Maddie's Recipe Of Mysteries (A Rockcrest Cove Cozy Mystery Book 1) (2 page)

Nolan, a man who was not accustomed to being disrespected so openly, looked around the room to make sure that none of his deputies had overheard her. Satisfied that he was the only officer in the room, he lowered his voice.

“Mrs. McDougal, I am trying to be nice to you, but if you insist on this attitude, maybe we should continue our conversation down at the station.”

Madeline looked incredulous. “Are you arresting me?”

The tiny sound of Bailey’s voice came from the phone. A barely audible

“He can’t do that!” was heard through the line.

Madeline turned her attention back to the phone and listened carefully as Bailey gave her instructions.

Now wide awake, Bailey hung up the phone, her anger rising with every breath. She sat on the edge of her bed and thought for a minute. She had to help her gran. After only a minute, she snatched up the phone and started to dial a number. She hesitated for just a second and looked at her clock. It was only a little after five in the morning, maybe it was too early to call.

Oh to hell with it, she thought to herself, and finished dialing the number.

The police station was a dark and dingy place that looked like it hadn’t been updated at all in the past hundred years. That dark wood paneling made the place look gloomy and depressing in comparison to the rest of town. Rockcrest Cove was small, but it had a quiet energy that spoke of small town values but with a large spirit. Everyone knew each other and took care of each other.

Already the news of the murder was spreading like a forest fire out of control. The wagging tongues were going to be hard for Madeline to overcome, but in time, this news would fade and someone else’s misfortune would take its place. That was the nature of life in a town like Rockcrest Cove.

So, when Bailey and Kyle walked into the police station an hour later, it was obvious that the news had already begun to spread, even at this ungodly hour. Immediately upon entering, Bailey could see a few people in the waiting room lean into each other, raise their hands surreptitiously as if to hide the sight of their lips moving. Subconsciously she wondered why they bothered; it was obvious that they were talking about her gran. A few women cut cat eyes at Bailey and Kyle as they walked past them and up to the front desk.

Kyle was a tall and lean fellow, but already you could tell that his life as a lawyer was treating him well. One could already see that he was doing well as a lawyer and the good life was beginning to make changes even in his physical appearance. So far he was still able to maintain that fine, muscular physique that he was once so proud of. Now, however, his work was done behind a desk and he found less time to work out like he used to. As a new lawyer, he was eager to take on a new case, so when Bailey called him that morning, he had no problem letting go of his pillow and getting moving. He was just waiting for the right client, and Madeline McDougal was exactly what he needed to give his new burgeoning practice a boost.

After talking to the desk sergeant, they headed down a long corridor toward a bank of rooms at the far end. They entered the room without knocking. Madeline was sitting in a small room with bare walls and a solitary table in the center. A picture immediately emerged and took shape in Bailey’s mind, and she had a hard time keeping silent, as Kyle had instructed her to do. Nolan’s large frame was frozen in place as he stood there towering over Madeline with his fists planted on the desk, looking like large tree trunks rooted to its surface, refusing to budge even in the fiercest of winds; his deputy was standing farther back by the door, a silent observer.

Kyle quickly surveyed the scene and then spoke.

“Chief Nolan, can I have a word with you?”

Nolan’s face turned beet red as he tried to keep his anger in check.

“I’m interviewing a suspect. “Nolan said. “Do you mind?”

“Actually, I do mind,” Kyle replied.

“This is my client, and I’ve not had the chance to consult with her yet.”

Nolan opened his mouth to say something, but Kyle deftly held his hand up and stopped him before he could speak.

“Before you launch your objections, Chief, I’d like to ask a few questions of my own.”

Kyle positioned himself between Madeline and Nolan.

“Is my client under arrest?”

Nolan hesitated for just a second before he responded.

“No, she’s not under arrest, but she’s certainly a person of interest.”

“I see,” Kyle said.

His voice had that measured quality that only attorneys knew how to deliver.

“And did you offer her legal representation before you brought her in for questioning?”

Nolan looked dumbfounded. He stared at the young man with a clear look of disdain.

“Are you trying to tell me how to do my job?”

He fell back on his usual argument when someone new to law would question him.

“I have been doing this job for more than—”Kyle’s hand went up again.

“Chief Nolan, I understand that you’ve been on your job for more than 40 years, so I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that anyone considered a suspect in a crime has the right to have an attorney present before questioning. And I’m sure that you informed Mrs. McDougal of her rights before you started your proceedings.”

“She’s not a suspect. She’s a person of interest in this case,” Nolan defended.

“Oh,” Kyle said, “she’s not a suspect. Then she’s free to go.”

Without another word he turned to Bailey.

“Bailey, please take your grandmother and go. I’ll meet up with you later at your house.”

Bailey and Madeline took their cue and left Kyle and Chief Nolan to duke it out. Before they reached the end of the hallway, they could already hear Nolan’s voice bellowing out of the darkness, clearly irate at and infuriated by being undercut by the young attorney.

Chapter Three

Madeline sat quietly at Bailey’s kitchen counter; her thoughts seemed to be all over the place. Her mind was searching for an answer that would explain how she had gotten to this place. Her hand caressed a cup of coffee as she pondered her predicament. She had been so happy this morning as she left for a job that she thoroughly loved, and suddenly she had been plummeted into this quandary without any explanation.

She and Emma had been on opposite sides of the same goals for years. They had attended the same schools, in fact, sometimes even the same classes. They had the same goals and dreams. Now she suddenly felt empty as she thought about the long-term rivalry they had shared over the years. Without a doubt, it was certainly a love-hate relationship. She let her mind drift back a few years as she mulled over the developments that lead up to this day.

Emma had mixed feelings as she walked through the doorway of the new bakery that was about to open. She wore a smart, grey two-piece suit that bespoke a woman that was all about business. Her sensible black shoes were certainly not a style that she felt comfortable with but for a job interview it was the best choice. She didn’t see herself walking in with a nice pair of stilettos for a job at a bakery shop. As a matter of fact, she wasn’t entirely sure that the suit was the best choice for the interview either.

She had debated whether or not to just put on a nice pair of designer jeans instead. After all, this wasn’t going to be the standard interview. She and Madeline went way back. She felt a mild irritation that she even had to go to the interview. After all, they were about as equal as you could get. In her heart of hearts, she felt she should have been a partner in the business rather than someone looking for an entry-level job. It wasn’t fair, she thought to herself, but nevertheless she had to play the part.

She stood in the middle of the storefront and looked around. The place was almost ready to open for business and she could feel that it would be a success. Madeline always had a really good sense of style, and her charming personality could already be seen in the little accents around the store: the decorative tablecloths, the pale pink stenciling on the walls, and the quaint little his and hers signs on the bathroom doors. Yes, it was oozing Madeline. Emma wanted to be just a little bit sick at the thought of it.

Madeline appeared from the back dressed in her usual khakis and long blouse. Does the woman ever wear anything different, she thought to herself, but on her face she wore a bright smile deftly hiding her inner feelings.

“Madeline,” she said as she stuck out her hand in her direction.

“It’s so good to see you again. How long has it been?” she asked with a smile.

“Oh, Emma.” Madeline responded.

“I was so happy you called.”

She gave her friend a genuine smile as she took her hand.

“Yes, yes, it has been a bit too long. I was so happy you called about the job. I honestly didn’t know what I was going to do. I certainly can’t handle all of this work by myself.”

“Why, Maddie.” Emma smiled. “You know you can always count on me for support.”

“I so appreciate that. Why don’t you come in the back so we can talk?”

“I’d like that,” Emma answered.

Together the two women walked through the maze of the half-finished bakery toward the office.

“Have a seat.” Madeline gestured toward an empty chair across from her desk.

“Thank you,” Emma accepted.

Her eyes were surreptitiously surveying her surroundings. A little twinge of jealousy got the better of her for the moment, but she quickly put it in check.

“Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea?”

“No, thank you. I didn’t expect that you would have anything ready to serve already.”

Madeline took a seat behind her desk and carefully surveyed the woman across from her.

“Well,” she said, “everything is coming along quite nicely and we’re right on schedule.

“When do you plan to open?”

“We’re scheduled to open in three weeks. By then the construction will be completed and all the equipment will be in place.”

Madeline chuckled a little.

“As a matter of fact, I’m a little surprised too. I never thought that it would be so easy to get a store up and running.”

Madeline gazed about the room and felt a sense of pride at her accomplishments. But she quickly snapped out of her revelry and got back to business.

“Well, why don’t we get started, shall we?”

“Of course,” Emma agreed. “Although I think it’s a little strange that you’re interviewing me. I mean we were in the same class in school.”

Madeline chuckled. “I guess you’re right. I already know more about you than I need to know.”

Emma tried hard not to roll her eyes as she smiled at Madeline across the desk. The woman was utterly clueless, she thought. She really believes that we are all her friends. Her jealousy began to rise again. She knew she should’ve been the one behind the desk, with the new business, and the financial backing.

“So.” Madeline cut into her thoughts.

“What kind of job are you looking for?” Madeline asked.

Emma was fighting hard to maintain her composure.

“Well, how about a job as a baker?” she replied, trying hard to keep out the bitter taste the words were forming in her mouth.

“Well, we can certainly handle that,” Madeline replied.

“But do you have a specialty?” she asked. “What’s your favorite thing to do in the kitchen?”

I don’t believe she’s going to actually go through the interview process! Emma thought with amazement. She gripped her fingers a little tighter around the purse she held in her lap but still continued to smile at Madeline, but by now her lips were beginning to get a little taut from the effort.

“Ah, yeah, I do,” she managed. “But you already know that, don’t you?”

Madeline looked a little confused for a minute before recognizing what her old friend had been referring to. The two of them had entered a baking contest before, and they had used her specialty, a spiced coconut cake, as the entry.

“Yes, I suppose I do. It was the recipe that got me started on my career.”

There was a bit of silence in the room for just a beat too long. Finally Madeline spoke.

“Well, I don’t see the need to continue with this,” she said.

“As you’ve already stated, I already know you well. After all, our years together in school should be enough to show me that you’d be a great addition to my staff.” She paused for just a beat.

“Welcome aboard,” she said as she offered her hand to Emma.

Gratefully, Emma accepted the hand, glad the charade was over.

“We’ll start on Monday. What do you think?”

“Monday? I though you weren’t opening for three weeks.”

“Yes, that’s correct. But we still need to order supplies, set up the kitchen, and stock the shelves. If we want to be ready on time, I could use the extra hands.”

“Hands?”

“Yes, I hired two other girls as well.”

The two women rose from their seats and smiled at each other and gave a hearty handshake to seal the deal.

Bailey’s voice cut into Madeline’s thoughts. “Gran, are you ok?”

Madeline gave her granddaughter a genuine smile.

“Yes, I’m fine. I was just thinking about Emma.”

Bailey gave her gran a look of understanding.

“I’m sorry about what happened, Gran, but you know as well as I that she wasn’t as sweet as the pies she made. It was just a matter of time before something happened to her.”

Madeline said, “Yes, I know, dear. But no one deserves what happened to her.”

Bailey was hardly sympathetic to the cause.

“Well, Kyle will be here shortly. Why don’t you just rest a bit while I get some breakfast going.”

“Fine, dear.”

Bailey handed her a blanket and Madeline curled herself up on the sofa to try to get a little rest. Her mind began to drift again.

~~~

Emma had arrived at work the following Monday wearing more sensible clothes than she did for the interview. A crisp pair of designer jeans and a T-shirt were the obvious choice. Madeline surveyed Emma’s attire and wondered if she had been clear enough when she told her what she would do. Those nice jeans were going to be ruined by the end of the day.

“Emma, are you sure that’s what you want to wear? We’re going to be getting really dirty today.”

Emma looked down at her attire. “What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”

“It’s just that we’re going to be moving a lot of things around. Those are nice jeans. I’d hate for something to happen to them.”

“Well, I guess I’ve been duly warned,” she quipped, and walked on toward the back of the store.

Madeline stared after her for a moment. Well, she thought, Emma always did have a mind of her own.

Rita and Sandra were already in the back sorting out newly delivered supplies and trying to decide how to organize everything.

Madeline followed Emma into the room.

“Let me introduce you all. Emma, this is Rita and this is Sandra. They’ll be working with us here at the bakery.”

Emma gave them a smile. “Oh, really. Where did you study?”

Both girls gave her an odd look. Rita spoke first.

“Well, I went to Scottsdale High.”

“Me too,” Sandra chimed in.

Emma was speechless for just a moment.

“High school?” she questioned.

She gave Madeline a sideways glance. She couldn’t be serious. These girls weren’t even out of diapers yet, and Madeline has her working with them. She was appalled.

“Well, nice to meet you,” she said.

Madeline broke the silence.

“Why don’t you two get started in the kitchen while Emma and I work on setting up the office?”

“Sure, Mrs. McDougal.”

“Let’s not stand on formality. I don’t much like being called Mrs. McDougal. Why don’t you call me Maddie?” she suggested.

The young girls smiled and nodded as they left the room. As soon as they were clear, Emma rounded on Maddie.

“Are you serious? High school kids?”

“Well, their jobs don’t require that much detail. They’ll learn as they go. Think of them as your interns.”

Madeline tried to lighten the already tense moment. Already she was beginning to regret what she had begun to realize was maybe a mistake.

“Yeah, well, they better stay out of my way,”

Emma quipped before settling down to work. But her ire was up and she had to get something off her chest.

“You know, you’re the one that should really be working for me,” she said with a light smile.

“After all, I’ve been in the kitchen just as long as you have.”

“Perhaps,” Maddie agreed. “But why didn’t you open your own shop when you had the chance?”