Break-In at the Bakery

Miss Tootsie was sure she wouldn’t sleep ever again; she’d be listening for someone to break in. What a thought! It gave her a headache. When she let Cocoa out to do her nightly business, she shut and locked the door behind her, then waited anxiously for the little dog to scamper back and scratch at the door. With Cocoa safely inside, she paced through each room, checking to be sure she had locked all the windows and both doors.

Pulling a book from the shelf, a nice soothing one about flowers, she sat in her easy chair, trying to relax.  It didn’t work. After reading several pages, she laid the book aside. She had no idea what she’d read.

The kerosene lamp glowed on the mantel and the hearth fire burned down to embers while she listened for noises within the house. Outside, thunder still rattled around, and rain pounded the roof.

At last, her tired body took over and she trudged to her bedroom, donned her nightgown, whispered a prayer, and slid between the sheets. Cocoa sighed and plopped down on the rug at her feet. Miss Tootsie felt sure she wouldn’t sleep a wink, but sometime after midnight, she dozed off. When she awoke, sunlight filtered through her curtains.

She glanced at the clock and caught her breath. Surely, she hadn’t slept until nearly eight o’clock. She never did that.

The brightness of morning lifted her spirits.  With the coming of a new day, she could almost believe that the upsetting events of yesterday had been a nightmare.

After she had bathed, slipped into a bright pink and gray flowered dress, and taken care of Cocoa’s needs, a cup of coffee was in order while pondering what to do about going to Bonnie’s for that usual meeting with her friends. Should she go? Should she skip this morning? Did she dare leave her house and risk somebody breaking in?

“Cocoa, I really need to have a good talk with Carrie and Bertha. I won’t feel easy in my mind about leaving you here by yourself, so if you promise to come into the bakery quietly and lie down and be a good girl, maybe Bonnie won’t mind for a few minutes,” she said, snapping on Cocoa’s leash.

She closed her door, making sure she locked it, and started down the hill, skirting puddles, and wet grass. The usually small town branch was rumbling this morning as she crossed the foot bridge. A few early flowers and some tall cane stalks peeked out of the bank. No matter the cool weather, spring was really here.

There were no cars or horses on the muddy main street this morning. Traffic would resume after the street dried out.

Carrie and Bertha met her outside the bakery’s door. They had barely said good morning when Griff Thompson, one of Dru’s deputies, exited the shop.

“’Mornin’, ladies,” he said, tipping his hat.

“Good morning, Griff,” they chorused.

They watched his retreating back. “He does like his coffee and doughnut, but he’s not usually here this early,” Carrie muttered.

Miss Tootsie frowned and opened the door.

Bonnie waved and came to their table with coffee pot in one hand, cups and saucers in her other. Her cheeks were flushed and her hands, as she set the cups on the table, shook.

“I’m afraid I’m a bit flustered this morning,” she said. “We had a good bit of excitement here earlier.”

“Sit down here and tell us about it,” Bertha invited, pulling out the fourth chair and bumping it into Cocoa.

Cocoa grumbled and scooted closer to Miss Tootsie’s feet.

Bonnie dropped into the chair, moving aside a newspaper someone had left on the table.

“I’m so upset, I probably should just close the shop and go home,” she said. “Somebody broke in last night.”

The three friends gasped.

“Broke in?” Carrie echoed.

Bertha’s eyes were almost as round as the saucers on the table. “Do you mean somebody came in here, into the bakery, after you went home last night? How’d they get in? What did they take?”

Bonnie bit her lip, tears welling in her eyes.

“When I got here this morning, around five o’clock, the back door was wide open. I’m sure I locked it last night, but there it was standing open to the world.”

Miss Tootsie gasped. “No! Oh, my goodness! Did whoever it was clean out your cash register?”

Bonnie wiped her eyes with a napkin. “That’s what’s so strange. I had taken most of the money to the bank yesterday, like I always do, but there was still a bit left to start off with this morning. He left all the money in the cash register. The only thing he took was half a dozen doughnuts from yesterday and one of my cherry pies.”

“So, he just took food? Miss Tootsie asked.

“Yes. And, here’s the strangest thing. He left a note scribbled on a napkin. It said, ‘Good food. Thanks.’ Can you believe that?”

Drawing a breath, Miss Tootsie shook her head. “Strange, yes. Strange indeed. So that’s why Griff was here this morning?”

Bonnie nodded and got up from the table. “I’m feeling better, so I guess the best thing is just to stay here in the bakery, keep busy. Griff said he’d be keeping a close watch on us. Oh, I forgot to pour your coffee.” She quickly filled their cups. “And, I’m sorry, but no doughnuts. I was so upset this morning, I just didn’t feel up to mixing up a batch.”

“Well, I’m glad you weren’t here,” Miss Tootsie said. “Otherwise, you might have gotten hurt.”

“Yes, I’m thankful for that,” Bonnie agreed. “Sorry about the newspaper. I must have left it yesterday. I’ll get it out of your way.”

“No, wait,” Miss Tootsie said, “If you don’t mind, I’ll take it. Who knows? Maybe someone escaped from the state prison. Maybe that was the reason for Dru’s visit and your robbery.”

She tucked the paper into her bag as Bonnie went back to the counter.

“Strange things are happening,” she murmured. “I wonder if it was the same person who tried to get into my house yesterday.”

“What?” Bertha and Carrie chorused.

Carrie’s cup clattered against her saucer. “Somebody tried to get into your house? When? What in the world happened? “

“Well, I’m not sure…I think somebody did.” Miss Tootsie told them about the window, Cocoa’s wet head and spot of blood on her mouth, and Dru’s visit.

“I told you I saw a face at my window during the storm!” Carrie said, staring accusingly at her friends. “And you know Jase Carter saw those lights. Now, maybe next time you’ll believe me. The person that broke in here must be the same one who tried to get into your house.  I’m sure of it!”

Bertha’s face paled. “Oh! I didn’t lock my front door before I left this morning. What if that man is in my house right now?”

Miss Tootsie patted her hand. “On such a bright morning as this, I doubt that anybody would have the nerve to break in. It seems he might prefer darkness.”

“My house is unlocked too,” Carrie said, quickly swallowing her coffee. “I’ve got to get back, just in case…”

“Now, listen,” Miss Tootsie said. “Let’s not go off half-cocked. My house is locked good and tight and I’ve got Cocoa with me so I think I’m fairly safe. We can all go together to your house, Carrie, and be sure it’s empty, then Cocoa and I can walk Bertha home. We can’t let this person make us all prisoners, afraid of our own shadows.”

“Good idea,” said Bertha. “Let’s go.”