28. Add Ribbon

Maisie wanted to laugh. She really did. Her shoulders shook a little and her lips wobbled as she tried to keep it in. Everyone probably thought she was holding back a sob or becoming hysterical. The latter was closer to what was actually happening.

Maisie looked at the window of her bakery which was covered in beautifully red spray-painted letters saying; 'Bud Was Here.'

The rest of the guys, Ocean, Tom and Charity were also stood in front of the bakery, mouths open in surprise.

"This is the second time your bakery has been vandalized in less than a month," Keith said. "Who knew bakery's were hot on the market."

"I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that," Maisie mumbled. "It sounded illegal.

Logan walked up beside Maisie, his hand reaching up to put on her shoulder but then he stopped quickly, still not too sure where he stood. He put his hands in his pockets and opted for poking her gently in the arm.

Maisie flinched, looking at him. "Ow."

"Sorry," Logan muttered. "Um, are you okay?" Do you need a shoulder to cry on?

"Am I the only one finding the humour in this?" Maisie asked, looking around. "The guy literally wrote 'I was here' and as slapstick comedy goes, I'm happily amused."

"Maisie, he defiled your bakery," Ocean said.

"Please never say that sentence to me again," Maisie shuddered.

"But really," Logan said. "Are you sure you're okay? This is the second time someone has messed around with your bakery. And it was just when we raised enough money to start painting."

"Well then we'll need to find a little more money to fix the money," Maisie shrugged. "Honestly Logan, I'm not bothered. He wrote his damn name so obviously he was just messing around and trying to act tough. It's child's play. And no one said I was against playing his game."

Maisie gave Logan a wink and he smiled.

"Alright," he said. "If you say you're good then I believe you."

"Good," Maisie smiled back.

The group opened the door to the bakery and were about to go inside to make a list of what needed to be done when the sound of sirens came from the end of the street. Maisie frowned and pushed her way out of the doorway to see two police cars speed down the road, lights on and siren blaring in all its glory. Maisie ran out and waved her hand as the cars got closer.

One of the cars swerved to a stop and the other continued, flinging itself around the corner until the sirens stopped abruptly. Maisie knocked on the window of her step-dad's sheriff car until he rolled it down.

"Maisie, I'm kind of in the middle of something," Small said.

"Okay Fast and Furious, chill for a second. Who are you arresting? You never arrest anyone," Maisie said.

"You should know, they messed up your bakery last night," Small answered.

Maisie frowned. "What, Bud? You're arresting him?"

"We have an anonymous tip off this morning," Small said.

"You needed an anonymous tip off for a man who literally wrote his name on his crime? I could have just texted you if you were that desperate for a Law and Order episode reenactment."

"Maisie, he committed a crime. He needs to do time," Small said.

"Time?" Maisie spluttered. "Look, I might not like the guy but he doesn't need to do time for trying to pull a shitty prank. Just make him do community service at my bakery, that's more than enough punishment, let's be honest."

"No," Small said and Maisie frowned, seeing that he really was serious. "He messed with the bakery and so he needs to do his time for it."

"Tony, it's just a bakery," Maisie said. "I don't wanna press charges or anything. It's not worth it."

"Then we'll have a talk later about why you should," Small said and rolled his window back up before speeding down the street towards Bud's Bakers.

"What the fuck?" Maisie breathed.

"Isn't this good?" Tom asked. "I mean like, not good because he got arrested but at least the guy who ruined your bakery is out of the way."

Maisie shrugged. "Bud's a middle-aged, balding, spray-tanned shrub of a man who has an inferiority complex. I humour him. Doesn't mean I want him to have a criminal record for doing something half of you did."

Logan shuffled awkwardly.

"Yeah Rambo," Maisie looked at him. "I know you're the one who graffitied the penis on the wall. Freedom of speech, right?"

Logan actually blushed.

"What's up with Small?" Nick asked. "I didn't know he was actually passionate about law enforcement."

"I don't know," Maisie mumbled. "But who would send an anonymous tip off?"

"One of the neighbours?" Andy shrugged. "Maybe they saw him?"

"But like..." Maisie looked at the graffiti. "Doesn't it look a little juvenile?"

"Mais, just be happy that your bakery won't be broken into anymore," Logan said softly and she sighed.

"Right, yeah," Maisie nodded.

A few moments later, the two police cruisers came down the street again, this time with no lights or sirens. But they were still driving like maniacs. As the cars sped past Maisie's bakery, she glimpsed inside and saw Bud in the backseat, behind the cage, with his head down. She looked back at the spray-paint on her windows and furrowed her brows in thought.

Bud was stupid, but he wasn't that obvious.

"Shit," Ocean said quietly, looking down at his phone before glancing at Maisie. "I'm late for my study group."

Maisie nodded. "Right yeah, I forgot you were still in college for a second there. Go, I wouldn't want you to be late. We can deal with this."

"Thanks," Ocean smiled, giving her a quick peck on the cheek.

Ocean left as everyone began to take note of all the changes that needed to happen and what needed to be fixed in the bakery. Sam, the carpenter apprentice they used earlier for the flooring was coming back any time now to give Maisie average pricing on everything. The cost was what scared her the most out of everything. All that money disappearing into a building that might just eat it all up and leave none left.

Tom nudged Maisie's shoulder as she was staring into space. She looked up at him.

"Sorry, spaced out," she said.

But Tom was looking frantic and grabbed her arm, pulling her to the door of the bakery.

"Tom? What is it? What's the matter?"

Tom held the door open and looked towards the end of the street. "That's my problem."

Maisie followed his gaze and her heart dropped as she watched Ocean quickly scurry around the corner, towards Bud's Bakers.

She blinked and took a step away from the door, hiding behind the wall of her bakery. "What should I do?" she asked aloud.

"I don't know," Tom sighed.

"Don't tell anyone," Maisie said. "They'll go after him."

Tom nodded hesitantly and Maisie slumped down in a seat. Why would Ocean lie about doing to a study group only to sneak off to Bud's? Was he some kind of inside man? No, Bud didn't know Ocean, right? That would be too much of a coincidence. But then again Ocean is a weird-ass guy and so is Bud. Maisie sighed, rubbing her temples. Her hand went to her phone at least five times, contemplating whether she should call Ocean to try and get him to admit what the hell he was doing over at the enemy's campsite.

The door to the bakery dinged open and Maisie stood, expecting Ocean but instead Sam stood there, waving a hand shortly with a smile. Maisie gave a tight one back.

"Thanks for coming," she said.

"Yeah no problem," Sam smiled. "I see the flooring is holding up pretty well. Too bad about those windows. Did you get the guy?"

"Apparently," Maisie said. "Though, honestly, I don't really know if he did it. Seems too obvious to me."

Sam nodded. "Why don't you just check the security cameras?"

Maisie blinked. "Security cameras?"

"Yeah," Sam said. "They were put in the same time we put the flooring down."

"They were?" Maisie asked, confused.

"Yeah, Sheriff made us put them in," Sam said. "Though it seems like he's forgotten they're there."

Maisie grabbed Sam by the shoulders and grinned. "You are amazing!" she pulled away from him and faced everyone else, getting their attention. "Guys! There are security cameras out back. We can see if Bud really did it."

Maisie stepped towards the back room but stopped short when Tom came out of it, closing the door behind him.

"I don't think that's a good idea," he said, walking past Maisie.

Keith came out from behind the counter and glared at Tom. "And why's that?"

"You've already got the guy," Tom said as he backed away. "Why do you need to do all this extra work to get evidence?"

Andy looked at him weirdly. "Tom, what the fuck are you talking about?"

Tom gave him a smile. "Sorry, babe. But I can't have you guys fuck this up for me."

"Fuck what up - hey, hey!" Nick hollered, rushing forward when Tom stumbled back and ran out of the bakery, slamming the door shut and locking it with Maisie's key.

She patted her pockets for her keys and her mouth dropped open.

"What the fuck?" she yelled.

"I'm sorry guys," Tom held his hands up. "But if you see the security tapes and go to the police then Bud gets off. And then I don't get his bakery."

"You little bitch," Logan slammed his fist against the glass of the door but it just wobbled, never breaking.

"What the hell?" Andy breathed and Tom shrugged.

"This was nice," Tom said, flicking his finger between the two of them. "But, I have my sights set higher."

"Bitch, say that again!" Keith yelled, pushing Andy out of the way.

"Bye guys," Tom said. "Celebrate. Bud's finally gone! Isn't that what you all wanted?"

Tom smiled and ran off down the street towards his car. Maisie's mouth was still hanging open and she watched Tom run off before groaning and rolling her eyes.

"Motherfucker!" she cursed.

- Ellie x