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AFTER AN EXHAUSTINGLY long day at the café since the murder, and after writing her latest article for her online mystery magazine, Dana was all too happy to be back at the cozy Victorian, in the grand kitchen, swirling up a batch of her newest recipe that she wanted to try out at the café this week in time for the opening. That’s if the cops didn’t shut the café down first. She was just waiting for the detectives to show up with a search warrant of some sort from the town judge.
She carefully whipped butter and granulated sugar in the electric stand mixer until it was nice and fluffy. Then she mixed in a couple of eggs and whisked together with a half cup of vanilla-flavored almond milk and some strawberry puree she’d made earlier along with a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Savoring the scent of the creamy mixture. She drew in a deep breath and her mind ran on the scent of the strange cologne that wafted to her nostrils at the time of Brad’s death. Why was he wearing that strange cologne? And so strong? Wasn’t the newspaper a scent-free environment? That’s what the sign said at the entrance of the building.
Stop that, Dana. Stop thinking of awful things that’s happened.
But then how could her mind not drift to the recent events of the day? For cricket’s sake, there was a murder!
A murder in the sweet small town of Berry Cove.
Which meant...there had to be a murderer on the loose, right? Or at least one very vengeful person who would stop at nothing to get revenge—and in the process try to frame or pin part of the blame on her late Nana’s café.
One ingredient at a time, Dana. As dear old nans would say. Or was that, one worry at a time?
Actually, her nans would say that worry was the worst ingredient in a person’s daily happiness diet. It totally spoiled the flavor of any day and served no purpose and was useless. Well, Dana would like to think so, too. Only, she didn’t know what she’d do if the café was shut down during the grand opening week. She’d already put a lot of her own savings into the business to try and save what was left of her late grandmother’s legacy.
Uncle Merv and Aunt Nia would be there soon. She also had home-made baked lasagna in the oven and she could smell the tasty Mozzarella and parmesan cheese and oregano and garlic spiced sauce wafting from in the oven. She took a peek through the glass window of the oven where the light was on in the oven.
“Yep. Looks about right.” She noted the bubbling Mozzarella cheese on top of the lasagna and golden-brownish baked top.
Grandma Rae had taught Dana about cooking and baking and she found it to be the most relaxing activity after a long day. Especially baking fresh pastries and cupcakes.
There was nothing like baking to ease the stress. She found it hard to get into the ordering everything to eat or take-out culture in New York. Sure, they had the best pizza restaurants she’d ever seen, but there was something sentimental and relaxing about baking your own.
Once Dana got the cupcakes in the oven and set the timer for twenty-five minutes, she pulled out the piping hot tray of lasagna with the melted cheese bubbling up nicely. It was already done. She’d learned to multitask from her job in New York. She could never have one activity going at a time—or one thought at a time, for that matter. But that was something entirely different.
At least busying herself, preparing a feast for her family kept her mind and her thoughts away from the murder at the Gazette this morning. Dana still couldn’t quite wrap her head around that bizarre event.
Who in heaven’s name would do that to Brad?
And why?
And why use one of Cozy Cupcakes Café’s treat of the day—and then, of course, they nastily switched up the saying of the day to say something mean instead of kind?
Talk about bizarre and odd.
Her heart pounded in her chest just thinking about it. And then there was that strange scent. Was Brad planning on going somewhere? Why go heavy on the cologne?
Okay, Dana girl. Focus on one thought at a time. And make it a nice thought. Worry doesn’t solve a thing.
Right now she could use a cup of resilience to get her through the night.
Dana then got her blender ready and decided to make her famous green smoothie to top off deserts with the cupcake for the after dinner special. She totally loved to host and to prepare tasty dishes. Her New York apartment, the one she could afford was like a small box with a tiny kitchen so she didn’t get to host as much as she liked there. Ramone and she had mostly take-out from nice restaurants on the town, or ate out like most city dwellers.
Dana opened the top of the blender and measured out her ingredients on the stone counter top. First, she poured in a cup of distilled water. Then Dana added three bunches of baby spinach leaves. The equivalent to four packed cups full.
She then grabbed some blueberries from the freezer. She loved to use frozen fruits which were pretty much frozen from fresh so they were just as good as fresh fruits and veggies without the risk of wilting from being in a supermarket too long or spoiling in the fridge if not used right away.
Dana then peeled a banana and sliced it up into four pieces and tossed it into the blender. She added an apple cutting it up into four without the seeds and added that to the mixture. She added some plain low fat vanilla yogurt. And hummed as she looked into the fridge for her ground flaxseed package.
She added two tablespoons to the mixture. She then hit the crush ice button to break down all the frozen fruits first. Then she switched to mix and puree at full speed, watching as the ingredients mix into a deliciously healthy creamy mixture. Perfect for dessert. Especially since Uncle Merv had to watch his blood pressure and add fiber to his diet. Filled with antioxidants. Just the way she liked to make it. In fact, her grandma taught her to always add healthy ingredients to all tasty treats. That was why her blueberries in cupcakes did well at the café. Rich in all the good stuff, fresh fruits as Berry Cove was known for its berry farms, yet delicious and tasty at the same time.
“Good. That should do it.”
Meow! A softy purring escaped the lips of her cuddly little friend. It was Truffles.
“Hey, little thing. You can’t be hungry again. I just gave you your treat.” Dana smiled warmly and quickly washed her hands before scooping Truffles up in her arms.
Truffles purred even louder. She then hissed.
“What on earth are you trying to tell me, sweetie?”
Just then, Dana felt a sudden draft coming from the back.
Funny, she thought all the doors and windows were locked during the biting cold Fall night with the wind blowing hard enough to whisk the orange, brown and golden maple leaves off the branches and unto the ground and knock your hat off your head.
Ding Dong.
Dana was startled as the door bell sounded. She was sure that Aunt Nia, who had been looking after the Victorian while Dana was in New York, had the key.
Cautiously, Dana walked to the front door then peeked out through the door peep hole of the oak wooden door.
The sky was a purple, reddish hue and the leaves were blowing hard bending the branches outside. The shutters against the windows banged slightly. But there was no one there. At least not that she could see.
“Who is it?” Dana called out to the wind. She was sure someone rang the doorbell.
She didn’t hear a sound, only the howling of the wind outside. She certainly didn’t see any sign of Aunt Nia, Uncle Merv, or Katie.
Curious, Dana opened the door to take a peek. No one was there. She drew in a deep breath and went back inside, closing the door.
It was chilly outside on this autumn night so it was good that the fire heated up the old Victorian crackled in fireplace. Truffles hissed loudly.
“What is it, Truffles?” she said softly as if speaking to herself, peeking around. She could feel the soft fur of Truffles cuddling around her leg.
Before she could say anything more she opened the front door again and saw a note stuck to the wooden rocking chair on the veranda. The chair swung back and forth in the cool evening wind as if someone had been sitting in it and rocking hard before taking off.
Dana was stunned and felt the blood siphon from her face. Her mouth fell open. The note read:
GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN