Free Scones, Skulls & Scams by Leighann Dobbs Page A

Jack didn’t seem to be interested in what the other bakery was doing or why they were doing it. Besides, he was too honest to play favorites.
    “If only. But don’t worry. I’m sure the police will figure out what she’s up to.” Lexy wished she felt as confident as she sounded.
    “Well I hope so—we don’t need the likes of her messing things up here.” Victor stood. “My offer is still open. If you ladies decide to venture into the sewer, or go on any other type of adventure, I would love to accompany you.”
    “Thanks. We’ll keep you in mind.” Nans plastered a smile on her face as Victor turned to leave.
    “Phew, I was afraid he was going to stay all afternoon,” Ida said as soon as he was out the door.
    “Me too,” Helen added. “I wish he would stop offering to come with us as if we need a man around. We can certainly handle a little sewer excursion all on our own.”
    “Of course we can!” Nans said.
    “Right on,” Ida added.
    “Men!” This from Ruth who stood to bend over the blueprints.
    Lexy admired the old ladies’ spunk, but she had to admit she didn’t share their confidence about going down in the sewer. The odds were slim the money was still down there and it could be dangerous. Jack had said the whole thing could flood or crumble. Any clues to the decades-old robbery were probably long gone, anyway. She hoped they didn’t find another access into the sewer. If they did, she’d have to come up with some way to talk them out of going in.
    “You were right yesterday, Mona,” Ruth said to Nans. “There was one section of blueprint missing.”
    “I knew it!” Nans’ triumph was short-lived. “But that means we won’t be able to look everywhere. It would be just our luck the entrance we need is on the missing blueprint.”
    “Well, then you’re going to owe me something extra in my Christmas stocking.” Ruth’s eyes twinkled as she reached under her chair. “Because I went down to the town hall earlier today and got the missing blueprint.”  
    “They had it?” Nans asked.
    “Well, not the actual print. Meredith ran this one off from a microfiche picture,” Ruth answered. “It’s rather strange. She thinks the last person to look at the hard copy of blueprints stole that page.”
    Lexy’s forehead creased. “Why would anyone do that?”
    Ruth shrugged. “Beats me.”
    Nans straightened in her chair. “Isn’t it obvious? They didn’t want anyone else to see what was on the blueprint.”
    “Why not?” Helen paused, holding the scone halfway to her mouth.
    “Because they’re onto the bank robbery loot, same as we are.”  
    Ida gasped. “You mean we have competition?”
    “It would seem that way,” Nans replied.
    “But who?” Helen asked. “Who else could have possibly figured this out?”
    Nans shrugged. “Anyone who saw them pull the skull up and knew about Midas Mulcahey.”
    “Well, I wouldn’t think too many people would know about something that happened so long ago,” Helen said.
    “Sure, but it only takes one person. Someone on the police investigation or someone in the historical society that knows the history,” Nans suggested.
    “Oh, wait.” Ruth grabbed her purse from the back of the chair and set it in her lap. “They have a card you sign to view the blueprints just like when you take out books at the library. I have it here since I signed out the other blueprints. Let me see …”
    Lexy held her breath as Ruth pulled several objects out of her purse, placing them on the table and diving back in until she finally retrieved a small card.
    Squinting down at it, she adjusted her glasses. “Yes, here it is. The last person to take these out was someone named Brewster … Caraleigh Brewster.”

    ***
    Lexy gasped, her head jerking up to look at the bakery across the street.  
    “What’s the matter, dear? Do you know this person?” Ruth asked.
    “I can’t believe it … Caraleigh Brewster is the baker across the street.” Lexy