Muffin Ventured, Muffin Gained: A light-hearted culinary cozy murder mystery (Baker's Rise Mysteries Book Four) by R. A. Hutchins

Author:R. A. Hutchins [Hutchins, R. A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-02-09T16:00:00+00:00

14. 2 Large bowls, Sieve

Determined to stick to the normal routine that Monday morning – despite a thumping headache, and a parrot who was still sulking from the night before – Flora dragged herself along to the tearoom by the new roundabout route she and Adam had found. It took a few minutes longer, and left Flora with several mud stains on her tweed trousers, but she was at least there by opening time. Having assumed that Mondays would probably be quiet in both the tearoom and bookshop, Tanya’s new part time hours began on Tuesday each week, meaning that Flora would be alone juggling both sides of her little enterprise today. As she laid the vintage crockery out on the tables, Flora dearly hoped that the day would prove to be quiet and uneventful, and thus provide a chance to get her mind back in order.

When the bell above the tearoom door tinkled one minute after opening, Flora was therefore somewhat disgruntled. She nipped back through from where she had been checking that everything in the bookshop had been tidied up from Saturday’s non-event and was relieved to see that it was Amy and not a gaggle of hikers hoping for bacon buns before they set out on one of the many local routes.

“Amy! Come in, how are you?”

“So-so, this sickness bug or whatever I’ve got hasn’t gone away,” Amy said, “but I’m due in the salon for ten, and I hoped to have a quick word with you Flora, if that’s okay?”

“Of course! Tea?”

“Yes please, hello Reggie,” Amy came to sit at the table nearest the counter and smiled at the little bird who was perched on the handle of her empty teacup.

“Reggie, manners!” Flora chided, but the parrot’s selective hearing kicked in and he didn’t budge at all.

“So,” Flora began when they were both sitting with a cup of Earl Grey and a scone each, “how have things been? How’s Gareth?”

“Well, he’s exactly the reason I’ve come, actually,” Amy said quietly. She paused, as if wondering whether she should go on, and Flora waited patiently. At length, the young woman seemed to come to a decision, “Flora, do you think he could have done it? The murder, I mean, I’ve never seen him that angry. The police came to interview me yesterday afternoon, and I admitted as much to them, and now I’m worried I dropped Gareth in it!”

Amy’s chin wobbled, and Flora could tell she was getting upset. Reaching out to stroke her friend’s arm, Flora reassured her, “No, Amy, from what you’ve told me before of Gareth, and from how I’ve seen him treat Lewis, I don’t think he would kill someone and risk being put in prison away from his son. You have only told the police the truth so have nothing to feel guilty about. That being said, I would be lying if I said things are looking good for Gareth. I imagine he might be the detectives’ top suspect right now. I know how that feels, and I’d not be surprised if Gareth is a bit distant at the moment.

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