Flora was relieved to note that there were other children going into the building. She’d been slightly wary about taking her exuberant duo to an event of this type, but the groups of people making their way into the building included some who looked the same age as, or even younger than, the twins.
Although she had been inside the city hall building, Flora hadn’t been to any events in the Clarence Delaney Memorial Hall.
“Is it named after someone in Bryce’s family?” she asked Leon as they followed hand painted signs advertising the bake-off.
“Clarence Delaney was Cameron, Bryce, and Vincente’s great-grandfather,” he said. “Apparently, he was well known for his charitable work. Although, the way Bryce tells it, he was also known for his womanizing and hell-raising.”
They entered a huge room at the rear of the main building. The decor was elegant with a mosaic tiled floor, plaster columns, and chandeliers that harked back to another era.
“Everything happens here,” Leon said. “Barn dances, rock concerts, bake sales, and children’s Christmas parties. When part of the roof collapsed a few years ago, there was talk of closing the place down. There was an online petition asking if a modern town really needed a turn-of-the-century relic. The answer was a resounding yes. Most of the townsfolk thought that losing the memorial hall would be like ripping the heart out of Stillwater.”
All around the sides of the room, stalls had been set up. As well as the cakes, pies, bread, and other delicacies produced by the members of the Stillwater Dozen, there were craft booths and traditional games. The air was a heady mix of delicious scents: cupcakes competing with the funfair aromas of Flora’s childhood. The noise level made her wince. On a stage at the far end of the room, the contestants were setting up in preparation for the bake-off competition.
The twins instantly pulled on Flora’s hands like puppies straining on a leash. With no real idea of what was going on, they wanted to see everything.
“Ducks!” Stevie tried to drag her one way.
“’alloons!” Frankie exerted equal force in the opposite direction.
“Before you break your poor mommy in half, let’s agree to do hook-a-duck first, then the balloon-pop.” Leon took hold of Frankie’s hand.
They toured the booths, laughing at the twins’ excitement. Although Flora remained alert for signs of people watching her with distrust, she didn’t see anything troubling. Aline Stibbe and Dolores Moon were selling homemade cookies, but neither of them looked her way.
Beth was at the wheel-spin booth with Lia, who greeted the twins by trying to steal their cotton candy. A few minutes later, Steffi arrived, carrying a sleeping Katerina in a baby sling.
“Aren’t you two on opposing sides?” Leon asked her and Beth. “Should I get in the middle and keep you apart?”
“I think we’ll be fine as long as we don’t reveal any baking secrets,” Beth said.
“I’ll be glad when this is over.” Steffi looked at the stage, where Bryce and Vincente were gathered with the other contestants. “If I have to try one more apple pie prototype, I won’t be responsible for the consequences.”
“I don’t think it’s occurred to either Bryce or Vincente that someone else could win,” Cameron said, as he joined them.
A bell signaled the start of the competition and they moved toward the stage. There were twelve contestants, who were competing in pairs. The three judges would taste the food baked by each pair and decide on a winner. The six winners would go forward to the next round and compete against a new partner. The judges would then decide on the final three, who would be awarded bronze, silver, and gold medals.
“I thought you’d be judging,” Leon said.
“I recused myself on the grounds that I will be needed as a referee when my brothers come to blows.”
The first round was over quickly, with both Bryce and Vincente making it through to the next stage of the competition. The other contestants didn’t seem to mind that the focus was on the banter between the Delaney brothers, or the fact that the entire audience was clearly divided between the two of them. By the time the judges had decided on the final three, Bryce and Vincente had each roused their supporters to fever pitch.
Flora had Frankie in her arms, and Leon was holding Stevie. Although the twins didn’t understand what was going on, they were caught up in the atmosphere and were shouting first for Bryce, then for Vincente. As the head judge diplomatically announced a tie between the Delaney brothers, Flora felt a hand on her shoulder. Turning, she saw Detective Joe Nolan standing just behind her.
“Can I speak with you?” His expression told her he wasn’t bringing good news.
Beth noticed what was happening and stepped forward to help. “They are serving cookies and juice for the kids over in the refreshment booth. Why don’t I take your boys with Lia?”
Flora waited until Beth, Steffi, and the children had gone before she turned to face Joe. “What is it?”
“Not here.” He led her and Leon outside the hall and into a corridor. After a quick glance to check they were alone, he spoke quietly. “We’ve found Vivien McAuley’s body.”
Chapter 16
“I don’t have much information for you, except that the circumstances were similar to Jennifer Webster’s murder.” Joe Nolan’s voice was apologetic. “Dr. McAuley’s vehicle was hidden in dense woodland off the Elmville road. Her body was in the trunk. When I spoke to Chief Delaney, she asked me to make sure you were informed immediately.”
“I knew Vivien wasn’t capable of murder.” Flora’s voice was quiet, her face unnaturally white. She lifted a shaking hand toward her lips. “Raj... He was attacked. Someone needs to tell him.”
“I’ll go from here to inform Dr. Laxman,” Joe said.
Leon placed an arm around Flora’s shoulders. He knew she was struggling with grief for her colleague,
