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

him.
    Chief Daly climbed back into the car and turned on the engine. They say in silence for a couple minutes.
    “Spit it out,” he said at last.
    Jessie shifted in her seat so she was facing him. “You noticed the way he said he didn’t know Lydia? Wasn’t that strange?”
    The chief shrugged noncommittally.
    “But it was, right? He didn’t say that about Clarice.” Jessie was getting excited just thinking about it. Sure, the kid hadn’t seemed like a cold-blooded killer, but he’d lied to them. That had to count for something.
    “He didn’t,” the chief said thoughtfully. “That is true.”
    Jessie turned around and stared out the rear window. Kyle had already disappeared from view. She frowned. “Why haven’t you arrested him?”
    “On what grounds?”
    “On the grounds that he lied about knowing Lydia.”
    Chief Daly sighed. “That doesn’t make him a murderer, Jessie. Think about it. We have more evidence on Clarice Jackson than we do on Kyle Weathers. And you’d have me arrest him?”
    “No, I guess not. It’s just…”
    The chief smiled kindly. “I’ll have one of the guys check out his alibis. If they don’t check out I’ll look into it further.”
    Jessie was about to protest but she stopped herself. The whole thing was making her tired. She had been so convinced that Kyle was the real suspect, but now…
    She climbed out of the car. “Thanks, Chief. I appreciate you checking it out.”
    She turned and walked in the direction of the café, telling herself to stop thinking about it. She struggled, though—all she could think about was the look on Kyle’s face when he heard Lydia’s name.
     
     
     
     

Chapter 20
    Jessie looked up as the bell over the door rang. “Morning Julia,” she smiled.
    Julia beamed back. “Morning Jessie. I must say, I’ve been looking forward to one of your aunt’s cream donuts all morning.”
    “One of those days, huh?”
    Julia’s expression darkened for just a moment before returning to normal. “I shouldn’t complain. Can I also have a large coffee, please?”
    “Certainly,” Jessie said, not wanting to pry into her new friend’s business. “You want a large or one of these new twenty ounce cups I’ve just ordered?”
    Julia’s eyes widened. “Do you have to ask?” she laughed.
    It was just after the morning rush. Jessie served up the biggest donut from the cabinet and walked around the counter, leaving her Bee’s Bakehouse apron on in case a customer came in and she had to serve them.
    “Here you are, Julia.”
    Julia smiled as Jessie put the cake on the table and bustled away to get their coffees.
    “It’s so nice having you here, Jessie. I enjoy our chats and coffees in the mornings and it’s good that your aunt gets some time away from the café as well. Why, she asked me if I wanted to go for a walk by the river later. I’ve never been able to convince her to do that on a weekday before. It’s always been purchase orders this or taxes that.”
    Jessie smiled. The idea that she was some small help to her aunt filled her with pleasure. “It’s so lovely to be here. Well, apart from all this nasty business with Clarice. I’ll be glad when this is all over and the town can get back to normal, like I remember it from when I was a child.”
    Julia’s lips pursed. “By getting back to normal, you mean Clarice gets sent away to jail and the county sells her property?”
    Jessie spluttered on milk foam. “No, of course not,” she hissed, frowning. “I mean when Clarice gets out and they jail whoever actually did this.” She didn’t mention anything about their mission to Sweet Home Farm the day before, knowing the chief wouldn’t waste any time announcing that they’d caught the real killer once he’d investigated the Weathers kid.
    Julia twisted her fingers around her cup. “I wish I could be that enthusiastic, dear.”
    Jessie looked at her watch, confused. It was almost eleven. The chief hadn’t mentioned anything the