The Cakes of Wrath (A Piece of Cake Mystery) by Brady Jacklyn

Author:Brady, Jacklyn [Brady, Jacklyn]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2013-09-02T16:00:00+00:00

Seventeen

I didn’t get a chance to think about drug dealers or possible murder plots on Friday. We were up to our necks in work, delivering the petunia cake for the Oakes baptism and trying to finish the golf course case. I put Pearl Lee to work double-checking client addresses on our mailing list, which she actually did when she wasn’t filing her nails or learning to play Solitaire online. The fact that she’d done any work at all may have lulled me into a false sense of security.

I was at work bright and early Saturday morning, ready to do my bit for the neighborhood cleanup committee. And if I happened to find myself working alongside a neighbor—a neighbor who might have seen someone hanging around the Chopper Shop on Wednesday morning, for example—well, so be it. I’m not the type to look a gift horse in the mouth.

Aquanettia was already on-site when I pulled into the parking lot, barking orders to Isaiah and Keon, who were busy moving supplies into several stacks around the lot’s perimeter. Each of her sons was wearing a stark white T-shirt with a blue magnolia tree on the chest, the shirts Aquanettia had been unpacking when I stopped in at Second Chances.

Isaiah directed me to park in the far corner of the lot while Aquanettia shouted at Keon. “No, no, no! Don’t put those there. I told you, we need each team to have the same supplies exactly! If you don’t watch what you’re doing, we’ll end up with nothing but confusion.”

Keon shot his mother an exasperated look and bent to pick up the box he’d just put down. Even though the sun had only been up a few minutes, sweat already glistened on his face and created a dark stain on his shirt. “It’s no big deal, Ma. They’re gonna be picking up garbage, not curing cancer.”

Aquanettia sighed heavily at her son, but she smiled at me. “I’m glad you’re here, Rita. We could use another hand.”

I really wanted to slip inside for a cup of coffee, but I didn’t want to seem uncooperative so I stirred up some community spirit and said, “Put me to work. I’m all yours.”

“You’re feeling strong enough? I don’t want to make things worse if you’re still feeling poorly.”

“I’m good to go,” I assured her. “Where do you want me?”

“I’m trying to get the supplies divided evenly into eight different groups. We’ll split up into teams, each team taking a section of the neighborhood that I’ve marked on this map.” She held out a clipboard and gave me a glimpse of a hand-drawn grid representing the Magnolia Square Business Alliance.

“Each group should have water, a selection of tools, garbage bags—” She broke off suddenly, scowling at my chest. “Where is your T-shirt? You’re supposed to be wearing your T-shirt. Keon spent all day yesterday delivering those shirts and detailed instructions to every member of the alliance. You’re supposed to be wearing yours for the cleanup today.”

News to me. But that’s why I wasn’t running for Queen of the World.

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