Rachel Huntsman and the Village of Death

Chapter One

Singing along to the radio, Miss Rachel Huntsman was about to take some cakes out of the oven when she thought she heard someone go into her now closed shop next door. Quickly taking the cakes out of the oven and covering them, she undid her apron and walked out to the shop, seeing that it was as she had left it, all still locked up and having a glance inside, everything was normal, she decided that she would go back to her cakes, after all, they were to be sold tomorrow and it was probably just an animal in the woods. She was about to take a look round the corner, where her garden ended and joined onto the woods , just to double check when there was a sharp knock on her door, pushing the event out of her mind, she walked quickly back to her house, picking some roses on her way; to make the house smell nice. Using one hand she opened the door, her dark hair glinting in the sun that came through and she was slightly surprised to see her, well, not enemy but not exactly her friend, Jenny James stood on her doorstep.

"Miss James?" Stepping back, an open invitation for Miss James to enter and she walked into the kitchen.

"Please, you aren't at work, it's Jenny." She walked swiftly into the kitchen and all that could be heard was the click of her heels on my wooden flooring and then the kitchen floor tiles. Following, Rachel took a vase out from the stair cupboard and set about arranging the flowers.

"Well, what can I do for you Jenny?" She leant against the side and seemed happy when she saw the cakes on the side covered by a see through container.

"I'm only here for two things. Now, I know that we aren't exactly on the best of terms but I have a job for you. It's technically Saturday evening but what you'll be doing is during the day. I'm having a dinner party, I want you to do dessert." Placing the flowers on the side she turned to face Jenny with a look of confusion. "I have all the other arrangements done but I need dessert and I'm not one to ignore talent when I see it, well eat it. Your cakes are the best there is." Feeling a sense of pride, Rachel walked to her welsh dresser and pulled out a notepad and pen.

"How much will I get?" Jenny smirked.

"That's what you're going to tell me, how much will the ingredients be and of course, the amount of profit that you want to make." This time, Rachel smirked.

"Well the first thing is, how many people and what type of dinner party is it?"

"20 people max and a fairly simple one, my partner's boss is coming, we think he's got the promotion but we want to make sure." Nodding, Rachel did some calculations in her head.

"I'll do two sets of tiers of buns, different flavours, but they'll be presented well. And I'll do three cakes, a fruit cake, chocolate cake and a Victoria sponge. I'll also lay out some profiteroles and cream and some fruit. £100, my lowest will be £90." Jenny nods and thinks about it for a moment.

"£100 will do. But I'll pay you half now and half the Saturday when you drop them off. Thanks."

"And the other thing? You said that there were two things?" She turned to face me rather than leaving the kitchen and handed me £50.

"Oh, of course, I was just going to warn you; there's been a couple break ins, my garage, and a couple of the shops. Just thought you should know." Swiping the strawberry blonde hair from her face, she didn't give me a chance to offer to show her out, she just left.

As Miss James swanned down the road to her house and Rachel Huntsman went back to icing her cakes, that noise that she had heard in the back garden was now forgotten and even the burglary of Miss James' garage didn't bother her anymore. It was only when the bloodcurdling scream of Mrs Morris at 6:30am the following morning when she went and opened up her husband's butcher shop and found her Saturday boy, lying butchered on the floor did she begin to think something of it.