?”
“If that’s when you want it, that’s when I’ll have it.”
“I’ll pick it up that morning then. So, how’s your investigation into Fred’s murder coming along?”
That one threw me. “Murder?”
“Well, sure. You don’t reckon it was an accident or a coincidence or some other nonsense that all them people got sick at the same time, do you?”
“I . . . I don’t know.”
“Of course, you do. You just ain’t ready to own up to it yet. Well, I’d better go. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Wait,” I said. “Have you heard anything about why Mr. Franklin from the Save-A-Buck is acting so weird about Fred’s death?”
“I’ve not heard anything; but from what I’ve seen, Steve Franklin is acting like a man with a guilty conscience.”
“You don’t think he contaminated the food at the Brea Ridge Christmas party, do you?”
“No, but something about Fred is eating at that man. Maybe it’s because he demoted Fred after Yodel Watson made that stink about the produce department being unorganized a while back.” She clucked her tongue. “I don’t know what it is he’s feeling guilty about, but I know he’s feeling guilty. I’ve seen enough people carrying around that burden to know it when I see it.”
“Huh.”
“I’ll let you get back to work now,” China said, “and I’ll do the same.”
As soon as we hung up, I wrote down her cake order and delivery date.
Could China be right? Was Steve Franklin suffering from guilt over something concerning Fred’s death?
*
After decorating the cakes for Save-A-Buck and placing them in Daphne’s Delectable Cakes boxes, I sat down with a stack of magazines and catalogs to get some ideas for Belinda’s New Year’s Eve party.
Dessert bars are a growing trend. One magazine article stated, “Good options are desserts that are portable and not too sticky so guests can take their desserts, mingle and then return.” The same magazine stated that cupcake towers and petit four towers are also gaining popularity. Some people like to include a monogram or initial on their petit fours.
Belinda Fremont would love white petit-fours with the initial F in gold , I thought. I wrote that suggestion down on my notepad.
The article suggested mini pies and tarts to provide an alternative to cakes and candies. Themed cookies were another suggestion.
I made notes on all of this. I was guessing that—knowing Belinda from her guinea pig Guinevere’s birthday party—she was going to want some of all of the above for both her human guests and her cavies. I went to my office and booted up the computer. Somehow I was afraid organic cookie recipes for guinea pigs might be hard to come by, but you’d be surprised at how quickly I found a recipe for “vegetarian biscuits” for guinea pigs. The author said she developed the recipe by combining a carrot cake recipe with a recipe for scones. Go figure. You really can find anything on the Internet.
*
I was preparing my portfolio to take to Belinda’s house when the phone rang.
“Daphne’s Delectable Cakes,” I answered. “How can I help you have a sweet day?”
“This is so unfair!”
“Fran? Is that you?”
“Yes, and I’m so mad at my mom.”
“Are you driving?” I asked. Teens on the phone while driving are scary enough. Angry teens on the phone while driving make me want to hide under the bed. Dust bunnies notwithstanding.
“No,” she said. “I’m in the parking lot at the mall. I need to find a black dress for tomorrow.”
“Okay, good. Are your doors locked? Because I don’t want some thief catching you unaware and either rob you or jack your car while we’re talking.”
“I’m locking the doors now.”
I heard the click and felt relieved.
“Wow,” Fran continued, “you really take this crime stuff seriously, don’t you?”
“Well, not to sound like your mother, but ‘better safe than sorry’ is a cliché for a reason.”
“Speaking of her, I am so
“If that’s when you want it, that’s when I’ll have it.”
“I’ll pick it up that morning then. So, how’s your investigation into Fred’s murder coming along?”
That one threw me. “Murder?”
“Well, sure. You don’t reckon it was an accident or a coincidence or some other nonsense that all them people got sick at the same time, do you?”
“I . . . I don’t know.”
“Of course, you do. You just ain’t ready to own up to it yet. Well, I’d better go. Let me know if you need anything.”
“Wait,” I said. “Have you heard anything about why Mr. Franklin from the Save-A-Buck is acting so weird about Fred’s death?”
“I’ve not heard anything; but from what I’ve seen, Steve Franklin is acting like a man with a guilty conscience.”
“You don’t think he contaminated the food at the Brea Ridge Christmas party, do you?”
“No, but something about Fred is eating at that man. Maybe it’s because he demoted Fred after Yodel Watson made that stink about the produce department being unorganized a while back.” She clucked her tongue. “I don’t know what it is he’s feeling guilty about, but I know he’s feeling guilty. I’ve seen enough people carrying around that burden to know it when I see it.”
“Huh.”
“I’ll let you get back to work now,” China said, “and I’ll do the same.”
As soon as we hung up, I wrote down her cake order and delivery date.
Could China be right? Was Steve Franklin suffering from guilt over something concerning Fred’s death?
*
After decorating the cakes for Save-A-Buck and placing them in Daphne’s Delectable Cakes boxes, I sat down with a stack of magazines and catalogs to get some ideas for Belinda’s New Year’s Eve party.
Dessert bars are a growing trend. One magazine article stated, “Good options are desserts that are portable and not too sticky so guests can take their desserts, mingle and then return.” The same magazine stated that cupcake towers and petit four towers are also gaining popularity. Some people like to include a monogram or initial on their petit fours.
Belinda Fremont would love white petit-fours with the initial F in gold , I thought. I wrote that suggestion down on my notepad.
The article suggested mini pies and tarts to provide an alternative to cakes and candies. Themed cookies were another suggestion.
I made notes on all of this. I was guessing that—knowing Belinda from her guinea pig Guinevere’s birthday party—she was going to want some of all of the above for both her human guests and her cavies. I went to my office and booted up the computer. Somehow I was afraid organic cookie recipes for guinea pigs might be hard to come by, but you’d be surprised at how quickly I found a recipe for “vegetarian biscuits” for guinea pigs. The author said she developed the recipe by combining a carrot cake recipe with a recipe for scones. Go figure. You really can find anything on the Internet.
*
I was preparing my portfolio to take to Belinda’s house when the phone rang.
“Daphne’s Delectable Cakes,” I answered. “How can I help you have a sweet day?”
“This is so unfair!”
“Fran? Is that you?”
“Yes, and I’m so mad at my mom.”
“Are you driving?” I asked. Teens on the phone while driving are scary enough. Angry teens on the phone while driving make me want to hide under the bed. Dust bunnies notwithstanding.
“No,” she said. “I’m in the parking lot at the mall. I need to find a black dress for tomorrow.”
“Okay, good. Are your doors locked? Because I don’t want some thief catching you unaware and either rob you or jack your car while we’re talking.”
“I’m locking the doors now.”
I heard the click and felt relieved.
“Wow,” Fran continued, “you really take this crime stuff seriously, don’t you?”
“Well, not to sound like your mother, but ‘better safe than sorry’ is a cliché for a reason.”
“Speaking of her, I am so
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