Murder Takes the Cake Text Read Online Free Page A

in and deposited her penny loafers by the door. I told her she looked pretty in her peach-colored pantsuit.
    “Thanks, honey,” she said, sitting down at the table. “What’s with all those cakes?”
    “I stopped by Save-A-Buck, and the manager ordered ten cakes for tomorrow morning.” I grinned. “Thank you for the heads-up.”
    “You’re welcome. Glad I could help.” She cocked her head. “I didn’t know you could freeze cakes.”
    “Oh, sure. Baked cakes will be fine for up to six months, but be sure to let them thaw to room temperature before you ice them or else they’ll crack. Of course, people traditionally freeze the top tier of their wedding cake to eat on their first anniversary, but that takes some special procedures.” I smiled. “What have you been up to this morning?”
    “I’ve been to prayer meeting. And guess who joined us this morning?”
    “Queen Elizabeth?”
    “China. China York.”
    As if there could be another China. “Did she say, ‘Now that Yodel’s dead, I’m back?’”
    “Not in so many words, honey, but that was obvious.” Myra gave a nod of satisfaction. “Of course, she didn’t mention Yodel directly, but we all talked with China like nothin’ had ever happened. Not that none of us had seen China since the blowup, mind you. We just hadn’t seen her at church.”
    “Did it all seem to come back to her? Like riding a bike?”
    “Why, yeah, she—” Myra scoffed. “Now you’re pokin’ fun at me.”
    “I’m not,” I said with a smile. “I’m only kidding. It’s just so insane that this woman would get mad at Yodel Watson and not come back to church until the day after Yodel died.”
    “It’s strange, all right.”
    “Actually, I had a strange thing happen this morning myself.” As I got out my mixer and made up a batch of icing, I went on to tell Myra about Fred and about the rattlesnake being milked at Dobbs’ Pet Store.
    “Maybe I’ll get some business from the pet store visit, though,” I said. “A girl who works there took a business card and said she hoped to be calling me soon.”
    Myra nodded. “That Candy?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “I’ll tell you one thing, Janey Dobbs sure ain’t liking that strawberry tart workin’ for Kel.”
    “’Strawberry tart’? That’s a good one.”
    “Janey’s words, not mine,” Myra said. “I’ve seen her, though—Candy, I mean—and I don’t blame Janey for not wantin’ her working shoulder to shoulder with Kel all day.”
    “Then why doesn’t she take Candy from her baby?” I chuckled at my own joke, but Myra didn’t seem to think it was amusing.
    “I don’t know,” she said. “She could, you know. Janey owns the shop.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “In fact, she holds the purse strings period. Her family used to own a snack cake factory down next to Greeneville.”
    “A snack cake heiress, huh? I could deal with that.”
    “Me, too.” Myrna stood and smoothed out her slacks. “I’d better get home, honey.” She walked over to the door and slipped on her loafers. “ Y and R will be on in a few minutes, and it might be about that sweetie Paul today. I met him one time when he came to Kingsport for a store opening. He’s the nicest thing.” With that she was gone.
    I smiled. Myra and her soaps. The Young and The Restless had stood the test of time, though. My sister had watched it nearly all her life. She’d even named my nephew and niece Lucas and Leslie after some long-forgotten characters. Vi hadn’t forgotten them, though. She must’ve watched the couple during her formative years or something. I suppose it could’ve been worse. She could’ve named the twins Jack and Jill.
    I guess she got her naming talents from Mom. I was named after Daphne du Maurier, and Violet was named after Mom’s other favorite author, Violet Winspear. You might say Mom has eclectic tastes in literature.
    When I was a little girl, I’d tell the other kids I was named after the Daphne in the Scooby