The Diva Frosts a Cupcake Read online

  Contents

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  CUPCAKES AND PUPCAKES | Guest List

  CUPCAKES AND PUPCAKES | Dinner Menu

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  RECIPES & COOKING TIPS

  The Diva Frosts a Cupcake

  KRISTA DAVIS

  PRAISE FOR THE AGATHA AWARD–NOMINATED DOMESTIC DIVA MYSTERIES

  The Diva Digs up the Dirt

  “Perfectly enjoyable.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  “A satisfying, complex story . . . [An] enjoyable mystery . . . Poignant, but also funny at times.”

  —Vibrant Nation

  “The Diva Digs up the Dirt definitely hit the spot . . . [A] fun mystery and a great way to spend a few hours by the pool or at the beach.”

  —Booking Mama

  The Diva Haunts the House

  “The quirky characters are well developed, the story line is as crisp as a fall apple, and the twists and turns are as tight as a corkscrew.”

  —AnnArbor.com

  “Davis finely blends mystery and comedy, keeping The Diva Haunts the House entertaining and alluring.”

  —SeattlePI.com

  The Diva Cooks a Goose

  “For fans of Donna Andrews and Diane Mott Davidson . . . [A] real winner.”

  —The Season

  “Sophie keeps a cool head . . . ensuring a Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.”

  —The Mystery Reader

  “A great whodunit.”

  —Once Upon a Romance

  “This is not your run-of-the-mill cozy; the characters are real to life, interesting, and keep you wondering what will happen next. Krista Davis writes one enjoyable read.”

  —The Romance Readers Connection

  The Diva Paints the Town

  “[Davis] handles this tricky tale with aplomb and fills it with a cast of eccentrics . . . And the three animals are endlessly amusing. Davis includes several recipes, and although the novel takes place during a Virginia winter, the strawberry daiquiris will have you pretending it’s summer.”

  —Richmond Times-Dispatch

  “Davis plates up another delectable whodunit, complete with recipes. Indeed, her novels are every bit as good as Diane Mott Davidson’s Goldy Schulz mysteries.”

  —Shine

  “Davis’s latest is an enjoyable mystery that includes decorating tips, a few pets, an unusual bequest, and recipes . . . Once again, Krista Davis brings us interesting, fun characters.”

  —Lesa’s Book Critiques

  “Ms. Davis immerses the reader into the world of interior design.”

  —TwoLips Reviews

  The Diva Takes the Cake

  “The Diva Takes the Cake does just that—takes the cake.”

  —The Romance Readers Connection

  “Mistaken identities, half truths, buried secrets, missing jewelry, wedding jitters, and family squabbles are whipped into a sweet froth in this second of the Domestic Diva Mysteries . . . [A] fun little bonbon of a book to enjoy on the beach or as a break from any wedding plans.”

  —ReviewingTheEvidence.com

  “Sure to thrill cozy fans.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “Davis has devised a delightful romp, with engaging characters and a nicely crafted setting in which to place them. The author sets just the right tone to match her diva’s perfect centerpieces, tablescapes, and lighting effects.”

  —Shine

  The Diva Runs Out of Thyme

  “[A] tricky whodunit laced with delectable food . . . [A] fine mystery that’s stuffed with suspects—and a reminder that nobody’s Thanksgiving is perfect.”

  —Richmond Times-Dispatch

  “A mouthwatering mix of murder, mirth, and mayhem, nicely spiced by new author Krista Davis.”

  —Mary Jane Maffini, author of The Busy Woman’s Guide to Murder

  “This cozy mystery delivers a plethora of useful household tips and mouthwatering recipes immersed within a keep-you-guessing plot filled with suspicious-acting characters, and twists and turns around every corner. Davis’s smart writing style and engaging characters are sure to garner fans.”

  —AuthorsDen.com

  “Filled with humor, delicious recipes, and holiday decorating tips, The Diva Runs Out of Thyme is a lighthearted mystery that is sure to get you in the Thanksgiving mood . . . [A] must-read to prepare for the holiday season!”

  —The Romance Readers Connection

  “[A] fun romp into the world of food, murder, and mayhem.”

  —Armchair Interviews

  “The Diva Runs Out of Thyme is as much comedy as mystery . . . [A] really good book . . . [A] series worth watching.”

  —Mysterious Reviews

  “An entertaining mystery novel with charming characters. The plot of the mystery is well drawn out . . . Davis is an excellent mystery author.”

  —MyShelf.com

  “The beginning of a good culinary cozy series with some interesting and different characters.”

  —Gumshoe Review

  Berkley Prime Crime titles by Krista Davis

  THE DIVA RUNS OUT OF THYME

  THE DIVA TAKES THE CAKE

  THE DIVA PAINTS THE TOWN

  THE DIVA COOKS A GOOSE

  THE DIVA HAUNTS THE HOUSE

  THE DIVA DIGS UP THE DIRT

  THE DIVA FROSTS A CUPCAKE

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA

  USA | Canada | UK | Ireland | Australia | New Zealand | India | South Africa | China

  Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England

  For more information about the Penguin Group, visit penguin.com.

  THE DIVA FROSTS A CUPCAKE

  A Berkley Prime Crime Book / published by arrangement with the author

  Copyright © 2013 by Cristina Ryplansky.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  Berkley Prime Crime Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group.

  BERKLEY® PRIME CRIME and the PRIME CRIME logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

  For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA)
Inc.,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  ISBN: 978-0-425-25813-2

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-101-62342-8

  PUBLISHING HISTORY

  Berkley Prime Crime mass-market edition / June 2013

  Cover illustration by Teresa Fasolino.

  Cover design by Diana Kolsky.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The recipes contained in this book are to be followed exactly as written. The publisher is not responsible for your specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision. The publisher is not responsible for any adverse reactions to the recipes contained in this book.

  For the Plothatchers,

  who always have an answer, a suggestion, or a great idea,

  and are there no matter what.

  They are my watercooler when I need a break,

  a shoulder to lean on, and have become

  my very dear friends:

  Janet Bolin, Peg Cochran, Kaye George,

  Daryl Wood Gerber, Janet Koch,

  and Marilyn Levinson.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Very special thanks to Laura Owens, D.V.M., for explaining the treatment of chocolate ingestion by dogs. Many thanks yet again to Lucy Zahray for her amazing knowledge and helpfulness about poisonous plants. And to my mother, Marianne, and my friends Betsy Strickland, Susan Erba, Amy Wheeler, and David Erba for patiently testing cupcake after cupcake without ever complaining about sugar rushes. I must thank my brilliant editor, Sandra Harding, whose edits always result in a stronger book, even when they present challenges. My agent, Jessica Faust, has been supportive and helpful and is always very wise. What would I do without Sandy and Jessica to keep me on track? Teresa Fasolino has painted another fabulous cover for Sophie and her friends, this time depicting the heart of Old Town so beautifully. Special thanks to Andy Ball for his eagle eye in catching my errors. As always, any mistakes are my own. I am grateful to all of you.

  CUPCAKES and PUPCAKES

  Gala Eight-Course Dinner

  Black Tie

  By Ticket Only. Sold Out.

  Guests

  General Euclid German

  Alex German

  Nick Rigas

  Clarissa Osbourne

  Maurice Lester

  Mars Winston

  Myra Liebling

  Humphrey Brown

  Francine Vanderhoosen

  Officer Wong

  Bernie Frei

  Martha (Chihuahua)

  Daisy (mixed hound)

  Guinevere (gray cat)

  Buddy (black-and-tan rescue dog)

  Bakers

  Sugar Baby Cupcakes

  Renee Gatewood

  Joy Bickford

  Muffin Pruitt

  Cupcake Saloon

  Natasha

  Cake My Day

  Spenser Osbourne

  Sugar Mama Cupcakes

  Joy Bickford

  The Laughing Hound

  CUPCAKES & PUPCAKES

  Dinner Menu

  Amuse Bouche

  Asparagus Mini-cupcake

  Appetizer

  Avocado and Black Bean Cupcake

  Fish Course

  Salmon Cupcake

  Les Légumes

  Spinach Cupcake

  Entrée

  Rosemary Bacon Corn Cupcake

  Bison Lasagna Cupcake

  Cheese Course

  Blueberry Cheesecake Cupcake

  Fruit

  Strawberry Cupcake

  Dessert

  Salted Caramel Cupcake

  Coco Loco (Chocolate Coconut) Cupcake

  CHAPTER ONE

  Dear Sophie,

  I am lactose intolerant, so I avoid cream cheese and buttercream frostings on cupcakes. The bakery near my office sells delicious mocha cupcakes that I eat all the time without problems. My grandfather’s new wife swears there’s no cream cheese or butter in the frosting of her mocha cupcakes, but I get sick every time I eat one. I’m worried about what she might be putting in them . . .

  —Hold the Milk Please in Cream City, Ohio

  Dear Hold the Milk Please,

  Many cupcake recipes call for milk or cream in the cake portion and that could be the cause of your discomfort. If you’re truly concerned that she’s adding something more sinister, you might wish to have one of her cupcakes analyzed.

  —Sophie

  The creepy sensation of being watched overcame me. I was standing in line to buy coffee at a take-out window in Old Town, far too early in the morning for my taste. Shivering in the chilly spring weather, I gazed around and snuggled deeper into my rose-colored fleece pullover.

  A few people ahead of me in line, a slender woman observed me. She didn’t avert her piercing eyes, even when I looked straight at her. Brunette with deep auburn overtones, her freckles shone through a thin dusting of makeup. A long ski-jump nose brought perkiness to her face, and laugh lines had begun to develop around her mouth. She seemed vaguely familiar to me, and I sought to place her. She wore understated Old Town chic—dark brown jeans with a green suede jacket. The chunky gold bracelet on her wrist might have been costume jewelry, but the casual leather bag that hung from a long strap over her shoulder said money in no uncertain terms.

  She strode over to me. “I defended you for dating Wolf. Under the circumstances, it seemed reasonable.”

  I braced myself. Her tone was level, but I detected a note of hostility. Why would she declare such a thing? My relationship with my boyfriend, Wolf, had recently come to an abrupt end because of a very complicated situation. I’d heard that some people felt I never should have dated him, and in hindsight I had thought that myself. Did she want me to thank her for standing up for me?

  “I guess I was wrong. Apparently you lack the character I attributed to you. Have you no morals? No shame?”

  As shocked as I was by her words, I was even more painfully aware of the interest of everyone around us. “I . . . I’m sorry. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Let’s not add insult here by feigning ignorance. We both know what you have done.” She lowered her voice to a whisper, and her tone grew hard. “Just know that I will fight you. I might not look like much, but I can play dirty—and I will if I have to.”

  She strode away with her head held high, completely unflustered, as though pleased with herself. I, on the other hand, could feel my face flushing hot.

  All the eyes watching her turned back to me. A few eyebrows rose. I tried hard to smile and managed a shrug. I wanted to think she had mistaken me for someone else, but the part about Wolf led me to believe she had the right person. My relationship with Wolf had broken off about nine months earlier. What on earth could I have done to upset her so much? Better yet, who was she?

  The thought of turning and running crossed my mind, but I really did want coffee, and I had promised my best friend and across-the-street neighbor, Nina Reid Norwood, that I would bring her some. Besides, whatever dreadful thing the woman thought I’d done—I had a completely clear conscience. Part of me hoped our paths wouldn’t cross again, yet I also hoped I might see her from afar when Nina was around. Maybe Nina could place her.

  Gasps and whispers about Sugar Baby drew me out of my thoughts about the angry woman.

  Frowning, I turned in the direction of the bakery. Just down the side street, I could see the familiar pink awning with chocolate polka dots and trim.

  “Excuse me,” I said to the man in front of me. “What’s going on with Sugar Baby?”

  “Look across the street. Renee and Joy split up, and Joy pulled a fast one. Cupcake war has begun
in Old Town.”

  Sure enough, a new storefront had appeared directly across the street from Sugar Baby. A blue awning with brown polka dots and trim hung over a large window. Even from a distance, I could make out the name of the business—Sugar Mama. Except for the blue color and the one word name difference, it was identical to Sugar Baby.

  I tried to hear what the people in line for coffee were saying.

  “Apparently their business partnership broke up over a man.”

  “It must have been more than that. They’re such nice women.”

  “Joy has a temper. Were you ever in the shop when something went wrong? I saw her throw a cupcake once!”

  “I wonder who their assistant, Muffin, went with? She’s the one with the real talent.”

  “I’m sure it was a fight over money. It always is in partnerships.”

  No one seemed to know. Not that it was any of my business. Still, it would be the talk of the town for a while.

  I tried to shake my troubled mood, ordered three grande lattes, and carried them across the street to Market Square, where Nina waited with my mixed-breed hound, Daisy.

  “Humphrey still hasn’t shown up.” Nina glared at me as though I were responsible. “He promised he would help us.”

  It was odd. Humphrey might be a bit of a nerd, but he was always reliable and punctual. It worried me that he hadn’t arrived. I didn’t dare say that though, out of fear that it would send Nina into a tailspin.

  At six in the morning, only a few early birds had started to set up their booths for Cupcakes and Pupcakes, Nina’s first major fundraising event. Tension ran from her tight lips to her clenched fists, all the way down to the sneaker-clad foot that twisted nervously on the red brick plaza.

  On Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, the general public could buy cupcakes at booths operated by bakers who had come from all over the metropolitan Washington, DC, area, and then cast a vote at Nina’s booth for the best cupcake.