Chapter 56

“One more to go,” Jake said. “So far it’s five to zip.”

“Way to put on the pressure,” Barry muttered.

Barry broke off a piece of the violet layer, sniffed it, and put it in his mouth. He’d seen wine tasters on TV plenty of times and thought them pretentious. But as he sampled his cake he couldn’t help emulate their behavior. It made for good theater if nothing else.

“This is the most difficult of the lot. Don’t think it’s the flower violet, not that I’ve eaten many violets.” Although he’d read a recipe once for ice cream that had violet petals in it

The men waited expectantly.

“And I don’t think it’s blackberry. Hmm.”

Barry broke off another piece and chewed it. The men leaned in once again to hear his final verdict.

Barry raised a finger. “Grape!”

The men high-fived each other and billfolds came out. Had they bet on this as well?

“I take it the bakers provided you with an ingredient list,” Barry asked Jimmy.