A Sampling of Murder: Cupcake Truck Mysteries by Emily James

Author:Emily James [James, Emily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781988480251
Publisher: Stronghold Books
Published: 2021-02-04T16:00:00+00:00

16

I brewed a fresh pot of coffee to share with Scott. We didn’t have any day-old snacks. Since we were closed Mondays, I took anything that didn’t sell on Sunday to the local homeless shelter. Even though our funds were tight, we had so much more than the people who used the shelter did.

And I’d lived in their world for a short time. A few baked goods wouldn’t get them a job or help them overcome an addiction. What it could do was show them they weren’t invisible. It could bring a tiny spot of joy into a day that probably hadn’t allowed much room for hope.

I updated Scott on how we thought the vandalism and the murder could be related, what I’d learned from Flynn Wendt, and what Dan told me about the drug lord who controlled the neighborhood.

Scott wrapped both hands around his coffee cup, his shoulders slouched forward. “I guess it’s better thinking my dad was in the wrong place at the wrong time than that he’d done something to get himself killed.”

I’m not sure I would have found the same comfort in that. Then my loved one’s death would feel random and purposeless. “That’s only one theory. Flynn’s going to hang around here for a few days to see if he recognizes anyone.”

Scott’s gaze shot up from his cup. The skin around his eyes was red. “That’s a bad idea. If he’s able to recognize someone, they’ll recognize him as well. It’ll reinforce the idea that his family is still connected to the shop.”

I hadn’t thought of that. The last thing we needed was Edgar Serranno putting even more pressure on us because he thought we were working for the Wendts. “I’ll call Flynn and let him know not to come.”

“Maybe he’d be willing to watch a few hours of the security footage to see if he recognizes anyone that way.”

The security cameras only watched a limited area, basically both doors and the cash register. They also weren’t on during the day when customers were coming in and out. They turned on with the alarm system. But it was better than nothing. If the drug lord had assigned someone to keep an eye on us, he might have been caught on camera when we were closing down the shop at night.

“Any other theories?” Scott asked.

I shook my head.

He refilled both our cups and sat back down. He didn’t drink from his right away.

“It has to be an accident. My dad…” He shook his head. “I know what people say about rich landlords. They think they’re all about the money, but my dad wasn’t like that. He grew up poor. He knew what it was like. He made deals no one else would make, gave people chances.”

He gave us one. It didn’t surprise me that he also made arrangements with others.

“You can’t think of anyone who might want to hurt him?” I asked.

Scott stared at the wall behind me as if thinking it through then shook his head.

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