Free Doughnuts & Deadly Schemes (Culinary Competition Mysteries Book 3) by Janel Gradowski

judging from the sign. It was hard to tell, but I think there is a full kitchen behind the lobby area."
    Mariah nodded as Amy scrolled through the pictures. "I know where you're talking about. I didn't realize there was ever a coffee shop in there. Must not have been in business long. If it does have a complete kitchen, looking at these pictures, I think it would be perfect."
    "That's what I thought. I know the woman who owns the property management company that's renting it out. If you'd like, I can find out more about it. I'm sure you're busy with wedding season starting. There's no sense wasting time looking at a place that doesn't have a suitable kitchen space."
    "Thank you! That would be great. Since you work at Riverbend now, you know pretty much what I need."
    Amy exchanged phone numbers with Mariah and also took a couple of the new entrepreneur's business cards. Bridget Mahoney was roaming around the bridal expo. Amy had caught glimpses of the silver-haired real estate tycoon several times. Approaching her about the vacant coffee shop would be a good way to lead into some other questions. If any businesses besides Finley & Crowe were having problems, Bridget would most likely know since her companies owned a lot of real estate in Kellerton.
    A woman wearing a silver sequin-covered dress walked on stage. There was a pop as she turned on the microphone. Mariah whirled around to face the announcer. The crowd in the seats quieted. Amy slipped her phone back into her purse. It was time to see what the judges thought of her fruit and flower-infused cake. She could see Mariah's knee bouncing up and down in nervous excitement.
    "Good luck," Amy whispered into Mariah's ear.
    Half an hour later, Amy hugged Carla goodbye while trying not to jab her with the trophy. Her cake had taken third place in the Trending Flavors contest. She thought Mariah was going to skitter right off the stage when she won first place for her cherry cake with whipped honey filling. Then the exuberant baker literally began bouncing up and down when she won the decorating competition, too. The wins would surely give her fledgling business a meteoric boost between the prize money, exposure to hundreds of potential customers, and prestige of sweeping both contests.
    Once Carla was on her way home to take a much-needed nap before heading to the hospital for the night, Amy turned her attention to the last task of the day. Finding Bridget Mahoney. The expo was only open for another half hour so the aisles were much less crowded. By speed walking through the generous gaps between people, it took Amy only a few minutes to track down Mrs. Mahoney, who was chatting with a chef from one of the restaurants she owned.
    "Amy, congratulations," Bridget said as she pointed at the trophy tucked under Amy's arm. "Your cake sounded divine. I have always loved citrus cakes."
    "Thank you. I see you're busy, so I was wondering if I could set up a time to chat with you."
    Bridget waved her hand. The diamond ring on her finger was more sparkly than the sequin covered dress of the contest announcer. "I can speak with you now. David and I are just gossiping." The handsome chef nodded in agreement as Bridget moved around the end of the table at the front boundary of the restaurant's booth. "What would you like to talk about?"
    They wound their way through the dwindling crowd, discussing the coffee shop as a potential cake bakery for Mariah. It seemed like the perfect space since there was a fully equipped kitchen behind the small retail area. She couldn't wait to let Mariah know. Now to see if she could help out Shepler.
    "I know you own quite a few buildings downtown. Have any of your tenants been threatened or had problems with their computer systems?"
    Bridget raised one perfectly arched eyebrow. "Is this connected with Luke Crowe's murder?"
    Amy nodded. "My best friend is getting married in two weeks, and her fiancé is in charge of the murder investigation. I thought I'd help