Scones, Skulls & Scams Read Online Free PDF Page A

Cassie referred to the conversation they’d heard behind the dumpster.  
    “We heard them say they needed to get in here just last night,” Lexy said. “And then this morning we come in to this . I don’t think that’s a coincidence.”  
    “Not to mention, it looks like they were only interested in your recipes,” Cassie pointed out.
    Lexy’s heart crunched when she thought of her grandmother’s handwritten scone recipe. Sure, she had a copy of it on her computer, but she still didn’t want her competitor getting a hold of the recipe. Besides the original recipe written in her grandmother’s hand had sentimental value.
    She bent down to pick the recipes off the floor and then remembered Jack’s warning. “Crap, Jack said not to touch things, so I guess I better leave these here. But it won’t hurt to at least look at them to see if the scone recipe is gone.”
    “Right,” Cassie agreed.
    The girls sifted carefully through the piles with Lexy taking the floor and Cassie the counters.  
    “Hey, I think I found it!” Lexy pointed at a yellowed piece of paper turning her head sideways to read it. “Yes! That’s it.”
    “So, they didn’t take it?”
    “I guess not.” Lexy frowned at the paper. Maybe they’d written out a copy? But it didn’t make sense they’d take the time to do that.  
    Something shiny under the cabinet caught her eye.  
    “Hey. What’s this?” She reached under the cabinet to retrieve the item—a gold and pearl ring which she held up to show Cassie. “Did you lose this?”
    “No.”
    “Lose what?” A voice squeaked from the doorway. Lexy turned to see Detective Watson Davies standing there with Jack right behind her.
    “Detective Davies. Nice to see you again,” Lexy said.
    “Same here.” Davies jaw worked up and down on a piece of gum. Lexy couldn’t help but notice Davies’ fashionable buckle-studded black leather boots. The woman did have excellent taste in footwear.  
    “So, are you tampering with evidence again?” Davies nodded toward the ring.
    “Oh, sorry.” Lexy grimaced. “I found it on the floor and thought it was Cassie’s.”
    “But it’s not.” Davies looked at Cassie who shook her head.
    “And you don’t know who else it could belong to?”
    Lexy shook her head.
    “Do a lot of people have access to the kitchen?”
    “No.”
    “Then it might belong to whoever broke in,” Davies pointed out.
    “Right.” Lexy gingerly placed the ring in Davies’ glove-clad palm while trying to keep from getting fingerprints all over it.
    “I guess we should start making a list of what was taken,” Jack said.
    “Well, that's the thing.” Lexy looked around the room one more time. “Nothing was taken.”
    “What?” Davies scrunched up her face. “Who breaks in to a place and doesn’t take anything? Did you check the cash register? What do you have of value here?”
    “We cash out every night. The appliances are valuable, but they’re all accounted for. The only thing that’s out of place is the recipes.” Lexy gestured toward the counter and floor.
    “So, you’re trying to tell us someone broke in for recipes?” Davies asked. “Who would do that?”
    “I’m pretty sure I know who,” Lexy said. “In fact, I bet if we take that ring across the street we’ll find out who it belongs to and you’ll have your thief.”

    ***

    “I don’t think you should be coming over here with me,” Davies said as she stomped across the street, the plastic bag holding the ring dangling from her hand.
    “What if I just happened to want to go over to get a muffin or brownie?” Lexy knew Davies was right, but she just had to see the other baker’s reaction when caught red-handed. Luckily, Jack had already left after assuring himself Lexy was okay—he never would have allowed her to accompany the detective to question the other baker.  
    Davies sighed and rolled her eyes before wrenching the shop door open, causing a cacophony of bells to jingle.