Free Maddie's Recipe Of Mysteries (A Rockcrest Cove Cozy Mystery Book 1) by Emily Page Page B

doesn’t make any sense.” Madeline thought for minute. “Something must’ve happened recently to change things.”
     
    “Maybe we should talk to Kyle about this,” Bailey suggested.
     
    “Of course,” Madeline agreed. “But there’s something we need to do first.”
     
    Bailey strongly objected to the suggestion that they go to visit Evan and Emma’s bakery across town. It seemed like a foolish and risky step that could turn out to be nothing but trouble.
     
    “Think about it,” Madeline tried to explain.
     
    “That bakery is at the heart of everything we’ve uncovered so far.” She began to count off the connections on her fingers.
     
    “One, she and Evan were secret partners in this bakery while she was working for me. Two, she blackmailed Bryson to get the money to finance the bakery. Three, she was clearly stealing my recipes to give to Evan. Four, they were trying to sabotage my business and steal my customers away.”
     
    “Ok. Ok. I get it,” Bailey said.
     
    “I’m just worried that if Evan is behind it all, it’s not going to sit well with him if we just walk in there like regular customers.”
     
    “Well, there’s only one way to find out,” Madeline said. “Turn the wheel.”
     
    “Now, Gran, let’s think this through a bit more.”
     
    “Turn the wheel, Bailey.”
     
    “But wait a minute.”
     
    “Turn the wheel, Bailey.”
     
    “Yes, but—”
     
    “Bailey! Turn the wheel,” Madeline insisted.
     
    Bailey reluctantly did as she was instructed and turned the wheel. “I think,” she said, trying to get her gran to see a little reason,
     
    “I think we should call Kyle and let him know what we’re doing.”
     
    “We can talk to Kyle later,” Madeline said.
     
    She knew if Bailey spoke to him, there was a good chance he would talk her out of it. What would Evan do? She thought to herself. It was the middle of the day. If he were going to try something, he would do it much later.
     
    They parked outside The Baker’s Cup for about thirty minutes, watching a brisk business go in and out. She could see why her business had seen a drop in customers recently. Again, she watched as many of her former customers went in and out of the establishment. Obviously the new business had somehow lured them away.
     
    “Let’s go,” Madeline said, and she jumped out of the car.
     
    “Wait!” Bailey said. “Not so fast.” She got out, but not nearly as fast as Madeline had. “Gran. Are you sure you want to do this?”
     
    “Yes,” Madeline said with a little irritation in her voice.
     
    “Then we need a cover story. We can’t just walk in there.”
     
    “Of course we can,” Madeline said.
     
    “It’s the only way we can go in. I can’t go on any pretense; Evan and I went to school together. He’ll see right through any scenario we might make up.”
     
    Bailey was still not sure about entering a rival shop so openly, but she followed her gran anyway.
     
    They entered to a busy and brisk business. Customers were happily chatting away at different booths, sipping their coffee and discussing whatever was on their mind. Unlike at Madeline’s shop, where business came and went in spurts, this shop seemed to have a steady flow of traffic, and business was booming.
     
    The plan was to enter as customers, but that idea went out the window as soon as they entered the door. Evan immediately recognized Madeline almost as soon as they arrived.
     
    “Maddie!” he exclaimed, appearing genuinely happy to see her.
     
    “What a pleasure it is to see you in my shop!”
     
    He came over and gave her a great big hug, catching her completely off guard. “What brings you to my neck of the woods?” he asked jovially.
     
    “Well, I just heard how well you were doing and decided to come check it out.”
     
    “Great! That’s awesome,” he said excitedly. He directed them to a corner booth.
     
    “Why don’t you have a seat and I’ll be right back.” He walked