Banana Muffins & Mayhem - Culinary Competition Mystery #5

Chapter 18

(Amy)

Amy flipped another page in the cookbook. It was filled with recipes for quick and easy meals—a good thing since it was almost dinner time. But nothing sounded appealing. And she couldn't concentrate. Very likely an easy meal that involved any knife-wielding, chopping, or slicing would turn into a quick trip to the emergency room. She would like to keep all of her fingers intact. It wasn't as if she had the energy to move anyway. There were too many worrisome thoughts circulating and percolating in her mind, weighing her down so that she felt as though her bottom was glued to the breakfast nook bench. She had no idea what Detective Foster was thinking—or doing—about the murder case, but Amy was terrified. There was no doubt in her mind that the threats Alex was receiving were tied to Phoebe's death. And they were hinting at some very serious consequences. What if Charlotte had been correct about the murder being a case of mistaken blonde identity, and she had been the target all along?

The thump of Alex's Jeep door brought her mind back around to the fact that she was too stressed to cook. That was something that didn't happen often. Amy closed the unused cookbook as Alex punched his code into the security system pad next to the kitchen door. The beeps alerted Pogo to his presence. The small dog barreled into the kitchen from wherever he had been occupying himself in the house, most likely napping on the couch.

After the door was locked behind him, Alex bent to scratch behind the furry greeter's ears. Amy stayed seated as the unspoken questions hung in the space between her and her husband. Not even Pogo's enthusiastic display of affection could make it all better. What were they going to do? What would happen next?

"That's my good guard dog," Alex cooed. He squatted down to receive the flurry of grateful doggy kisses but kept his eyes on Amy. "It doesn't smell like you're cooking, so I bet you're thinking the same thing as I am. It's been a long day. Let's go out to dinner and relax a bit. I'm sure we'll be safe in a busy restaurant. I don't think the person would be stupid enough to try something in a crowd."

Amy blinked. Going to a restaurant was one of the few things she hadn't thought of. Since she was very short on motivation to cook, it was an excellent idea. But the second half of Alex's analysis made her even more jittery—something she didn't think was possible. Her own mind had done a good enough job at freaking her out. She trusted Alex's judgment though. "Sounds good. I've been jumping at every sound since I've been home. I guess I may feel better hanging out in a bustling restaurant. As long as you think Pogo will be safe here alone."

He stood up. "He has a doggy door escape route into the backyard, and we have great neighbors, along with a neighborhood watch group. I also talked with the officer in the cybercrimes division who is investigating the emails. He said he'll have some patrol cars swing through the area to keep an eye on the house and Quantum since there was imminent harm indicated in today's threat."

"Okay." Amy crossed the kitchen and put the cookbook back in its place on the bookshelf. She felt as though her muscles were made of saltwater taffy. Every step was an effort. "Now the question is where do we go? I know it's a rare occurrence, but nothing sounds appetizing to me."

Alex locked his arms around her waist as she stood in front of the shelves filled with cookbooks. She leaned back against him. His chest muscles were a nice warm pillow for her head and the headache that was trying to manifest inside it.

"How about fish tacos?" he asked. "A bunch of my employees have been going to that new sports pub downtown for lunch. The tacos are supposed to be excellent, but I haven't tried them yet. I guess you can choose between different varieties of fish along with having it fried or broiled."