SANDY BAY COZY MYSTERY SERIES – BOXSET 2

By

Amber Crewes

Published by Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing in 2019

All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Copyright © Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

CONTENTS

About Donuts and Disaster

Donuts and Disaster

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

About Eclairs and Lethal Layers

Eclairs and Lethal Layers

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

About Finger Foods and Missing Legs

Finger Foods and Missing Legs

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Thank You!

ALSO BY AMBER CREWES

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About Donuts and Disaster

Released: September, 2018

Series: Book 4 – Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Series

Standalone: Yes

Cliff-hanger: No

Meghan Truman’s relationship with her assistant is severely tested when she becomes prideful over a donut recipe she’s introduced to Truly Sweet’s menu. Matters are further worsened when a distant relative of this assistant, with selfish intentions and bad manners, is found dead in the town center.

The local handyman is arrested and put in jail when several witnesses confirm they saw him having an altercation with the murdered victim. Handsome detective Irvin and Meghan believe he’s innocent but the evidence against him is too damning to overlook.

Will Meghan’s attempt to give her assistant a second chance at restoring their relationship backfire or will a determination not to harbor unforgiveness in her heart lead her to the true murderer?

THANK YOU FOR GETTING THIS BOOK IN THE SANDY BAY COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHY DON’T YOU SIGN UP FOR UPDATES AND GET THE PREQUEL STORY SENT TO YOU FOR FREE

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Donuts and Disaster

1

“IT’S A HUGE PROMOTION!” Jack Irvin exclaimed as Meghan Truman beamed back at him. The pair stood in the dining area of Truly Sweet, Meghan’s bakery, and Meghan could hardly believe Jack’s good news.

“Being moved up from a police officer to a detective is serious business, and I can’t believe it just happened to me.” Jack explained, his face filled with pride.

Meghan could see the excitement in Jack’s blue eyes, and she felt butterflies in her stomach as he grinned at her. She could hardly contain her crush on Jack; they had been on several dates together over the last few weeks, and as she stared up at his enormous smile and deep dimples, Meghan hoped she wasn’t blushing too hard.

“I’m so excited for you,” she said. “This is cause for celebration. How about I bake a nice black forest cake for you? You could take it in to work to celebrate. I’m sure the folks at the station would love some treats.”

Jack nodded enthusiastically. “That’s truly sweet of you to offer,” he replied, winking at Meghan as the heat rose to her cheeks. “I love your cakes so much, but you know what would be great, Meghan? Donuts!”

Meghan’s dark eyes widened. “Donuts?” she answered weakly. “Are you sure?”

Jack bobbed his head affirmatively. “Yeah! Chief Nunan was just talking about how badly she wanted donuts, and this is the perfect occasion. I know that cakes, pies, and cookies are your specialty here at the bakery, but could you swing some homemade donuts for me? That would be so awesome.”

Meghan brushed a stray dark hair from her forehead and wrinkled her nose. “Come on, Jack! Let me make some brownies for you, or even a pie! Isn’t it a big cliché for police officers to love donuts?”

“Guilty as charged! I’m just a big cliché, but humor me here, Meghan. Pretty please make some donuts for me? Please? I would be the most popular officer at the station if I walked in with some homemade donuts.”

Meghan forced herself to smile. She ran a hand through her long, dark hair, and looked up at Jack. “Of course, Detective Irvin” she said, placing a hand on his shoulder. “I would be happy to make homemade donuts for you.”

Jack gathered Meghan into a hug. “Thank you,” he said. “You are truly the sweetest.”

After Jack left, Meghan raced upstairs to retrieve her cell phone from the little apartment just above the bakery. She rifled through her purse, throwing aside gum wrappers, her sunglasses case, and her wallet. “Where is it?” she groaned, tossing the contents of her purse onto the wooden floor.

When she finally found her cell phone, she dialed the number of Karen Denton, one of her best friends. While at twenty-seven, Meghan was several decades younger than Karen, there had always been a strong connection between the two women, and whenever Meghan had any trouble, Karen was her first phone call.

“Come on, Karen, pick up!” Meghan muttered as the phone rang and rang.

Finally, Karen answered. “Meghan! How are you, sweetie?”

“Karen, I have a problem,” she whispered, her stomach churning. “I need your help.”

“What’s that sweetie? So sorry! I’m on mile fifteen of my twenty-mile run and the reception out here is just awful.”

Meghan couldn’t help but laugh. At seventy-three years old, Karen Denton was the fittest, healthiest person Meghan had ever known, and Karen was always training for something.

“My marathon is coming up next month, you know, and these back roads aren’t going to run themselves! Meghan? Meghan? Are you there?” Karen asked, her voice cutting in and out. The call suddenly dropped, and all Meghan heard was the dial tone.

“Shoot,” Meghan said. She thought for a moment, and then called Lori, her trusted assistant. Lori had been working as an assistant in the bakery for several months, and Meghan adored her company; Lori was like the little sister Meghan never had, and Meghan knew she could always rely on her.

“Meghan!” Lori squealed as she answered Meghan’s call. “How are you?”

Meghan smiled. Lori was unfailingly friendly and energetic, and Meghan loved having her around.

“I have a little problem, Lori,” she said, her voice serious. “Jack came over earlier and had something important to ask me….”

 “Finally!” Lori exclaimed. “Finally! It’s about time.”

Meghan cocked her head to the side. “Finally? What are you talking about, Lori?”

“He came over and asked you to be his girlfriend! It’s about time! You’ve been on a handful of dates with him, and even your dogs get along well together! I’m so happy to hear this news, Meghan! Jack is such a cutie. I can’t believe he asked you to be his girlfriend at last.”

Meghan sighed. She had been thinking a lot about their budding relationship; Meghan had moved to town and met Jack only a few months ago, and while she hadn’t been fond of him at first, she had developed strong feelings for him. She hoped that perhaps someday, their relationship would turn into something more than just dates at the dog park and the occasional dinner together, but for now, she had bigger donuts to fry.

“That’s not what he asked me, Lori,” she said. “He asked if I could make donuts for him. Donuts, Lori!”

Lori paused. “Wait, what? I don’t get it, Meghan.”

Meghan took a long breath. “I don’t know how to make donuts, Lori,” her voice tinged with sadness. “I never trained formally to become a baker! I went to college, and then moved to Los Angeles to become an actress, and when that didn’t work out, I ended up here in Sandy Bay.”

“But your treats are so good, Meghan! Who cares about formal training? Lots of people don’t train for things and are successful.”

“Lori,” Meghan said slowly. “You don’t get it. I have no idea how to make donuts! I tried once, and it was a total failure! I couldn’t get the filling right, I burnt them in the fryer, and the sugar melted into a big mess when I tried to sprinkle it on top. I don’t know what to do. I told Jack I would make him three dozen homemade donuts to celebrate his promotion at work, and I don’t know how to make homemade donuts! What do I do?”

Lori giggled, and Meghan felt the sharp tug of rage in her belly. “Lori!” Meghan said sternly. “Why are you laughing at me? This is serious.”

Lori giggled again. “I have good news for you, boss.” Lori said. “When I was a little girl, my father taught me how to make donuts; it was one of our traditions, and each Saturday morning, we would spend time together making donuts for the whole family.”

Meghan’s spirits immediately lifted. “Lori, are you saying….”

“I’ll help you, Meghan. You know I’ll help you make the donuts for Jack. It’s my pleasure, boss!”

The next two days were a flurry of activity in the bakery. Meghan waited on customers and filled her corporate orders, and Lori worked away on several types of homemade donuts. She and Meghan taste-tested each batch, and after making several hundred different donuts, the pair agreed on the best three flavors.

“My favorite is the toasted coconut mocha dream.” Lori sighed, as she bit into a warm donut.

Meghan nodded. “Yes,” she said. “That’s one of the best flavors. My two favorites were the blueberry lemon and the chocolate chai. I think we have some winners here, Lori. You have been such an angel to help me. Thank you so much for your help.”

Lori blushed, her small, elfin face aglow with Meghan’s compliment. “I was happy to do it, Meghan. Anything for you.”

“We’ll have to introduce these to our customers at the bakery, Lori. They’re wonderful. You’ve been so helpful, and I want everyone in Sandy Bay to see how wonderful the donuts are.”

Two days later, Meghan wanted to eat her words. Jack had been thrilled with the donuts; he raved about them to Meghan, and he even sent a thank you card and a bouquet of red roses to the bakery. The residents of Sandy Bay had also been thrilled with the newest addition to the bakery, and after several hundred compliments, Lori’s ego had exploded in a way Meghan had never experienced.

“They’re saying my donuts are the best thing to happen to this town in years!” Lori bragged to Meghan as they loaded a tray of fresh donuts into one of the display cases. “Mrs. Sheridan told me that she wishes that I had started baking them earlier. People are begging for my donuts. Begging!”

Meghan nodded politely. Lori’s excitement over her success had been endearing at first, but after enduring Lori’s endless boasting over the last few hours, Meghan was ready to scream.

“Kirsty Fisher told me that my donuts are so good that I should open my own shop. I knew my donuts were good, but now, I just know they’re fantastic.”

Meghan rolled her eyes. “Lori,” she said gently. “I’m thankful you helped with the donuts; you really came through for me, and you know how much I appreciate your help! I just think that we should focus on work right now and maybe chat a bit less about the donuts? They were a great team effort, but we have a lot on our plate right now. Let’s focus on the task at hand.”

Lori narrowed her eyes at Meghan, and she angrily placed the tray of donuts on the counter beside her. “I knew it,” Lori said quietly. “I knew this would happen.”

Meghan raised an eyebrow. “What, Lori?”

Lori frowned. “You’re just jealous,” she said. “Mrs. Sheridan said you would be jealous, and I can just tell. You’re jealous that I made such amazing donuts and that everyone is obsessed with them.”

Meghan laughed aloud. “Lori, don’t be silly,” she said. “You helped make the donuts, but I created the flavors and picked the ingredients. This was a team effort, Lori. Let’s not lose sight of that….”

Lori crossed her arms across her chest and glared at Meghan, her eyes flashing with anger. “A team effort? Meghan, come on. You may have helped, but I made these donuts with my own two hands. I have so much potential. Everyone in Sandy Bay has been telling me that after tasting my donuts. Don’t kid yourself!”

Meghan stared at her assistant, her lips turning downward. “Lori,” Meghan advised. “Please don’t speak to me like that. I don’t appreciate the attitude.”

Lori tore off her yellow apron and threw it on the wooden floor in front of Meghan’s feet. “Fine,” Lori said. “I’ll take my attitude somewhere else!”

Lori turned on her heel and stomped out of the bakery, slamming the door as she left. Meghan sighed. “That wasn’t truly sweet of her, was it?” Meghan muttered to herself. She was familiar with the saying that all good things must come to an end but she never in her wildest dreams foresaw her relationship with Lori ending this way.

2

“AND THEN SHE WALKED OUT! It was so rude, Karen. I’ve never seen Lori act like that. She’s usually such a sweetie, and she was just awful to me!” Meghan later ranted to Karen on the telephone, feeling the frustration bubbling in her chest.

“She called me later to apologize, but it didn’t feel very genuine; she mentioned that the courts have given her full access to her late father’s estate, and she’s thinking about selling their family business to attend college. I just don’t know how invested she is in my business anymore, Karen! Her little show today at the bakery was too much, and such a hasty apology didn’t feel nice, either.”

Karen sighed. “Pride can make the prettiest girl ugly,” she replied. “I remember when I won my first triathlon. I broke a Sandy Bay record that had been standing for over fifty years, but Meghan, that victory made me too big for my own britches. I marched around this town for days with my head held higher than a queen. Looking back, I wish I had been more humble, but like little Lori, I was just a young, naive girl. I didn’t understand how silly I made myself look.”

Meghan groaned. “I just want things to go back to normal, Karen! Lori has been such a good assistant to me, and while I love having the donuts in the bakery, I don’t want any more trouble between the two of us. I just want things to be relaxed and easy again.”

“Well,” Karen said. “You said Lori offered an apology earlier. I know you weren’t pleased with it, but sweetie, I think you’re going to have to accept it, at least for your own sanity. The girl lost her way for a day or two, but Lori isn’t a bad person. It sounds like she’s just happy to have something to be proud of. She hasn’t had it easy, that Lori, and I’m even glad that she had the opportunity to do something big.”

Meghan took a long, deep breath. “You’re right, as always,” she said to Karen. “I know it’s been difficult for Lori; her father was never nice to her, and when he died unexpectedly, I know she was very upset. I’m glad she’s had something of her own to smile about with those donuts of hers.”

“Fabulous! That’s the spirit!” Karen cheered. “That’s my Meghan. Just be patient and kind with her, and everything will work out. Just let Lori do her thing, Meghan, and eventually, it will all work out. I know you, and I know Lori, and I know that the two of you will be fine come tomorrow.”

Karen could not have been more mistaken. The next morning, Lori sauntered into the bakery, her chin tilted upward as she strolled inside.

“Hey, Lori!” Meghan said cheerfully, hoping their day would be less eventful. “How’s it going?”

Lori smoothed down her pixie cut and sashayed across the wooden floor, her hips swaying and her shoulders moving in sync. “Oh, hey,” Lori said dismissively. “‘Sup?”

Meghan pursed her lips. “‘Sup? Umm…..?”

Lori rolled her eyes. “It’s a way of saying ‘what’s up’.”

Meghan nodded. “Yeah, I know. Anyway, how are you? All okay, today?”

Lori flashed a brilliant smile at Meghan and daintily sat down at one of the white iron tables in the dining area. “We need to talk, Meghan,” Lori said matter-of-factly. “Have a seat.”

Meghan slowly lowered herself into one of the little white chairs, annoyed that Lori was inviting her to sit in her own bakery. “Okay?”

“Look,” Lori said, leaning back into her chair and draping one leg over the other. “It’s been fun to work here, Meghan, but after everything this week, I just don’t know about my future at Truly Sweet.”

Meghan inhaled through her nose and exhaled through her mouth, willing herself to remain calm. “What do you mean, Lori? I thought things were okay between us? You called yesterday and apologized for your outburst, and I accepted your apology. I thought we were good?”

Lori rolled her eyes and gave Meghan a pitying look. “Meghan,” Lori said. “I’ve done a lot of thinking, and if I sell my father’s business, I won’t really need this job anymore. So many people have been complimenting my donuts and talking to me about my potential, and I just think I have more to offer than the average person! I think I can do amazing things, and I just don’t think amazing things can be done here.”

Meghan bit her bottom lip, feelings of rage and hurt swelling in her chest. She was immensely proud of her bakery; Meghan had built Truly Sweet from the ground up, and it was one of the most successful bakeries in all of the Pacific Northwest! Lori’s attitude was hurtful, and Meghan fought back tears as she looked Lori in the eye.

“I’m sorry you feel that way,” she said flatly. “What are your plans, then?”

“I want to duck out of Truly Sweet in two weeks,” Lori informed Meghan. “I think I can be great somewhere else, or on my own.”

Meghan nodded. “Fine, then,” she said quietly. “I guess I’ll consider this your official two weeks’ notice?”

Lori nodded emphatically. “Yep. This is it. Well, I had a week of vacation time saved up too, so I want to take that next week. Friday is really my last day here. I just wanted to let you know.”

Meghan stared at Lori, clenching her hands into fists under the table. “So you have three days left here. Got it. Thanks for letting me know, I guess….”

Lori shrugged. “You’re welcome. I guess we should get to work now. I saw the order sheet in the back when I came in, and we have a few hundred donuts to make. I guess I should show you how to make them yourself since I’ll be gone after Friday, right?”

Meghan gritted her teeth. “Right,” she said. “Let’s get to work, Lori. Like you said, we have several hundred donuts to make, and I guess I’ll be making them all by myself come next week...”

3

The next morning, Meghan awoke to three missed calls from Lori. She glared at the phone as she opened her voicemails, still angry from Lori’s unexpected departure the day before. Meghan took a long breath, but before she could listen to the messages, Lori called again. Meghan answered on the second ring.

“Lori,” Meghan said coldly. “What can I do for you today?”

Meghan was shocked to hear sobbing on the other end of the phone. Lori was crying, and Meghan could hardly understand Lori’s words between the loud, heaving gasps.

“Lori! What’s the matter?” she said, her frustration with Lori dissipating with every wail she heard.

“I’m embarrassed, Meghan. I was terrible to you yesterday. I had a big head from everyone saying such nice things to me, and I treated you horribly. I’m so sorry.”

Meghan’s heart warmed as Lori continued. “My whole life, I worked for my father. He never believed in me, and he never let me go after my dreams. I was just expected to work for him in that tea shop forever. Now that he’s dead, things have changed. I have changed, and when people started paying attention to me, it just felt so good.”

“Lori,” Meghan said softly. “Lori, I forgive you. We all have big heads sometimes, and I know how easy it can be to let a kind word bring out the worst! Let’s just put it behind us, Lori. Why don’t you come in to Truly Sweet at noon? We can chat over some tea, and then we can get back to work! That new corporate order isn’t going to fill itself.”

Lori paused, and Meghan heard a loud, wet sniffle. “Lori?”

“I’m sorry for the way I acted, Meghan,” Lori said gingerly. “I’m sorry about the way I treated you, but I meant it when I said I wanted to put in my notice at Truly Sweet.”

Meghan’s jaw dropped. “Lori, why don’t you come on over? Let’s chat about this in person.”

Lori arrived at the bakery ten minutes later, and Meghan saw the concerned look on her small, delicate face. Her eyes were red and swollen, and her short hair looked unkempt.

“Let’s sit down,” Meghan said as Lori walked through the yellow door. “I’ll get a treat for you. You look like you need a boost.”

The two women sat down at one of the little white tables, and Lori buried her face in her hands. “I’m sorry, Meghan,” Lori said. “I was so rude.”

Meghan put an arm around Lori’s shoulder. “I told you, Lori, it’s fine. I forgive you. We all mess up. Don’t sweat it. I want to talk about the last thing you told me. Do you really want to leave Truly Sweet? You are a great assistant, Lori. You have real talent in the kitchen. I like having you around, and I would be sorry to see you go.”

Lori slowly raised her head, but she did not look Meghan in the eyes. “I’m sure,” Lori whispered.

Meghan nodded. “Okay,” she said slowly. “That’s your choice, of course. Can I ask why, though, Lori? I told you that I forgive you. We’re good, Lori. You and I are fine! What makes you want to leave Truly Sweet?”

Lori wiped a tear from her pale face. “After everyone started complimenting my donuts, I started thinking,” Lori explained. “It felt so good to get that praise, and I thought about all of the things I haven’t done yet that I would like to be praised for someday. Meghan, my dream was always to be an architect. I never told my parents; I knew there wasn’t enough money to send me to some fancy college, and I didn’t want to make them sad by asking. But now….my father is gone, Meghan. His tea shop is sitting empty, and I’m thinking about selling it. I could make enough money to pay for college. I could finally live my dreams, Meghan!”

Meghan’s eyes widened. “Have you spoken to anyone about this? This is a big decision, Lori.”

Lori smiled. “I called Kayley Kane, the real estate agent. I used to babysit for her kids before she and her husband got divorced! Anyway, Kayley is really nice, and she thinks if I want to sell, the time is now. She said that I could get a good price for the shop, but if I sit on it, I might lose out.”

Meghan rested her elbows on the table and folded her hands neatly in front of her. “So let me get this straight,” she said down-to-earth. “Your plan is to sell the tea shop quickly, and then start college?”

Lori nodded. “Exactly! That’s what I want to do, Meghan. I think the time is right, and Kayley swears that I can get at least enough money to pay for a full three years of college. Three whole years, Meghan!”

Meghan saw the hope in Lori’s large eyes. She reached over and took Lori’s hands, squeezing them in her own. “I didn’t even know you had these dreams, Lori,” Meghan confessed, looking into Lori’s face. “I feel like a bad friend for not knowing this about you.”

Lori shook her head. “No one knew, Meghan. You’re a good friend! A wonderful friend! It’s been such a fun time working at Truly Sweet, and I hope there are no hard feeling between us.”

Meghan smiled. “Of course not, Lori. We’re good. I’m happy to see you do something that makes you happy, and if you feel like this is the right path, then I support you. Is there anything I can do for you? Do you need any help from me? You’re making a lot of big decisions right now, and if you need me, I’m here for you.”

Lori’s eyes brimmed with tears, and she hiccupped as she leaned over to embrace Meghan. “You are the best, Meghan,” Lori said. “You are the nicest person I know. I’m lucky to have you.”

Meghan hugged Lori tightly. “Seriously! Do you need anything? I’m happy to help.”

Lori pulled back and nodded. “I do have a lot on my plate,” Lori admitted. “Kayley is coming by tomorrow to take photos to help sell the tea shop, and the place needs to be spotless! Any chance you could help me clean for a few hours? I don’t know how I am going to do it all by myself.”

Meghan rolled her eyes. “You are so silly,” she said. “You’ve helped me with so much. Of course I’ll help you clean up the tea shop. It would be my pleasure.”

Lori shrieked. “Hooray! You are the best.”

Meghan grinned. “I’m just glad you’re so happy. I think your biggest adventures are yet to come, Lori! Whatever is around the corner for you is going to be big. I just know it.”

As the two women hugged again, the little silver bells attached to the front door of the bakery chimed. Meghan dismissed the sound; customers came in and out of the bakery all of the time, and she was used to the tinkling of the little bells. She watched as Lori’s eyes widened; Lori was facing the door, and Meghan pulled back in concern.

“What’s the matter? Are you okay?”

The color drained from Lori’s face, and she started to shake. A stocky, dark-haired man stormed over to the table, his blue eyes narrowed. He tossed a bouquet of flowers on the table in front of Lori and glared.

“Welcome to Truly Sweet! Can I help you?” Meghan asked the man, looking to Lori for an explanation.

“Uncle Felix,” Lori said weakly as the man scowled.

“They told me I would find you here, little niece,” the man addressed Lori. “And over my dead body are you going to sell my brother’s tea shop.”

4

“IT WAS SO AWKWARD,” Meghan said to Jack as they walked their dogs along the beach. “Lori hadn’t seen her uncle in years, and he just arrived out of nowhere! He didn’t bother to come to attend her father’s funeral, and now, he’s demanding she keep the tea shop open.”

Meghan and Jack strolled slowly along the pebbly beach as Dash, Fiesta, and Siesta frolicked through the waves. It was a chilly day; the wind from the Pacific Ocean had been cutting through Meghan’s thin jacket, but upon seeing her shivering, Jack had given her his thick, wool sweater to wear. Meghan liked the texture and pattern of the sweater, but what she liked most was Jack’s attention; he had immediately noticed how cold she was, and now, she reveled in the soft sweater that smelled just like him.

“That is crazy,” he said, looking out over the water as the sun slowly floated down toward the horizon. “What else did he say?”

“He told Lori he was ashamed of her for tarnishing her father’s legacy and then scolded Lori for working in a ‘second rate sweet shop’!”

Jack scowled. “Lori’s father didn’t have a legacy,” he said. “Well, at least not a good one! Everyone in Sandy Bay knew Norman was a jerk. He was mean to Lori, he was a jerk to his customers, and his tea shop was just okay. I don’t understand what this guy’s issue is.”

Meghan continued. “This morning, he and his wife, Lori’s aunt Becky, came back by the bakery. Lori was there picking up her last check from me, and the pair of them were nasty again.”

Jack shook his head. “I don’t get it,” he said. “What do they want from Lori? Her father is dead, and she doesn’t want to run a tea shop by herself. Why do they have a problem with that? Why are they coming out of the woodwork now?”

Meghan shrugged. “I don’t know, Detective Irvin,” she teased. “But it does seem fishy to me. Maybe you should watch out for them. You are the town detective now.”

Jack grinned. “That’s right, Ms. Truman. It’s my job to watch out for this town, and everyone in it, including you.”

Jack looked down at Meghan and smiled. She beamed up at him, and he leaned down toward her. He put a hand on her arm, and slowly, his body drew closer to hers.

“He’s going to kiss me!” Meghan thought to herself, closing her eyes in preparation for the moment she had been looking forward to for weeks. She tilted her chin upward, but nothing happened. Suddenly, Jack removed his hand from her arm, and she opened her eyes.

“Hey!” Jack shouted, turning as his dog, Dash, began to bark. “Dash! Hush! You’re fine.”

Dash kept barking, and Fiesta and Siesta joined in. The three dogs ran out of the waves and across the beach.

“Dash, come!” Jack yelled sternly. “Dash!”

Dash did not obey Jack, and the dog began running away. Fiesta and Siesta watched as Dash sprinted down the beach, and they joined him, their small legs moving quickly across the dark sand.

“Hey!” he called out. “Dash! Come!”

Meghan laughed. “I don’t think he’s going to follow your orders, Detective,” she said playfully. “Come on. Let’s go chase down our dogs.”

Early the next morning, just as Meghan unlocked the front door of the bakery, Felix Butcher burst through the door.

“Good morning, Felix,” Meghan said through gritted teeth. This was his third visit to the bakery, and as their first two encounters had been terribly unpleasant, Meghan was not pleased to see him. “Can I help you with something?”

Felix crossed his arms and glared at Meghan. “Where’s Lori? Becky and I need to speak to her again, and she isn’t at home. I figured she’d be here.”

Meghan shook her head. “I haven’t seen her yet today,” she said politely. “May I take a message?”

Felix cleared his throat and stuck out his chest, drawing himself to full height and making Meghan feel small. “Look,” he said, looking down at Meghan. “Lori and I have some business to talk about, and I need to get in touch with her. Are you sure you don’t know where she is?”

Annoyed at Felix’s imposition, Meghan stood on her tiptoes and looked him straight in the eyes. “She isn’t here,” she said firmly. “She isn’t here, and I don’t think you have business with her. I heard her tell you twice now that she is selling the tea shop. She is an adult woman, and if she wants to sell it, I don’t think it’s your business.”

Felix laughed, raising a dark eyebrow in amusement. “Well, look at you. A tough girl, I see! Well, it’s cute that you’re speaking for Lori, but I won’t have it. She isn’t selling, and that’s that.”

Before Meghan could reply, a loud scream rang through the bakery. Meghan glanced at the door. Sally Sheridan, one of Sandy Bay’s oldest residents, was standing in the doorway, her eyes wide, and her hands clasped to her cheeks.

“It’s a ghost!” Mrs. Sheridan howled, pointing at Felix. “It’s the ghost of Norman Butcher! Ms. Truman! I came here to return these nasty donuts and ask for a refund, and I find this? Do you see that you have a ghost in your bakery?”

Mrs. Sheridan hobbled towards Meghan and Felix, her wooden cane raised high above her head. She reached out the cane and waved it at Felix. “Be gone, ghost! Be gone!” The cane struck Felix on the forehead, and he stumbled backward into one of the little white tables.

“Mrs. Sheridan!” Meghan cried. “Stop! Stop, Mrs. Sheridan.”

“Ghost, be gone! Be gone, Ghost!” Mrs. Sheridan screeched, beating Felix on the head with her cane. “Be gone!”

“Hey, lady! Stop it! What are you doing?” Felix yelled. “Cut it out, lady.”

Mrs. Sheridan raised her cane over her head, but before she could bring it down on Felix’s head once again, a hand reached for her arm.

“Stop it, lady!”

Felix, Meghan, and Mrs. Sheridan turned to find Becky, Felix’s wife. “What do you think you’re doing to my husband?”

Mrs. Sheridan’s eyes widened, and a look of confusion crossed her wrinkled face. “Young lady!” Mrs. Sheridan lectured Becky. “This is a ghost! This apparition is the ghost of Norman Butcher, young lady. This terrible bakery not only has bad food, but it has ghosts! I’m trying to make this one leave. Give me my cane back so I can get rid of him!”

Becky threw the cane across the room. “That is my husband, Felix Butcher, you old bat! He is Norman’s brother! He isn’t a ghost.”

Mrs. Sheridan bared her teeth and clenched her fists. “Now you tell me? Ms. Truman! Why did you let me exert that much energy if this fellow isn’t a ghost! Shame on you, Ms. Truman, for letting me believe this fellow was a ghost. I am leaving, and I will be back for my refund later. This place is just shameful. A terrible place!”

Mrs. Sheridan walked across the room to retrieve her cane. She shot a look of disgust to Meghan as she left, and Meghan sighed in relief as the chime of the little silver bells signaled Mrs. Sheridan’s exit.

“Now then,” Meghan said, looking at both Becky and Felix. “What do you two need? I don’t know where Lori is, nor do I think you two should be bothering her.”

Becky glared at Meghan. She would have been a pretty woman, but her lined face and graying hair took away from her looks, and Meghan noted the sinister look in her eyes.

“Look, little girl,” Becky said, pointing a finger at Meghan’s chest. “We’re here for business, and our business is none of your business.”

Felix nodded. “Don’t think you’re going to stand in our way,” he said. “My brother’s tea shop isn’t closing, and that’s the end of the story. It’s none of your business, and if you think you’re going to talk Lori out of anything, you’re dead wrong.”

Meghan felt her heart beat faster in her chest. She reached into her pocket and fingered her cell phone. She wondered if she could discreetly call Jack; Felix and Becky were making her feel uncomfortable, and Meghan felt as though she needed backup.

“Hey,” a deep voice called as the little silver bells chimed from the doorway. Meghan looked up to see Jamie, the town handyman. She instantly felt relieved.

“Jamie!” Meghan cried out. “Good to see you!”

Jamie walked over to Meghan, his face dark. “What’s going on, Meghan?”

Meghan gestured at Becky and Felix. “I think these people need to be escorted out of the bakery,” she said, thankful that strong, tough Jamie had shown up at the right time. “Can you help me?”

Jamie nodded. “I’ll take care of it, Meghan,” he said. “You’ve helped me out before, and I’m real pleased to help you.”

Jamie rolled up his sleeves to reveal his tanned, muscular arms. Becky shrank back from Jamie, but Felix didn’t move. “Do I need to carry you two out?” Jamie challenged Felix and Becky. “The lady wants you to go, and you’re both going to go now.”

Meghan watched as Felix glared at Jamie. The two men were the same height, but Felix was no match for Jamie’s thick, strong body.

“Let’s go,” Jamie growled, and he ushered Felix and Becky out of the bakery. “You two stay away from Meghan and her bakery. If I hear you’re bothering her, or anyone else in this town again, you’ll be answering to me.”

5

MEGHAN’S EYES WIDENED as Jamie walked out with Becky and Felix. She felt her shoulders instantly relax as she watched them turn the corner, and she wiped the sweat from her brow.

“Ugh,” she said to herself as Jamie walked back through the door. “Thank you, Jamie. I’m so glad you were here. They creep me out, and I’m thankful for your help.”

Jamie nodded, adjusting the strap of his dirty overalls and giving Meghan a kind smile. “No problem, Meghan. I was just in the mood for something sweet, and one of your cookies sounded real nice. I’m glad I could help get those hooligans out of your place.”

Meghan walked to the counter and retrieved a fresh oatmeal raisin cookie from the display case. “Here!” Meghan said as she handed the cookie to Jamie. “On the house.”

Jamie smiled. “Awww, Meghan. That’s too nice. Let me pay you.”

Meghan shook her head. “No, no! You helped me out. I don’t know what kind of trouble those two were looking for, but if it hadn’t been for you, who knows what could have happened.”

Jamie’s face was solemn as he bit into the cookie. “Yeah,” he agreed. “Who knows what could have happened….”

Early the next morning, Lori burst into the bakery, her hair messy and her eyes bright. “Meghan! I need your help!” Lori exclaimed.

Meghan took a long, slow breath. She was happy to help Lori; she felt a deep sense of sisterly obligation toward the girl, especially after all of the trouble with Lori’s uncle, but Meghan was hesitant to get wrapped up in whatever storm seemed to be brewing at the tea shop. Only days after arriving in Sandy Bay, Meghan’s name and reputation had been caught up in a murder scandal involving Lori’s own father, and Meghan had nearly lost her business! Meghan’s name had eventually been cleared, but after a few more obstacles in her first few months in Sandy Bay, Meghan wanted to lay low. Truly Sweet was surpassing its business milestones, Meghan and Jack seemed to be inching toward something special, and Meghan did not want to jeopardize her growing happiness with another scandal.

“Meghan? Can you help me?” Lori asked.

“What’s up, Lori?” Meghan said hesitantly. “I have a lot going on today….can this wait?”

Lori’s eyes grew large with hurt. “Oh,” she said, running a hand through her short hair. “I guess. It’s fine. I can just ask someone else.”

Lori turned toward the door, her shoulders slumped and her eyes cast downward. Meghan felt her heart lurch, and she reached for Lori’s arm. “Wait,” she said. “Just tell me what you need. I’ll help you.”

Lori’s face brightened. “Can you come over?” Lori asked. “Kayley Kane is on her way over right now with a potential buyer for the tea shop! I’m not great at business and all of that stuff, and I need someone to talk to this buyer with me! Kayley is nice, but she makes me nervous. Will you come help, Meghan? Please?”

Meghan nodded. “Of course. Let me lock up, and then we’ll head over there.”

The two women arrived at the empty tea shop fifteen minutes later. Kayley Kane was waiting outside, tapping her pointed high heel shoes impatiently against the sidewalk. “Lori,” Kayley said, clearly exasperated. “There you are!”

Lori smiled at Kayley. “Hi, Kayley! Thanks for coming over. When is the buyer coming?”

Kayley frowned. “The potential buyer is inside right now! You’re late. What took you so long?”

Lori bit her bottom lip. “I’m sorry. I just needed some help. I brought my friend to talk to the buyer. Kayley, this is Meghan.”

Kayley nodded sharply at Meghan. “Pleasure,” she said to Meghan as Meghan extended her right hand. “But Lori, I’m your real estate agent. It’s my job to talk to the buyer, got it?”

Lori nodded obediently. “Got it. So sorry.”

Kayley reached into the pocket of her white pantsuit and revealed a small, golden tube of lipstick. She smeared a coat across her thin lips, and then gestured at the front door. “Well, let’s go. We’ve kept them waiting, and I don’t want to be rude.”

“See? She makes me nervous.” Lori whispered to Meghan as the trio walked into the tea shop.

Inside, a short, raven-haired woman was examining the countertops. She was pale and harsh-looking, and she pursed her lips as she ran her small fingers delicately across the shelves and surfaces. “I think this will do,” the woman said to Kayley. “There is a lot of work that needs to be done here, but I just adore the space! Where is the owner? I need to meet her in person before I can commit to making such a purchase.”

Kayley pasted a smile on her face and shoved Lori forward. “This is the owner.” Kayley said as the woman looked up at Lori. “Jacqueline, meet Lori. Lori’s father ran the shop here, and now Lori controls the property.”

Lori smiled warmly. “Nice to meet you, Jacqueline. What would you like to put in here? Another tea shop?”

Jacqueline shook her head. “No, no, no! There is a lot of work to be done here, but look at this lighting! Look at the aesthetic. Those high ceilings and tall windows just scream my vibe. This will be the perfect place for a salon. The ladies of Sandy Bay need a nice place to be pampered, and with some work, this will be perfect.”

Kayley pulled out a clipboard from her large designer purse and showed it to Lori. “This is her offer, Lori. What do you think? She wants to sign today, and I think this is the perfect buyer for the space. You won’t do much better than this.”

Lori’s jaw dropped as she studied the clipboard. “This looks amazing!”

Kayley smiled. “I think it’s enough to send you to college twice over,” Meghan heard Kayley whisper to Lori. “I think it would be best to sign now. We don’t want you to lose out on this deal, Lori.”

Lori grinned at Meghan. “Meghan! Did you hear Kayley? This will be enough to pay for college. This can all be over with today!” she exclaimed.

“What is going on here?”

The three women turned to see Felix stride through the front door of his late brother’s tea shop.

“Oh no,” Lori whimpered, reaching for Meghan’s hand. “This can’t be happening.”

Felix growled at Meghan and Lori, but did not stop to talk to them. He marched up to Jacqueline, who was looking at him in confusion. “Hey,” he said, crossing his arms across his chest. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Jacqueline leaned away from Felix. “I’m closing this deal,” she explained politely. “I’m buying this space and turning it into a salon. Are you one of the owners or something?”

Felix nodded, but Lori shook her head. “No!” Lori cried out. “He isn’t. Just ignore him, Jacqueline. He doesn’t matter.”

Felix turned to Lori. “Shut up. I do matter. This was my brother’s shop, and I won’t let it turn into some stupid salon, or anything else. I’m taking his business and restoring it to its former glory, and that is that, Lori.”

Kayley cleared her throat loudly and glared at Felix, the clipboard still in her hands. She stepped in front of Lori and raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me,” she said, placing her hands on her hips. “I’m in the middle of a sale, here, and you are interrupting my time. This is private property, and if you don’t leave immediately, I will call the police.”

Felix laughed in Kayley’s face. “The police don’t scare me, and I’m family,” he declared. “You can’t make me leave.”

Kayley narrowed her eyes, looking steadily at Felix as the smile quickly vanished from his face. “The police don’t scare me, either,” she said quietly as Felix shifted uncomfortable. “Let’s just say I have connections that would scare the police. You don’t want to mess with me, or my connections. Now, get out of here, or I will have to make a call.”

Felix’s eyes widened, and he turned on his heel and stormed out. Kayley turned to Jacqueline, a thin smile on her face. “So sorry about that,” she said, placing the clipboard next to Jacqueline. “This town has a few crazies, but he’s harmless! Now, about the paperwork…”

Jacqueline shook her head and walked out of the shop, her body shaking. Kayley rolled her eyes.

“Lori,” Kayley said, her voice filled with annoyance. “That buyer is not coming back. Who was that guy, and what was his deal?”

Lori began to cry. “That was my uncle,” she said, tears trickling down her face. “He doesn’t want me to sell.”

Kayley stared at Lori. “That was made clear,” she said, snapping her gum and reaching for her phone. “Whatever his deal is, you need to take care of it. I can’t sell this place if some creep is intimidating potential buyers, and I need to sell this place. My ex-husband has been sending less money for the kids lately, and I need this commission. Do you understand what I’m saying, Lori?”

The tears streamed down Lori’s face. “I just wish he were dead like my father.” she blubbered as Kayley shot her a look of disgust.

Meghan stepped forward. “She gets it,” Meghan said to Kayley, seeing the hurt on Lori’s face. “She’ll take care of it.”

Kayley nodded at Meghan and Lori and walked to the door. “Good. Please do.”

Lori turned to look at Meghan as Kayley left. “This place has to sell,” Lori said, her hands shaking. “I’ve waited too long to let another obstacle take me away from my dreams. I’m selling this place if it is the last thing I do, and I won’t let anyone stop me!”

6

“IT WAS JUST BIZARRE, Karen,” Meghan said, sipping her chai latte as she and Karen caught up over breakfast at Truly Sweet. “The whole thing was strange. Felix and Becky are causing trouble, Kayley acted like she has mafia connections or something, and Lori is just losing it.”

Karen shrugged, taking another sip of her protein shake. “I feel bad, sweetie,” she said. “I promised you a quiet little small town, and Sandy Bay has been anything but.”

Meghan sighed. “I’m getting used to it,” she said, looking up as Jack’s police car pulled up outside of the bakery. “At least some things are going well, though.”

Karen grinned. “Look! He’s coming in here,” she said, gesturing at the door. “He’s a cutie, that’s for sure. How many dates have you two been on, now? Is he your boyfriend yet?”

Meghan shook her head. “No! I’m waiting for something to happen, but it feels like every time we get close to making things official, something happens. Like you said, this town has been anything but quiet lately, and it seems like we haven’t had a chance to just relax.”

Karen’s eyes twinkled, and she leaned in toward Meghan. “Well, that cutie is coming in right now. He has a serious look on his face. Maybe he’s ready to ask you to be his girlfriend.”

Meghan’s stomach churned as Jack walked in. She ran a hand through her long hair, straightening her posture as Jack strode through the door. “Hey!” Meghan said, feeling herself blush as Jack approached the table. “We were just talking about you. In good taste, of course.”

Jack’s face was somber, and Meghan could see that he hadn’t showered; his blonde hair was greasy, and his eyes were red. “Jack?” Meghan asked as Jack looked down at his shoes. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Jack shook his head. “There’s been another murder, Meghan,” he said. “Felix Butcher’s body was found in the town center this morning.”

Meghan gasped. “What?”

Jack nodded. “We’ve made an arrest. There was some significant evidence left next to the body, and we have a pretty clear idea of what we’re dealing with, here. Or rather, who.”

Meghan rose from the table. “Have you spoken to Lori yet?”

Jack sighed. “She’s a mess,” he informed Meghan. “She’s out in my car right now. I went to tell her, and she had a total meltdown when I delivered the news. I have to take her to the station for some routine questioning, but she insisted I stop by here first to let you know what was going on.”

Meghan turned on her heel and rushed outside to Jack’s car. Lori was sitting in the front passenger seat, her head in her hands. “Lori!” Meghan called out as she opened the door. “Lori, I’m so sorry.”

Lori wailed, her small body quaking. “He’s dead, Meghan. He’s dead, and they think Jamie did it.”

Meghan’s mouth dropped open in shock. “What? Jamie? He wouldn’t hurt a fly, Lori. We all know that. He’s all talk.”

Lori shook her head. “They found bloody tools and overalls next to the body, and they belong to Felix! Someone heard him threatening Felix and Becky when he made them leave your shop, and that was enough for the police to arrest him.”

Meghan frowned. “This doesn’t make sense. Jamie is a good man. He wouldn’t kill anyone.”

Lori gasped for breath. “They found his stuff, Meghan,” Lori cried. “There’s no other explanation!”

Jack walked up behind Meghan and placed a hand on her shoulder. “Meghan,” he said gently. “I need to take Lori down to the station. I’ll call you later if there are any updates.”

Meghan nodded. “Okay,” she said to Jack. “Lori, I’m so sorry. Just try to breathe and relax. It will all be okay.”

Lori did not respond; she was huddled in the passenger seat bawling, and Jack slowly closed the door. He squeezed Meghan’s arm, and then drove off. Meghan stood outside the bakery, her heart pounding in her chest as she heard the screech of sirens.

“How could this happen again?” Meghan asked herself. “Another murder in Sandy Bay?”

“Meghan? What on Earth is going on?” Meghan turned to find Karen behind her.

“Felix Butcher is dead, and they think Jamie did it.” she explained, her face pale.

“What? Jamie? Jamie wouldn’t hurt a fly.” Karen insisted. “I’ve known him for years. He’s a gentle giant. Why do they think Jamie did it?”

Meghan looked down at the ground, her eyes filled with sadness. “Lori told me they found things of his next to the body,” she said. “They found a pair of his overalls and some of his tools. They were covered in blood.”

Karen shook her head and folded her arms across her chest. “No,” she said. “Meghan, no. You and I both know how easy it is for someone to be wrongfully blamed in this town. We aren’t going to let some silly overalls and tools stand in the way of Jamie’s innocence. We must look into this immediately.”

Meghan bit her lip. “Karen,” she said quietly. “I don’t know if I can do this again. I don’t know if I can go through another scandal. Things are finally good for me here, and I think if I poke around in this kind of business, my name could get sullied again.”

Karen narrowed her bright blue eyes at Meghan. “Meghan,” she said sternly. “What if I had said that when you were falsely accused of murder? Without help, Jamie could be locked up for life! Looking into this is the right thing to do, and you know it.”

Meghan sighed. “You’re right,” she admitted to Karen. “You’re right.”

Karen nodded. “Good girl. Now, let me call my personal trainer; we had a fifty mile bike ride scheduled, but I can push that back to this evening. You and I are going to the station right now, and we are going to talk to Jamie.”

7

“I SWEAR IT WASN’T ME,” Jamie pleaded to Meghan and Karen as they sat across from him at the jail. “I didn’t have anything to do with it! I didn’t like that guy, or his wife, but I would never kill anyone.”

Karen nodded sympathetically, but Meghan nervously peeked behind her at the door. Jack had begrudgingly snuck the women into an interview room at the police station, and Meghan was afraid that Chief Nunan, the police chief, would find them.

“Do you know anything?” Meghan asked, her heart beating rapidly as she heard footsteps outside of the door to the interview room. “Your things were found next to the body, Jamie. How did they get there?”

Jamie shook his head and looked down at his feet. “Jamie?” Karen asked. “We know you didn’t do it. Just help us help you!”

Jamie folded his hands and twiddled his thumbs. “It all started yesterday,” he began, his scratchy voice shaking. “I was planting flowers near the town center, real close to where the late Mr. Butcher’s tea shop was. That Felix fellow came around and started taunting me; he told me I would be planting flowers for him soon, and that he would be the owner of the tea shop soon. That made me mad, and I started shaking my fists at him. I remembered how nasty he was to you, Meghan, and I didn’t want anything to do with him.”

Karen leaned in toward Jamie. “Then what happened?”

Jamie sighed. “We started shouting at each other,” he admitted, running a hand through his dirty hair. “He said some real nasty things to me, and he got in my face. I yelled some mean things back at him. Some folks walking around town saw and intervened…fortunately… I was so angry at him, and I walked on down to Winston’s Bar and threw some back to settle my nerves.”

Meghan’s eyes widened. “So you had some drinks at Winston’s? How late did you stay there?”

Jamie hung his head, his shoulders slumped. “I don’t know,” he said softly. “I drank an awful lot, Meghan. I don’t do it often, but I was so mad at the bad fellow. All I remember from last night is walking into Winston’s. This morning, I woke up to the police putting handcuffs on me in front of Mr. Butcher’s tea shop. I don’t remember anything in between.”

Meghan raised an eyebrow. “So you don’t remember anything between going into Winston’s Bar last night and being arrested in front of Norman Butcher’s tea shop this morning?”

Jamie buried his face in his hands and began to moan. “There, there, Jamie,” Karen said soothingly, placing a hand on Jamie’s back. “It’s all going to be okay. We’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise.”

Jamie wiped his nose on his sleeve. “I didn’t like the guy, but I would never kill anyone,” he said as Jack slipped into the room.

“Karen, Meghan, that’s all the time I can give you,” Jack said. “Chief Nunan is looking for Jamie, and I need to get you two out of here.”

Karen nodded at Jack. “Thanks for letting us see him, dear,” she said, her hand still on Jamie’s back. “I’ve known him forever. Jamie is a good man, and Sandy Bay is lucky to have him.”

Jack smiled weakly at Karen, but placed a pair of handcuffs on Jamie’s hands. “Okay, Jamie,” he said. “Let’s get you back to your cell. Meghan? Would you wait for me in my office? I’ll be down there in a few.”

Ten minutes later, after Karen had bid Meghan farewell, Meghan greeted Jack in his office. “Hey,” she said warmly. “How are you?”

Jack’s face was dark. “I’m tired,” he said. “It’s been a hard day. I didn’t expect this kind of mayhem during my first few days as a detective, and I honestly don’t think Jamie did it.”

Meghan took a long, deep breath. “Okay,” she said slowly. “What makes you think that?”

Jack shrugged. “Gut instinct, although I have to admit the evidence against him is quite compelling. Felix was stabbed to death, but please don’t share that; it isn’t common knowledge yet, and I’ve already bent enough rules for you today.”

Meghan bobbed her head in agreement. “My lips are sealed. So, if the evidence is compelling, what makes you think he didn’t do it?”

“The facts are incriminating, but I don’t think it was Jamie. The coroner’s report states that whoever stabbed Felix was left-handed. Jamie is right-handed, Meghan….”

Meghan’s dark eyes widened. “Then why is he still here, Jack? Why is he still in jail?”

Jack frowned. “It’s complicated,” he admitted. “Chief Nunan has ordered us to hold him until we find a better lead to suggest otherwise. With all of the trouble this has caused, Chief Nunan doesn’t want to cause more of a stir in Sandy Bay, and this is just for the best.”

“So you’re telling me Jamie didn’t do it? You know that for a fact?” Meghan asked, her voice hopeful.

“In my professional opinion, while his clothes and tools were found next to the body, I do not believe Jamie killed Felix.”

Meghan’s shoulders relaxed, but almost immediately, she sighed in frustration. “Jack,” she said. “That’s great and all; Jamie has always been kind to me, but the facts are the facts. His things were next to the body. Jack, if Jamie didn’t kill Felix Butcher, who did?”

8

“BUT I’M JUST NOT READY, Kayley!” Meghan heard Lori shriek. “I’m not ready to talk about selling anymore. My uncle just died.”

Meghan hastened her pace and burst into the tea shop to find Lori and Kayley glaring at each other. She stepped between the two women and held her hands up. “What is going on here?” she asked, seeing the fury in Lori’s eyes.

“She just marched in here and demanded I sell the tea shop today,” Lori said, pointing at Kayley. “I need more time to process everything that’s happened with my uncle, and she won’t leave me alone.”

Kayley snapped her gum and studied Lori’s frustrated face. “Look,” Kayley said to Meghan. “I’ve been in this business awhile. I know what I’m doing. This tea shop’s value is going to plummet if she doesn’t get it together and let me make a deal.

Lori balled her hands into fists. “I just want a few days. That’s all I want. She’s being unreasonable, Meghan.”

Kayley rolled her eyes. “I can’t deal with this child,” she said to Meghan as she gestured dismissively at Lori. “I’ve invested too much time and energy to get a great deal for you. I’m over these little games. I’m sorry your uncle died, but you need to get it together and help me help you.”

Lori’s eyes filled with tears. “Can’t you just give me one more day?”

Kayley huffed, tossing her short, blunt brown bob behind her shoulders. “Fine,” Kayley said, narrowing her eyes at Lori. “One more day, but after that, if you can’t commit to making something work, I’m done.”

Meghan and Lori watched as Kayley adjusted her purse and marched out the front door, and Lori wiped the tears from her cheeks as Meghan pulled her in for a hug. “Hey,” Meghan said softly. “It’s okay. We all need time to grieve, Lori, and if you need time, it’s fine. Kayley is all talk, I can tell.”

Lori shook her head. “No,” she said. “Kayley Kane has always been a no-nonsense lady, but ever since her husband left, she is just mean. She was serious about giving me one more day, I can tell, and if she isn’t helping me sell this place, I don’t know how I’ll get it done.”

Meghan nodded sympathetically. “So you’re still planning to sell?”

Lori smiled softly, her eyes still red. “It’s hard to think about, but now that Felix is gone, I truly have no one in my way. I can sell this place, go to college, and start living the life I’ve always dreamed, Meghan. It’s a hard time, but there is a bright side.”

“Ladies!”

Meghan and Lori turned to see Kirsty Fisher standing in the doorway. Dressed in a matching violet sweater and skirt and wearing a string of pearls around her neck, Kirsty was the epitome of elegance. Meghan was intimidated by Kirsty; while the two women both ran established organizations in Sandy Bay, Kirsty exuded confidence and poise, and Meghan, with her curvy frame and shy spirit, felt dull and childish next to her.

“Hi, Kirsty,” Meghan said, plastering a smile on her face. “What are you doing here?”

Kirsty pursed her lips and reached for Lori, wrapping her toned, tanned arms around her. “I heard about the tragedy with your uncle and wanted to offer my condolences in person,” Kirsty explained, delicately hugging Lori. “What a terrible thing. A murder. What a scandal!”

Meghan stifled an unkind thought as Kirsty gave Lori a pitying look; Kirsty’s ex-husband had recently been found guilty in a murder scandal, and Meghan thought it was ironic that Kirsty was bringing up Felix’s murder to Lori.

“Anyway, I just thought I would pop by. I saw Kayley Kane storm out of here. She’s in some trouble, you know. Well, I shouldn’t say anything, but as the President of the Parent Teacher Organization at Sandy Bay Preparatory Academy, she’s been giving me a little headache lately.”

Meghan raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean, Kirsty?”

Kirsty leaned in. “Well, a little bird told me that Ms. Kayley Kane is several months late on the tuition payments for her children. Several months! Can you imagine?”

Meghan wrinkled her nose. “What does that matter, Kirsty?”

Kirsty shook her head. “It doesn’t, I guess. I was just not surprised to see her leaving here in a fussy way. She’s a snippy one, that Kayley Kane. She’s always been so pushy. Anyway, Lori, I’m sorry for your loss. Meghan, nice seeing you.”

Kirsty kissed Meghan and Lori on both cheeks before turning on her heel and strutting out of the tea shop. Lori leaned against the counter and wiped her brow. “That Kirsty Fisher stresses me out,” Lori said quietly. “I am spent, Meghan. Spent! I can’t take one more stressful thing.”

“Lori.”

Meghan and Lori gasped in unison as Kayley marched back into the tea shop.

“Look, I thought about what you said,” Kayley said. “I brought you the paperwork for the tea shop sale, but I’m willing to give you another week or so, if you need it. This has been a difficult time for you, and I’m sorry I was so rude.”

Lori smiled as Kayley handed her a file of documents. “Thank you, Kayley. I’ll do my best to get things in order and make it easy for you to help me sell this place. You’ve been a big help. Thank you so much.”

Kayley nodded curtly, shooting Meghan a business-like smile. “Of course. Just be in touch, okay?”

Kayley said goodbye and walked out of the tea shop. Lori grinned. “That made my day!” Lori exclaimed as she hugged the file to her chest. “A little more time is just what I need.”

Meghan’s heart was beating rapidly in her chest, and she felt her body grow cold as she recounted Lori’s second interaction with Kayley a few moments ago. Kayley had handed Lori the file with her left hand.

9

“COME ON, PUPS! Fiesta, Siesta, let’s go!” Meghan called to her beloved twin dogs as she attached their leashes to their collars. “It’s a gorgeous day, and we have business to attend to!”

Meghan guided the dogs down the stairs and outside, breathing in the thick, salty air. “Ahhh,” Meghan said to herself as she strolled toward downtown Sandy Bay. “What a nice day it has been.”

Siesta and Fiesta walked in unison alongside Meghan. It was only steps to the city center, and Meghan reviewed her mission in her head. She could not shake the image of Kayley Kane handing Lori the paperwork with her left hand, and from what Jack had told her, the autopsy report stated that Felix’s killer had to have been left-handed! Meghan needed to find out where Kayley was the night of the murder, and she was determined to get the answers she needed.

“Here, my babies!” Meghan said to the dogs as they arrived outside of Kayley’s office. Meghan tied their leashes to a bike rack, straightened her hair, and marched into the office with her head held high. Meghan was greeted by a petite, curly-haired young woman sitting at a thin wooden desk.

“Hello! What can I do for you today?”

Meghan smiled warmly. “I’m looking for Kayley. Is she in?”

The curly-haired woman bit her bottom lip. “Did you have an appointment with her? Ms. Kane is currently out of town and unavailable.”

Meghan cocked her head to the side. “Out of town, huh? Do you know when she’ll be back?”

The woman shook her head. “I don’t think she said. She left in somewhat of a hurry, but I can take a message for you.”

Meghan waved her hand in front of her chest. “No,” she said casually. “That’s fine, I’ll just catch her some other time.”

Fifteen minutes later, Meghan, Fiesta, and Siesta were sitting in Jack’s office at the police station. Meghan had rushed to the station to share the news with Jack, and she was relieved that he was available to see her immediately.

“You’re telling me that Kayley Kane, someone who is very invested in the sale of that tea shop, is not only left-handed, but that she’s skipped town?” Jack asked, his brows raised.

Meghan nodded emphatically. “Yes! Jack, I think it’s her. I think she did it. I’ve heard she really needs that money, and Felix was standing in the way of her big sale.”

Jack whistled. “Well, Ms. Truman,” he said playfully. “You may have solved another case for this tired old detective. Look at you!”

Meghan smiled. “It’s the least I can do,” she said. “The sooner this is all over with, the better for Lori.”

Jack agreed. “I’ll have my team out to search for Kayley ASAP. In the meantime, you lay low, okay?”

Meghan nodded. “I will,” she assured Jack.

As Meghan and the dogs walked home, Meghan struggled to keep the dogs on the sidewalk; Fiesta and Siesta were growing larger and larger each day, and they practically dragged Meghan along with them.

“Relax, pups!” Meghan hissed to the dogs as they pulled her forward. “Slow down!”

Siesta and Fiesta did not listen, and before Meghan could properly scold them, their leashes flew out of her hands.

“Fiesta! Siesta!” Meghan called as both dogs ran away from her. Meghan felt the hot tug of dread fill her stomach, and she took off running behind the dogs. “Come back, Fiesta! Come back, Siesta! Come back right now!”

Meghan could not keep up with the dogs, and they disappeared from her sight. She could, however, still hear their loud barks, and she ran in the direction of their familiar yelps.

“Pups!” Meghan yelled. “Pups!”

Meghan turned a corner and found Becky, Felix’s wife, snuggling the dogs. They were licking her face, and Becky giggled as Siesta burrowed into her lap.

“Fiesta! Siesta!” Meghan said in relief.

“These sweet babies found me,” Becky said, smiling at Meghan. “Sounds like they gave you a little scare.”

“They did,” Meghan agreed. “They’re getting too big for me, and I couldn’t keep hold of them.”

Becky laughed. “This is the best thing to happen to me in months. I love dogs, and children, and anything little and sweet, really, but Felix never let me have them. Dogs and children, that is.”

Meghan saw the sadness in Becky’s eyes. “I’m sorry about your husband,” she said. “I can’t imagine what a shock it must be for you.”

Becky nodded. “It’s been hard,” she said, burying her face in Fiesta’s soft curls. “Felix was all I had. We were going to have a nice life here, too. He was going to run that tea shop, and I was going to finally stay in one place. We’ve been traveling around doing business for years, and all I wanted was to settle down here in Sandy Bay. Felix grew up here, you know, and he always talked about how pretty it was. I just wish he could enjoy it like I am….”

Meghan felt her heart drop. Becky looked so lost and alone, and while Felix had caused quite a stir in town, now, Becky seemed harmless.

“Well, thanks for letting me love on your babies,” Becky said wistfully as Meghan collected Fiesta and Siesta’s leashes. “This made my day. Truly.”

Meghan smiled at Becky. “Hey, what are you doing right now?”

Becky sighed. “Well, between running back and forth from my motel to the police station to help with the investigation, I haven’t been doing much of anything. I haven’t felt too welcomed here in Sandy Bay; you small town folks really stay close with your own, and I’m on the outside with this terrible murder.”

Meghan tucked a loose hair behind her ear and reached a hand out to Becky. “Well, I’m not a small town gal,” she said kindly. “I moved here from LA a few months ago, and I know what it feels like to be by yourself in a new place. Becky, how would you like to come chat over tea and treats with me at my bakery? You look like you could use something to sweeten your day, and I would love to have you.”

Becky’s face brightened. “That would be so nice,” she said, smiling softly at Meghan. “Now that would make my day.”

10

“THIS IS SUCH A NICE PLACE you have here,” Becky said as she sipped her earl grey tea. “I’m so sorry that Felix and I came in here and caused such a ruckus. I hate trouble, but Felix seems--seemed--to be drawn to it. I’m so sorry.”

Meghan shook her head. “Don’t you worry about it,” she said gently. “It’s all okay. Now, try a bite of this. This is one of our newest treats. These donuts were made by your niece, Lori. She’s quite a good baker, and I’ve loved having her here.”

Becky bit into the donut and shrieked. “This is wonderful! Oh my goodness!”

Meghan laughed. “I think that’s just what you needed.”

Becky nodded in agreement. “I think it was too. It’s been a hard time, Meghan. The last few years….well, life with Felix was never easy. We were so young when we got married, and looking back, we really never knew each other at all. He only really cared about his business, not me, and there were so many things that I never got to do. We just traveled around the country starting and failing businesses.”

Meghan frowned. “That must have been so hard,” she said softly. “What a difficult way to live.”

Becky shook her head. “It was worth it when we were young,” she said. “Felix was a hard man to love, but we had something huge in common.”

“What was that?”

“Flowers,” Becky dreamily replied. “He and I just loved flowers. We lived on a little plot of land outside of Montana for a year when we first married, and we grew the most beautiful garden together. We had gardenias, and sunflowers, and petunias that were the color of a Mediterranean sunset. Our garden was the most magical place I had ever seen.”

Meghan smiled. “That does sound wonderful.”

Becky looked down at her cup of tea. “It was wonderful, but it was over too quickly,” she said. “Felix had a business idea, and even though I begged him to stay in Montana, with our beautiful garden, he refused. We moved to the middle of Sacramento, to a terrible little apartment in the middle of the city, and our garden was only a memory.”

Meghan shook her head, studying Becky’s face. “That’s awful, Becky.”

Becky sighed. “It was my fault for following him around. I had just hoped so badly that I could have a normal life here, with a normal job, like a teacher or something. With Felix gone, I just don’t know what I’m going to do.”

Meghan thought for a moment, but then, her face lit up as she rose from her seat. “Becky!” she exclaimed. “Becky, I have an idea. Lori is leaving Truly Sweet to go back to school, and with all of my orders, I’ll need some help around here. Why don’t you stay in Sandy Bay and work for me? I’ve liked getting to know you, and the puppies already adore you. You could help in the kitchen, or with the customers. What do you think?”

Becky’s eyes sparkled as she stood and hugged Meghan. “That is too sweet,” she whispered into Meghan’s ear. “Are you sure?”

Meghan gently pulled back and nodded. “Yes! I know how it feels to need a friend in this small town, and I feel like you could be a real asset here. You’ve done so many jobs, and I just know we’ll find something here for you.”

Becky grinned. “Felix always did say that my strudel was the best he ever tasted. Do you like German desserts? Those are my specialty!”

Meghan clapped her hands. “That’s perfect! I’m always looking to diversify the menu, and you will be an excellent addition.”

Becky wiped a tear from her eye. “This is the best news. Oh, Meghan! I’ve been so upset over Felix’s death; our marriage wasn’t the happiest, but he was my husband. I didn’t have a plan or direction, and now, I can really settle down here.”

Meghan beamed, thrilled to be helping Becky. Meghan was struck by Becky’s troubled life with Felix, and she was eager to give her a chance; it wasn’t easy to start over in Sandy Bay, but Meghan was confident that she could assist Becky, just as she had guided Lori. Suddenly, she heard music coming from outside of the bakery, and around the corner, the local ice cream truck appeared.

“Come on!” Meghan said to Becky as she took her by the hand and led her outside. “Let’s get some ice cream. I know it’s been a rough time for you, but this kind of news deserves a celebration.”

Meghan and Becky walked to the back of the line outside of the ice cream truck. Meghan smiled at the families gathered in front of her, but her kind look was not returned. Even Milroy, the ice cream man, had a serious look on his face as he handed Meghan and Becky their ice cream cones.

“They seemed a little cold,” Becky whispered to Meghan as they walked back inside of the bakery. “I think these people don’t like me. I know my husband’s brother, Norman, wasn’t the nicest, and that terrible handyman killed my husband….maybe this isn’t the best place for me to stay, Meghan.”

Meghan shook her head with vigor. “No! No, Becky. Don’t take it personally. Trust me, it is hard for people in Sandy Bay to warm up to newcomers, but you’ll fit in in no time. They’ll love you here, I just know it.”

11

“I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU HIRED HER, Meghan! She was married to my terrible uncle. She made a scene in here with him! What are you thinking?” Lori shouted as Meghan shrugged her shoulders.

“Lori, look,” Meghan said. “Have you ever spent time with her? Becky is sweet. The dogs really warmed to her, and then we talked. Her life has been hard, and with what she’s been through, especially with her husband being murdered, I think it is the right thing to do to offer her a job! I need the help, you know….”

Lori scowled at Meghan. “You’re just mad that I quit,” she said accusingly. “You’re mad that I quit, and you’re sticking it to me by hiring that woman.”

Meghan frowned. “Do you really think I would do that, Lori?”

Lori stuck her chin in the air and stomped out of the bakery. “I don’t care what you do, Meghan! I’m not here, so it doesn’t matter.”

Meghan sighed as the door slammed behind Lori, but within seconds, the little silver bells chimed, and Jack walked into the bakery. “Meghan,” he said, his eyes bright. “They needed someone to pick up the latest donut order, and I volunteered.”

Meghan’s annoyance at Lori instantly disappeared; she was happy to see Jack, and she thought he looked especially dashing in his new detective uniform.

“I’m glad you did,” Meghan said, reaching under the counter to retrieve the box of fresh donuts. “This is a batch I made this morning. Lori showed me her tricks, and I think it’s a good batch.”

Jack grinned as he opened the box and reached for a donut, licking his lips as he ushered it to his lips. “Mmmhmmm,” he groaned as he took a bite. “This is even better than the ones I’ve had before. You’ve outdone yourself, Truman!”

Meghan grinned. “Glad to hear it, Detective Irvin. So, how are you? How is the investigation?”

Jack sighed loudly. “It’s not great,” he said. “More tests have come back, and it’s clear that Felix died from multiple stab wounds.”

Meghan gasped. “That’s terrible!”

Jack nodded. “Yeah, it’s pretty horrible. Anyway, Jamie passed a polygraph test, so we are scheduled to let him go later tonight. It’s pretty obvious that the tools and overalls were planted at the scene, so we don’t have enough evidence to hold him, even if we wanted to. Our real suspect, Kayley Kane, is back in town, but we’ve had a hard time tracking her down to do an interview.”

Meghan scowled. “Of course you have,” she said. “I bet she’s back to make sure Lori closes the deal, and then she’ll take her money and run again.”

Jack bit the inside of his cheek, and Meghan could see that he was weighing her words. “We’re trying, Meghan. It’s just a sticky situation through and through.

Meghan nodded. “I’m sure. I just hope you can get to Kayley and get a confession out of her. She’s a difficult woman!”

Jack rolled his eyes. “Oh, don’t I know it,” he said. “I grew up here, remember? Kayley Kane has always been a fighter, so I can’t say any of this really surprises me.”

Meghan and Jack chatted for a few more minutes. Meghan watched Jack as he told her more about the investigation, studying his handsome face. She also noticed his thick blonde hair; Jack’s locks were the color of evening sunshine, and Meghan wanted nothing more than to run her hands through his mane. “Maybe someday,” she thought to herself as Jack smiled down at her.

“Oh wait, excuse me, Meghan, but my cell is ringing,” he said, holding up a finger to quiet Meghan. She listened as he whispered into his cell phone, seeing his expression change only seconds after answering the call.

“Okay, Chief Nunan,” Jack said. “I’ll be there in five.”

Jack hung up the call and grinned at Meghan. “Well,” he began. “I think we have her. Chief Nunan just called. She said that Kayley Kane was spotted in town and I need to join my colleagues to track her down. I need to go.”

Meghan gave Jack two thumbs-up as he waved goodbye, and she wished him luck in finding Kayley. “Two-thumbs up?” Meghan muttered to herself as she watched Jack climb into his police car. “Why am I such a dork?”

Meghan sighed. She heard a whistle coming from the kitchen, and she raised an eyebrow in confusion. It was nearly nine in the evening, and the bakery had been closed for an hour.

“Hello?” Meghan called out, walking slowly into the kitchen.

“Meghan!” Becky cried out. “Hey! I thought I would get a headstart on some of my strudel. I know I am supposed to start tomorrow, but I just wanted to get a jump on things! The recipe is complicated.”

Meghan smiled warmly, happy to see Becky in good spirits. “That’s so thoughtful of you, Becky,” Meghan said. “Is there anything you need from me? I’m going to go upstairs soon and head to bed, but I can help for a bit now.”

Becky nodded. “Sure! I would love some company. It was so nice chatting with you the other day. It’s just nice to have some girl time, you know?”

Meghan grinned. “Absolutely! You’ll have to have lunch with Karen Denton and me sometime. You’ll just love her. Now, what can I do to help you with your strudel, Becky?”

Becky jerked her chin at the countertop beside Meghan. “Can you hand me that knife next to you, Meghan?”

Meghan reached for the knife and carefully placed it in Becky’s outstretched hand. Becky smiled, and turned back to the dough she had been kneading. She shifted her weight onto her left hip, and moved the knife from her right hand to her left hand and began slicing the dough.

“She’s left-handed,” Meghan thought to herself as her body grew cold with fear. Becky cut the dough in long, calculated slices, and Meghan gasped.

“What’s wrong?” Becky asked, placing her right hand on her hip and holding the knife in front of her. “Meghan? What’s the matter? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

12

MEGHAN SHOOK HER HEAD as Becky held the knife in front of her. “It’s nothing,” Meghan said. “I’m fine.”

Becky smiled and turned back to the dough. Meghan’s hands shook as Becky sliced the dough with precision, and she struggled to maintain her composure.

“Just breathe,” Meghan thought to herself as Becky contentedly cut the dough with the long, sharp knife. “Stay calm.”

“Becky?” Meghan said quietly, slowly backing away from Becky and the knife. “Becky, I know it’s been so hard, and that your marriage wasn’t the best, but you miss Felix, right?”

Becky kept cutting, her pace quickening as she nodded. “Sure,” she said. “He could be a real jerk sometimes, but he was my husband. It’s such a shame that he had to die like that. I still cannot believe that the terrible handyman stabbed him so many times.”

Meghan’s stomach lurched, and she stifled the urge to vomit on the kitchen floor. “Becky,” Meghan said softly, still inching away from her. “How do you know that Felix was stabbed? That isn’t common knowledge….”

Becky gripped the knife tightly in her left hand, turning to look Meghan in the eyes.

“What are you talking about, Meghan?” Becky said, her voice cracking as she said Meghan’s name. “I think everyone knows that Felix was stabbed.”

Meghan shook her head. “No one knows that,” Meghan whispered. “That information hasn’t been released to the public yet. Only one other person would know that Felix had been stabbed to death….”

Becky’s eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”

Meghan stared at Becky. “Only the killer would know that Felix had been stabbed to death, Becky….”

“What are you saying, Meghan?” Becky said flatly, her eyes dark.

Meghan inhaled sharply. “Becky….what did you do? What did you do to Felix?”

Becky raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? I don’t know what you mean.”

Meghan took a long breath. “You know what I am asking you, Becky,” Meghan said.

Becky rubbed the handle of the knife with her thumb, and Meghan felt a rush of nausea as the blade of the knife caught the light of the soft, pale lamp in the corner.

“Becky? What did you do to Felix?” Meghan asked again, swallowing the lump in her throat.

Becky rolled her eyes. “I didn’t mean to kill him,” she said. “But I can’t say I’m too torn up about it. He was awful, Meghan! He bossed me around for years, and he made us look like fools everywhere we went.”

“What happened, Becky?”

“The night he died, he begged me to come with him to the center of town. I was making something for dinner and he literally dragged me away from the kitchen. He wanted us to uproot the flowers that the handyman had planted; Felix said it would be revenge for that handyman talking down to us when he made us leave your bakery. I told him it was a bad idea, and we argued. He tried to hit me, and I waved my knife at him. It was self-defense, Meghan! I didn’t realize I had stabbed him so many times. You have to understand.”

Meghan shrugged. “So how did Jamie get caught up in this? You were trying to help him by stopping Felix from uprooting the flowers. Why did you make sure he got blamed?”

Becky frowned. “I didn’t know what to do, Meghan! I was in shock. Felix was dead, and it was an accident, and I lost control. I came back in the morning to cover my tracks and saw that handyman passed out drunk nearby, and I just grabbed his things and left them by the body. I didn’t know what else to do. You believe me, right? It was an accident.”

Meghan nodded. “Of course,” she said, reaching into her pocket for her cell phone. “It was an accident. You didn’t know what to do.”

Becky saw Meghan’s hand in her pocket and grimaced. “Meghan,” she said. “What are you doing?”

Meghan waved her hand. “Oh, nothing!”

Becky walked toward Meghan, pointing the knife at Meghan’s chest. “You aren’t going to tell anyone about this, Meghan. This is our little secret.”

Meghan nodded, but turned on her heel to run. She dashed into the dining area, but tripped on her own feet as she rounded the corner.

“Come back here!” Becky screamed, lunging after Meghan, her face red. “Meghan! Come back here!”

Meghan stumbled to her feet and scrambled for the front door. She knew it was locked, but it would only take seconds to undo the latch, and if she could get herself out of the bakery, she could scream loud enough to attract the attention of passersby.

“Meghan!” Becky screeched as she dove across the dining area. “Meghan, just come back here. We’ll talk about this!”

Meghan felt herself stumble, and she landed hard on the wooden floor. The fall knocked the air out of her, and she struggled to breathe. As she panted, Becky jumped on top of her. Becky straddled Meghan’s middle, and she held the knife directly above Meghan’s chest.

“Now,” Becky said, grinning at Meghan. “Let’s chat.”

Meghan wheezed, trying with all of her might to regain normal breathing. Becky was crushing her, which didn’t help, and Meghan was trying not to panic as her head began to spin.

“You’ve figured out my little secret, Meghan, and from the way you ran out, I don’t think you’re planning to keep my little secret, are you?”

Meghan choked as Becky shifted her weight. Becky slowly lowered the knife to Meghan’s throat and gently traced the length of Meghan’s neck with the knife’s edge.

“I don’t want to hurt you, Meghan,” she whispered. “You were so sweet to me. I just can’t let you go spoil my little secret. My life without Felix is just beginning, and I can’t have you ending my new beginning. I’m sure you understand.”

Meghan felt the tears well in her eyes as Becky smiled menacingly at her. As Meghan lay helpless on the hard, wooden floor, she thought of Fiesta and Siesta, her beloved dogs. She recounted her last encounter with Jack, and the harsh words Lori had spoken to her. She hoped that Lori could forgive herself for being so rude during their very last exchange. Meghan imagined Karen, who was probably out running or at the gym. Her heart swelled as she thought of her loved ones, but then, as she heard Becky’s wicked laugh above her, her chest grew tight with fear.

“Goodbye, Meghan,” Becky said. Meghan opened her eyes as Becky raised the knife above her head.

“So this is the end,” Meghan thought, closing her eyes again as Becky brought the knife down for the final time.

Meghan heard the air shift as Becky brought the knife down, but before the blade could pierce her skin, a scream rang through the bakery.

“Stop that!” Lori shouted, running across the room and tackling Becky. “Get off of her, you witch.”

The knife fell to the floor with a loud thud, and Lori entangled herself in Becky’s limbs. The two women grunted and shrieked, and while for a moment, it looked like Becky was going to prevail over Lori, Lori took Becky by the hair.

“Stop it! Stop it!” Lori yelled, tugging hard on Becky’s ponytail. “You’re done! I knew you were trouble, just like my uncle. You’re done!”

Meghan gasped as Lori rose to her feet and quickly reached for one of the little white iron chairs in the dining area. Lori held the chair above her head, and before Meghan knew it, Lori slammed the chair down on Becky’s head. Becky moaned, but then, she was silent.

13

“I JUST CAN’T BELIEVE IT,” Karen lamented as she and Meghan read through the Sandy Bay Gazette. Becky’s mugshot was on the front page, and Meghan shuddered as she remembered their brawl only three days earlier. “I knew it wasn’t Jamie who killed Felix, but his wife? How terrible. Who would have guessed? When you and I chatted after you offered her the job here, you just raved. I can’t believe she turned out to be so vicious.”

Meghan nodded solemnly. “I can’t believe it, either,” she said, hanging her head. “She fooled me, Karen. I still believe that her life with Felix was difficult, but I don’t believe for a single second that the murder was an accident.”

Karen shook her head. “There’s no way, and the police don’t believe it was an accident, either.”

Meghan sighed. “I just feel terrible for how I jumped to conclusions about Kayley Kane,” she admitted, pursing her lips as she recalled her harsh words against Kayley. “I was just adamant that she had killed Felix, and I was blind to Becky’s ill-will. I just feel embarrassed.”

Karen leaned in and wrapped her muscular arm around Meghan’s shoulder. “Hey,” Karen said soothingly. “It was a mistake. You were worried about Lori, and you let that cloud your judgement. It was a learning experience, sweetie. It’s over now. Don’t beat yourself up too badly.”

Just then, the silver bells chimed, and Lori walked into the bakery. “You will never believe what the police just uncovered about those people,” Lori said breathlessly. “Felix and Becky had felony charges against them in five states! They were going to come here to swindle me out of the money from the tea shop, and then, they were planning to escape all the way to Qatar. Can you believe that? Thank goodness the police locked up that nasty bat of an aunt before she could escape.”

Meghan nodded. “Yes,” she said, remembering the sinister look in Becky’s eyes as she dangled the knife above Meghan’s neck. “I can. I don’t know much about Felix, but Becky sure proved her true colors here.”

Lori came to Meghan’s side and wrapped her own arm around Meghan’s other shoulder. The three women leaned against each other.

“Thank you for saving me,” Meghan whispered to Lori. “You saved my life.”

Lori shrugged. “I was coming back to apologize for being bratty. It was perfect timing, and I am so glad I found you before Becky hurt you.”

Karen stood from her seat and kissed Meghan and Lori on their foreheads. “Girls, you two talk. I’m late for my lifting session with my trainer, but Meghan, let’s catch up soon. Lori, you take good care, sweetie. Have a fabulous day, girls.”

Karen waved goodbye, and Lori turned to face Meghan. “I have to tell you something,” Lori said. “Kayley helped me sign off on the deal today. She tracked down Jacqueline, the salon owner Felix scared off, and Jacqueline is going to buy the property from me.”

Meghan smiled at Lori. “That’s great, Lori. I’m so happy for you.”

Lori squeezed Meghan’s hand. “I couldn’t have done it without you, Meghan. You helped me by giving me a job at Truly Sweet, and you’ve supported me ever since. I’m going to chase my dreams at college, and it’s really thanks to you.”

Meghan shook her head. “No, Lori. Thank yourself. You are a strong, smart woman, and you made this happen. You should be proud of yourself. I know I am.”

Lori hugged Meghan and said goodbye, leaving the bakery with an extra spring in her step. Meghan felt her heart swell as Lori walked away; when they had first met, Lori was sweet, but timid, and now, Lori was coming into her own at last. Meghan was happy for her friend, and she hoped that Lori would find what she was looking for when she started college in the fall.

“Meghan?”

Meghan looked up to see Jack standing in the door. She was thrilled to see him; in his new role as a detective, he had been managing the fallout from Becky’s arrest, and Meghan had hardly spent any time with him in the last few days. Meghan smoothed down her hair and smiled.

“Jack,” she said as he walked toward her. “How are you?”

Jack shook his head and pulled Meghan into a tight embrace. She could feel the heat of his body as she leaned into his muscular chest, and her stomach erupted into a parade of butterflies.

“How am I? No, Meghan. How are you? I’m so sorry it’s taken me so long to get down here to check on you; this case spiraled, as you know, and I’ve been neck-deep in paperwork as I wrap up the investigation. Forgive me for not stealing away sooner.”

Meghan breathed in the deep, masculine scent of Jack’s cologne, and she smiled. “It’s fine,” she said, pulling back and looking into Jack’s blue eyes. “I’m fine, I promise.”

Jack frowned. “I heard that she nearly killed you,” he said. “I can hardly look at her, I’m so angry! If she had hurt you….”

Meghan waved her hands. “But she didn’t. It’s fine, Jack. Really, I’m okay.”

Jack sighed. “You’re a brave one, Truman,” he said. “Now, come sit with me. There’s something important I want to ask you.”

Meghan’s heart thudded in her chest, and she felt her stomach drop. Was Jack going to ask her to be his girlfriend?

“Meghan,” Jack began as they sat across from each other at one of the little white tables. “This is an important question, and I think you are the best person I could ask to do this….”

Meghan could hardly breathe; she lowered her eyes, and then she looked back up at Jack. She heard a yelp from the corner. Jack’s dog, Dash, was playing with Fiesta and Siesta, but Meghan didn’t peek over; her eyes were glued to Jack’s.

“Yes, Jack? What can I do for you?” she asked, willing her hands not to shake.

Jack smiled. “Meghan, would you….teach me how to make homemade donuts? The folks at the station love them, and I want to try to make some of my own! What do you think? Can you teach me to be a truly sweet baker?”

Meghan’s heart sank, but she forced herself to smile. Jack may not have asked her to be his girlfriend, but he was asking to spend more time with her. She took a long breath, and then nodded at Jack. “Of course,” Meghan said. “I’d be happy to.”

Jack beamed. “Great! How about right now? I have some ideas, too! There are so many flavors I want to try. I’m thinking a nice red velvet donut would be insane. Or maybe a strawberry frosted donut with sprinkles? What do you think, Meghan? Can you show an old dog like me some new tricks?”

Meghan looked at Jack’s perfectly chiseled face, and she smiled even wider. “Yes,” Meghan said. “I think we can figure something out together.”

The End

About Eclairs and Lethal Layers

Released: September, 2018

Series: Book 5 – Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Series

Standalone: Yes

Cliff-hanger: No

When a new girl comes to Sandy Bay with intentions to open a bakery, Meghan Truman is happy to share baking tips and some business advice. Things get awkward when this new girl steals not only her recipes and branding but also her biggest corporate order!

Meghan’s world is further thrown into a state of chaos when ‘new girl’ is found dead and her dearest friend is identified as the main suspect.

With so many conflicting clues pointing to different potential murderers, Meghan must slice through the layers of ambiguity shrouding this murder investigation and discover the real motive and culprit behind this heinous crime.

Eclairs and Lethal Layers

1

I f success had a taste, Meghan Truman was sure it’d taste like one of her desserts. Despite the many challenges her business had faced since its inception, she could confidently say it was a success, both in terms of the health of its finances and its reputation in the area. She was hopeful that her business would go from strength to strength and she welcomed the challenge to exceed her customers’ expectations.

It was a gray, windy morning, but she did not mind; while as a recent transplant from sunny Los Angeles, Meghan had not anticipated enjoying the weather of the Pacific Northwest, she found that the cool mornings and dark skies made her feel cozy and relaxed. She loved snuggling into thick, chunky sweaters and her knee-high boots, and in spite of the occasional rainstorm, Meghan felt more at home in Sandy Bay than she had ever felt in Los Angeles.

“It’s a great day to be in Sandy Bay!” Meghan chirped to Fiesta and Siesta, her little twin dogs as they playfully nipped at her heels as she prepared for the day. “The sun isn’t shining, and from my window, the sea looks rough, but I can just tell that it’s going to be a good day, my sweet puppers!”

Meghan smiled at her reflection in the mirror. Her dark, wavy hair was pulled back into a messy bun at the nape of her neck, and her deep brown eyes sparkled as she applied a layer of ballet pink lip gloss to her thick, bow-shaped lips. Meghan reached into her drawer to retrieve an apron, and she smoothed down the wrinkled front as she walked down the narrow staircase, both dogs following her as she entered the kitchen of Truly Sweet, her bakery.

The wind rattled the small, silvers bells attached to the front door of Truly Sweet, and she glanced up and smiled as a statuesque, curly-haired woman walked through the door. It was a quiet Tuesday morning, and the bakery had only been open for ten minutes, rendering Meghan pleasantly surprised to see someone stepping across the threshold of her shop.             

“Good morning!” she chimed to the stranger as the woman approached the counter. Meghan could see that they were around the same age, and her smile widened; Karen, her dearest friend in her adopted hometown of Sandy Bay, was over seventy years old, and Meghan was eager to make some friends closer to her age; her former assistant, Lori, was close to her age, but had recently left for college, and Meghan brimmed with excitement as she studied the attractive young woman staring at her from across the counter.

“Hi,” replied the woman, tucking a loose brunette lock behind her ear. “I’m Stephanie Cameron, and I’m new here to Sandy Bay. I’ve done some asking around; it’s a small town, as you know, and everyone seems willing to give me every detail of every person in town. I hear that you’re new to Sandy Bay as well?”

Meghan nodded enthusiastically. “I am.” she responded giddily. “My name is Meghan Truman and I moved here a few months ago, so I know the lay of the land pretty well, but I’m not a native Sandy Bay-er. What brings you to town, Stephanie?”

Stephanie bit her lip and looked down at the wooden floor. “I’m from Indiana,” she began. “My husband and I split up; I was an investment banker in Indianapolis and living the dream. But, some dreams come to an end….”

Meghan’s lips turned down. “I’m so sorry to hear that,” she said softly. “I’m sure Sandy Bay is very different than Indiana; I’ve never been, but I hear it’s very flat there.”

Stephanie nodded. “Very flat, and we have a lot of corn.”

Meghan smiled. “We don’t have a lot of corn here, but we have some gorgeous beaches, and the weather is just to die for! You can curl up with tea and a good book any day of the week, and it’s always sweater weather in Sandy Bay.”

Stephanie bit her lip. “That does sound nice,” she said. “I’m hoping for a real change, and I think the Pacific Northwest is where I’ll find it. I hope….”

Meghan nodded. “I hope Sandy Bay is the perfect place for you to have a fresh beginning. I came here from Los Angeles and didn’t have a lot going for me, but now….” Meghan opened her arms to gesture at the counters and displays in the bakery. “Now, I have Truly Sweet, and some wonderful friends here.”

Stephanie smiled at Meghan, showing one thick dimple etched into the side of her face. “That’s actually what I came here to chat with you about….”

Meghan cocked her head to the side. “Oh?”

Stephanie nodded. “I got into town a few weeks ago, and I’ve actually been thinking about starting my own bakery. I’ve done some research, and from what I’ve read, Sandy Bay is an ideal place to open a bakery.”

Meghan grinned. “That’s wonderful,” she cried. “It’s a truly sweet business to be in. I was lost until I started my business here, and I’m so excited that you’ll have the same luck I did. Do you have any experience running a bakery?”

Stephanie shook her head. “No,” she said quietly. “That’s actually why I came to see you. I was at the grocery store last night, and when I chatted with the bag-boy, he mentioned that you were a nice girl with a new bakery. I just had to stop by and meet you. Can I ask you a huge favor?”

Meghan nodded. “I remember what it was like to be new in town,” she answered, placing a hand on her heart and remembering the rocky beginning to her new life in Sandy Bay. “I’m happy to help. What can I do for you?”

Stephanie gestured at one of the little white iron tables in the corner. “Can we sit? Honestly, I want to pick your brain. I’ve always dreamed of starting my own bakery, but I don’t know how to begin. I don’t want to step on your toes; you seem like a nice girl, and I realize a new bakery would be competition, but do you think we could just chat a little about your experiences here in Sandy Bay?”

Meghan nodded. She had seen the hurt in Stephanie’s eyes when Stephanie had mentioned her failed marriage, and Meghan knew how important it was to welcome newcomers to town. 

“Absolutely!” Meghan exclaimed as Stephanie’s eyes lit up. “Let me grab some treats for us; it’s early, and I think some tea and fresh croissants would just be the coziest.”

Ten minutes later, Meghan and Stephanie were laughing over the warm, soft croissants that Meghan had baked earlier that morning. Meghan leaned back in her chair, delighted to be advising Stephanie, who was proving to be good company.

“A bakery is like one of these croissants,” Meghan giggled, licking her lips. “A bakery has many layers; there is the business layer of things, the merchandise, and the customers you have the pleasure to serve.”

Stephanie smiled warmly. “That’s a great way to think about it,” she said, reaching over and patting Meghan on the hand. “It’s been so kind of you to sit down with me about this; I was so nervous to come ask, but you’ve been such a dear.”

Meghan beamed, her dark eyes shining. “I’m just happy that you’re here. Sandy Bay is lovely, Stephanie; it’s on the coast, the town is quiet, for the most part, and people here will embrace what you have to offer. I just know it!”

Stephanie nodded. “It’s like you said, a bakery is about layers. That makes so much sense to me.”

Meghan agreed. “If your customers know you, like you, and trust you, you’ll get it right,” she assured Stephanie. “With those layers, success is guaranteed!”

Stephanie glanced down at her watch, her eyes widening. “Oh, goodness! I have a meeting with my new finance guy in ten minutes. I’m sorry to cut this short, Meghan, but I’m so glad we got to chat.”

Meghan rose to her feet and leaned in to hug Stephanie. “Don’t be a stranger. Like I said, I’m always happy to help those who are new in town. Swing by any time you’d like.”

Stephanie waved as she walked out of the bakery and into the sunny morning. “I will! Thanks, Meghan!”

Meghan sighed happily as the little silver bells attached to the front door of the bakery chimed as Stephanie left. “There was my good deed for the day, and it isn’t even ten in the morning yet” she laughed to herself, running a hand through her long, dark hair and adjusting the white apron around her waist. “She seemed like a great girl. I hope I didn’t tell her too much, though; maybe she had a point about being competition to my bakery….”

2

T wo weeks later, Meghan’s mouth was agape as she stood in the dining area of Truly Sweet, her bakery. From the front window, she could see a long line of people outside of Duly Doux, Stephanie Cameron’s bakery. Stephanie had chosen a vacant building just across the street to open her own shop, and now, Meghan felt her body grow cold as she peered across the street at the smiling faces gathered outside of Duly Doux. Truly Sweet hadn’t seen a customer all morning, and Meghan’s heart pounded as she calculated how much business she had lost since Stephanie’s doors had opened three hours before.

“It must be the novelty of a new establishment in town. It must be!” Meghan reassured herself as she saw Karen Denton, her close friend, step into the line outside of Duly Doux. “It’s nice the people in Sandy Bay are supporting Stephanie. I’m happy for her.”

A few moments later, as Meghan tried to bury herself in baking, she heard the tinny chime of the bells ring as someone walked into the bakery. “Hello?” Meghan called out from the kitchen, thrilled to have someone to serve. “Good morning! Welcome to Truly Sweet.”

Meghan dashed into the dining area to find Sally Sheridan glaring at her. Mrs. Sheridan was known in town for being fussy and mean, and Meghan forced herself to smile politely as Mrs. Sheridan impatiently tapped her cane on the wooden floor.

“Well, hello there, Mrs. Sheridan.” she said sweetly. “What a pleasant surprise to see you. Can I help you with something today?”

Mrs. Sheridan shook her head and narrowed her eyes at Meghan. “I want to make a return,” she announced, her head held high as she slung a small, unfamiliar paper sack on the counter.

“I beg your pardon,” Meghan began carefully. “But that bag is not from my bakery. What is in there, Mrs. Sheridan?”

Mrs. Sheridan used her cane to point at Duly Doux. “It’s from that bakery,” she explained in her raspy voice. “Duly Doux. Doux means sweet in French, did you know that, Meghan?”

Meghan bit her lip, but pasted the smile back on her face. “I do now,” she said. “Mrs. Sheridan? Why are you bringing items from another bakery in to make a return here? I can’t do that for you.”

Mrs. Sheridan’s lips turned upward into a rare smile. “Just try what’s in there,” Mrs. Sheridan prompted. Meghan obediently reached into the sack and pulled out an éclair.

“It looks delicious,” she admitted, slowly biting into the pastry. “It tastes just like my éclairs though, Mrs. Sheridan! I even taste some cinnamon in this pastry; that’s my secret ingredient for éclairs!”

Mrs. Sheridan smirked at Meghan and rapped her cane on the floor. “It’s better than one of yours,” she declared. “Everyone across the street is saying so! That line is winding around the block, and I just thought you should know about this, Meghan. And, I’d like to make my return.”

Meghan shook her head. “No,” she said firmly. “I will not allow you to return an item that didn’t even come from my bakery. I’m sorry, Mrs. Sheridan, but that just won’t do.”

Mrs. Sheridan rolled her eyes at Meghan and turned away from the counter. “You’re too stiff for your own good, Meghan,” she said. “That Stephanie girl was a real nice lady. You better be careful, girl; if you aren’t nice to your customers, Truly Sweet might just lose out to Duly Doux….”

Meghan held back harsh words as Mrs. Sheridan hobbled out of the bakery.

“That was so rude,” she muttered under her breath. “I’m happy for Stephanie. I’m happy to have shared some of my experiences with someone new. I just need to stay positive, and everything will be okay.”

Meghan returned to her work and began cutting up thick, red slices of rhubarb for a fresh pie. “I just have to stay positive,” she repeated to herself as she admired the long, perfect stalks of rhubarb. “I just have to keep my chin up.”

As Meghan sliced through the rhubarb, she heard her cell phone begin to ring. “It’s Karen,” she said to herself as she answered the call. “Hi, Karen! How was Duly Doux?”

“It was good,” she admitted. “It was fabulous, even! You know that I don’t eat sweets often; with my marathon coming up next week, I really shouldn’t have indulged, but Stephanie’s desserts were very good.”

Meghan laughed. “You’re the only person over fifty I know who runs marathons, Karen. How do you do it?”

Karen giggled. “It keeps me young, sweetie. Anyway, I had a quick question for you; did you share your éclair recipe with Stephanie? I had a taste of one of hers, and it tasted just like yours!”

The hairs stood up on Meghan’s arms as she frowned. “No,” she said. “I didn’t share any recipes with her. She didn’t ask for recipes; she only asked me for some business advice.”

Karen paused. “That’s strange,” she finally replied. “When I took a bite of the éclair, I asked her if she had talked with you about your secret recipe, and she said that you had shared some of your favorite recipes with her….”

Meghan’s heart began to pound. “I didn’t share with her, but my cookbook was on the counter when she stopped by,” she said slowly as she remembered the morning of Stephanie’s visit. “I turned my back to fetch tea and croissants for us….maybe she copied down some of my recipes when I wasn’t looking!”

Karen groaned. “I hate to hear that, sweetie,” she said. “Stephanie seems so nice. We had a fabulous chat while I was in there, and I’m disappointed to hear this.”

Meghan sighed. “It sounds like I may need to pay her a visit. My recipes are for my customers! I’m happy to share tips and advice, but I can’t have Stephanie jeopardizing my livelihood by stealing my recipes.”

“I agree,” Karen said. “Just be careful; she is new in town, and maybe there’s been a misunderstanding, sweetie. Just be kind and be truly sweet; this could all be resolved by a little chat. Just hang in there.”

“I will,” she promised. “I will.”

After Meghan and Karen hung up the phone, the bakery’s main line began to ring. “Hello?” Meghan answered.

“Ms. Truman? This is Dave Dane at Majestic Incorporated? I wanted to touch base regarding the corporate order we placed last week. Is now a good time?”

Meghan smiled. Receiving the Majestic Incorporated corporate order had been a huge milestone for the bakery; the company was an internationally acclaimed tape conglomerate, and Meghan knew the order would significantly advance her business.

“No problem, Mr. Dane,” Meghan cooed. “So happy to hear from you. I received the order last week and have been busy preparing the first shipment of treats to send over.”

Meghan heard Mr. Dane sigh. “I’m sorry to tell you this, Ms. Truman, but we are going to have to retract our order.”

“What?” she cried. “You are cancelling the order?”

“I apologize for any inconvenience, but due to recent developments, we have decided to go a different direction with our order. You will of course be compensated for your initial efforts, but we will no longer be requiring your services.”

“I’m sorry to hear that,” she replied flatly. “Please let me know if that changes. Thank you.”

As Meghan hung up the phone, her hands began to shake, and she felt thick, hot tears welling up in her dark eyes. “I barely have any business today, Mrs. Sheridan taunted me, Stephanie may have stolen my recipe for my special éclairs, and Majestic Incorporated cancelled my corporate order! What else could possibly go wrong today?”

3

M eghan nervously gripped the straps of her red leather purse as she and Karen walked across the street to Duly Doux. It was a chilly afternoon; the harsh, salty winds from the Pacific were blowing mercilessly into town, and Meghan shivered as the cool air cut through her thin coat.

“Don’t be nervous,” Karen ordered as they arrived outside of Duly Doux. “From what we know, Stephanie stole your éclair recipe! I know you don’t like confrontation, but this is unacceptable behavior, especially from someone who sought help from you only days ago!”

Meghan nodded. “I know,” she breathed softly. “I know, Karen. I need to do a better job at standing up for myself. I just don’t want to jump to conclusions. Stephanie moved to Sandy Bay for a fresh start, and who knows if this all isn’t just a big coincidence?”

Karen stared into Meghan’s dark eyes. “Meghan,” she began. “Stephanie told me that you gave her your secret recipe! I didn’t mishear her. We need to get to the bottom of this; I hate thieves and cheats, and you don’t deserve to have your kindness wasted. Come on!”

Karen turned on her heel and strode into Duly Doux. The shop was bustling with customers, and Stephanie smiled warmly from behind the counter as Meghan and Karen approached her.

“Meghan! Karen! What a surprise!” Stephanie cooed, tossing her hair behind her shoulder as Meghan glanced around at the crowded bakery. “What can I do for you two ladies today?”

Karen glared at the owner of Duly Doux. “Stephanie,” she hissed. “When I was in here the other day, you mentioned that dear Meghan had given you the recipe to her wonderful eclairs….”

Stephanie’s eyes widened as she looked over at Meghan’s face. “Ummm….I didn’t quite say that, Karen. You must have heard me wrong.”

Karen leaned across the counter. She was only inches from Stephanie’s nose, and she took a long, deep inhale. “Are you sure?”

Looking horrified, Stephanie leaned away from Karen and shook her head. “Meghan? Can you get your friend under control? I don’t know what she’s talking about. I seem to recall saying that I wish you would share some of your recipes with me, but I never said you did share them.”

Meghan raised an eyebrow. “Oh? I’ve heard that some of our desserts taste very, very similar, Stephanie. Can you help me understand why that is?”

Stephanie folded her arms across her chest and looked nervously at Meghan. “I don’t think this is a good time,” she whispered, jerking her chin to gesture at the customers who had grown quiet and were now watching the three women interact. “Can we take this outside?”

“Stephanie!”

All three women turned to see a short, plump woman emerge from the back room. “Stephanie, where are those recipes you copied down? I’m about to make another batch of the eclairs, and I need the recipes you copied down so I can make them the way you told me to.”

Stephanie turned and frowned at the woman. “Not now, Trudy….”

Trudy shrugged. “I’m just trying to be a helpful assistant, Stephanie! Come on! I followed the directions perfectly earlier. You told me to make the eclairs exactly as you had written down the recipe, and I did.”

Stephanie’s face paled. “This is not a good time, Trudy! Please go wait for me in the back.”

Trudy rolled her eyes, but she obediently left the counter and returned to the backroom where she had come from.

“What was that all about?” Karen demanded. “What was she referring to, Stephanie? Just tell the truth! We know that you copied down Meghan’s recipes without her permission, and we want to hear the truth!”

Stephanie pursed her lips. “What I am making for my customers is none of your business,” she said coolly. “I’m sorry that your little bakery hasn’t seen much success since Duly Doux opened, but I can’t help the fact that my treats are made better.”

“You treats are made just as mine are!” Meghan shouted as Karen’s face shone with pride. “I know you copied down my recipes! Just admit it, Stephanie!”

Stephanie smirked. “Or what? What are you going to do, Meghan?”

Karen balled her hands into fists. Meghan’s eyes widened as Karen’s impressive biceps bulged out from beneath her tight athletic top. “What is she going to do?” Karen taunted. “More like what she won’t do. You picked the wrong girl to mess with, Stephanie; Meghan has worked hard to perfect her recipes and earn her client base, and I won’t stand by while you steal from her! I hate thieves, and this makes me sick!”

Stephanie narrowed her eyes. “Get out of my bakery!”

Karen batted her eyelashes. “Gladly,” she said. “I do yoga, Stephanie; I don’t believe in violence, but I wish I could just snuff the life out of you and this terrible shop. People like you make me sick. How dare you take advantage of my fabulous friend, Meghan?”

“Get out before I call the police,” Stephanie ordered. “Now!”

Meghan and Karen shot Stephanie one last frustrated look and then left the shop. “I’m proud of you,” Karen said to Meghan as she pulled her into a hug. “You stood up for yourself, and from what we could see, it’s pretty clear that Stephanie had something to hide. You don’t act that nasty if you are innocent, I know that for sure.”

Meghan shook her head. “I just don’t understand how she could be so rude.”

Karen bit her lip. “I could just kill her,” she said. “Your recipes and your bakery are the best Sandy Bay has ever seen! I hope her silly shop folds up soon. She deserves it.”

Meghan smiled at Karen. “Thanks for going with me. You help make me brave, Karen.”

Karen shook her head. “You’re brave on your own, Meghan,” she replied. “You’re brave on your own.”

***********

The next morning, Meghan awoke to the sounds of sirens outside of her window. She rubbed her eyes and tiptoed out of bed, careful not to disturb Fiesta and Siesta, her two tiny twin dogs who had been curled up on both sides of Meghan’s body.

“What is that sound?” Meghan groaned as she peered through the blinds and looked out upon the street. Firetrucks and ambulances were parked carelessly along the sidewalk, and Meghan gasped as she saw the coroner's truck pull in.

“What’s going on?” she said aloud as she watched Trudy, Stephanie’s assistant, walk outside of Duly Doux, her face red and her body shaking. The coroner walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. Trudy turned and led the coroner inside of the bakery.

“Oh no….” Meghan muttered. She threw on a bathrobe and slippers and ran downstairs. She spotted Jack Irvin, the handsome, tall, blonde police detective she had been dating for the last few months, and she ran into his arms.

“Meghan!” Jack said in surprise. “What are you doing out here?”

Meghan looked into Jack’s blue eyes. “What’s going on?”

Jack sighed. “There’s been a death, Meghan. I can’t say much more.”

Meghan nodded. “I understand,” she said, surveying the police and EMTs running in and out of Duly Doux. “Is there anything you can tell me?”

Suddenly, Trudy burst out of the bakery, tears streaming down her face. “She’s dead!” Trudy bawled. “Stephanie is dead! Someone strangled Stephanie!”

4

E very day comes with its unique package of surprises and opportunities. Some are welcome, while some are not. Meghan’s package so far today, had been very unwelcome.

 “Okay, Meghan, I think you’re good to go,” Jack said as Meghan buried her face in her hands.

The couple sat across from each other in a windowless room at the Sandy Bay Police Station, and Meghan was exhausted from nearly two hours of Jack’s rapid-fire questioning.

“He is a thorough detective,” Meghan had thought to herself as Jack read his questions from the notepad. “I hate that I’m here, but I’m so impressed with what Jack can do….”

A few hours after Meghan had awoken to the sirens outside of her apartment, Jack had collected her for questioning. “It’s standard,” he assured her as he ushered her into his police car. “You live right across the street from the murder scene, and with your close proximity, Officer Nunan thought it best that we talk.”

Meghan had nodded and complied with Jack’s request. She had not been concerned about talking at the police station; she had been sound asleep in bed before being awoken by the sirens, and she had no doubt the GPS coordinates on her cell phone would match up with her alibi. Meghan had only grown worried when she walked into the station and saw Karen crying on a bench.

“Karen!” Meghan had exclaimed, rushing forward to take her friend into her arms. “What are you doing here?”

Karen had wiped her nose on her sleeve and sniffled. “Officer Nunan insisted I was brought here to talk. Someone overheard our little conversation with Stephanie at her bakery, and they thought I was serious when I threatened her! Meghan, you know I wasn’t serious; I was just fired up about your recipes. I would never lay a hand on anyone!”

Meghan nodded earnestly. “I know that,” she whispered into Karen’s ear as they embraced in the police station. “Everyone knows that! You are Sandy Bay, born and raised, Karen. There is surely nothing to worry about. Just tell the police what you were doing last night when the murder happened, and it will be fine.”

It wasn’t fine. While Meghan’s alibi was airtight and corroborated by phone records hastily obtained by the police chief, Karen’s whereabouts seemed to be more difficult to trace; she had been signed up to take a midnight yoga sculpt class at the local studio, but she had not shown up to her reserved class time.

“That isn’t like Karen,” Meghan insisted when Jack informed her of the news. “Karen shows up for everything; she is the most dependable woman I know.”

Jack shook his head. “I just don’t know, Meghan,” he said softly as they huddled together in the windowless room. “Her alibi is shaky. She can’t seem to give us a straight answer as to where she was, and from the reports of her outburst at Duly Doux….I think we’re going to have to book her, Meghan.”

“Book her?” she cried, her dark eyes wide in horror. “Jack! She is over seventy years old. She wouldn’t hurt a fly! You can’t book her.”

Jack bit his lip and pushed back his blonde hair. “She could hurt someone, though,” he argued gently. “She has biceps the size of a horse’s! Stephanie was strangled, and it was done by someone strong. Karen is one of the strongest ladies in town….it just doesn’t look good.”

Meghan frowned. “Can I just talk with her? Please, Jack? She’s really upset, and I’m sure I could get some information out of her.”

Jack sighed. “I’m not supposed to do that, Meghan, but just this once….”

Meghan leapt up from her chair and hugged Jack. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Jack nodded curtly. “Don’t mention it. Seriously, I could get in trouble if Officer Nunan finds out I did a favor for you while I was on the clock.”

Meghan smiled. “I won’t tell. Come on. Let’s go find Karen.”

Jack led Meghan into the hallway. Karen was still sitting quietly on the bench, but just as Meghan approached her, a clatter broke out.

“She did it!”

Meghan turned to see Trudy, Stephanie’s assistant, marching down the hall and pointing a finger at Karen. “She did it! Everyone knows it. She and the girl stormed into Duly Doux and caused a ruckus! Karen even threatened to kill Stephanie. Lock her up, officers!”

Karen rose from the bench and glared down at Trudy. “Trudy, how could you say that? You and I go back way longer than you and Stephanie! We’re both from Sandy Bay. How could you say something like that about me? Is this because I made the cheerleading squad fifty years ago and you didn’t? Trudy! This is ridiculous!”

Trudy wrinkled her nose. “I don’t let murderers talk to me like that,” she declared. “Stephanie offered me the best-paying job I’ve ever had, and now you’ve killed her.”

Karen frowned. “This is unbelievable,” she muttered under her breath. “Jack? Jack, dear, can you please take me home? I answered all of the questions you and Officer Nunan had, and I need to run; I have my evening weights session soon, and I don’t want to be late.”

Before Jack could speak, another officer walked up to Karen and nodded at her. “You can go now, Ms. Denton,” the officer said dryly. “We may need to speak to you again soon, though….”

Karen nodded. “Of course. Meghan? Let’s go.”

Trudy screeched. “You’re just letting her go? Officer, everyone in the bakery heard her threaten my boss. Karen Denton is a killer, and she said it herself in front of the entire town!”

5

T he next morning, Meghan’s heart sank as she heard a police siren outside of Truly Sweet. She and Karen had been sipping on tea and discussing the events at the police station, and now, Meghan’s hands were shaking as two officers stepped out of a squad car and marched into the bakery.

“What are they here for?” Karen whispered. “I thought we told them everything.”

Meghan shrugged. “I have no idea,” she admitted. “But let’s just cooperate; it’s been a rough couple of weeks, and I don’t want any trouble for either of us.”

The little silver bells chimed as the officers walked through the front door. Their heavy, dark shoes were loud against the wooden floors, and Meghan nervously brought her fingers to her mouth and began to chew them as the officers approached.

“Karen Denton?”

Karen nodded at the young, green-eyed officer who stood in front of her. “That’s me,” she answered.

“I’m Officer Wilberforce,” the man said. “Ma’am, I’m going to need to ask you to stand up for me.”

As Karen rose from her seat, Officer Wilberforce placed a pair of handcuffs on her.

“What is this?” Karen yelled. “We’ve already spoken to the police! What’s going on?” 

Officer Wilberforce shook his head as he tightened the handcuffs. “Ma’am, we have reason to believe that you had something to do with the recent death in town. Our investigators found some charges on your accounts…”

“Charges?” Karen asked. “What charges?”

“A one-way flight from Sandy Bay to Manila,” the other officer offered. “For this evening. It seems suspect, and we need to speak with you immediately.”

“I was going for a marathon!” Karen protested. “And then traveling! Ask her. She knows!”

Officer Wilberforce frowned. “Ma’am, can you just please come with us? We need to sort this out as quickly as possible.”

Meghan jumped as the little bells on the door chimed and Kayley Kane, a local real estate agent, strutted through the door.

“Bad time?” Kayley asked as she looked from Meghan, Karen, and the officers. “I can come back….”

“Let go of me!” Karen shrieked as Officer Wilberforce quickly snapped the handcuffs on her thin wrists and walked her out of the bakery. “You let go of me right now! Meghan? Meghan! This is a mistake!”

Kayley snapped her gum as Karen was taken out of the shop and edged into the police car. “So,” she said as she raised her eyebrow. “Bad time?”

Meghan sighed. “It’s fine,” she answered. “I can grab your order. You had a box of donuts, right?”

“Yeah,” Kayley answered as Meghan scurried to the back to retrieve the box. “And I need a donut after my day today.”

“Oh yeah?” Meghan asked. “What happened?”

“Well,” Kayley began as she chewed her gum in annoyance. “I was working on the sale of that new bakery, and well, you know what happened! Real estate just gets sticky when someone dies while a deal is in process, you know?”

Meghan dropped the box of donuts on the floor. “Oh no,” she mumbled as she bent down to pick up the box.

“Are you okay?” Kayley asked, then gesturing at the officers who were now strapping Karen into the back of the police car. “What’s going on with her? Is Karen okay?”

Meghan shook her head. “I don’t know, but I need you to repeat what you just told me.”

Kayley bit her lip. “About the deal that’s fallen through with the dead lady?”

Meghan’s face paled. “Yeah. What’s up with that, Kayley? Stephanie was selling her bakery?”

Kayley shrugged. “The details were murky, but yeah. All I know is that Stephanie Cameron moved to town, bought that bakery, turned it into a wild success, and then, she wanted it out of her hands as fast as I could help her.”

Meghan gasped as Kayley reached for the box of donuts. “I must be going,” Kayley said, turning on her high heels and walking toward the door. “Thanks, Meghan. I’ll see you later.”

“Wait!” Meghan called out. “Kayley! Wait! You know something, and I need to know what that something is right now.”

6

E ven though Kayley was wearing high heels, Meghan was surprised at how fast she was walking. She had never been a fan of high heels but admired women who wore them, especially for workday functions.

“Kayley, wait!” Meghan yelled as she followed Kayley outside. A gust of salty air blew Meghan’s hair into her eyes, and she pushed it back as she moved toward Kayley. Meghan’s heart lurched as she saw Karen being loaded into the police car, but she walked toward Kayley with her head held high. “What do you mean, Stephanie wanted the bakery out of her hands?”

Kayley turned and raised an eyebrow at her. “Meghan, I am late for a meeting with a client. I am leaving.”

Before Meghan could speak, she saw two tiny balls of fur run past her. “Fiesta! Siesta!” Meghan shrieked as she realized her little dogs had gotten loose. “Kayley! Wait! My dogs are following you.”

“I don’t have time to wait!” Kayley yelled as she stomped away down the sidewalk on her red high heels, the large breeze rolling in from the ocean flipping her skirt to and fro. “I have a client, Meghan.”

“Kayley! Look down at your feet!” Meghan shouted.

Fiesta and Siesta had caught up to Kayley, who was fifty feet in front of Meghan. Both dogs were barking good-naturedly at Kayley, but she was perilously close to crushing them with her tall, pointy shoes.

“Meghan, I don’t have time for this.” she replied.

“Kayley! My dogs are at your feet!” Meghan called out as Fiesta nipped at Kayley’s heel.

“Ouch!” she cried, stumbling, and then falling on the sidewalk. The box of donuts tumbled out of her hands, and Fiesta and Siesta began to lick the loose desserts.

“Meghan!” she screamed. “You have to be kidding me. Look at this! Your dogs tripped me, and now, they are eating the treats for my client.”

Meghan caught up with Kayley and kneeled beside her. Meghan tried to stifle her laugh as Kayley brushed the dirt off of her expensive leather pants, and Meghan offered her a hand to help her up.

“I’m sorry,” she said earnestly as Kayley rolled her eyes. “They mean well. I’ll send over some free donuts later, too. I’ll make sure you have donuts to last you the year, Kayley.”

Kayley scowled. “Any other tricks up your sleeve today, Truman? First, you drop the donuts, then you send your dogs after me, and then, they ruin my desserts.”

Meghan raised an eyebrow. “Since we’re here….” she began. “Can you please tell me more about the sale with Stephanie? Please? I’ll throw in pies for a year! What do you think, Kayley? I’ll send over a fresh pie to your office for you once a week for a year.”

Kayley gritted her teeth and looked down at her watch. “Fine,” she conceded. “I’ll give you two minutes. What do you want to know?”

Meghan bit her lip. “Why was Stephanie selling the bakery? She was doing so well.”

Kayley sighed. “She told me that her divorce was going south; she hadn’t anticipated it getting so expensive, and her jerk of an ex-husband is--was--making the finances difficult to sort out. She was going to sell the bakery to pay him off and be done with him forever.”

Meghan frowned. “That’s terrible,” she said quietly. “Poor Stephanie. From what she said, and from what you’ve told me, it sounds like her ex-husband was a terrible man.”

Kayley nodded. “Yeah, Stephanie said he was a player. She said he had a nasty streak and a wicked temper, and that she was afraid of him. I know that she was ready to be done with him, once and for all.”

“Done with who, ladies?”

Meghan and Kayley turned to find a tall, muscular brunette man glaring at them as he stepped out of a rental car.

“Hello,” Meghan said. “Can we help you?”

The man nodded. “Yeah, I think you can. Are you Kayley Kane?”

Kayley nodded. “Yes? Do I know you?”

The man grimaced. “I saw your photograph on the website; you’re the real estate agent who is freeing up the money for my divorce.”

The color drained from Kayley’s face. “And, you are….?”

The man stepped forward toward the women, and Meghan could smell his sour breath as he grew closer. “I’m Jeremy Cameron,” he hissed. “Stephanie’s husband, or rather, her ex-husband.”

7

M eghan puffed out her chest and stood in front of Jeremy. She had had her fair share of altercations with individuals of questionable character since arriving in Sandy Bay and was not going to be intimidated by the man standing in front of her.

“Why are you here?” Meghan asked him. “Shouldn’t you be back in Indiana?”

Jeremy laughed. “And who do you think you are?”

Meghan shook her head. “I was a...friend of Stephanie’s,” she answered. “It doesn’t matter who I am. Who do you think you are, coming around here when Stephanie’s been murdered?”

Kayley placed her hands on her hips and glared at Jeremy. “Mr. Cameron,” she began, her voice business-like. “I had been working nonstop with my client, Mrs. Cameron, to free up the money you requested. We’ve been compliant with your demands. Why exactly are you here to see me?”

Jeremy smirked. “Now that Stephanie’s gone, everything she had belongs to me,” he insisted. “I flew here, first-class, to collect my money.”

Kayley wagged a finger at Jeremy. “That’s for the lawyers to decide,” she informed Jeremy. “I don’t take orders from you. If your lawyer, or Stephanie’s lawyer, wants to give me directions, I will happily take them, but for now, I have no business with you.”

Kayley turned and stormed away from Jeremy and Meghan, her hands balled into fists as she walked down the sidewalk.

“Well, wasn’t she a treat,” Jeremy said sarcastically. “You were a friend of my wife’s? Well, what do you know about her assets?”

Meghan grimaced. “I think it’s pretty clear what happened to Stephanie,” she said evenly as Jeremy watched her. “It’s convenient that her ex-husband just happens to show up less than a week after her murder….”

Jeremy crossed his arms. “I loved her,” he said softly. “Our divorce was ugly, but I wanted her back. I came all the way here to bring my gal home, and as soon as I arrived, I found out she had been killed.”

Meghan shook her head. “If you loved her, you wouldn’t be complaining about her assets,” she said under her breath. “You would be upset!”

Jeremy narrowed his eyes at Meghan, and she felt her chest tighten. He was a large man, and Meghan was intimidated as he moved closer to her.

“My business is none of your business,” he declared. “Stay out of my business, and I’ll stay out of yours.”

Later that evening, Meghan paid a visit to the jail to see Karen. “You’re looking tired” she said, surveying Karen’s worried eyes. “How are you holding up?”

“Not good,” Karen admitted. “They’re holding me until they run some lab tests to confirm if any of the DNA found on Stephanie’s body was from me. They’re saying that given my physique, I could have easily taken Stephanie down and strangled her. It’s awful, Meghan. Just awful!”

Meghan held back tears as she stared at her dear friend, clad in a bright orange jumpsuit and sitting behind a thick plastic screen. “I’m so sorry, Karen.”

Karen shook her head. “I’ve been in worse pickles,” she assured Meghan. “I know that I am innocent, and soon, after the testing comes back, they will too! My name will be cleared. For now, I just have to get used to nasty jail food and their terrible workout room here.”

Meghan laughed. “Only you would be concerned about working out in jail, Karen! You are too much. Now tell me, is there anything I can do for you?”

Karen’s eyes widened. “Actually, sweetie, I have an idea….”

“Go on,” she said.

Karen sighed. “Remember Trudy, Stephanie’s assistant? I just have a bad feeling about her. She was so insistent on my guilt, and it was clear to everyone in the shop that I was joking about doing away with Stephanie. I just have a notion that she may know something, Meghan. I think you should check her out…”

“Trudy,” Meghan said slowly. “Trudy. Jack says she is the one who found the body. She must know something.”

While Meghan could understand why anyone would remotely take Karen’s empty threat seriously, she still couldn’t shake off the fact that Trudy appeared over dramatic in her outburst at the police station the other day. Could it be she was trying to overcompensate for something or someone involved in this murder investigation?

8

M eghan bit her lip as she peered into the windows of Duly Doux. She cocked her head to the side when she noticed the lights where on, hoping she would find Trudy, or at least some sort of evidence that would absolve Karen. Her heart pounded in her chest as she noticed the shadows of two figures in the corner of the dining area. Who was in the bakery, and what were they up to?

Meghan slowly pushed open the front door. “Hello?”

Meghan heard a gasp. “What are you doing here?” Trudy cried out as Meghan placed her hand over her mouth. Trudy and Jeremy were standing together, his arms wrapped around her waist.

“I’m sorry,” Meghan said softly, her dark eyes wide as she looked from Jeremy to Trudy. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“You again,” Jeremy groaned as he walked into the back room. “Trudy, I’ve dealt with her enough. I’m going to run to the store and pick some things up. Be back later.”

Meghan cringed as Jeremy slammed the back door on his way out. She looked at Trudy, who was shaking as she stared at Meghan.  “That wasn’t what it looked like,” she said, her voice thin.

“I’m in no place to make judgements,” Meghan informed her. “I just wanted to talk with you. May I sit?”

Trudy nodded. “Just be careful,” she warned Meghan. “The police said that they are done here, but you never know….”

Meghan nodded. “Of course. I’ll be careful.”

The two women sat down at a small wooden table, and Trudy looked down at her feet. “It’s only been going on for a few days,” she confessed to Meghan. “Jeremy showed up in Sandy Bay, and I have been drowning in work trying to keep Stephanie’s shop open.”

Meghan gave Trudy a sympathetic look. “You don’t have to explain,” she soothed. “It’s been a wild week for everyone.”

Trudy began to cry, and Meghan noticed the wrinkles around her hazel eyes. Trudy looked to be a few years younger than Karen, and Meghan couldn’t help but to pity the older woman as she rocked back and forth in her chair.

“Trudy,” she murmured. “What can you tell me about Stephanie’s death? You were the one who found her here, yes?”

Trudy nodded. “I did,” she wept. “Stephanie was so good to me. We had our troubles, of course, as any boss and her employees do, but she was a good lady.”

Meghan raised an eyebrow. “Troubles?”

Trudy shrugged. “Stephanie had a temper,” she began. “She snapped at me a few times, and once, she got in my face when I had painted the wrong letters on a banner. It wasn’t pretty.”

Meghan bit her bottom lip as she processed Trudy’s story. “Did you two ever have any physical altercations?”

Trudy frowned. “I think you’ve asked enough questions,” she said, wiping the tears from her face. “I’m embarrassed you caught me with Jeremy, but I didn’t forget that you and Karen Denton came in here like a lot of harpies. I think it’s time for you to go. If there are questions, the police will ask them.”

Meghan smiled sweetly and walked to the door. “Thanks, Trudy.”

As Meghan closed the door of Duly Doux, she dialed Jack’s cell phone.

“Hello?” he answered.

“Jack,” Meghan said breathlessly. “Trudy, Stephanie’s assistant, and Jeremy, her ex-husband, were involved in some way!”

“What?”

“Yeah! I walked into Duly Doux, and they were standing close. His arms were on her waist, and they were clearly embarrassed when I caught them.”

Jack sighed. “Oh, Meghan…”

“There’s more.” she cried. “Stephanie was not kind to Trudy; it sounds like Stephanie paid Trudy well, but from what I gathered, they went round and round a few times about the dumbest little things. Maybe it’s time you look into Trudy, Jack; she got really mad when I started asking her difficult questions, and I think she may have some answers.”

Jack groaned. “Meghan Truman,” he said in admiration. “You are going to put me out of a job, someday, Miss Detective. It sounds like Meghan Truman has uncovered some clues for me….again!”

9

S ome shop owners can be very superstitious about their dealings with the first customer or client at the start of any business day. They believe dealing cordially with that first customer sets the tone for the rest of the day. Meghan wasn’t the superstitious type and was ready to confront the first customer that stepped into Truly Sweet with the candidness he deserved.

“Can I help you?” Meghan asked sharply as Jeremy barged into Truly Sweet, his face twisted in a grimace.

“I didn’t like the way things went down yesterday,” Jeremy said slowly as he ran a hand through his dirty brown hair. “What you thought you saw…”

Meghan took a step back as Jeremy strode up to the counter. She glanced around, trying to determine if any of her nearby utensils could be used as weapons in case things turned ugly with Jeremy.

“What you saw...I came into town a few days ago to settle matters with my ex-wife, and when I found out she was dead, I was devastated,” Jeremy explained, his face dark. “What you saw….that’s only been going on a few days. Trudy and I….”

“It’s none of my business,” Meghan declared as she threw her hands up in the air. “It’s none of my business how you and Trudy conduct yourselves, and I am staying out of it.”

Jeremy raised an eyebrow at Meghan. “That’s a pretty judgey tone you have there, girl,” he hissed at Meghan as he leaned across the counter. “You’d best watch your tone.”

Meghan pasted a smile on her lips. “I apologize,” she said evenly. “Is there anything else I can do for you today, Mr. Cameron?”

Jeremy smirked. “No, I think that’s all,” he said as he turned to walk out of the bakery.

“But hey,” he said, turning around and walking back to Meghan. “One more thing.”

Jeremy reached across the counter and grabbed Meghan’s hand. He gripped it tightly, and she cried out in pain as Jeremy squeezed harder and harder.

“Let go of me!” she demanded, writhing in agony as the color drained from her thin, delicate hand. “What are you doing? Stop it!”

“I just want you to understand who you are dealing with,” he whispered to Meghan, staring into her dark eyes as she began to breathe heavily.

“Please!” she pleaded. “Let go of me! You’re hurting my hand!”

Jeremy held on even tight, and despite moving her arms back and forth, Meghan could not break free of his grasp. Jeremy gently stroked Meghan’s cheek, and she shuddered.

“You’re dealing with me, dollface,” he murmured. “Don’t forget it. Stephanie ran away, all the way across the country to get away from me. Don’t you forget that when you think about meddling in my business…”

“Hey!”

Meghan breathed a sigh of relief as Jack burst into the bakery. “What are you doing? Get off of her!”

Jack sprinted to Jeremy and smacked his arm away from Meghan. He wrestled Jeremy to the ground, pinning Jeremy’s muscular arms behind his back and wrangling handcuffs onto his wrists.

“That’s enough,” Jack spat at Jeremy. “I’ve been trying to find you all morning, and here you are, just waiting for me! And with your hands on my girl!”

Meghan’s heart fluttered as Jack called her his girl; their relationship had been moving slowly, and this declaration planted a seed of hope in her excited heart.

“Jack,” Meghan said softly as she waved her bruised hand in front of him. “He did this to me! Look at my hand.”

Jack kneeled down and stared at Jeremy. “You were just going in for some questioning, but now, I think we’ll add some charges to the list,” he said venomously. “You’re coming with me.”

Meghan lowered her shoulders in relief as Jack marched Jeremy out of the bakery. “I’ll call you in a few to check on you,” Jack assured Meghan as he left. “I’ll take care of this hoodlum.”

Meghan blew Jack a kiss as he walked outside, and she placed a hand on her heart as she replayed the scene that had just occurred in her bakery. “I can’t take another surprise today,” she whispered to herself. “There has been too much going on around here. I moved to Sandy Bay for some peace and quiet, and now, I feel like something is happening here every single week.”

“Yoo hoo!”

Meghan nearly jumped out of her skin as Kirsty Fisher, one of Sandy Bay’s most elegant ladies, sashayed into the bakery.

“Meghan, darling! It’s a pleasure to see you. You’re looking well,” Kirsty cooed as she bent down to kiss Meghan on both cheeks. “You’re just the woman I was looking for.”

Meghan groaned, but quickly sat up straight and forced herself to smile. “What can I do for you, Kirsty?”

Kirsty brushed a piece of lint off of her sweater and adjusted the string of pearls that hung just above her collar-bone. “I have a little favor…”

“Oh?”

“You’ll be interested. Tomorrow, I am hosting a luncheon for the Sandy Bay Women in Business Forum, and I was wondering if perhaps you would mind giving a little speech? I was going to ask Stephanie Cameron to talk about her bakery, but, you know….”

Meghan grimaced. “Are you sure you want me there?”

Kirsty nodded. “Of course! A little speech from a young businesswoman would be nice….and perhaps a donation to accompany your chat? A donation of treats from Truly Sweet?”

Meghan sighed. “No problem, Kirsty,” she said slowly. “It would be a pleasure.”

“Wonderful! I’ll text you the details this evening,” Kirsty chirped as she tossed her blunt-bobbed hair. “Toodles!”

Meghan buried her head in her hands as Kirsty marched out the front door. “A little speech and some free treats,” she muttered as she laughed at Kirsty’s audacity. She admired Kirsty’s confidence and how she had a knack for twisting people’s arm to do what she wanted. She had once offered to help Kirsty with an event that ended up putting Meghan in a lot of trouble.  They had since made up and she had come to understand that it was just Kirsty being Kirsty and she didn’t mean any harm. “What the heck! I might as well just see what this leads to. Who knows what will happen?”

10

T he number of women who packed the room for the Sandy Bay Women in Business Forum came as a surprise to Megan. The women in attendance looked the part and she was impressed by all the speakers who took the stage.

 “And as women, we should always support our fellow women! Female entrepreneurship is one of the most important things we should be focusing on in our society, and we need to commit to each other, ladies!”

“Isn’t she spectacular?” Kayley whispered to Meghan as they watched the deputy chair of the Sandy Bay Women in Business Forum, Carol May, finish her impassioned speech.

“She’s a local banker who moved here years ago from Indiana. Rumor is that she worked with Stephanie Cameron in Indianapolis. Anyway, she is one powerful woman. I’m so happy she agreed to give the keynote address today for the event.”

Meghan smiled as Carol waved her hand in the air. Carol appeared to be in her mid-forties, but she had the energy and enthusiasm of a teenager, along with the refinement of a queen. Meghan was eager to formally meet her after the event, and she had begged Kayley to introduce them after Carol’s address.

“My bank will support any ventures of female entrepreneurs. That is my promise to you, ladies!” Carol announced to the audience of cheering women.

“She helped my cousin, Tara, get a loan to start her candle shop,” Kayley explained to Meghan as the crowd applauded. “I can’t wait to introduce you.”

After the address, Kayley whisked Meghan away to a corridor in the back of the auditorium.

“She’ll come this way when she walks off stage,” Kayley explained. “She’ll remember me from the real estate deal I did for her son last autumn, don’t you worry!”

Meghan smiled. “Thanks for offering to introduce me,” she said as she pulled Kayley into a hug. “Especially after my pups….”

“Don’t mention it,” Kayley responded as she snapped her gum. “Women need to support women, just like Carol said, yeah?”

Meghan grinned. “That’s right!”

Kayley nodded as thunderous applause signified the end of Carol’s speech. “Okay, look!” Kayley exclaimed. “There she is. She’s coming this way.”

As Carol walked down the corridor in her sleek green suit and matching skirt, Meghan could not help but to stare in awe. Carol walked with confidence, and she smiled graciously at everyone she passed. Meghan hoped that someday, she too would exude the same sort of elegance that Carol had.

“Hey! Carol!” Kayley called out as Carol passed. “Carol? It’s Kayley. Kayley Kane?”

Carol stopped in front of Kayley. “Kayley Kane!” Carol beamed. “So lovely to see you. How are you doing in that real estate business? I see your pretty, powerful face on all of the billboards in town. You must be doing well!”

Meghan smiled as Kayley blushed. “Business is going well,” she admitted. “And my cousin’s candle shop is thriving as well. You helped her get the loan to start her business.”

Carol nodded. “It’s always been my passion to help empower female business owners, and I was so pleased to help her.”

Kayley shoved Meghan in front of her. “Carol,” Kayley said. “This is my friend, Meghan Truman. She owns Truly Sweet, that bakery on the square.”

Carol took Meghan’s hands in hers and squeezed them. “Meghan Truman! What a thrill it is to meet you,” she purred as Meghan studied her face. “I was out of town when you started that bakery of yours, but I have just loved following its progress in the papers. You are quite the accomplished businesswoman in Sandy Bay.”

Meghan felt the color rise in her cheeks. “That is so kind of you to say,” she said to her. “It hasn’t been easy, but it has been worth it.”

Carol nodded. “It’s never easy being a woman in today’s world, but if we stick together, we can achieve great things.”

Kayley agreed. “Yes! And Meghan is accomplishing her own great things at the bakery. Rumor is she has a few corporate orders running right now?”

Meghan’s shoulders sagged. “I had some setbacks,” she admitted as Carol gave her a look of sympathy. “When Stephanie Cameron’s bakery opened, I lost some of my corporate orders. It’s been a slow run the last few weeks…”

Carol rolled her eyes. “I hate to sound naughty,” she whispered into Meghan’s ear as Meghan’s eyes widened. “But I have a little secret.”

Meghan leaned in. “What is that, Carol?”

Carol winked at Meghan. “I’ve tried desserts from poor Stephanie Cameron’s bakery, and I’ve had a few things from your place here and there, Meghan,” Carol began. “I must say, that despite her successes, I truly thought that your treats and your bakery was--and is--better than Stephanie Cameron’s, bless her soul.”

Meghan could not keep the smile off of her face as Carol squeezed her hands. “I don’t mean to be irreverent of poor Stephanie, but your compliment means the world, Ms. May!” Meghan gushed.

“Please,” Carol insisted. “Call me Carol.”

“Carol,” she repeated. “Carol. Well, Carol, thank you for the kind words and for taking the time to talk with me. I loved your speech, and I can’t tell you how much your words inspired me to be the best businesswoman I can be!”

“Not a problem at all, dear,” she replied, winking once more at Meghan. “It’s truly sweet to impart wisdom upon young ladies such as yourself and Ms. Kane. Ladies, it’s been a pleasure. Have a wonderful day, and enjoy the rest of the event.”

Meghan’s jaw dropped as Carol floated away. “She’s amazing!”

Kayley placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. “That was weird,” she said as she furrowed her brow.

“What was weird?” Meghan asked as she turned to Kayley. “She was so gracious and nice.”

Kayley shook her head. “It doesn’t make sense….”

“What doesn’t make sense?”

Kayley wrinkled her nose. “What she whispered to you about Stephanie’s bakery….it didn’t make sense.”

Meghan cocked her head to the side. “What are you talking about, Kayley?”

Kayley pursed her lips. “It’s just weird that she would insult Stephanie’s bakery especially considering the fact that Carol May was Stephanie’s business partner.”

11

“A nd she said that Stephanie and Carol were business partners, Jack!” Meghan said into her cell phone as she walked home from the event. “I don’t understand.”

“It makes sense, Meghan,” Jack responded as Meghan twirled a loose strand of dark hair around her finger. “Carol May is one of Sandy Bay’s most influential female entrepreneurs. She loves taking an interest in businesswomen, and from what I know, she and Stephanie once worked together in Indianapolis. Their connection probably goes back way longer than we know. I wouldn’t sweat it.”

Meghan sighed. “You’re probably right,” she admitted. “I’m just trying to look at every angle here, Jack. Karen is still sitting in jail, and I’m on edge about her being with all of the criminals and crooks day after day.”

Jack laughed. “Oh, Karen Denton is being well-taken care of,” he assured Meghan. “Officer Nunan arranged for her to have a private room. It’s one of our nicer spots, and Karen has been doing plenty of yoga, pilates, and jump-roping.”

Meghan giggled. “That lady….she is something.”

Jack’s voice grew serious. “I do have something to tell you, though,” he said. “I think we’re on to the real culprit, Meghan.”

“What? Who do you think it is, Jack?” she asked.

“Jeremy. The ex. It just makes sense,” Jack explained. “He comes into town, he was still attached to Stephanie’s life insurance policy and from what my team has found out, he has a massive amount of debt waiting for him all across the Midwest! Jeremy has been in serious need of quick cash, and it seems likely, given his history, that he would use Stephanie to pay his way out of his messes.”

Meghan gasped. “That’s terrible! Who could do such a thing?”

Jack sighed. “The things people do these days, Meghan,” he replied sadly. “It’s awful how desperation can drive someone to do a terrible thing. I just hope we can charge him and move things along quickly. The DNA test still hasn’t come back yet, and we have to keep Karen until we have some hard evidence against Jeremy. It could still be a few days until we can let her out….”

Meghan groaned. “Ugh! Jack, are you sure Jeremy is the culprit?”

Jack cleared his throat. “What are you suggesting, Meghan?”

Meghan paused, taking a long inhale as she unlocked the front door to her bakery. “I just have a bad feeling about Jeremy, but I don’t think he killed Stephanie,” she confessed.

“Well, Detective Meghan, who do you think did it?” Jack asked. “Trudy? Karen?”

“I don’t know yet,” Meghan admitted. “But I will find out. Just give me some time, Jack. Give me some time, and I will find out who killed Stephanie Cameron.”

“Okay, Meghan,” he said slowly. “But be careful, please. I don’t want you to put yourself in any danger. I like having you around Sandy Bay, Meghan, and I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you!”

“Don’t you worry about me, Jack,” she said confidently. “I’m brave, Jack Irvin. I’m braver than even I know, and I will find out who killed Stephanie Cameron, once and for all!”

12

A s Meghan hung up the phone with Jack, she glanced across the street at Duly Doux. It was nearly ten in the evening, but the lights were on.

“What is going on over there?” she asked herself as she walked back outside of Truly Sweet. “Jeremy is in jail right now, but is Trudy still over there at this time of night?”

Meghan gripped her phone tightly as she walked across the street. She slowly pushed open the door to Duly Doux and gasped. “Carol?”

Carol May stood in the middle of the bakery, her green outfit still looking fresh even after the long event. “Meghan Truman! Twice in one day. What a pleasure. What are you doing here?”

Meghan smiled at Carol and walked over to shake her hand. “I live across the street, just above my bakery,” she explained. “I saw that the lights were on over here, and I wanted to come check it out. I thought perhaps Trudy was over here?”

Carol shrugged. “Trudy? Hmmmm. She’s away, actually.”

“Oh!” Meghan replied. “That explains why I didn’t see her at the event tonight.”

Carol nodded. “I’m not sure if Kayley mentioned it, but I actually own part of this bakery,” she said softly as she looked around Duly Doux. “It’s such a shame that Stephanie met such a terrible end before she could get this place off of the ground. I came over to take a look around and to try and decide where to go from here. Do I sell this place? Do I keep it? Decisions, decisions!”

Meghan nodded sympathetically. “Her death was quite unexpected,” she said quietly. “She and I had some...words before her death. I try to be a friend to everyone, but I was frustrated with her. I think Stephanie copied down some of my recipes when I wasn’t looking, and from what I’ve been told, she used them in Duly Doux…”

Carol frowned. “Women can be so hard on each other,” she said, reaching to gently pat Meghan’s shoulder. “It’s hard to be a woman in business. I’m sure Stephanie was just jealous of your many successes. I’m terribly sorry she stooped to such a low level.”

Meghan smiled at Carol. “You’ve been so kind to me. I wish I had met you when I first moved here; I could have used all of your advice.”

Carol laughed. “I wish I had been here, but I think you have handled things well. Your business model seems to be working--despite the little Stephanie roadblock--and you seem like a nice girl. I think you’re going to be just fine.”

Meghan’s heart warmed as a loud pinging noise rang from the kitchen of Duly Doux. “Is that the oven?” Meghan asked Carol as she turned on her heel and walked into the kitchen. “I’ll go turn that off for you.”

“No!” Carol yelled, but it was too late; Meghan screamed as she turned into the kitchen and tripped over Trudy’s motionless body.

“Trudy? Trudy!” Meghan wailed. “Carol? What happened here?”

Carol sprinted to Meghan and tackled her, with Meghan consequently hitting her forehead on the edge of the counter.

“What are you doing?” she screamed as Carol pulled Meghan’s dark hair.

“You’ve seen too much,” Carol said matter-of-factly as she swung her legs around to straddle Meghan’s middle. “You can’t leave now, Meghan. I’m sorry. I truly liked you, but….”

Meghan coughed as the weight of Carol’s body crushed her lungs. She looked over at Trudy’s body and saw a large bruise on her neck. Trudy was still, and her eyes were rolled back in her head.

“What did you do to her?” Meghan cried out as Carol tugged at her hair. “Why did you hurt her?”

Carol let go of Meghan’s hair and gazed down into her eyes. “She knew too much, too,” she answered. “Trudy was at the wrong place at the wrong time, just like you, Meghan.”

Meghan kicked and fought as Carol reached into her pocket for a long, pointed dagger. “You killed Stephanie, didn’t you, Carol?” Meghan asked as Carol grabbed for her throat. “You strangled her and left her here for Trudy to find!”

Carol lowered herself closer to Meghan’s face. “So what if I did?” Carol said venomously as she waved the dagger around with one hand. “So what if I did? Stephanie and I have known each other for years, and even after I had given her my time, my financial backing, and my counsel, she was going to sell this place out from under me!”

“What?” Meghan screeched.

“She wanted to sell this place to pay out her divorce, and she didn’t bother telling me,” Carol said calmly. “I found out by accident, and I was horrified. This place was making money, Meghan, and she wanted to just throw it away. I confronted her, of course. I told her that Duly Doux’s opening day sales proved that she had the potential to be the premier bakery in the Pacific Northwest. This place was a hit!”

Meghan’s dark eyes widened. “What did she say?”

Carol grimaced. “She didn’t care. She just wanted to settle her affairs and get out of this business. She lacked a backbone, Meghan, and now, I wish I hadn’t invested in her. She lacked the true marks of an entrepreneur, and I’m embarrassed I got involved. Stephanie couldn’t even make her own treats; she had to steal your recipes. She was pathetic, that woman!”

Meghan’s eyes widened as Carol slowly lowered the dagger to Meghan’s throat, rubbing the edge along the bottom of Meghan’s chin. “Just be still,” Carol advised Meghan. “Be still, and it won’t hurt….much.”

Meghan tried to wriggle out from under Carol, but she could hardly move. “Why?” Meghan asked Carol. “Why?”

“Stephanie and I were colleagues in Indianapolis years ago, and when she reached out to me to move to Sandy Bay, I was happy to help her,” Carol explained, her eyes flashing with rage. “I wanted to help her; I knew her husband was no better than trash, and I hoped Stephanie could have a fresh start. She failed here, though; she was not confident, and she lacked business acumen. I knew she wouldn’t succeed. When Kayley Kane mentioned that Stephanie was planning to sell Duly Doux after only weeks on the job, I knew that something had to be done. She lacked grit, Meghan. Female entrepreneurs need grit to survive in this difficult world!”

“It’s a good thing I have grit!” Meghan shouted as she mustered her strength to push Carol off of her. Carol shrieked as she landed in the puddle of blood next to Trudy’s body. “My suit! My green suit! You’ve stained this skirt, Meghan Truman! This was my power suit. You’ll be sorry…”

Carol lunged for Meghan, but Meghan kicked her left leg high, sending the knife flying across the room. Carol jumped on Meghan, and they rolled around on the laminate floor, blood covering their clothes as they wrestled to gain control.

“I’ve got you now!” Carol yelled triumphantly as she climbed onto Meghan’s chest. “I hate to do this to a successful businesswoman, but like I’ve said, you have seen too much. I wish Stephanie had been tougher, I wish Trudy’s timing had been better, and I wish you hadn’t meddled. But, it isn’t useful to dwell on the past, so….”

Carol brought her hands to Meghan’s neck and began to squeeze. “Meghan, it’s been a pleasure,” she said as Meghan began to choke. “This will be quick, I promise…”

Suddenly, just as Meghan’s vision began to fade, there was a loud crack from the doorway. Carol collapsed onto Meghan, and Meghan filled her aching lungs with air.

“Meghan!”

Meghan heard her name shouted as she fell into the dark, warm tug of unconsciousness.

13

T he fallout from Carol May’s murder of Stephanie was devastating to the reputation of the local bank she represented. An internal investigation was launched by the board of the bank and it was discovered that she facilitated loans to some individuals of questionable character. Much worse was the fact that she accepted kickbacks for issuing these loans. It also came out in the investigation that Carol had used her influence to persuade Majestic Incorporated to cancel their order with Truly Sweet and divert it to Stephanie’s bakery. The bank had to put a publicity plan in place to win back the confidence of the citizens of Sandy Bay as the news of Carol’s escapades spread far and wide. As Meghan looked back on the events of the past few weeks, she was grateful that she didn’t have any business dealings with Carol or her bank.

 “And Trudy wasn’t dead! She was just unconscious, and she knocked out Carol before Carol could strangle me.” Meghan exclaimed as she drove Karen away from the Sandy Bay Jail. “It was awful, Karen; I really liked Carol, and seeing her lay there, unconscious on the floor….it was a lot to take in.”

Karen clucked sympathetically. “We’ve both had difficult weeks. You had to tussle with Carol and solve the mystery for your detective, Jack, and I had to sit in a jail cell.”

Meghan laughed. “It all sounds crazy, but it’s just life in Sandy Bay, isn’t it?”

Karen shook her head. “I thought moving back here would mean some quiet and peace,” she said. “Maybe the quiet and peace is still coming?”

Meghan nodded. “It must be! I’m ready for some rest and relaxation after the last few weeks.”

Karen turned to look at Meghan’s bruised neck. “She really got you, didn’t she?”

Meghan sighed. “She did,” she whispered. “It was so scary, but I fought so hard, Karen.”

Karen frowned. “Between Carol and Jeremy, you have had to be one brave lady recently.”

Meghan blushed. “I just did what I had to do, Karen,” she said. “Everyone can be brave when the time is right.”

Karen reached over and patted Meghan’s head. “I have no doubt, sweetie,” she said. “You are a fabulous, brave woman! I am proud of you for doing everything you did to help me and to solve the mystery.”

Meghan smiled at Karen. “You are such a dear friend to me,” she said. “I would do anything for you, Karen.”

“By the way, do you know what happened to Jeremy, Stephanie’s ex?

“Jack said they received an arrest warrant for him from the police force in Indiana. Apparently, he had a stack of misdemeanors he had to answer. Jack and his team were happy to see the back of him and processed all the paperwork in record time. I believe he should be back in Indiana as we speak.”

Karen gestured outside as they pulled up in front of Truly Sweet. “Look at that, Meghan,” Karen said gleefully. “Jack Irvin is waiting for you.”

Meghan’s jaw dropped as she saw Jack outside. He was dressed in a navy suit and holding a bouquet of pink roses.

“What is going on?” Meghan asked as Karen shook her head.

“Why don’t you go find out?”

Meghan unbuckled her seatbelt and ran out of the car. Her heart was pounding in her chest, and she could feel the butterflies in her stomach as she approached Jack. She shivered in the cool evening and took a long breath, taking in the salty air coming into the town from the ocean.

“Jack!” Meghan exclaimed. “Why are you so dressed up? What is going on?”

Jack smiled down at Meghan, and she felt a wave of heat rise in her belly as she stared into his blue eyes.

“Meghan,” he said softly. “Meghan, you were in danger twice this week, and I have been so worried about you!” he began. “Seeing you hurt and stepping in when that Jeremy fellow was in the bakery made my blood boil. It helped me see what was in front of me.”

Meghan bit her lip as she gazed into Jack’s eyes. “What is that, Jack?”

Jack held out the roses to Meghan. “These are for you.”

“Thank you!” Meghan squealed as she buried her nose into the sweet-scented flowers. “You are too nice to me, Jack.”

Jack pursed his lips and took a long breath. “Meghan,” he said softly. “Meghan, you have been right in front of me this entire time. I’ve loved getting to know you, and I’ve loved spending time with you, and I want to ask you a very important question.”

Meghan felt butterflies in her stomach as Jack grinned. “Yes, Jack?”

“Meghan,” Jack breathed. “Will you be my girlfriend?”

Meghan gasped. “Jack,” she said softly as she rushed into Jack’s strong arms. “That would be truly sweet.”

The End

About Finger Foods and Missing Legs

Released: October, 2018

Series: Book 6 – Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Series

Standalone: Yes

Cliff-hanger: No

Meghan Truman is ecstatic when she discovers she’s won an all-expense paid trip to Paris for a Food and Baking convention. She’s never been to Europe and is looking forward to the sights, smells and people. 

Her trip takes a very sour turn when one of the chief conference speakers is reported missing and subsequently found dead in her hotel room. Meghan is shocked when she’s informed she has been identified as a person of interest who the police want to speak to. 

With her European trip in danger of turning into her worst nightmare, she must quickly identify who had the most to gain from the victim’s demise and absolve herself of any link to the murder before her hopes of landing a lucrative deal with an interested investor fades into nothing in the city of Love.

Finger Foods and Missing Legs

1

MEGHAN TRUMAN’S HANDS SHOOK as she pulled a bulky yellow envelope out of the mailbox. She had been eagerly awaiting this correspondence for weeks, and as she carried the envelope inside of Truly Sweet, her bakery, Meghan’s dark eyes grew wide in excitement.

“Finally,” Meghan whispered as she reverently placed the envelope on the front counter. “The news I have been waiting for.”

“Meghan! Meghan, can you come help me?”

Meghan stifled a sigh as Trudy, her new assistant, called out to her from the kitchen. She peered at the envelope, her heart thudding in her chest as she admired the elegant handwriting on the front proclaiming it to be hers.

“Trudy, can it wait?” Meghan asked as she ran her fingers along the edges of the yellow envelope. “I have some mail I need to read; I’ve been waiting for this letter for months, and it’s finally here.”

Meghan heard a loud crash from the kitchen, and she begrudgingly left the envelope on the counter to tend to Trudy. Her new assistant had been working at Truly Sweet for only a few weeks, and usually, the two women got along well; while Meghan was a twenty-seven year old transplant to the Pacific Northwest, and Trudy had lived in Sandy Bay all of her life, the pair worked well together, and Meghan was thrilled that she had help at the bakery. Truly Sweet was the only bakery in Sandy Bay, and while Meghan loved running her business, it was hard work, and Trudy had proven to be an asset to the business.

“What’s going on, Trudy?” Meghan asked as she burst into the kitchen. “Are you alright?”

Trudy was a mess; she was covered in flour, and there were bowls and cutlery scattered on the tiled floor. “I had a little fall, Meghan. I’m alright. Just a little trip.”

Meghan laughed in spite of herself. “You poor thing,” she said kindly. “Let me help you up; I’ll give you a hand, and we can tidy the kitchen before the morning crowd comes in.”

Trudy smiled. “Sorry, boss. I’ll be more careful next time.”

The two women worked together to clean the kitchen, both exchanging jokes and stories as they swept the flour from the cracks of the floor, scrubbed the dishes, and put things in order.

“There!” Meghan said thirty minutes later as they surveyed their work. “Much better!”

Trudy grinned. “I have news for you, Meghan; it’s never a boring day at Truly Sweet, that’s for sure.”

Meghan gasped. “News! News! I had forgotten. The news I’ve been waiting for arrived today, Trudy. I have to go open that envelope!”

Meghan raced back to the dining area to retrieve her envelope. Trudy followed behind her, and she clucked as Meghan tore open the yellow paper. “I haven’t seen you this excited since that sweet Jack Irvin asked you to be his girlfriend a few weeks ago,” Trudy said as Meghan shook with excitement. “You were adorable, Meghan; I had never seen someone so happy to be off the market.”

Meghan beamed. Jack Irvin, a local detective, was everything she had dreamed of in a boyfriend; he was handsome, intelligent, confident, ambitious, and kind, and Meghan had grown quite fond of him in the five months she had lived in Sandy Bay. Jack had helped Meghan through some unexpected troubles with the bakery, and Meghan was thankful for his support.

“You were jumping around the bakery like a little girl after he asked you. He is a catch; I’ve watched Jack Irvin grow up, and that boy is a sweetheart. You’re a lucky girl, Meghan, but Jack is a lucky guy, too! You two are a cute couple.”

Meghan grinned. “I do feel pretty lucky,” she admitted. “When I moved to Sandy Bay from Los Angeles all of those months ago, I didn’t know what would happen; opening the bakery was a challenge, and making new friends in town was certainly daunting, but now, I am so happy. I have a thriving business, wonderful friends, an amazing assistant, and a new boyfriend.”

Trudy winked. “And hopefully some good news. Open that envelope, Meghan! I’m dying to know what’s in there.”

Meghan ripped open the top of the envelope and began to read the letter aloud.

Dear Meghan Truman,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to attend the LeBlanc St. James Food and Baking Convention in Paris, France. You have been selected from a pool of over ten thousand finalists, and we are elated to extend this invitation to you to join us in Paris for the convention.

All of your expenses will be taken care of at the LeBlanc St. James Food and Baking Convention; we have enclosed a voucher for your airfare, as well as your reservation information for your complimentary stay at Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal, a five-star hotel located in one of the city’s finest neighborhoods.

We look forward to seeing you at the convention. Thank you for your interest in the event.

Je vous remercie,

The Selection Committee of the LeBlanc St. James Food and Baking Convention

Meghan’s jaw dropped. “I’m going to Paris, Trudy!” Meghan screamed as she began jumping up and down. “I’m going to Paris!”

Two weeks later, Jack packed the last of Meghan’s suitcases into the trunk of his undercover car. “Are you sure you need three bags?” Jack asked as he held the passenger door open for Meghan. “That’s going to be a lot to keep track of in Paris.”

Meghan shrugged. “I’ve never been to Europe before,” she said giddily. “I want to look my best in Pa-reeeee!”

Jack laughed as he settled into his seat and began driving toward the airport. “I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you so excited. It’s adorable, Meghan. I’m so happy for you.”

Meghan blushed. “Thanks, Jack. And thank you for taking me to the airport today.”

Jack reached over and took Meghan’s hand. “That’s what boyfriends are for, right? Anyway, it just means I get to spend more time with you. This might sound a little silly, but I’m going to miss you while you are away.”

Meghan bit her bottom lip, feeling her face grow hot as Jack looked at her. She could feel butterflies in her stomach, and she felt her lips turned upward into a smile as Jack’s blue eyes stared at her. “I’m going to miss you too, Jack. We haven’t been apart for more than a few days, but I know that we’ll manage this week with no problem. We can chat every evening, and I can even put some postcards in the mail for you.”

Jack squeezed Meghan’s hand. “I just feel protective of you, Meghan,” he admitted. “You are very special to me, and it makes me nervous to think of you gallivanting in Paris. If something happens to you, I can’t save the day and make sure you are okay.”

Meghan felt tears brim in her eyes, and she was warmed by Jack’s sincerity. “I’ll be careful, Jack. I want to come home to Sandy Bay--and to you--in one piece.”

Jack nodded. “Just promise you’ll stay out of trouble while you’re away?”

Meghan leaned over and kissed Jack’s cheek. “I promise,” she assured him. “I’ll be busy at the convention each day, and it’s only a few blocks from the hotel. I’m going to do a few sightseeing tours, but those are guided, so I think I’ll be in good hands.”

Jack squeezed Meghan’s hand again. “This sounds like an amazing experience for you,” he breathed as Meghan studied his serious face. “I’m so proud of you, and I can’t wait to see your beautiful face coming toward me at the airport in just a few days.”

Two hours later, Meghan waved goodbye to Jack as she walked into the security line. She made it through security in no time, and before she knew it, she was buckled into her window seat on the airplane. Meghan leaned back, enjoying the hustle and bustle of the passengers boarding the plane. She ordered a soda from the flight attendant, and once it was delivered, she sighed.

“It’s almost time,” Meghan whispered to herself as she gazed out the window. “It’s almost time to start my adventure in Paris. I wonder what this week will bring…..”

2

“THIS HOTEL IS FANCIER than anything I’ve ever seen in Atlanta. Look at the portraits on the wall! Look at the free food in the salon. This is too nice for a Georgia girl like me!”

Meghan giggled at Molly Beckham, an older woman she had met as she waited in the Passport Control line at Charles De Gaulle Airport in Paris; the women had started talking in line, and they had chatted all the way from the airport to the hotel. Molly was attending the convention as well, and Meghan made plans with her to meet up and walk to the event space later.

“Au revoir, Miss Meghan!” Molly yelled as she blew kisses to Meghan from across the hotel lobby. “I need a little nap, but I will be ready to go to the convention ce soir. That means tonight.”

Meghan laughed. The other guests at the opulent hotel were staring at them, but Meghan did not care; she was exhausted from the overnight flight, and she was aching for some rest.

“I wonder what my room will look like,” Meghan mumbled to herself as she rode up the elevator to the fifth floor. “This hotel is the nicest place I’ve ever been in. I don’t think anyone from Sandy Bay would even believe me if I told them how nice this hotel is.”

Meghan’s room was unlike anything she had ever seen before. She had been given a suite, and she marveled at the elegance of her rooms as she explored her private bathroom, bedroom, sitting room, and balcony.

“If this is how they’re treating us before we’ve even been to the convention, I can’t even imagine what the event itself will be like.” Meghan thought to herself as she faded into a deep, jet-lagged slumber.

That evening, Meghan and Molly walked arm-in-arm through the streets of Paris as they marched toward the event space.

“Oooo lalala,” Molly gasped as the two women ventured out into the chilly evening. “This city is just très élégant--that means very elegant, did you know that?”

Meghan smiled kindly. “You are right. I cannot believe we are here. This is so different from Sandy Bay, the little town where I live. Everyone here is impeccably dressed, the architecture is so magnificent, and the language is just so beautiful to hear.”

Molly grinned. “This is going to be an adventure, that’s for sure! I’m dying to make some wonderful memories here. My work as a baker at home in Atlanta has kept me busy for so many years, and this is my first real chance to see the world. I’m going to make the most of it!”

“Me too,” Meghan agreed. “Let’s make the most of it, Molly.”

When Meghan and Molly reached the Palais Brongniart, the event space for the LeBlanc St. James Food and Baking Convention, they both applied a layer of fresh lipstick and fluffed their hair.

“We should look our best when we strut in there,” Molly ordered Meghan as they walked across the threshold. “In Atlanta, we believe that ladies should look and act our best, so let’s show the bakers and chefs of Paris what we are made of!”

Meghan nodded. She liked Molly’s spirit; the woman was a bit overbearing, but Meghan was happy to have made a friend early on her European trip. “Yes, let’s show them what we are made of.”

The Palais Brongniart was located in the center of the Second Arrondissement, one of the trendiest neighborhoods in Paris, and Meghan immediately understood why the venue had been chosen; it was upscale and tasteful, and hundreds of small booths filled with food, baking equipment, drinks, and displays lined the aisles of the main hall. “This is amazing!” Meghan cried as she took in the many vendors and demonstrations in the main hall. “There is so much to do here.”

“Escargot, Madam?”

Meghan turned to see a waiter dressed in all black holding a tray in front of her. “Sure!” Meghan exclaimed, taking one of the finger foods and placing it delicately in her mouth as the waiter nodded and walked away.

“What is escargot?” Meghan asked as she struggled to keep the morsel in her mouth.

Molly’s eyes widened. “They are snails, Meghan! You’re eating snails!”

Meghan choked down the last piece and tried not to gag. “That’ll teach me not to try to be too fancy, here,” she sputtered as Molly laughed. “Hopefully some of the other little finger foods are a little easier to take.”

Molly pointed at a crowded booth to the left and nudged Meghan. “Look!” Molly said. “It’s a demonstration on cupcake batter tools. Let’s check that out.”

“Sounds good,” Meghan agreed as the two women walked to the booth. Four speakers sat at a table in front of the crowd, and Meghan and Molly quietly slipped into the back row of chairs.

“And then, you use ice to chill the batter! That helps bring the flavor out of the mix,” one of the panelists, a middle-aged man with an American accent, informed the crowd. “Use as much ice as possible, and you will have the most flavorful mix you could dream of.”

Meghan furrowed her brow. “That doesn’t make sense…” Meghan said, a bit too loudly, to herself.

“Ahem! This is a panel discussion,” the man declared as he stared at Meghan. “Do you have something to add, Miss….?”

Meghan gulped. “Miss Meghan Truman,” she said softly. “I own a small bakery in Sandy Bay, a small town in the Pacific Northwest. I just don’t think the ice method is a great idea for making cupcake mixes flavorful.”

The man glared at Meghan, and she could feel the crowd staring at her. “Oh?”

Meghan took a deep breath. “The ice can be helpful to cool the mix, but ultimately, won’t it dilute the flavors, not enhance them?”

The man stared into Meghan’s dark eyes, and she felt her body stiffen. “Do you know who I am?”

Meghan shook her head as he cleared his throat. “I am Andrew Meekse, the founder and owner of Little Hen, the finest chain of luxury bakeries in the Midwest. What would you know, Meghan Truman, about luxury bakeries and fine baking?”

Meghan’s face grew hot as the crowd stared at her. “I….I….”

“She’s right, you know,” said the panelist sitting next to Andrew Meekse. “Meghan, I’m Monica Baptiste, Parisian pastry chef and award-winning baker. Andrew, Miss Truman is correct; adding significant amounts of ice to cupcake batter will only dilute flavors. The science behind her statement is accurate, and I must agree.”

Meghan sighed a breath of relief as Monica smiled across her way. “Meghan? Please stand up,” Monica instructed.

Meghan’s eyes widened, but she obediently rose from her chair.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” Monica purred in a thick French accent. “This convention is a space for new things, disagreement, and learning. Let’s all give a round of applause for Meghan Truman, the American girl who taught Andrew Meekse something new today!”

The crowd laughed and applauded good-naturedly, and even Andrew Meekse smiled at Meghan. Monica had charmed the audience, and Meghan was thankful for her intervention.

After the panel ended, Molly squeezed Meghan’s arm. “That could have gone badly.”

Meghan closed her eyes. “I know! I just need to keep my mouth shut. I don’t want to get into any trouble while I’m here in Paris, and one close call was enough.”

3

“MONICA BAPTISE MAY KNOW THE FRENCH way of doing things, but I can assure you, my technique for flavor enhancement is one of the most revered in the industry right now, Miss Truman!”

Meghan bit her bottom lip as Andrew Meekse rambled. Andrew had approached her in the dining room of the hotel nearly an hour ago, and after Meghan had politely waved, he sat down beside her and started discussing the events of the previous evening. Still fighting a crippling case of jet-lag, Meghan struggled to maintain her usual kind spirits; Andrew had been talking for the majority of the conversation, and Meghan was growing weary of his condescending tone.

“And just between the two of us, Miss Truman, Monica Baptiste is just a wealthy woman who needed a hobby. She isn’t a real baker; she needed something to pass the time while she waits for her inheritance.”

Meghan’s dark eyes widened, and she nervously twirled a strand of her dark, wavy hair in her fingers. “I think I left my purse up in my room,” Meghan said quietly as she eyed the doorway, hoping to end the conversation with Andrew sooner than later. “I must fetch it before I leave for the convention. If you’ll pardon me….”

Andrew gave Meghan a wolfish grin, his hazel eyes dancing as he watched Meghan rise from the table. “I’m glad we see eye-to-eye now,” he haughtily declared. “Your little interuption last night was unexpected, but I’m so pleased I could teach you something today!”

Meghan raised an eyebrow. She did not feel as though she and Andrew saw eye-to-eye; he had been arrogant and rude during their conversation, and she did not appreciate the way he was discussing Monica Baptiste. Meghan forced herself to smile, and she quickly walked out of the dining room.

“That’s enough Andrew Meekse to last a lifetime,” Meghan muttered to herself as she impatiently waited for the elevator. “I thought he was too much at the panel last night, but being cornered today in the dining room was more than I needed, especially being so exhausted from my jet-lag. It looks like I’ll need more coffee to wake myself up from that dreadful little chat...and perhaps a fresh croissant as well!”

A few hours later, Meghan walked into the Palais Brongniart for the second day of the convention. She breathed in the smell of French pastries, licking her lips as she imagined all of the new, exotic foods she would have an opportunity to taste during her stay in Paris.

“Perhaps I can do some French treats at Truly Sweet when I return,” Meghan thought to herself as she eyed a little cart brimming with desserts. “I’m sure the people in Sandy Bay would love it if I explored French baking….”

“Attention, mesdames et messieurs,” called out a thick, French-accented man on the loudspeaker. “Ladies and gentlemen, we would like to announce our two morning seminar presentations! In the Blue Room, we have a presentation on finger foods and French delicacies! Come sample new local recipes and see what beautiful Paris has to offer!”

“Yes!” Meghan exclaimed, eager to explore some local foods. “That’s perfect for me.”

“Or, mesdames et messieurs,” the speaker continued. “Would you like to learn more about the French way of impressing your guests? Have a special someone to cook for?”

“I do,” Meghan thought as she pictured Jack’s handsome face. “I do have someone special to cook for….”

“We are très content to announce our second morning seminar. In the Green Room, located just across the hall from the Blue Room, our panel of experts will be discussing French apéritifs--appetizers--to woo and win your friends and guests. Join Andrew Meekse, Monica Baptiste, and our other esteemed guests and panelists for this discussion!”

Meghan crossed her arms in front of her chest. She wanted to learn more about French appetizers, but she did not look forward to crossing paths with Andrew Meekse again. Still, she thought of Monica Baptiste’s warm smile and support from the night before, and she set off in the direction of the Green Room.

“Meghan,” Molly cried out as she entered the room. “I’m so glad you chose this seminar. Sit with me, Sugar.”

Meghan smiled, happy to see a familiar face. “Did you sleep well?”

Molly nodded. “I slept like a dead woman, Meghan. That jet-lag really took it out of this old lady.”

Meghan beamed. “I hear you,” she said, lowering her voice as the panelists entered the room and took their seats. “I was dead tired after our day yesterday, and Andrew Meekse didn’t help anything.”

Molly gestured at the front table where the panelists were seated. “His chair is empty,” Molly hissed. “Maybe you lucked out and he won’t be here?”

Meghan shrugged. “It’s fine either way,” she replied. “He talked to me for nearly an hour this morning at breakfast, and he thinks that he’s won me over.”

One of the panelists rose from his chair. “Excusez-moi,” he said, glancing around the room. “It is time to begin, but we appear to be missing two of our panelists. Andrew Meekse? Are you here? And Monica Baptise? Monica? Are you here?”

Meghan looked around the crowded room. “Maybe he cornered her like he caught me this morning,” she whispered to Molly. “He creeps me out, that is for sure.”

As soon as Meghan finished speaking, Andrew entered the room and strutted to his seat. He waved to the audience, making eye contact with Meghan and giving her a wink. “Ugh,” Meghan groaned. “He’s here.”

“I hope Monica Baptiste is on her way,” Molly said under her breath. “I liked her spunk last night, and her accent is just divine.”

“Excusez-moi,” the male panelist repeated. “It appears we are only missing one panelist, now. To keep us on schedule, we shall begin the panel discussion. Assistants? Assistants, please bring out the trays of apéritifs! ”

The crowd gasped as ten uniformed assistants appeared with trays of appetizers. “Those look amazing,” Molly giggled as a handsome assistant passed her. “The food looks nice, too.”

Meghan giggled as Molly winked at her. “With all of the French appetizers we could ever imagine, this should be a fun morning, even if Andrew Meekse is here.”

Suddenly, the sound of static filled the room. “Excuse l'interruption--excuse the interruption,” called out a frantic-sounded man’s voice. “Ladies and gentlemen, we are going to ask that all demonstrations and seminars end immediately. There has been an emergency.”

Molly looked nervously at Meghan. “What do you think is going on?”

Meghan shook her head. “I don’t know...it is a food and baking convention. Perhaps there was a fire?”

Before Molly could respond, a woman burst through the door of the Green Room. “Stop the seminar,” she gasped. “Monica Baptise has been found dead!”

 4

SCREAMS FILLED THE GREEN ROOM as the woman who had announced Monica’s death ran back outside. “She’s….she’s….” Molly sputtered as she blinked her eyes. “She’s dead?”

Meghan gasped as Molly fainted, and she struggled to hold her new friend up as Molly slumped in her chair. “Molly,” Meghan said softly as she patted Molly on the cheeks. “Molly, wake up. Wake up, Molly.”

Molly leaned over, and Meghan helped guide her down to the tiled floor. “Easy, Molly,” she whispered as she placed a hand on Molly’s pale forehead. “You have to wake up. It’s an emergency, Molly, and I don’t know if we’ll have to evacuate….” she muttered.

“Stay calm, everyone,” Meghan heard Andrew Meekse call out as the crowd shrieked. “Just stay calm, people. There’s no need to get upset.”

Meghan raised an eyebrow, but she did not look away from Molly. “Okay, Molly,” she said gently. “I hope you can forgive me for this, but you have to wake up!”

Meghan reared back her left hand and slapped Molly’s face. Molly began to cough, regaining consciousness instantly. “Meghan? What happened? Why am I on the floor?”

Meghan reached for Molly’s hand and squeezed it. “Monica Baptise was found dead,” she informed Molly. “They just announced it, and you passed out.”

Molly raised herself onto her elbows and looked around the room as the crowd dispersed. “Should we go?”

Meghan shook her head. “I think the best thing to do is stay calm and stay put,” she assured Molly.

“That is correct,” a French-accent affirmed. Meghan looked over her right shoulder to see a middle-aged man peering at her from behind a pair of stylish glasses. “I am Detective Thierry Giroud, and you, mademoiselle, did a wonderful job of resuscitating your friend.”

Meghan rose from where she had been crouched beside Molly on the floor. “Thank you,” she responded. “Detective Giroud, what is going on?”

The detective shook his head. “Forgive my English--I have not spoken it for years, but I heard you talking with your friend after she fainted, and I thought I must stop by to commend you. It appears there has been a murder at the convention,” he said slowly. “This convention is---how do you say it? Oh, oui. This convention is cursed.”

Molly’s blue eyes widened. “What do you mean, Detective Giroud?”

Detective Giroud narrowed his eyes at the two American women and stroked his thick, brown beard. “This isn’t the first time someone has died at the convention,” he informed Meghan and Molly. “Seven years ago, there was another unexpected death. We never caught the killer and my sincere hope is that that won’t happen with this case. I shudder to think that whoever was behind that tragedy seven years ago is also behind the death of Madame Baptiste could be connected to the death from years ago. This is a disaster.”

Meghan’s jaw dropped. “What happened to Monica, Detective?”

The detective shook his head. “The investigation has just begun, but I will warn you, mademoiselle, it is best if you and your friend get out of here immediately. People are panicking, and with a murderer on the loose….well…. I don’t want to see anything happen to two such lovely ladies….”

Meghan nodded, and she helped Molly to her feet. “Thank you, Detective Giroud,” Meghan said. “We’ll go straight back to the hotel.”

As Meghan led Molly away from the Green Room, she noticed the trays of appetizers and desserts scattered on the floor. She felt a squishing sensation under her foot, and she realized she had squashed an éclair with her high heel. The inside of the pastry leaked out, leaving a trail of white cream behind Meghan. One of the things Meghan hated was seeing food going to waste and all over the convention center, she could see evidence of her major pet peeve. She didn’t envy the team that would be tasked with cleaning up.

“Monica Baptiste has been killed,” Meghan thought to herself as she grimaced at the chaos growing inside of the convention. “And Molly fainted. I hoped for a fun trip, and now, things have gone awry. I sure hope there’s no more trouble in Paris…..”

“You there!”

Meghan turned to see a French police officer storming toward her. “You! I heard you speaking English. Come with me, please!”

Meghan’s face grew hot as she followed the French police officer into a small, windowless room. “Who are you and where are you from?”

Meghan shifted uncomfortably in her seat. “I’m Meghan Truman,” she explained. “I’m here for the convention.”

The police officer raised an eyebrow. “Do you have your passport with you, mademoiselle? I need to see your documentation immediately.”

Meghan bit her lip. “I don’t,” she admitted. “I didn’t know I would need it.”

The police officer rolled his eyes. “You are what, American?”

Meghan nodded. “Yes, I am from Sandy Bay, a small town in America.”

“You Americans never have what you need,” he muttered underneath his breath. “Stupid Americans! You come to our city, you litter our streets, and you kill our citizens.”

“What?” Meghan asked, horrified at what she had heard. “What are you talking about?”

Meghan rose to leave the small room, but the police officer gestured at her seat and then at the door. “The door is locked, mademoiselle,” he informed Meghan. “You are considered a threat to national security, and you will be held here until we can transport you downtown. I suggest you take your seat and finish answering my questions.”

She began to wail. “What are you talking about? A threat to national security? I am from a small town and am here for the convention! I’m just plain, quiet Meghan Truman! Sir, help me understand what is going on?”

Her blood was boiling at the disrespectful attitude and harshness the police officer was showing towards her. She wished that she was back home in Sandy Bay where she could reason with an officer of the law. What this man was proposing was preposterous! How could she automatically be considered a threat to national security simply because of where she came from? The awkwardness of the whole situation made her pause to wonder if some foreigners ever felt this way when they came to her country.

The officer gave Meghan a look of disgust. “As a foreign national currently lacking your passport and documentation, you are considered a suspect in the murder of Monica Baptiste,” he explained to Meghan as her jaw dropped. “You are hereby under arrest for the murder of Monica Baptiste, and you will be held by the French authorities until we declare your innocence, Meghan Truman of Sandy Bay, America!”

5

“IT WAS HORRIBLE,” Meghan lamented over the phone to Trudy as she soaked in her claw-foot bathtub back at the hotel. “They held me for hours in the little room. I didn’t know that I should have taken my passport to the convention. They let Molly go immediately because she just happened to have hers.”

“That’s terrible,” Trudy said. “I can’t believe they would lock you up just because you are a foreigner! It seems wrong.”

“I know,” Meghan agreed. “It made me think about how foreigners must feel when they visit America. It’s already scary to be abroad and away from everything you know, but when you are targeted just because of your nationality...it was something I will never forget.”

“Well, I’m glad that detective came to your rescue!” Trudy exclaimed. “You said he showed up right before they carted you off to jail? That’s such good timing.”

“It was,” Meghan agreed, remembering her relief when Detective Giroud had shown up to demand her release from the windowless room. “He told the officer that I had nothing to do with Monica’s death, and I’m so thankful I had someone from Paris to stand up for me.”

“I just hope your trip goes better from now on,” Trudy clucked sympathetically. “You’ve had quite a time already, Meghan….”

Later that day, Molly and Meghan ventured out of the hotel to do some sight-seeing at some of Paris’ most treasured locations. The convention had been shut down in order to aid the investigation, and despite the stresses of the morning with the police and tragedy of Monica Baptiste’s unexpected death, Meghan could not help but to notice the magnificent beauty of Paris as she and Molly strolled arm-in-arm through Champ de Mars, the perfectly manicured park just under the Eiffel Tower. They had already ogled Notre Dame, shopped on the Champes de Elysses, and now, were both looking forward to taking the elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower for an afternoon they would never forget.

“Look at those crepes,” Molly exclaimed as she pointed to a stand selling pastries. “They are huge! Those crepes are the size of my head. We don’t have anything like that back home in Georgia.”

Meghan closed her eyes and took a long, deep breath. She was still shaken by Monica’s death; back at the hotel, she had heard the whispers of the staff and other guests, and Meghan was growing more and more anxious to learn the details of what had happened. It seemed that Meghan could not escape trouble; even at home in Sandy Bay, she had been scrutinized by the town whenever tragedy struck, and now, Meghan’s stomach churned as she thought of Monica’s demise.

“And the air is just delicious here,” Molly continued, running a hand through her gray hair as the wind lightly ruffled it. “I might just not leave Paris when this week is up!”

After a group of well-dressed French children skipped by, Meghan turned to stare at her new friend. “Molly,” she said slowly. “Molly, I love being in Paris too. I love seeing the people chattering in French and wearing the latest fashions. I love the beauty of the buildings and the rich history. I love the food here, and the way a simple baguette and bit of brie and jam make me feel elegant and sophisticated. I just don’t understand how you are behaving as if nothing happened…”

Molly raised an eyebrow at Meghan. “What do you mean?”

Meghan’s jaw dropped. “Monica Baptiste was murdered, Molly. That’s what the detective implied, and that’s what people are whispering back at the hotel. She was murdered, and you’re acting like nothing happened….”

Molly shook her head. “Meghan,” she began. “I’ve thought long and hard about who the killer might be; my guess is that terrible Andrew Meekse, or even Carla Lizarazou….”

“Carla Lizarazou?” Meghan asked as Molly nodded.

“Yeah, Carla. She was on a panel I attended earlier in the morning; she and Monica were great rivals, it seems, and rumor is that Carla lost out on some big business when Monica’s newest shop opened.”

Meghan’s dark eyes widened. “Why didn’t you tell me this?”

Molly pursed her lips. “I know that I was the one who fainted,” Molly softly admitted. “But you seem to be the one who is real upset, Meghan. I didn’t want to ruin our day in Paris with all of this talk of murder. We’re only here once, and I want you to have a wonderful time.”

Meghan exhaled, looking around the Champ de Mars. Trees lined the symmetrical pathways in the park, and Meghan felt calmed by the sound of the wind rustling the branches. She smiled as she heard the giggle of the group of French children nearby, and she turned to hug Molly.

“Thank you,” she murmured to her new friend. “You are right; we are only in Paris once, and while I am heartbroken about what happened to Monica, you are so sweet to help me enjoy our day.”

Later that evening, as Meghan and Molly relaxed in Meghan’s suite, they heard a knock on the door. “I wonder who that could be?” Meghan questioned as she tiptoed to the door and peered out of the peephole. She relaxed as she took in the sight of a young, fresh-faced maid smiling back at her.

“Bonjour,” the maid greeted Meghan as she swung open the door. “Je suis ici pour livrer des serviettes fraîches.”

Meghan shook her head apologetically. “I’m sorry,” Meghan answered. “We don’t speak French….”

The maid smiled. “I speak English,” she informed Meghan. “I wanted to know if you needed some fresh towels?”

Meghan grinned. “We don’t, but thank you for asking!”

The maid winked. “Not a problem, mademoiselle,” she purred. “You are such a nice lady. Are you here for the convention?”

Meghan nodded. “Yes,” she replied. “I am. I own a bakery in Sandy Bay, in America.”

The maid bit her lip. “I think you are too sweet to be here for the convention,” she said under her breath. “Everyone at the convention is so angry and stressed, and you are so sweet.”

Meghan frowned. “I’m sorry to hear people have been fussy.”

The maid rolled her eyes. “It happens every year. People come in from all over the world to go to the convention, but they behave so terribly to the French people. I think the only French person having fun at the convention is James Dugarry, the owner of the Palais Brongniart.”

Meghan cocked her head to the side. “What do you mean?”

The maid grimaced. “Well, I shouldn’t be telling you this, but while no Frenchman or Frenchwoman enjoys the convention, it sure looked like James Dugarry was enjoying it when I saw him on television earlier. He was talking about that woman’s death, and he was almost gleeful…”

Meghan frowned. “Monica Baptiste?”

The maid’s eyes widened. “Yes, her,” she whispered. “Everyone in Paris is horrified at her death, but James Dugarry seemed to be excited when I watched him on television. It sure looked like he was enjoying the attention her death brought to his event space. From the way his eyes shined as he spoke about her death, you’d think he had planned the whole thing, or something.”

 6

MEGHAN’S HEAD WAS SPINNING as she strode across the Champs Elysees and into Le Magasin Lizarazou, the store owned by Carla Lizarazou, Monica Baptiste’s rival. After the visit from the maid the previous evening, Meghan and Molly had decided that they needed to do something; between Andrew Meekse and Carla Lizarazou, it sounded like someone had information that could reveal the killer’s identity and bring peace to the Baptiste family.

“Bonjour, belle demoiselle,” a blonde woman called out to Meghan as she stepped into Le Magasin Lizarazou.

Meghan bashfully looked down at her leather boots. “I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I don’t speak French.”

The blonde woman smiled warmly and approached Meghan. “Ahh, an American, I see,” she said, kissing Meghan on both cheeks. “I’m sure you are here for the convention! Why else would you step into my cooking shop? Welcome to Paris!”

Meghan blushed. “Thank you,” she shyly replied. “I love Paris.”

The blonde woman winked. “Everyone loves Paris. Now, what brings you in? Are you looking for something today?”

Meghan nodded. “I’m looking for the owner of this shop, actually. Madame Lizarazou? I wanted to speak with her.”

“Well, Miss American, it is your lucky day,” the blonde woman said with a twinkle in her eyes. “I am Carla Lizarazou. What can I help you with?”

Meghan studied Carla’s face. Carla appeared to be in her late thirties, and with her long, blonde hair and strong jawline, she was stunningly beautiful. “Can we talk in private?”

Carla raised an eyebrow. “There is no one here. Speak.”

Meghan sighed. “I wanted to ask you some questions about Monica Baptiste….”

Carla’s exquisite face darkened. “I don’t need to hear that name,” she muttered. “That woman is dead, and if I never hear Monica Baptiste’s name again, it will be too soon.”

Meghan nervously bit her upper lip. She glanced around the shop, her dark eyes widening at the cooking equipment displayed in immaculate arrangements, as well as the expensive price tags attached. “I just had a few questions…”

“That’s enough,” Carla hissed. “That Detective Giroud has already been here to question me; everyone in Paris knows Monica caused my shop to lose business, and our infamous falling out was no secret. I don’t need some American girl here reminding me of how much I detested that woman.”

Meghan’s mouth dropped. “She seemed to be so kind when I spoke with her at the convention…” she said softly. “I don’t know how you could detest her, Carla.”

Carla curled her fingers into two tight fists. “I would have been a billionaire by now if it hadn’t been for Monica Baptiste,” she growled. “That woman stole my ideas, she stole my recipes, and now, she’s stealing my attention; I was supposed to run a two-day seminar at the convention, and with her death, it has been cancelled! Do you have any idea how much business I have now lost because of that woman? Do you?”

Meghan felt tears brimming in her eyes. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, and the anger vanished from Carla’s face.

“Oh, ma chère fille,” Carla cooed. “My apologies. I have been so rude. Come! Talk to me about yourself; who are you, and why were you invited to the convention? You look quite young to come all the way across the sea to such a prestigious event.”

Meghan shared her story with Carla. Despite Carla’s initial outburst, she was easy to talk with, and Meghan told Carla about moving to Sandy Bay after failing in Hollywood as an actress. She described starting her life over and opening her bakery. She shared her hopes about a future with Jack.

Carla listened intently, nodding and grinning as Meghan spoke. “I am impressed with you, Meghan Truman, my new American friend,” Carla gushed. “I like you. I like your spirit. I want to make it clear with you that I did not have anything to do with Madame Baptiste’s untimely death. Forgive my rudeness earlier, I beg of you.”

Meghan smiled. “It’s okay,” she said. “It’s a difficult situation, and it sounds like the two of you had some history.”

“We did,” Carla said flatly. “But it’s in the past. I want to talk about the future. Meghan, to make up for my outburst, I want to invite you to a little party tonight. I’m hosting a cruise on the River Seine this evening for some of the VIPs of the convention. It will be a glamorous night, and I would love it if you could come!”

Meghan clasped a hand to her mouth. “I would be thrilled,” Meghan answered, her face bright with enthusiasm. “A cruise on the River Seine? Who knew there would be this much excitement on my trip to Paris!”

Carla grinned. “It would be an honor to host you,” she cooed.

“Would you mind terribly if I bring a friend?” Meghan asked, thinking of how much Molly would enjoy a fancy night out.

“Ehmmm….”Carla sputtered.

“She’s an American, like me. She would love it.”

“An American!” Carla exclaimed. “That changes everything. I just adore Americans! Of course, Meghan. Please, bring your guest.”

Carla’s eyes danced as Meghan squealed. “You Americans are so expressive,” Carla laughed. “I enjoy having you around. Make sure you dress up for tonight; this will be quite the affair, and you will want to dress to impress. Mark my words, Meghan Truman, this will be a night you will never forget!”

7

MEGHAN SMILED AT HER REFLECTION in the mirror as she swept a stray lock of dark hair off of her forehead. She had never felt more beautiful; after receiving the invitation to the cruise on the River Seine, she and Molly had scoured the finest stores in Paris in search of the perfect gown. Meghan had carefully selected an emerald green floor-length satin dress that both showed off her curves and accentuated her tiny waist. Her dark hair was swept back into an elegant chignon, and she wore a pair of long, white satin gloves.

“If only Jack could see me now,” Meghan thought as she applied a final layer of mauve lipstick. “In Sandy Bay, I’m Meghan Truman, small business owner. In Paris, I am Mademoiselle Truman, a woman enjoying a cruise down the River Seine with some of Europe’s biggest cooking and baking phenomenons!”

Meghan gave herself one last look and walked out of the boat’s opulent bathroom. She rounded a corner, and walked straight into a tall, mustached man. “I’m so sorry!” she cried as the man dropped his wine glass. The body of the glass broke away from the stem, and the glass shattered into small, dangerous pieces.

“Ahhh, the American!”

Meghan squinted in the dimly-lit corridor and realized she knew that man; it was Detective Giroud. He looked handsome in his tuxedo, and Meghan felt her heart flutter as he brought her gloved-hand to his lips. “It’s a pleasure, Mademoiselle Truman,” he said slowly as he kissed her hand.

“I am so sorry,” Meghan sputtered as she bent down to collect the pieces of the detective’s broken glass. “Forgive me; it’s so dark on the boat, and I didn’t see you.”

“It’s romantic, yes?”

Meghan felt her stomach churn as the detective studied her face. She blushed, hoping he could not see the color in her cheeks as she slowly rose from her position on the ground. “It’s quite lovely,” she admitted. “Carla invited me, and I couldn’t be happier to be at such a fabulous event! I feel so classy.”

The detective laughed. “You Americans are so forward and adorable,” he cooed. “Come. Stroll with me? I would love to have such a beautiful woman on my arm as I walk on the top deck.”

Meghan giggled and slipped her arm around the detective’s. “What are you doing here tonight, Detective Giroud?”

The detective’s face darkened. “I am actually here on official business,” he admitted. “We are keeping our eyes on Madame Lizarazou, in fact; I’m sure if you spent any time speaking with her, you are aware of how much she loathed Madame Baptiste.”

Meghan nodded. “Yes, she sounded very….passionate in her feelings about Monica.”

Detective Giroud sighed. “It’s a complicated situation,” he explained. “We are trying to keep this investigation quiet, but it’s blowing up; there are so many wealthy, important people tied to the convention, including Monsieur Meekse and Madame Lizarazou, to name a few, and all of this bad publicity is bad for the convention and the city itself!”

Meghan lowered her eyes. “That’s a shame,” she whispered. “This city is just magical. I hate that such a tragedy happened during the convention. Poor Monica.”

The detective raised his eyebrows as they walked to the railing of the top deck. Meghan stared as the boat floated down the river; the twinkling lights of the city reflected on the water, and Meghan could not believe that she had found herself at such a luxurious event in Paris.

“It is a terrible thing,” the detective said. “But it’s so lovely to run into you here….”

Meghan heard music begin to play on the lower deck, and she gestured at the stairs. “Do you hear that? It’s a band! Let’s go dance, Detective Giroud!”

The detective’s face brightened, and he kissed Meghan’s hand again. “I thought you would never ask,” he teased as they walked downstairs.

A full band was playing on the lower deck, and Meghan’s eyes widened at the sight of hundreds of elegant couples twirling about the ship’s ballroom. “It’s so fancy!” Meghan cried. “I can’t believe I’m here.”

As Meghan surveyed the dance floor, she felt a tug on her shoulder. “Excuse me, beautiful lady, may I dance with you?”

Meghan turned to face a tall, dark-eyed man who was grinning at her. She smiled back, and he took her hand. “You are so beautiful” the man said, and Meghan felt a shiver run down her spine.

“I’m sorry,” Meghan said with a laugh. “I don’t we’ve met.”

“Pardon me, beautiful,” the man answered as he placed his wine glass on the table behind them. “You are just so lovely! May I steal you for a dance?”

The detective shrugged, and Meghan walked away with the handsome dark-eyed man. He placed one hand on her waist and took her hand, and they began to spin about in the ballroom.

“I am James Dugarry, the owner of the Palais Brongniart,” he informed Meghan as they danced. She felt her stomach churn. James Dugarry was the man the maid had warned her about.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said slowly. “It’s a terrible thing that happened at the Palais Brongniart.”

James nodded. “It is,” he said, slurring his words. Meghan saw that his pupils were dilated, and beads of sweat were falling from his forehead. “It’s a terrible thing, but it’s attracted so much attention to my business. My colleagues in London had a similar experience several years ago, and while the death of an innocent is terrible, well, it was good for business!”

Meghan grimaced as James pulled her closer to him. A thick, smelly bead of his sweat landed on Meghan’s cheek, and she struggled to break free from his grasp. “I think I should go now,” she informed him. “I have to go.”

James did not release Meghan, and she felt her eyes water as his stale breath filled her nostrils. “Stay with me,” he menacingly ordered, still slurring his words as he tightened his grip on Meghan’s waist. “Don’t go, beautiful…”

Meghan fought James, jabbing her free elbow into his side. “Stop it,” she hissed. “I don’t want to make a scene.”

James let go of Meghan, and she marched away from him. “You’ll be sorry!” he shouted sloppily to Meghan as she stormed away. “You’ll regret that!”

Meghan burst out of the ballroom and into the chilly evening air. She could not stop the hot, angry tears spilling from her eyes, and as she caught sight of the twinkling Eiffel Tower glowing in the distance, she fought the nausea that wound in her stomach like a worm. Her trip so far had been like a rollercoaster. Each day had brought its own unique flavor of flashpoints she would spend weeks discussing with her friends when she returned home to Sandy Bay. She had seen the best of Paris and she had seen the worst of Paris.

“He wouldn’t let go of me,” Meghan thought as she stared down into the dark river. “He threatened me. James Dugarry seemed all too pleased to have a death at his venue, and if I’m not careful, it sounds like I could be next!”

8

“I CAN’T BELIEVE he did that to you,” Molly grumbled as they walked back to the hotel. “I’m sorry I left you; when you were in the bathroom, I found myself dancing the night away with the most handsome Parisian man! Forgive me.”

Meghan wiped a tear from her cheek as they approached the vestibule of the hotel. “It’s fine,” she assured Molly. “I got away from him. He just scared me, Molly! He was so sloppy and rude, and he seemed dangerous.”

Molly gritted her teeth. “I think you should call that good-looking detective tomorrow and tell him about this,” she declared. “That James Dugarry is trouble, and I don’t want anything else to go wrong on this trip.”

Before Meghan could respond, she was nearly knocked to the ground when a group of French-speaking reporters surrounded her. They waved microphones in her face, and Meghan was nearly blinded by the bright lights of their many cameras.

“Where were you during the convention?”

“Do you know what happened to Monica Baptiste?”

“Saviez-vous que la femme qui a été tuée?”

Meghan’s stomach churned at the mention of Monica Baptiste’s name, and she reached for Molly’s hand in the crowd. “We are Americans,” Meghan shouted. “We don’t speak French!”

“Oh, Americans! I speak English,” yelled a thin Frenchmen in a yellow scarf. “I am a reporter for the Parisian Post! Are you ladies attending the convention? Did you know Monica Baptise?”

Before Meghan could respond, Molly stepped in front of her. “She met Monica! Monica was kind to my friend, here,” Molly said with authority. “She complimented Meghan at the convention!”

The reporters moved even closer to Meghan.

“Meghan?”

“Your name is Meghan?”

“Meghan, where are you from?”

“Why are you here?”

Meghan opened her mouth to answer the questions, but Molly shook her head. “She is Meghan Truman from Sandy Bay. She owns a bakery in her town, and she was invited to the convention. She is twenty-seven years old, and she is excited to be in Paris for the first time!”

The reporters started speaking quickly, and Meghan’s head began to spin. The bright lights were giving her a headache, and Molly’s openness about her personal information to the French reporters made her uncomfortable. She had always been a little envious of Hollywood actresses who would be swarmed by reporters as they walked up the red carpet at a movie premiere. However, she realized that it wasn’t as fun when it happened in real life with flashing lights and nosey reporters who were only interested in copy they would use in their news articles the following day.

“Molly,” she whispered to her new friend. “Let’s just go inside.”

A short, stocky female reporter shoved a microphone under Meghan’s nose. “Meghan from Sandy Bay, did you see Monica on the day she was killed?”

“She didn’t,” Molly said. “Monica did not show up to our seminar! Meghan didn’t see her that day.”

“Molly,” Meghan hissed. “Enough. I don’t want to talk to them.”

“Meghan? Meghan? Where were you tonight? Why are you in a fancy gown when someone was killed at the convention?”

“Meghan? What is it like coming to Paris and meeting a woman who was murdered?”

Before Molly could open her mouth again, Meghan grabbed her by the forearm and dragged her inside of the hotel lobby. The reporters did not follow, and Meghan sank into a huge, purple overstuffed chair in the corner. “That was too much, Molly,” Meghan moaned. “Next time, I don’t want to speak with them. Please don’t tell the reporters anything else about me. I don’t want to be connected to any sort of trouble in Paris!”

Molly looked embarrassed. “I’m so sorry, Meghan,” she apologized. “I run my business in Atlanta, but I am a small town girl at heart; I’ve never been on the news before, and I’m sorry I was trying to get the attention.”

Meghan felt her heart begin to slow, and she graciously smiled at Molly. “It’s okay,” she murmured. “Let’s just not repeat that.”

Suddenly, the sound of sobs filled the lobby, and a group of Parisians dressed in all black entered the room. “What’s going on?” Meghan asked.

“That’s Monica’s family,” Molly informed her. “I’ve seen them on the news. That’s her mother, and her father, and her sisters…”

Meghan was overcome with emotions, and she began to weep. She was exhausted from the time change and the tragedy of the convention, not to mention the evening’s events, and she could hardly contain herself as she watched the dark-clad family of Monica Baptiste move through the lobby.

“There, there, mon cherie,” a voice whispered into Meghan’s ear as a strong, heavy arm wound around her bare shoulder. “Don’t you cry. There’s already enough sadness at this hotel, and we don’t need a little American beauty shedding her tears.”

Meghan stared up to find an elegantly dressed man smiling weakly at her. He wore a black suit and a black tie, and she wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Who are you?” Meghan asked. “How did you know that I am American?”

The man shrugged. “I saw you, a dazzling creature, sweep across this hotel lobby in that gorgeous green dress, and I asked the concierge who you were.”

Meghan bit her bottom lip. “Thank you for the kind words,” she said carefully. “But who are you?”

The man cleared his throat. “I don’t think we had the pleasure of being acquainted yet,” he informed Meghan. “But I hear my sister thought highly of you in the few moments you spent talking.”

Meghan gasped. “Your sister?”

The man nodded. “Oui, my sister. I am Oliver Baptiste, brother of the late Monica Baptiste. It’s my honor and privilege to meet you. I hope I will have the privilege to meet you again Meghan Truman.”

9

“AND OLIVER BAPTISTE OWNS A CONGLOMERATE of family businesses! He’s probably the wealthiest, most powerful, prestigious man I’ve ever met, Jack.” Meghan chirped over the phone. Jack did not respond.

“Jack?”

Meghan heard Jack take a long breath before he responded. “That’s nice, Meghan.”

Meghan gripped the phone tightly as she sat on her soft hotel bed. “What’s wrong, Jack?”

Jack sighed. “You’ve just told me about a lot of other guys, Meghan. You mentioned that detective a few times--that you ran into him in the lobby after you had spent time with him on the boat. You’ve gone on for nearly ten minutes now about this Baptiste fellow. I just feel weird about it, Meghan. I miss you, and we haven’t gotten to talk a lot, and now, you’re telling me about all of these other guys.”

Meghan felt defensive, and she furrowed her brow. “I only mentioned the detective because I’ve run into him all over town,” she explained. “It was funny. He’s the one who told me all about Oliver Baptiste’s wealthy family, Jack. Oliver and I didn’t even chat that long.”

Jack said nothing, and Meghan felt her heart beating furiously inside of her chest. “Jack? I just wanted to fill you in on what’s going on over here. The detective and I had such a good conversation; he told me that Oliver and his family will sometimes invest in small businesses, and if he and I became friends….”

Jack scoffed. “You live in Sandy Bay, Meghan. Why would a Frenchman have any interest in investing in your bakery?”

Meghan frowned. “His deceased sister was passionate about empowering small businesses, and she loved baking,” she murmured. “The detective suggested I mention Truly Sweet the next time I see Oliver. Who knows what could happen?”

“I think it’s time you come home, Meghan,” he snorted. “You’ve been running around Paris with all of these fellows, and a murder happened at your convention! I wanted you to have a nice, quiet trip to France, you know? I just don’t feel right about all of this.”

Meghan stared at the ceiling. She could understand Jack’s frustrations; she had gone on and on about Oliver and Detective Giroud, and she felt inconsiderate for making her boyfriend listen to her ramble about the two French men.

“I’m sorry, Jack,” Meghan said softly as she pursed her lips. “You’re right. This hasn’t been fair to you. We’ve barely spoken all week, and I didn’t even ask about you. I’m sorry.”

“I understand,” he breathed. “You’re just excited. I miss you though, Meghan. I think you should come home soon.”

Meghan sighed. “Okay, Jack,” she agreed. “I will come home early.”

Jack happily chattered for another few minutes, but Meghan was not listening. She thought of her conversation with the detective, and how he had encouraged her to get close to Oliver Baptise. “It could help your business,” Detective Giroud had suggested in his thick French accent. “It’s just a thought, lovely Meghan….”

“Just a thought I think I will have to act on before I hop on the next flight home,” Meghan thought to herself as Jack talked. “An investment from someone like Oliver Baptiste could change my whole business--and my whole life! I must talk with him again before I leave the city.”

10

“I’M SO HAPPY you called, Meghan,” Oliver purred as he and Meghan sat together in the hotel bar. Meghan stared into his dark eyes as he smiled at her. “It was so sad to see you crying in the lobby, and I’m glad to see a pleasant look on that beautiful face of yours.”

Meghan felt the color rise to her face. Oliver was incredibly handsome, and Meghan was impressed with his style and charm.

“This is the perfect distraction, actually,” Oliver admitted. “My sister’s husband was arrested earlier for the murder. We always suspected that the scoundrel only married dear Monica for our money, but now, it seems that our worst fears have been confirmed.

“I’m so sorry to hear that, Oliver,” she said, her voice slightly shaking as she sipped her soda. “I’m glad to hear that it seems the murderer has been apprehended, though. What a terrible time.”

Oliver sighed. “It’s is terrible,” he agreed. “But your sweet face in front of me makes it all better. Now, do tell me, Meghan, why did you reach out to me?”

Meghan took a deep breath. “I heard that you and your family sometimes make investments in small businesses,” she began. “I own my bakery back home in Sandy Bay, and I am looking to eventually expand it. I wanted to know if you had any interest in making an investment. It’s an adorable little place, and it’s my passion.”

Oliver grinned. “Tell me more, beautiful Meghan,” he implored. “You know how passionate my sister was about baking, and I think a donation or an investment in your bakery could honor her memory.”

Meghan could not keep the smile off of her face. “Really?”

Oliver reached over and squeezed her hand, his deep dimples impossible to ignore as he beamed at Meghan. “Really. Here, take my card; I would love to formally meet with you in the Baptiste offices downtown. Tomorrow?”

Meghan nodded. “I would love that!”

Oliver rose from his stool at the bar and bowed to Meghan. “Fantastic. I must run now; I have a call to make in a few minutes. I await the time when I will see your lovely face tomorrow, Mademoiselle.”

Meghan stared at Oliver as he strode out of the bar. She felt the tug of butterflies in her stomach; she could not help her attraction to Oliver, but she tried to squash the feelings as she thought of Jack back home in Sandy Bay. She had been thrilled to start dating Jack; he was caring and considerate, and Meghan knew that he deserved her very best.

“No more chats with French men,” Meghan vowed as she rose from her stool. “My chat with Oliver tomorrow will be the last talk I have with a French man before I go home to my sweet boyfriend.”

“Is that right?”

Meghan gasped as Detective Giroud walked up behind her. “I hope that is not the case, Mademoiselle Meghan.”

Meghan blushed as the detective gestured at the table she had just risen from. “Please sit, Meghan Truman. Chat with me; I would be devastated to see my favorite little American girl leave France without a proper goodbye.”

Meghan obediently sat down across from the detective. “I hear there was a big break in the case today,” she said quietly. “Oliver mentioned that Monica’s husband was arrested?”

Detective Giroud’s face darkened. “I wanted to talk about you, mon cherie,” he answered. “But I suppose I can answer your question. Yes, we arrested Monica’s husband. The case is officially considered closed.”

Meghan breathed a sigh of relief. “That’s wonderful news!”

The detective agreed. “It is. So strange that a snake bite killed her, though….”

Meghan cocked her head to the side. “A snake bite?”

Detective Giroud’s eyes widened, and he nervously stroked his mustache. “I have said too much,” he began. “Well, now that I have mentioned it...we aren’t sure how the husband did it, but it seems that she died from a snake bite.”

“That’s awful,” Meghan declared.

The detective stared at Meghan. “You were talking to Oliver Baptiste for some time,” he pointed out. “Seems like the pair of you have become good friends.”

Meghan raised an eyebrow. “You were the one who told me about his interest in investing in small businesses,” she responded. “I spoke with him because you seemed to encourage it, detective.”

Detective Giroud shook his head. “You must have misunderstood me,” he replied. “I didn’t mean for you to pursue him…”

Meghan held up her hands. “I’m not pursuing him! I’m pursuing his business, detective!”

Detective Giroud frowned. He reached across the table and kissed Meghan on both cheeks.

“Goodbye, Mademoiselle Truman,” he whispered. “My very best wishes on your new connection with Oliver Baptise.”

11

“ARE YOU SURE I can’t go with you?” Molly pleaded as Meghan buttoned her jacket. “With everything going on in Paris, I feel like you could use some back up.”

Meghan smiled at Molly, but she shook her head. “I will be fine, Molly,” she insisted. “The murderer was caught. Besides, it’s just some quick business talk, and then I will be back in time for us to make it to the airport for the evening flight.”

Molly scowled. “I just don’t know,” she argued. “It just seems too convenient that Monica’s husband killed her when Carla hated her so much. And what about Andrew Meekse? He seemed suspicious. What if it’s a trap, Meghan? What if the real killer is still on the loose?”

Meghan rolled her eyes. “Molly, I’m a big girl! I’ll be fine.”

Twenty minutes later, Meghan strolled into the lobby of the Baptiste Building, a grand skyscraper in the business district of Paris. She was ushered to the top floor by a petite brunette secretary, and Oliver smiled warmly as Meghan entered his private office.

“What a beautiful sight to see,” Oliver purred as he gently brought Meghan’s hands to his lips. “Meghan Truman, the American beauty!”

Meghan blushed. She could not ignore Oliver’s deep, dark eyes or broad shoulders, and she struggled to maintain her professionalism as she sat across from Oliver at his desk. “I would love to hear more about your business endeavors, Oliver,” she stated primly as she folded her hands in her lap. “Please, tell me more.”

Oliver spent the next twenty minutes discussing the Baptiste family history, as well as his hopes for the future. “I want to take the business even further than my sister did,” he explained as Meghan nodded. “I want to expand our family business. My sister was happy to keep things in France, but I want more for us; now that poor, dear Monica is gone, I will be making all of the decisions for the Baptiste family, and I want our successes to go to the next level.”

“I admire your ambition,” Meghan gushed as Oliver winked at her. “You are so stoic during this tragic time, and I think that is so impressive.”

Oliver stared into Meghan’s dark eyes. “I think investing in your little bakery might be a wise step in capturing the attention of the American markets,” he said slowly as Meghan’s face grew hot. “You have such spirit, Meghan, and I know a good businesswoman when I meet one.”

Meghan smiled. “You are too kind, Oliver.”

Oliver shook his head. “No, you are too beautiful! Meghan? May I show you something? Something I’ve never shown to anyone before?”

Meghan nodded, and Oliver took her hand and led her down a dark corridor. “Where are we going?” Meghan asked.

“I want to show you my friends,” Oliver explained with another wink. “My special friends….”

Oliver led Meghan into a black room, and she gasped as he pushed a button and turned on the lights. “These are my treasures, Meghan! Are you impressed? These friends of mine have come from all over the world. I collect them, you see.”

Meghan’s jaw dropped. The room was filled with cases upon cases of live snakes. There were enormous snakes, small snakes, colorful snakes, sleeping snakes, and hissing snakes, and Meghan felt her heart beat faster as she shrank back from Oliver. He looked over, frowning as he saw the fearful look on her face.

“What is the matter, Meghan?” Oliver Inquired as Meghan shrank away from him.

“It’s nothing,” Meghan assured him as she looked between the glass cases. “I’m fine!”

“You clearly are not fine,” Oliver declared. “What is the matter? Tell Oliver, Meghan. You can trust me!”

Meghan felt Oliver’s eyes on her as her face grew pale. “I’m fine. Just fine! I just don’t love snakes. They scare me a bit, Oliver.”

Oliver cocked his head to the side. “I’m here to protect you and I can assure you that these snakes are not poisonous. They are harmless,” he soothed, reaching for Meghan’s hand. She pulled her hand away, and he scowled at her.

“Something is the matter,” Oliver stated. “I can see it from the look on your face, Meghan Truman.”

“No!” Meghan protested. “The snakes are just making me nervous, Oliver. There’s nothing else.”

“You know, don’t you?” Oliver whispered as Meghan’s eyes widened. “You know.”

Meghan shook her head. “What are you talking about?”

Oliver grabbed her by the wrists and held her tightly. “Every emotion you have is on your face, Mademoiselle Meghan,” he whispered. “You’re looking at me as though I were a killer.”

Meghan held back the tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Oliver. Let’s go back to the office and discuss business. Please?”

Oliver glanced at the snakes slithering about in their glass displays. “Imagine being the oldest son in a powerful family,” he murmured as Meghan’s body grew cold. “Imagine being primed to take over a booming business, but having everything taken away from you….”

Meghan closed her eyes. “Oliver, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she lied as she tried to break free of his strong grip on her wrists.

“Imagine having more education, more brains, and more charm than your silly little sister,” he continued. “Imagine none of that mattering when you get into a little drink driving accident and have your life ruined!”

Meghan shook as she opened her eyes and found Oliver glaring at her. “Go on, Meghan,” Oliver dared. “Ask me. Ask me what happened.”

Meghan bit her lip, and Oliver pulled her toward one of the glass displays. A huge, thick green snake hissed at Meghan, and she shuddered as Oliver pushed her face against the glass. “Ask me, Meghan.”

“What did you do, Oliver? What happened?”

Oliver laughed menacingly. “When I was a teenager, I made a little mistake. I was drunk, there was an accident, and someone died. My father stripped me of my place as the heir to this company, and Monica was given my role.”

Meghan slipped out of Oliver’s grip and ran toward the door. Oliver chased her, catching her by her long, dark ponytail and yanking her hair. “Get back here! You know too much, so you might as well know it all, Mademoiselle! My father took my future from me and gave the future to my sister. She became the face of the Baptiste empire. I couldn’t stand it anymore, Meghan. I couldn’t stand the mistakes Monica made, or her lack of ambition.”

“You killed her, didn’t you?” she asked, reaching an arm back to loosen Oliver’s grip on her hair. “You murdered your sister.”

Oliver chuckled. “I did,” he admitted, pulling Meghan closer to him. “And now, it appears that I will have to dispose of you as well, Meghan Truman. Such a pity too. You were such a pretty little thing…”

Oliver threw Meghan onto the white tile floor. “I swear, this will be quick, Meghan! Snake bites don’t hurt too badly….”

Meghan kicked and screamed as Oliver reached behind to retrieve a black velvet bag. She heard the sinister hiss of a snake, and Oliver grinned. “The snakes you see? They are harmless,” Oliver explained to Meghan as she shook in fear. “The only truly lethal one I have is in this bag. It’s a little one, you see; the snake in this bag is no larger than your pinkie finger, but its venom could stop the heart of an elephant within ten seconds!”

Meghan inched away from Oliver as he dangled the black velvet bag above her face. “Oliver! Please! Please don’t bring out your snake!”

Oliver nodded at the black velvet bag. “It’ll be quick, just like I told you, Meghan. It’ll feel like a little tickle.”

Meghan screamed as Oliver grabbed her hand and tried to force it inside of the bag. She reared back her head and bashed it into Oliver’s. He cried out in pain, dropping the velvet bag, and Meghan began yelling. “Help! Help me!”

Oliver moaned, falling to the side and giving Meghan the perfect opportunity to stand up. The deadly snake had crawled out of its place in the bag; it was a thin, red snake with purple spots, and it began moving toward Meghan.

“Call off your deadly snake, Oliver!” Meghan pleaded as the little snake reached her.  “Make it stop! Put it back in its bag!”

The snake moved quickly around Meghan’s waist, lightly nipping at her skin and tightening itself on her chest. “Please, Oliver, don’t do this,” Meghan begged as she collapsed onto the floor. Oliver collected himself and ran to stand over Meghan’s body.

“You’ve left me no choice, Meghan,” Oliver declared as the snake licked Meghan’s cheek. “I can’t let you just leave after you heard my dirty little secrets….”

The snake began to bite at Meghan’s skin, and she began to see stars as she lay on the floor. Its small sleek body moved against her face, and Meghan felt her lungs constrict.

“Stop right there!”

Just as the snake reared back to bite Meghan on the nose, she heard Detective Giroud’s deep voice. “Oliver Baptiste! You have been caught, sir!

12

“WE HAD BEEN KEEPING OUR EYES on Oliver the entire time,” the detective explained to Meghan as he accompanied her ambulance to the hospital. “We knew that the husband did not kill her, and we knew we needed to have Oliver’s guard down.”

Meghan sank back in the gurney, her body still shaking. Detective Giroud had easily apprehended Oliver, arriving at the Baptiste Building with nearly twenty-five officers. Oliver had not put up a fight, and Meghan was relieved that Detective Giroud had arrived just in time to save her life.

“Oliver and Monica made such a good team,” the detective explained to Meghan. “She was the lovable face of the company and he was the brains behind all their products and services It’s all such a shame. He had a terrible incident in his youth and displayed poor judgement from time to time; everyone in Paris knew that, and he was never going to run the family business anyway. He was delusional. The car accident from his youth was the final straw for his parents, and they made Monica the heir apparent. The one who would control the family fortune.”

Meghan sighed. “He was just terrifying, detective,” she whispered, placing a hand on her swollen, bruised neck. “The snake bit me! Will I be alright?”

The detective nodded. “They administered an antidote immediately,” he assured Meghan. “You will make a full recovery, unlike poor Monica Baptise….”

As the EMTs unloaded Meghan’s gurney at the hospital, a swarm of reports mobbed her.

“Meghan Truman! Meghan Truman, what happened inside of the Baptise Building? What do you know about Oliver Baptiste? Meghan, is it true that Andrew Meekse had nothing to do with Monica’s death?”

Meghan shrank back in the bed as a reporter shoved a microphone in her bruised face. “No comment,” she said weakly.

Get out of here!” Detective Giroud shouted to the group of reporters. “Mademoiselle Truman, our American friend, has no comment!”

One week later, after making a full recovery, Meghan found herself at the security station for the international terminal at Charles de Gaulle International Airport. She walked slowly; her body was still sore from being thrown to the ground by Oliver, and Meghan trembled at the memory of the little snake biting her.

“Meghan Truman, it has been a pleasure meeting you,” Detective Giroud declared as he kissed her hand. Meghan giggled in spite of herself as his mustache tickled her hand. “I hope that your next adventure in Paris will be a little less eventful….”

“Me too,” Molly declared as she flung her arms around Meghan. “Poor Meghan! She was chastised by Andrew Meekse, had to deal with Monica’s death, and was attacked by that terrible man, not to mention being danced with by James Dugarry.

Meghan shook her head. “It’s just always an adventure with me, it seems…..”

Molly smiled. “You are a treat, Meghan Truman! You are truly sweet. I’m happy we met on this crazy trip.”

Detective Giroud nodded earnestly. “You are a lovely woman, Meghan. Please come back to Paris someday; I promise, it will be a quieter time, that’s for sure.”

An hour later, Meghan nestled into her large, comfortable first-class seat. The detective had arranged for her flight to be upgraded, and Meghan propped her sore legs up on the stool in front of her, happy to have extra room on the long-haul flight.

“This is the life,” Meghan sighed as she sipped a complimentary soda that the first-class flight attendant had presented her with. “I could get used to first-class. This is truly sweet.”

As the engines of the plane began to rumble and the flight attendants made one final sweep of the airplane, Meghan stared out the window at the Parisian skyline. She squinted, just barely making out the top of the Eiffel Tower, and she sighed as she remembered arriving in the city only days before. Meghan was exhausted from her journey; she had seen a lot of amazing things, and met an abundance of amazing people, but after her experiences with Oliver Baptise, Meghan was ready to be home in Sandy Bay with the people she loved. She missed Fiesta and Siesta, her little twin dogs. She missed Trudy, her trusted assistant. She missed Karen Denton, her best friend in Sandy Bay.

Most of all, she missed Jack, her reliable, sweet, thoughtful boyfriend. He had sent her three flower arrangements while she was in the hospital in Paris, and Meghan knew that he had spent a small fortune on all of the international phone calls he had made to her hospital room.

“Traveling to Paris was amazing,” Meghan reflected as she recounted seeing the Eiffel Tower, attending Carla’s cruise event on the River Seine, and trying all sorts of new foods at the convention. “It was the experience of a lifetime, but….”

Meghan pulled out her cell phone and began scrolling through her favorite pictures. She grinned at the picture of Fiesta and Siesta dressed up in matching sweaters, the sour looks on both of their faces absolutely hilarious. Meghan giggled as she ran across a picture of herself flexing her muscles with Karen after a long morning at the gym.

Finally, she found her favorite picture of herself and Jack. They were dressed up in the picture, Jack in a dark blue suit, and Meghan in a green dress and matching heels. They had been dressed up to attend a gala in Sandy Bay, and Meghan remembered feeling her heart drop when Jack had shown up at her door wearing his best clothes. She studied his face, noting the way his bright blue eyes still made her smile, and she felt her face grown warm as she imagined seeing him at the airport in America in only a few hours.

“Adventures and traveling are amazing,” Meghan decided as she leaned back into the comfortable chair. “And making memories and new friends is special. But the most important things in life are home and loved ones! That is what makes life truly sweet.”

The End

Thank You!

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