Kate looked over at Maxi, seated at the breakfast bar, her face a tight mask of concern.
“I’m fine, honestly,” Kate said finally, white knuckles gripping the counter. “It’s just that, well, I remembered something. About the break-in. It was the smell. The anise extract.”
Maxi nodded, waiting.
“Remember when I said there was a weird mix of smells in the shop after the burglar left?”
Maxi nodded again. “I remember. You said something was familiar. But you couldn’t tell what exactly.”
“It was anise. Cigarettes. And anise. And something else. Something I still don’t recognize. But I remember it. Sweet. But not food. More like aftershave. Or cologne.”
“So what does it mean? We know this man who broke in—he wears hard shoes, he smokes, he shaves, and he smells like Christmas cookies?”
“I know, Kyle Hardy would love that. I can tell him we were robbed by an off-season Santa Claus.”
“So we don’t tell the bobo. Or even Ben. But in Coral Cay there aren’t many people who smoke. We already know it was a man, so that helps. And how many guys smell like anise?”
“Not many,” Kate admitted, shrugging. “Could Sam have some competition that we don’t know about? Another baker? Maybe even a restaurant or shop that sells baked goods? Or someone who plans to sell baked goods?”
“You think someone was trying to steal recipes?”
“Whoever it was didn’t take cash. Maybe because they were interrupted. Or maybe because that’s not what they were after. Sam is known for his sourdough. Everyone loves it. What if someone wanted his recipe?”
“Good luck with that one,” Maxi said. “He keeps it in his head. He’s made it so many times, I don’t think he ever writes it down.”
“OK, what if they were after Francine? His starter is kind of his secret weapon. If they got their hands on her, they might be able to put a dent in his business. Maybe enough that the bakery would go under. We know he’s been running the place on a shoestring.”
“But they didn’t get anything,” Maxi said. “And they never came back.”
“Scared off? First by the ruckus. Later by the murder.”
“And after the police closed the Cookie House, there was no Francine,” Maxi added. “And no Sam making sourdough. What is it the pilots say? ‘Mission accomplished.’”
“But today we get another batch of starter,” Kate added. “And by Friday or Saturday, we’re going to fire up the ovens and start baking again.”
Maxi shook her head. “Whatever we do, it sounds like we better be very, very careful.”