Pastry Mystery: Cheesecake Mistake

Chapter Nineteen

The reek of antiseptic, hand sanitizer and booze breath filled the air in the waiting room of the ER at the Amaranth Creek Hospital. Libby sat uncomfortably and nervously hoping for a good news from the male nurse that came to see her earlier when she just got to the emergency room. She came to the clinic as soon as Sheriff Curtis called her. He found Toby lying unconsciously on the quiet and empty street on his way home. He called the paramedic and they brought him to the hospital. The detective was now inside to investigate the beating up case that happened to Libby’s roommate earlier today.

A guy in his late twenties with a strong odor of whiskey coming out of his mouth kept on making an eye at Libby. He took his drunken buddy to the ER after their car accidentally crashed another vehicle in front of them. That reckless dude was lucky to buckle up and suffered only a few minor bruises. His driver who didn’t fasten the seat belt was injured more with a mild concussion and a possible skull fracture. Libby wanted to get a cup of coffee to get away from him but she gave up the idea because of two reason: she didn’t want to drink in the ER waiting room due to the risk of aerial and surface contaminations, and either the nurse or Sheriff Curtis could come out to see her at any time. But it had been more than half an hour but she still didn’t hear from them back.

“Toby gained his consciousness already. He’s going to be fine but he suffers two broken arms and his ribs are also fractured,” announced Sheriff Curtis who just came out of the ER. Libby’s legs gave up to hear the catastrophe that just happened to Toby.

“Can- can I see him? I want to see him,” she stuttered but Sheriff Curtis refused her request. The medical team was going to bring him to the surgery room soon.

“After the surgery is better,” he suggested. “Listen, I tried to ask him what’s going on but you know Toby. He refused to speak up. He told me that he fell down somewhere. Anyone can tell that he’s lying. Do you know something, Libby?”

“Where did you find him?”

“At the dead-end near the creek. It’s almost out of the town, isn’t it? Did you know why he went there?”

Libby doubted if she had to tell the sleuth the truth. Why didn’t Toby just tell him that he went to see Russell earlier?

She shook her head lightly, “He didn’t tell me anything. But I’m going to try to talk to him later. I’ll let you know if there’s something important.”

“Okay. I’m going back to the station now. Do you want a ride home?”

“No, I’ll stay here with Toby.”

The following morning, Libby went back home to pick up some clothes for Toby. She was awake all night long waiting for Toby at the hospital since her mind didn’t let her take a break at all. She couldn’t figure out the reason for the accident that happened to him. He went to see Russell yesterday but why did he get beaten up? Who did this to him? Why would Russell do that?

Libby’s curiosity found its answer in no time—Russell dropped by early in the morning at Pastry Mystery. His face was bruised and he even walked limply with two crutches supporting him. His driver took him to see Libby as he didn’t seem to be able to drive by himself.

“My god, Russell. What happened to you?” asked Libby nearly having a heart attack. She almost didn’t recognize Russell with his swollen and wounded face.

“Ah,” he groaned as he sat down in the kitchen. “I don’t have much time since I have to see a doctor again after this, Libby. I just want to show you what your friend had done to me.”

“What? Did Toby do this to you?” Libby thought his statement was impossible to believe.

He nodded and complained, “ He went to see me yesterday to do this.”

“And did you beat him up back? Until he got some fractures in his arms and ribs?” grilled Libby coldheartedly. Russell was pretty much taken aback to hear that. He didn’t expect that Libby would show no sympathy to him after what Toby did to him.

“I- I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Or did your bodyguards assault him on your command?”

“I- I just told them to get him off of me! I- I…”

“So it’s true that it was your bodyguards’ job.”

“Toby came to me suddenly and did this to me. He even accused me to be the real killer. He thought I’d killed Barth. Isn’t it ridiculous?”

“Well, I don’t know. Maybe he was right!”

“Libby, listen…”

“Get out! I don’t want to see you!” cried Libby furiously. Her voice echoed loudly breaking the peaceful morning until Russell’s driver came to check if there was something wrong. He quietly left Pastry Mystery since Libby refused to look at him. He didn’t see any point to stay since his plan to set her against Toby was failed.

“Let me know when you’re feeling better. I’ll clear this misunderstanding,” said Russell before he disappeared behind the front door.

Libby sighed in disbelief. It never crossed her mind that someone like Russell would do such a vile thing like that. But there was another thing that bothered her—Toby came to see Russell and alleged him to be the Amaranth Creek killer. She failed to think the same as Toby and now she had to wait until he opened up to her. Well, if it would ever happen.

*

After a week of staying in the hospital, Toby was finally discharged yesterday. The doctor advised him to take a good rest if he wanted to recover quickly. Libby was on the same side as the medical practitioner—she planned to scold him if he ever acted stubborn again. Toby felt yet sorry for Libby since he was no help at all for her now. She also had to take over his task in helping Stern in restoring Pastry Mystery. They yet didn’t postpone the reopening of the bakery shop. Libby was sure she could handle most things by herself. And today, Libby was more than ready to welcome her loyal customers to her same old brand new Pastry Mystery. She might be a little bit overconfident that she would regain her customers’ trust and reputation in an instant. Russell had declared a war on her and was determined to openly destroy Pastry Mystery.

Since Libby kicked him out, Russell had been trying to reach her but she always ignored him. She even uttered her resentment towards letter through a chat message, saying that she didn’t want to accept any of his help anymore and he needed to get out of her sight. Russell was offended by her gesture for he had assisted her a lot during the difficult time. Since then, Russell was no longer after her and competed with her to get customers for their patisseries.

Her anger wasn’t without any reason of course. Libby successfully made Toby confessed about what really happened between him and Russell that night. She told him that Russell came to see her with crutches and bruised face. Toby guffawed at his pathetic gesture to bring them into conflict.

“I admitted that I jabbed his ugly face repeatedly but I didn’t touch his legs at all,” clarified Toby. He also elaborated his assumption that alleged the Cake At Break owner to be the real murderer. Libby was still unsure to believe the possible truth, but the fact that Russell did a horrible thing to Toby was just unforgivable.

The first day back in business wasn’t like what Libby had expected at all—there was no single customer came to purchase the yummy pastries and other classic delicacies that Jimmy Vanderbilt used to make. A couple of days ago, Libby announced the reopening of Pastry Mystery through her Scrapalbum account and she also distributed pamphlets at the market. She also offered many discounts and freebies to draw her people’s attention. For every ten dollars of purchase, they would get one free Danish pastry and every item was also in fifty percent discount for the first week.

Russell was yet one step ahead of Libby. He gave off a lot of good deals for almost everything. He also successfully gained the youngsters attention by giving a piece of Japanese cotton cheesecake for free if they posted a picture of Cake At Break in their Scrapalbum. Moreover, some cute merchandise like mugs and keychain with a symbol of the bakery shop for a really ridiculously cheap price of just ninety-nine cents.

“But I will get bankrupt soon if I sell everything way too cheap!” complained Libby after she got back from checking on Cake At Break. She was annoyed to see an incredibly long line in front of Russell’s deli. She was too upset that she didn’t even realize there was one customer who finally came to her deli. Toby only smiled embarrassedly at the unfamiliar female visitor who was startled at Libby’s blaring voice.

“You’ll scare her away if you don’t keep it down,” whispered Toby.

“I don’t care. If she wants to go to Russell’s bakery, it doesn’t really matter anymore,” sulked Libby. She realized how loud she had been after the customer gazed at her while paying all that she ordered—five Danish pastries. Toby was right, if she stayed sullen like this, her only buyer might regret coming to Pastry Mystery. “I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s fine,” replied the customer with a big friendly smile. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but did you talk about Russell Fontana’s bakery?”

Libby nodded lightly. She didn’t think it was necessary to reply her question since Russell’s Cake At Break had become one of the most popular bakery shop and café in Amaranth Creek and the other villages around it.

“But Cake At Break isn’t that great,” she added. Her stated successfully drew Libby’s attention.

“Have you been there?” she asked.

The unknown customer nodded, “Yes, I tried their Danish pastry but there was nothing special about it. I heard about the legendary Danish from Pastry Mystery and that’s why I came here.”

“Really? Anyway, would you like to have a cup of coffee?” offered Libby with a full of excitement. What that woman with a dark wavy hair said really changed her mood. Whoever she was, Libby wanted to make sure that she wouldn’t be sorry for coming to her patisserie.

Libby and Toby had guessed it wrong—that woman wasn’t just a tourist who passed by Amaranth Creek but she just moved to the town two days ago. Her name was Nadine Adduci. She was a Naples native, the same city as where Russell also came from.

“And?” asked Libby with a high hope after letting Nadine have a taste of their Danish pastry. Toby who sat next to her was also anticipating for a good reaction from Nadine. Her opinion was important to bring back their confidence in the bakery business.

“Ahem,” Nadine cleared her throat and took a sip of the espresso that Toby made for her. “It’s perfect.”

“Really?” asked the other two at the same time.

Nadine nodded, “Yeah. It’s perfect. I bet you only sell fresh pastries, don’t you?”

“Of course. We keep the same recipe as for how Jimmy used to make it,” explained Toby confidently.

“That’s great. I really didn’t taste any special thing from the one I ate at Cake At Break. But their promotions are good, I got to admit it,” said Nadine.

“Yeah, that one for sure. But I’ll go bankrupt if I always have to keep up with whatever Cake At Break offers,” added Libby. “You have no idea what we’ve been through, Nadine. We barely made it. And now I have to do most things by myself since Toby got… Toby got accident and broke his arms.”

“Can I work here at Pastry Mystery then?” asked Nadine. Libby and Toby could only stare at each other to hear the very unexpected question from Nadine.