Strangulation & Strawberry Cake by Nancy McGovern

Author:Nancy McGovern [McGovern, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: cosy mystery women sleuth, cosy mystery, cosy mysteries, cozy mysteries, Cozy Mystery
Publisher: McGovern Books
Published: 2018-04-02T05:00:00+00:00

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Chapter 11

Dead Men's Tales

Dawn spread gently over the night sky, turning it first an inky blue and then shades of purple. Mulberry Mansion's kitchen, unlike the rest of the house, was not given to excesses. It was a chef's kitchen. The equipment wasn't necessarily expensive, but it was of very good quality and was neatly kept and well maintained. Rachel found herself admiring random artifacts like the stand mixer and the old-fashioned biscuit tins that now served as canisters.

Surprisingly, she'd fallen asleep from exhaustion only minutes after Scott had left her the night before. She woke in the morning with a heavy feeling in her chest and the desire to bake. Baking, after all, was the solution to all of life's problems. And if, in the end, the problem wasn't solved? Well, then you had a cake ready to help drown your sorrows.

"Rachel?" Aunt Paris gave a little startled yelp as she entered what she’d thought was an empty kitchen. She had on sweatpants and a loose top and her hair was damp and plastered to her head. She put a hand to her heart and exhaled loudly. "What are you doing up so early?"

"Oh, hi, Aunt Paris,” Rachel smiled.

"It's 5 am!" Aunt Paris exclaimed.

"That's when the bakers of the world begin their day,“ Rachel smiled. "After a while, the body just keeps its own alarm clock. I'm wide awake by five no matter how late I stayed up the night before.”

"You don't look like you slept at all, actually,” Aunt Paris said.

"I'd have to say the same about you." Rachel smiled.

Aunt Paris turned various shades of red then exclaimed, "It's this beastly murder! Nobody can be expected to sleep knowing that a man was killed just one room away! But never mind that. Mama hates having guests in the kitchen. She won't like you being here."

"Oh, I asked her for permission after dinner last night,” Rachel said. "I find baking soothes me and I knew I'd be up early anyway. Grandma Mallory told me I might as well make myself useful then. So I'm baking up some croissants for breakfast. What are you doing up so early?"

"Up so early... yes. Yes. Quite. Well, I... I woke up and felt a craving for some of that delicious strawberry cake of yours."

"There's leftovers in the fridge." Rachel smiled.

"Share some with me." Aunt Paris took out the cake and then rummaged around until she'd found two matching plates of blue and white china. She placed two generous slices upon these and then poured herself and Rachel each a glass of milk.

"Come. Sit and have some,” Aunt Paris said.

"Thanks." Rachel took the proffered plate and sat down.

"Mmmm." Aunt Paris closed her eyes as she chewed, a look of sheer ecstasy on her face. "Fantastic. Blissful. Decadent."

Rachel felt the warm glow she always did when someone reacted like this. Nothing beat seeing the look of utter satisfaction on a person's face. Words could be faked, but that expression certainly couldn't.

Digging into the cake with a fork, Rachel made sure to get all the layers before placing it in her mouth.

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