Pastry Mystery: Cheesecake Mistake

Chapter Fourteen

The sun hid behind the dark cloud despite the weather forecast’s sunny day prediction. The rumbling sound in the sky indicated that heavy shower could pour down at any time. It yet didn’t stop the enthusiasm of people all over Amaranth Creek and the nearby towns to attend their annual food festival. This year there were nearly two hundreds of food stalls that participated and they also came from Honeydew Bay, Primrose Valley, and Apricot River. From large fast food restaurant chains, local bakeries and diners, to homemade food would be found easily the yearly culinary events that were held in Amaranth Creek Park.

Meanwhile, in Pastry Mystery, Libby and Toby were still busy cleaning up the mess that caused by the burglar who broke their display case and some other machines. He or she also stole all the money in the office and the baking tools and ingredients that they’d prepared for the food market. The police assumed that criminal must have held some grudges against Libby or Pastry Mystery. He or she might also be the rival from another patisserie.

“It’s not Russell Fontana,” announced Sheriff Curtis through the telephone after he summoned Russell at the police station earlier today. Russell was sleeping soundly in his bedroom when the theft occurred. He yet didn’t blame Libby and the cops at all for accusing him to be the culprit since he just opened Cake At Break. He yet could prove his alibi through the surveillance cameras in his house that he had nothing to do at all with the break-in. Instead, he offered a hand to solve the case and catch the real thief.

Libby didn’t say much since the incident that took place at dawn. Her only hope to get back their customers by participating the culinary festival had vanished. Pastry Mystery suffered a huge financial loss and at this moment and neither Libby nor Toby had enough money to buy some new machines that were broken and stolen.

“Tell me,” said Libby breaking the silence between her and Toby.

“What did you say?” asked Toby unsure about what she meant.

“I know you have someone in mind. The Burglar. But you didn’t tell the cops,” guessed Libby.

“Well, it’s nobody in particular anyway,” replied Toby carefully. He knew Libby was still in a shock and he didn’t want to make her more scared.

“You think it was the real killer, don’t you?” grilled Libby successfully reading his mind.

“I might be wrong, Libby. Besides, the police had captured the real killer right?”

“Barth Smithson? Oh, come on! You don’t believe that he’s the killer, do you?” scoffed Libby.

“No, I don’t. But we also don’t have any other clue of the real murderer. If what happened today really was the killer’s doing, why did he make mistake? I mean, he knew this place very well and which alarm door that didn’t work. Yet he escaped through the back door and the alarm went off,” elaborated Toby. “Don’t you think it was odd?”

“Maybe he was his accomplice?” added Libby. “We have to find him!”

“I know, Libby. I understand how frustrating it is for you, and for myself too. But what do you want us to do now?”

“Actually, I have an idea. Let’s go to the food festival. If the culprit is someone who wants Pastry Mystery to fail, we might find him there,” suggested Libby.

Libby was wrong if she thought it’d be easy to spot someone suspicious in a crowded place like Amaranth Creek Food Market. They sky sent some rain at the same time as Libby and Toby got there. Most people were anticipated with the weather and they hid under their umbrellas. It yet didn’t halt them from enjoying delicacies that the culinary festival offered.

After nearly one hour of walking all over the event venue, they still couldn’t find anything peculiar that would steal their attention but one thing—Cake At Break’s bakery booth which was as crowded as usual. Russell’s employees were seen taking out of some new batches of Danish pastry that apparently became people’s favorite that day. Libby tried her best to be as invisible as possible—she was embarrassed at Russell for accusing him to be the culprit that destroyed Pastry Mystery. Unfortunately, Russell spotted her quickly when Toby was on his knees to tie up his shoelaces.

“Let’s go, Toby. Hurry up!” whispered Libby as she saw Russell approaching them, but it was too late.

“It’s good to see you both!” greeted Russell cheerfully. He seemed to mean the words that he said.

“Hey, Russell. Yeah, we- we’re just dropping by for a while… we didn’t really have anything to do, so…” stuttered Libby nervously. Toby just nodded but he didn’t seem interested to deal with Russell at all.

“You know what? If you guys don’t have any plan this afternoon, would you like to give me some extra hands? It’s too busy in our food stall and we are all overwhelmed by it,” offered Russell. Toby shook his head politely but Libby had another opinion.

“Yeah, sure. We’d love to,” replied Libby unexpectedly.

“We what?” asked Toby thinking he might mishear it.

“Great! Follow me then,” said Russell. Toby didn’t want to join them but Libby insisted. She believed that it would be a good chance for them to find the burglar. Besides, it was part of her apology for accusing Russell earlier today.

Russell asked Toby to help in the kitchen since he had more experience in baking than most of his workers while Libby was in charge to serve Cake At Break’s customers. People began to murmur as soon as Libby showed up in front of them. They speculated that she now worked for Russell and that she had sold Pastry Mystery to him after what happened to her store today.

“We won’t get killed, will we?” mocked a man his late fifties when Libby handed him his order. She was boiling with anger but she tried to keep a smile and laughed along with his not-funny joke. Russell grabbed a piece of pastry that was in Libby’s hand and took a bite right away.

“It’s safe and please don’t ever say such an unkind thing to Libby anymore. If tomorrow you’re sick because of my food, then I’ll be responsible,” defended Russell. It was somehow very touching for Libby but she also felt even worse for accusing him to be the criminal.

“Thanks,” whispered Libby.

“Let me know if anyone disturbs you again,” said Toby winking at her.

It was ten o’clock in the evening when Libby and Toby finally got home. They were extremely tired from their hard work helping Russell at the food festival today. Toby, however, didn’t say much since they were in the car.

“What did I do wrong this time?” nudged Libby who was sitting on the couch next to him.

“Huh? What? Nothing” replied Toby who was startled at the question.

“Are you jealous again that I’m close to Russell?” jeered Libby trying to make him laugh.

“I am,” said Toby unexpectedly. He drew closer to Libby who chuckled nervously since his face was only a few inches away from her.

“Silly,” smiled Libby.

“Don’t smile like that to Russell,” told Toby firmly. Libby cracked up as he sounded very cheesy right now but she stopped as she realized that he meant it.

“Why not?” challenged Libby.

“Because I like you,” announced Toby. He put his both hands on Libby’s cheeks and pulled her gently towards him. Before Libby knew it, he had locked his gentle lips to hers. Libby didn’t know whether she should kiss him back or not. Her instinct yet told her to wrap her arms around his neck and smooch him softly in return. Libby’s mind told her that it might be a huge mistake and there was no way back to this.

Suddenly her smartphone chimed loudly breaking the very first kiss that they shared. Stupid commercial! cursed Libby at the email ads that disturbed their romantic moment.

“Okay. Goodnight,” said Toby casually as he got up from his seat.

“Goo- good night,” replied Libby trying to sound cool. Deep down, her heart was ready to burst at any moment. She never thought she might have a heart attack from kissing.

Why did he kiss me? Didn’t he say that he liked me? Then what was the meaning of our kiss? Does that make us a couple? Oh gosh, is Toby my boyfriend now? Did I kiss well? He didn’t realize that I froze up for a while, did he? Oh no, he might think I’m such a bad kisser? Am I a bad kisser? I don’t have a bad breath right? Oh, snap! I ate a garlic bread today!

“Aren’t you going to sleep?” asked Toby surprising Libby who was arguing with herself in her mind.

“Yeah. I am. I’m so tired,” answered Libby pretending to yawn.

“Then let’s go to bed,” invited Toby.

“Wha- what? Together?” blurted Libby. We just shared our first kiss now he wants me to sleep with him?

“No, silly! You can sleep in your own bed,” chuckled Toby.

“Of course, that’s what I mean,” denied Libby. She could feel her face was as red as a steamed lobster. She walked to her room but Toby stopped her right at her door.

“Unless…” teased Toby leaning his arms on the door and giving Libby a canny look.

“Goodnight!” Libby pushed him away and she slammed the door. She jumped to her bed, drowning her face in the pillow. She wouldn’t be able to look at Toby in the eye anymore.

Toby woke up early in the morning like usual even though he didn't really have anything to do. Libby and he decided to temporarily close down Pastry Mystery until they had enough money to buy new baking machines and display cases. It yet didn't stop him to create a yummy breakfast with whatever it was left in the kitchen. Libby woke up to the smell of a heartful dish--spinach and bacon hash brown omelet. Her late father used to make it for her anytime she refused to eat breakfast.

“Oh gosh this is so good!” exclaimed Libby after having the first bite. “Just like how Daddy used to make it.”

Toby smiled happily to see that--in fact, he just simply loved to watch Libby ate whatever he made for her. The two seemed to forget any problem that they faced right now and they just simply enjoyed the time they had together.

“Did you sleep well?” asked Toby while passing a bottle of chili sauce to Libby.

“Of course,” lied Libby. She fell asleep just before the sun rose from the east. “And you?”

“Me too,” replied Toby casually. Meanwhile, Libby was dying to know what exactly happened between them last night.

“What was it last night?” grilled Libby.

“What was what?” asked Toby in return still munching a big bite of the potato omelet Libby though was so frustrated at how insensitive Toby could be.

“Last night we…”

“Ah, exactly! We kissed last night. But what about it?”

Libby started to be annoyed as she couldn't read whether Toby was playing innocent or he was just a little bit stupid.

Before she could interrogate him further, suddenly there was someone knocking at the main door of Pastry Mystery. Libby was confused as her shop was now temporarily closed. Even if it wasn't, the opening hours would still be an hour later.

“We’re closed…”

“Good morning Libby,” greeted Russell warmly.

“Russell, what are you doing here?” asked Libby a little bit flustered.

“I come here to discuss a business with you,” replied Russell. “Shall we have a seat?”

“Yeah, sure. Just come in the kitchen. I’m having breakfast now,” invited Libby. Toby didn’t greet him at all—instead, Russell was somewhat invisible to him.

“I want to give you this,” said Russell placing his suitcase on his lap. He took out a piece of paper and drew his signature on the right bottom part of it.

“What’s that?” asked Libby while peeking at the paper.

“It’s a check. I’ll fill in any amount you want and give it to you,” announced Russell.