Cream Puff Killer: Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Series Book 13

by Dobbs, Leighann

  "What exactly are you afraid of, dear?" Nans said, her voice growing concerned. "Jack's always loved you more than anything. Any fool could see that."

  Fool was right. Lexy nodded without answering. She'd thought Jack was devoted to her too. The same way she was to him. But maybe she'd been wrong…

  "Then let's focus on the case instead," Ida said gently, squeezing Lexy's hand before helping herself to her second strawberry scone. "Maybe that will take your mind off what's happening with Jack."

  "Okay." Lexy forced a smile and nibbled on her éclair, not really tasting it. "Sounds good."

  "I don't know about Stan being involved in this mess," Nans said. "Even if what Jack says about him is true, it doesn't make any sense that he'd be the killer. Why would he jeopardize his own business like that? If he did want to take out Sherman Wilson, logic says he'd do it at a different location. Not in his own backyard."

  "She has a point," Helen agreed. "And how would he have known about the coins in Ruth's car? He may have had access to her storage bay, but those coins were well hidden, out of plain sight."

  "Exactly. My intuition is telling me the police are off base here. Not that it matters, though, since they never listen to me." Nans shook her head. "I will say this about that husband of yours, dear. If he has one flaw, it's that Jack's always so intent on following his evidence that he gives no credence to my intuition."

  "He'd do well to pay attention to us," Ida said. "We've been right far more than the police over the years."

  "True enough," Helen and Ruth agreed.

  "Well, it's too late now," Nans said. "We don't have time to change his mind. We need to figure out if Stan really is the murderer before someone else gets killed."

  "Yes," Ruth said. "I'd like that. Considering I'm the one at this table who's been targeted."

  Ida patted Ruth on the shoulder. "All the more reason we should get to the jewelry store as soon as possible to pick up your bracelet. God forbid that four-million-dollar coin is on there and they ruined it!"

  "Will you stop with that coin already?" Helen gave Ida a peeved stare. "If the stupid thing is ruined, then so be it. It couldn't be helped if Ruth had it cut out for her bracelet. Coins are only valuable if they are intact."

  "I just wish I had known some of those might be valuable before I had them made into jewelry," Ruth said.

  "You'd think Joe would have known," Ida said.

  Nans pressed her lips together. "He was arguing with that man about a coin at his place, but he said he knew nothing about coins."

  "Well, if that's not true, then he would have switched the coin and we won't find it, anyway." Ida shoved the rest of her scone in her mouth. "Either way, we got ourselves a killer to catch."

  "All right then." Ruth set down her cup atop her empty plate. "We should split up to spend our time more wisely."

  "Agreed." Nans stood. "Ruth and Helen, you go to the jewelers to get the bracelet. It's only a short walk from here." She turned to Lexy and smiled. "My granddaughter and I and Ida will go talk to Stan."

  Chapter Eighteen

  Lexy was growing more concerned about her yellow VW Bug as it groaned and sputtered to a stop outside Stan's office at the storage facility. What if it died completely and left them stranded? This might not be a good place, especially if Stan was mixed up in the murder.

  The place currently looked deserted, except for Stan, who stood in the front doorway to his office, hands on hips, looking not at all pleased to see them. His scowl only darkened as Lexy, Nans, and Ida stepped from the vehicle and approached him.

  The tightness in Lexy's shoulders increased. As much as she hated to admit it at the moment, given Stan's menacing presence today, it was entirely possible Jack had been right about the guy being dangerous and the ladies needing to stay away from him. He was wearing a stained wifebeater, and his hairy, tattooed arms were crossed firmly over his protruding beer belly, making him look as if he'd walked right off the set of The Sopranos.

  Considering they were all but standing on his doorstep, however, it was too late to turn back.

  "What are you doing here?" Stan demanded, his tone far gruffer than usual, as if he'd just rolled out of bed or smoked an entire carton of cigarettes. "Haven't you people caused enough trouble around here?"

  "We haven't even started yet," Nans said, continuing toward Stan, undeterred. Lexy had to hand it to her petite grandmother. Not only was she brave—staring down a guy who stood six inches taller than her and outweighed her by more than half—but she didn't mince words, either. Nans continued walking until she climbed up two steps of the front stoop to stand nose to chest with the guy, drawing herself up to her full five-foot-one height. "Tell us what you know about those coins. Or we'll make you wish you never set foot in Brook Ridge Falls."

  Stan raised a brow. "Yeah? You and what army?"

  Nans pointed to Lexy. "Her husband is the lead homicide detective working on the Sherman Wilson murder investigation, Stan. You think he hasn't dug up all kinds of dirt on you already? In fact, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's already planning to form a SWAT team to raid this place as we speak. All he needs is one phone call from my granddaughter to do it. Do you really want to take that chance, Stan?"

  Of course, Lexy had said no such thing to Nans or the ladies. This was all her grandmother's way of getting Stan to talk. She didn't say a word, just stared down the guy along with Ida by her side.

  At the mention of the SWAT team, Stan visibly blanched. "Uh, I don't want no more trouble around here. Just tell me what you want, and we can all settle this peacefully."

  Snorting, Nans poked him in the chest with her index finger. "The coins, Stan. Where are they?"

  "Coins? I don't know nothing about any coins. I swear." He took a step back, hands in the air. "Honest. All I do know is you meddling old ladies better skedaddle if you know what's good for you. Whatever you're up to, you don't know who you're dealing with. If you keep playing this game, you're going to get hurt." His stern expression softened a bit as he gazed down at Nans. "And I don't want you to get hurt. You remind me of my grandma."

  "I'll show you grandma, mister." Ida shoved in beside Nans, nose scrunched as she stared down Stan. "What game are you talking about? The only game we're playing is whether we call the cops on you now or later, buddy."

  "The game of you gals coming here, asking about what cars were on the premises the morning that body was found when you know darn well what cars were here." He frowned down at Ida. "And don't you dare threaten me, granny." He sneered at her. "In fact, now that I think about it, maybe you all were the ones involved with this coin business that has the police swarming all over. Maybe you all are trying to frame me." His gaze narrowed on Nans and Ida. "How's that for a threat?"

  "That's absolute nonsense." Nans took a step back, giving Stan an incredulous look. "We weren't anywhere near this storage facility the night of the murder, and we certainly didn't kill anyone. The police have already cleared us, which is way more than I can say for you."

  "Really?" Stan snorted. "Then why did I see your car here that morning? And why are you back here now, getting all nosy into the police's case, huh?"

  "You mean that VW Bug?" Ida said, pointing to Lexy's car. "Now we have proof you're lying. That car wasn't anywhere near here the morning we found the body. It was across town in the garage, being repaired."

  "No," Stan said, his tone exasperated. "Not that hunk of junk."

  "Hey!" Lexy said, giving him a dirty look.

  "I'm talking about the silver station wagon that you all showed up in the other day when Ruth started giving me the third degree. That car was here the morning the body was found." He raised his chin defiantly, crossing his arms once more. "Then again, you already knew that, didn't you? Since you ladies came here in it. Only thing I can't figure out is how you four little old ladies managed to take down a big guy like Wilson. Must've tag teamed him or something."

  Ida opened her mouth to let the guy have it a
gain, but Lexy cut her off.

  "Silver station wagon?" she said, confused. "I don't own a silver station wagon."

  "No." Nans snapped her fingers. "You don't, but Myra does." She gave Stan a steely-eyed stare. "Much as it pains me to admit, he's right. That car was here the morning we found the body, but not until later. That's the vehicle Myra used to pick us up in that day, remember?"

  "That wasn't the only time, though," Stan said, shifting his weight and causing his tank top to ride higher, showing off a pale, hairy expanse of his flabby gut. Lexy scrunched her nose and looked away fast. "That station wagon was here earlier too."

  "It was?" the ladies said in unison.

  "Yep." Stan crossed his arms and gave them a skeptical look. "Don't act like you didn't know. Always trying to pull a fast one on everybody, acting like a bunch of nice old ladies, when in reality you're a pit of vipers. That's what you are."

  Ida turned and hissed at Stan, laughing when he flinched. "Beware of the serpent, Stan, or you'll get bit!"

  Nans rolled her eyes then glanced over at Lexy, frowning. "Myra said they use that car for their Uber business. Joe drives it too, just depending on which one of them is available when a call comes in."

  "And Joe would know all about those coins," Ida added. "That's his business, after all."

  "But he told the man he was arguing with that he didn't know about the coins," Lexy said.

  Ida gave her an incredulous look. "He lied. Plain and simple. And with good reason. He's been scamming those jewelry customers. And if he really does know coins, he's probably involved in those forums Herman mentioned. He might have heard the rumors about the coins being in Brook Ridge Falls."

  "Come on, girls," Nans said, grabbing Lexy by the elbow and dragging her back toward the Bug before she could protest. "Looks like we've got a new suspect on our radar, and I think I know just where we can find him."

  "What about Stan?" Ida said, glowering at the storage man over her shoulder. "I could take that guy."

  "Listen, no one's taking anyone," Lexy said, unlocking the car doors then holding the seat for Ida so she could climb into the backseat. "And the only place we're heading now is the police station. If Joe Stoddard is somehow involved, Jack needs to know."

  She got behind the wheel and started the engine, praying that she wouldn't run into the blonde in her husband's office again today.

  Chapter Nineteen

  While Lexy drove at top speed over to the police station—which in the Bug these days was about thirty-five—Nans sat in the passenger seat and checked her messages on her phone.

  "Darn. Ruth said the jeweler's isn't open. They have a handwritten sign tacked up in the door. Something about a family emergency and that they'd be back shortly." Nans sighed and stared out the window beside her, frowning. "Looks like we'll have to wait to find out if that valuable coin is on her bracelet or not."

  Lexy drove the last few blocks to the police station, gripping the steering wheel tight. Not only was she nervous about her poor car making the journey intact, she was worried about what Jack would say when she showed up again unexpectedly. Just a week ago, she never would have had any doubts about popping into this office unannounced. She'd done that a lot since they'd been married, taking him special batches of her treats or just leaning her head into his office to say hi.

  Over the last year or so, though, they'd both gotten so busy—him with his police work and her with the bakery—that such fun interludes had grown sparser. Maybe that was why he'd gone looking elsewhere for attention and affection. She winced at the ache in her chest. Perhaps she was as guilty as he was of neglecting their relationship. Guilt now joined the hurt inside her.

  She signaled and slowed to turn into the police headquarters parking lot, a lump of sadness clogging her throat. Was it too late to bare their souls and their secrets and save the love she and Jack had?

  The car coasted into a parking spot just as the engine sputtered out a cough, wheezed, and then died. Hopefully it just needed a rest and would start later. Lexy said a silent prayer of thanks then got out, helping Ida from the backseat. The ladies walked arm in arm up to the station entrance. Considering what they'd just discovered at Stan's about Joe Stoddard's possible involvement in the Sherman Wilson murder, Lexy had no doubt leaving this whole thing in Jack's capable hands was the best solution all around.

  Still, she just wished she didn't dread seeing him again so much.

  It wasn't that she didn't love spending time with the man she loved. She just didn't relish the doubt crouching between them like gremlins. The truth would win out in the end. Lexy only wished it didn't hurt so bad to wait.

  The lobby was empty, and Nans and Ruth's orthopedic shoes squeaked on the industrial tile as they rushed past the receptionist. In the background, they could hear muted sounds of phones ringing, a door buzzing, and the quiet murmur of the dispatcher talking into the headset.

  A burst of laughter filtered out of one of the break rooms, and Lexy wondered if it might be Jack and the blonde, but it was only a cluster of uniformed officers with Styrofoam cups in their hands. The station smelled of stale coffee and cleaning chemicals.

  As Lexy made her way to Jack's office, she experienced the claustrophobic sensation that a prisoner might feel as he was being led to the jail cells at the back of the building. She shrugged it off and held her breath as she halted in her husband's doorway.

  Thankfully, the blonde was nowhere to be seen today. Lexy wasn't exactly sure what she would've done had the other woman been there, but given her skyrocketing stress levels at the moment, it wouldn't have been pretty. After a deep breath to steady her shaking hands, she knocked on the wood doorframe. "Hey."

  Jack looked up from his paperwork, his expression surprised. "Honey, what are you doing here? What a pleasant surprise!"

  "It is?" she asked, hesitant.

  "Always." He got up and walked over to kiss her. "I love seeing you almost as much as I love you, period."

  Love for him squeezed the air from her lungs. What was wrong with her? She'd let her overactive imagination put a barrier between her and Jack. She'd jumped to conclusions about the blonde and the conversation between John and Cassie. She'd even imagined the worst about his unaccountable awkwardness when he'd brought her wine and flowers. But still, the niggling sensation that something was going on persisted. Why couldn't he just tell her what the heck was going on?

  "We have another suspect for you," Nans said, pushing into his office past Lexy and jarring her out of her thoughts. "Joe Stoddard."

  "Really? Joe Stoddard? Doesn't he run a taxi service in town?"

  "What difference does that make?" Ida said, plopping down into one of the chairs in front of Jack's desk. "Uber drivers can be killers too."

  Jack sighed and sat back in his chair, his smile fading into consternation. "Look, ladies, I've indulged you all enough. Probably way more than I should because I love my wife. But let's look at the facts in this case. First, the other day you wanted me to arrest this poor Herman Conti guy, but that turned out to be a false alarm. Now, you expect me to arrest Joe Stoddard and bring him in for questioning on nothing more than your word?" He ran a hand through his thick brown hair and shook his head. "I'm sorry, Mona, but I can't do it. He's not even on my suspect list. And you've given me no proof."

  "Stan the storage man said Joe Stoddard's station wagon was in his parking lot around the time of the murder," Lexy said, standing behind Ida's chair to give herself some space between her and Jack. Standing too close to him distracted her, and right now she needed to keep all of her wits.

  Jack scrubbed his hand over his face and gave a mirthless chuckle. "Back to investigating again, honey? Didn't we specifically discuss you not going to Stan's storage facility anymore?"

  Heat prickled Lexy's cheeks, and she looked away. "Nans was going, and I didn't want her to be there unprotected."

  "I see. And it never occurred to you to call me?" The warmth in his honey-brown eyes dissolved into
anger. "I'm telling you that guy is far too dangerous for all of you. Not to mention that car of yours is on its last legs, honey. What would've happened if you'd gotten stranded out there?"

  "I had my cell phone," Lexy said, her own irritation rising over his imperious tone. She wasn't some child who needed a keeper. She was a grown woman. She'd bet good money he didn't treat the blonde that way. "If we'd needed help, I would've called."

  "Really?" Jack sat back. "Take out your phone, please."

  Annoyed, she held his gaze as she dug around in her purse to pull out the device. Once she had it in hand, she thrust it toward her husband like a trophy. "See? Right here."

  "Check the screen," he said, his arrogant expression only increasing her ire.

  Lexy turned the phone, and her shoulders slumped. Out of juice. Okay, fine. Maybe Jack was right this time. It didn't mean he was correct about everything else or that he had to rub her nose in it. "I have a charger in my car."

  "And what would you use to power it up? The battery in your VW is as decrepit as the rest of that vehicle." He sighed and pushed to his feet, exhaling slowly as he walked over to take Lexy's shoulders gently. "Look, I'm sorry, honey. I knew because I tried to call you earlier and it said your number was currently unavailable. Pretty sure that gave me a few gray hairs until you showed up here on my doorstep." He pulled her stiff form into a hug. "I just love you and don't want to see you get hurt."

  Her breath caught. See? She'd been overreacting to everything. Jack really did love her.

  Jack pulled back slightly and smiled down at her, the one that made her knees tingle and her toes curl. Darn him. That was one powerful weapon where he was concerned. Lexy sighed. "I'm sorry about breaking my promise about going to the storage facility too. And I appreciate you trying to protect me, but we need to discover the truth here and…"

  Jack slipped his arm around her waist, his hand on the small of her back as he directed her out the door and toward the lobby. Nans and Ida followed behind them. "I hate to cut this short, honey, but I've got a meeting with the commissioner in about five minutes." He gave her one more quick peck then waved to the other ladies before heading back toward the gate. "You'll find out the truth soon. Don't worry. You won't have to worry about it for much longer."