Beagles love layer cake.., p.1
Beagles Love Layer Cake Lies, page 1
Beagles Love Layer Cake Lies
Beagle Diner Mysteries
Book 4
C. A. Phipps
Dedication
For my husband, who makes my life better every day.
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Cheryl 💜
Beagles Love Layer Cake Lies is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2023 by C. A. Phipps Beagles Love Layer Cake Lies
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.
Cover by bookcoversbymelody Copyright © 2023
Contents
Beagles Love Layer Cake Lies
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
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Epilogue
Sugar and Sliced
Recipes
Vanilla Layer Cake
Also by C. A. Phipps
Books by Cheryl Phipps
Acknowledgments
About the author
Beagles Love Layer Cake Lies
8 bakers, extra quirky pets—and a murder!
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How many amateur sleuths does one town need?
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When Lyra St Claire, ex celebrity chef, needs help with a wedding that means a lot to her, she does something she thought she’d never do again.
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The plan is simple. Invite promising bakers from other small towns nearby to show her how good they are. What better way to test them than by running a competition? She’s already met one of them who would be perfect, even if the woman’s reputation for solving crimes makes Lyra nervous. After all, she can hardly comment on that!
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Of course, during the last competition she judged someone was murdered—surely that won't happen again?
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If you love cooking wrapped around a mystery, then this is the series for you!
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You’ll find a great recipe at the end of the book! 💜
* * *
Beagle Diner Cozy Mysteries
Beagles Love Cupcake Crimes
Beagles Love Steak Secrets
Beagles Love Muffin But Murder
Beagles Love Layer Cake Lies
* * *
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Chapter One
Lyra grinned as she stretched and rolled over in her bed, vividly recalling last night. “Our first date and no one died,” she said to the ceiling.
A weight landed beside her and Cinnamon, her sweet Beagle, licked her hand.
“Yes, it is good news,” Lyra chuckled, scratching the bent head pressed against her.
Sheriff Finn Walker and she had discussed over their meal how it would be nice if things stayed quiet in town for a while so they could enjoy the fledgling relationship. She was hopeful, but you could never tell. Lyra didn’t exactly have a clean track record of peace and harmony since she’d arrived in town over a year ago.
Running away from her high-pressured life as a celebrity chef and show host, Lyra now appreciated that she’d spent the last year running toward her new life. Just as busy, she now had all the control and that’s what had been missing. Money attached solely to fame did not make her happy. Especially when it came with suspicion and a lack of trust.
However, money to spend on her business while keeping her friends and family employed—this made her ridiculously happy. Along with producing recipe books, which gave her the opportunity to try new things, she had a diner to run and therefore a place to bake to her hearts content.
In fact, life had suddenly gotten extra busy. Not only was she running a baking competition right here in Fairview, but she also had two weddings to arrange for friends. All these events took a lot of time and energy to organize, especially to reach the high standard she insisted on.
Somehow she’d also need to find time for Finn. Though she had fought the attraction, she was unbelievably happy that he hadn’t let that reticence dissuade him. But if she wanted to keep the relationship alive, she would have to make a bigger effort than she had previously done. She hugged herself and then Cinnamon who snorted into her neck.
“Now that you’ve come to know him better, you’re happy about it too, aren’t you Cin?”
The Beagle gave a soft woof and looked toward the door.
“Okay, I get it. Breakfast is late and far more important than my love life.” Lyra bounced out of bed and threw on an old cardigan, despite the warmth. People had a habit of stopping by unannounced, and she’d been caught in her pajamas too many times not to cover up a little. Usually it was friends, which most of the time she didn’t mind, but mornings were not her best time of the day until she’d at least had a cup of coffee. Preferably in a kitchen while baking. Then the world fell into focus and she was in her element.
She fed Cinnamon, put the coffee on and headed for the shower. Two minutes later, with her hair soaped up, there was a banging on the bathroom door.
“I won’t be long.”
“Hurry up. I’ve got news!” Maggie Parker yelled back.
Lyra sighed and did as she was asked. If her friend and awesome assistant said it was urgent, it most likely was. Dressed, with a towel wrapped around her head she made her way to the kitchen.
Maggie sat beside Lyra’s mother drinking coffee at the counter. A cup waited for her and she took a gulp of the hot liquid. “To what do I owe this pleasure?” she managed on a sigh of bliss before noticing her mom’s eagerness. Usually Patricia St. Claire would be in the diner baking at this time of the morning.
Waving a sheaf of papers, Maggie demanded her attention. “The contestants will be arriving at the hotel soon.”
Lyra checked her watch. “And?”
“You need to get down to the conference room there to greet them.”
“Of course I do.” There was plenty of time so Lyra pointed to her cup. “Can I enjoy the lull before the storm for five minutes first?”
“Sure, I just thought you might like to go over their applications before you go. You know, get a handle on who they are and why they entered the competition.”
Lyra shrugged. “I already did that.”
“Okay, but don’t you want to brush up?” Maggie raised a perfect eyebrow. “You always used to pour over the applications for days.”
“That was back when the shows were televised and the stakes were much higher for the contestants. This is a more laid-back affair and we’ll have time to chat to each person without having to do extra takes that filming requires.”
“It’s a bit late for keeping it low-key, dear,” mom told her. “The press have been here since yesterday, and I believe they are camped out at the hotel already.”
“From what I’ve heard, this press group are nothing like what I experienced with the Paparazzi in LA. It will all be fine. Trust me.”
Mom frowned. “Naturally, we all hope for the best, dear, but I agree with Maggie that we can’t be too careful.”
Lyra had just taken a large gulp of coffee when she caught the look between the other two and almost choked. “You mean with security? Why didn’t either of you tell me you were worried?”
Mom and Maggie shared another look that Lyra couldn’t decipher, but it was Maggie who spoke.
“We’re not exactly worried. Not with Dan taking charge of it. We just want to be sure you stay safe.”
When Lyra and Maggie first dreamed up the competition she’d considered stopping at the nearby towns and running a smaller one in each with a final in Fairview. After much thought she changed her mind. It involved too many issues with security and in truth she didn’t want to be away from her business for months on end. Apparently, she wasn’t worried enough—and that bothered her. Had she gotten complacent?
“You did say you had news, Mags. Do you know something I don’t?”
Maggie blew a wayward dark curl off her face. “There have been a couple of items in the paper today. One was about reviews for some of the contestant’s business’s and they weren’t flattering.”
Lyra shrugged again. “It could be sour grapes on not getting a place in this competition. What was the other one about?”
“Apparently, one of the contestants, Scarlett Finch, has had a few run ins with the law in Cozy Hollow.”
“What does that mean? We asked all
“That’s true, I did check and she doesn’t have any.”
“Then I don’t understand what’s got you so anxious.”
Maggie gave her a side-eye. “What concerns me is that she’s not the only one.”
“I assume you’re talking about Madeline Flynn?”
“There has been a lot written about her in the Maple Falls paper and elsewhere.”
“I know that, but the poor woman has my luck when it comes to crimes surrounding her, which you know about already, and with my history I certainly can’t point a finger.”
Mom snorted. “You can say that again.”
Maggie rolled her eyes. “Look I just wanted you to know about my concerns. One would be bad enough, but two is asking for trouble.”
“It’s a little late to be discussing this when as you pointed out they’re due to arrive in town at any minute. It’s not like we can ax them now,” Lyra huffed.
“She’s just doing her job, dear.”
“I know mom, and I do appreciate everything you do, Mags. Only, I thought you had exciting news and this is the complete opposite.”
“Well,” Maggie’s frown was instantly replaced by a smirk, “I didn’t mean to bring you down, and we were hoping that you’re the one with news.”
“Me?” Lyra was genuinely confused. “News about what?”
“How was the date?” Mom blurted clearly eager for the talk of the competition and contestant issues to finish.
Lyra should have known this was coming since Maggie had been thorough about the contestants. They had discussed Maddie Flynn in great depth and yet Lyra had walked into the trap like it had never happened before. “It was very nice, Mom.” She avoided her mother’s gaze and refilled Cinnamon’s water bowl which didn’t need it.
“Nice?” Mom snorted. “Pie is nice. Comfy shoes are nice. A date should be a little more than that, otherwise what’s the point? Did he kiss you?”
“Mom!”
“What? A mother isn’t allowed to inquire if the first man her daughter’s dated in forever is up to standard?”
Lyra put her hand up. “Stop right now, or I will never date again.”
Mom sniffed. “Fine. You two stay and chat. I’ll head over to the diner and get started on breakfast for you. I know you’ll want to check on things and I want to make sure you eat before you start your day.”
“I won’t be long,” Lyra assured her, knowing that her mom would go straight there and inform her staff that the date was nice and wouldn’t spare the sarcasm. This meant she would have to endure several innuendos and pointed questions, at the very least, from her mature staff members who couldn’t help themselves.
The Diner was situated in front of the house and sat on Main Street, while her house’s driveway was around the corner on a side road. A walkway into the parking lot between the two buildings made things easy, along with access via steps to a wide wooden veranda with French doors to enter the front of the diner, as well as the kitchen through a small hallway where the restrooms were situated.
Lyra employed several people who were competent enough, yet she liked to be hands on when she wasn’t writing cookbooks or solving mysteries. The latter came about by accident and more than once, hence her reputation. She had her fingers and toes crossed that from now on she was done with drama that didn’t revolve around food—and that should also be kept at a minimum.
As soon as Mom was out of earshot, Maggie raised an eyebrow.
Lyra grimaced. “Let it go, Mags.”
Maggie spouted. “My love life is an open book, which seems very one-sided in our friendship. You could at least say what happened on your date so I can pretend we’re on equal footings.”
“You and Dan are my best friends who I’ve known for years. It was pretty obvious to everyone else, if not the two of you, how you felt about each other. Finn and I are new, and we’re taking things slow. If and when there is something to tell, you’ll be the first to know.”
“I better be,” Maggie warned. She pushed the papers across to Lyra, tapping three of them. “Now, back to the contestants. I’m picking these will be the ones to watch.”
Lyra sighed. It couldn’t hurt to look over the details one more time if it kept Maggie out of her personal life.
Chapter Two
Lyra flicked over the photo so she could read the blurb underneath. “Madeline Flynn is a great baker. Remember, she won a competition I was a stand-in judge for a few years ago.”
“How could I forget when we just discussed her penchant for trouble?” Maggie rolled her eyes again. “Anyway, she’s the only one from Maple Falls. Next is Scarlett Finch. As I said, she’s from Cozy Hollow. I hear her muffins are out of this world.”
Lyra’s excitement began to build. “Excellent. I love this next one. Alexander Turner recently opened a diner in Cozy Hollow and by all accounts it’s doing very well. His menu, a mix of Russian and American fusion, intrigues me.”
“I knew it would. Also, he and Scarlett are soon to be related. Alex is engaged to Scarlett’s sister.”
“Interesting. I wonder if that will affect how competitive they’ll be against each other.”
Maggie’s eyes twinkled. “Who knows, but it could add a bit of drama.”
“Hmmm. I think we discussed the no drama rule.”
“Sure, but we don’t want things to be boring either, right?”
“All I’m saying is, be careful what you wish for.”
“I hear you. Now, this baker recently moved from Portland to Good Fortune. Jessica Lavender’s pie shop is brand new and she’s hoping that the competition will give her some visibility.”
“It’s very honest of her to mention that. I like her already.”
“After those four, we have Cherry Windward who runs a berry farm and has a little condiment business on the rise. Louise Hinchy runs a food truck and Sophia Barlow works in a bakery. Both are from Destiny. Lastly is Patience O’Reilly, a home cook, she’s won a few local competitions in Seagull Cove.”
“Perfect. I like the semi-amateur side of the competition too. You can never tell if a person will elevate themselves in this environment, but I’ve seen it happen many times.”
“They are all so excited to meet you this morning and when I spoke to each of them yesterday to make sure they were on track to arrive on time, I discovered that a couple of them are real chatty Cathys. It could be hard to stick to the schedule, but I’ve let them know you won’t spend too much time with them until after the first bake.”
Maggie never ceased to amaze Lyra with her ability to read her mind and was often one step ahead of her with her incredible organizational skills. She’d pulled out more paperwork which gave the times for the meetup, welcome, round one, judging, and then the day two final followed by announcement of the overall winner and let Lyra look over it for the last time.
“Is this okay?”
Lyra nodded enthusiastically. “Perfect, as usual.” She drained her cup and stood. “Let’s do this.”
Cinnamon caught the vibes and danced around them excitedly.
There was a rap at the open front door and the beagle bounded over to Finn to give him a sloppy kiss after he knelt to scratch her around the ears which she loved and expected. It had taken a while for her to let down her guard with him, but now they were firm friends—as long as he didn’t monopolize Lyra when Cinnamon was nearby.
