A Flaky Alibi Read online

  “Right,” Hadley said. “If what Olivia said is true, we’ve got bigger problems.” She turned her attention away from Luke and searched the crowd. A pale Mickie stood near the wall, smoothing her hair out of her face. “You watch the exits for a sec; I need to talk to Mick.”

  Suze nodded as Hadley headed in her friend’s direction. As she moved, she listened to the whispered conversations slinking through the vendors and few remaining audience members.

  “I bet it was one of the other bakers.”

  “Makes sense. He’s won the last two years. They figured he might win again this year.”

  “What won’t people do for money?”

  “It’s a crime of jealousy, I bet.”

  “And right after Willow accused him of cheating like that.”

  Mickie leaned against the far wall, her eyes as wide as the pie she’d baked that afternoon. Her mouth parted, but she said nothing. Hadley didn’t either, for a moment, her mind too busy sifting through the chatter she’d heard on her way over.

  “I just saw him,” Mickie said.

  Hadley put a hand on her friend’s arm. “I know. We all did.”

  “No.” Mickie blinked. “I was downstairs in the basement minutes ago. When I left, he was fine.”

  A tightness balled inside Hadley’s stomach. “Was anyone else down there with you?” she asked, hope lifting her tone at the end of the question.

  Mickie shook her head. Hadley’s stomach dropped, the ball settling at her feet. “So you were the last one to see him alive?”

  “I think I was.” Mickie swallowed.

  “What was he doing when you left? Did he look different? Was he acting weird?” Hadley pressed her lips together after the third question in a row, not wanting to overwhelm Mickie, who was already leaning a little too heavily into the wall for Hadley’s liking.

  “I don’t know.” Mickie frowned. “Why can’t I remember? It just happened.”

  “Okay, let’s start with where he was in the room.”

  “At his locker,” Mickie said without hesitation. “I was at mine, and he was at his.”

  Hadley nodded. “Was he eating or drinking anything?”

  “I don’t think so.” Mickie closed her eyes, tight.

  “What about how he was acting?”

  Hadley was about to move on to a different question when Mickie’s eyes flew open.

  “Now you mention it, he was acting weird,” she said. “When he opened his locker, he seemed almost protective of what was inside, hiding it from the rest of us.”

  “The rest of us?”

  “Yeah, Erica, Ian, and me. We all went down to put our stuff away. I didn’t see Willow, but I assumed she took off after the commotion she made.”

  “But you were the last one down there with Grady?” Hadley asked.

  Mickie nodded. “The others just locked their stuff up and left.”

  “And how long ago was that?”

  “Less than ten minutes,” Mickie said.

  Hadley chipped at the sparkly silver polish on her fingernails. It wasn’t as if Hadley worried Mickie could have hurt Grady. The only thing she’d ever seen the woman handle roughly was dough. She wondered how someone could’ve poisoned the man with Mickie there, though. The question of how Olivia had known someone had poisoned him returned to Hadley’s thoughts. She glanced over at the stairs, wishing her brother would emerge so they could find out more information.

  Hadley’s gaze cut over to where Olivia still leaned on Luke. What if Mickie wasn’t the last one to see Grady alive? Olivia could’ve poisoned the man and then alerted the room to pretend she wasn’t guilty. Or am I just ready to accuse her because I don’t like how she’s fawning over my friend? Hadley wondered. No, she decided. Olivia would have no reason to kill Grady.

  Luke, in the meantime, was scanning the room. He spotted one of the other judges and called her over to comfort Olivia. He got rid of her at the exact moment Paul appeared at the top of the stairs, pausing for a moment to put two pieces of caution tape to close the stairway. Luke headed toward him at the same time Hadley did.

  “Was it poison? Was she right?” they asked simultaneously.

  Paul, used to his friends’ propensity for getting involved in local cases, simply nodded. “Looks like it.”

  “Wait …” Hadley said, narrowing her eyes. She’d read enough mystery novels to know most of the time the police needed to get both a medical examiner’s report and a toxicology report back to know for sure. “How do you know?”

  Glancing around, Paul leaned in close. “There was a pie sitting on the bench, and he had filling on his lip. There was also the scent of almonds, and the way he had foam around his mouth. It had to be cyanide.”

  Hadley took a moment to digest that information. “But Mickie said he wasn’t eating. So he waited until she left to take a bite of a pie?”

  Paul cleared his throat. “Mickie was in the basement with him?” His dark eyebrows pulled tight over his blue eyes.

  Swallowing to buy herself a moment, Hadley said, “It sounds like she might have been the last one to see him alive.” She didn’t like the way Paul straightened at the news, or how he was looking for Mickie.

  “Excuse me,” Paul said, leaving their small group.

  Hadley let out a breath of relief as he made his way over to Olivia instead of Mickie, but she couldn’t shake the awful feeling he was entertaining the idea that her friend had anything to do with Grady’s death. Just as Paul reached Olivia, the other deputy walked in with Dr. Hall. Paul gestured to the area with the caution tape but turned his attention to Olivia.

  Olivia broke into a fit of sobs. Paul led her into the judging room, grabbing a box of tissues sitting on top of the old piano pushed up against the wall as he walked past.

  Luke sighed. “You don’t think he’s dead because he won?” he asked, running a hand over the blond stubble on his chin.

  Hadley had almost forgotten he was standing there and jumped. She took a moment to focus on what he’d asked. “I—” She was about to say no, but stopped. “Well … I suppose it’s a possibility.”

  Locating Ian and Erica in the crowd, she wondered if either of them would have a reason to kill Grady out of anger or jealousy—or to take him out of the running for the grand prize. That was the moment she remembered Willow storming out of the community center after yelling about Grady cheating.

  “Have you seen Willow since she …?” Hadley met Luke’s blue eyes with hers.

  Luke shook his head. “You think she could have done this?”

  “I don’t know.” Hadley shrugged. “I’m just trying to think of all the people who had a motive to get rid of Grady. She was the most vocal about disliking him.”

  “Right. The motive’s there. Especially with us eliminating her this round. A desperate move made by an angry person.”

  Hearing Luke say it aloud, however, only seemed to convince Hadley it couldn’t be Willow. “If it was poison baked into something he ate, it couldn’t have been a rash decision made in the heat of the moment. It sounds like someone planned this out. I don’t think it was Willow. I haven’t even seen her since she left.”

  “Me neither,” Luke agreed. “Ian’s quiet. Anything could be going on in his head. And Erica’s intense, really intense. I’m not so sure we’re looking for someone in the competition.”

  “True. Grady wasn’t great at making friends. It’s a safe bet he made someone outside of the competition angry.”

  It was at that moment Hadley felt someone over her shoulder. She glanced behind her and jumped as she noticed Hazel Smith leaning close.

  “Oh! Hazel, you can’t sneak up on me like that.” Hadley rested her hand over her heart.

  Not even acknowledging Hadley’s statement, the older woman took a few steps closer. “So you two heard?”

  Luke raised an eyebrow. “About Grady? Uh … yeah.”

  Hazel swatted at him, her brown eyes narrowing like they used to when he was a mischievous k
id. “No, Mr. Fenton. About the reason Grady died.”

  “What?” Hadley and Luke leaned forward at the same time.

  Hazel’s gaze swiveled from side to side. “I mean, I’m as sick about it as anyone, but it’s the only thing that makes any sense.”

  “What is?” Luke asked, impatience growing in his tightening tone.

  “Well, Mickie was the last one to see him. A little too convenient given Grady’s announcement this morning.” Hazel paused.

  It must have been clear from the blank expressions on both Hadley and Luke’s faces they hadn’t heard, but the woman took too much pleasure in having more information than someone else in town. Hadley had often felt that gossip was almost akin to air for the citizens of Stoneybrook.

  “Aren’t you on social media?” Hazel asked, tucking a graying curl behind one ear.

  “Only for work,” Luke said.

  Hadley shook her head. Her version of social media was the farmers market each Saturday or a trip to the local café where she was bound to learn what everyone was doing well enough through the gossip mill.

  “Well, he posted this morning he would open a new bakery.”

  “Okay …” Hadley said.

  “In Stoneybrook.” Hazel widened her eyes for effect. “Which means he would’ve been in direct competition with that Mickie from Bake and Flake.”

  Hadley had never thought too much of it, but many of the old-school locals used the significance between the words our and that as a way to identify people who were Stoneybrook natives and those who had moved in later. Though Mickie had moved there five years earlier, she still held the passive-aggressive that before her name.

  One of the other quilters called Hazel over at that moment, and she excused herself, leaving Luke and Hadley to stand there, dread building with each second that passed.

  “She can’t mean Mickie had anything to do with Grady.” Hadley exhaled, feeling the need to sit down.

  Luke moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with her and they looked across the crowd. “I think that’s exactly what she means.”

  3

  Luke’s statement about Mickie sat heavy on Hadley’s shoulders over an hour later when she slumped in the chair next to her booth.

  “Being a judge has impaired my judgment,” she told Suze, who sat in the chair next to her.

  “What did you do now?” Suze cocked an eyebrow at her.

  Hadley threw her hands up. “Nothing. That’s just it.”

  Suze cringed. “I’m guessing your questioning with Paul and Kevin didn’t go well.”

  “You could say that.”

  Hadley ignored the way Suze pressed her lips together, a sure sign she was doubtful about that statement. But she was wrong. Hadley’d been unable to give Paul and Kevin anything helpful.

  Her stomach churned, reminding her that wasn’t exactly true.

  Everything she told them only pointed the figurative accusatory finger in Mickie’s direction. She’d thought explaining how baking was Mickie’s whole life would be helpful. She wasn’t counting on Hazel having gone right before her and dropping the clue about Grady becoming Mick’s competition.

  Those two things were consequential. In fact, Hadley would stake her entire business on the fact that Mickie had not been the one to make that pie. From the way the two deputies turned serious and jotted down notes, she would bet they didn't share her thoughts.

  Kevin waved Suze over, signaling her turn for questioning. Suze placed a hand on each knee and pushed to stand.

  “Well, as fun as it is to sit here with you stewing harder than Thea Clark during the annual chili cook-off, I’ve got to go.” She followed Kevin into the interrogation room.

  Suzanne’s chair was empty for less than a minute when Luke replaced her.

  “Please tell me you saw Mr. Moorbaker sneak an extra piece of pie a second ago,” he said, a smile brightening his words.

  Hadley chuckled, noticing the man’s pinched expression. The weight that had settled onto her shoulders lightened. Luke always knew how to make things seem better, lighter.

  “The best part is that the piece he took is too large, and he’s having a hard time chewing it while still hiding it from everyone,” she said, leaning forward in her seat so she was level with Luke.

  He tsked. “Some people have no respect for the deceased.”

  “Since when do you begrudge a person a snack?” She shot him an incredulous look.

  Luke was almost always eating something. Working on a farm all day, the guy burned a lot of calories and had formed an unapologetic love of all things food.

  “Plus,” Hadley added, “we've been here a while. I was even considering cracking open a jar of jam before you sat down.”

  Luke’s eyes glinted. “What’s stopping you?”

  She laughed and shook her head, sobering. “The utensils are down in the basement.”

  The two of them turned toward the stairway, still blocked by the yellow police tape.

  “Gotcha.” Luke swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing.

  Hadley scanned the crowd. “Okay, you may be right about the lack of respect. Sandy’s cornering people again showing them the latest batch of her puppy pictures.”

  “Puppies are cute.” Luke shrugged. “They make everyone happier. This is the perfect time for puppy pictures.”

  “That’s because you don’t work downtown, and you haven’t seen the pictures every two minutes since she got the thing four days ago.” Hadley’s tone tightened along with her shoulders.

  Luke glanced over at her, cocking one eyebrow. “You’re just anti-dog. You’d be all over those pictures if they were of kittens.”

  Hadley scoffed. “Dare you forget Patches? I loved that dog more than most people.”

  His hands moved up as if to defend himself from physical blows instead of the verbal kind. “Whoa. Okay, sorry. Patches was a great dog.”

  “Besides,” she said, her posture relaxing, “if anyone here has a prejudice, it’s you.”

  Luke opened his mouth in protest, a smile pulling at one corner. He shook his head. “Touché, Had. The only felines I’ve ever had time for were those of the mice-killing variety that live in our barns.” After a pause, he added, “But I will have you know I am warming to the idea of cats.”

  Hadley turned to look at him. “Really? What’s brought on that change?”

  Luke’s blue eyes locked onto hers. “Life’s taught me not to rule anything out.”

  The serious register of his voice surprised Hadley, stealing any words she may have had on the subject. Her thoughts ran wilder than her childhood dog, Patches, through the fields surrounding their house. Before she could respond, the door to the judging room—turned interrogation room—opened.

  Paul and Kevin stepped out behind Suze. The crowd tightened around the men as Suze scurried over to Luke and Hadley. Sensing there was some announcement coming, Hadley stood and met Suze, followed by Luke.

  “Thank you for your patience.” Paul’s deep voice cut through any whispers that remained among the crowd. “We’ve questioned everyone here and are ready to let you go.”

  “What will happen to the competition?” someone yelled.

  “Yeah, is anyone in danger?” Pot-holder Penny yelled from the other side of the crowd, followed by another faceless query of, “What if someone else is poisoned?”

  Paul held up a hand, waiting for the questions to die down before saying, “We are still looking into the cause of Mr. Fines’ death. Hopefully, we will know enough by next Saturday to make a more informed decision.”

  “You mean, they might get to finish?” Mr. Moorbaker yelled.

  “Of course they should. Grady would’ve wanted it that way,” said the young woman Hadley had seen hanging around Grady. The young man stood next to her, his arm wrapped around her shoulders. They leaned on each other, faces still pale no doubt from the shock.

  “This is crazy,” Mickie said over the murmurs of the crowd. “We shouldn’t keep going.
Someone killed Grady today.”

  There were more whispers. Someone yelled, “You have to say that because everyone knows it was you, trying to get rid of competition.”

  Hadley strained to find Mickie, but she couldn’t see her.

  After a tense second or two, Mickie responded. “Well, I’m not continuing. It doesn’t seem right.”

  Attention turned on Ian and Erica who shrank back, but remained silent.

  “Fine. I guess it’s only me leaving.” And with that, Mickie stormed out of the community center, letting the double doors slam behind her.

  When they did, the once-quiet whispers grew louder, and even though Hadley could only hear clipped pieces of the conversations, it didn’t take her long to figure out what they were all thinking: Mickie leaving just added to their suspicions.

  Kevin and Paul stepped forward, instructing the crowd to leave.

  Hadley and Suze glanced at each other before following Mickie.

  “Hey, wait up, Mickie.” Hadley panted as she and Suze jogged after the woman.

  Mickie spun around, her balled fists relaxing as she realized who was following her. Even though her body relaxed some, the signs of frustration were still clear in her tight features and clenched jaw.

  They stood there in awkward silence for a moment, no one seeming to know where to start. A shiver ran down Hadley’s spine and tickled the exposed skin of her wrists. She hadn’t remembered to grab a jacket on her way out the door. Her breath billowed around her in a white cloud that told her she would only have a few more minutes before things became uncomfortable.

  “Do you think it’s dangerous for them to continue the competition?” Suze asked, rubbing her hands up and down her own arms.

  Mickie shrugged. “That or disrespectful. Either way, I won’t be a part of it.” She closed her eyes for a second. “I can’t believe I quit during the quarter finals. I’ve only made it this far one other year.”