Bagels and Blackmail, page 1
part #2 of Maple Lane Mystery Series
Bagels and Blackmail
A Maple Lane Cozy Mystery
C. A. Phipps
Copyright © 2018 by C. A. Phipps
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Dedication
This one is for my fabulous readers who have stuck by me with this leap into mysteries.
I appreciate this genre is not for those wanting lashings of romance, but I did add a little more this time with you in mind. Hopefully, it will be enough until the next book. 😉
Cheryl x
Contents
Bagels and Blackmail
Also by C. A. Phipps
Books by Cheryl Phipps
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Thanks
Cookies and Chaos
Recipes
Bagels
Scones
About the Author
Bagels and Blackmail
Maddie’s cat is missing!
Why would someone steal Big Red?
More than a pet…
… so much more, it turns out that he’s not the only one taken. It’s a catastrophe for the owners who, like Maddie, considers them family members.
Where are they being hidden?
While the Sheriff , who happens to be her ex-boyfriend, is doing what he can to solve the mystery, Maddie can’t sit by and watch.
Going against her darling Gran’s wishes, she once again decides to do her own sleuthing—with a little help from her friends.
If you love your pet, this cozy mystery will have you cheering for Maddie, because she won’t give in until every animal is home!
The Maple Lane Mysteries are light cozy mysteries featuring a quirky cat-loving bakery owner who discovers she’s a talented amateur sleuth.
Book 1 in the Maple Lane Mysteries, Apple Pie and Arsenic, Book 3 - Cookies and Chaos, and Book 4 - Doughnuts and Disaster are also available
No swearing, gore or graphic scenes.
Also by C. A. Phipps
The Maple Lane Cozy Mysteries
Apple Pie and Arsenic
Bagels and Blackmail
Cookies and Chaos
Doughnuts and Disaster
C.A. Phipps also writes as Cheryl Phipps.
Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter. There’s a free recipe book waiting for you. x
Books by Cheryl Phipps
High Seas Weddings
Against the Tide
Waves of Passion
Kisses on the Sand - Coming 2019
Sycamore Springs Series – Romantic Comedy
Jack and Gill
Adam and Eve
Samson and Delilah - Coming soon!
Prossers Bay Series - set in New Zealand
Prosser Bay Boxed Set – Books 1-3
Doc’s Town
Finding Liam
Seducing Megan
Saving Stephanie
Emily’s Wish
Billionaire Knights Series
Billionaire Knights Books 1-3
Restless Billionaire
Ruthless Billionaire
Reluctant Billionaire
Reckless Billionaire
Resident Billionaire
Millionaire - Family Ties Series
The Millionaire Next Door
The Millionaire’s Proposal
The Millionaire’s Seduction
Chapter One
Madeline Flynn picked up her tea cup, inhaling the fragrance that made her warm inside in anticipation of that first sip, while she checked her list, making sure everything was ready for tomorrow.
Moving home to Maple Falls, a small town outside of Portland, Oregon, and opening Maple Lane Bakery with her Gran a few months ago, made her happy beyond words. Fulfilment of her dreams cemented what she’d always known—this was where she truly belonged.
New York City would get along fine without her. Grateful to have learned her trade from the wonderful family-run bakery there, credit was still mainly due to her amazing Gran who started Maddie down this road by sharing her own exceptional skills. Skills that had augmented the small farm her grandparents owned and ran, selling cakes and cookies to people who came from near and far for them.
Standing on the back doorstep of her magnificent kitchen, she flicked her long, blonde braid over her shoulder as she watched Big Red swat lazily at a butterfly in the afternoon sunshine in their small garden. A Maine coon, she’d found outside her college when he was a tiny kitten, and having no idea how big a cat of his breed grew, she’d brought him home. No one claimed him and Maddie was glad about that every day.
A big eater and even larger than the average Maine coon, Maddie adored him. In turn, he offered indifference tempered with affection, depending on his mood. He also ruled the house, something she willingly allowed and to her amusement, so did Gran.
After eleven years, he was her confidante and side-kick, traipsing around town, with or without her, as far as she would let him and further if he thought he could get away with it.
As a kitten, this period lasting longer than it should have, he was constantly breaking things because he had no concept his build did not fit into small spaces the way other cats could. He had also refused to sleep anywhere other than her bed at night, which was nice in the winter, but like sleeping with a thermal blanket in the summer.
He was also a snob. If he liked a person or animal, he could be playful and loving. If not, it was best to keep out of his way. He could fight—he chose not to—but a swipe with a hefty paw, or intentionally walking in front of a person so they tripped, were his modus operandi, if he was feeling slighted. Or simply annoyed.
And, he was so darn clever, Maddie would swear he understood every word she uttered. That didn’t mean he chose to listen or heeded them.
“I’m off home, sweetheart, unless you need me for anything?” Gran came through the curtain that separated the kitchen from the shop, took off her floral apron, and hung it on the hook beside the door. It would be replaced by another as soon as she got inside her cottage which was a gentle walk down the road. Since she didn’t drive, the bakery was situated perfectly for Gran to come help out most days.
At nearly seventy, she was as spry as someone half her age, and could have managed full days like she did when Maddie first opened the shop. Busier than she had dared hope to be, and loving having her around, it wasn’t as necessary now that she’d hired her friend Laura.
This meant that Gran, who worked a few hours most days, got to do the other things, besides baking, that she loved. Like getting together with her friends at the community center. She’d tried to pass on the presidency of the committee when the bakery opened so she could help Maddie, but they wouldn’t hear of it, and now she was back into organizing them as much as she ever did.
“Everything’s done. Why don’t you take tomorrow off? Laura’s doing so well we should be able to manage without you for whole day once in a while.”
Gran sniffed at a perceived slight. “Is that so?”
Maddie drained her cup to hide a smile. “It will be a major struggle, is naturally what I meant.”
Laura, had come through from the shop and overheard. “I know I won’t be anywhere near your ability or speed, Gran, but I’ll do the best I can.”
Maddie laughed at Laura’s earnestness. “Don’t pay any attention. She’s teasing.”
“Oh.”
Laura was often very serious because she couldn’t always read other people’s body language or tone. Fortunately, when she did get the joke she was able to laugh at herself. This was important because Maddie’s circle of friends had made their teasing and quips into an art. It was hard to turn that off even for a relative newcomer in their midst.
Even better than being able to handle the ribbing, Laura turned out to be an incredible find as an all-rounder. Not just as a barista—she was the irrefutable queen of the coffee machine—but also the actual baking side of things, which was arguably the most important.
Together with Gran, they formed a great team. This was despite the initial rocky relationship, when Maddie and Laura had been distrustful of each other due to a misunderstanding. That was all water under the bridge, and they were both amazed by the friendship they had discovered.
Laura had been a troubled person when she arrived in Maple Falls to run for Mayor. Having lost the election, she became rudderless, especially when her high achieving family disowned her because she didn’t have their drive and ambition in politics.
It was a remarkable twist of fate that brought her to work for Maddie, who was than kful for it and sad in equal measure.
Thankful to have Laura by her side in the bakery so that Gran didn’t have to work so hard, and sad because it had come about through the death of a friend who ironically won and became Mayor in that very campaign.
Gran turned at the door. “You’ll get used to me, love,” she said to Laura. Then to Maddie, “I think I will take the day off tomorrow. I promised Jed Clayton I’d help him look for his Labradoodle. I haven’t managed to yet, so now’s a good opportunity. I’d hate for him to think I don’t care about Sissy.”
Laura tucked a stray red curl back into her bun, which was the easiest way to control the wayward curls. “Gosh, is she still missing? The whole yoga class went in search of her the day Mr. Clayton told us in the park. He’ll be distraught by now. Those two are as inseparable as Maddie and Big Red.”
He might adopt an aloof manner, but there was nothing wrong with her cat’s hearing. Thinking he was being offered a treat, he pushed past Maddie and waited in front of Laura who had fallen in love with the large feline—perhaps because they had similar coloring, or it may be more mercenary—and had taken to heart how he expected to be treated and spoken to, as if he were a person.
Holding out her empty hands, she gave him an apologetic look. “Sorry, I was talking about you, not calling you.”
He gave her a withering glance and went back outside, his large fluffy tail flicking with indignation.
Gran snorted as she followed him out. “Pets, even ones with big egos, are better medicine than most pills.” Then added on a serious note, “What worries me is how long it’s been since Jed’s seen Sissy.”
“I hate to think anything sinister about it, but I’ve heard Sissy isn’t the only animal that’s disappeared lately.” Maddie frowned, as she looked at Big Red who’d resumed his butterfly watching. It would be awful to lose your pet, especially when they were a big part of your life and your family.
Gran wagged a finger at her. “Now don’t go looking for trouble. We’ve had enough intrigue around here to last a lifetime.”
“Absolutely, but it makes you wonder if someone is targeting our animals, doesn’t it?”
“No, it does not. I’m going home before you start with your suppositions.”
Maddie couldn’t help but smile at Gran’s back. She had no regrets over her involvement, when one of their own had been murdered and she and the Girlz had helped solve the case. Plus, she knew Gran was proud of her, but was also protective. She meant nothing by her stern words.
Having seen a lot of life, good and bad, and having dealt with it accordingly, Gran prided herself on focusing on the good. There had been little good about that case, apart from catching the murderer. And Laura joining the Girlz.
The doorbell tinkled out in the shop.
“I’ll get it.” Maddie went through the curtain where Angeline Broome, aka Angel was studying the display case. Brightness emanated from her and it wasn’t just about her clothes, which were all about sunshine and rainbows every day. Her blonde, shoulder-length hair shone and bounced around her face. She walked like a model, with legs high-stepping and elegant.
No one could guess at the hard life she had endured. Growing up in a trailer park, then marrying the school jock should have had a happier outcome for the southern bell. Unfortunately, her ex turned out to be a big drinker and became abusive. Now, Angel was single again, like Maddie, Suzy and Laura. They were lovingly called the ‘Girlz’ by Gran and her friends, because they were together as much as possible and except for Laura, had laughed and suffered with each other since they were children.
“Good afternoon,” Angel almost sang it.
Maddie smiled at her best friend, always happy to see her. “Good afternoon to you. Have you finished for the day?”
“I wish. I’ve got a couple of the blue brigade coming in very soon. I need a pick-me-up to get me through listening to their mean gossip that falls from them like rain in September. What do you recommend?”
Maddie went to her side of the display case. “Hmmm, no jam donuts left. I’m thinking a piece of apple pie might do the trick as a substitute.”
“Your award winning pie is the best substitute I can think of. Can I get one of Laura’s cappuccino’s too, please?”
While Maddie blushed, which was something she couldn’t seem to stop doing when someone praised her work, Laura heard her name and came out from the kitchen.
“To go?” she asked.
Angel was still grinning at Maddie’s reaction. “Yes, please.”
“I’ll have one too, please.” Maddie jumped on the order.
Angel raised a perfect eyebrow. “Laura’s converted you to coffee? Gran will have a conniption.”
Maddie laughed. “Not totally, so no need to stage an intervention just yet. I find it helps around this time of day when it gets a bit slow before closing. How could I possibly stop drinking tea, when my shop looks the way it does?”
They studied the old cabinet to the left of the display case. It was full of individual tea sets and teapots, all of which had been lovingly donated by Gran who’d emigrated from England as a child and was an anglophile, through and through. If it was anything to do with the British monarchy, Gran had to have it.
The bakery offered barista coffee thanks to Laura, but prior to that option, had begun serving tea in Gran’s collection of antique china, and what a collection it was. Although, it didn’t include the select pieces she kept at the cottage for friends and family who stopped by.
“True, and it looks stunning. I try to alternate between tea and coffee during the day otherwise I can’t sleep at night.” She picked up her coffee and took a careful sip. “Perfect.”
“You really shouldn’t have any caffeine after five. I read that somewhere.” Laura added apologetically as she handed Maddie her coffee.
“I’ve heard that too, but I don’t like to be told what to do. Ever.” Angel winked at them as she left with her coffee and pie.
Maddie sipped the delicious brew and closed her eyes for a second. “You really are good at this.”
“Thanks. It’s always good to hear. I hope one day you’ll be able to say something similar about the way I bake.” Laura’s cheeks flushed.
The one thing they were so alike in, apart from their love of baking, was this inability to take a compliment. Unfortunately, Laura’s issues were more varied than Maddie’s and deeply entrenched. Maddie would love to help her friend get over the belief that her opinion couldn’t be counted.
“You’ve learned so much already that I have no doubt I’ll be saying it very soon about everything you bake. It’s nearly time to close, why don’t you head home too?”
Looking pleased, Laura nodded. “Okay. I really enjoyed today, even though we’ve been going non-stop since we opened this morning”
“It’s been busy all right. Which is fine by me, especially when we have fun along the way. Actually, sales have been ticking along very nicely for the last few weeks.”
After Maddie’s food had been exonerated of being the source of the poisoning, the shop began to do a roaring trade. This was an incredible relief for Maddie, Gran, and their fledgling business.
“I’d like to thank you again for the extra hours you’ve been doing. It’s removed some of the pressure from Gran since you’ve taken over the early shifts.”
