Free The Mud Pie Murderess: A Bakery Detectives Cozy Mystery by Stacey Alabaster Page B

we were going to get caught," I said, holding my hand up against my thudding heart.
    "Don't worry," Pippa said with a wink as she stood up. I didn't know where we were going, but Pippa seemed confident that she knew where Braxton's master bedroom was, so I followed her. "When I'm around, you never get caught," Pippa said with supreme confidence. "Getting you caught is Chloe's game, not mine. I'm your good luck charm, remember?"
    "You are?" I asked, a little surprised. I had to laugh as I followed her into the bedroom. Pippa immediately began pulling open drawers, much to my alarm. "Pippa, are you sure you should be doing that?"
    "This is what we're here for, remember?" she said. "What's the point if we're not going to take a risk?" Easy for her to say. She would be in a lot less trouble than me if we got caught. "Besides, remember, Rach—I am your good luck charm."
    I still wasn't convinced of that. "As I recall, a lot of things have happened while you've been around."
    Pippa put a hand up to let me know to shut up. "Rachael, look what I've found."
    She pulled out a long piece of jewelry from the dresser and held it up to me.
    I shrugged. "A silver necklace? So what?" I asked. "It's probably his wife's."
    Pippa shook her head. "Look around," she said. "Do you see any other sign that a woman lives in this room?"
    I glanced around. It was distinctively male decor. I blinked. There was only one pair of slippers on the floor by the bed. Men's slippers. I spun back to face Pippa. "What are you saying then, Pippa?"
    She raised an eyebrow. "I found out a couple more things while you were off talking to your precious Chloe."
    I ignored her comment. "And are you going to share these insights with me at any point?"
    She nodded. "I was chatting to another caterer—a real one, I mean—who’s been at the house regularly, who told me that Braxton and his wife sleep in different bedrooms. And he told me where Braxton's was. I wanted to check it out for myself, though. Looks like it's true, doesn't it?"
    I nodded and started to walk over to her. The silver necklace was still dangling from her fingers.
    "So what the heck is this?" I asked, taking the necklace in my own hands.
    "Turn it over," Pippa whispered.
    I did as she said and turned it over. There was an inscription on the back of one of the silver plates. Initials.
    O.S.
    It belonged to Olive Styles.
    I looked at Pippa. "We shouldn't be looking at this," I said, throwing the necklace back into the drawer.
    "What are you doing?" she shouted, far too loudly. She reached into the drawer and pulled the necklace out again. "Rachael, we need that as evidence."
    I could hear footsteps hurrying up the staircase. We each stared at each other. "That's what you get for yelling!" I hissed at Pippa.
    We both searched around desperately for a place to hide. "Quick, get under the bed," Pippa yelled, pushing me down on the ground. But it was too late. The footsteps reached the door and it opened.
    Braxton Madison, red and out of breath, just stared at us in disbelief. The necklace was still hanging off Pippa's hand.
    "What the heck are you two doing in my bedroom?" he growled.
    Uh oh.

Chapter 10
    I t was a long evening of questioning down at the police station before Pippa and I were finally allowed to speak to each other. Six hours must have passed before we finally spilled out onto the cold parking lot at the back of the station.
    I was lucky they were even letting me go, and I hadn't been charged with trespassing AGAIN. Technically, I'd only been snooping, not trespassing. Braxton's event might have been invite only, but I'd still been welcomed through the door—I hadn't broken in.
    Pippa looked exhausted but she brightened when she saw me.
    "So, he was having an affair with Olive Styles."
    "We don't know that for certain," I pointed out cautiously.
    Pippa shot me a look. "Come on. How else do you explain the necklace being in his drawer?"
    I nodded a little. "It also explains why he was out