today was one of those rare occasions. They’d be going into uncharted territory and they couldn’t risk being kicked out of places because dogs weren’t welcome.
Back at the bakery, Sydney was thrilled to see no police presence. She unlocked the back door and everything was cleaned up. She hoped that meant she’d be able to reopen the next day. She made a mental note to call Detective Massey to double check.
Grace headed to the front to do a quick cleaning so they’d have less work the next day. Sydney went into her small office.
She stopped short when she got to the door.
On her desk, on top of her closed laptop, was a gruesomely carved Jack-‘o-Lantern. It had been carved such that it appeared to be in extreme pain. Her own name was written in Sharpie so there would be no mistaking that it was a threat.
“What is it, Sydney?” Grace had seen her turn white as a sheet when she’d reached her office.
“I think we’ve been warned.” Sydney walked to the pumpkin and picked it up. Inside was one of her ramekins, smashed to pieces. Also included was a note.
Two can play at your games.
“This isn’t good,” Grace cautioned. “We should call Detective Massey right now.”
“Let’s give it 24 hours. We have a lot of leads to check out, and he wouldn’t want us doing that. This could clear my name, but we have to find whoever it was because they seem to be after me right now. Stopping our investigation wouldn’t keep me safe.”
“At least take a photo so we can send it to him if needed,” Grace suggested.
Sydney snapped out of her shock and turned on her computer. As she waited, she looked at the note again. Each word had been cut from a magazine. It would be impossible to trace without fingerprinting the page, which they couldn’t do without help. She took out her phone and snapped a photo of the whole scene, then each individual piece.
Grace went back out front to finish cleaning. She found a note on the register from Detective Massey.
Sorry for the inconvenience. You’re cleared to reopen, effective immediately.
Sydney logged into her email and saw two responses from the survey—both Jody and Michael were willing to meet with her this afternoon. She’d bring each of them a half dozen donuts instead of one each. This was a better response than she’d expected. Only Madelyn hadn’t responded.
CHAPTER 6
“Thanks for responding to our survey and meeting us on such short notice,” Sydney said to Jody as they sat down at the bar. There were no bakeries in Westhedge, so they were at the local diner instead. Afternoon coffee. Sydney and Grace would be full of it after talking to Jody and Michael.
“I’m just so thrilled to be able to buy your sweets without having to find the time to go to Twin Peaks! I know it’s not far, but with all the work teachers are expected to do outside the classroom, I’d never be able to enjoy your goodies,” Jody gushed.
“Thanks. We take great pride in being able to ship our products. But we also love to know our customers. And from our survey, it looks like you’ve been a customer since we started shipping.”
“That’s right. A friend let me in on the secret of how good everything you make is, and as soon as I could place orders, I did. I must order something every month. But your pumpkin pies—they’re, hands down, my favorite.”
“Do you ever bring them to gatherings with friends? Share them at events? We love to know how they’re being used so that we can add personalized touches to them.”
“That should be something you ask when placing an order!” Jody offered. “It could be an optional answer, but then maybe offer additional toppings for extra costs for those special occasions.”
“I love that idea!” Sydney said, smiling at Grace. This might have to become one of their customer service trademarks—visiting with customers.
Jody beamed.
Back at the bakery, Sydney was thrilled to see no police presence. She unlocked the back door and everything was cleaned up. She hoped that meant she’d be able to reopen the next day. She made a mental note to call Detective Massey to double check.
Grace headed to the front to do a quick cleaning so they’d have less work the next day. Sydney went into her small office.
She stopped short when she got to the door.
On her desk, on top of her closed laptop, was a gruesomely carved Jack-‘o-Lantern. It had been carved such that it appeared to be in extreme pain. Her own name was written in Sharpie so there would be no mistaking that it was a threat.
“What is it, Sydney?” Grace had seen her turn white as a sheet when she’d reached her office.
“I think we’ve been warned.” Sydney walked to the pumpkin and picked it up. Inside was one of her ramekins, smashed to pieces. Also included was a note.
Two can play at your games.
“This isn’t good,” Grace cautioned. “We should call Detective Massey right now.”
“Let’s give it 24 hours. We have a lot of leads to check out, and he wouldn’t want us doing that. This could clear my name, but we have to find whoever it was because they seem to be after me right now. Stopping our investigation wouldn’t keep me safe.”
“At least take a photo so we can send it to him if needed,” Grace suggested.
Sydney snapped out of her shock and turned on her computer. As she waited, she looked at the note again. Each word had been cut from a magazine. It would be impossible to trace without fingerprinting the page, which they couldn’t do without help. She took out her phone and snapped a photo of the whole scene, then each individual piece.
Grace went back out front to finish cleaning. She found a note on the register from Detective Massey.
Sorry for the inconvenience. You’re cleared to reopen, effective immediately.
Sydney logged into her email and saw two responses from the survey—both Jody and Michael were willing to meet with her this afternoon. She’d bring each of them a half dozen donuts instead of one each. This was a better response than she’d expected. Only Madelyn hadn’t responded.
CHAPTER 6
“Thanks for responding to our survey and meeting us on such short notice,” Sydney said to Jody as they sat down at the bar. There were no bakeries in Westhedge, so they were at the local diner instead. Afternoon coffee. Sydney and Grace would be full of it after talking to Jody and Michael.
“I’m just so thrilled to be able to buy your sweets without having to find the time to go to Twin Peaks! I know it’s not far, but with all the work teachers are expected to do outside the classroom, I’d never be able to enjoy your goodies,” Jody gushed.
“Thanks. We take great pride in being able to ship our products. But we also love to know our customers. And from our survey, it looks like you’ve been a customer since we started shipping.”
“That’s right. A friend let me in on the secret of how good everything you make is, and as soon as I could place orders, I did. I must order something every month. But your pumpkin pies—they’re, hands down, my favorite.”
“Do you ever bring them to gatherings with friends? Share them at events? We love to know how they’re being used so that we can add personalized touches to them.”
“That should be something you ask when placing an order!” Jody offered. “It could be an optional answer, but then maybe offer additional toppings for extra costs for those special occasions.”
“I love that idea!” Sydney said, smiling at Grace. This might have to become one of their customer service trademarks—visiting with customers.
Jody beamed.
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