Stranger Danger (Lucy McGuffin, Psychic Amateur Detective 4)

Viola Pantini and Gus Pappas, Whispering Bay’s cutest over-sixty couple, walk through the door. “Lucy,” says Viola, “I didn’t get a chance to speak to you last night, but I wanted to tell you how wonderful you looked.”

“What a night, huh?” says Gus. “I can’t believe we’re lucky enough to see J.W. Quicksilver two nights in a row.”

“It’s one of the perks of being in Betty Jean’s book club,” Viola muses. “You’ll be there tonight, right?”

“Believe me, I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I’ll be introducing a new muffin. Raspberry white chocolate.”

“Sounds yummy,” says Viola. They order their breakfast, and I hand them their coffees.

My parents are the next in line, followed by more of the Gray Flamingos. No one can stop talking about last night and how awesome this fake J.W. was. Bleh. It’s killing me to keep Will’s secret. I glance at my watch. Not too much longer now.

I’m standing behind the counter minding my own business when the unthinkable happens. Heidi Burrows walks into my café. She’s been here before but never without a good reason. Even though I just checked the time, I check it again. What on earth is Heidi doing in The Bistro in the middle of a workday? Shouldn’t she be at her bakery selling overpriced donuts laden with cholesterol to unsuspecting potential heart attack victims?

“Good morning, Lucy.” Heidi is just a few years older than me and, like her famous literary namesake, blonde. She inherited the bakery from her mother, who inherited it from her mother. Don’t get me wrong. I love the idea of a business that’s been passed down through three generations, especially when that business is a bakery, but Heidi thinks that because her recipes are ancient that she’s better than everyone else. Or at least, her donuts are.

“Hello, Heidi.”

She glances around the café. “Business looks good.”

“Why wouldn’t it be?”

“I know the last time we talked I was a bit brusque, but you’ll be happy to know that I’ve forgiven you.”

“You’ve forgiven me?

“Lucy,” she says, deadpan, “you stood in this very room and practically accused me of murder.”

Well, she has a point. “It was nothing personal. I was trying to catch a killer.”

“And you succeeded. Eventually.”

Leave it to Heidi to compliment me, then follow up with a dig. “I hear you’re providing donuts for the diocesan lecture series. Jesus and Donuts? That’s generous of you.”

“We all have to do our part for the community. Don’t you agree?”

“Of course. We’re just one big, happy family, aren’t we?”

“I like to think so. You’ll be happy to know I’ve decided to take your advice about reducing the fat content in my donuts. Today’s consumer wants healthier options. To run a successful business, you have to stay flexible so you can react to the marketplace.”

I grit my teeth and smile. Now Heidi is lecturing me straight out of a marketing 101 course. As if I don’t know how to run a business!

Sarah comes out from the kitchen looking uncharacteristically flustered. “I just realized you were here,” she says to Heidi.

“I hope I’m not too early,” Heidi says.

Sarah gives me a quick sideways look. “Just a little, but it’s okay.”

“Too early for what?” I ask, confused.

“You didn’t tell her?” Heidi asks Sarah.

“Tell me what?”

“Heidi wanted to take a look around our kitchen,” Sarah explains. “And I thought another time we’d go over and take a look at her kitchen. You know, to compare notes on efficiency, that kind of thing.”

The hair on my neck tingles. I don’t think I’ve ever caught Sarah in a lie before. And if I have, it’s been something so benign it didn’t matter, but this lie about Heidi feels like a slap in the face.

First Will, then Sebastian, and now Sarah.