Less than half an hour later, I walked past the bakery's large glass window. Bodies blocked the view of the bakery counters and display racks. What the hell? They really were swamped.

I opened the front door, and high-pitched chatter bombarded me before I made my first step into the building. One voice was the loudest of all... Pearl Ashwood. Pelican Bay's oldest resident. We all listened when Pearl spoke. At least the smart among us.

Normally.

Today, not so much. No one seemed to care that she was yelling about someone being in her seat. We all knew you didn't sit in Pearl's seat. That was a sacred rule.

Tabitha stood behind the counter, her eyes wide as she jammed her finger into the register keys while listening to the person speaking in front of her. The pink apron she had looped around her front sagged to the right, much like her messy top bun.

"Excuse me," I said as I scooted past two people at an emerald tabletop where Pearl sat down right in front of me.

She grabbed my arm as I passed. "This is outrageous, Vonnie. Someone from Clearwater is in my seat. They don't even care about the gossip. Why do they want it?"

"I know. Those Clearwater people are always up to no good," I said and kept walking toward the counter once she let go of my arm.

The citizens of Clearwater really were annoying, but with Pearl's behavior, you'd think they'd thrown her table in the woodchipper. I was sure she'd snap it up once they'd finished their coffees.

Anessa owned the bakery, and she had a slight obsession with the color pink. That meant everything in the bakery was a shade of pink except the tables and chairs. And I meant everything. The boxes, cups, serving spoons, spatulas. Even the pink apron with matching pink frill that I put on once I crossed into the bakery portion.

"I'm so glad you made it," Tabitha said as she watched me tie the apron strings. "I'm worried they're going to start throwing things soon. Someone has to do something."

I tapped her on the shoulder. "I've got you, girl. Let's do this."

She returned to her spot in front of the register and I positioned myself behind the display case. Tabitha called out each individual order, and I grabbed the items, placing them in bags or boxes while she started the drinks. I finished them while handing them off to the customer as she started the next order. We were a well-oiled team. Yet it seemed that it didn't matter how many people we made it through. New ones continued to cram into the bakery. The noise level grew until it drowned out the dings from the register.

The voices reached a crescendo, the energy in the building creating a buzz. Hair on my arms stood on end as if an electrical current sizzled through the air. The frenzy of customers became a thin coat of static. We'd been busy before, but this was a new level of frantic.

"What is going on?" I asked Tabitha as I passed over a bright pink paper bag with two chocolate muffins.

Tabitha shook her head. "Try to pretend you don't notice."

Oh, yeah. Okay. That seemed logical. Not.

"Double chocolate cupcake with blue sprinkles and a jelly-filled doughnut," Tabitha yelled even though I was still right beside her.

I turned back to my area. "On it."

An older man wearing a brown suit with a stain on the front label laid his fist on the top of my display case. He normally came in on Fridays when he said he needed to get away from the wife. I assumed she enjoyed the quiet time as well. "We've ignored the crime in this city long enough."

His friend nodded in agreement and spoke loudly to be heard over the noise. "It never used to be this way. It's the kids today. They don't take anything seriously. Everything's a joke."

I fumbled the cupcake as I grabbed it out of the case, and a dab of frosting caught on my glove. Oops. They'd never notice.

"Shut your pie hole, Fred. We remember you putting your daddy's truck in the ditch at your senior prom," Pearl yelled at the two men from her unappreciated seat. How nice of her to not let the bad accommodations keep her from speaking out against the daily mob of angry citizens.

He turned around to scowl at Pearl. Not a smart move. "Don't tell me what to do, woman."

Pearl pushed back her long gray braid, and I hesitated with my cupcake in the air. Tabitha was right. These people were ready to throw things. Like punches. "The police are doing everything they can," I said softly.

Kayla Smithers sat in the seat by Pearl's table. "Let's not forget that Tabitha brought the mob to our town." She waved her hand toward the register like we didn't know Tabitha was standing right there. "No offense."

Pearl nodded, and my mouth fell open. How dare Pearl?

"Shut up, Kayla. You're just jealous because Ridge dumped you and married her," I said, jerking my thumb toward Tabitha.

Nobody thought Ridge would ever get married, and then she moved in next door and bam. The man was smitten. After he tried to arrest her for breaking and entering, anyway.

I gently dropped the cupcake into the pink bakery box. It hit the side and lost a little more frosting on the edge. That's okay, they could lick it off.

Kayla made an indignant noise at the same time as everyone else in the bakery seemed to quiet and focus on her. "It was eighth grade."

"Ridge did flush out all the criminals and brought them to the surface, though," Pearl said, and then faced Tabitha. "No offense."

"I feel offense!" Tabitha spoke loudly as she handed the last customer their change and wiped her hands on her pink apron.

I raised mine in the air and clapped them twice to get everyone's attention. "Put down the pitch forks, people. Anderson will figure it out."

Eww. What did I just say? Did this mess have me sticking up for Anderson now? What was the world coming to? The horror.

"You're right." Fred, still in front of the display case, banged his fist on the top. "Let's go to the station and tell them how we feel about this mess and demand they find the killer."

Yeah, because I'm sure yelling at the cops would make them work faster. It sounded like a great plan. Not.

Wait.

Yes, it did. If they were there, they wouldn't be here.

"That's a great idea, Fred." I handed him a free chocolate chip cookie for the walk.

He passed it back. "I can't eat sugar because of the diabetes."

"Then why are you in a bakery?" I asked and then remembered to stay on task. "Never mind. What you need to do is make sure those cops get back on track. They've got a murderer on the loose. Any of us could be next. If you don't set them straight, who will?"

He nodded and pounded his fist again. "Damn straight. Someone needs to tell them how to do their job if they can't get it done."

"Absolutely. I bet you can help them." Was that going too far? Naw.

"Let's do it," Kayla said and stood up from her chair. She made it to the main door and held it open as one by one the people left, following Fred. They filled the sidewalk, heading toward the station.

Pearl stood up and moved toward the door before turning right and taking her spot at her favorite table. "About damn time," she said as she sat.

"That was horrible," Tabitha said, wiping off the counter by the register. Her hand shook as she ran the rag over the space.

One of the swinging metal doors separating the front of the bakery from the kitchen opened an inch. Anessa peeked her head out and surveyed the now empty space. "Is it safe?"

"You've been back there the entire time?" I asked.