she was more determined than ever to pull off this book launch event.
“Yes?”
“You said that there was someone in your book who was framed for the murder of the groom," Joy continued. "Who was it?”
Talking about her book seemed to have a calming influence on Minnie.
“Martha, the main character, discovers that her husband Lawson had a lover. Carley appears guilty by all accounts, so the police arrest her.”
“But, Carley wasn’t guilty?” Joy commented.
Minnie shook her head. “She was being framed by someone else. It seems that might be the case with Frances Land. That girl didn't do anything to hurt Miss Doodles. She is a huge fan of mine. She has no motive to hurt Miss Doodles or me.”
Joy had to admit it made sense. That is if the murderer was indeed following the plotline of Minnie’s newest book as the author suspected. It was looking more and more like there was a possibility of such a theory being true.
When Joy looked back at Minnie, the author’s face had gone pale. “Are you okay?” she asked, reaching out to take the woman’s arm as it looked that she might collapse at any moment.
“I just thought of something,” Minnie said, her voice barely audible.
“Come and have a seat,” Joy said, directing her toward the table in the corner.
Minnie glanced around nervously. “Can we talk in the back?”
Joy nodded, wondering what all the secretiveness was about when they were clearly alone in the shop.
When they’d retreated to the back and were standing amongst stacks of sugar and flour and enveloped by the warmth of the ovens, Joy decided there wasn’t a better place to talk about a distressing subject. This was surely the most calming of locations.
“What’s the matter?”
Minnie stumbled around as if she wasn’t sure how to explain. “If the killer really is orchestrating this crime just like the one in my book, things might get dicey here at the bakery.”
Joy looked at her in bewilderment. “Uh … what do you mean?”
“Don’t you see?” Minnie went on. “You might be the next target.”
Joy knew that if she was going to have any chance of following what Minnie was saying, it was time to fess up and admit that she hadn’t read her book.
“I’m sorry, but I have no idea what you’re talking about because I haven’t actually read Chapel of Doom. I'm very sorry about that.”
Joy found it comical that such a confession would have the ability to divert Minnie’s attention. For a few moments, the author looked truly hurt that Joy hadn’t read her story.
“Okay. Let me explain,” Minnie said, once she’d recovered from her disappointment. “After the groom is found dead, an investigation ensues.” Her face became even more animated. “It's just like the one Detective Sugar is conducting. Guess who discovers the identity of the murderer?”
Joy knew the answer, but she just stared at Minnie.
“The caterer,” Minnie answered, leaning into utter the words softly.
“Of course, she does. Clever woman.” Joy wasn’t sure what to make of this.
“Yes,” Minnie answered, her tone fervent. “I’m very sorry you’ve been dragged into this. Don’t get me wrong. I want you to cater the event. But, perhaps it would be in your best interest to pass the job off to Maple McWayne? For your own safety?”
“Thank you for your concern, but I don’t think that’s necessary,” Joy replied. “It’ll be just fine. We’ll figure out who did this and I’ll be on the lookout. Nothing is going to happen.”
Minnie didn’t look convinced. “I wish I could be as sure as you are.”
Joy assured her that there was no reason for alarm and that everything should proceed as planned. By the time Minnie departed, Joy had managed to calm most of the author’s fears. Yet, she had underlying doubts of her own.
This was all too strange.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“The night was dark, but the air was as warm as a lover’s touch,” Joy read out loud to her cat Cheesecake.
Joy propped Chapel of Doom up on her knees, planning to settle in for a few chapters of reading. Trying to push Minnie’s warning from her mind, Joy couldn’t resist picking up the unread novel. It seemed that the wise things to do if the killer was indeed using it as a script for the mishaps taking place in town.
Minnie's book was surprisingly captivating. Joy thought that the dialogue and style of writing were excellent. However, Cheesecake didn’t seem quite as impressed. After batting the cat’s tail away from the page nearly two dozen times, Joy set the book aside.
“I know, you want tuna and snuggles. Alright, little monster, coming right up.”
Cheesecake mewed in approval, following Joy to the kitchen. Once the Baker had prepared a bowl of food for her cat and turned on a cheesy home decorating show, she realized how tired she really was. Without further procrastination, she shut off the television and went to bed. She drifted off easily to the sound of Cheesecake’s contented, fish-scented munching.
It was nearly one in the morning when Joy awoke to Cheesecake’s loud purring close to her face. Joy stretched her arms over her head, blinking at the clock. The moment she’d rubbed the sleepiness from her eyes, she started thinking about Minnie’s intriguing book. Still feeling somewhat groggy, Joy turned on the lamp and reached for the book. She’d finished a good chunk of it before falling asleep and figured now would be as good as time as any to complete the rest since she couldn’t get it off her mind. The moment she picked up where she’d left off, she was once again hooked.
The story was filled with twists and turns. However, Joy didn’t suspect the real criminal who was proven guilty in the end. The murderer was the wedding coordinator—the one who’d planned the entire event from the very start. Joy shut the book, sitting back and staring out the window of her bungalow at the darkened ocean.
The one who’d planned everything from the start.
Suddenly, Joy had a thought. It was Ruth. Though she appeared extremely unenthusiastic about the state of the book club and the book launch, she was the President and would, therefore, have been the central figure in getting this whole book launch up and running.
Joy thought about the possibility that the killer could be Ruth. Ruth Denning, miss prim and proper? The one who hated to get her hands dirty and always looked as if she’d just eaten sour grapes? It seemed ludicrous. Still, with her own safety on the line, Joy wasn’t fully prepared to cast aside the theory. After all, everything else about the book’s plotline had played out. Minnie's companion was killed in the honeymoon suite. A lover, or number one fan who was Frances, was framed for the murder. And now the caterer, who was supposed to be Joy, was next in line.
Was Ruth Denning really the murderer?
Joy scratched her head. It was the middle of the night, and her brain was foggy. If she spoke to anyone about what she suspected, they would most likely call her a lunatic. But, the way in which everything lined up was becoming eerie.
Joy clutched a throw pillow to her chest, contemplating her next move.
Sleep.
With Cheesecake in tow, Joy tried to clear her mind and go back to sleep. She didn't know what tomorrow had in store for her, but she prayed that it wasn't murder or anything of the sort.
***
In the light of day, Joy brushed aside her theory about Ruth Denning. Still, she headed to the police station bright and early, skipping breakfast. She wasn’t convinced she would find the right words to make Detective Sugar see that everything that had happened in Chapel of Doom was coming true. He didn’t seem like the type who would have read the book. Still, she knew that her conscious would never be able to rest if she didn’t at least speak to someone about the connection she’d made, even if it came to nothing.
She hoped that it
wouldn't.
The police station was quiet which wasn't at all unusual. Joy hadn’t even made it to the front desk before she ran into Detective Sugar. She took a deep breath, sure that he would find her ramblings a little crazy.
A clear conscience was worth the effort.
“Well, Joy,” the detective said, tucking a case file in his hands under one arm, “what brings you here this morning?”
“Miss Doodles,” Joy admitted.
Detective Sugar shook his head. “Joy, you really don’t need to worry yourself with that case. Just because you’re handling the catering for the book launch doesn’t mean you are obligated to get involved.”
“Actually, I think I do need to worry, and I think I'm already involved.”
Detective Sugar’s brow was knit with concern. “Is there something I should know about?”
“Yes," Joy admitted. "I think it’s best you know. I made the connection late last night and thought you should too. I think it’s better to tell you rather than to remain silent.”
"Okay, I'm listening." Detective Sugar waited for her to go on.
“It has to do with Minnie Morin’s new book. In Chapel of Doom, the bride finds her new husband dead in the honeymoon suite of the hotel. It turns out that the husband was having an affair and the lover is framed for his murder.”
Detective Sugar’s look was skeptical. “Alright.”
“Just hang with me, okay?” Joy was beginning to worry that he might find her ideas as crazy as she’d feared last night. “So, the husband’s lover is framed for the murder. However, it’s discovered that she’s not guilty and the investigation continues. It turns out that the wedding planner was the real killer all along.”
"I see." Detective Sugar looked thoroughly bewildered.
“Yes,” Joy said, foraging on. “In this case, Miss Doodles is like the husband because she was Minnie's loyal companion. Frances Land, a huge fan, and admirer of Miss Morin, is like the lover who was framed for the murder. This means that the rest might come true.”