The Cookie

Stella Jewel loved to bake. She baked all day long. She was always baking little treats for people. She took muffins to old lady Mavis when she was down sick. She whipped up a batch of brownies for Mr. Gowen’s promotion last week. When little Tommy Brown had a birthday, she ensured he had special cupcakes for his party. Every Sunday, she delivered cookies to the soup kitchens around town.

Everyone in town looked forward to visits from Stella, for they knew she would be leaving some heavenly baked goodies when she left. The girls at the beauty parlor enjoyed the tray of mixed cookies she always brought. The bank employees always got a batch of assorted muffins. The police department received daily deliveries of doughnuts from Stella Jewel. At the cafe, Stella ate free since she supplied the baked supplies for the kitchen. She always had something baked with her when she went visiting. Everyone loved Stella Jewel.

No one thought a thing when little Johnny Bly got sick and died shortly after Tommy Brown’s birthday. Nor did they feel anything when Susannah Milt went into convulsions and died after having her hair cut. If they did suspect anything, they never did suspect the truth because everyone loved Stella Jewel.

Stella was smart. She only put her particular poison inside one item she’d leave at a place, and she didn’t leave one at every spot. Her venom wasn’t fast-acting either, so why would they suspect her? Not all of her baked products were tainted—just a chosen few.