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asked as I pulled out of Renee's driveway. She was still peering at us through the curtains as I rolled my car slowly backwards.
    Pippa frowned and looked down at the names. "Some guy named Adam Ali."
    "Adam Ali," I murmured, glad to finally be out of Renee's crossfire. "Man, that name sounds familiar. I really hope it's not who I think it is."

    * * *
    I t was . Adam Ali was a thirty-five year old man, claiming to be twenty-five, who was convinced that he had been robbed of a life in show business. He had ginger hair that had been highlighted blonde, pale skin, and blue eyes that were far too bright.
    It had been years since our last meeting.
    I knew him because he owned a wedding cake business. When I'd first opened my boutique bakery, he'd tried everything possible to get me shut down, including getting other shop owners and residents to sign a petition that alleged that my bakery sold goods containing illegal substances and that I was a hazard to the family-friendly neighborhood.
    Eventually, when I'd informed him that I didn't even make wedding cakes and never intended to, he backed off.
    Still, I knew just how competitive, and underhanded, Adam could be. No wonder Justin had him pegged as a suspect. I could only imagine the lengths he would go to in order to ensure his place on TV.
    "Pippa, Adam isn't going to just open up and talk to us. He probably isn't even going to let us in his shop." I turned off the ignition and thought. "We're going to have to come up with a good reason for going in there."
    Pippa held up her left hand. "Duh?" she said, pointing to it.
    "Oh, Pippa, you're a genius! Your reception!" I threw my head back. "Oh, I'm almost glad you actually got married now!"
    "What?"
    "Huh? Nothing," I said quickly, taking my seatbelt off. "I mean, of course I'm glad you got married. As long as you're happy, I'm happy."
    "Right."
    "Come on, let's go inside!"
    Adam's face bloomed into a large grin as soon as he saw Pippa and the ring on her finger. "Don't worry, there's a wedding band as well, as you can see, but we haven't had the reception yet!"
    I lingered back out of sight and almost got trapped in a large display of taffeta decorations falling from the sky.
    I tripped over a display and almost sent a very expensive four-tier cake flying.
    "You!" Adam said, his mouth dropping open. He raced over and straightened the display, shooing me away. "Have you come here to sabotage my store?"
    "No, I wouldn't stoop to that level," I said, gripping my purse straps as I tried to steady myself on my feet. "I'm here with my friend Pippa."
    "Oh, you two are friends?" His disappointment was palpable.
    Pippa nodded. "Yes, best friends. Rachael would have been my maid of honor as well, if me and Marcello hadn't eloped."
    Adam shot me a skeptical look before placing his hand on his hip. "So are you two actually here to buy a wedding cake?"
    Pippa nodded. "Yes, of course!" A look of shock spread across her face when she flipped over a price tag and saw the price.
    "They aren't cheap, honey, but they are the best." Adam turned to me pointedly and added, "I am the best baker in Belldale, after all."
    I tried not to bite. I really did. "Is that so? Then why did I get cast on Baking Warriors , and you didn't then, Adam?"
    Adam's mouth dropped open. "You auditioned for Baking Warriors ?"
    Huh? "Oh, come on, Adam, don't pretend you don't know I was there. Or that I was the judges’ favorite."
    Adam pouted a little and crossed his arms. "I didn't know you were there, actually. The least you could have done was stay away and give me my moment! After you opened up the only other rival boutique cake shop in town and took away all my customers!"
    I rolled my eyes. "I don't even do wedding cakes. My store has nothing to do with weddings at all."
    I could tell immediately from his reaction that I'd said the wrong thing. "Oh really, Rachael Robinson? Is that so?"
    I was less sure now. "Yes?"
    Adam clicked his tongue in his cheek. "What is all