Trouble Afoot At The Three Hounds Bakery: A Cozy Murder Mystery (The Doxies & Donuts Mystery Series Book 1) by Julie Titterington

Author:Julie Titterington [Titterington, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2024-10-30T00:00:00+00:00

Willa decided to take a quick trip into town before the gathering at Lucy's house.

She had been mulling on the probable size and weight of Mina's book. It didn’t exist in the cloud somewhere—mere ideas on a screen. If Lucy was correct, Mina had banged the whole thing out on her ancient typewriter. That gave it a definite weight and heft. A stack of papers an inch or two thick was no needle in the haystack. If it had been in Mina’s house, they would have found it already.

Willa’s best guess was that Mina had given it to someone, either in person—or more likely—by mail. She'd had enough presence of mind before she died to send that letter to Willa. Perhaps she had disposed of the book at the same time. Shipped it out to a publisher, perhaps, or a trusted friend.

Willa told Lucy and Mr. Pilkington she’d be back in half a jiff and stopped by Mina's house to get the dogs. Mr. Pilkington followed her out to have a quiet word.

"I'm going to the post office to see if Mina shipped a package before she died," she confided. "You stay here and pump Lucy about town gossip."

"Good thinking. How was your date?"

"It was productive," she said, smiling. "Mina said Brian might prove a good ally. So far, she's been right. I showed him the letter last night."

"Oh," he replied, astonished.

"Just him—and I swore him to silence. It was the right move, Pilky. I know it was."

"It will be nice to have another ally," he admitted.

"Should we tell the others?"

"I think not. Mina only mentioned Brian. And speaking of Brian…I've been going over the events of last night in my head. Why does the Sheriff want the records from the bakery so badly, my dear? It has been weighing on me."

"I have to think it's an intimidation tactic. Brian and Mina aren't the type to fudge the ledgers or skimp on taxes."

He smiled, wanly.

"They're cook-bookers, not book-cookers! I agree. Mina was honest to a fault. And Brian is an upright young man with whom she trusted her business—that speaks volumes. But I have learned to listen when men like Gary Poole talk. He has power here, whether we like it or not. If he wants those reports from The Three Hounds, there is a good reason for it. You say you sent them to your CPA?"

"Yes. He says the business was healthy and wealthy, with a good profit margin, large reserves, and an overall clean bill of health."

"I wonder…" said Pilkington, stroking his chin. "Have you shown them to anyone else? Any other experts?"

"I sent them to my brother-in-law—he's a pastry chef."

"And what does he say?"

"He hasn't written back yet."

"Reach out to him again. I have the uneasy feeling that something is amiss at the bakery. Our friend Brian is certainly innocent of theft or dishonesty, and yet he may know more than he's telling. Be careful, Willa—that's all."

"You be careful with Lucy, then," she teased him.

Mr. Pilkington removed his glasses, rubbing them on his shirt in a thoughtful manner.

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