Killer Cheesecake Tart Read online

  Upon seeing the broke clay train in Bert’s hands, the young woman’s eyes widened to the size of dish plates. Without another word, she burst past Carla and Bert, knocking over one of the displays which shattered on the tile as she ran for the door and out into the parking lot.

  “Carla, call the detective. I’m going to try and catch her,” Bert said.

  Chapter 13

  * * *

  “She had everything very carefully planned. She would have gotten away with it too, if it hadn’t been for you,” Mannor told Bert at the pie shop later that evening.

  “So, you’re not mad that I went snooping on my own?”

  “Oh, of course, I’m mad, Bert. You did exactly what I told you not to.”

  “But she caught the real killer,” Shiv chimed in, serving three slices of pie to Bert, Harry, and Carla.

  “That’s true. She did,” Carla agreed, picking up her fork and digging in.

  Mannor grunted unhappily. “The point is, even if you managed to catch the real killer, you still went off on your own. That could be dangerous.”

  “It wasn’t this time. When I finally caught up with her, she didn’t try to get away.”

  “She could have attacked you,” he pointed out.

  “But she didn’t. My guess is she didn’t want to be seen in such a public place attacking someone. That would only make things worse for her.”

  Mannor sighed. “Yes, she did come quietly in the end and did give a full confession.”

  “So, was I right? Was her mother Cybele Rightworth?”

  “Yes. I guess she looked to Vera as a mother figure and has spent her life trying to connect with her. The train was one of her earliest art projects and she sent it to Vera only to have it sent back. It seemed the godmother wanted to provide monetarily for the girl but not emotionally. After Persephone moved back here, she’s spent all the time trying to reconnect. I guess Vera just treated her poorly to keep her at a distance while also giving the girl business to keep her afloat.”

  “Wow. What a tangled web we weave,” Bert commented. “And Claudia had nothing to do with it, just like I thought?”

  “Well, not nothing. Persephone purposefully sent an extra invitation Claudia’s way to create tension at the party. I guess your church friend has tried to weasel her way into those upper social circles in the past, much to the irritation of Vera Blackwell.”

  Bert nodded. “So, she was intended to be the scapegoat.”

  “And she sent the clay train via the pottery shop’s messenger boy herself. It would be harder to trace back to her if she did it under the radar.”

  “Well, sending that spiteful warning gift is what did her in,” Bert said.

  “Only because you dug it out of the trash,” Shiv laughed, taking a seat with them.

  “That’s another thing. Why did I find it in Sarah’s trash?”

  “Vera asked her to throw it away. Simple as that,” Mannor said, obviously having talked to the secretary again.

  “And Claudia has been sent home?”

  “Yeah. We sent a nurse with her to keep an eye overnight. She was pretty shaken up by the whole thing.”

  “I’m not surprised,” Carla said.

  “Do you think she’ll be nicer to you now?” Shiv jumped in.

  “You would hope so,” Bert admitted.

  “Anyway, the case is closed and its thanks to you—as much as I hate to admit it,” Harry said, taking a bite of his pie.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said, leaning back in her chair. “By the way, is my reward for not getting involved revoked, or are we still going to see that movie tonight?” she asked eagerly. She’d been holding off on bringing it up, knowing that it might irritate Harry. However, she was honestly very excited to see the film.

  Of course, if Harry didn’t take her, she could always drag Shiv or Carla along.

  Harry groaned, scowling at her.

  “I’ll take that as a no,” she said, putting up her hands.

  “No, I didn’t say that. You don’t deserve it since you didn’t actually do as I said.” He paused.

  “But?” Bert pressed.

  “But, you did help find the real killer, so I guess we can still go.”

  “Oh, thank you,” she declared, leaning in and giving him a big hug. Just as she thought under all that gruff exterior was a big old softie.