Death at the Pageant Read online

  Death at the Pageant

  Bakers and Bulldog Mysteries Book 11

  Rosie Sams

  SweetBookHub.com

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Smudge and the Stolen Puppies – Preview

  Also by Rosie Sams

  ©Copyright 2020 Rosie Sams

  All Rights Reserved

  Rosie Sams

  License Notes

  This Book is licensed for personal enjoyment only. It may not be resold. Your continued respect for author's rights is appreciated.

  This story is a work of fiction; any resemblance to people is purely coincidence. All places, names, events, businesses, etc. are used in a fictional manner. All characters are from the imagination of the author.

  * * *

  Rosie is a member of SweetBookHub, a place where you can find amazing fun books that are all sweet and suitable for all ages. Join the exclusive newsletter and get 3 free books here

  Chapter One

  The red laser dot glided across a row of petit fours that Melody Marshall had assembled on a serving platter that she reserved for client presentations. The dot paused on each sweet treat, long enough for Melody to reveal its flavor before moving on to the next.

  "White Chocolate Raspberry, Mocha Latte Creme Brule, Red Velvet, Coconut Key Lime, Lemon Chiffon…"

  "Stop! Lemon Chiffon is my absolute favorite," Penelope Cross said as she practically leaped from her seat. Her perfectly manicured fingers reached toward the tiny sweet. "May I?"

  Penelope was the event coordinator of the Annual Port Warren Beauty Pageant, and today she was meeting with Melody to finalize a rather large dessert order. The desserts were for a new "Meet the Contestants" reception Penelope was launching at this year's pageant. The event was scheduled a week before the actual judging portion of the contest. It was designed to introduce the contestants to the press as a way of drawing more attention since the popularity of the competition waned over the last few years. When Penelope approached Melody to provide unique and tasty refreshments that would impress her audience, Melody jumped at the opportunity to promote the bakery.

  "Of course! Please, try them all. There's no reason why we can't serve an assortment rather than just one flavor." With a kind smile, Melody reached for a napkin and placed it in front of Penelope, encouraging her to enjoy the samples.

  Melody suspected Penelope would be thrilled over the Lemon Chiffon since Penelope's favorite color was bright yellow. This fact was quite apparent since Penelope wore yellow from head to toe nearly every day. Even her hair, pinned up neatly in a retro-style 1960s Beehive, was a bright yellow blonde. Melody suspected Penelope's fashion style was a clue to the nostalgia the woman felt for pageantry.

  "Do you think you can add some edible glitter to them? You know, give them a little magical twinkle?"

  "I can do whatever you like," Melody said, assuring her. "I know you've got a lot riding on this event. We're going to do everything we can to make it nothing short of fantastic. We could even make some small crystallized sugar crown ornaments for the top of each petit four in keeping with the theme. How's that for magical twinkle?"

  Penelope's eyes lit up with excitement. She nodded in agreement, her mouth full of Lemon Chiffon. Her fingertips reached for the Coconut Key Lime next.

  Thirty minutes later, the special serving platter was empty, and Penelope's order was officially in the books.

  "Thank you so much, Melody. I look forward to seeing you at the event," Penelope said as she left the bakery.

  Melody noticed a confident skip in Penelope’s step that hadn’t been there when she first arrived. With years of experience behind her, Melody knew that little details, such as her artistic petit fours, contributed significantly to making memorable experiences. She suspected the hungry press would quite literally "eat up" the decadent desserts, and Melody was delighted she could help Penelope make her new event successful. Silently, she vowed not to disappoint her trusting client.

  Once the door closed behind Penelope, Kerry Porter, Melody's friend and business partner, rolled her eyes as she finished her third coffee of the morning.

  "Well, isn't that a joke," Kerry said sarcastically.

  "The pageant?" Melody shook her head in query.

  "Yes. Pageants are antiquated and sexist. I don't even know why Penelope ordered fattening desserts. The whole industry puts so much emphasis on physical beauty. Everything about the contestant must be perfect. She must be thin. She must wear a bikini. Her teeth must be pearly white. She must be a ‘she’! It's all so fake."

  Melody watched as an agitated Kerry moved around the shop, collecting baking trays now empty from the morning rush. She sensed Kerry didn't realize just how loudly she was banging the trays as she stacked them. Plus, Kerry, who regularly spoke very fast, was now speaking in overdrive.

  "I can understand your viewpoint, but we can’t judge others. People enjoy them, and they have the right to participate if they do. There are lots of benefits to pageants. The winners get the prize money, and acclaim, the networking opportunities help them with their careers. Is there a reason why you’re so adamantly against pageants?"

  "No," Kerry said defensively. "I just wish it wasn't so objectifying with the bikinis and ball gowns. Why not make the contest categories more meaningful like 'what charity would you volunteer to help' or 'what career advice do you have for young girls that idolize you'?"

  "Yes, that would be a nice progressive change." Melody agreed with Kerry's good intentions. "You do realize that providing the desserts for this event will do two positive things for us, right? It pays well, and the bakery will be in the news. We can always use the exposure."

  Kerry dropped her head back, relinquishing the fact that Melody was right. Still, she couldn't quite let go of her resentment to what she obviously thought was a sexist event. To shake off her negative attitude, she exercised a little humor. Moving her Decadently Delicious apron to the side simulating a sash, Kerry strode toward the kitchen, much like a pageant queen, then delivered her speech.

  "I would like to thank Smudge, lemons and chiffon for their support and participation in making my pageant dreams come true."

  Melody laughed and applauded her friend. "C'mon, beauty queen, let's get to crystallizing some sugar crowns and lemoning some chiffon."

  Chapter Two

  The morning of the reception, Melody, Kerry, Leslie, and Melody's beloved French Bulldog, Smudge, headed over to the community center to set up nice and early. Knowing how important the event was to Penelope, Melody wanted to ensure their contribution to the reception went off without a hitch.

  The community center was a large rectangular building. The front entrance consisted of two massive, double-metal doors. Just beyond those doors was a large reception area where the pre-pageant press event would be held.

  "This looks like a great place to set up," Melody said as she pointed to an open space dead center between two additional sets of double doors that led to the main auditorium. This spot gave Melody and her team the best visibility. "Why don't you two unload and set up the display station, and I'll see if Smudge and I can find Penelope in the back."

  Melody led Smudge through the auditorium doors. The room itself was a vast open space with a large stage against its rear wall. In a carefree moment, Melody strutted down the red carpet that divided the room in half.

  When she reac
hed its end, she struck a pose and glanced at Smudge, who turned on the spot, sat, and lifted her little paws as if she was striking a pose, too. Melody reached down and gave her a high-five! Then, together, they disappeared through a door to the right that was marked "Backstage."

  "Penelope? Are you here? It's Melody. We're setting up the desserts," Melody said to no one in particular as she and Smudge poked around the immediate area.

  Smudge wandered over to an open dressing room door and barked for Melody's attention. Melody heard a woman crying. She approached the door and saw a young, beautiful blonde woman crying in front of her vanity mirror.

  "Excuse me. Are you ok?" Melody asked as she knocked lightly on the open door to get the young woman's attention. "Do you need some help?"

  "Oh, I'm all right." The blonde woman grabbed several tissues from a square box on the vanity that indicated otherwise. She dabbed her eyes carefully so as not to smear her meticulously applied eye makeup.

  Melody thought her shoulders were uncharacteristically slumped for a potential pageant queen as she took in the scene. The woman wore a satin and sequins gown, the color of magenta. The front of her skirt was puffed up in her lap from the layers of tulle beneath it. Her eyes were just as puffy even though she was careful to dab, not rub.

  She looks so sad, Melody thought.

  Smudge whined softly.

  "It's just the stress of the pageant, it gets to me sometimes,” the blonde said, reaching for another round of tissues. “I'm not sure why I even do this to myself."

  Melody nodded, understanding. "When I'm feeling stressed out, I like to treat myself to something sweet. I'm here to supply the desserts for the press event. How about I go grab you some delicious Lemon Chiffon petit fours to cheer you up? Or maybe you prefer something more decadent and chocolatey? I guarantee they'll melt your blues away."

  "Well, in that case, I just might have to have a little taste even though I'm watching my figure. But, then again, I'm always watching my figure." A twinkle appeared momentarily in her eye, and then quickly faded as she came to that realization.

  Melody looked down at Smudge and inclined her head toward the woman. Maybe Smudge could cheer her up.

  "Is that your dog?" she asked curiously between sniffles.

  "Yes!" Melody realized she hadn't appropriately introduced herself or her pup. "I'm Melody Marshall, and this is my darling girl, Smudge. She's super smart and very friendly."

  "Hi, Smudge. I'm Ramona. Ramona Newman."

  Smudge's ears shot up straight when she heard her own name. She nuzzled Ramona's ankles, then looked up at her with big soulful brown eyes. Her blue-gray fur was silky to the touch, and when Ramona stroked it, she smiled instantly.

  "Wow, she's so soft. Come here, girl."

  If ever Smudge heard an invitation, that was one, so she jumped up into Ramona's puffy skirted lap and snuggled her. "I think she's the sweetest dog I've ever met." Ramona let out a freeing laugh as Smudge nuzzled her chin.

  Melody had to give it to Smudge; she was sweeter than Lemon Chiffon with fewer calories. Melody delighted in watching her cheer up Ramona until a shrill voice cut through the laughter.

  "Get that filthy mutt away from my precious daughter!"

  Chapter Three

  "Excuse me?"

  "What do you think you are doing bringing that beast back here? It's going to get hair all over her evening gown! Do you know how much that dress cost? My daughter has to impress the press and the judges at the reception… if this creature hasn’t already ruined her chances!" The woman was furious.

  Melody's mouth dropped open in shock as Ramona quickly and sheepishly guided Smudge off her lap.

  “Uh, Melody, this is my mother, Denise Newman."

  "I assure you, Ms. Newman, Smudge is very clean-"

  "And I assure you, Ms. Whatever-Your-Name-Is, that dog shouldn't be back here on pageant day!" Denise was red-faced with anger as she thrust her hand inside a large designer bag hooked over her other arm. Like radar, she immediately found what she was looking for and unsheathed a huge lint roller.

  Melody knew they were excellent for removing fabric fuzz, lint, and yes, even pet hair. The lint roller's outer layer of stickiness was covered with magenta fibers that matched Ramona's gown. Melody deduced it wasn't Denise's first time wielding the lint roller today. With expert skill, Denise tore off the outer used layer of stickiness to reveal a clean sheet and began rolling it across Ramona's lap.

  "Stand up!"

  Ramona looked contritely at Melody and Smudge. Silently, she mouthed an apology. Her shoulders slumped forward, and the smile was gone from her face. It looked like all the stress Smudge had released was back ten-fold.

  "You sounded flat during rehearsal. How can you expect to win anything croaking like a flat frog? Now, turn around. If you have any hope of taking that crown home, you're going to have to dazzle the press and the judges at the reception.

  "Ms. Newman, perhaps you can go a little easy with Ramona. She was quite upset earlier. Maybe she can rest up a bit before the event?" For the sake of Ramona, Melody kept her tone positive as she addressed Denise even though the woman had insulted Smudge.

  "My daughter will be more upset if she loses - not that it's any business of yours." Denise glared at Melody and then at Smudge before tearing off a second dirty lint-covered sheet and starting again with a vengeance. "Now, I suggest you and your mutt beat it before I call security."

  Smudge let out a low growl at the woman. Ramona was near to tears again.

  "Well, I can see who won't be winning the Miss Congeniality award today!” Melody said. “Ramona, it was a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I’m here if you need me." Then, Melody turned her back on them and called for Smudge to follow suit.

  Denise gasped at the insult and then glared at her daughter, who had tried to stifle a giggle. She was unsuccessful.

  Melody reluctantly left them to it. "Do you believe the nerve of that woman, Smudge? How dare she call you a dirty mutt and a beast! No wonder her daughter is a ball of stress."

  Smudge huffed in agreement as she followed Melody, who went back to her search for Penelope.

  "Let's try this room." Melody's hand turned the doorknob of a closed wooden door. "Excuse me! I'm so sorry." Quickly, she closed the door, her cheeks as red as her hair. "That was definitely not Penelope."

  Inside, Melody had spied a woman who appeared to be another contestant, but she wasn't alone. She was in the arms of a very distinguished older gentleman wearing a jet-black tuxedo. The two of them had been locked in a passionate kiss.

  "Smudge," she whispered, "let's go wait for Penelope upfront. It's starting to feel like a bad telenovela back here."

  Smudge barked in agreement, wagging her whole body before spinning in a circle and giving another little yip.

  Chapter Four

  "I do hope everyone is ready! We must make a good impression for the sake of the art of Pageantry," Penelope said as she conducted one final inspection of the reception area.

  "I hope you're pleased with the dessert display." Melody swept her hand through the air with a bit of a flourish inviting Penelope's approach.

  "Yes! This is exactly what I envisioned. It's perfect."

  Melody smiled proudly as she watched Penelope's bright eyes move across the station, inspecting the tasty treats topped with little crowns made of sugar crystals. An assortment of colorful and decadent petit fours was arranged on elegant, afternoon-tea style china that sat atop multi-tiered gold stands of varying heights. Kerry and Leslie stood behind the station. They both made minor last-minute adjustments, ensuring every detail of the presentation was perfect.

  "These are my business partners, Kerry Porter and Leslie Mathers. They've done a fantastic job. Don't you think?" Melody wasn't surprised as to how lovely the station looked. The two women proved time and again that they were very dedicated to the success of the bakery.

  "It's a pleasure to meet you both." Penelope offered a friendly smile, but h
er eyes lingered on Kerry just a little bit longer than they did with Leslie. "You look familiar. You've won a competition recently, haven't you? Weren't you Miss Nantucket County last year?"

  "Me? No. Of course, not!" Kerry scoffed at the thought.

  Melody glared at her.

  Quickly, she cleared her throat and corrected her tone toward their client. "I mean, I'm flattered, but no. I never had the opportunity to compete." Kerry plastered a smile on her face as her eyes darted back to Melody, seeking approval. Her cheeks flushed from embarrassment. Leslie struggled to stifle a giggle.

  "Ms. Cross, it's time to get started." An assistant appeared just in time to distract the coordinator.

  "Positions, everyone! It's showtime!" Penelope clapped her hands together twice. Once she had everyone's attention, she positioned herself in the center of the room, facing the main doors. She struck a premeditated pose and fixed a perfect smile upon her painted face. Her satin and organza tea-length cocktail dress the color of goldenrod shimmered in the light. With a flick of her wrist, she motioned for the doormen to open the doors.

  "Ok, ladies, look sharp," Melody said as she joined Kerry behind the station. Down at their feet, Smudge rested on a small cushion.

  "Maybe Kerry would be better suited for tray service. Miss Nantucket County could practice her smile, wave, and walk." Teasingly, Leslie donned a blank stare and plastic smile as she picked up a tray with one hand and waved with the other.

  "And if the crown goes missing, we'll know who to name as the number one suspect," Kerry shot back at Leslie with a glare.