Ooey Gooey Bakery Mystery Box Set

by Katherine H Brown

  “How are Jack and Drew?” I asked after a lull in the conversation.

  “Fairing pretty well,” Gladys answered. “Though truth be known, Drew’s been pouting about the heat wave.”

  Griff looked to me, confusion wrinkling his brow.

  “You haven’t met Jack and Drew, have you, Griff?”

  “No, can’t say that I have.”

  “Why, where are my manners!” Gladys stood and reached for Griff’s hand. “I’ll introduce you at once.”

  “Isn’t it a bit late to be dropping in on people?” he reached to set down his glass of water before Gladys tugged him away from the patio table.

  Sam bit her lip to stifle the laughter.

  I did my best to remain expressionless, only offering a shrug when Griff looked to me to chime in.

  A few quick steps down the stone path and Gladys halted in front of two palm trees, one tall and the other short and stubby. “Here we are,” she said. “This big fella is Jack. Drew is younger and still moody, but don’t tell him I said so,” Gladys whispered behind her hand.

  Griff stared for a moment and leaned closer. I imagined the detailed facial features carved into the trees were slightly harder to make out in the dim evening light. After a moment though, he saw them. “I see what you mean there, about Drew pouting,” Griff pointed. The smaller tree’s leaves were drooping low, rather than fanning out. Sam and I held in a giggle as Gladys fawned over her creations with a new audience.

  Shortly after Griff had the pleasure of meeting Jack and Drew, and once he had complimented Gladys on her woodcarving skills, we excused ourselves and the three of us headed to our vehicles.

  “I’m going to follow you home and make sure you are safe in your apartment,” Griff held the door of my truck open for me.

  “Don’t argue,” Sam leaned out the window of her car as she backed down the drive. “He’s following you or else.” Sam simply smiled and waved as I stuck my tongue out at her. “Be safe,” she called.

  ~

  Pulling up into the dimly lit lot of my apartment complex, I scanned the dim parking lot. No white Mercedes. I exhaled and parked.

  Griff pulled into the spot next to my truck. I stepped closer as he rolled down the passenger side window.

  “Thanks for making sure I got home safely,” I told him, standing on the running board to better see inside the cab.

  “Always,” he smiled. “Now, go get some rest. You’ll need it. I plan to take you on our first date tomorrow night.”

  “Oh? But you haven’t asked me,” I waggled my eyebrows at him.

  “That’s because I don’t care if I have to kidnap you myself, you’re going.”

  I laughed. “How about I give in and say a date sounds lovely? It would be a fun new experience whereas the role of the kidnap victim is getting kind of old.”

  I headed inside, locking the door behind me. Though I was still stuffed from supper at Gladys’s house, my sweet tooth was kicking in. From the cabinet in the kitchen, I took out my stash of dark chocolate chips, poured some into a small bowl, and carried them to my bedroom. I changed into comfy shorts and a t-shirt, emptying the pockets of my cargo pants before tossing all of the clothes into a heap in the bathroom floor. Laundry was a chore that could wait for tomorrow.

  Plumping my pillows behind me, scooting my bowl of dark chocolate chips closer, I settled into my bed crossed-legged and opened the little notebook, deciding to get some work done on plans for the Fourth of July desserts.

  Beep.

  I checked my phone, expecting to see a message from Sam. It was Millie.

  Millie: Wanted to check in on you guys. Was everything okay this afternoon?

  How sweet. I texted her back right away.

  Me: Thanks for asking! All is good now. See you tomorrow afternoon?

  Millie: Yep. Cya.

  I took time to text Sam as well, knowing she would appreciate it.

  Me: Home safe. Planning red, white, and blue dessert menu. Ideas?

  Sam: Go. To. Bed.

  Me: So, no ideas?

  Sam: Strawberry. Blueberry.

  Me: ?? Great. Night.

  I added some fruit-jelly sandwich cookies to the list, scribbling the last word with a yawn. Sam was right, as usual; I should sleep.

  Taking my now empty bowl to the kitchen, I turned off lights and set the thermostat a little cooler. I hesitated before going back to the bedroom. Tiptoeing to my window, I pulled back the curtain an inch and peeked out.

  I wasn’t prepared for the sight that met my eyes. My heart skipped a beat.

  Griff still sat in his truck, an eye on my place. My own personal guardian angel. I dropped the curtain before he noticed me.

  Chapter 8

  On Friday morning, Sam and I pulled into the parking lot of the bakery at nearly the same time.

  I had slept like a baby, confident that Griff would keep me safe. I heard his truck rumble to life when I began clicking on lights this morning, and another peek through the window showed him driving away; he had stayed all night long.

  “Morning,” I cringed, hearing the chipper tones in my own voice.

  Sure enough, Sam looked at me with suspicion. “Why do you sound so refreshed and eager to start the day?”

  “Excited to be at work?” I tried.

  “Not buying it,” she unlocked the door and we went into the kitchen. Victoria and Millie wouldn’t be coming in until after lunch. Gladys wasn’t planning to work the register today, but I expected we would see her later in the morning regardless. For now, it was just the two of us.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You’ve never been able to keep secrets from me,” Sam insisted. “Why think now is any different? I was up half the night worrying about you and here you are with a spring in your step as if nothing is wrong, no bad guys tried to get you, nobody put a tracker on your phone, all is right with the world.”

  “I’m sorry you didn’t sleep well!” Guilt curled in my belly. Poor Sam, I didn’t realize she had been so worried.

  “Are you telling me you slept fine?”

  I nodded. “Griff slept in his truck in the parking lot. I don’t think he wanted me to know, so that’s why I didn’t say anything. If I had known how worried you were, I would have texted you.”

  “Sheesh. You owe me a nap,” she fiddled with the Keurig until it lit up. Placing a large cup under the spicket, she put a dark roast coffee pod in and hit start.

  “I can’t do anything about naptime, but what if I tell you something else that will make you forget all about being tired and annoyed with me?”

  “Fat chance,” she crossed her arms. “But I guess I’ll let you try.” Sam’s ever-present smile broke free. “Tell me what?”

  “Griff and I have a date tonight.”

  “What?!” Her shriek filled the room. I hoped Flo wasn’t next door yet, she’d certainly think one of us was getting murdered.

  “Yep, attendance is apparently mandatory.” I grinned, opening the large fridge door and retrieved two bowls of chilled cookie dough, closing the door with my foot.

  “Well, it is about time.” Sam picked up her coffee cup, add an ice cube, and placed it on the stainless-steel worktable. “Want me to get started on the unicorns?”

  I chuckled. She wouldn’t say I was right, of course, but I knew Sam’s newfound energy had nothing to do with the coffee and everything to do with my news. Rather than find it odd, Sam had accepted the fact that her brother and I had feelings for each other, seemed delighted by it as a matter of fact.

  “If you could handle the unicorns that would be awesome,” I answered her.

  An order for two dozen unicorn sugar cookies, complete with glitter decoration, had to be made this morning for a young woman to pick up before lunch. The woman, Mary, had volunteered to handle food for her niece’s birthday party. “They have to be spectacular,” she had told us. “I do have a reputation as the best aunt ever to uphold.” We had laughed and
promised to create majestic unicorn cookies.

  A banging on the back door caused me to slip and cut my finger with the knife I’d been using to slice small rounds out of the cookie dough log in front of me.

  “Who in the world could that be?” I wondered aloud as I wadded a paper towel onto my finger to staunch the bleeding.

  We didn’t have to wait long to find out.

  “Piper, Sam. It’s Flo.” Bang. Bang. Bang. “Can you let me in?”

  Sam unlocked the door and Flo slipped inside. Sam checked outside before shutting and locking the door again. “Flo, is everything okay?” she asked.

  “It worked!”

  “What worked?” I pulled the paper towel from my finger. Blood bubbled up and I put it back, surprised at how deeply I had cut it.

  “The ad.” Flo grabbed Sam by the hands and spun her in a circle. “The ad worked. There were three orders before I closed yesterday and another seven on the answering machine this morning.”

  “Congratulations!” Sam smiled.

  “That’s great,” I added. Warmth bubbled up inside of me, a sense of pride that our idea was helping Flo’s store.

  “I better get started,” Flo released Sam’s hands. “I couldn’t wait another minute to tell you and to thank you both. Piper, what happened to your finger?”

  “Just an accident.”

  “You should really be more careful,” Flo admonished as she left.

  “I’m so happy business is picking up for her,” Sam locked the back door for the umpteenth time that morning.

  “Definitely.” I washed and bandaged my finger before getting back to work.

  ~

  Hours later, I placed the last tray of Strawberry Lemonade Cookies onto a rack to cool. Right now, they were simply strawberry sugar cookies; I would have to wait a while before being able to frost them with the lemon-infused frosting.

  “Holy sprinkles! Sam those unicorns look magical.”

  “Do you think so?” she put down the piping bag and flexed her fingertips. “I’ve still got several more to go.”

  I stared at the platter containing the finished cookies. Whimsical, glittering masterpieces. The horn on each unicorn was silver sanding sugar, it might as well have been stardust. Long elegant necks and the head were white royal icing. Each unicorn had a swirling mane of pink, purple, and orange buttercream. Every one, that is, except a single unicorn cookie, on a plate of its own.

  “What is that one?” I gestured to the cookie set apart.

  Sam picked up the plate, bringing it closer for me to admire. This unicorn was a shimmering pink – royal icing sprinkled with pearlescent glitter – with a golden horn and deep violet buttercream mane. “This, this is the special cookie for the special birthday girl,” Sam flashed a smile my way before putting the plate back down. “What do you think?”

  “I think that Mary will forever hold the title of best aunt ever when she shows up to the party with these cookies.” I dipped a finger in the bowl of leftover icing. “I better go unlock the doors. I’ll be in the café if you need me.”

  Sam didn’t answer, caught up in the tiny details of her creations once again.

  Chapter 9

  “Hey there,” I greeted as Landon walked in the door midmorning. “I didn’t know we would be seeing you today.”

  “Hey yourself,” he said as he neared, leaning on the counter. “Is Sam here? I have a favor to ask the two of you.”

  “Sure, let me get her.” I pushed open the swinging door and stuck my head in. “Sam, do you have a minute?”

  “Be right there,” she called.

  “She’ll be right out,” I told Landon. “Can I get you anything? Cookie? Coffee?”

  “Coffee and one of those fancy scone things would be great. I haven’t eaten breakfast yet.”

  “Grab a table and I’ll bring it over.”

  Landon nodded and chose a table in the corner, close to the counter.

  “Hey, Piper what’s up? Did you need me to watch the register?” Sam stopped as she noticed Landon, brushing strands of red and blonde hair behind her ear. “Hi, Landon.”

  Landon stood up, hugging Sam and pulling out a chair for her to be seated. I brought a plate of Nutella Scones to the table with a coffee for Landon and plenty of extra napkins. I watched the two of them chatting as I sat down, pulling out my own chair.

  We each helped ourselves to a scone and, after a bite, I asked, “What’s this favor you need?”

  “Favor?” Sam echoed.

  “Yes. If you can’t help, it is no big deal, but I thought it would be worth asking.” Landon wiped his hands on a napkin and took a drink of coffee. Our other patrons were settled in at their own tables, conversations humming all around. “Thanks to the arrests at the massage parlor in Lion’s Cove, BeeBee was recognized as a victim and the police released her right away. That’s the good news.”

  “There’s bad news?” Sam leaned forward.

  Nodding, Landon continued. “BeeBee has nowhere to go right now, no money to get her own place, and no job anymore.”

  “I thought Breaking Chains had rehabilitation programs and things like that?” I nibbled on another small bite of scone.

  “We do. Unfortunately, BeeBee doesn’t trust any of it. She’s afraid she’ll get swept off into another hell-hole somewhere and forced to do things she doesn’t want to. She is determined to make a life for herself, which I understand, but you can see she has no idea where to start.”

  “That poor girl. What is the favor you need from us?” Sam asked.

  “I think she would trust the two of you. Heck, I think she already does to a degree; she did talk to you, after all, and try to help when you were investigating to clear my name. I thought maybe you could brainstorm some ideas that would help her get back on her feet, reach out to her?” Landon ran his hands through his hair. “It’s a lot to ask, and like I said…”

  “We’d love to help,” Sam put a hand on his arm and stopped him. “Isn’t that right, Piper?”

  “In any way we can,” I agreed. My heart ached for BeeBee. The young Asian girl we met during our weekend trip to Lion’s Cove had been scared, but strong. I couldn’t imagine the things she had been through. I found myself eager to help her; to find out her story and help her write the rest of it herself.

  “How do we reach her?” Sam, always a step ahead, wanted to know.

  “I’m going to give her your numbers, put the choice in her hands.”

  “Start giving her control in her own life and choices again,” I nodded. “Landon, that is so smart!” I stepped away for a moment as Mary came in to pick up the Unicorn Birthday Cookie order. She was thrilled, as predicted, and gave Sam a hug when I pointed her out as the decorator.

  Closing up the cash register, I rejoined Sam and Landon at the table. Landon stood, getting ready to leave.

  “Thank you,” he said. “Thank you both. I’m going to go, we’re still cleaning up Regina’s mess at the office, but I’ll get in touch with BeeBee right away. Hopefully, she will contact one of you soon.”

  Sam wiped down the table after Landon left. Gladys strolled in right after.

  “I passed that cute boy, Landon.” She carried a large paper sack with her. “Piper, tell me, was he here to try and wrestle you away from Griff?”

  I laughed. “No. I do think he may be trying to steal a heart, but it isn’t mine.”

  Gladys narrowed her eyes and glanced at Sam then back at me. “You don’t say…interesting. I’m going to have to keep an eye on this.”

  Amused at how invested Gladys was in our lives, yet puzzled at why she would be keeping her cooking classes secret from us, I decided to change the subject. “What’s in the bag?”

  Sam finished cleaning the tables and joined us. “Hey, Gladys. What have you got there?”

  “Supplies, my dears. Supplies. I was about to ask Piper if we might go in the back so I can show you.” Gladys darted her eyes around.

  Other than a group of ladies ch
atting and enjoying coffee, and their kids fighting over cookie pieces at the next table, the bakery had emptied out of customers.

  “Let me top off these coffees and then I’ll be back. You two go ahead,” I motioned them ahead of me to the kitchen.

  Not a minute later, the three of us sat at stools at the stainless-steel island.

  “So, what are the supplies for?” I asked.

  “Safety, of course.”

  Sam and I shared a concerned look.

  “Whose safety?”

  “Ours. While we figure out who is after you. Not to mention you seem to have a nasty habit of getting into tight spots.”

  I shrugged. Lately, she was correct.

  Gladys unfolded the brown paper bag and reached a hand inside. “Now let’s see here,” she muttered. “Ah! There you are.”

  Out of the bag came an industrial sized can of pepper spray. Followed by two more.

  “Gladys, really…” I began.

  Sam snatched up one of the cans. “Awesome! I didn’t know they came this big.” She stuffed it in her purse. I glared. She shrugged. “Saved your butt with it yesterday, didn’t I?”

  I made a face and remained quiet.

  Rustling noise drew our eyes back to Gladys. She was elbow deep into the bag again. Seriously, there’s more? This time three tiny bottles appeared.

  “Awe! What are those little things?” Sam’s voice dripped with delight; she loved miniature things.

  Gladys spun the bottles to face us.

  “Amino Energy Plus,” I read the label.

  “Blue Raspberry flavor!” Sam sounded far too excited about everything in Gladys’s bag of supplies.

  “And we will need this because?”

  “Piper, we need this on a regular day. Just think how much more we need it on a day when you’ve been being stubborn, kidnapped, attacked, or I’ve been awake worrying about you being stubborn, kidnapped, and attacked.” Sam scooped up her energy drink and added it to her purse.

  “Plus, I’m sure we might need it for some all-night stakeouts,” Gladys clapped hopefully.

  “Unlikely,” I warned.

  “Party pooper,” she huffed.