Bite the Biscuit (A Barkery & Biscuits Mystery) by Linda O. Johnston

some good training in L.A. and could have stayed there, but I enjoy the San Bernardino Mountains. The Sheriff’s Department would have been a good choice, but I liked the people here, the location, and, honestly, the fact I could probably get promoted more quickly.”
    I was a bit surprised she was being so forthright—or at least I was till she continued.
    “So now I’m a detective with a lot of seniority. If I determine someone’s a prime suspect, a lot of people jump in to help me find all the evidence needed to arrest them.”
    Why wasn’t I surprised when her gaze moved from my brother to me? My feeling that she was preparing herself for the kill was probably correct—but she’d aimed it at me, not Neal.
    It was my turn to smile at the senior detective, although a lot more weakly than my brother had. “Gee, and I thought you came here because you wanted to try some of my baked goods, Bridget. In fact, I need to check on the scones my assistant put into the oven a little while ago. If they’re ready, I’ll bring some nice warm ones out to both of you.”
    “I’ll go with you,” Wayne said in a hurry, after receiving a glance from Bridget. He stood at the same moment I did.
    “You must really be hungry,” I said, trying to continue joking—because if I didn’t, I might cry.
    “A bit,” he said. “But in case you were going to use the opportunity to run, don’t even think about it.”
    He, too, had been trained by the LAPD. He hadn’t said why he’d chosen to work for the Knobcone Heights Police Department, but he probably had a similar response to Bridget’s—yet he was one of the people who jumped to do her bidding.
    I looked into his face and clenched my fists, but only for a second. “I didn’t think about that till you mentioned it. And, no, I’m not about to leave my store just because you two are barking up the wrong tree.” I paused. “That’s a joke of sorts. You know that I sell doggy products here.”
    He nodded. “I have a couple of dogs at home. They’re more my wife’s than mine—little guys, both dachshund mixes. She got them from a shelter.”
    “That’s wonderful,” I said, entering the kitchen. “Mountaintop Rescue?”
    “That’s right.”
    Using thick oven mitts, I got the tray of scones out of the oven, then glanced at the clock on the wall. I needed to open the shops. I needed help.
    As if they’d heard my thoughts, the kitchen was suddenly filled with both of my assistants. “What’s going on?” Dinah asked immediately, looking stricken. Her medium brown hair was already pulled back from her face, and she was clearly ready to begin work.
    “I’ve brought the extra ingredients.” That was Judy, and she lifted the grocery bags she held in each hand, then put them on top of the long counter separating the two parts of the kitchen. “Aren’t we ready to open?” There was a frown on her long face and she appeared confused.
    “I hope to, very soon,” I said. “But … Dinah, Judy, something terrible has happened and Detective Crunoll is here with Detective Morana, who’s in the Barkery with my brother right now. They had some questions for me.”
    I half expected one or both of them to mention the murder, since it had already been in the news. But neither appeared to know what I was talking about. And of course I hadn’t mentioned it to Judy earlier.
    “What’s happened?” Dinah asked.
    “Myra Ethman—” I began, but Wayne interrupted.
    “Ms. Ethman has passed away,” he said, looking at me warningly. “It was sudden, so we are looking into it.”
    Both of my assistants looked shocked.
    “Was she murdered?” Dinah asked.
    “Why else would the cops be looking into it?” said Judy, her tone suggesting that she didn’t consider Dinah very bright. Dinah glared at her.
    “That’s a premature assumption,” Wayne said. “And—”
    I was afraid he was about to tell my staff why he was here investigating. They might figure it out anyway; they