Laughter burst from the other ladies.
"Typical man," Ruth said, ordering a croissant for herself. "They never listen. Or admit they're wrong."
"So true." Ida chose a croissant as well, and Lexy rang them all up. Once everyone had paid, they walked back outside to sit at the table again. Ida sat across from Lexy. "Did Jack figure out how Stan the storage man was involved in all this?"
Lexy nodded. "Turns out Stan was running a chop shop out of one of his units. He had a gang of local thugs who would steal cars in the area then drive them to the storage facility. Once they got them inside the unit, the vehicles were dismantled and sold for parts. Apparently, they used a titanium drill exactly like the one Myra had of Joe's."
"Makes sense," Helen said. "Since those cut through metal. Doesn't matter if that metal is a car or a coin."
"Jack was happy too because he got to make two arrests yesterday." Lexy forced a smile. There was a time when just being with her had made Jack happy too. "After they booked in Myra at the station, he drove out to Stan's place and arrested him too. Turns out he'd lied about his alibi because he didn't want to admit he was at the facility to chop up another stolen car the night Sherman Wilson was murdered."
"Perfect!" Ruth said. "Serves that awful Stan right."
"Also true," Ida agreed.
"And we can take partial credit for helping Jack with that case as well," Nans said, sipping her tea. "Two more successes for the Ladies Detective Club."
"I have to say that was really clever of you," Lexy said to her grandmother. "Pretending you had the four-million-dollar coin and throwing it into the woods like that to distract Myra."
"Hmm." Nans gave a small smile. "I do my best, dear."
Ida swallowed her last bite of croissant, gaze narrowed. "The coin was fake, wasn't it?"
Nans laughed. "Of course!"
Ruth dabbed her mouth with a napkin, her bright-red lipstick barely smudged. "I do wonder whatever happened to the real coin, though. Nunzio never mentioned it to me while we were together, and now it seems to have vanished off the face of the earth."
"Eh." Nans shrugged. "I'm sure it will turn up someday. I'm just happy we solved another case."
"No one got hurt either," Helen added. "That's always a good thing."
"True yet again." Ida stretched out her hand, and they all high-fived. "Sounds like a winner to me."
Once they'd all finished their treats, the ladies returned to Ruth's car while Lexy collected their trash and tidied up. "We need to get back to the retirement center, dear. Bingo's at three today, and Ruth and Helen both have hair appointments at the salon. See you later, and be sure to give Jack a kiss for me."
Lexy waved as the ladies drove away, then took her seat again. Her note still sat there as if mocking her. Nans and her friends were so excited and enthusiastic about solving their mysteries. It made Lexy sad to think she wouldn't be able to join them in their escapades anymore. But a promise was a promise. And as much as she loved being with the ladies, she loved Jack more. And if giving up solving cases would help save her marriage, then so be it.
Jack meant more to her than anything else.
She started writing again, putting it all down on paper—her promise not to join the ladies anymore, her commitment to their marriage, how much she loved him. All of it. Maybe this letter would show Jack how much she cared and how determined she was to save their life together.
All she could do now was hope it wasn't too little, too late.
Chapter Twenty-Four
By the time Lexy made it home that night, her stomach was in knots. She'd been able to catch a ride with Cassie again after they'd closed at five thirty. Good thing too, since her car was still sitting in the retirement center parking lot, kaput. After what had happened with Myra, Lexy was hesitant to call for an Uber ride, and walking was out of the question. The last thing she wanted was to look like a sweaty mess when she met Jack. Things would be difficult enough as it was.
As they cruised along in Cassie's car, the air conditioning set on max, Lexy clutched the note she'd written earlier in her hand. Should she give it to Jack first and let her words explain her feelings? Or should she try to act as if everything was fine and let him start the conversation?
Her mind was still racing with these ideas when Cassie turned the corner onto Lexy's street. She frowned and peered out her window. "Isn't that Ruth's Oldsmobile?"
Cassie craned her neck to look then smiled. "Looks like it."
"What's she doing here?" Lexy frowned. Jack's instructions had been specific. Home at six, then they'd talk.
"Not sure." Cassie pulled her car over to the curb behind the Olds and cut the engine. "Let's get inside."
"Wait," Lexy said, more confused than ever. "I thought you were just dropping me off."
"Oh, well." Cassie unfastened her seat belt and opened her door. "John gave me something to give to Jack."
"I can give it to him." Lexy got out of the passenger side, her note still in her hand.
"No, I need to give it to Jack personally." Cassie tugged her toward the door. "Don't worry. It won't take long."
Lexy dug in her heels, her suspicions growing. "What's going on?"
"You'll see." Cassie opened the front door to reveal a little party inside. Everyone was there—Nans, Ruth, Ida, Helen, and even John. Sprinkles was in seventh heaven with all the extra people to give her attention and belly rubs. Jack walked over and gave Lexy a quick kiss, wrapping his arm around her waist.
"Welcome home, honey," he said. "We're celebrating."
Stunned, she blinked at her husband a moment. "Celebrating what?"
"I've got a surprise for you in the backyard." Jack winked.
"Why? It's not my birthday."
Jack took her hand and kissed her again before pulling her across the living room and down the hall. "Maybe just because I love you."
Once they'd reached the patio doors, Lexy was shocked. There, sitting just beyond the chain-link fence, in the alleyway behind their house, was a brand-new VW Bug—yellow, just like her old one. Grateful tears welled in her eyes, and she raised a shaky hand to her face. "D-Do y-you mean this is why you've been so secretive these past few weeks?"
"Of course." Jack pulled her tight against his side and kissed the top of her head. "Why else? Believe me, this was hard to keep hidden. Especially with Cassie and Nans in on it."
Lexy turned to see the rest of the party had joined them.
"Yeah," Cassie said, stifling a laugh. "I thought we were done for when you started asking about the blonde in Jack's office. If you could've seen the look on your face…"
Pulling away from her husband, Lexy crossed her arms. "What about the blonde I saw in your office that day?"
"Oh, you must mean the sales lady, dear," Nans said. "She was nice enough to hand-deliver the contract to Jack that day at the station. I did my best to keep you from seeing her, but it wasn't enough, obviously."
"Why?" Jack asked, his look quizzical. "What did you think was going on?"
"I…" Note still in her hand, Lexy looked away as guilt roiled inside her. Here she was, assuming the worst of him, when the whole time, he'd been planning this wonderful surprise for her. She felt like the lowest of the low. Blinking back tears, she lowered her head. "What about all those late-night shifts you suddenly had to pull?"
"What did you think I was doing?" Jack gave her a knowing look, his honey-brown eyes sparkling with warmth and amusement. She couldn't meet his gaze as hot tears scalded her cheeks. "That woman was arranging financing for the car, honey. That's it. I swear. Then I had to visit the insurance company to get everything transferred over. The registration was the worst, though. All those hours waiting in line at the DMV. And, of course, I had to have your new ride inspected by my mechanic too. Can't have the woman I love driving around in an unsafe vehicle." Jack laughed at the look on Lexy's face. "Did you think something was going on with the sales lady? I would never, ever look at another woman, honey. Wh
y would I? When everything I want is already in my arms."
He sounded so sincere and earnest that her heart squeezed tight in her chest. She'd been so foolish, thinking Jack wanted to divorce her, when all he really wanted was for her to be safe and happy. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks now as she smiled through them. "Thank you, Jack. I love you too. And I intend to prove that to you for the rest of my life."
"Glad to hear it." Jack kissed her deeply then pointed to the note in her hand. "Is that for me? Can I read it?"
"What?" Lexy hurriedly crumpled her note into a ball. "Oh, no. This is nothing. A shopping list I made before I left work. That's all." She tossed it into the trash then wrapped her arms around his neck. "Kiss me again, Jack."
"Yes, ma'am." He did exactly that.
"Well, this has been a good week all around," Nans said, clearing her throat when things got a bit too heated. Lexy, cheeks hot, turned in Jack's arms to face her grandmother. "We caught two criminals. Ruth got a new love interest. And now, my dear Lexy got a new car."
Ida sighed. "Too bad we didn't find that four-million-dollar coin, though."
Lexy grinned and linked her arms through Jack's and Nans'. It had been a good week. The killer was caught, and she wouldn't miss her old car so much with its new identical replacement. Lexy glanced at the crumpled note in the trash. And now she wouldn't have to stop assisting the ladies in their investigations. "That's okay, Ida. Some things are more important than money.”
***********
Sign up for my VIP reader list and get my books at the lowest discount price:
http://www.leighanndobbs.com/newsletter
Join my Facebook Readers group and get special content and the inside scoop on my books:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ldobbsreaders
If you want to receive a text message on your cell phone for new releases, text COZYMYSTERY to 88202 (sorry, this only works for US cell phones!)
Also by Leighann Dobbs
Cozy Mysteries
Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Series
* * *
Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Series Boxed Set Vol 1 (Books 1-4)
Or buy the books separately:
Killer Cupcakes
Dying For Danish
Murder, Money and Marzipan
3 Bodies and a Biscotti
Brownies, Bodies & Bad Guys
Bake, Battle & Roll
Wedded Blintz
Scones, Skulls & Scams
Ice Cream Murder
Mummified Meringues
Brutal Brulee (Novella)
No Scone Unturned
-------
Mooseamuck Island Cozy Mystery Series
* * *
A Zen For Murder
A Crabby Killer
A Treacherous Treasure
-------
Mystic Notch
Cat Cozy Mystery Series
* * *
Ghostly Paws
A Spirited Tail
A Mew To A Kill
Paws and Effect
Probable Paws
-------
Silver Hollow
Paranormal Cozy Mystery Series
***
A Spell of Trouble (Book 1)
Spell Disaster (Book 2)
Nothing to Croak About (Book 3)
Cry Wolf (Book 4)
-------
Blackmoore Sisters
Cozy Mystery Series
* * *
Dead Wrong
Dead & Buried
Dead Tide
Buried Secrets
Deadly Intentions
A Grave Mistake
Spell Found
Fatal Fortune
-------
Magical Romance with a Touch of Mystery
***
Something Magical
Curiously Enchanted
Romantic Comedy
***
Corporate Chaos Series
In Over Her Head (book 1)
-------
Contemporary Romance
***
Reluctant Romance
-------
Sweet Romance (Written As Annie Dobbs)
Hometown Hearts Series
***
No Getting Over You (Book 1)
-------
***
Sweetrock Sweet and Spicy Cowboy Romance
Some Like It Hot
Too Close For Comfort
____
Regency Romance
* * *
Scandals and Spies Series:
Kissing The Enemy
Deceiving the Duke
Tempting the Rival
Charming the Spy
Pursuing the Traitor
The Unexpected Series:
An Unexpected Proposal
An Unexpected Passion
Dobbs Fancytales:
Dobbs Fancytales Boxed Set Collection
____
Western Historical Romance
***
Goldwater Creek Mail Order Brides:
Faith
American Mail Order Brides Series:
Chevonne: Bride of Oklahoma
___________________
Lexy’s Cream Puff Recipe
Lexy's Cream Puff Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, cut up
1 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup all purpose flour
5 eggs
2 cups whipping cream, chilled
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
Directions:
To make the puffs:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees (f).
Mix butter, salt, and water in a medium-sized saucepan and heat on medium-high until it boils. Stir in the flour. Keep stirring until it forms into a smooth ball. Remove from heat. Let cool for 5 minutes.
Add 4 of the eggs, one at a time, to the flour mixture, stirring constantly to make sure each egg is mixed in before you add the next.
Continue beating dough mixture until it is smooth and shiny.
Grease a cookie sheet, or line with parchment.
You can make the “puffs” two ways. Lexy uses a pastry bag with a 5/8” tip to pipe the dough into rounds. But she’s a professional—the easier way with less to clean up is simply drop 1/4 cup of dough onto the cookie sheet.
Whisk the remaining egg with 1 tablespoon of water and brush over the top of the puffs.
Bake until puffs rise and are golden brown—about 30 minutes.
Cut a split in each puff for steam to escape and cool on a wire rack.
To make the cream:
Chill the bowl and beaters.
Whip the cream on this highest setting until it begins to thicken.
Add the sugar evenly while still beating.
Add the cream of tartar evenly while still beating.
Add the vanilla.
Continue to beat until stiff peaks form.
Assemble the cream puff:
Cut open the puffs and discard any doughy insides then fill with the cream. Enjoy!
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling author Leighann Dobbs has had a passion for reading since she was old enough to hold a book, but she didn’t put pen to paper until much later in life. After a twenty-year career as a software engineer with a few side trips into selling antiques and making jewelry, she realized you can’t make a living reading books, so she tried her hand at writing them and discovered she had a passion for that, too! She lives in New Hampshire with her husband, Bruce, their trusty Chihuahua mix, Mojo, and beautiful rescue cat, Kitty.
Her book "Dead Wrong" won the "Best Mystery Romance" award at the 2014 Indie Romance Convention.
Her book "Ghostly Paws" was the 2015 Chanticleer Mystery & Mayhem First Place category winner in the Animal Mystery category.
Don't miss out on the early buyers discount on Leighann
's next cozy mystery - signup for email notifications:
http://www.leighanndobbs.com/newsletter
Want text alerts for new releases? TEXT alert straight on your cellphone. Just text COZYMYSTERY to 88202
(sorry, this only works for US cell phones!)
Connect with Leighann on Facebook:
http://facebook.com/leighanndobbsbooks
Join her VIP Readers group on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ldobbsreaders
Cream Puff Killer: Lexy Baker Cozy Mystery Series Book 13 Page 13