Read Muffins & Murder (Sweet Bites Book 3) (Sweet Bites Mysteries) for Free Online Page B

that possibility”
    “Good. Franny didn’t steal her designs, you know. They were similar in some ways, but Franny always added interesting twists and things that made them better, made them her own.”
    “That’s what I understand.” I was all out of specific questions. “So you don’t have anything else you’d like to discuss? Anyone else she had an issue with, or who had an issue with her?”
    “Not that I can think of.”
    “And can you tell me which booths were closest to Francine’s and who ran them?” I might as well find out now, and who was better placed to give me the information than another teacher?
    “I can check for you.”
    I passed over my business card. “Leave a message with Lenny if I’m not there. Thanks, Ali, it was helpful.” I smiled and shook her hand.
    Ali wiped away a tear that began to trail down her cheek. “Just find out who did this to her, will you? She didn’t deserve it.”
    “I’ll do my best.” I left her room, considering what she’d said. There wasn’t much more to add to the pot, really, other than confirming that Cole was stalking, not dating Francine. That definitely needed to go in the weird list. I’d call Tingey about it later. I needed to get back to work now.
     

 
    I got back just in time to help with the post-school rush. Things were slowing down when the ringing bell over the door announced Jack and his daughter Sadie. Lenny greeted them and went into the kitchen, leaving me in charge of the counter. He seemed to like Jack, but the knowing glint in Lenny’s eye when he glanced at me before disappearing told me exactly what he had in mind. Happily almost-married people were nearly as good at meddling as happily married ones.
    “Hey, Sadie,” I greeted Jack’s daughter first, then met his gaze. “Hi to you, too.”
    “Sadie insisted on coming in for a cupcake,” Jack said, his expression comically solemn. “She decided I could come along with her.”
    “Da-ad! I did not!” She stomped her blue sneaker on the ground, making lights flash on the heel.
    “Oh, you don’t want a cupcake? Well then, maybe we should go.” He turned as if to leave the building, but she tugged on his hand, protesting.
    “I want a cupcake,” she said. “But it was your idea to come here.”
    “Oh, well maybe that’s true. I could really use a treat.” He smiled at me in the teasing way that always made my mouth go dry and my heart speed up.
    “I have some nice blueberry cupcakes, if you’re interested,” I said. “Or I have pumpkin cupcakes.” Chocolate and vanilla were everyday flavors, but I stocked a few specials depending on the season and my mood.
    “You know all of my weaknesses,” he said. “I’ll go for the blueberry cupcake.”
    “I want a punkin’ one!” Sadie said.
    “Coming right up.” I dished them each onto plates and poured glasses of water—their drink of choice.
    There were no other customers in the store at the moment, so I slid into the empty chair at their table when I brought the food to them. “How are things going?”
    “Great! I got one-hundred percent on my spelling test,” Sadie said. “That’s why Daddy brought me for cupcakes.”
    “Good job. Give me five.” I held out a hand to her and she slapped it. “You must be a super speller.”
    “I usually have a hard time but Daddy and Grandma helped me.” She became very focused on her cupcake, like maybe “helped” was another term for “prodded” or “nagged.”
    “I bet you did,” I said to Jack. “And she was thrilled to go over the words a dozen times, wasn’t she?”
    “Oh, yes. She was so happy to study. Spelling is her favorite .”
    “Nu-uh, Daddy, I hate it.” Sadie said with a mouthful of cake.
    Jack ruffled her hair and started unwrapping his cupcake. “How’s the investigation going?” he asked me.
    “Slowly. Several interesting leads, but nothing that points to an answer. I need to check on Cole’s fishing alibi, among other things.