Chocolate Dipped Death Read Free Page B

results?”
    “That’s putting it mildly.” I moved past him to clear a spot for the tray among the boxes of toffee and stacks of saltwater taffy we’d made for the following night. “Evie’s absolutely convinced that Savannah cheated somehow.”
    “Don’t let Evie make you paranoid,” Marshall said as he followed me across the kitchen. “She’s . . . different.”
    “She’s also determined to challenge the decision you three reached tonight.”
    “She’s desperate. We all know that. The only way she won’t challenge our decision is if we let her win.” Marshall wedged the tray onto the counter and gathered a handful of silverware from amid the trash. “I don’t care what she says, Abby, we weren’t wrong. I know she worked hard, but her entry wasn’t the best one out there tonight.”
    For some reason, just hearing him say that made me feel a little better. “Do the other judges feel the same way?”
    He shrugged. “I’m sure they do. You know what a stickler Beverly is, and Henry’s no pushover. He’s been judging this contest since the first year, and he’s furious with Evie for making such a stink. The only question is, what will it do to your contest if Savannah actually wins on Sunday night?”
    The heater kicked on, and I savored the welcome rush of warm air on my feet. “What do you mean?”
    “Just that Savannah Horne’s not the most popular person who ever lived in Paradise. If she wins, Evie won’t be the only person who’s upset.”
    “If she’s the best, she deserves to win.”
    “I’m not sure everyone else will see it that way.”
    I inched closer to the heat vent and studied his expression carefully. “Are you suggesting that I fix the contest?”
    Marshall shook his head. “Of course not. I just want to make sure you’re prepared, that’s all. You lived away for a long time, but memories last a long time around here. People can be slow to forgive—especially someone who shows no remorse.”
    I squirted soap into the sink and turned on the hot water. “Savannah’s been gone as long as I have,” I reminded him. “People can’t be hanging on to memories that are that old.”
    He lifted one shoulder. “Like I said, people can be slow to forgive. Savannah hurt a lot of people when we were kids.”
    “She made some people angry,” I agreed, “but I don’t think she did anything that awful—unless you know something I don’t.”
    Marshall’s lip curved as he stacked dishes next to the sink. “No. I didn’t really know her all that well back then. I’m just going by how people act when her name is mentioned. You saw how they were tonight. Karen. Rachel. Evie. I think her husband was the only friend she had in that entire room. If people think you’ve taken her side, it could cost you.” He planted both hands on the counter and sweetened his smile. “It’s just a friendly warning from one business owner to another, that’s all.”
    I didn’t know how to take his “friendly” warning, so I laughed it off. “Well, I’m not going to panic yet. This was only the first night of judging. Everything could change tomorrow.”
    Marshall leaned against the counter and folded his arms across his chest. “Maybe. But her entry tonight was surprisingly good. I don’t think any of us thought Savannah could cook like that. She didn’t seem all that interested in the domestic arts back in school.”
    I laughed in spite of myself. “No, she didn’t. But she’s had plenty of time to learn. People can change, you know.”
    Something hard and cold flickered in his eyes. “Not people like Savannah Vance.”
    “Horne,” I corrected automatically. I shut off the water and plunged my hands into the warm suds. “You’re the second person tonight who’s said that. But why do you feel that way? I thought you didn’t know her.”
    “I don’t, but I know of her.”
    “So what makes Savannah different from the rest of the world?”
    “Think about it, Abby. Why should