Page 50 of Poison Apple Crisp
“She doesn’t mean it.” I give a nervous laugh before shaking my head at Evie. “And I think that’s a great idea about the auction. I’ll gladly donate some sweet treats for the event. It’s my pleasure.”
“Oh, thank you.” Her brows pinch as if she were genuinely grateful.
“And don’t worry. I won’t include any apple crisps.”
She lifts a hand. “Please do. So many parents were looking for them the other night at the B&B. I don’t think anyone connects them with what happened to Brenda. And I can’t wait to bite into one. Actually, I’ll take a dozen individual apple crisps right now, along with a box of cookies while I’m here. I may as well finish the day off right.”
I quickly box those up for her, and Lily handles the transaction at the register.
Rachelle runs through my mind and that all but blatant accusation that Cokie was the one who broke into my house and stole my book.
“Cokie?” I tip my head to the side. “Any whisperings on what could have happened to that book?”
She takes a deep breath. “The one that was brazenly stolen from your house?” She shakes her head. “I’m betting it’s long gone.”
“Strange that someone would go through all that trouble—risk a felony offense, just to take off with a copy of it.”
“Signed copy,” she notes. “I suppose they really wanted it.”
“I don’t know,” I say. “I mean, if they really wanted it, they could have made sure they were the highest bidder at the silent auction.”
“That’s true. We expected that item to be a very big ticket seller. My guess is they couldn’t afford to have a financial showdown with anyone.”
“That’s a good theory.” But one I bet isn’t correct. “I know that on the night of the murder, Brenda said the school received the book from an anonymous donor. Can I ask if you could divulge who that anonymous donor was?”
Nowthatinformation might just get me some traction in the right direction. Who knows? It might even lead to who killed Brenda. And God knows I need some traction in just about any direction. I haven’t exactly been on my A game as of late. More like my B game—B as in baby.
A sly smile creeps up Cokie’s lips. “It was Brenda who provided the book.” She nods. “I asked her myself just a few minutes before she took the podium.”
“Brenda?” I try to process this. “Maybe she meant the anonymous donor gave it to her?”
She shakes her head. “She point-blank told me there wasn’t an anonymous donor. I had wanted to thank them.” She shrugs. “Brenda was insistent that the book belonged to her and her alone.” She collects her pink boxes brimming with goodies. “I’ll see you girls later.” She starts to take off before looking back my way and nodding me over a few feet, out of earshot of Evie presumably. “Brenda did say something—in jest—or at least I thought so at the time.”
“What did she say?”
“When I insisted she tell me the truth about where it came from, she laughed and said she stole it.”
“Stole it?” I inch back. “That’s interesting.”
She hikes her shoulders. “I wasn’t going to say anything because it sounds so silly. Brenda was a lot of things—cruel yes, but a thief? I really wouldn’t have pegged her for such. Have a good night, Lottie. I’ll see you at back-to-school night.” She takes off, and I ponder this new information.
Maybe Brenda really did steal that book?
And just maybe she stole it from the person who saw fit to end her life.
* * *
Lainey liveson Maple Leaf Drive, exactly two blocks away from Country Cottage Road where I’m currently living. She and Forest bought an adorable house with a white picket fence and a bright red door, much like my rental, but they have a second level and much more room for their expanding family.
Carlotta, Evie, and I each come bearing a box of sweet treats, and as soon as we hit the front door, Lainey swings it open, holding that little pink peanut in her arms who seems to be fast asleep.
The three of us coo in unison, and soon we’re all seated in the living room, nice and toasty no thanks to the fire she has going. Lainey has a fancy candle burning as well, and the entire house smells like pumpkin waffles.
“Oh, Lainey!” I moan as I look at the tiny little angel as she hands her off to Evie. “My heart just bursts with joy each time I see her. She’s grown so much in just a few days.”
“Really?” My sister squints over at her. “I can’t tell.”
“Are we going to wake her?” I ask just above a whisper.