Read Online Sugar and Iced (Cupcake Bakery Mystery) by Jenn McKinlay - Free Book Online Page B

found to have itching powder in it. They each blamed the other but no one could prove it.”
    Ginny led the others away, and Mel and Angie watched them go.
    “I don’t know about you, but I have a really bad feeling about this,” Mel said.
    Angie looked thoughtful. “Agreed. There was something off about that whole scene. I mean, I got the feeling Mariel wanted Lupe to come after her.”
    “I did, too,” Mel said. “The question is
why
.”

Ten

    The next day, Mel was back at her cupcake tower while the judging of the swimsuit competition went on poolside. They had a pretty good vantage point from their corner of the lobby. She saw Lupe with Joyce. Lupe was wearing a robe and looked distinctly uncomfortable. Mel understood completely. This would have ranked right up there in her top worst nightmares as a teen, coming in second only to showing up naked to class.
    Angie was again working the crowd in the lobby. She seemed to have made a few friends and Mel saw her chatting up people as she passed out the cupcakes. Today’s specialty was the Pretty in Pink, a strawberry cupcake with a dollop of vanilla buttercream rolled in bright pink sprinkles around the edges.
    Cici Hastings was working her way through the lobby. She looked amazing in an emerald silk blouse and black capri pants with her hair and makeup done to perfection.
    Mel knew that the minimum amount of personal maintenance required to stay as well preserved as Cici meant that she would never look anywhere near that good at any age, but still, Mel hoped she had a little of the pizzazz Cici had when she was in her advanced years.
    “Looking good, Cici,” she called as the older lady went by her.
    “Thanks,” Cici paused. “Have you seen Mariel? We were supposed to start the swimsuit competition fifteen minutes ago, but she hasn’t shown up yet.”
    “No, come to think of it, I haven’t seen her all morning,” Mel said. She had been surprised, too, because after yesterday’s kerfuffle in the lobby, she had fully expected Mariel to make another scene today.
    “She’s probably sulking.” Cici sighed. “A total diva, that one.”
    “Why would she be sulking?” Mel asked.
    “Because in reviewing her scores from yesterday, it became apparent that she
is
playing favorites. She lowballed anyone who might provide competition for her chosen one, especially Lupe Guzman, who was scoring very high with the other two judges,” Cici said. “So I made the decision to throw out every contestant’s lowest score and I let her know I’d do it again, too. That should keep the voting honest.”
    “Nicely done,” Mel said.
    “I thought so, except now I have a big poutypants for a head judge and I really don’t have the time or patience for it,” Cici said. “Honestly, I should have brought Anka Holland in as the judge, but given that she was always number two to Mariel’s number one spot on the pageant circuit, Mariel seemed to be the better choice. Ugh, live and learn.”
    “Can I help you look for her?” Mel asked. “I can check the prep rooms.”
    “Oh, would you?” Cici asked. “Then I could cover the same ground twice as fast.”
    “No problem,” Mel said. She turned and signaled to Angie that she was going to leave the tower. Angie nodded in understanding. Mel knew that Angie would come and keep an eye on the goods for her.
    Mel and Cici split up in the main lobby, with Mel taking one side and Cici the other. Mel entered the large room that was used for a dressing room. Several harried-looking mothers and their daughters were in there prepping their bathing suits for showtime.
    One exasperated-looking woman was using double-stick tape on her daughter’s bottom to keep the young woman’s swimsuit from riding up. The girl didn’t seem fazed as she stood texting on her smartphone, and Mel looked away, feeling embarrassed for the both of them.
    She glanced around the room, got pushed aside by another mother and daughter bolting out the door,