Murder Stalks Christmas (Rooftop Garden Cozy Mysteries Book 15) by Thea Cambert

Author:Thea Cambert [Cambert, Thea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Summer Prescott Books
Published: 2022-06-21T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

It was hard to believe the Holiday Cookie Exchange had started out as a simple plan to get a few friends together and swap cookies. Owen and Alice’s mother, Bea, stood at the registration table, both looking pleased as punch.

“Would you look at that crowd?” Owen said, watching the cookie bakers milling about.

“You might be gloating just a little bit,” said Alice, nudging Owen.

“Hey, Bea and I are the dream team when it comes to cookies, as you can see,” said Owen, sweeping an arm across the expanse of long tables they’d set up on Main Street, which was closed to cars for the festival. “People are here from all over—and not just all over Tennessee, either.”

“Everyone loves a cookie exchange,” Bea sang. She smiled at Alice. “I can’t wait to one day bake cookies with my grandchildren.”

“I even bought Theo his own mini kitchen for Christmas,” said Owen.

“He’s going to love that,” said Franny, who was doing a booming business at the Joe’s hot cocoa and wassail booth, which she and Beth had set up right next to the cookie registration table. Beth had gone back over to Joe’s while Franny ran the booth. Theo had joined in the fun as well. Franny had set him up in his highchair behind her counter. The two were wearing matching red-and-white striped scarves, and Theo was keeping busy charming the customers. Franny handed a pair of ladies their steaming cups of cocoa, and Theo clapped and said bye-bye when they left with their purchases, which pleased the ladies to no end.

Festive music played over the speakers they’d set up, and every table was covered with platter after platter of festive cookies and highlighted by the lovely centerpieces Mrs. Howard had teamed up with Violet Garcia, owner of Violet’s Blooms and Bouquets, to create.

“Too bad Mrs. Howard isn’t here to see this,” Owen lamented. “But I’m texting her lots of photos.”

“And I’ve already gathered a whole slew of recipes to take to her,” said Bea.

Each cookie platter had a stack of recipe cards next to it. Every registrant had been given a basket, so that they could walk from table to table, sampling cookies and gathering recipes. At the moment, people seemed to be having the most fun just mixing and mingling with other cookie enthusiasts, sharing their secret ingredients, and decorating ideas.

Officer Dewey hurried up to the registration table, a platter of cookies covered in plastic wrap in his hands. “Am I too late? I got tied up at the station.”

“Of course, you’re not too late!” said Bea, taking out her clipboard and scanning the list of names. “You’re all preregistered, Dewey. You may place your cookies on table three, in slot F.”

“Got it,” said Dewey.

“Here’s your basket for collecting recipes and samples, and here’s your official cookie baker badge.” She looked at her daughter. “Alice, dear, give Dewey a hand.”

Alice nodded and took the tray off Dewey’s hands, then led him over to table three.

“Dewey these look delicious!” she

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