Chapter 6
DeeAnn rarely left the house on Sundays as it was her day to relax. Sometimes her daughter Karen would come over for Sunday dinner. She was living in Charlottesville. It wasn’t Cumberland Creek, but it was better than Texas.
Instead of relaxing, DeeAnn baked a coffee cake for Randy, thinking he’d appreciate it, poor guy.
As she stood on the front doorstep of Elsie’s B and B, the door opened.
“Why, DeeAnn, how lovely to see you,” Elsie said.
“Thanks, nice to see you, too. Is Randy here?”
Elsie shook her head. “I’m afraid not. He’s at his folks’ place.”
“Oh, okay. I’ll catch you later,” DeeAnn said and turned to leave.
One good thing about Cumberland Creek was most of it was so close together a person could walk almost anywhere. The town proper was only six blocks long. DeeAnn’s bakery was right in the center, along with all of the other businesses. The neighborhoods were built around it, with the park traveling the length of town along the river.
DeeAnn stood a moment and looked over at the mountains. The fall colors were even deeper and richer than usual. Seeing the crimson, golds, and fiery oranges against the blue sky made her stop, take a deep breath, and take it all in. She wasn’t originally from Cumberland Creek; she was from Minnesota. When she’d met Jacob and they married, she’d moved to Cumberland Creek with him and never looked back, much to her family’s chagrin.
She spotted Paige’s home with the brick chimney spouting smoke. DeeAnn was cheered at the thought of a roaring fire as she walked up the sidewalk and knocked at the front door. The coffee cake was getting heavy in her arms.
“Why, hello there,” Paige said as she opened the door. “Come on in.”
DeeAnn never liked Paige’s country-themed décor, but she kept her mouth shut about it. It was not her place. This morning, it nearly smacked her over the head with its tackiness. Teddy bears and hearts and pictures of barns and quilts were everywhere. Not to mention the funky-colored afghans over all the chairs and the sofa.
“I’m not staying,” DeeAnn said, “but I stopped by the B and B to give Randy this and Elsie said he was here.” She handed the coffee cake to Paige.
“He stayed here last night. Fell asleep in front of the TV, just like old times.” Paige’s eyes were bright. Her boy was home—and DeeAnn knew it was all Paige could do to keep from shouting it from the rooftops. “I know you said you’ve got to go, but can you stay for just one cup of coffee? Randy just made some really good stuff.”
Suddenly, DeeAnn wondered if Randy, the gourmet, would appreciate her silly coffee cake. “Well, okay,” she said after a moment and followed Paige into the kitchen where Earl and Randy were sitting at the table drinking coffee, which smelled downright heavenly.
“Oh hey, DeeAnn. What do you have there?” Randy asked.
“Just a coffee cake,” she said. “I thought you could use a little something from the oven this morning.”
“How sweet!” He rose from the table, took the cake from her, and gave her a hug. “Mama, get a knife. Have a seat, DeeAnn.”
DeeAnn sat down and marveled at him. He seemed fine. She wasn’t so certain she’d be. But he seemed to have bounced right back.
Paige set a cup of coffee in front of DeeAnn and Randy set a slice of her own cake in front of her.
“How do you like staying at Elsie’s?” she asked.
“It’s fine. I just can’t wait for my own place, though. I’m going to see some houses this afternoon.”
“So you’re staying?”
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “I don’t scare off that easily.”
“You’re feeling better?” DeeAnn took a sip of the best coffee she’d ever had in her life.
“I’m getting there. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time. I need to keep busy to keep my mind off it, you know?”
“Good way of looking at it,” DeeAnn said.
Randy took a bite of her coffee cake and rolled his eyes with pleasure. “Ahh. DeeAnn, my culinary professors have nothing on you, woman. I’ve always said you’re the best baker I know.”
DeeAnn beamed. Maybe she wouldn’t retire. Not quite yet. “Why, thank you. That’s very kind of you.”
“Not at all.”
Just then, the doorbell rang, and Paige wandered off to see who it was.
“Detective Bryant?” DeeAnn heard Paige say. “Please come in. We’re all in the kitchen.”
As the detective entered the room, DeeAnn caught her breath. He was such a handsome man, so confident. He walked with an interesting little swagger. And he was built like a brick house. A moving, hard-flesh one.
“Hello,” he said as he entered the room.
“Well, what are you doing here?” Earl said and started to get up from the table.
Bryant made a gesture for him to sit. “Unfortunately, I’m here on business,” he said, looking at Randy.
Randy’s brows knitted. “Are you here about Marina?”
“In a roundabout way.”
“Please sit down,” Paige said. “Can I get you some coffee?”
“Normally, I’d say no, but it smells so good, I can’t resist,” Bryant said.
Who is he kidding? The man never could resist a treat. DeeAnn grinned.
“It’s great having Randy around. He insists on grinding his own coffee and using a French press. It makes such a difference,” Paige said, as she poured the detective a cup of the brew.
“So Randy, are you squared away with the sheriff?” Bryant asked.
“Yes, I told him everything I know. Exactly what happened.”
“Pamela closed the place yesterday?”
Randy nodded.
Why is Bryant here? The Pie Palace isn’t his jurisdiction at all. DeeAnn started to get a bad feeling. When Bryant was on the scene, it meant bad news. True, he was eye-candy, but still bad news.
“So what did you do with your day afterward?” Bryant asked.
“I spent it with my mom and dad,” Randy said. “I know, for you it might not be a big deal to see something like that. But for me . . . I just—”
“Oh, I completely understand,” the detective interrupted. “But here’s the thing. Last night, another dead body was found. Marina’s sister.”
The room silenced.
“I didn’t even know she had a sister,” Randy said after a minute. “How awful.” He said it as if his lack of knowledge was a sin.
“She cleaned houses for a living. Name was Esmeralda,” Bryant said.
Randy paled and sucked in air. “I did know her! She worked for Elsie. They were sisters?”
The detective nodded. “They were sisters and they both knew you. So, you see why I’m here.”
“Now just hold on here,” Earl said, then cleared his throat and started to rise again from the kitchen table.
Bryant held up his hand. “Randy is not a suspect. I’m just hoping he can answer a few questions and shed some light on these young women.”
“I didn’t know them that well,” Randy said. “I’m sorry. I don’t know how I can help.”
“Mmm. This is the best coffee I’ve ever had,” Bryant said, abruptly changing subjects.
“Thanks,” Randy said.
“You put cinnamon or something in it?” Bryant asked.
Randy nodded. “Along with some other spices. Do you want a slice of coffee cake? DeeAnn made it.”
Bryant looked over at DeeAnn. “How could I resist a slice of cake from the town’s best baker?”
He was being such a charmer—which was thoroughly unlike him.
“If you’re on this case, it means Esmeralda was found somewhere in Cumberland Creek,” Paige said, setting a piece of coffee cake on a plate in front of him.
Bryant nodded. “Down by the river.”
DeeAnn shivered. Another murder in Cumberland Creek.