Free Dying for the Truth (A Rockcrest Cove Cozy Mystery Book 4) by Emily Page Page A

said proudly.
     
    “What happened to Phil’s security?”
     
    Bailey pointed to the bushes just behind Maddie where she saw a gun trained right where Michael was standing—and another one across the street. Then the valet came up with his own gun with a big grin on his face. “Don’t worry, ma’am. There was no way he was going to get you in his car. We had him covered from every angle.”
     
    “Well, what do we do now?” Maddie asked.
     
    “We call the police. There’s no way that Connors can ignore this bit of evidence. With a few warrants for Evan’s financial records and insurance papers, it shouldn’t be hard to prove that Michael was the real murderer all along.”

Chapter Six
     
    The time passed slowly after Michael’s arrest. With the necessary warrants, it was clear that he was indeed the primary suspect in the death of Evan Foster. As the months came and went, Maddie again busied herself in her business, which now that Evan’s bakery was no longer in existence was doing better than she could have ever imagined.
     
    It was exhausting work, so she decided to turn the business over to Rachel to manage several days a week so that she could take advantage of a few of the more pleasurable things in life. Having a few days off each week was making a major difference in Maddie’s life. Even though she really enjoyed her work, she could not only see the difference in her presence but she was feeling it as well.
     
    That permanent white streak in her hair was beginning to fade; she was even joining Bailey on her early morning runs. At first a little reluctant to get into the exercise thing, she could feel the difference in her body. The titillating tingle of fresh oxygen flowing through her veins made her feel stronger and more energetic too.  She was becoming a completely different person.
     
    But today was much more exciting than usual. Philip had come for a visit, and he insisted on learning all about her business. While reluctant to have someone so inexperienced in the kitchen, she had a hard time telling him no. Last night at dinner she had tried to explain to him how complicated the work was, but he would have none of that.
     
    “On my boat, I am responsible for everything from food to the engines. I need to know a little about every aspect of work that needs to be done.”
     
    “I understand that, Phil, but my bakery is a very fast-paced business. You have to anticipate orders and make sure you have everything ready when a customer comes in the door.”
     
    “All right. I’m your student,” he had said with a glint in his eye. “You are free to mold me like clay.”
     
    Now Maddie was trying not to laugh in his face as the staunchly captain stood in her kitchen wearing a white kitchen apron and looking more like the Pillsbury Dough Boy than the prominent official of the sea that he really was.
     
    “Ok,” he said with a big grin on his face. “Where do we start?”
     
    “Why don’t we start you with something simple, like prepping.”
     
    “Prepping. I know what that is.”
     
    “Ok. Here is a list of ingredients that I will need for one of the recipes I need to make today. Why don’t you start by getting everything together and putting it on that counter there.” She pointed toward the walk-in refrigerator and the pantry shelves. “You’ll find everything in there.”
     
    Philip set off at a quick pace and almost immediately knocked over a shelf of pans with his long and gangly arms. “Oops. I didn’t see that there.”
     
    Maddie turned her back so he wouldn’t see her laughing. It’s a good thing this is one of the slow days, she thought. She may have been out of business if this was during her peak business hours.
     
    Fifteen minutes later, Maddie surveyed the pile of ingredients Phil had collected for her and tried to decide what to do. In his attempt to measure the dry ingredients, there was now a trail of flour and sugar coming from the pantry to the