alcohol poisoning.” Sterling frowned. He’d spent some time on the streets before arriving in Ashland and did a stint in rehab. I was impressed that he’d been able to make positive changes at such a young age. It’s not the typical way stories like that usually end.
“No, he was murdered.” I felt my voice catch.
“Seriously? Oh, man, that’s insane.”
“It gets worse. I found him.”
“Jules, you’re going to get a reputation. That’s two murders in how many months?”
I picked up a cake from the tray and pinched off a piece. “Yeah, that’s pretty much exactly what Thomas said.”
“I thought Ashland was supposed to be a quaint town. I’ve seen more murder here than I did living on the streets in So Cal.”
The moist cake melted in my mouth. I’d have to tell Stephanie that she’d done a great job on these. The cream cheese glaze added just a touch of tang without being overly sweet. The sugar rushed straight to my head. I took another bite. It was exactly what I needed.
“Do you need anything?” Sterling asked as I popped another bite into my mouth.
“Nope. I’m good. I think this is doing the trick. You’re sure you’re good here?” My body gave an involuntary shudder. “I want out of these clothes.”
Sterling handed me a paper napkin. “We got this. Go.”
I hesitated.
“Jules, you’re always worrying about everyone else. Weren’t you just lecturing your mom about taking care of herself a few days ago?” He paused and gave me a hard look. “You should follow your own advice.”
I polished off the rest of the cake and wiped my hands on the napkin. “Okay. I’ll be quick. I promise,” I told him as I left. “If Thomas comes down, tell him I’ll be right back.”
Sterling pushed me out the door. “It’s cool. Go change. Like I said, we got this.”
I smiled as I walked to my apartment. Mom and I really had an amazing staff, especially given that all of them were in their early twenties.
The combination of chocolate and sugar from the cake gave my stride an extra little kick. Either that or it was the adrenaline rush from finding a dead body. I gave my head a quick shake. This couldn’t be happening again.
I took the stairs to my apartment two at a time. I wanted out of these clothes this instant. Not that a little flour on my jeans would usually bother me, but this morning it was a visual reminder that I’d just witnessed a murder. In addition to changing, I knew there was another important thing I needed to do—call Mom.
After a quick shower and change of clothes I hit Mom’s number on my phone. She picked up on the third ring. I almost hung up. This was the first vacation she’d taken in years, but we made a pact upon my return that we wouldn’t keep secrets from one another. I knew if I didn’t at least fill her on what had happened, she’d feel betrayed. Plus I figured Thomas had probably already called the Professor.
Her voice sounded light when she answered. “Juliet, I’m so glad it’s you. I was just planning to call you.”
“How’s the wine tasting, Mom?”
“Wonderful. We’ve had the best time, and I have some great new wines that we can add to our line at Torte. You should see how many cases we’re bringing back. Doug’s truck is packed.”
“I’m so glad you’ve had a good time, Mom.”
“What’s wrong? I can hear it in your voice. Is it the shop?”
“Has the Professor talked to Thomas yet?”
She paused. “I don’t think so, why? What’s going on? Honey, are you okay? Is it Thomas?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“Juliet, stop stalling. What’s going on?”
“There’s been another murder, Mom.”
“What? At Torte? Who?”
“One of the contestants on Take the Cake . Not here, up at the Black Swan.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” She let out a sigh. “I mean, of course it’s terrible that someone’s been killed, but I’m so relieved you’re not in the middle of it this
“No, he was murdered.” I felt my voice catch.
“Seriously? Oh, man, that’s insane.”
“It gets worse. I found him.”
“Jules, you’re going to get a reputation. That’s two murders in how many months?”
I picked up a cake from the tray and pinched off a piece. “Yeah, that’s pretty much exactly what Thomas said.”
“I thought Ashland was supposed to be a quaint town. I’ve seen more murder here than I did living on the streets in So Cal.”
The moist cake melted in my mouth. I’d have to tell Stephanie that she’d done a great job on these. The cream cheese glaze added just a touch of tang without being overly sweet. The sugar rushed straight to my head. I took another bite. It was exactly what I needed.
“Do you need anything?” Sterling asked as I popped another bite into my mouth.
“Nope. I’m good. I think this is doing the trick. You’re sure you’re good here?” My body gave an involuntary shudder. “I want out of these clothes.”
Sterling handed me a paper napkin. “We got this. Go.”
I hesitated.
“Jules, you’re always worrying about everyone else. Weren’t you just lecturing your mom about taking care of herself a few days ago?” He paused and gave me a hard look. “You should follow your own advice.”
I polished off the rest of the cake and wiped my hands on the napkin. “Okay. I’ll be quick. I promise,” I told him as I left. “If Thomas comes down, tell him I’ll be right back.”
Sterling pushed me out the door. “It’s cool. Go change. Like I said, we got this.”
I smiled as I walked to my apartment. Mom and I really had an amazing staff, especially given that all of them were in their early twenties.
The combination of chocolate and sugar from the cake gave my stride an extra little kick. Either that or it was the adrenaline rush from finding a dead body. I gave my head a quick shake. This couldn’t be happening again.
I took the stairs to my apartment two at a time. I wanted out of these clothes this instant. Not that a little flour on my jeans would usually bother me, but this morning it was a visual reminder that I’d just witnessed a murder. In addition to changing, I knew there was another important thing I needed to do—call Mom.
After a quick shower and change of clothes I hit Mom’s number on my phone. She picked up on the third ring. I almost hung up. This was the first vacation she’d taken in years, but we made a pact upon my return that we wouldn’t keep secrets from one another. I knew if I didn’t at least fill her on what had happened, she’d feel betrayed. Plus I figured Thomas had probably already called the Professor.
Her voice sounded light when she answered. “Juliet, I’m so glad it’s you. I was just planning to call you.”
“How’s the wine tasting, Mom?”
“Wonderful. We’ve had the best time, and I have some great new wines that we can add to our line at Torte. You should see how many cases we’re bringing back. Doug’s truck is packed.”
“I’m so glad you’ve had a good time, Mom.”
“What’s wrong? I can hear it in your voice. Is it the shop?”
“Has the Professor talked to Thomas yet?”
She paused. “I don’t think so, why? What’s going on? Honey, are you okay? Is it Thomas?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“Juliet, stop stalling. What’s going on?”
“There’s been another murder, Mom.”
“What? At Torte? Who?”
“One of the contestants on Take the Cake . Not here, up at the Black Swan.”
“Oh, thank goodness.” She let out a sigh. “I mean, of course it’s terrible that someone’s been killed, but I’m so relieved you’re not in the middle of it this
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