True Confections by Ruth Hartzler

Author:Ruth Hartzler [Hartzler, Ruth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781925674903
Publisher: Clean Wholesome Books
Published: 2019-03-25T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

“Stephanie did it for sure,” Eleanor said. “She doesn’t have any pets. That means she can’t be trusted.”

Matilda rolled her eyes. “What a silly thing to say, Eleanor! Lots of nice people don’t have pets. Someone might be allergic to pets and so can’t have any. There are plenty of reasons. Besides, everyone who doesn’t have pets isn’t a murderer.”

Eleanor folded her arms.

“Stephanie and her son will inherit a lot of money,” I told Matilda, Eleanor, and Rebecca.

“I don’t think the police are looking too hard at them,” Rebecca said.

I was puzzled. “What makes you think that?”

“The detectives were around here earlier today.”

I was shocked. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want to worry you,” Rebecca said. “I was going to tell you after work, and I just did.”

I rubbed my eyes. “Both detectives? I told you I ran into Detective McCloud when I was pretending to be you.”

Rebecca pulled a face. “I hope you didn’t do anything to embarrass me.”

“I doubt it. I hope not. I don’t think I did,” I said.

“No, she acted just like you,” Matilda said with a chuckle.

Rebecca was clearly at a loss as to how to take that. Finally, she said, “No, it was that other detective. What’s his name, Stirling?”

“What did he want?” I asked her.

“He told me none of the cakes were poisoned.”

“But that’s not news,” Eleanor exclaimed, extracting one of Mr. Crumbles’ claws from her leg. “The poor thing. He hasn’t learned how to retract his claws yet.”

“Yes, I expect the detective was just trying to snoop around,” Rebecca said.

I was exasperated. “But what could he hope to find? And did he know you were not me?”

Of course, the two of us had swapped clothes.

Rebecca chuckled. “I’m glad the bishop didn’t catch me! I haven’t worn English clothes since I was on rumspringa all those years ago. No, I don’t think he asked me where I was. I mean where you were—you know what I mean. I said you were out. I didn’t elaborate and he didn’t push it.”

“But what could they possibly hope to find by snooping?” Eleanor asked.

I shook my head. “I don’t know, but I don’t like it. It makes me quite uneasy, to be honest. Detective McCloud was at Stephanie’s house today so maybe they do in fact suspect her.”

“But Stephanie has an ironclad alibi,” Matilda offered. She tapped her chin. “If you ask me, Stephanie and Brooks have given each other an alibi. They would do that if they were in it together. And if Brooks did it, then Stephanie would give him an alibi. If Stephanie did it, then Brooks would give her in alibi.”

“We do have the other suspects though,” I pointed out, “and Stephanie said she had given the private detective’s files to the police and said they know all about Greaves’s mistress, Iris, and her husband Richard Ogilvie.”

Rebecca raised her eyebrows. “The mistress?”

“Exactly.”

“You know, I’m surprised Detective McCloud didn’t give us a lecture today about not investigating the case,” Matilda said. “Maybe he really did believe our story.

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