Page 17 of Bake the Town Red

The orange sign with black spider decorations isn’t necessary to let them know it’s started. They know. Everyone does. They beg for it throughout September, but no. Like my late-night activities, the only time I make my Halloween specials is throughout October.

Every year, I showcase a mixture of new and old ones. My regulars know which ones to expect. They come back for them.

Hence why one of my old cupcakes will be missing today.

Wink, wink.

“You stay there like the good little boys you are.” I point my silicone scraper at the two containers of black, orange, and purple sprinkles.

The absolute, must-have ingredient for my Halloween Funfetti cupcakes. You don’t have sprinkles, you don’t have Funfettis. It’s common knowledge.

“A special kind of shithead will be here this morning.” Gunner, my first victim. “He’ll be asking for his Happy DeathDay cupcakes.”

He’s always here on the first day of October. Has done so for the past two years without fail. Which is why I’ll use his favorite cupcake to trick him into coming to get them after hours.

You catch more flies with cupcakes, right? That’s how the saying should go, anyway.

“You remember what we talked about.” My brow furrows while the ovens work at full capacity around me. “He cannot find you, ladies and gents. Understood?”

They don’t answer. In my head, though, I see them moving. They move inside the container, the black sprinkles creating the shape of a grin. A Cheshire Cat grin. Two of them, given I have two containers lying around here.

Do I feel bad for the people I kill?

Hell. No. Gunner’s earned it, fair and fucking square.

Over the last few months, he’s also shown his cruel side, both here and in his home. He’ll get his Happy DeathDay, all right. He’ll get all the cake the fucker can dream of.

The images of what I have planned for him are a movie playing in my head. My own lips curve in a smile. Worse than that of a Cheshire Cat.

A vicious one.

Tyler won’t be here this Halloween to help me through my meltdowns. To save me.

His blog said as much. He’ll be watching.

I’ll just have to get over it by myself.

And Gunner, target number one, will be there to fix my little problem.

They’realwayshere to fix it for me.

CHAPTER THREE

Dahlia

“Here’s one Kill My Pie for you.” I grin at the sweet auburn-haired kid behind the counter.

She snatches the Key Lime Pie cupcake I offer her.

“What do we say?” Her mother, another sweet redhead, ruffles the girl’s hair.

“Thank you.” The kid in the green peacoat gives me a toothy smile.

“You’re more than welcome.”

Her little hand scrunches the cupcake. Once her teeth sink into the pastry, she beams at me once more. This time, her teeth are bright red, the food coloring I used for the meringue.

It wouldn’t be a decent Kill My Pie cupcake if it wasn’t bloody.

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