Death by Chocolate Cupcake Page 7

  “Well, Ruby was arguing with her boyfriend. And I suppose he’s been having an affair with the victim, so I can understand why you would think that it might be Ruby. But I swear I saw her on set while we were filming. I’m not sure she would’ve had time to go back there and murder the woman and then get back onto the set.”

  “You’d be surprised how fast somebody could do that. Even you could’ve had time.”

  My eyes widened. Was he really accusing me of the murder? I’d known I’d let my guard down too soon.

  “Do you think I’m a murderer?” I asked breathlessly.

  “I didn’t say that,” he said.

  “You said I could have been the murderer,” I said.

  Now I just wanted to change the subject. He watched me as I finished off the last of the scone. I took another couple of long sips of my iced coffee. Now that I’d devoured the scone I was ready to get out of there. All the questioning was making me nervous. Plus, I still had to ride back to the studio with him. Perhaps I could just volunteer to walk.

  “Well, would you like anything else?” he asked, looking at the crumbs on my plate. “A slice of cake? A slice of pie?”

  I chuckled nervously. “I’m good. Thank you.”

  “If you’re ready I can drive you back to your car now.” He motioned.

  I was more than ready.

  Chapter 11

  It had been another long day. I would get used to my new routine eventually, but for now I was tired. I was looking forward to getting back to the farmhouse and either relaxing with a good book or watching a little TV. Plus, I’d stopped at the grocery and picked up items to make a delicious dinner. Maybe a nice salad, salmon or grilled chicken, and vegetables.

  To be honest, I wasn’t really in the mood for anything, but I needed to eat something. All I had was the scone and a bit of cereal. I pulled into the driveway halfway expecting to see that car waiting for me. Luckily, I was all alone out there. Or was that unlucky? The lights were on across the street at Lucille’s, so at least I didn’t feel quite so alone. I got the distinct impression that she was probably watching me from her living room window as I got out of the car.

  I’d never felt more alone than out here in the night with the stars surrounding me. Nothing like the expanse of the universal to remind me how small I was in comparison. There was no breeze and it was still hot. The gravel on the driveway crunched under my feet as I walked toward the side door. The only noise was the crickets. No traffic moved along this stretch of road at this time of night. Actually, barely any traffic filled the road in the day either.

  I got out my key and unlocked the side door. Yes, I was in a hurry because, well, it felt as if someone was watching me. Lucille wouldn’t be able to see this far across the street. Unless she had binoculars. I needed to relax though. It was probably just a raccoon or something out in the woods. Nevertheless, I wanted to be inside behind a locked door.

  As soon as I stepped into the kitchen I flipped on the light and immediately I noticed the pie on the table. A note sat beside it. The only other person who had a key was my mother. At least that I was aware of. I was pretty sure she had changed the locks. She must’ve left the pie for me.

  The pie looked delicious. I couldn’t wait to get a piece. My mother made such great pies. I hoped it was cherry. As soon I picked up the piece of paper I realized that the note wasn’t from my mother.

  I’ll come for you next. Enjoy the pie.

  I stared at the white paper with a tiny strawberry border, unsure of what to do next. I was speechless. My heart raced and I felt as if I might collapse. My hand shook as I placed the note back on the table. I turned around to make sure the door was locked. Was someone else in the house? Who could’ve left the pie and note? It went without saying that my mother would never have done something like that. No one else had a key. Had they broken in?

  I needed to check the front door and all the windows. Although maybe that was a job for the police. Unfortunately, it would take them a while to get out here. Should I call the detective first? After all, he’d said if anything happened to call him. Maybe this was related to the murder. Oh, who was I kidding? It had to be related, right?

  I pulled his card and my phone from my bag. As I paced across the kitchen floor, I contemplated my next move. What should I do? Call 911 or call the detective? I didn’t feel as if this was an emergency. Unless of course someone was still in the house. I had to check. As much as I wanted to hide, I needed to check the house first.

  I ran to the front room. Wiggling the knob and checking the lock, I felt confident the intruder hadn’t entered through the front door. The windows weren’t open either, but I checked the locks just to make sure. Next, I checked every other room in the house.

  When I finished, I realized that no one could’ve been in the house. Even the side door had been locked when I came home. Someone had to have a key. This was just creepy. I needed to have the locks changed right away. I wanted to ask my mother about the key, but I didn’t want her to know that anyone had been in the house. That would freak her out.

  With a shaky hand, I dialed the detective’s number. My voice quivered as I left a message. I hadn’t intended on sounding like such a scaredy cat, but who could blame me after discovering that note on my kitchen table? Unfortunately, the detective hadn’t answered.

  “This is Scarlet Baker from the baking show,” I said with rushed words.

  I probably sounded like I wanted to confess.

  I continued, “I found a pie on my kitchen table, which normally wouldn’t be strange…” Okay, now I was rambling. “However, the note saying that I would be next has me a bit concerned. Can you call me ASAP? I’m at home, by the way.”

  I ended the call and then replayed what I’d said in my mind. Had I actually lost it? I guessed the stress of everything had made me crazy. At least the call had been placed now. I had left the message and I couldn’t erase it. What would I do now? I didn’t want to touch the pie or the note again. I just left them on the table, looking over every so often.

  As I paced across the floor, my phone rang. The sound had startled me, making me almost drop it.

  “Hello?” I answered in a shaky voice.

  “This is Detective Bailey,” he said. “What’s going on, Scarlet?”

  I explained quickly again what had happened.

  “Did you call 911?”

  “It wasn’t an emergency since every door is locked and no one is here now, so I didn’t call.”

  “Does anyone else have a key to your place?” he asked.

  “No one other than my mother, but I hardly think she would do something like this.”

  “Can you get her over there or on the phone? Maybe she misplaced the key.”

  “I guess I hadn’t thought about that, but it’s possible. I’ll call her.”

  “What’s your address again?” he asked.

  I gave him the address. Was he coming to my house?

  “Officers will be there soon, so try not to be too alarmed.”

  “Are you coming?” I asked in a weak voice.

  “I’ll be there too,” he said. “Make sure you call your mother.”

  “I’ll do that right now,” I said. “See you soon.”

  I couldn’t believe he was on his way to my house. Part of me didn’t want that to happen. Part of me was a bit excited at the thought.

  “How was the show?” my mother asked when she answered. “I thought you’d never call.”

  “Oh, the show was good. I have something that’s very important. You have to answer.”

  “What about that new guy who’s on there with you?” she asked.

  “Mother, listen to me. This is important,” I said, still in a panic.

  “Okay, but I want to know all about the show.”

  “We’ll have time for that later.”

  I was about to drop the bomb on her. This would send her into a panic, although it didn’t take a lot to make her worry. I wished I didn’
t have to mention it.

  “Did you leave a pie at my house?” I knew it was a strange question.

  “A pie? No, I haven’t been out there. Why would I go there if you weren’t home?”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “Okay, can we talk about the show now?” she asked.

  “Not yet. Are you sitting down?”

  “You already lost the show?” Her voice rose.

  “This has nothing to do with the show. Well, at least I don’t think it has anything to do with the show. There was a note on the kitchen table with a cherry pie.”

  “On your table?” she asked.

  “Yes, on my kitchen table.”

  “What did the note say, dear? Maybe Lucille left it. Did you leave the door open again?”

  “The note said that I would be next.”

  “Next for what?” she asked.

  She still wasn’t understanding the seriousness of the situation.

  “I don’t know. I guess next to be killed,” I said.

  “Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh,” she said. “I can’t breathe.”

  “Calm down, Mom. The police are on the way here.”

  “What have you gotten yourself into? You left the door open, didn’t you? Maybe you shouldn’t be on that show after all. What if a serial killer is after anyone associated with the show.”

  “The door was locked. I checked every door and window. I’d just gotten home so I had just unlocked the kitchen door with the key. And I don’t think there’s a serial killer.”

  Did I? No, of course not.

  “Somebody got into the house?”

  “They could be in the house with me now.”

  I wished I hadn’t said that. Now my mother was crying.

  “Okay, I take that back. I didn’t mean that. Don’t cry.”

  She sniffed. “You’re right. I have to be calm.”

  “The detective was just wondering if maybe you lost your key. Somebody may have found it and came into the house.”

  “I’m looking at my keys right now. The key to the farmhouse is still there. And before he asks, tell that detective that it wasn’t me in the house either. I would never leave you a note like that. Just wait until I tell him a thing or two. I’m on my way there right now.”

  “I don’t think that’s necessary, Mom, I’m sure the detective will call you, but not because you’re a suspect.”

  “Well, I won’t be able to rest knowing that somebody was in your house.”

  “I know it’s stressful, but I guess we’ll just have to deal with it.”

  “This is just terrible,” she said.

  “I’ll call you as soon as I can, and I’ll have the detective call too.”

  “You promise?” she asked.

  “Of course I promise,” I said. “Mom, they’re here now. I have to go.”

  “Are you sure it’s them?”

  “Yeah, I see the lights.”

  “Okay, if you’re sure. Call as soon as possible.”

  “I’ll be fine, Mom, don’t worry.”

  “I don’t like you being out there alone in that farmhouse.”

  “Gotta go, Mom.”

  Instead of saying more I just ended the call. Grandma had lived out here too. She’d been fine. Now all of a sudden, I couldn’t take care of myself? Okay, I potentially had a killer after me, so I supposed that changed things just a smidgen. Grandma would probably be disappointed if I was that much of a chicken. Then again, she’d had that big rifle.

  I watched as a police officer got out of his car and headed up to the side door. When he reached the door, I opened up and let him inside, gesturing toward the pie on the table.

  “The pastry in question,” I said. “The note is next to it.”

  “Another officer will be here soon to take fingerprints. We’ll see if we can find anything.”

  “Be my guest,” I said.

  “I’ll check the house,” he said.

  About a minute later, the other car pulled into the driveway. I recognized it as the detective’s. I peeked out the side door and saw him headed my way. He sure looked handsome in his white button-down shirt and tie. Of course, the pants fit in all the right places.

  “Good evening,” I said as I opened the door for him.

  He stepped into the house. “You have a great place here.”

  “Thank you. I think so too. There’s the pie,” I said.

  The police officer stared at the pie. Next the detective joined in his examination, like it was some sort of piece of artwork at a local museum. The detective slipped gloves onto his strong hands and then picked up the paper.

  “Clearly someone was trying to send you a message,” he said.

  “Do you think it was Corina’s killer or a copycat?” I asked.

  He shook his head. “I don’t know. You’re right though, it could just someone who knows you found the woman and they’re playing games. We have no indication that they would be targeting you.”

  “Unless they think I know who did it. Then they would want to come after me,” I said.

  “She has a point,” the other officer said.

  He’d been across the kitchen, either searching the cabinets for clues or a snack. I wasn’t sure which. Furthermore, I hadn’t thought he’d even been listening.

  “It’s possible,” the detective said.

  “What do I do in the meantime? I don’t want them to come back in the house,” I said.

  “Did someone call for a locksmith?” the dark-haired guy asked as he stood at the open door.

  He held a toolbox in his hands. Over the phone he’d said his name was Bob. Or was it Bill? I’d been so upset that my concentration wasn’t the best right now.

  “Oh, thank goodness you’re here.” I waved him inside.

  “It’s good that you’re having the locks changed,” the detective said.

  The locksmith stepped into the kitchen and looked at me expectantly.

  “I didn’t want to wait before changing them,” I said. “I want the front and back door locks changed.”

  The guy nodded and then got to work. A few glances from him let me know he was a bit curious as to why there were so many police cars here. I was sure Lucille would want to know too. The police were probably keeping her away at the moment. The first chance she got she would be right over here. I couldn’t say that I blamed her. I would probably feel the same way if my neighbor had this kind of police action. Lucille probably thought I was dead in here. Poor Lucille. Perhaps someone needed to go check on her.

  “Did you see my neighbor out there?” I asked.

  “Yes, she wanted to come over here. We told her you were fine,” one of the officers said.

  As I tried to stay out of the way, the detective went around the house and looked for any other signs of a break-in or clues. There was just absolutely nothing.

  “Well, I suppose we’re all wrapped up here,” he said.

  I’d been apprehensive about him showing up and now I was apprehensive about him leaving. It would mean I would be out here in the middle of nowhere in the dark with a person potentially targeting me. Talk about stress.

  “I appreciate you coming out,” I said, trying to sound calm.

  “We want to solve this case, and if this is related then I can guarantee you we will find out who did this,” he said.

  “Thank you,” I said.

  “Call right away if anything happens or you need anything.” He flashed a hint of a smile.

  The other officers had all filed out of the house. The noise had stopped and reality that I would once again be alone was setting in.

  “I definitely will.”

  Once by the door, the detective turned back and looked at me. “It was nice seeing you again. I had a nice time at the coffee shop today.”

  My stomach danced just a bit. He’d said he had a nice time. What did he mean by that? This was all business for him, right? I didn’t answer him since I didn’t know exactly what to say. I’d pr
obably just be tongue-tied. After a few more minutes of just looking at my face, he grinned a little, and then walked out the door.

  “Don’t forget to lock that,” he said, pointing at the door.

  “Locking it right now,” I said.

  The police took the pie and the note. Thank goodness. I didn’t want to look at those any longer. As soon as they were out the door I secured the lock. I double-checked it to make sure that it was working. Next, I closed the blinds on the kitchen door so that no one could see in. So much for cooking that dinner. Now I guessed I would just have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and head for bed.

  I’d just sat down with my sandwich when my phone rang. How could I have forgotten to call my mother? She was really gonna let me have it now. I was shocked she’d waited this long before calling.

  “I just couldn’t wait any longer. What is going on over there?” she asked when I answered.

  “They just left,” I said. “I was getting ready to call you. I had my fingers on the phone.”

  A tiny little lie that would make her feel better and keep me out of trouble.

  Chapter 12

  “What happened?” my mother asked. “And don’t leave out anything.”

  “Well, they took the pie and the note. They said they will check for fingerprints. I had the locks changed. They searched inside and out and found nothing. That pretty much sums it up.”

  “I just can’t believe someone got in.”

  “I can’t either, but do you think it was one of the cousins? Would they have a key to the place?”

  “I don’t see how they would, but anything is possible. I’m calling right now.”

  “Don’t accuse anyone of anything,” I said. “I mean, that’s a big accusation.”

  “But it’s a dangerous game to play and I will not stand for it.”

  “Give yourself time to calm down before you call, okay?”

  She paused and then said, “All right, but not long.”

  “Okay, I’m going to bed now,” I said.

  “I’ll be worried about you.”

  “I’ll be fine. The doors are locked. The windows are locked, and I doubt anyone would come back tonight. Will it make you feel better if I install surveillance cameras?”