Death of a Cupcake Queen (7 page)

All that talk about Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars got me thinking. I had my own recipe stuffed away somewhere. Sarah Cumberland is not the only one who can make them. My mother swears it was her great great grandmother's recipe but unless her great great grandmother was Betty Crocker I have my doubts. But no matter where she got it, these tasty, sweet Cranberry Cream Cheese Bars are a hit at any party.

Chapter 11

Hayley had no idea who called 911, but within five minutes Police Chief Sergio Alvares and two of his officers, Donnie and Earl, were bursting through the doors of the Kebo Valley Golf Club. Sergio ordered his men to clear the kitchen of gawkers, corral all of the party guests, and detain them in the main dining room while he inspected the dead body in the kitchen.

After a few minutes, Sergio returned and asked the crowd who had discovered the body.

Charles McNally tentatively raised his hand and then was quickly escorted to a side office to be questioned by Sergio.

Ivy's seven dogs were still barking and yelping and skittering all over the place so Officer Earl chased them down one by one, gathering up their leashes and hauling them outside where he locked them in the backseat of a squad car so they would not be in the way.

Hayley scanned the nervous crowd as they murmured and shook their heads, not quite believing what was happening. No one was quite ready to grasp the fact that a death had occurred right in the middle of their high school reunion.

The sight of Ivy's prone body had sobered up Mona and she wasn't happy about it. Hayley knew when Mona had a pounding headache because she stopped bellowing. Mostly because the sound of her own booming voice exacerbated the pain. Mona retreated to a corner where she sat quietly licking the frosting off a butter cream cupcake. Hayley could only hope that she hadn't picked it up off the floor in the kitchen during the commotion.

There was a loud scuffle by the front door that suddenly drew everyone's attention. Officer Earl struggled with two women who were apparently trying to slip out while no one was noticing, but he spotted them when he was coming back from herding the poodles into his squad car.

It was Sabrina and Nykki.

Sabrina clawed at Earl's fingers which were tightly circled around her upper forearm. “Let go of me!”

“I'm sorry, ma'am, nobody goes anywhere until the chief has had a chance to talk to everyone,” Earl said, his cheeks reddening as Sabrina's nails dug into his skin.

Nykki also fought hard against the young officer's grip but she was more resigned to the fact that a quick escape was unlikely.

Why would Sabrina and Nykki be so anxious to flee the scene?

Didn't they care to find out what happened to their best friend?

It didn't make any sense.

Once they realized all eyes in the room were staring at them, both women calmed down, shook free of Officer Earl, and raced to a corner together to huddle and whisper to each other.

Hayley was about to walk over and ask them point blank what was going on when Officer Donnie sauntered into the room followed by a devastated Charles McNally, his face a ghostly white, his shoulders hunched over in grief. He plopped down in a chair and covered his puffy face with his hands and silently cried.

“Hayley Powell, the chief would like to speak to you next,” Officer Donnie announced, waving her over.

Hayley followed Officer Donnie into the side office where Sergio waited.

Before Sergio had a chance to speak, Hayley asked, “Do you know what happened to her?”

“It looks like a blow to the back of the head killed her instantly. She dropped to the floor like a sack of pears.”

Potatoes.

Sack of potatoes.

Hayley had long given up on correcting native Brazilian Sergio's sometimes spotty grasp of English phrases.

“So someone murdered her?” Hayley said, stunned.

“I am not going to announce anything until the new coroner has conducted a complete autopsy,” Sergio said. “But I saw the head wound and it looked pretty bad.”

The only reason Hayley was given access to this new information was because Sergio was aware of the fact that Hayley had a knack for solving crimes and she would probably find out on her own eventually anyway so why not just cut to the chase?

“Mr. McNally told me the victim had a fight with her husband a few minutes before the body was discovered?”

“That's right,” Hayley said. “Nigel. But he left before it happened.”

“He could have doubled back. There was another entrance to the kitchen near the eighteenth hole. I've already radioed my officers to find him and bring him in. Know where they can find him?”

“I would start with the rental house where they were staying in Seal Harbor. Sabrina and her . . . friend are staying there too. She can give you the address.”

“Is there anyone else you can think of who has a bulge for Ivy?”

“I beg your pardon?”

“You know what I'm talking about. A bulge.”

“You mean besides Charles McNally?”

“Mr. McNally had a bulge?”

“When it came to Ivy, absolutely.”

“I'm surprised. He seemed so broken up over her death.”

“Exactly. Because he had the hots for her.”

“The what?”

This conversation was going off the rails.

Hayley took a deep breath. She remembered she was communicating with her English-challenged brother-in-law and then reviewed their discussion.

That's when it hit her.

“You mean grudge! A
grudge
against the victim!”

“Bulge. Grudge. Don't they mean the the same thing?”

“Not even close.”

Sergio sighed, frustrated. “English is not my first language, okay? So cut me some grass.”

“Cut me some slack,” Hayley said under her breath but loud enough for Sergio to hear.

“Slack? What is slack? How do you
cut
slack? Why do you Americans have to always make everything so complicated?”

“Let's try to get back on track here.”

“Track? Is that anything like slack?”

“Sergio! You asked me if anybody else had a grudge against . . . didn't
like
Ivy, and honestly the only person I can think of is
me
!”

That stopped Sergio . . . in his tracks. “
You
?”

Hayley went on to briefly explain her painful history with Ivy as well as Sabrina and Nykki but for some inexplicable reason she failed to bring him up to speed on Sabrina and Nykki's suspicious attempt to slip away from the crime scene just moments before. She was sure Earl would fill the chief in on all the details himself, and Hayley didn't want to come off as a snitch.

Sergio nodded and took notes.

“Okay, Hayley. That's it for now. You're free to go. I may have some more questions for you later but I know where to find you,” he said, smiling. “Donnie!”

Officer Donnie poked his head in. “Yes, Chief?”

“Bring in Mona Barnes.”

“Mona . . .” Donnie's voice trailed off. He looked like a child too young for Disneyland, who reacts with fear at the sight of a giant Goofy approaching.

“You heard me,” Sergio said, a little more forcefully.

“Chief, you promised me I would never have to deal with
that
woman ever again!” Donnie wailed.

Mona and Officer Donnie had come to blows once when Mona was considered a suspect in another murder investigation.

And frankly she whipped his butt.

Ever since then the poor kid was a bundle of nerves whenever he was in the same vicinity fearing she might lash out unexpectedly like an alligator stepped on by an unsuspecting hiker splashing through a swamp.

“Never mind. I will go get her myself,” Sergio said, standing up and blowing past his young officer. Hayley tried not to giggle but Donnie was so spooked by the prospect of having to talk to his sworn enemy.

At least in his mind.

Mona could barely remember his name.

When Hayley stepped back into the main room, she spied Sabrina and Nykki eyeing the door as if plotting yet another escape.

They were downright panicked at the idea of being questioned by the police.

And it aroused Hayley's already insatiable curiosity.

Suddenly a hand touched the small of her back.

Hayley spun around to see Aaron standing there.

He was in blue jeans and a tight-fitting gray t-shirt that accentuated his muscles.

His hotness made her feel all warm inside.

“I heard what was happening on the scanner at your house so I decided to come and make sure you were okay,” he said, hugging her.

Hayley didn't want to let go.

She said in his ear, “I'm so glad you're here.”

“What can I do?”

Hayley finally pulled away from him. “You can drive me home. I came with Mona and she still has to be questioned by Sergio, and I just want to get the hell out of here before I burst into tears in front of everyone.”

Aaron took her hand. “Then let's go.”

He led her out the door past Officer Earl, who was guarding the exit.

He nodded as they passed him.

Hayley glanced back at Sabrina and Nykki, who watched her enviously as she left them behind.

When they got into Aaron's car and closed the doors, Hayley lost it.

Her face was a flood of tears.

Aaron stopped buckling himself in and reached over and gently guided her head to his chest.

As Hayley let it all out, Aaron brushed her hair softly with the palm of his hand.

He was so strong.

“It's going to be okay,” Aaron said, almost in a whisper.

“I'm going to find out who did this,” Hayley choked out during sobs, surprised at herself for having such an emotional reaction to Ivy Foster's death.

Someone who was barely ever nice to her.

But a death is a death.

And no one, not even catty cupcake queen Ivy Foster, deserved to die so violently and viciously.

Aaron didn't respond to Hayley.

He didn't have to.

Because Aaron had been around long enough now to know Hayley's history.

And her single-minded determination to get to the truth.

When they had started dating, he thought he was dating a simple single mother of two who wrote a cute food and cocktails column.

Only later did he discover that he was dating a true crime investigative journalist who also just happened to be a kick-ass cook.

Chapter 12

When Hayley and Aaron pulled into the driveway of her house, Hayley was surprised to notice all the lights turned off inside.

She knew Dustin was over at his buddy Spanky's because they were partners in the upcoming science fair and were testing their potato-powered clock.

But Gemma should have been home by now.

They got out of the car and entered the kitchen through the back door off the side deck. Aaron squeezed Hayley's hand protectively, letting her know that he was right there with her.

Hayley stopped and listened.

She heard sniffling.

It was coming from the living room.

Leroy scampered into the kitchen, tail wagging, running around in circles and then dashing back into the hallway, trying to signal Hayley to follow him. He was just like Lassie at the end of the movie leading the adults to where Timmy had fallen into the well.

Hayley let go of Aaron's hand and motioned for him to stay in the kitchen while she investigated. She was very familiar with that sniffling sound. It sounded just like Gemma when she was upset.

Sure enough, as Hayley rounded the corner into the living room she was able to make out her teenage daughter curled up in a ball on the couch, her face buried in her knees, illuminated just enough by the moonlight streaming through the window.

“Honey, what's wrong?” Hayley said sitting down next to her and placing a hand on her shoulder.

Gemma kept her face firmly planted against her knees and shook her head. “I don't want to talk about it.”

“Well, you're going to have to sometime so why not just do it now and get it over with? Who knows? Maybe I can help.”

This last statement was shocking enough to get Gemma to pop her head up and raise her eyebrow skeptically.

The idea of her mother being remotely capable of actually helping her through a crisis was too much for Gemma to ignore.

Hayley noticed Blueberry hiding his massive bulk underneath the TV stand, hyperaware of the emotional tension and trying to avoid it at all costs. Unlike Leroy, this oversize fur ball with an attitude could definitely
not
be counted on in a crisis.

Gemma's eyes fell on Leroy who sat on his haunches staring up at her from the floor, a concerned look in his eye.

“Stop staring at me, Leroy!” Gemma said loud enough for the little dog to take the hint. He scampered back into the kitchen to keep Aaron company.

Hayley could hear Aaron filling the coffee maker with freshly ground beans. He was obviously trying to stay busy and keep a respectful distance in order to give mother and daughter some privacy.

“Can you at least give me an idea of what's upset you so much?” Hayley said, stroking her daughter's back.

Gemma reached between the couch cushions and yanked out her cell phone. She tapped in her security code and then thrust the screen in her mother's face. “See for yourself!”

Hayley didn't have her reading glasses on so it took some squinting and holding the phone really close before she could make out the text.

The text had been sent just under an hour ago.

“Oh no,” Hayley said, her heart sinking. “Do you know why he had to cancel?”

Gemma angrily wiped the tears off her face with the arm of her light green sweatshirt. “I texted him right back to find out but he never bothered to answer me.”

“Well, maybe it's some kind of family emergency.”

“It's
not
a family emergency, Mom,” Gemma scoffed. “Twenty minutes ago I got a call from my friend Stacy who saw Nate sucking face with Tina Leighton at Pat's Pizza in Ellsworth!”

“Who's Tina Leighton?”

“A total slut!”

“Gemma!”

“Sorry. I didn't mean slut. Tina Leighton's a mean-spirited nasty
whore
!”

“Gemma! You know I won't tolerate you calling another girl names like that.”

“I know! But shouldn't it be okay if it's
true
?”

“No!”

“Fine. Sorry. Tina goes to Ellsworth High School and last September she met Nate when our football team played an away game against their team. Nate had a knee injury so he couldn't play so he spent the whole game on the bench flirting with Ellsworth's pom pom girls, especially Tina, and they were an item by Homecoming. But during Christmas vacation, Tina met a college boy home from Dartmouth, and dumped Nate. He was heartbroken. We all felt so sorry for him and we hated Tina for hurting him so bad. Nate was inconsolable. But slowly he healed and by spring he was back to his old self and that's why I was so thrilled when he asked me to be his date for the prom.”

“So I'm guessing the college boy dumped Tina recently?”

“Yes. For his Ethics professor!”

“Wait. His
Ethics
professor is dating one of her college students? There are so many things wrong with that scenario!”

“Mother, please do not get sid-e-tracked. This is
my
life we're talking about.”

“Right. Sorry. Go on.”

“Well, Tina wasted no time getting her hooks back into Nate because she's one of those girls who just can't stay single for long. And now
I'm
paying the price!”

“If Nate was so willing to jump right back in with Tina, then maybe he's not the kind of guy you should be dating.”

Hayley couldn't resist lecturing her daughter on the uselessness of pining for an unworthy boy.

And she paid for it by having to endure one of her daughter's classic deadpan angry glares.

These were not the motherly words of wisdom Gemma expected or wanted.

Hayley couldn't let it go.

She didn't want her daughter's self-esteem to suffer at the hands of an undeserving cad.

“I mean, honestly, I think you're better off.”

She really had to just stop talking.

At this point, Gemma looked like she was going to explode.

“That doesn't really help me with a prom date, now does it? All my friends are going to have a night to remember and I'm going to be stuck at home with you watching old episodes of
American Horror Story
on Netflix!” Gemma snorted before bounding off the couch and running up the stairs to her bedroom.

She punctuated her frustration by slamming her door shut.

Hayley had no intention of following her.

The best course of action was to leave her in peace for now.

And try to figure out a solution later.

Aaron slowly entered the living room holding two piping hot steaming fresh cups of coffee.

Hayley gratefully took one and blew on it before taking a long sip.

Aaron sat down next to her and put an arm around her, drawing her closer.

“God, I hate proms,” she said.

“I had a blast at mine,” Aaron said without thinking before catching himself. “I mean, as far as proms go.”

“Well, mine was a disaster. It was like Carrie's. But without the pig's blood.”

There was no response from Aaron.

He was probably still trying to shake the image of Sissy Spacek standing under a mirror ball, drenched in blood, eyes blazing, about to telekinetically take down her entire graduating class.

Hayley now had two missions.

Find a way to prevent her daughter from having to live with a terrible memory of her senior prom like her mother.

And find the person responsible for whacking her former frenemy in the back of the head and killing her.