“Sounds like a fun night,” I said, getting up to refill his bowl.
“Oh yeah, just so much fun. Pretty sure I was able to fit in five words all night. At least I satisfied my poke bowl craving and found this beer. Silver linings and all that.”
“Did she say anything specific about the will or Valerie that could be helpful?” I asked, placing his replenished bowl in front of him and moving my empty one to the sink. I took the halo-halo cupcakes out of the fridge to take the chill off them before serving.
I was so busy wondering how to garnish them, I almost missed it when Jae said, “Valerie told her that if Rob left everything to her, she planned on contesting the will. Made some snide remark about Beth being nothing without the Thompson family’s generosity, and that Beth never would’ve gotten her hooks into Rob if her parents were still alive. Valerie’s parents, that is. I think Valerie might’ve run a background check on Beth, too.”
I nearly dropped the bag of pinipig I was sprinkling on the cupcakes. “A background check? Did she actually say that?”
Jae drained the last of his beer and tossed the can in the recycling bin. “She didn’t come out and say it, but it was definitely hinted at. I guess it’s typical for the Thompsons to run background checks on anyone entering the family, but Rob didn’t do one for Beth.”
Interesting. If Valerie ran a background check on Beth, what would she find? The reason behind Rob’s murder? Or would it just show that Beth was the tough businesswoman she seemed to be? Considering her job was to clean up messes and make the company look good, it was hard to say who the real Beth was. “Satisfied” from Hamilton started playing in my head—from what Jae said about her at that dinner, Beth was a real Angelica Schuyler type.
“Are those ready?” Jae’s voice brought me back to the moment. I’d been standing and staring at the finished cupcakes for who knew how long before he spoke up.
I handed him a cupcake and chewed my lower lip as I watched him take a bite. His eyes widened and he smiled at me, his own lower lip covered in frosting. “These are amazing! Not only is the flavor unique but it’s got great texture, too.”
His tongue teased out to lick the bit of frosting covering his lips. I looked away and drained the last of my beer, the room suddenly way too hot. I poured us both some of Adeena’s cold brew and helped myself to a cupcake as well.
They were as good as Jae said, and we smiled goofily at each other as we made our way through our treats. Euphoria coursed through me as I helped myself to another cupcake.
I’d figured out Mommy’s recipe.
I’d come up with a fantastic new offering for the cafe.
I’d gotten my friendship with Jae back on track and received some great info in return.
I’d even devised the next step in my investigation that would also help repair my relationship with Adeena and Elena.
Things were finally looking up.
Chapter Sixteen
What’s the game plan?”
Adeena stared into the Honeybee Salon, taking in the multiple packed stations. “If everyone’s busy getting their hair and nails done, I don’t think they’re going to want to get messy eating cupcakes. Also, did you make appointments for us?”
When I’d called Adeena and Elena last night to explain why I’d stood them up and my general plan for the investigation, I told them I was treating them to mani-pedis and bringing along the cupcakes as free samples for the cafe. I did not, however, remember to call the salon and see if there were any openings. I hadn’t been to a salon since I’d left Chicago and had forgotten this very basic etiquette.
I grinned at them as we stood in front of the packed salon, projecting confidence and “Don’t worry, I got this” energy. “It’s fine. Even if we have to wait awhile, this’ll give us a chance to talk to the other customers. Get some gossip, ferret out clues, advertise the cafe. It’ll be fun.”
Adeena and Elena exchanged looks and shrugged, willing to see how this would all play out.
“I’m not one to turn down a free foot massage and you still owe us, so let’s do this.” Adeena led the way into the shop with coupons and flyers for the Brew-ha Cafe while Elena and I, carrying the cupcakes, trailed behind her.
Katie greeted us at the reception desk. “Hey, everyone! What’s going on?” Her eyes zeroed in on the cupcakes. “Are those for us? They look SO GOOD.”
I swelled with pride as she squealed over my gorgeous creations. “Hey, Katie! I came up with a new recipe last night and thought I’d bring them by the salon so that people waiting for their treatments could help themselves to a free sample, maybe post pics on social media . . . Is that cool?”