Excerpt of Fudge Brownies & Murder by Janel Gradowski

Amy stopped to examine the menu. A sweet and savory
squash casserole with dried figs and blue cheese caught
her eye. When she stepped up to order, the woman behind
the counter smiled. Her walnut-colored hair was braided
and coiled into a bun on the back of her head. "Hello.
What can I get for you?"

Since Amy had never tried a squash casserole even
remotely similar to the daily special, she had to order
it. Trying unique foods was a compulsion. The woman kept
glancing at Amy as she was preparing the order. After
exchanging the foam box for payment, she tilted her head
to the side and said, "You look so familiar, but I can't
figure out why."

Amy smiled. "I was a competitor in the Market Mash-up
Melee, teamed up with Brooke's BBQ in the finals."

"Oh, that's right! That was so much fun."

"So did you decide not to use the truck over the winter?
I would imagine it's much more comfortable in here than
on a street with snow blowing in your order window."

The proprietress, who was wearing a name tag that said
her name was Grace, shook her head. "Actually, the van
died. It used to belong to my parents. They used it as a
camper, so it had a long, adventurous life. I remember
camping in it in St. Ignace when I was a kid. When we
found out how much it would be to repair, Susie and I
decided to apply for one of the spots here. Best decision
we've ever made." She leaned over the counter and quietly
said, "I would rather have different neighbors. The smell
of bacon grease makes me queasy, but business just keeps
getting better."

Eau de bacon was drifting from the Southern Gals' hot
table with only a jams and jellies booth as a buffer
between the two. Talk about conflicting interests. As Amy
pondered what to say, Candi Edwards, another competitor
in the market's summer cooking competition who had been
teamed up with The Veggie Van, slipped between the
divider wall and cash register cart to join Grace behind
the counter. She smiled, an expression that resembled a
dog baring its teeth as a warning more than a friendly
greeting. "Amy Ridley. I could swear I saw you working at
Riverbend Bake Shop. Have you defected from the barbecue
truck?"

"Um…not really. I worked at the downtown location of
Riverbend long before I was teamed up with Brooke's BBQ
for the contest. I'm absolutely still friends with Brooke
and her crew, but I really don't think they were looking
for anybody else to work in the truck after the contest
anyway."

Candi's wavy brown ponytail, secured with a cheerleader-
style white ribbon bow, swayed back and forth as she
draped her arm over Grace's shoulder. "Grace and Susie
didn't know they were looking for an employee either, but
I convinced them that they had to hire me."

The expression on Grace's face seemed more like a silent
plea for help than a show of affection for her self-
appointed employee. She managed a slight smile and said,
"Candi helps us out during lunch rush a few times a week,
whether we ask her to or not."