Deadly Pumpkin Slice (A Sinful Sweets Cozy Mystery) Read online

  “Detective Massey, what can I get you?” Grace asked from behind the counter. Sydney was busy cleaning tables.

  “What can you recommend, Grace?” he asked, flashing a smile.

  “We have fresh cider donuts and just a few pumpkin pies left.”

  “I’ll have to stay away from the donuts, don’t want to go living up to the police stereotype. How about a pie?”

  “Sure. Whipped cream? We have regular and maple.”

  “Just the pie, thanks. And a coffee.”

  Grace busied herself with the order and Sydney came back to the counter. “Hi Detective,” she greeted.

  “Hi Sydney. I wonder if you might have a few minutes to sit down with me when I get my pie and coffee?” he asked.

  “Sure,” she answered, confused about the invitation. She hoped nothing had happened to Mia. “I’ll bring them over to you. Cream or sugar? Grace is getting the pie.”

  “Sugar. Thanks.”

  Sydney armed herself with the pie and coffee and took a seat opposite Detective Massey at a window booth.

  “I have a few questions for you, if that’s OK,” Detective Massey started, putting Sydney on high alert.

  “Sure. What’s this about?” Maple came over and lay under the table at Sydney’s feet, making her instantly more relaxed. She leaned down to pet the dog, thankful she was as even tempered as she was so she could spend the day with her in the bakery. She’d have to take her out soon for a walk. They hadn’t had a break since they’d arrived.

  “You’re familiar with Aaron Gibbs?”

  “Yes.” She hadn’t spoken to him since she’d left him six years ago. He was one of the biggest reasons she was in Twin Peaks today. They’d been living together for over three years when she left. He reached out to Mia once in a while, but never to her.

  “His body was found this morning.”

  “Oh,” she said, surprise flooding her face. As poorly as their relationship had ended, she never would have wished him dead.

  “Here in Twin Peaks.”

  “What?” That added another layer to the puzzle that was forming in her mind. Why had he even been in town? Had he been coming for her?

  “When was the last time you talked to him?”

  “Not since I left him six years ago.”

  “And he never tried to contact you?”

  “No. A couple times he called Mia, but he never tried to contact me.”

  “Are you sure? Nothing in the last few months that would have made him reach out to you, or you to him?”

  “No. Why? What’s this about? You don’t think I killed him, do you?”

  “I can’t answer that. But two of your pumpkin pies were found in his room. They were poisoned.”

  CHAPTER 2

  “Sydney, you look like you just saw a ghost,” Grace said after Detective Massey had left and the front door was locked. “He didn’t ask you out, did he?”

  Everyone in town knew Detective Massey was an eligible bachelor, but no one could figure out why. He had the looks, the job and personality.

  “I think I was just accused of murder,” Sydney said, still in a daze.

  “A murder? Who was killed?”

  “Aaron.”

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “And it was our pumpkin pie that killed him. Detective Massey said it was poisoned. And, it was here in Twin Peaks, in a hotel room.”

  “Well, we all know that it wasn’t you.”

  “I know. But why would someone kill him? Even I wouldn’t want that.”

  “And you’d have every right to want that after the way he treated you,” Grace said, patting Sydney on the hand across the counter.

  “I just thought he was behind me, and now even when he’s dead, he seems to have power over me.”

  “What else did Detective Massey say about how he died?” Grace asked, immediately focusing on getting to the bottom of the puzzle.

  “Just that it was my pumpkin pie that was found there. Poisoned. I don’t know what kind of poison, and even if I did, I wouldn’t know enough to clear my name. Maybe Mia knows something. I’m going to meet her out at The Pumpkin Patch. Are you all set here with the orders?”

  “I think I’ll be able to manage. Be careful,” Grace warned as Maple jumped up at the sound of Sydney getting her bike.

  “Come on, Maple!” she called.

  ***

  The ride to The Pumpkin Patch took longer than expected and Sydney was tired when they got there. She had debated going home to get her car first, but she knew the ride would give her time to get her thoughts in order and make a plan for how to approach these crazy accusations.

  Sydney locked her bike to a tree out front and tied Maple up to it. “You stay,” Sydney commanded. Maple lay down and panted. It had been a while since she’d gotten that much exercise and she could feel it. Sydney wasn’t sure she’d make it back with her.

  “Sydney! Great to see you!” Jake called as she walked around the barn to the field of pumpkins. There were more left in the field than she’d expected after the Halloween rush.

  “Good to see you too, Jake. I heard my sister was coming here this afternoon with her play group. Have you seen her yet?” Sydney asked, skipping the normal formalities of greeting and jumped right into why she was there.

  “I have. They’re all out on the hayride right now but should be back in about fifteen minutes. Want to come in for a pumpkin chai?”

  “Yeah, I could use one. And a water.” She was still sweating even though it was a comfortable fall day.

  “You rode here?” he asked.

  “Yup. I left Maple out front with my bike.”

  “Bring her in. My wife made all natural dog treats and she’ll need a few if she’s going to run home with you too!”

  “Thanks,” Sydney said and walked back around the barn to get Maple. They met Jake in the kitchen. He’d already poured two chais and put three dog treats in a bowl on the floor. He’d put a water bowl down too.

  “How are the pumpkins selling?” Sydney asked. She didn’t want to get into Aaron’s death with Jake so kept the conversation light.

  “You’re our best customer! What’s on the menu this fall? More pumpkin pies?”

  “Yup. I should have brought you one. They’ve been selling like hot cakes for over a month and I could probably sell them through Christmas if I have enough pumpkins! I only ordered enough to last me through November.”

  “We might be able to work something out,” Jake said with a wink.

  They kept the conversation strictly business until they heard the kids’ laughter and shrieks of joy.

  “Sounds like they’re back,” Jake said, standing up and opening the back door.

  Kids were jumping off the back of the wagon before it had fully stopped. Sydney was surprised to see Mia as calm as she was amidst such chaos.

  “Auntie Sydney!” Ariel shouted. “Come see the pun’kin I made!” Ariel, at three, would definitely not have been allowed to wield the knife.

  “Hey Ariel,” Sydney said, letting Ariel drag her off in the direction of all of the Jack-‘o-Lanterns. Ariel’s was the first one in line and was unmistakably a dog.

  “This one’s mine,” Ariel told her, pride oozing out of her mouth with each word.

  “It’s great. Should we take it and go find Mom?” Sydney asked. In lieu of a response, Ariel picked it up and then shot her arms in the air for Sydney to carry her.

  Sydney was always greeted with the same grin, shouts of excitement and hugs, and her heart melted every time. She was thankful she lived so close so she could enjoy the kids as often as possible, but still have her own freedom.

  She’d thought she might have been heading down the family road with Aaron, but he’d surprised her with his temper. That had been the deciding factor in leaving him—she couldn’t trust him and she knew that was a deal breaker.

  “Sydney, what are you doing here?” Mia asked, sliding off the back of the wagon, baby Aiden in her arm
s.

  “Good to see you too, Mia,” Sydney said sarcastically, Ariel still in her arms, stroking her hair, thrilled with the unexpected visit from her favorite aunt.

  “Sorry. What’s up?” Mia asked, friendlier. Jake had already left Sydney alone to help the other kids and mothers unload.

  “I wanted to ask you about Aaron. Have you heard from him lately?”

  “No, why?” she said, a look of confusion on her face. “I’ve gotta run and pick up Addison from kindergarten, do you want to come? I don’t think Ariel will let you go anyway.”

  “Sure. But I have Maple and my bike.”

  “We can make room,” Mia said, her initial coldness gone and a smile creeping onto her face watching her daughter so in love with Sydney.

  Kids were talking Jake’s ear off about what they’d seen, so Sydney waved from afar and went inside to retrieve Maple who was itching to get outside and get in the middle of all the kids.

  “Sorry, not today, Maple. We have to go. But you’ll see Addison, Ariel and Aiden. Let’s go,” Sydney coaxed, walking out the front door toward her bike.

  With everything loaded and iPads hooked up for the kids, Mia was more willing to listen to what Sydney had to say.

  “Detective Massey came to Sinful Sweets today and was asking me about my current relationship with Aaron.”

  “Why? What’s going on?”

  “He was killed in Twin Peaks. His body was found this morning.”

  “Woah. That’s awful. But what put you on the radar?”

  “My pumpkin pies were found in his hotel room where his body was discovered. And they were poisoned.”

  “When was the last time you saw him?” Mia asked, suspicion in her voice.

  “Mia. Really? You think I did this? I haven’t seen or talked to him for six years!”

  “Sorry. I just know he deserved it. I know you couldn’t have killed him,” Mia said with conviction.

  Sydney looked back in the car to see if Ariel was listening to their conversation. It was clear that she was lost in whatever cartoon she was watching. Maple was lying on the floor between the two car seats in the minivan, anxiously watching Ariel, hoping they’d soon get to play.

  “You know Detective Massey is my neighbor?”

  “Yeah. What’s your relationship with him?”

  “He’s great. We have him over for dinner sometimes. I think he likes spending time with the kids. I’m always surprised he’s still single!” Mia joked, sneaking a glance at Sydney.

  Sydney hadn’t even noticed how good looking he was that morning. She was too busy closing up for the day, and then was too worried about being accused of murder to take in anything else from the conversation. But thinking back, she couldn’t deny that he was easy on the eyes.

  They pulled up to Twin Peaks Elementary School and Mia asked Sydney, “Do you want to go in and get Addison? She’ll be beside herself with excitement to see you. Just go to the office and tell them you’re there, you’re on my list of people who can pick her up.”

  “Sure. Maple, be good,” Sydney said before she got out of the car.

  “Like she could do anything bad!” Mia called through her open window.

  Sydney walked into the office, let them know who she was there for and waited in the hallway for Addison to be released from her classroom. She thought all of the precautions were overboard with how safe and close knit the whole community was.

  “Auntie Sydney!” called a voice before Sydney could see where it was coming from.

  Addison ran down the hall toward her, arms outstretched, oversized backpack bouncing up and down with each step.

  “Addison!” Sydney responded as the girl leaped into her arms.

  “Mama’s gone?” she asked.

  “Nope, your Mama’s in the car. And Maple too. Let’s go see them!” Sydney said with enough enthusiasm for Addison to nearly jump down and run out of the building before realizing she had to hold Sydney’s hand across the parking lot.

  “You’re coming home with us?” Addison asked, a hopeful look in her eyes.

  “I don’t think so. Maybe you can drop me at home and I’ll come over another day.”

  “I think it should be today,” Addison said, ending the discussion. Sydney knew she couldn’t deny her of anything.

  ***

  Sydney and Maple spent the afternoon playing with the kids. She didn’t know why she’d tried to avoid it. Mia got a break, and Sydney got reenergized. She was out back with both the girls while Aiden and Mia got a much needed nap. They cycled through numerous games of hide-and-seek and endless bouts of swinging, Sydney pushing both girls at the same time. Maple loved every minute.

  “Auntie Sydney, guess what I was for Halloween,” Addison said, Sydney at her back.

  “A spider?” Sydney guessed.

  “No, try again.” This game wasn’t going to end quickly.

  “A pumpkin?”

  “No, that was Ariel.”

  “A fairy?”

  “No, a dog! I was dressed like Maple!”

  Sydney melted all over again.

  Eventually, Mia came out back and took over pushing Addison.

  “Sydney, I never told you this, but Aaron came here about four months ago,” Mia said suddenly.

  “What?” Sydney asked in shock, turning to look at her sister. “Why?”

  “He was still in love with you. He wanted to get you back. That’s why he’d always only called me, not you. He knew he’d screwed up, and he wanted my help to get you back without stalking you.”

  “What did you tell him?”

  “That he didn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell.”

  “Why didn’t you ever tell me? I didn’t want him knowing where I lived. I’d never meant to stay in Twin Peaks as long as I have. It’s always felt too close to him.”

  “When he left, I really didn’t think he’d come back. I’d made it clear he wasn’t welcome and he had nothing here. But I figured you should know this now, with everything that’s happening.”

  “Thanks,” Sydney said lamely. “How long did he stay?”

  “Three nights.”

  “Long enough for people to notice him. Did he make any enemies here? We’ve got to start thinking about who could have done this instead of why,” Sydney suggested.

  “He probably met plenty of people. He told me he was going to go to Sinful Sweets.”

  “What? I never saw him! How could he have gone there?”

  “When he left, he told me he’d visited, but that you weren’t there. I think it was the weekend you took Maple hiking.”

  “Lucky for me. But that means he knew where I worked. He saw Grace. I should have showed her a picture of him! She wouldn’t have even known it was him. I’ve gotta go talk to her before Detective Massey gets to her. Addison, Ariel, I’ve gotta go,” Sydney told the girls who were still enjoying flying high.

  “No, Auntie Sydney!” they both shouted in near unison. “Can Maple stay?” Addison added.

  Sydney laughed. “Sorry, she’s coming with me. Maple, let’s go.”

  The dog whined, but loyally followed Sydney. Addison and Ariel slowed their swinging so they could blow kisses as Sydney left.

  Instead of going home, Sydney rode her bike to Grace’s, Maple jogging beside her without a leash. She thought about all of the potential people Aaron could have met in Twin Peaks when he’d come. She needed to make a list of suspects. Her name wouldn’t be on her own list, only that of Detective Massey.

  ***

  “Sydney, come in!” Grace exclaimed, surprised to see her best friend.

  “Grace, we can’t wait for the police to take care of this. We have to clear my name because they could take too long to do it,” Sydney sputtered, storming inside, Maple on her heels.

  “I was thinking the same thing. So I started making a list of people to look into.”

  “Who did you come up with?”

  “Well, there’s Mia,” Grace said cautiously.

&n
bsp; “It’s not her. I saw her this afternoon. She told me that Aaron came here looking for me! He even visited Sinful Sweets!”