Death by Chocolate Cake: A Bakery Detectives Cozy Mystery by Stacey Alabaster Read Free Book Online Page B

wear ?" I called out, running into the living room with a dress in each hand, only to come face to face with Pippa and Marcello engaging in a giant make-out session.
    "Oh," I said, braking on my heels. "Sorry. I'll give you some space."
    "No, Rach! It's fine," Pippa said, waving me back. "After all, this is your apartment."
    Marcello was looking red-faced and sheepish. "Hello, Rachael." He straightened up, though Pippa was still half-draped over him. "I just want to assure you that I will pay you back for all the damage at the bakery. Just as soon as I get another job."
    I tried not to open my eyes too wide at the mention of Marcello finding another job. Who would be crazy enough to hire him? I had to wonder what kind of job Marcello would even be suited for. Some place where he didn't have to make anything, touch anything, or take on any responsibilities. My mind was coming up blank.
    "It's okay, Marcello. I've got insurance." But I had to wonder if insurance would cover an employee who wasn't even officially employed yet. I hadn't put Marcello on the books for his 'trial' period. Anyway, I had bigger things to worry about. Like what to wear for my meeting with Dawn Ashfield in the morning.
    "Does it even matter?" Pippa asked. Pippa was the kind of girl who could be 'girly' in certain ways—take marrying a perfect stranger and gushing about his every eccentricity like a love sick puppy, for instance—but who was completely ungirly at other times. Take clothes, for instance. She wasn't the kind of girl to gush over outfits. She didn't even like shopping. So I wasn't surprised when I held up the dresses to ask "Blue or purple?" and her eyes glazed over.
    "It does matter. I need to impress Dawn. Pippa, I think this is a sort of secret audition. Or maybe we're even going to start filming. After all, Justin told me I was practically a shoe-in to make the cut. And Dawn has influence on the show, you know. Without Pierre around, she probably makes the final decision. I'm kinda nervous."
    "Well, I think either dress is fine." Pippa frowned. "But don't get your hopes up too high. She could want to see you about anything."
    Just then my phone started to ring. "That's probably… Oh! It's Justin." At first I was a little disappointed, but then I realized something. "Pips, if Justin is calling me then that DEFINITELY means that filming is back on!"
    Pippa went back to kissing Marcello while I took the phone call. "Justin?" I said excitedly. "I think I know what this phone call is about."
    "You do?" he asked, cutting me off.
    "Yes," I said, holding up the blue dress in front of the full-length mirror in the hall. "It's about the show, right?" I lowered my voice in a cheeky, conspiratorial manner. "It's about filming, isn't it?"
    "Yes, it is," Justin said, surprised. "Oh, so you already know that filming is being put on hold indefinitely."
    I dropped the dress. "Excuse me?"
    "I'm having to call all the auditionees," Justin said with a sigh, showing just how over it all he was. "Tell them all that the show is technically 'on hiatus' until this whole Pierre business is sorted out. Basically, if the show ever comes back--and I mean IF--then we'll have to hold all the auditions again."
    I was stunned into silence. "But, Justin, I thought you said Pierre liked me, that I was going through to the next round."
    "Pierre did like you," Justin said, just a little too pointedly, I thought. "But Pierre is dead, Rachael. He won't have much sway over who gets on the show from beyond the grave."
    I moved into my bedroom and slumped down on my bed. "I just thought... Never mind."
    Justin must have heard my glumness. "Hey, it's okay. You can audition again. You were great."
    "So you said."
    Justin clucked his tongue and lowered his voice. "I don't suppose you had a chance to speak to Adam and Renee, did you?"
    "I did, actually. Still forming my conclusions there."
    "Ha." I could hear Justin's heavy sigh down the end of the line. "Honey, I just got off