Scones, Skulls & Scams by Leighann Dobbs Page B

article as I was told your great-grandmother won contests with that same recipe. I can only assume she omitted the hair.”
    “Do you know who called?” Lexy followed him to the door. “A man or a woman?”
    “Lady, I have no idea. I just got the message from my editor.” He stepped around her toward the door. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be on my way.”
    “Of course,” Lexy said. “At least let me give you your money back. I’m so sorry this happened.”
    “Never mind about the money. If you want my advice, I think you better go over your kitchen with a fine tooth comb and make sure you have sanitary baking practices,” he barked before turning on his heel and storming out the door.
    “Well, I never!” Ruth said. “What was that all about?”
    “It appears as if someone is setting me up.” Lexy slid her eyes toward The Brew and Bake. “And I think I have a pretty good idea who it is.”

    ***

    The cold air stung Lexy’s face as she flung open the door to The Cup and Cake . She didn’t notice it though, despite the fact she hadn’t put on a coat. Her anger kept her warm.
    She stormed across the street, past the television crew loading their equipment into the van, and straight into The Brew and Bake .
    “Just what are you up to?” she demanded.
    Caraleigh looked at her in surprise. “Excuse me? Are you referring to the television segment?”
    “No. I’m referring to Edgar Royce.”
    Caraleigh answered her with a blank stare. The customers who had been in the shop, probably trying to get their fifteen minutes of fame on television, edged their way to the door.
    “Don’t play dumb with me.” Lexy stepped closer to the blonde baker. “You know who he is—the food critic.”
    Caraleigh fisted her hands on her hips. “I have no idea what you are talking about and I don’t appreciate your tone.”
    Lexy got right in Caraleigh’s face. “Don’t give me that. I know you sabotaged my scones and then sent him in to give me a bad review.”
    “Like you should talk. What about the article in the Sentinel bashing my pastries? Wasn’t it written by one of your friends sitting in your bakery right now?”
    Caraleigh shot her arm out to point across the street. Lexy’s gaze followed noticing Nans, Ruth, Ida and Helen, their faces pressed against the glass window of The Cup and Cake looking back at them.
    “She did an independent test comparing them!” Lexy said.
    Caraleigh’s face started to turn an unhealthy shade of pink. “Independent my ass. First you accuse me of being a thief, and now this? You better watch it or you might find yourself on the business end of a lawsuit.”
    Anger bubbled up inside Lexy. She jabbed her finger in Caraleigh’s face. “ You sue me ? Ha! That’s a laugh. I’m the one that should sue you!”
    “Okay, break it up.”  
    Lexy whipped her head around to see Watson Davies quickly making her way toward them.  
    “What is it with you two?” Davies pushed the two of them apart glaring at each of them in turn.
    “She’s trying to ruin my business,” Lexy complained to Davies.
    “No! She’s trying to ruin mine !” Caraleigh said.
    “You sound like two year olds,” Davies replied.
    Caraleigh’s brows dipped. “What are you doing here, anyway?”
    “I was actually on my way to The Cup and Cake to talk to Lexy about the break-in and I saw the two of you fighting over here.”
    “So, you checked out her alibi?” Lexy thrust her chin toward Caraleigh. “Are you going to arrest her?”
    “No. Her alibi checked out just like she said.”
    Lexy’s stomach sank. “What? Well, surely you’re not going to believe her brother. He probably lied for her. I mean it must have been her—who else would break in?”
    “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Davies took Lexy’s elbow and tugged her toward the door. “It would be better if we talked over in your store, though.”
    “See … I told you I didn’t do it!” Caraleigh yelled after