A Baker and a Body Bag: A Bishop's Landing Cozy Mystery by Avery Kent

Author:Avery Kent [Kent, Avery]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-03-30T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18

“Darn it, Gregory. Don’t you have a larger bag of icing sugar than that?”

Annie peeped around the side of the shelf in Logan’s General Store and spotted Mrs. Setter senior standing by the old-fashioned counter staring at its proprietor, a dark expression on her face.

“I’m sorry, Gertie. That’s the biggest I’ve got,” Gregory explained with a shrug. “What are you planning on icing anyway, the Titanic?”

“Don’t you sass me, boy,” Mrs. Setter hooted. “Don’t think just because you run the store now that I won’t whoop your butt like I did when you were little.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Gregory replied with a smile, and Annie spotted Gertie smiling too as she shuffled toward the shelf with the baking supplies.

“For the record,” she said, glanced at him. “I am making a celebration cake for when my great-grandson’s team finally beats the Feathers.”

“I think they’re the Falcon’s now, Gertie,” Gregory put in.

“Don’t make much difference as long as they lose,” Gertie hooted. “Dang it, Gregory. You only have one bag in. When are you getting more?”

“I’d have to check the stock order,” Gregory said, grabbing a pad of paper from beside the till and flicking through it. “Oh, sorry, Gertie. It’s usually my wife’s job to do the stock, and she’s visiting her sister.”

Annie slipped a couple of tins of chopped tomatoes into her basket and rounded the little shelf heading towards the counter. She smiled at Gregory.

“Maybe I can help?”

Gertie looked up and spotted her. A smile spread across her wrinkled face. “Morning, Annie.”

“Morning, Gertie,” Annie replied.

“You got any of those cream pies in the bakery this week? Those are my very favorite things.”

“We do! And a ton of icing sugar from the wholesaler, if Gregory doesn’t mind me stealing his customer.” She glanced at Gregory, who mouthed thank you to her. She tried not to giggle as she handed him her basket.

“You’re welcome,” she whispered.

“What’s that?” Gertie asked slowly, heading back to the till.

“Oh, we’re just wondering by how much the team will win,” Gregory put in quickly. “Sweepstakes. I’m running it.”

“Really? Well, you best put me down,” Gertie insisted with a grin.

“Sure thing, Gertie.”

The old woman unloaded her shopping onto the counter, double checking she had everything on the list. “With that coach gone,” she began, pushing another tin onto the counter. “We stand a better chance than ever of winning big.”

“You mean Coach Lake?” Annie asked.

“Is there another one?” Gertie asked sarcastically. She shook her head. “Bad apple that one. Bad for the team, and bad for the town.”

“Now, Gertie,” Gregory warned. “It’s not good to be bad-mouthing the dead.”

“Bad-mouthing the dead nothing,” Gertie snapped. “I’d say as much to his living face. Just because he’ll soon be six feet under doesn’t change the facts, and the facts are that he was no good. Not as a boy, and not as a man.”

“We all know about Karl’s accident but …”

“Accident, my wrinkled fanny!” Gertie shouted, eyeing him.

“You don’t think it was an accident, then?” Annie asked.

“Rhett says it wasn’t, and my grandson’s word is good enough for me.

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