Read Online Murder, Money & Marzipan by Leighann Dobbs - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Leighann Dobbs
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to the guard at the door, she slipped inside, blending in with the other spectators.
The stadium hummed with activity. Bakers were frantically whipping up pies for the day’s challenge. Nans could feel the level of stress - some of the bakers would be eliminated today, so there was a lot riding on creating perfect pies.
Nans breathed in the homey smell of baked pie crust as she made a wide circle around the edge of the stadium. She passed Lexy’s booth and caught her eye, giving her a sly wink. The girls were busy at work and she didn’t want to interrupt them. Besides, she had work of her own to do.
Making her way around the stadium, she concentrated on using a slow, halting walk. Normally a very fast walker, she had developed a slower pace of walking as part of her surveillance technique because it allowed her to eavesdrop more easily. After all, no one thought twice about an old lady who walked slowly.
She slowed her pace even more in front of Corinne’s booth. She noticed Corinne humming while she baked, seemingly enjoying herself despite her dire personal circumstances.
Nans stopped, pretending to admire the pies in the next booth, her ear tuned in Corinne’s direction hoping the baker might say something incriminating to her assistant.
A ring tone burst from Corinne’s pocket. Looking over out of the corner of her eye, Nans saw the baker pull a cell phone out of her apron and put it to her ear.
She watched Corinne’s face grow white, her demeanor darkening.
“I can’t talk here.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but Nans had turned up her hearing aid just for the occasion, so she heard it perfectly.
“I’ll call you back in a few minutes.” Nans looked away as Corinne snapped the phone shut. Then she heard the baker mumble something to her assistant before she rushed out of the booth.
Nans turned in time to see her heading for the hall, then broke out of her slow, halting gait and into a fast walk behind her.
She followed Corinne at a safe pace, then saw her go into the ladies room. After a few seconds, Nans silently opened the door, shutting it slowly so that it didn’t make any noise.
The small four-stall bathroom was empty except for Corinne, who was inside one of the stalls. Nans positioned herself at the sink. She could hear Corinne talking on her phone.
“…I told you I’d get it…I have that paper…her out of the way…”
Corinne was talking so low that Nans could only pick out snatches of the conversation despite her cranked-up hearing aid. She leaned in a little closer, feeling a chill run up her spine at the baker’s next words.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to stop the foreclosure.”
Nans heard the phone snap shut. She straightened up at the sink, pretending to fix her hair. Corinne came out of the stall and Nans held her breath, hoping the baker wouldn’t recognize her. Just as she expected, the other woman barely even glanced her way. Just another old lady in the casino bathroom .
Nans slipped out of the bathroom shortly after Corinne. Her sleuthing assignment fulfilled, she turned in the direction of the casino. She had a few hours to kill before Lexy would be done in Bakery Battles Stadium, and she could think of no better place to spend it than at the slot machines.
Chapter Eleven
“I can’t believe Aurea tried to push off those half-baked pies on the judges!” Cassie snickered.
Lexy cracked a smile. Not one to laugh at the failures of her competitors she made an exception in this case. “I know. She didn’t even start baking them until 20 minutes before time was up. Not sure what she was thinking there, but I can’t say I’m sorry. Even her good friend Judge Harvey couldn’t save her from that one—at least not without risking her job.”
“I think the contest might be down to just you and Corinne, now,” Cassie said.
Lexy felt her heart clench. Two days ago she had felt for Corinne and her situation. She even thought the two of them were
The stadium hummed with activity. Bakers were frantically whipping up pies for the day’s challenge. Nans could feel the level of stress - some of the bakers would be eliminated today, so there was a lot riding on creating perfect pies.
Nans breathed in the homey smell of baked pie crust as she made a wide circle around the edge of the stadium. She passed Lexy’s booth and caught her eye, giving her a sly wink. The girls were busy at work and she didn’t want to interrupt them. Besides, she had work of her own to do.
Making her way around the stadium, she concentrated on using a slow, halting walk. Normally a very fast walker, she had developed a slower pace of walking as part of her surveillance technique because it allowed her to eavesdrop more easily. After all, no one thought twice about an old lady who walked slowly.
She slowed her pace even more in front of Corinne’s booth. She noticed Corinne humming while she baked, seemingly enjoying herself despite her dire personal circumstances.
Nans stopped, pretending to admire the pies in the next booth, her ear tuned in Corinne’s direction hoping the baker might say something incriminating to her assistant.
A ring tone burst from Corinne’s pocket. Looking over out of the corner of her eye, Nans saw the baker pull a cell phone out of her apron and put it to her ear.
She watched Corinne’s face grow white, her demeanor darkening.
“I can’t talk here.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but Nans had turned up her hearing aid just for the occasion, so she heard it perfectly.
“I’ll call you back in a few minutes.” Nans looked away as Corinne snapped the phone shut. Then she heard the baker mumble something to her assistant before she rushed out of the booth.
Nans turned in time to see her heading for the hall, then broke out of her slow, halting gait and into a fast walk behind her.
She followed Corinne at a safe pace, then saw her go into the ladies room. After a few seconds, Nans silently opened the door, shutting it slowly so that it didn’t make any noise.
The small four-stall bathroom was empty except for Corinne, who was inside one of the stalls. Nans positioned herself at the sink. She could hear Corinne talking on her phone.
“…I told you I’d get it…I have that paper…her out of the way…”
Corinne was talking so low that Nans could only pick out snatches of the conversation despite her cranked-up hearing aid. She leaned in a little closer, feeling a chill run up her spine at the baker’s next words.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to stop the foreclosure.”
Nans heard the phone snap shut. She straightened up at the sink, pretending to fix her hair. Corinne came out of the stall and Nans held her breath, hoping the baker wouldn’t recognize her. Just as she expected, the other woman barely even glanced her way. Just another old lady in the casino bathroom .
Nans slipped out of the bathroom shortly after Corinne. Her sleuthing assignment fulfilled, she turned in the direction of the casino. She had a few hours to kill before Lexy would be done in Bakery Battles Stadium, and she could think of no better place to spend it than at the slot machines.
Chapter Eleven
“I can’t believe Aurea tried to push off those half-baked pies on the judges!” Cassie snickered.
Lexy cracked a smile. Not one to laugh at the failures of her competitors she made an exception in this case. “I know. She didn’t even start baking them until 20 minutes before time was up. Not sure what she was thinking there, but I can’t say I’m sorry. Even her good friend Judge Harvey couldn’t save her from that one—at least not without risking her job.”
“I think the contest might be down to just you and Corinne, now,” Cassie said.
Lexy felt her heart clench. Two days ago she had felt for Corinne and her situation. She even thought the two of them were
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