Baking is Murder (A Bee's Bakehouse Cozy Mystery) (Bee's Bakehouse Mysteries Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

store or something.”
    “Maybe. Last I heard she got her supplies delivered.”
    “Mmm,” Jessie said, not really paying attention. How could she focus on the personality traits of a woman she barely knew when she’d just been to a murder scene? That had never happened in all her years of living in the city. It was the last thing she’d expected to come across in Springdale of all places. It was the most peaceful town she had ever been to in her life. She shivered.
    “So who was it? Do you know?”
    Aunt Bee shook her head. “They haven’t identified the body yet.”
    Jessie hugged her arms around herself. “Who could have done such a thing?”
    Aunt Bee shrugged. “I guess that’ll become clear when the police know more.”
    “Doesn’t it scare you? I overheard one of the cops at the scene say something about ‘her’. It’s a woman.”
    “Don’t you worry, sweetie. The cops here are good. They’ll find who did this. And in the meantime,” she fixed Jessie with a stern look. “Is that tea going to brew itself?”

Chapter 7
    “I don’t get it, Aunt Bee. I did exactly what you said, but it still feels too lumpy.” Jessie stopped herself from burying her buttery hands in her hair.
    She had always had a sweet tooth, but she’d never been a baker. Well—she’d never been a good baker. Her cakes always came out of the oven too dry; that’s if they hadn’t hardened into a dense mess instead of rising.
    She shook her head as Aunt Bee left the chopping board and came to her side. “This is hopeless. Can’t I just focus on coffees and the financial side?”
    Bee pulled the bowl from her and frowned. “You know why this place is so successful?”
    “Because of your charming personality?”
    “Less of your cheek,” Bee said, smacking Jessie’s hand as if she were a small child. She grinned. “It’s because of the food. Sure I worked hard to build up an atmosphere and I have to ensure my prices are competitive, but that’s what it comes down to. I’ve got people who’ve been coming here for twenty-five years. They’re not coming for the décor.”
    Jessie nodded. “Yes. They come for your cooking. Not mine.”
    “And when I’m gone?”
    Jessie flushed. “What? Don’t talk like that, Aunt Bee. It’s not right.”
    There was a rustle behind them. “Don’t worry, Jessie. She’ll outlive us all, you know.”
    Jessie swung around and found herself face-to-face with Julia. “She shouldn’t talk like that, you know?”
    Julia shook her head like she’d heard it all before. “Who among us can control what comes out of that woman’s mouth?”
    Jessie grinned. “You know her well, then?”
    “Oh sure I do. She’s the only adult my daughter has ever obeyed. When I realized that, I had even more respect for the woman.”
    Bee bustled off to the counter on the far side of the kitchen and began to pour the batter into a pre-lined tin with an ease and skill that Jessie knew she’d never manage.
    “She’s certainly one of a kind.”
    “That she is,” Julia said, shaking her head. Her expression grew serious. “Did you hear they found a body out on 552?”
    Jessie nodded gravely. “Yeah. I came across the scene last night when I was out walking. Do they know who it is yet?”
    “Not officially, no.” For some reason Julia glanced over at Bee. “Unofficially?”
    Aunt Bee turned and shrugged, a pious expression on her face. “How should I know?”
    Jessie shook her head, getting the distinct feeling that there was something going on that she wasn’t aware of.
    ***
    “Here’s your mud cake,” Jessie said, smiling as she handed the pretty blue plate to Julia, who had returned for her usual mid-morning snack.
    The morning rush was over and they’d just about finished preparing for lunch. As well as offering cakes and other sweet treats, Bee’s Bakehouse sold savory lunchtime treats like quiche and tamales during the working week. Bee had also agreed to a test-run of more substantial