A Pinch of Sea Salt and a Dash of Murder (Outer Banks Baker Mystery Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page B

discovered. The blood stain appeared to begin at the head and then flowed in an outward pattern. There were specks of dried blood on the walls as well with a smudge of it caked on the door knob leading to the alleyway behind the store.
    Trying not to allow herself to focus on the gory scene that used to be her favorite place in the world. The place where she hummed Bon Jovi songs while making her masterpieces on a daily basis. It was truly the one place where she always felt at home since Kevin died. Melissa doubted she would ever feel that way again. At least, not here.
    Logan reached over to pick something up off the floor, but Melissa stopped him. If it had any value as evidence, she was sure the police would’ve bagged it and taken it away, but just in case she didn’t want to contaminate the crime scene. Instead she used her phone to snap a few pictures. Looking around, there didn’t seem a lot that could be useful, but being an amateur investigator Melissa was afraid to overlook anything so she took pictures of everything.
    After what she considered a thorough inspection of the back work area, Melissa moved to access her office. Using her shirt to cover her hand as she tried the knob, she was surprised to find her office was unlocked. She never left the shop without locking the office. After working for catering companies in Greensboro while Kevin pursued flying, she had learned that the number one way to protect your valuables, especially clients’ information and special recipes, was to keep everything locked in a safe that was locked behind a fake wall that was hidden behind a bookcase or picture that was in a locked office. Not just a simple push button or click lock found on most home or office doors. No, it had to be a cipher lock and the code must be changed every week if not more often. Melissa had even considered a digital lock that would only open after finger print scan but talked herself out of it. No, this office had been locked when she left the other night. Now it wasn’t. The question was…did the cops unlock the door somehow or did Linda or her killer unlock it?
    Again, that question kept popping back up…Why was Linda in HER bakery? Melissa didn’t have time to dwell on that as moments later they heard the sound of the front door to the bakery opening.  
    Melissa motioned for Logan to get behind her. A lot of good that would do since he was almost as tall as she was. By next summer he would tower over his aunt. The light switch was too far away for her to reach to turn off so she grabbed his hand and moved them behind the office door as quietly as she could without alerting whoever may be around. Footsteps could be heard as whoever was inside the shop with them made their way around the front counter and through the swinging half-door to the area behind the counter. Melissa couldn’t recall if she’d closed the cash register. If it was an intruder wishing to rob them, perhaps once they saw the empty register, hopefully they would simply leave.
    Light footsteps continued towards the door leading to the back work area. When she heard the door swing open, Melissa pushed on the office door hoping to keep it shut in case the intruder tried to get into the office. Trying to enter the combination from inside the office would make too much noise and alert whoever was wandering the bakery to their presence. Feeling her heart pounding in her chest and hoping no one else could hear it, they waited. The footsteps came closer and closer. Someone was just outside the office door. “Dear Lord,” Melissa prayed, “make whoever it is go away, please.”
    The door knob rattled as someone tried turning it but Melissa held it still from her side of the door hoping to give the illusion the door was locked. Then someone began to push on the door. Melissa and Logan held the door in place as best they could. Luckily, the person on the other side wasn’t too determined to get into the office. A few moments later,