Free Baking is Murder (A Bee's Bakehouse Cozy Mystery) (Bee's Bakehouse Mysteries Book 1) by Kathy Cranston

reached the Sweet Home Farm. The metal sign that announced the farm and its organic, homemade produce was in view but still tantalizingly out of reach.
    Jessie was just about to remove the boots and walk in her socks when she heard the whirr of sirens behind her. She turned around in a panic.
    “I told you to bring boots, not walk over here in them. Are you out of your mind?” the chief boomed over the loudspeaker.
    Mortified, Jessie looked around in all directions. Thankfully there was nobody else in sight to witness the chief’s teasing. She turned and walked back to the cruiser.
    “You know that’s just like something Aunt Bee would do,” she grumbled. Her aunt was always trying to think up new ways to embarrass her. She hoped she’d never see the day when Bee and Chief Daly decided to team up against her.
    Chief Daly beamed back. “Hope in. I’ll drive you the rest of the way.”
    Jessie climbed in and stared ahead as the made their way to the gate. She frowned and glanced at her watch. According to the flyer, the protest was due to start in a couple minutes. But there were no cars or vans parked along the road, and she couldn’t see any banners or signs in the distance either.
    She glanced at the chief. “These protesters have a habit of turning up late, huh?”
    He shrugged.
    Jessie settled back into the seat. She didn’t mind having to wait a while. She’d been hearing a lot about the soft cheeses the Sweets sold in their farm store. If they had ten or fifteen minutes to kill before the hoards arrived, then Jessie didn’t mind at all if it meant she’d have time to try out delicious cheeses.
    Jessie was daydreaming about how she could put their homemade feta to use in the café when the cruiser rolled up to the farmhouse. She stared out the window and her eyes widened in surprise.

Chapter 18
    “This is it?”
    The chief killed the engine and looked in the direction she was pointing. “I guess so.”
    Jessie had been expecting hundreds of people with placards and banners and loudspeakers. She’d imagined them marching through the muddy grass shouting horrible slogans. She would never have imagined this.
    The kid with the flyers stood outside the Sweet’s house with four other college-age kids, only one of whom was holding a sign. It was more a sheet of paper than a sign. It read “End Animal Cruelty NOW”.
    Jessie glanced at the house where there were no signs of life. The farm shop, which was back along the driveway a short distance, was also closed. Jessie wondered if the protesters were the cause.
    “Are they allowed to come onto private property? I would have thought they’d have to protest on the street outside.”
    The chief shrugged. “I can’t imagine they’re causing the Sweets much bother. But I’ll check in with them, of course.”
    They got out of the car and walked to the protesters. Chief Daly shot Jessie a look that she had no trouble interpreting. His eyes said: leave the talking to me.
    She nodded. She was more than happy to comply. They bypassed the group and made their way to the Sweet’s front door. Chief Daly rapped loudly.
    Within seconds, the door swung open. Jessie smiled at the sight of Maddie Sweet, whom she’d seen in the café a couple times when Maddie was delivering butter for Aunt Bee.
    “Hi Chief,” she smiled, looking as calm and good-humored as ever.
    The chief cleared his throat. “Are these people bothering you? You know it’s well within your rights to have them removed—they are trespassing after all.”
    Maddie laughed heartily and Jessie found herself liking the woman even more. “Heavens, no. They’re just kids. I’m not about to land us in the middle of a media story about bad farmers versus noble kids.” She shook her head with a smile. “No, I imagine they’ll grow bored when there’s no drama or if they care to look around and see that our animals are well cared for.”
    Chief Daly nodded. “Okay, Mrs. Sweet. You call me if you change