One Cup Of Flour Two Cups Of Murder (Winnona Peaks Mysteries Book 2) by Emily Page Page B

room snatching knick-knacks into her bosom and holding onto them for dear life.
     
    “She starts talking about her grandmother and the bakery once or twice a week.  Most of the time, I just stop my sweeping and listen.  She tells me what it was all like.  She was excited when I first approached her.  I told her I was willing to restore the space to just like it was when her grandmother was here.  We would go down to the tile store together.  She even picked out the paint color.” Fiona’s bottom lip was trembling.
     
    “Oh, quit your sniveling.  I know my rights.  You get out by tomorrow.  I have the best bakers in the country coming and we’re opening in the morning as Westbrook Pastries!”  Cornelia waddled with her clutched knick-knacks and tried to herd them all out the front door.
     
    “Who are these bakers that are coming in the morning?  Everyone is at the bake-off,” Christy asked.
     
    Cornelia’s eyes narrowed.  “Oh, no you don’t. You can’t trick me, Missy,” she said, waving a finger and a knickknack at Christy.  “You’re in cahoots with him and your sister, Vanessa.  You all won’t be satisfied until you’ve destroyed my family name and the pastry shop my grandmother built with her own two hands! You know what?”  Cornelia spun around to Fiona.  “Just get out NOW!”
     
    “What?”  Fiona was dumbfounded.
     
    “You heard me.  Get out now.  The lease agreement says that you forfeit the right to the space the first day you miss your rent payment.”
     
    “But tomorrow is the championship!  I told you I was going to use the prize money to upgrade your ovens for you.  I’m remodeling this front area!”
     
    “Just pick up what you can and get out or I’m calling the sheriff to evict you tonight!” 
     
    Fiona dropped the broom and ran to the back to pack what she could.  Christy went to the back to help her.  Gregory tried again.  “Miss Westbrook, this is totally―”
     
    “Are you telling me I’m not within my rights?”
     
    “No Ma’am.  It’s just not the decent thing to do.  The law was written to make us better people, not to be a weapon.”
     
    “Oh, wouldn’t you just love it if I fell for whatever you three are scheming against me.  Mark my words, I can smell a snake a mile away and you, Mr. Binks, are a snake.  There’s no way that someone can open a coffee shop and get that many customers that fast.  I don’t know how you did it, but there’s no way I’m letting you get your hooks in my grandmother’s bakery.”
     
    “I’m going to help Fiona pack tonight, but this isn’t over,” he warned. 
     
    Cornelia watched them all pack a few boxes of ingredients and cooking utensils before heading out the door.  She did stop Fiona once to inspect the box.  She was on to them and she wasn’t about to let them steal from her anymore.   As they exited the building, Cornelia relaxed just a touch and put the knick-knacks back on the counter.  “Of course this isn’t over Mr. Binks,” she mumbled to herself, “We’re opening tomorrow.  We’ve only just begun.”
     
    “It’s going to be great, Grandmother.  You’ll see. It’s going to be great,” Terrance proclaimed, buttering his grandmother up.
     

Chapter 15
     
    Christy comforted Fiona as they walked out to her truck with the boxes.  “Hey, everything is going to work out.  Don’t worry, just concentrate on the championship round tomorrow.  If you need anything you just come over to Vanessa’s booth.  From what I can see, she has enough supplies for three bake-offs.”
     
    “Thank you,” Fiona whispered.  “I just don’t know why she would do that.  I just want to work hard and bake for people.”  Putting her box of utensils in the bed of the pick-up, Christy hugged her shoulder.
     
    Gregory tried to do the same as he put his box in the back and picked his pie up off the top.  He held it up as a thank you and said, “Yea, go home and get