Cookies and Chaos Read online

  Cookies and Chaos

  A Maple Lane Cozy Mystery

  C. A. Phipps

  Copyright © 2018 by C. A. Phipps

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is for my grandchildren.

  A constant source of delight they make me want to write uplifting stories about family, love, and kindness.

  A child never asks to be born, and I believe they should never have to ask for shelter and food, or love and kindness.

  Cheryl x

  Contents

  Also by C. A. Phipps

  Books by Cheryl Phipps

  Cookies and Chaos

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Doughnuts and Disaster

  Thank you

  Recipes

  Chocolate Croissants

  Cheats Croissant

  Chocolate Truffles

  Chocolate Chip Cookies

  Mini Fruit Tarts

  About the Author

  Also by C. A. Phipps

  The Maple Lane Cozy Mysteries

  Apple Pie and Arsenic

  Bagels and Blackmail

  Cookies and Chaos

  Doughnuts and Disaster

  C.A. Phipps also writes as Cheryl Phipps.

  Don’t forget to subscribe to my newsletter. There’s a free recipe book waiting for you. x

  Books by Cheryl Phipps

  High Seas Weddings

  Against the Tide

  Waves of Passion

  Kisses on the Sand - Coming 2019

  Sycamore Springs Series – Romantic Comedy

  Jack and Gill

  Adam and Eve

  Samson and Delilah - Coming soon!

  Prossers Bay Series - set in New Zealand

  Prosser Bay Boxed Set – Books 1-3

  Doc’s Town

  Finding Liam

  Seducing Megan

  Saving Stephanie

  Emily’s Wish

  Billionaire Knights Series

  Billionaire Knights Books 1-3

  Restless Billionaire

  Ruthless Billionaire

  Reluctant Billionaire

  Reckless Billionaire

  Resident Billionaire

  Millionaire - Family Ties Series

  The Millionaire Next Door

  The Millionaire’s Proposal

  The Millionaire’s Seduction

  Cookies and Chaos

  *** Cookies come in all shapes. As do murder victims. Delicious Cozy Mysteries with free recipes!***

  Maple Falls - home of delicious treats.

  Of yard sales and a sense of community.

  And now . . . Murder!

  Using her bakery and expertise, Madeline Flynn’s keen to help a pair of young locals with their cookie sales.

  But strange things are happening at the community center where they hope to make their sales. It might be no place for children just now.

  Once again Maddie is whisked up an investigation that will take all her sleuthing skills and Gran, a posse of girlfriends, as well as Big Red, her faithful Maine Coon, won’t let her do it alone.

  Along with the handsome Sheriff, they’re wading through clues as thick as cookie dough, hoping that the timer won’t go off on another murder.

  Have they taken on more than they can chew?

  The Maple Lane Mysteries are light, cozy mysteries featuring a quirky cat-loving bakery owner who discovers she’s a talented amateur sleuth.

  You can catch up with Maddie’s earlier exploits in

  Book 1: Apple Pie and Arsenic

  Book 2: Bagels and Blackmail

  Then

  Book 4: Doughnuts and Disaster.

  No swearing, gore, or graphic scenes.

  Chapter One

  When the phone rang, Madeline Flynn ignored it. Either of her two intern bakers busy in the kitchen behind her would answer it and with ten-year-old twins, Jesse and James Dixon, in the bakery, it paid to keep her focus on them.

  Having known the pair for most of their lives, she was embarrassed to be unable to tell them apart and had to find a new way each time she saw them to do so. She wasn’t alone in this, but it annoyed her ordered mind.

  Their uncle, Ethan Tanner, who happened to be the Sheriff, gave her a frustrated and apologetic shake of the head.

  It was obvious that the three were related. Their dark hair and blue eyes were so unusual that they required a second look from most people. The boys had also picked up Ethan’s mannerisms which was only natural since he was their only father figure.

  Sharing a childhood growing up in the small town of Maple Falls, not too far from Portland, Oregon, she and Ethan had some history. It was fair to say that her attention was equally divided between the twins and the handsome Sheriff, who looked so darn fine in his uniform that she struggled to refocus on the boys each time he looked her way.

  After working in New York City for a few years, Maddie had moved back to Maple Falls to look after her Gran (who had created a ruse to get her back home and into this very bakery). Soon after her return, she and Ethan had started flirting with the idea of dating. The attraction was definitely mutual and thankfully they had both changed from the teenagers who couldn’t agree on many things.

  That attraction was still tempered by their differences of opinions, but their relationship, like a good dough, was unquestionably begging to be given a second chance, like one of her recipes that didn’t quite make the grade at the first attempt.

  After hours of night-time, and sometimes day-time, deliberations, the one thing holding her back was potentially losing the friendship they shared. They’d forged it so many years ago and she’d thought it lost after their bitter break-up.

  She had missed it so much, and had been delighted after coming home, to have it develop into something far better. Because of this, Maddie wasn’t sure if it was possible to be romantically involved and still maintain the valued friendship.

  She also had to acknowledge that the experience of a disastrous relationship during her time in New York City, where her ex had wanted her to be something she wasn’t, had contributed to her hesitation.

  “The bakery looks to be doing a roaring trade.”

  Ethan nodded at the full tables of regulars who were devoted to the breakfasts of fresh bagels and croissants she offered.

  “It is. I’m having to fight Gran on doing more hours again, but Laura, Luke and I are managing well. I might even hire another person to get the Saturday opening finally off the ground.”

  “As long as you don’t have to work any harder.”

  She grinned at his censure. “Unlike you? How is the Sheriff work today?”

  “All good. I’ve got some disgruntled Country Club members complaining about someone tearing up the golf course in a van, and a suspicious character lurking around town. Just the usual.” He winked then turned to his nephews. “Come on guys. Choosing can’t be this hard.” />
  Six-foot-four, dark-haired, with an easy smile that show-cased his dimple, Ethan towered over the ten-year-old boys, who weren’t even slightly intimidated by his growly voice.

  “But they all look so good. It’s really hard to decide on just one.”

  One of them pointed at the display case, while the other nodded enthusiastically.

  Proudly Maddie straightened her white apron, emblazoned with the Maple Lane Bakery logo featuring Big Red, her amazing Maine Coon cat, to better protect her jeans and white blouse from her baking.

  “Don’t even think about it, James. The last time you two had more than one, you were on a sugar high for hours.”

  Pushing her long blonde braid over her shoulder she felt pleased that she had latched on to the fact that James wore a blue cap.

  “It’s not our fault that Maddie makes them like that.” Jesse explained.

  “Hey, leave me out of it,” she put up her hands. “I don’t force you to eat them.”

  James, his features thoughtful, walked towards her. “You’re a really good baker, but you’re kind of like a deputy too now, aren’t you? Are you and Uncle Ethan going to solve any more crimes together?”

  “Are you undercover?” Jesse added.

  The blue eyes were innocent, but the memory of what James was referring to, gave her a jolt. Solving the murder of the mayoral candidate last summer, and the blackmail around it was horrible and wonderful in equal measure.

  Horrible in that Maude Oliver was killed, arguably by accident, and wonderful that they had saved more than a dozen beloved pets from potential death. The whole thing still made her shudder.

  She turned to look out through the back of the shop, where Big Red lay in a pool of sunlight just inside the back door of the industrial kitchen. The massive Maine Coon had been one of the pets that had been stolen for ransom, and she’d been afraid that she would never see him again. He was her best friend and confidante, even before her school friend, Angel, who she’d known nearly as long as Ethan.

  Angel owned the hair salon two doors down from Maddie and they saw each other every day, but Big Red hardly left her side. Unless he was chasing butterflies or guarding the back door from unwanted visitors which may or may not include delivery men. This was something that was dependent on his mood and whether or not he liked whoever dared invade his territory.

  “No. I’m a baker. I like to help your uncle if I can, but I’m not a secret anything.”

  They looked disappointed, but went back to making their selection, and the moment passed.

  Luke, her young intern, came through from the kitchen and shuffled his feet awkwardly. “Sorry to interrupt but there’s a call for you. I tried to deal with it, but he insisted on talking to you.”

  Maddie felt his pain at being left to serve Ethan, but it wasn’t something she could prevent indefinitely. The Sheriff had grilled the teenager at length in regard to that murder and the blackmail, but there had been no evidence to prove he had anything more to do with it than protecting his brother’s girlfriend who had shown signs of abuse.

  “I won’t be long. Probably not as long as it takes them to choose,” she said to Ethan and winked at the twins, who laughed before going back to their selection.

  “How are you Luke?”

  “I’m good, thanks.”

  She smiled to herself at the exchange, hearing the slight stiltedness in both men as she went into the kitchen. The call was from her supplier, apologizing that their delivery man, Owen, was having vehicle issues and her order wouldn’t be delivered until tomorrow. Fortunately, she had a fear of this very thing happening and never let her stock get too low, so it wasn’t a problem.

  It was odd that this wasn’t the first time Owen had problems getting her order to her on the right day. He had started out so efficiently a few months back and had a quick wit that had her interns in fits of laughter. Even Laura, who took time to warm to a person.

  Lately, Owen had looked exhausted. And kind of sad, although he tried to hide it. You could never tell what was really going on with people and she didn’t feel she knew him well enough to pry.

  When she finished, Ethan and Luke were still talking quietly, the awkwardness gone. She took the time to frost two butter cookies with clown faces, then carried them out to the shop on a tray.

  “How about these?” she showed them to the boys and was rewarded with fist pumps.

  “Awesome!”

  “Cool!

  “Thank goodness for that.” Ethan grinned. “Although, you shouldn’t spoil them.”

  “Why not? They’re good boys,” she answered sincerely.

  He looked at the twins, who were arguing over which one they wanted. “Hmmm. I’ll take the compliment on behalf of their mother and run.”

  “Maddie?”

  “Yes, Jesse?” She couldn’t help a little pride creeping into her voice at getting their names straight.

  “Ahhh . . .”

  He seemed to be trying to get the words just right and his brother gave him a dig with an elbow.

  “We want to do some fundraising.”

  “Good for you.” She stole a look at Ethan who seemed just as confused.

  James held his cap in his hands, something that his uncle did frequently, and threw her a beatific smile, as if he were trying to get on her good side for a reason she couldn’t fathom. He topped it off with an exaggerated sigh.

  “Our old bikes are falling apart and they’re for babies. We need bigger ones so we can ride to school and Mom can’t afford new ones right now.”

  Ethan’s cheeks pinked. “I’m sure we can work something out,” he blustered.

  James continued as if he hadn’t spoken. “Mom told us not to ask Uncle Ethan for money. She said we have to come up with an idea to help ourselves, so we did.”

  “That’s great. Want to share?” Maddie knew this was a rhetorical question, because both boys were bursting to tell her.

  They nodded enthusiastically.

  “We thought if we made cookies, we could sell them around town,” James said, as if he’d won at Ready Player One.

  “Sounds like a good plan. What did your mom say about doing that?” she asked, knowingly full well that Layla’s job and looking after these two filled her days and nights.

  “Mom said she doesn’t have time to help us bake and we can’t use the oven on our own.” Jesse confirmed.

  Suddenly it all fell into place for her and by the look of Ethan’s astonishment he also understood what they were getting at. As much as she wanted to help, Maddie was exhausted by the end of the week and had put her other business plans on hold because of it.

  “I see where this is going, guys, but I’m busy myself.”

  Their faces fell, which made her feel bad. Gran had always made time for her love of baking, despite running a small farm.

  “Maybe I could help?”

  Luke had been cleaning tables and now he’d stopped, cloth in hand, his offer sincere.

  Ethan turned to him. “I don’t think my sister would like her home used as a bakery. Plus, she doesn’t allow strangers there.”

  Red-faced at the snub, Luke nodded. “I have spoken to her a few times, but I hadn’t thought about her not really knowing me.”

  Maddie frowned as she packaged the cookies separately in paper bags and handed them to the boys. They thanked her, but were disappointed about the outcome of their request. Their down-turned mouths made the whole thing into a tragedy and Maddie couldn’t let it end this way.

  “If I was on site, and Luke baked with them here, would Layla have any objections?”

  Surprised, Ethan took a moment to digest the suggestion, then raised an eyebrow.

  “I guess it’s not really my call, but I’ll pass along the message to Layla, or perhaps you could discuss it with her?”

  “Please, Maddie. Mom won’t say no to you.” James begged unashamedly, as he and his brother hopped from foot to foot.

  “Tell you what, I have to visit
the community center this afternoon with Gran, so I’ll drop by the clinic while I’m out.”

  It was like winning the lottery, she could imagine⏤without the money⏤the way they leaped around her. She was even bombarded with several hugs.

  “All right you two, you’re squashing Maddie. She won’t be able to plead your case if she can’t breathe.” Ethan intervened on her behalf.

  Immediately they stepped back.

  “Are you okay?” Jesse asked with concern.

  She laughed. “I’m fine.”

  Ethan wrestled with their bags as he added the cookies to their lunchboxes. It was awkwardly cute, since big hands weren’t made to cope with things like that.

  “This will teach me to bribe them with treats first thing in the morning.” He rolled his eyes. “I better get them to school before the principal has my hide.”

  Maddie laughed again as she watched them go in the noisy way of boys. The principal was a friend of theirs and a tiny 5’2”. While she couldn’t physically do harm, she had developed other means to keep her pupils, parents, and staff, in order, which meant it was rare that anyone was late for school. Suzy Barnes was a force to be reckoned with.