Cookie Dough or Die

Chapter Twenty-four

The next morning as Olivia and Maddie finished readying The Gingerbread House for Clarisse Chamberlain’s memorial, storm clouds began rolling in. Sheriff Del and Deputy Cody had already arrived. Cody had taken his position in the store kitchen, with the door slightly ajar. He would be the only one armed.

“Perfect,” Maddie said, shutting the windows against the first spatter of raindrops. “It’s a dark and stormy afternoon.”

Olivia was so keyed up, she giggled.

Ellie and Jason Greyson arrived, shaking off raindrops. Ellie peeled her raincoat off an outfit that was unique yet appropriate—a tunic and loose pants of black silk with glistening silver thread work. A silver silk scarf draped loosely around her neck and over a shoulder. A single braid hung down her back, secured with a thin black ribbon.

Jason wore his best black jeans.

“Fill me in on my role, dear,” Ellie said with a gentle tug at Olivia’s arm.

“For this experiment to work, “Olivia said, “the guests need to understand what the cookie shapes are. You could drop a subtle hint here and there.”

“I am the soul of subtlety.”

Olivia led her mother to the cookbook nook, where Maddie had cleared space on a table by moving a display of pie-baking equipment to the main sales room. In its place was a large metal tray holding one each of the identifiable cookie shapes found in the photo of Clarisse’s desk. They’d given up on two shapes.

“Never mind the icing colors,” Olivia said. “First, tell me what you think the shapes represent.”

Ellie pointed a silvery polished nail. “That is an angel in the upper-left corner. Then a baby carriage, a coffin, a bird of some sort?”

“A dove.”

“Of course.” Ellie hesitated at the next shape. “Oh, a nutcracker. And that must be a tree, despite the bright red trunk. Oh, a gingerbread woman and little girl. I grew up with a set like that. I wonder what happened to it.”

“Time marches on, Mother.”

“Yes, dear. Over here we have a witch’s hat, that darling Dancing Snoopy with purple fur, a flower of some type. . . .”

“That’s an important one,” Olivia said. “It’s meant to be a lily.”

“Oh yes, I see it now. And the flower next to it?”

“A jasmine flower.”

“Ah. So Lily is . . . ?”

“We think Lily is Jasmine Dubois’s daughter. You mustn’t say that to anyone, but do observe reactions.”

“Of course.” With a troubled glance, Ellie asked, “Are these two lovely flowers still blooming, do you know?”

“We have hope for little Lily.”

“I see,” Ellie said softly. “So perhaps dear Clarisse was not the only victim. How sad.” Ellie straightened to her full four foot eleven. “This makes me angry, which is bad for my karma. I shall do my subtle best to help.”

Olivia put her arm around her diminutive mother’s shoulders. “Don’t tell anyone else. Del and Cody know all, of course, but you are the only other person we are trusting with our suspicions.”

“I am the soul of discretion.”

“All those souls in one tiny body,” Olivia said. “It must get crowded in there.”

Hugh Chamberlain stood before the small group of mourners, holding a small glass of sherry. He looked both solemn and attractive in his dark suit and tie. Holding his glass aloft, Hugh bestowed a sad smile and said, “My little family wishes to thank you, Olivia and Maddie, for arranging this special memorial. To learn that our mother was so loved, as well as admired, touches us more than you can know.” He even looked, Olivia thought, as if he meant it. Yet she found herself untouched by his words. There’s such a thing as too much eloquence.

The attendees stood in a semicircle, since the store was too small and crowded for chairs. Olivia chose a place at one end, which gave her a view of the mourners. Jason fidgeted next to her. Next came Ellie, Maddie and Lucas, Mr. Willard, Bertha, Edward, Tammy, and finally Del, in a black suit and tie.

“We miss our mother very much,” Hugh said. “And we always will. Edward, perhaps you would say a few words?”

Edward hesitated, as if he might refuse. With an abrupt nod, he lurched forward and took Hugh’s place before the gathering. His dark blue eyes moved constantly. “My brother is right, our mother will be missed. However, I’m sure of one thing. She wasn’t one to sit around and feel sorry for herself. She’d tell us to get back to work. I intend to work twice as hard, in memory of her.” Head down, he rejoined Hugh.

Olivia marveled at how different the brothers were from each other. Edward had none of his brother’s easy eloquence, but his words had rung truer. Had he known Clarisse better?

Olivia stepped forward. “To honor Clarisse, we have prepared decorated cookies using some of the cookie cutters that meant the most to her. There are trays of cookies all around the store, including the cookbook nook. We hope you will think of Clarisse as you enjoy them. Perhaps the cookies will bring out memories of her that you will share with each other. There is plenty of sherry, and fresh coffee set up by the antiques cabinet.”

At a glance from Olivia, Maddie and Lucas positioned themselves near the front door. If anyone tried to leave right away, Maddie would talk at them until they gave up and escaped toward the cookies. Mr. Willard, in his role as sheepdog, stuck close to Hugh and Edward.

Olivia was ready to mingle, in a sneaky and targeted way, when she realized she didn’t have her cell phone. Del had insisted they all carry one, in case of emergency. She must have left it attached to its charger when she changed into her black pants and gray silk blouse.

Jason stood nearby, eyeing a plate of cookies with longing. She tapped him on the shoulder and whispered, “I’ll split the leftovers with you and throw in a pizza if you’ll run upstairs and get my cell phone for me. I can’t leave right now.”

Jason grinned. “I’d have done it for nothing, but hey, I’ll take the goodies.”

“Thanks. It’s on the dresser in my bedroom.” As she felt in her pants pocket for her key, Olivia saw Edward, Hugh, and Tammy walk into the cookbook nook alone. Bertha had captured Mr. Willard. She handed the key to Jason and hustled after her three suspects. She figured her window of opportunity would be closing in fifteen to twenty minutes. It was a miracle that all her suspects were present, but they wouldn’t stay long. Brief conversations, a glance at the cookies for the sake of appearances, and they’d be gone.

Tammy wiggled her fingers in a girlish wave as Olivia entered the nook. “Livie, it was so sweet of you to do all this, especially after we . . .” She shot a quick look at Hugh, who was talking with Edward. Both men were ignoring the cookie tray. Tammy lowered her voice. “I do want to apologize about how we treated you after we found out about your inheritance. I should never have said a word to that reporter Binnie. Oh, Livie, let’s not fight anymore. I’m sorry I’ve been short with you lately. It’s been so . . . Anyway, things are better now, and I have so much to tell you.”

“Apology accepted.” Feeling like a traitor, Olivia added, “You can make it up to me by touring our cookie trays with me. And make sure Hugh and Edward come, too.”

“I can do that. Come on, boys,” Tammy said, linking arms with Hugh and Edward. “Livie worked hard on these cookies. The least we can do is admire them.” Hugh acquiesced with grace and a smile for Olivia. Edward looked irritated by the interruption, but he allowed Tammy to capture his arm.

The small group glanced over the cookies in the nook. “Lovely,” Hugh murmured as he chose an angel with forest green hair. Edward made no comment, and Tammy said, “Yum.” Olivia was disappointed but not surprised by the bland reaction. For the nook tray, she had repeated the design on Clarisse’s desk, which hadn’t shouted a clear message. In the main store were five additional trays with more suggestive designs.

Olivia guided the group out of the cookbook nook to the sherry. As Hugh and Edward refilled their glasses, Olivia saw Jason heading in her direction. Her cell phone. She shook her head at Jason to say she didn’t want to be interrupted. He stopped and gave her a puzzled look. Ellie appeared at his elbow and spoke. He bent down to listen, shrugged, and snatched a cookie off a pile of extras.

The whole episode had taken only a few seconds, but when Olivia turned back to her charges, Hugh was staring at her. His sensuous lips curved, as always, in a good-natured smile, but his eyes were watchful. Alert. Curious.

In that instant, Olivia knew her lovely plan was doomed. It was too complex and time-consuming. She hadn’t given enough thought to the human element.

It was now or never.

“Everyone, can I have your attention?” Heads swiveled toward her. Del, who had been lounging against a wall, straightened and reached into his pants pocket for his cell phone. “I know you’re all busy, but before you leave, I’d appreciate your help. Would you all gather up here with me? Maddie, would you and Jason bring those three trays from the front?” She’d been vague, but Maddie would understand which ones she wanted.

With the trays arranged on three small display tables and the guests in a semicircle around them, Olivia said, “Clarisse and I shared a passion for cookie cutters. Sometimes a particular cutter has a special meaning for me, and I know Clarisse felt the same. As I mentioned earlier, Maddie and I made these cookies from cutters that were special to Clarisse. I would like for all of us who cared for her to share our thoughts about what each of these shapes might have meant to her and the nice memories they must represent.

“Let’s start with this one.” Olivia selected two cookies in the shape of the crowned gingerbread boy and held them up so everyone could see. One had black hair, and the other, fire engine red.

“Goodness, that’s Hugh,” Bertha said. “When Hugh was little, Ms. Clarisse would have me make a batch of cookies for her ‘little prince.’ You wouldn’t remember, Hugh, because she stopped when you were about four. She was afraid little Edward might think she loved you better.” Bertha’s face reddened as she realized the implications of what she’d said.

“Interesting,” Hugh said.

Olivia couldn’t see Edward’s face, but he hung his head as if the revelation disturbed him.

“What about this one?” Olivia held up a running gingerbread man with bright red hair.

After a moment of silence, Tammy said, “If she wanted to be fair, wouldn’t she choose a gingerbread man for Edward, too? Anyway, it looks like him. He’s always on the go,” she said with a teasing poke at Edward’s arm.

Olivia picked up the gingerbread woman and girl. “And these lovely figures?”

After a moment of silence, Bertha sniffled. Ellie handed her a tissue, and Bertha dabbed at her eyes. “My poor Clarisse,” she said. “She loved her boys but, oh, she wanted a girl so much. When that never happened, she started wanting a granddaughter.”

Olivia sneaked a peek at her group of suspects. Tammy was checking her watch. Hugh’s ever-present smile had disappeared. His head swiveled slowly as he studied each of the three cookie arrangements. Edward stared into space. Olivia decided to kick it up a notch. She picked up the two flower shapes. Both were iced with simple, realistic piped lines. The six-petaled flower had red stamens and dark pink, curving petals that came to a point. On the eight-petaled flower, numerous flowing white lines, spreading out from a pale yellow center, suggested a dense petal structure.

Olivia saw puzzled faces among the guests. Del took out his cell phone and edged away, as if he had a call. He strolled toward the front door, cell phone to his ear.

A slight movement caught Olivia’s attention. It was her mother, adjusting the scarf over her shoulder. Ellie’s raised eyebrows and serene countenance conveyed a message: I’ll move this along, shall I?

“Livie, dear,” Ellie said, “that lovely pink flower looks so familiar to me. Let me think a moment.”

Del pressed a button on his cell and held it to his ear. He craned his neck to look behind Olivia. Shaking his head, he stabbed at his cell phone.

Olivia felt light-headed and realized she had stopped breathing. Cody must not be answering his cell. She tried to telegraph a warning signal to her mom, but Ellie gazed off to the right, as if racking her memory. “Yes, I think I’m right,” she said. “I believe the pink flower is a lily. Possibly a stargazer, such a sweet scent.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Olivia thought she saw Hugh and Edward both stiffen.

“Of course it is,” Bertha said. “Clarisse loved her lilies. I knew that cookie reminded me of something. And now I think on it, that white flower reminds me of growing up in the South. We had such lovely flowers, and the fragrance on a summer’s day, it was like perfume. That’s it! That white flower is a jasmine, I’m sure of it.”

Tammy gasped as she looked up at Hugh. “Hugh?” Her eyes widened as red blotches formed on Hugh’s handsome face. “Hugh, what’s wrong?”

“I haven’t heard that name in so long,” Hugh muttered to himself as his blotches were replaced with a ghostly pallor.

Olivia noticed a quick flash of something in Edward’s eyes. It seemed like an uneasy mix of hatred and fear. He took one look at his brother’s face and backed away. His lips were moving, but it seemed that he was unaware that a name had escaped them. The name released in a coarse whisper was “Jasmine.”

“Edward?” Hugh was rubbing his chin now, seemingly deep in thought. Suddenly his perfectly modulated voice turned harsh as he locked eyes with his brother. “What is this all about? What’s with this trip down memory lane?”

“I was about to ask you the same thing,” Edward said. His dark eyes were wary.

The other guests spread away from the brothers. Del watched the brothers intently, looking uncertain. Olivia knew how he felt.

Hugh picked up the jasmine flower cookie. Holding it in the palm of his hand, he said, “Did you know that Jasmine wrote to me after she disappeared? Just once. She wouldn’t tell me where she was. She said she was sorry but she had to leave, that my family would never forgive her.”

“You know Father never approved of her,” Edward said flatly.

“He also knew enough not to interfere,” Hugh said. “But you . . . You couldn’t stand it, could you? You never forgave her for loving me instead of you. You convinced her to run away, didn’t you?”

“Why would I do that? Hugh, you’re not making sense. And why do you care now, anyway? You’ve got a perky new wife while I still have what I’ve always had—nothing.” Edward edged away from his brother, cast a glance at the kitchen door, and Olivia’s doubts evaporated. She knew that Edward’s emotions had always been so close to the surface. He and Hugh had tried to keep things civil while Clarisse was alive, but her little show with the cookies brought everything to a furious boil. Olivia was going for broke. She picked up the coffin cookie.

“You did more than scare Jasmine into leaving town, didn’t you, Edward?” She’d kept her voice calm and soft. Her mother would be proud. She placed herself between Edward and the kitchen door. “You knew Jasmine was pregnant, didn’t you? Did you offer to claim the child as your own if she would marry you? Did she refuse you?”

Hugh’s head snapped toward Olivia, then back to Edward. “Child? Whose child? What did you do to her?”

“Nothing, Hugh. Can’t you see Olivia is playing some game?” He looked toward the kitchen, blocked by Olivia, then back at the front door, where Del waited. His eyes darted around the room like those of a trapped animal.

“Did you kill her?” The voice was barely recognizable, but it was Hugh’s. His hands reached toward Edward’s throat.

Edward ducked and backed into a corner. “It wasn’t my fault, Hugh. Jasmine was mine first, I loved her. You already had everything, you didn’t need her. I would have taken care of her and the child, but she wouldn’t listen.”

“So you killed her,” Olivia said, deliberately goading him.

“No . Don’t listen to her, Hugh. It was an accident. I was trying to make her listen, make her see how much I still cared for her when she lost her balance and fell down the stairs. I didn’t mean to . . .”

“Jasmine died of exposure,” Olivia said. “She was still alive when you dumped her body in Patuxent River State Park on a cold March day. That was no accident. Your mother found out, didn’t she?”

Hugh let out a yell and leaped at his brother. Edward sidestepped, and Hugh hit the wall.

As Edward sprinted for the kitchen, Olivia shouted, “Cody!” She heard a crash, coming from behind the kitchen door, followed by a deep bark. Edward skidded to a halt and spun around. Hugh tried to block his way, but Edward shoved him so hard, he lost his balance. He twisted and fell sideways. Hugh winced as he used his left arm to sit up. Jason knelt beside him.

Edward barreled forward, and Lucas tried to block him as he neared the antiques cabinet. Edward grabbed the thirty-six-cup coffeemaker and hurled it at him. The metal container bounced off Lucas’s shoulder and smashed open, spewing hot coffee down his side.

Del guarded the front door, ready to fight. Powerful muscles strained against the sleeves of his shirt. But he didn’t have a weapon. It would be all right, Olivia told herself. Del was the stronger of the two and far more experienced.

Where was Cody? Olivia skirted the sales desk and shoved open the kitchen door. She saw nothing but overturned chairs and spilled sugar. The door to the alley hung open. She heard a rattling sound and twirled around in time to watch her antiques cabinet rock forward. As it crashed to the floor, she tried not to think about the innocent cookie cutters trapped inside.

When the cabinet fell, the loud crash distracted Del long enough for Edward to dart toward a table in the corner, to Del’s left.

What was a table doing in that corner? Olivia’s mind flashed back to their preparations for the memorial. Hadn’t Maddie moved the pie-baking equipment out of the nook and into the main room to make room for a cookie tray? Cold dread shot through her as she remembered one item in that display—her beloved gray marble rolling pin.

With the quickness of a threatened squirrel, Edward snatched the rolling pin and swung it at Del’s stomach. Del doubled over, collapsed. Edward leaped over Del’s prone body and escaped into the foyer.

Mr. Willard had herded the remaining guests as far away from the doors as possible, so Olivia didn’t have to run anyone down as she raced toward Del. By the time Olivia reached him, Del was sitting up. He grasped her arm and rolled to his knees.

Olivia squatted beside him, an arm around his shoulders. “Del, don’t try to move. I’m so, so sorry, I should have known that rolling pin could be used as a weapon, I—”

Del put a shaky finger to his lips, and Olivia realized he was trying to catch his breath. Then she heard a familiar sound from behind the partially open door to the foyer. A growl. A yappy sort of growl.

“Spunky?! Oh my God.” He must have escaped when Jason went to get her cell. She reached behind Del and pushed the door open. Edward had cleared the front door, with Spunky nipping at his heels. She stood up and ran after them. The Chamberlain family car, a roomy Ford van, was parked right in front of the store. Edward beeped open the lock before he reached for the door. Spunky jumped inside a moment before the door slammed shut.

“Oh no.” She was too late. Edward was about to drive off with her puppy and get away with murder. She heard sirens coming nearer, but would they be in time? She kept running.

Edward was being unusually slow about starting his car. When she got close enough, she heard Spunky’s distinctive bark. He’d jumped into Edward’s lap. When Edward tried to shove him off, Spunky dug his teeth into Edward’s shirt sleeve and tugged, as if they were playing a game. Edward lifted his arm and tried to shake off the tiny dog.

Olivia reached the van first and grabbed the door handle. It was locked. Spunky spotted her outside. He let go of Edward’s sleeve, plopped down on the seat, and began to yap excitedly. Edward aimed his key toward the ignition.

“No!” Olivia banged on the driver’s-side window. She stopped when she heard a loud thump to her left. Edward’s key was in the ignition, but he froze. He stared out the front windshield, where eighty-five pounds of black Labrador balanced on the hood, barking at his little friend inside.

Edward recovered, turned the key. Someone yanked Olivia aside right before she heard a brief explosion. Cody stood in front of the van, holding his revolver. Air hissed out of the left-front tire. The ignition caught, and Edward shifted into drive, flat tire or no flat tire. Dogs or no dogs.

Del appeared. “Sorry about this, Livie,” he said. Olivia thought he was talking about her puppy. Then she noticed what he held in his hand—her lovely gray marble rolling pin. Del swung it at the driver’s-side window.

Marble isn’t the hardest stone on the planet, and Del didn’t swing as hard as he might have, but it did the trick. Edward ducked sideways as Spunky leaped into the backseat. Buddy the Lab skittered off the hood, taking some of the car’s finish with him. A maze of cracks spread across the glass. Del held the marble rolling pin like a baseball bat, ready to smash the window again, if he had to. Cody aimed his revolver at the windshield.

Edward sat up and switched off the ignition. He sat very still, one hand tight on the steering wheel. After a few moments, his hand slid to his lap. Olivia heard the van’s locks snap open as Edward Chamberlain, for perhaps the first time in his life, gave up.