by Jinty James
“Mrrow.” Trixie yawned, her mouth open wide enough for Maddie to see her white teeth, her pink tongue, and all the way down her throat.
“I bet she wants to go home and have a snooze on the sofa.” Suzanne covered her own yawn, albeit a lot smaller than the cat’s. “I wish I could join her.”
“Me too,” Maddie agreed. All this detecting was taking it out of her – or was it the after-effect of using the Tell the Truth spell?
They waved goodbye to Bob and stepped outside, the murmurs of, “Oh, look at the cat,” reaching their ears as Trixie trotted out of the shop, still wearing her harness.
“Well?” Suzanne demanded once they reached the car. “Did he do it?”
“Shh.” Maddie looked around but the street was pretty empty, no eavesdroppers lurking nearby. “No. He’s innocent.”
“Good.” Suzanne looked pleased, then she hesitated. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that’s a relief,” Suzanne remarked once they were in the car. “Now all we have to do is get Bob and Jill together.”
“Providing she’s not the killer,” Maddie reminded her friend as she started the ignition, the chugging noise of the engine providing a backdrop to their conversation.
She cast a look in the rear-view mirror. Trixie had curled up as well as she could in the back seat, and seemed to be asleep.
“She can’t be.” Suzanne’s lips firmed. “She’s too nice. And she has a friendly dog as well. Trixie didn’t seem to sense anything up with Jill or her dog.”
“No,” Maddie agreed, as they turned onto the highway back to Estherville. “But if this is murder, and Jill and Bob didn’t kill Dave Dantzler, then who did?”
CHAPTER 11
MADDIE DROPPED OFF Trixie at home, settling the sleepy cat onto the sofa, and putting out some dry food in her bowl, as well as refreshing her water.
Then she and Suzanne walked back to the town square, just in time for most of the lunch rush.
Just like the day before, they were busy but not as busy as usual. Did people still think she killed Dave Dantzler, Maddie wondered as she made a cappuccino for one of her regular customers, trying not to shudder as she did so.
Luckily, this particular customer must not have heard about what happened at the coffee festival, or how the radio personality was found, or they might have had second thoughts about ordering that particular beverage.
When their lunchtime customers had drifted away, Suzanne flopped on a stool.
“Hey!” She snapped her fingers. “I wonder how Claudine’s massage with Ramon went yesterday afternoon.”
“That’s something I’d rather not think about,” Maddie replied, sinking on the neighboring stool.
“I know what you mean.” Her friend’s upbeat mood suddenly turned glum. “Ramon’s hands on her back, Ramon’s sexy voice, Ramon’s—”
“Maybe it will make her feel better and she won’t be so – so ...” Maddie tried to think of something nice to say about her nemesis. After their morning of investigating, thinking about Claudine was more than she wanted to do. It also reminded her of one thing – Claudine had probably enjoyed the best massage of her life, if Suzanne’s experience had been anything to go by, whereas Maddie was too timid to book a session with the sexy Spaniard.
“I hope Ramon survived the experience.” Suzanne sipped her bottle of water. “Maybe I should go over there later and check on him.”
“Maybe you should,” Maddie teased her.
“But I’d need an excuse to just stop by,” Suzanne said thoughtfully.
“You could book another massage.”
“Yeah.” A dreamy look crossed Suzanne’s face. “But maybe not so soon – oh, I know! I could ask him if he saw anyone acting suspiciously near the judging tent around the time of the murder.”
“Good idea.” Maddie nodded. After a comfortable silence, she cleared her throat. There were no customers in the vicinity, and this thought had been preying on her mind ever since the murder had occurred.
“Suzanne, do you think your brother Luke thinks I’m guilty?” Her voice was smaller than she’d meant it to be.
“No.” Suzanne’s ponytail swung fiercely as she shook her head. “No way.”
“Are you sure?” Maddie asked, wanting to believe her friend. What would she do if Luke thought she had something to do with the radio personality’s death?
“Of course I’m sure.” Suzanne nodded so hard, Maddie was surprised her head didn’t fall off. “The only reason he hasn’t been by the truck is he’s been busy working on his clients’ cars.”
“Thanks.” Maddie smiled softly at her friend, glad of her support.
After they first opened the truck, Suzanne’s brother rarely stopped by. Maddie assumed it was because he was busy with his classic vehicle restoration business and that he wasn’t attracted to her, just thought of her as his little sister’s friend. But now, Suzanne’s words had her wondering. Would he really visit Brewed from the Bean to tell her he thought she was innocent?
ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, after the mid-morning crowd had dispersed, they received a visitor at the truck. Trixie had stayed home that day, sitting next to the spell book on the sofa. Did Trixie know something Maddie didn’t? Tonight was the full moon. Did that mean she would get her full powers tonight – or at least the ability to cast different spells?
“Miss Goodwell and Miss Taylor,” Detective Edgewater greeted them.
“Oh, hi, Detective Edgewater,” Maddie said, surprised to see him. He’d mentioned on Saturday that he’d try to give them the results of the autopsy, but she and Suzanne had been so busy interviewing Jill and Bob yesterday, that a visit from the detective had slipped her mind.
“Detective Edgewater.” Suzanne bounced to the window, a plate of health balls in her hands. “These are my new tempters – maple macadamia.”
The detective cast a lingering glance at the coconut crusted morsels before snapping his attention back to them.
“Maybe later. Right now I’ve got some news for you.” He observed their worried faces and his tone softened, “Good news. We’ve got the results of the toxicology report. It wasn’t your coffee that killed Dave Dantzler, Miss Goodwell. It was digoxin.”
“I told you Maddie didn’t do it!” Suzanne grinned, then sobered. “Digoxin. Isn’t that something to do with foxgloves?”
“Yep,” the detective answered. “And it’s also used in heart medication. We’re in the process of contacting his primary care doctor right now to see if that type of medication was prescribed to him, even though he was overheard on the day of the coffee festival boasting about his good health.”
“If he was taking that kind of medication, does that mean he accidentally took an overdose?” Maddie asked.
“It could,” the detective replied. “But if it wasn’t prescribed medication, it looks as if his death was murder.”
“What about the middle-aged couple at the festival?” Maddie asked, remembering they were on the suspect list, although she hadn’t met them, let alone seen them that day.
“They entered the cappuccino making competition,” Suzanne added. “I met them when I was getting lunch.”
“They’ve been cleared,” the detective told them. “I already contacted them to see where they were at the time of the incident, and they’d just arrived at the hospital to see their daughter give birth. Their daughter went into labor early.”
“Oh.” Suzanne sound disappointed for a second. “I’m glad they’re innocent though – they seemed really nice.”
“I don’t want you two investigating,” Detective Edgewater stated, shaking his head. “Leave it to the professionals.”
“Who, us?” Suzanne blinked, looking guileless.
AFTER THE DETECTIVE left the truck, regretfully saying he didn’t have time to get a coffee or even grab a health ball, Maddie and Suzanne stared at each other.
“Murder,” Maddie murmured. “Just like we suspected.”
�
��Yeah.” Suzanne nodded. “But at least now everyone will know your coffee didn’t kill him.”
“True.”
“So, what do we do now?” Suzanne asked.
“Come over to my house tonight?” Maddie asked. “It’s the full moon and right now—” she pulled out her phone and tapped the screen. A live camera feed of Trixie sitting next to Wytchcraft for the Chosen filled the small screen “—I think Trixie is waiting for me to come home.”
“I’ll be there,” Suzanne promised. “It will be so cool if you get your full powers tonight – or maybe they won’t kick in until tomorrow morning, after the full moon has passed. What do you think?”
Before Maddie could answer, a low sexy male voice greeted them.
“Hello, Maddie and Suzanne.”
“Hi Ramon.” Suzanne’s face lit up at the sight of him. He looked devilishly handsome in tailored chinos and a long-sleeved midnight blue shirt.
“Hi,” Maddie echoed, wondering how any man could be so good looking. But for once, she didn’t feel so flustered in his presence. Was it because she’d seen Suzanne’s brother on Saturday, and the short amount of time she’d spent in his presence had re-confirmed her longstanding crush on him?
Still, she thought, as her gaze flickered over Ramon, she didn’t know if she was brave enough to book a massage with him – yet.
“I was just about to stop by your salon,” Suzanne said brightly as she leaned over the serving window, as if to be as close to the sexy European as possible.
“Would you like to book another massage?” Ramon asked, an interested gleam in his eye.
“Oh – um—”
Maddie rarely saw her friend flustered.
“Yes,” Suzanne finally said. “How about later this week?”
“Perfect,” Ramon said, digging out his phone and consulting his calendar. “Friday at three o’clock?”
Suzanne looked at Maddie, her eyebrows raised in inquiry. Maddie nodded.
“Yes,” Suzanne said a little breathlessly.
“Coffee?” Maddie indicated the machine.
“I think I will have an espresso today,” Ramon replied with a smile. “I forgot to give you my congratulations for winning the cappuccino competition on Saturday.”
“Oh, thanks.” Now it was Maddie’s turn to be a little flustered. She busied herself with the machine. Ramon was something of a coffee aficionado, and she didn’t want to serve him less than her best.
“Now you will have to beat them all in Seattle,” Ramon continued.
“She definitely will,” Suzanne replied.
“I might not,” Maddie protested, pouring the shot into a small paper cup.
“But I think you will have a good chance,” Ramon said, his sexy voice serious.
“Thanks.” Maddie handed him his espresso as Suzanne took his payment.
“Maple macadamia?” Suzanne held out the plate of health balls. “And since it’s you, Ramon, you can have one on the house.”
“Mmm.” He plucked a morsel from the plate and popped it into his mouth.
“That reminds me,” Suzanne sounded innocent. “Did you see anyone lurking near the judge’s tent before Maddie was announced as the winner?”
“No.” He frowned in concern. “Is it important?”
“Detective Edgewater has just told us that it wasn’t Maddie’s coffee that killed Dave Dantzler.”
“That is good to know,” Ramon said gravely. “Not that I thought it was true.” Regret flickered across his face. “I meant to come by before today to let you know I thought you were innocent, but I have had so many appointments in the last two days I have not had a minute to do anything else.”
“We understand,” Maddie said, glad business was good for him. She knew what it was like to be so rushed off her feet that she couldn’t think about anything else apart from making the next coffee in the queue. Would business ever be that good again?
“Were you there when the judge made his announcement?” Suzanne persisted.
“Yes, but I was at the back of the crowd,” he replied, tasting his espresso. Pleasure creased his handsome features. “This coffee is excellent, Maddie.”
“Thanks.” She smiled, pleasure fluttering through her. It was even more rewarding that a connoisseur praised her coffee.
“So you didn’t see anything happening near the judge’s tent?” Suzanne asked.
A frown marred his face as he appeared to think. “No, Suzanne. I regret I did not see anything strange happen. Or anyone by the judging tent. Why?”
“The detective thinks that’s when Dave was murdered,” Maddie told him.
“Around the time Maddie was announced the winner,” Suzanne put in. “By digoxin!”
“Suzanne!” Maddie frowned at her.
“The detective didn’t say it was confidential information,” her friend replied.
“That’s true,” Maddie said thoughtfully. Why not? Did that mean the sheriff’s department wanted that information to be made public?
“He was killed by digoxin? That is a heart medication, is it not?” Ramon asked.
“Yep.”
“Then luckily for me, I do not have a heart condition,” Ramon said lightly.
“I don’t either.” Suzanne ducked her head as she looked up at him through her lashes.
Maddie watched the two of them, a jolt hitting her. She knew Suzanne had seemed to tease about her attraction to the Spaniard, but was it actually real? And did Ramon feel the same way about her friend?
The two of them chatted and joked for a couple of minutes, then Ramon took his leave, telling Suzanne he would see her on Friday for her massage.
“Darn.” Suzanne mock-pouted after he left. “I forgot to ask him how his appointment with Claudine went on Monday.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t find out,” Maddie cautioned her.
“Yeah.” Suzanne’s shoulders slumped for a second, and then she brightened. “But you’re right, Mads. Claudine might feel like a new woman now, and will have a total personality transplant. That’s how good his massages are.”
“Mm,” Maddie replied, wondering what it would be like if Suzanne and Ramon became a couple. Or was that too farfetched? He must be at least thirteen years older than her friend, and as Suzanne had said on the day of the coffee festival, maybe he didn’t want to break the heart of every woman in the world by marrying. Would that also apply to dating?
THEY CLOSED UP THE truck that afternoon. Maddie and Suzanne had decided that she would come home with Maddie and spend the night with her and Trixie.
“What’s Trixie doing now?” Suzanne asked as they jumped into the truck.
Maddie pulled up the feed on her phone. “Still guarding the spell book.” She handed the phone to her friend so she could see.
“She is so cute.”
Trixie sat next to the ancient tome, one paw on the old tattered, hardback cover, as if guarding it from anyone who might want to steal it.
“It’s as if she knows it’s the full moon tonight,” Maddie said, putting her phone away.
“Maybe she does.” Suzanne grinned.
They drove back to Maddie’s house and parked the truck.
“I wonder what will happen tonight?” Suzanne mused as they entered Maddie’s house. “Maybe you’ll start glowing when the full moon reaches its peak.”
Maddie stopped and stared at her.
“Or something like that,” Suzanne said, her tone still upbeat.
“I haven’t glowed before,” Maddie said, as Trixie came running to greet them.
“Not that you know about.” Suzanne bent down to stroke the Persian. “Hi, Trix. Did you have a good day?”
“Mrrow,” Trixie said importantly, lifting her face first to Maddie, then to Suzanne.
“It’s the full moon tonight,” Suzanne remarked.
“Mrrow!”
Maddie shook her head at her friend’s enthusiasm. Not for the first time, she wondered if Suzanne should have been the witch. But eve
ry time she thought that, she knew, deep down, that it would feel like a part of herself would be missing if she no longer had witchy powers, albeit the ability to only cast two spells so far.
Maddie and Suzanne cooked pasta for dinner, after they gave Trixie her own meal of chicken in gravy. Then they flopped onto the sofa to watch some TV. But Maddie couldn’t settle. Would something happen to her tonight once the sky darkened and the full moon glowed over her house?
Trixie continued to sit next to Wytchcraft for the Chosen, shifting impatiently from time to time. Did the feline know something Maddie didn’t?
Finally, the sky darkened. Suzanne pushed the heavy blue curtains aside and stared out of the window.
“I can see the moon,” she said in a hushed tone.
Maddie found herself at the window before she realized she’d moved from the sofa.
The heavy, full moon shone down – was it her imagination, or was the golden moonlight shining directly through the living room window?
“Do you feel any different?” Suzanne asked eagerly.
“No.” Maddie shook her head. “But I didn’t feel any different last month when I was able to cast the Tell the Truth spell for the first time,” she reminded Suzanne.
“Oh.” Suzanne’s face fell.
“Mrrow.” Trixie called them over to the sofa.
“What is it, Trix?” Maddie sat on the other side of the spell book.
“Mrrow.” Trixie gently patted the ancient cover of the book with her paw.
“Maybe she wants you to look through the book with her,” Suzanne murmured. “Maybe it’s the right time.” She sat next to Maddie on the sofa.
“Okay.” Maddie carefully opened the spell book. The cat looked at her with approval.
“Now what?” Suzanne asked.
“I don’t know,” Maddie replied in a whisper. Somehow, it suddenly seemed wrong to speak in a normal voice. Maybe there was something magical about the moon tonight, after all.
“Mrrow.” Even Trixie’s tone was softer.
Maddie turned the first page of the book. “Is this what you want me to do, Trix?”