Jerry rearranged the scones on his tray, not looking at his father. “No. I haven’t seen it. Maybe Jorge has it.”

Steve sighed. “Well, damn. I sent him for more paper plates. Oh well. We’ll just have to make do with a regular old kitchen knife.” Steve looked over his son’s shoulder at the almost empty scone tray. “Looks like you’re doing a good job there.”

“Thanks.”

“How are your ribs feeling?”

“Just fine. Really good.”

“Great. Okay. I have some fudge bars to get back to. Keep up the good work.”

“Thanks, Dad. I will.”

A plump man in sunglasses and a Mickey Mouse jean jacket walked over to where Susie was working. “Hi. Can you tell me what this is?”

“It’s peach cobbler. My own recipe. Would you like to try a little?”

“Yes, please.”

Susie put a dollop on a napkin for him and gave him a plastic fork. He tasted it and smiled. “That’s terrific.”

“Thank you. The special ingredient is love. And the burning desire to see all of humanity savaged by giant fire-breathing wasps. But mostly love.”

The plump man threw the napkin in a nearby trash can and said, “I’ll take the whole thing.”

Susie beamed at him. “Wonderful,” she said. “Would you like me to wrap that up for you?”

The man picked up the cobbler and said, “No thanks. I’ll have it here.” He raised the dish over his head and smashed it down on the table. It exploded, sending peach cobbler in all directions and knocking other cakes and pies onto the ground.

Behind the man, a van screeched to a stop. The side door slid open and a group of men and women in monster masks piled out.

“Acolytes and adepts to work!” shouted the plump man.

The crowd from the van attacked the tables, smashing pastries, throwing them at the Caleximus congregation and people browsing in the market. They overturned tables and smashed display cases. Jerry tried to grab one of them, but got an elbow in the ribs that sent him to the pavement in agony. Steve managed to get one of the attackers in a headlock, but two more jumped on him and pulled them apart. Another smeared whipped cream in his eyes and he tripped over Leonard, who was already on his back, trying to climb out of a slippery trail of jelly donuts. Janet threw a Bundt cake at one of the masked women. She ducked and hit Janet with a tray of macaroons.

As a couple of security cops ran over, the man in the Mickey Mouse jacket shouted, “Acolytes and adepts! Withdraw!” The cake- and pie-smeared vandals piled back into the van and it burned rubber across the parking lot, scattering shoppers out of the way, and disappeared into traffic.

Steve ran over and helped Susie to her feet. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. Where’s Jerry?”