Silenced Santa: A Freshly Baked Cozy Mystery by Kathleen Suzette

Author:Kathleen Suzette [Suzette, Kathleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-12-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

I was at Henry’s, bringing in some candy cane cheesecakes and some gingerbread cake. The Christmas season was in full swing, and I needed something jolly for the desserts. The cheesecake and gingerbread would do the trick. I pushed the front door open with my hip, carrying one of each dessert inside. I spotted Eileen Smith at the register waiting on a customer, and I smiled at her and nodded. She nodded back, and I headed back to the kitchen. I hoped I would have a few minutes to be able to speak to her about Bill Baker’s death. Eileen was probably in her late forties, and I was surprised that she would be dating Bill, if she actually was. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered if it was even true. Eileen had straight black hair and an easy smile. She was great with the customers, and I was sure that smile brought her lots of tips. She didn’t seem like Bill’s type. Or rather, Bill didn’t seem like hers. His grouchy, miserly personality didn’t fit.

“Look what we have here,” I said to Cynthia, the owner of Henry’s.

She turned and looked at me. “What have you brought us today? I know it’s going to be delicious, whatever it is.”

I grinned and set the cheesecake and gingerbread on the kitchen counter. “Candy cane cheesecake and gingerbread. I’ve got more in my car.”

Her eyes got big. “Oh gosh, I’m going to have to have a slice of that cheesecake. I love anything peppermint flavored.”

“It’s got a chocolate crust, so I don’t think you’re going to be disappointed.”

“Even better. Peppermint and chocolate were made to be together.”

I chuckled. “Let me go get the rest of it, and I’ll be right back in.”

“Okay, you don’t have to hurry. I’m going to help myself to the cheesecake.”

I went back out to my car and picked up two platters of gingerbread, and brought them back inside. I glanced at Charles, who was flipping pancakes at the griddle. He didn’t even give me a sideways glance.

I set the platters on the counter next to what I had already brought in. “I hope you like the cheesecake.”

Cynthia nodded as she cut into it. “I know I will. It smells delicious.”

“I’m going to run back to my car to get the other two cheesecakes. I’ll be right back.”

When I headed back out through the dining room, I saw that Eileen was alone at the cash register, so I went over to her. “Good morning, Eileen. How are you doing today?”

She looked at me and smiled. “I’m doing great. We’ve been so busy. It seems like December is always busy. People don’t want to stop to cook when they’ve been out shopping all day.”

I hesitated. Eileen was speaking fast, and that was odd for her. “I don’t blame them. I don’t like cooking when I’ve been out shopping either.” There was a small, artificial Christmas tree on the counter near the register and some starlight mints in a bowl next to it.

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