Retreats, Roulade & Revenge: A Just Desserts Club Mystery - Book 2 (The Just Desserts Club Mysteries) by Daisy James

Author:Daisy James [James, Daisy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-06-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

‘Hi, Lottie, what do we have planned for the Waddling Duck Café bake-off this morning?’ asked Cleo, hanging up her crimson duffle coat and unfolding her apron – today’s was embroidered with what Lottie thought were gentlemen’s moustaches but in fact turned out to be bats; at least the design was in keeping with the season.

‘I thought we’d make a few batches of pumpkin spice scones and peppermint and dark chocolate chip cookies. What do you think?’

Lottie met Cleo’s eyes, and the smile disappeared from her face as she saw beads of tears sparkling along her friend’s lower lashes. ‘Cleo, what’s wrong?’

‘Oh, nothing really.’

‘Cleo, something’s happened. I can tell from your expression.’

‘It’s Mum. When I told her last night that it was me who found Rick, she ordered me to stay at home today. She’s convinced there’s a serial killer stalking the area with a quiver full of arrows searching for his or her next victim. Nothing I could say would make her change her mind, but I admit I might have made it worse by telling her that we’re almost certain it’s one of the people we’ve got staying in the lodges. She says the café is turning into an adventure playground for dangerous people and she doesn’t want me to help with the Hallowe’en party on Saturday. Heaven knows what she’d do if she knew I’m a founding member of Little Sweeting’s Just Desserts Club.’

‘If you want to go home then it’s okay by me. You know that, don’t you?’

‘No way! Lottie, I don’t want to go home. I want to stay here with you and bake, bake, bake! But it means we’ve got to get together and pool our efforts, and expertise, to find out who did this or everyone might react like Mum and decide not to come to our party – and we can’t let that happen, not after all the work we’ve put in!’

‘Actually, I did wonder whether we should cancel the party.’

‘No! Lottie, you can’t do that! Please, let’s just give it another couple of days. We solved the poisoning mystery, didn’t we? We can do this too!’ Cleo pleaded.

‘It’s Tuesday. Do you think we can do that by Saturday? I’m not sure we can.’

‘Well, I popped in to see Hazel on the way here, and she reckons we can, and so does Kit, although I accept that Kit thinks we’re the supersleuths of the century. I know Anthea is tied up with Grace’s wedding arrangements – not to mention the life drawing classes she signed herself and the Rev up for – so she’s probably not going to want to be on board this time, but there’s Hector, and Emma, and Pheobe… oh, and I bumped into Rory at the art gallery on my way home yesterday and I’m sure if we asked him he’d be delighted to come to our aid.’

‘Cleo, you know Matt doesn’t want the whole village—’

‘Yoohoo, just me,’ said Hazel, appearing at the kitchen door. ‘I heard you were hosting a cookery demonstration and thought you could do with a hand.

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