Chapter 15 The Culprits Countermove
Beatrice had recognized the ingredient immediately.
She had tried not to show it.
She had smiled at Mia.
She had complimented the cake.
She had even asked an innocent question about the recipe.
But inside, something had gone cold.
The tiny addition Mia had made to the Lavender Honey Dream Cake was unmistakable.
It came from her father's recipe.
The secret recipe.
The recipe Mia should never have known existed.
Beatrice understood then.
Mia had found the box.
She knew about the jam.
She knew about Harrison.
And she was no longer simply asking questions.
She was setting a trap.
Beatrice smiled at the others gathered around the bakery.
Julian was talking quietly with Greg.
Chloe was arranging plates.
Sheriff Briggs had just arrived.
Everyone looked relaxed.
Everyone except Beatrice.
She needed to act.
Now.
A few minutes earlier, before the others had fully settled into the bakery, Beatrice had slipped toward the kitchen.
Mia had been distracted by the cake.
Chloe was speaking with Julian.
Sheriff Briggs was still outside.
Beatrice quietly opened the back door.
She had brought a small bag with her.
Inside were two things.
The dead rat.
And the threatening note.
The same note she had left on Mia's doorstep.
Beatrice's hands were steady.
Her mind was not.
She had originally intended the threat to frighten Mia away.
It hadn't worked.
Now she needed something stronger.
Something that would turn suspicion back toward Mia.
She looked around the kitchen.
Mia's bakery was filled with evidence of her life.
Recipes.
Flour.
Aprons.
Ingredient jars.
A dozen places where something could be hidden.
Beatrice knew exactly what she wanted.
She placed the dead rat inside a sealed paper wrapping and tucked it behind a stack of empty ingredient boxes.
Then she unfolded the threatening note.
She placed it nearby.
The message would be discovered.
The evidence would point toward Mia.
And when the police found it, they would have to ask an obvious question.
Why did Mia possess the very object used to threaten herself?
Beatrice almost smiled.
Then she heard footsteps.
She froze.
Mia.
Beatrice quickly moved deeper into the kitchen.
Mia stopped outside.
"Beatrice?"
Beatrice turned.
"Oh."
Mia looked surprised.
"I thought you were with everyone."
"I needed a moment."
Mia studied her.
"Are you all right?"
"Of course."
Beatrice smiled.
"Your cake brought back memories."
Mia's eyes sharpened.
"Good memories?"
Beatrice held her gaze.
"Some."
Neither woman spoke.
Then Mia glanced toward the cake.
"I wanted you to taste it."
"I'm sure."
Beatrice smiled.
But beneath that smile was something harder.
Fear.
Mia knew too much.
And Beatrice could not allow her to leave that kitchen with the truth.
Back in the present, Mia stood near the dessert table.
She watched Beatrice.
Something was wrong.
She could feel it.
Beatrice was too calm.
Too composed.
Mia had expected nervousness.
Perhaps anger.
Instead, Beatrice looked almost peaceful.
That worried Mia more than anything.
She glanced toward the kitchen.
The bell string was hidden beside the doorway.
Gingersnap was there.
Waiting.
Mia had arranged everything carefully.
One question at a time.
One piece of evidence at a time.
She only needed Beatrice to reveal something.
But Beatrice wasn't making a mistake.
Not yet.
"Mia?"
Mia looked up.
Beatrice was standing beside her.
"Yes?"
"Could I speak with you privately?"
Mia's pulse quickened.
"Of course."
They walked toward the kitchen.
Mia glanced briefly at Chloe.
Her friend noticed.
Then Mia disappeared through the doorway with Beatrice.
Gingersnap watched them.
The kitchen felt smaller with Beatrice inside it.
Mia stood beside the worktable.
Beatrice closed the door behind them.
The click sounded louder than it should have.
Mia turned.
"Is something wrong?"
Beatrice smiled.
"I could ask you the same thing."
Mia's heart began beating faster.
"What do you mean?"
"You've been asking questions."
Mia said nothing.
"You've been digging into Harrison's past."
Still nothing.
"You found my father's recipe."
Mia's stomach dropped.
Beatrice took another step forward.
"You thought I wouldn't know?"
Mia swallowed.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
Beatrice laughed softly.
"Don't lie to me."
The warmth had disappeared from her voice.
Mia backed away.
"You gave Chloe the nutmeg oil."
Beatrice's face remained expressionless.
"You found the note."
"Yes."
"And you invited everyone here."
Mia stared at her.
"You knew."
"I knew the moment I tasted that cake."
Mia's hand moved slowly toward the bell string.
Beatrice noticed.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing."
"You're frightened."
Mia tried to steady her voice.
"I think you should leave."
Beatrice shook her head.
"Not until we finish this."
Mia's fingers brushed the string.
She needed proof.
Something more.
A confession.
A mistake.
Anything.
Beatrice stepped closer.
"You have no idea what you're dealing with."
"I know what happened to Harrison."
"No."
Beatrice's voice became bitter.
"You think you know."
"You killed him."
The words hung between them.
Beatrice stared at her.
For one second, the mask slipped.
Then it returned.
"You shouldn't have said that."
Mia's heart hammered.
She reached for the string.
But Beatrice moved suddenly.
She grabbed Mia's wrist.
Mia gasped.
"Let go."
"You were going to accuse me."
"I already did."
Beatrice tightened her grip.
"You don't understand what will happen if you do."
"I understand perfectly."
"You'll destroy everything."
Mia pulled away.
"You destroyed it yourself."
Beatrice released her.
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Beatrice reached toward the back counter.
Mia frowned.
"What are you doing?"
Beatrice picked up the paper wrapping.
The dead rat.
She moved toward the storage area.
Mia's eyes widened.
"What is that?"
Beatrice ignored her.
She took out the threatening note.
Mia recognized it immediately.
Her blood ran cold.
"You brought that here."
Beatrice looked at her.
"People will believe anything if you give them the right story."
Mia backed toward the door.
"You were going to frame me."
Beatrice smiled sadly.
"I was going to give them another possibility."
Mia's hand reached behind her.
The bell string.
She pulled.
Nothing happened.
The string had slipped.
Her heart dropped.
Beatrice took another step.
Mia looked toward Gingersnap.
The cat was sitting near the far side of the kitchen.
Watching.
Waiting.
Mia tried to reach the string again.
Beatrice saw her movement.
"No."
She grabbed the paper containing the dead rat and stepped toward the door.
Mia moved to block her.
"Don't."
Beatrice stopped.
"Mia."
"You aren't leaving."
Beatrice's expression hardened.
"Move."
"No."
For the first time, Mia saw something truly frightening in Beatrice's eyes.
Not sadness.
Not regret.
Desperation.
Beatrice raised the paper.
"You have no idea what I'm capable of."
Mia's heart raced.
She looked toward the door.
No one knew what was happening.
Chloe didn't know.
Julian didn't know.
Sheriff Briggs—
A sound came from behind them.
A low growl.
Beatrice turned.
Gingersnap stood beside the kitchen doorway.
His fur was raised.
His eyes were fixed on Beatrice.
Then he yowled.
The sound was enormous.
Sharp.
Ear-splitting.
It echoed through the bakery.
Beatrice jumped.
The paper slipped from her hand.
The threatening note fluttered to the floor.
The wrapping containing the dead rat fell beside it.
Mia stared.
"Gingersnap!"
The cat yowled again.
Louder.
Outside the kitchen, chairs scraped.
"What was that?" Chloe shouted.
Footsteps rushed toward them.
Beatrice turned toward the door.
Mia moved first.
She grabbed the threatening note.
Then the paper containing the dead rat.
"Got you."
Beatrice stared at her.
The kitchen door flew open.
Sheriff Briggs stood there.
His hand was already near his radio.
"What happened?"
Mia held up the evidence.
"She brought these here."
Briggs looked at the items.
Then at Beatrice.
Then back at Mia.
"What are those?"
"The dead rat from my doorstep."
Mia's voice shook.
"And the threatening note."
Briggs's expression hardened.
He looked directly at Beatrice.
"Why do you have them?"
Beatrice opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Chloe appeared behind Briggs.
She stared at the evidence.
Then at Beatrice.
"Oh my God."
Julian and Greg stood farther back.
Neither spoke.
Mia looked at Beatrice.
"You were going to plant them in my kitchen."
Beatrice shook her head.
"No."
"You brought them here."
"No."
"Why?"
Beatrice's face had gone pale.
"I..."
She stopped.
Briggs stepped forward.
"Beatrice."
She looked at him.
"Explain."
Silence.
Gingersnap walked calmly toward Mia.
He rubbed against her ankle.
Mia bent down and scooped him up.
She held him tightly.
"You saved me."
Gingersnap purred.
Briggs looked at the cat.
Then at Beatrice.
Then at the evidence in Mia's hands.
"Everyone stay where you are."
Beatrice's shoulders dropped.
For the first time, she looked less like the beloved festival organizer and more like someone whose carefully constructed world had begun to collapse.
Mia held the note up.
"This is the threat someone left outside my bakery."
Briggs nodded.
"And the rat?"
"Same one."
Mia looked at Beatrice.
"She brought both here."
Briggs took the evidence carefully.
He examined the note.
Then the paper wrapping.
His expression became grim.
"Beatrice."
She didn't answer.
"Why?"
Beatrice looked toward the floor.
Still nothing.
Mia's heart pounded.
She had wanted proof.
Now she had something better.
She had caught Beatrice trying to frame her.
And Gingersnap had made sure everyone heard it happen.
Mia stroked the cat's fur.
His purring was steady against her chest.
The bakery was silent.
The trap Mia had set had not gone according to plan.
Beatrice had seen through it.
But in trying to escape, she had made a mistake.
A very serious one.
She had walked directly into another trap.
Mia looked at Sheriff Briggs.
"I think we're ready to talk about Harrison."
Briggs nodded.
"We are."
Beatrice closed her eyes.
And Mia knew the next few minutes would change everything.