Caught Bread Handed (30 page)

“Sweet. You're the best.” He nodded at an uneaten tray of gray oatmeal and dry toast. “You don't even want to know what that was like.” Sticking his finger in his mouth, he pretended to gag. “Bad. So bad. I think I might have nightmares about it.”

“Happy to help. I brought you one of everything. I wasn't sure what you would be in the mood for.”

He reached for a cinnamon roll. “I'll eat every one of them before they let me out of here.”

I sat in the chair next to the bed. “You better pace yourself. Otherwise they'll have to pump all of that sugar from your stomach.”

“Good point.” He took a bite of the soft roll. “This is awesome.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Fine. It's nothing. A bump. I don't know why they kept me. I think the Professor made them.”

“He was worried about you. We all were.”

“Stupid sedan. I've been trying to convince the Professor to put in a request for a four-wheel drive. Maybe now he'll do it.”

“You might as well try to work it. You could say that you're seeing double or something.”

“I like it.” He rubbed his head. “Come to think of it, did you grow an extra head?”

“Oh, no, I think I've created a monster.” I handed him a napkin. “Did you talk to the Professor?”

“Last night. Why?”

“Has he said anything to you about retiring?”

Thomas shook his head. “No. Did he say that to you?”

“No, but my mom hinted that he was talking about it, but she also said that he was stressed about the case.”

“The Professor doesn't usually get stressed.”

“Exactly.”

Thomas frowned. “I hope he's not serious. I don't know what I would do without him.” He chuckled and pointed to the wrap on his head. “I got this just driving around town.”

“You should come up with a good story—tell people that you were chasing a suspect and speeding through the streets.”

“Trust me. I'm already working on it. The guys are not going to let me live this down.” He finished his cinnamon roll and reached for a strawberry doughnut.

“Have they told you when you get to leave?”

“Hopefully before lunch.” Thomas took a bite of the gooey doughnut. “I heard that Carlos left. How are you doing?”

I sighed. “I'm okay.”

He cleared his throat. “You don't have to play tough around me, Jules. I've known you too long.”

I smiled. “It's complicated.”

“If you want to talk, I'm here.”

“I appreciate that. Thanks.”

Thomas pushed the box of pastry toward me. “Can you put those over there? I am going to eat the entire box if you don't take it away.”

I made space on his bedside table for the box. “Is there anything you need?”

“Nope. I'm good now that I have Torte by my side.” He wiped his fingers on the napkin. “You know what I was just thinking? Remember the last time we were both here? You were in the bed, and I brought you flowers. That can be our thing.”

“How about if our thing is that neither of us end up in the hospital again?”

“Yeah. I like that plan better.” Thomas grinned.

“Did you suspect Mathew the whole time?”

“The Professor did. He thought it was too convenient that Mathew was on the scene. You helped confirm that. That's why he wanted me to go over the timeline with each suspect and witness multiple times. You arrived on the scene, minutes after Mathew killed Mindy.”

I shuddered.

“I know,” Thomas said. “It's a good thing you didn't get there sooner. You might have caught him in the act and who knows what might have happened.”

“You're not making me feel better.”

“Sorry. Anyway between you and the coroner's report we were able to determine that Mindy was killed right before you got there. She made a call to Alan fifteen minutes earlier. The Professor said this is one of the tightest timelines he's ever worked. Usually the time of death is a window of an hour or more. This time it was literally minutes.”

“I can't believe Mathew did it.”

“He had financial motivation. The tech department was able to recover the digital contracts on Mindy's laptop. She was cutting him out. That's usually one of the number-one motives.”

“It's so sad.”

“Murder is sad,” Thomas agreed.

A nurse tapped on the door. “I'm going to need to check his vitals,” she said, wheeling in a cart.

“That's okay, I should get back to the shop anyway.” I stood. “I'm glad to see you looking good. Feel better. Let me know if you need anything.”

Thomas pointed to the pastry box. “I might need another round of sustenance later.”

“Consider it done.” I waved and made way for the nurse.

Torte was a straight shot down Main Street. Seeing Thomas had made me feel better. He looked fine and was obviously his normal, upbeat self.

I continued past the library. The closer I got to downtown the more the shop façades began to resemble an Elizabethan village. When I arrived at ShakesBurgers, Alan and Rosalind were standing in front of the restaurant. Rosalind had a notebook in her hand and was making notes as Alan pointed to the front window.

“You two look like you're plotting something,” I said, slowing my pace.

“Good morning, Juliet,” Rosalind said. She tapped the notebook. “Guilty as charged. Alan and I are going over the new design for the Jester.”

“The Jester?” I asked Alan. “You're going to reopen? Is that why you're back in costume?” I noted his purple-and-green jester outfit, complete with a cap with dangling bells.

He smiled. “Yep. Thanks in part to Rosalind. I don't have to work for the man. The city is going to offer grant money to downtown businesses to help offset the cost of redesigning any modern buildings to be in line with Ashland's Shakespeare corridor. That's what you're calling it, right, Rosalind?”

Rosalind nodded. “Yes. Not only did the council pass the ordinance, but they found grant money to help businesses in the process. I'm going to be overseeing the program.”

“That's great news.”

“Having some financial support should help me get it right this time,” Alan said.

“Tell me about it,” I said. “Running a small business is costly.”

Rosalind perked up. “Maybe we can find grant money for you and your mom, Juliet. Your storefront is already up to our high standards, but what about inside? Perhaps you could add some additional Elizabethan touches. The council is highly motived to roll this program out before the start of the new season.”

“Do you think they want to offer grant money for new ovens?”

“I don't know about that.” She flipped through the notebook. “You know what? I have an idea for you! An amazing idea. Why didn't I think of it sooner?”

“What?” I looked at Alan. He shrugged.

“The space below you has been vacant for years.” Rosalind started sketching something on the notebook. “Have you consider expanding? I'm sure we could get you a city loan or grant to develop that space.”

The space Rosalind was referring to was on the back corner of Torte. Many of Ashland's downtown storefronts have back-alley spaces as well. There's a cobblestone walkway around the corner that parallels Lithia Creek. Some restaurants have back decks and patios for alfresco dining. The basement shop underneath Torte used to be a bookstore. Customers would access it from back stairs on the alley. The bookstore went out of business five years ago, and had been vacant ever since.

“Are you serious?” I asked Rosalind.

“Very serious. We are committed to ensuring that our downtown Shakespeare corridor is a world-class destination. Torte is an institution on Main Street and your family has led the charge in keeping the spirit of the Bard alive.”

“I don't know. Let me talk it over with Mom.”

She reached into her purse and pulled out a business card. Placing it in my hand, she said, “Talk to your mother and get back to me. I'd love to help see this idea to fruition.”

“Okay.” I tucked the card into my jeans pocket. “I will.”

Her foot slipped as she shifted her purse. Alan caught her arm and steadied her. “Are you okay?” I asked.

“This old hip.” She patted her hip. “I took a bit of a tumble walking down the steps on the stage at the Black Swan the other night. Threw my hip out. It flares up sometimes.”

“You fell at the theater?”

“More like slipped. Why do you look so surprised?”

“It's nothing. It's just that I heard a rumor that you and Mindy had a fight that night and then you were limping and bruised. I thought maybe…” I trailed off.

Rosalind tapped Alan with her purse. “She thought that I could be a killer. Well, Juliet, I have to tell you I'm actually flattered by that.”

“I didn't really think that you could have killed Mindy.” I felt color rising in my cheeks.

Alan scratched his head. “Hey, what about me, man? I'm feeling left out.”

“Oh, no, don't. Remember our conversation at ShakesBurgers?”

“Yeah.” He flashed the peace symbol with his fingers. “The hippie and grandma.”

“I guess that's why it's best to leave murder investigations to the Professor and Thomas.”

They returned to sketching out a Shakespearean façade for ShakesBurgers. I crossed the plaza. Who would have thought that my parents' obsession with Shakespeare might lead to cash to help expand Torte?

Expand Torte! I couldn't wait to tell Mom. We were excited about new ovens and a kitchen paint job. Taking over the vacant basement would be a major undertaking, but my mind was already running through designs. We could knock through the floor and build stairs. We could even move the entire kitchen downstairs and expand the coffee bar and dining room upstairs.

I practically skipped across the plaza. Mom and I could expand Torte! My vision of owning a pastry shop and restaurant could come true sooner than I'd ever imagined. I was home. I was where I wanted to be and about to take a big leap forward.

 

Recipes

Chocolate Molasses Crinkles

Ingredients:

¾ cup butter

1 cup sugar

¼ cup molasses

1 egg

2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1 teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon nutmeg

1 package chocolate chips

½ cup granulated sugar in extra bowl

Directions:

Cream butter, sugar, and molasses together. Add egg. Then slowly incorporate dry ingredients and spices. Once batter is firm, add chocolate chips and chill in the refrigerator for one hour. Spoon batter into 1-inch balls and bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Immediately roll in granulated sugar when cookies are hot from the oven.

Creamy Potato Casserole

Ingredients:

6 medium russet potatoes

½ onion

½ cup butter

1 pint sour cream

2 cups grated cheese—Jules uses a blend of Colby Jack and sharp cheddar

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

½ cup parmesan cheese

Directions:

Scrub potatoes and cook in skins in boiling water until tender when forked. Allow potatoes to cool, then peel and grate cooked potatoes into a large mixing bowl. Chop onions and sauté in butter until translucent. Add butter and onions to grated potatoes. Mix in sour cream, cheese, salt, pepper, and chopped chives. Mix well and add to a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serve hot.

Tomato-Orange Soup

Ingredients:

½ cup butter

1 medium onion

10 fresh tomatoes or two (14.5 oz.) cans of diced tomatoes

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

½ teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon fresh rosemary

½ teaspoon fresh thyme

1 cup fresh orange juice

¾ cup half and half

Directions:

Melt butter in a saucepan. Add chopped onion and sauté until translucent. If using fresh tomatoes, wash and cut slits in the tomato skins. Boil for 5 minutes. Remove from water. The skin should easily peel away. Dice tomatoes and add to the onions, or add cans of diced tomatoes. Then add salt, pepper, baking soda, and chopped rosemary and thyme. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes.

Use an immersion blender or food processor to puree. Once the mixture has been pureed, return to saucepan and whisk in orange juice and half and half. Bring to a simmer and serve hot.

Red Velvet Cake

Ingredients:

½ cup butter

1 ½ cups sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoons cocoa powder

3 oz. red food coloring

2 ½ cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 ½ teaspoons vinegar

Directions:

Cream butter, sugar, and eggs together. Add in vanilla, cocoa powder, and food coloring. Mix flour and salt in a separate bowl. Alternate adding flour mixture and buttermilk to butter mixture. Fold in baking soda and vinegar last. Bake in two 8-inch greased round pans for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Once cooled, cut cakes in half crosswise to frost.

Flour frosting

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons flour

1 cup water

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Heat flour and water in a saucepan on medium high. Be sure to continually whisk the mixture as it begins to thicken. Once the paste is opaque, remove from heat and allow to cool.

Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla in a mixer. Add in cooled flour-and-water paste and beat until the frosting is light and fluffy. Spread a thin coat of frosting between each layer of red velvet cake. Use remaining frosting to ice the top and sides of the 4-layer cake.