A Caffeinated Crunch: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book 2)

by Constance Barker

Eli leaned over the counter. “Is that so? Maybe you should come down to the station and tell me what you know.”

  Essie’s eyes got big. “Why would I have to come to the station? I don’t want to be put into one of those tiny rooms with the bright lights and you interrogate me. Nope, not happening.”

  Eli straightened up. “But don’t you want to help the police?” I could tell he was giving her a hard time.

  “Well, of course I do,” Essie huffed. “But I don’t want to be treated like a suspect.”

  “Who says anyone’s going to treat you like a suspect?” I finally chimed in. “You’ve been watching too many cop shows.”

  Essie threw her dish towel over her shoulder and headed towards the back of the shop. I looked at Eli who didn’t appear to have had much sleep either.

  “What can I get you Eli?” I asked.

  “Coffee black, to go. And I want to offer you an apology for last night.”

  I waved my hand as I poured his coffee into a large to-go cup. “It wasn’t your fault there was a murder and you had to stay to investigate it.”

  “Still I hated that I couldn’t escort you back home like a proper date.”

  Aha! So it was a date!

  Eli sat down at one of the stools at the counter and stroked his forehead. “I was up most of the night and only got a few hours sleep.”

  I handed him his coffee. “Were you able to figure out anything? Are you aware of his trysts with other women?”

  Eli took a sip of his coffee and nodded. “Yeah, Dad called me at the station later and filled me in. Seems he had a pretty long dance card.”

  I wiped the counter in front of him. “Yes, and he also had a confrontation with a tall man in front of the shop a few days ago.”

  Eli straightened. “Oh really? Did you recognize the man?”

  “Unfortunately no. He was wearing a suit and they seemed to know one another. The only thing we heard was the man telling Jefferies to keep his distance. We don’t know what that meant…keep his distance from him or from someone he knows.”

  Eli rubbed his chin. “Interesting.” He suddenly looked at me. “Do you think you’d recognize him again?”

  I nodded. “I’m sure I could. We all got a good look at him.”

  Eli stood and grabbed his coffee. “That’s awesome. I talk to Mrs. Jefferies today. She was too distraught last night to fill us in on anything. I’ll ask her about his friends; see if I can get a lock on this mysterious man.”

  Eli headed for the door, and then turned around. “I hope we can redo that date.”

  I smiled and said, “Sounds good to me.” He grinned and headed out the door.

  “I think we have a blossoming love affair,” Hildie said as she came out from the back.

  I turned to peer at her. “I guess you two were eavesdropping, and I wouldn’t call half a date a blossoming anything.”

  Essie strode in from the back. “I heard you told him about that tall drink of water we saw Jefferies talking to the other day.”

  “Tall drink of water? That date with Toe has got you all stirred up.” Hehe…I knew that’d get her going.

  “That wasn’t a date,” Essie huffed. “It was simply a get together by two old friends.”

  “That dress said otherwise.” It must have been my lack of sleep because normally I wouldn’t continue to push her buttons.

  “That wasn’t for Toe’s benefit,” Essie growled. “I just wanted to look nice for the fundraiser. Isn’t that right Hildie.”

  Hildie continued to place muffins and cupcakes into the bakery case. “Don’t put me in the middle of this.”

  I began filling my coffee grinder. “You didn’t look so bad yourself Hildie. I think Harvey was leering at you.” Oh man, I was definitely sleep deprived, inviting the wrath of two aunts on me.

  Hildie giggled. “Oh he was not.” Okay…not what I was expecting.

  “If I wasn’t so drowsy I’d think you have the hots for the Harve.”

  Hildie waved her hand. “I don’t have the hots for Harvey, but it’s nice to think one provides an eyeful for the opposite sex.”

  Essie began putting the chairs down from the tables. “Besides, Miss Pickles would carve her a new face. No way is anyone getting past that wicked feline.”

  So true, Miss Pickles wanted Harvey and any other available male all to herself. She was not one to be trifled with.

  “I don’t have to worry about Miss Pickles,” Hildie responded. “I like Harvey as a companion, but that’s it.”

  I knew that to be true. Hildie had never been married and she was fine with that. However, she enjoyed male companionship; she simply didn’t want any extras added on. Essie on the other hand I couldn’t quite pin down. She’d been married and then widowed. Mr. Joe Selby, her dear departed, was a wonderful man whom she loved dearly. No one would ever come close to his standards. He’d worked hard, providing a good living for them and left her in fine financial shape with a generous life insurance policy. Yet, I wondered if Essie longed to remarry someday. As much as she protested, I believed that’s exactly what she wanted.

  Fortunately customers began streaming in, more than usual in fact. People wanted to talk about the Jefferies murder and everyone and their brother speculated on who did it. The usual suspects were discussed, like his wife. However, many people who knew her didn’t think she was capable of performing such a heinous act. There was also talk about the many women he had on a string and of course poor Mildred’s name came up. It was bound to happen since the gossip vine already knew about it. I didn’t want to think Mildred killed Jefferies, but my aunts and I were privy to the display that unfolded the other day in the shop when she socked Carl across the face. Could she have gotten angry at him again and allowed rage to take over and mowed him down? However, that might include half the women at the fundraiser.

  By 11:30 the crowd had thinned and Jules came in for her lunch break. “Is everyone as tired as I am?” She asked, plopping down in a chair and opening her lunch sack. I walked over carrying my Tupperware bowl of salad and grilled chicken and sat next to her.

  “I think I’ve drank a gallon of coffee this morning and it hasn’t helped. I guess you couldn’t get to sleep either last night.”

  Jules shook her head and took a bite of her chicken salad sandwich. “Just tossed and turned, trying to figure it out.”

  I poured raspberry vinaigrette on my salad and nodded. “Me too. I just couldn’t get that image of Jefferies out of my head.”

  Hildie and Essie made their way over with their lunches of vegetable soup, heated up in the microwave in the back of the shop. How they could eat soup when it was hot and humid out was beyond me.

  Hildie sat her bowl carefully on the table. I had to admit, the aroma of the vegetable soup had my taste buds salivating. “You know, I didn’t want to mention this in front of customers, but I noticed Mildred left her seat at the fundraiser before all the commotion, and I never saw her come back.”

  Jules nodded. “We were discussing that at the dentist office too. She got up and left, but someone saw Gladys get up and leave about five minutes later. We assumed it was to check on Mildred.”

  Essie sat down with her bowl of soup and crunched saltines between her hands. “I can’t see Mildred plowing down Jefferies and then driving back and forth over him. I just can’t, but Gladys on the other hand…I swear that woman has an evil streak.”

  Jules looked confused. “Why is that?”

  “I just do,” Essie replied. “She was one of Fannie’s friends so that doesn’t speak highly of her.”

  “So was Mildred,” I offered. “So how can you say that about Gladys and not Mildred?”

  Essie dipped her spoon into the soup. “I just can. Mildred is too fragile, but Gladys is like a storm trooper. I could see her laughing with glee as she rolled back and forth over the man.”

  Wow, my aunt had a morbid imagination. Or…maybe she had an ulterior motive for fixating on Gladys.

  “Gl
adys hasn’t got her eye on Toe does she?” I asked.

  Essie whipped her head around. “I don’t know…what have you heard?”

  “Boy, you’re awfully quick to respond when you think someone’s encroaching on your territory,” I said with a smile. Boy, I was so asking for it.

  Essie pointed a finger at me. “Listen girl, if you’re speaking about Toe, I don’t have any claim on him and don’t want to. We’re friends and that’s all there is to it. Get that through your thick skull.”

  Yikes! She was really grumpy today.

  “Everyone just calm down,” Hildie said. “Essie, she’s teasing you, so get a grip.”

  Essie harrumphed and continued slurping her soup.

  I speared a lettuce leaf and a piece of grilled chicken and commenced eating. We all sat in silence, munching on our lunches when Toe and Harvey walked in.

  “Where have you boys been?” Hildie asked. “We missed you all this morning.”

  Harvey took a seat while Toe explained. “Well, I knew it would be a late night so I didn’t schedule any work this morning. I called Harvey and told him to meet me at Reva’s for an early lunch today. We just came from there.”

  Essie stood up. “You boys want some coffee?”

  “Sit back down and finish your lunch,” Toe said as he rounded the counter. “I can get Harve and me a cup.”

  Essie sat back down and gave me a look like ‘don’t you even dare say anything.’ I knew I’d pushed her about as far as I could go so I kept my mouth shut.

  “Hear anything juicy at Reva’s?” Jules asked. “The dentist office was all abuzz this morning.”

  Toe rounded the corner with two cups and sat down at the table next to ours with Harvey. “We heard a lot of conjecture, but nothing that has legs. At least that’s my two cents worth. What did you think Harvey?”

  Harvey scratched his bald dome. “The only thing of interest I heard was from Jason Tuber. He said that the police questioned a Mr. Jackson.”

  My aunts and I looked at one another. “Who’s that?” I asked.

  “They say he’s one of the lawyers in Carl Jefferies old law firm. Seems they had a falling out. Something about Jefferies hitting on his 18 year old daughter.”

  “Yuk!” I exclaimed. Then I looked at Jules who was now peering down at the table.

  “What was with this man? He must have thought he was God’s gift to women,” Hildie replied

  “He was delusional that’s for sure,” Essie remarked as she stood up and cleared her bowl, spoon and napkin from the table. “I bet you a dollar to a donut he’s the guy we saw getting into an argument with Carl the other day outside the shop.”

  “I bet you’re right,” I said.

  “What argument?” Toe asked.

  “We didn’t think much of it at the time,” Hildie remarked. “Jefferies was in here the other day and when he left some man stopped him on the sidewalk and they ended up in a heated argument. The only thing we could hear was the tall guy saying something about keeping his distance. Now it makes sense. Evidently the man was talking about his daughter.”

  “I wonder if this Mr. Jackson is a suspect?” I asked still watching Jules.

  “From what Jason said the man had a clear cut alibi. It was his usual poker night and three other men can vouch for him,” Harvey replied.

  Jules stood up. “Well, I need to get back to work. See you all later.”

  She started for the door and then I jumped up to follow her outside.

  “Jules, what’s going on? You got so quiet when Mr. Jackson was mentioned.”

  Jules looked around to see if anyone was nearby, then she whispered, “I don’t want anyone to know this came from me alright?” I nodded. “It was known around the firm that Jefferies was a womanizer, but the reason he left the firm was because he was hitting on some of the daughters of his partners.”

  I cringed. This guy’s reputation kept descending, from cow pies to sewer sludge.

  “So it didn’t surprise me that he was hitting on Mr. Jackson’s daughter…she’s a beauty, but I can’t think she’d would have given him the time of day. I just don’t want to get involved in this because, well, they’re lawyers and I could end up in a defamation case or something.”

  “Don’t you worry; I’m not saying anything that would involve your name. Besides, it sounds like Mr. Jackson has cleared his name of any wrong doing.”

  Jules nodded. “Yeah it does. I’ll keep my ears open at the dentist office and see if I hear anything else of interest.”

  We parted and I walked back into the shop where the four of them continued to discuss the murder.

  “Hey Harvey, will you get your golf cart back soon?” I asked walking behind the counter.

  Harvey sighed. “I hope so. Miss Pickles would like to go for a ride.”

  Essie rolled her eyes.

  Toe stood up and walked to the door. “Well I better get going. Need to install a new kitchen faucet at the MacGregor place.”

  We bid him goodbye and Harvey as well who had to get home to Miss Pickles. The afternoon slowed down as it normally does. About a half an hour before closing and to our surprise, Gladys walked in. We usually didn’t see her much in the Coffee Cabana and if we did it was in the morning, never later in the day.

  “Has Mildred been in the shop here today?” Gladys asked as she walked to the front counter.

  “No,” Hildie answered. “We haven’t seen her today. Why?”

  Gladys sat her purse on the counter. “I can’t seem to find her and she’s not answering her cell phone. I went by her house this morning and she was very upset about Carl being murdered. I didn’t want to leave her, but I had a doctor’s appointment in Orlando. I told her I’d check back with her this afternoon, but she’s not home and won’t pick up any of my calls.”

  “Maybe she doesn’t want to talk to you,” Essie said as she wiped the counter. Gladys gave her a stern look. “Or anyone,” Essie added. Essie was careful when poking this bear. She’d prod her, but recoiled when it looked like it might escalate.

  Gladys turned back to Hildie and me. “She became upset when she saw Carl come in with his wife at the fundraiser.”

  “I noticed she got up and left the table,” I said. “Is that when she became upset?”

  Gladys sighed. “Yes. In fact she left several times because of it and I would go and get her. The last time I went to look for her in the ladies room she wasn’t there. I looked in several of the rooms and then finally found her sitting in the craft room crying. Before I could even walk over to her we heard the screams coming from outside.”

  Essie began cleaning the bakery case. “So you’re saying you don’t know where Mildred was when Carl became road kill in the parking lot.”

  “Essie!” Hildie exclaimed giving her a harsh look. Essie just shrugged and continued cleaning. Hildie turned back to Gladys.

  “So what is it you’re trying to say? That Mildred may have had a hand in his demise?”

  Gladys shook her head. “I’m not saying any such thing.” Oh yes you are sly dog…you’re trying to plant a seed. Gladys headed for the door. “I just want you to be on the lookout. If you see her, let her know I’m trying to get a hold of her.” With that she waltzed out the door and we three stood looking at one another.

  “You see what she did there don’t you?” Essie asked.

  I nodded. “Yep, she’s throwing suspicion in Mildred’s direction.”

  Hildie looked confused. “What do you mean?” Bless her heart. My aunt Hildie was a little slow on the uptake. Unfortunately Essie wasn’t as patient with her as I was.

  “Didn’t you see how she couldn’t find Mildred and when she did Jefferies was already dead?”

  Hildie nodded. “So?”

  Essie sighed. “I’m too tired for this. I’ll explain on the way home.”

  At that moment the shop’s phone rang…it was Eli. “I was hoping I’d catch you before you closed for the day.”

  “What’s goin
g on Eli?”

  “I was wondering if you and Hildie could stop by the police station on your way home. I have something I want her to look at.”

  “Sure,” I answered. “We’re getting ready to close now. I’ll bring her by.”

  As soon as I got off the phone Hildie asked, “Who was that?”

  As I pulled money from the cash register I said, “That was Eli. He wants us to stop by the station on the way home. He wants you to look at something.”

  “Oh dear Lord!” Hildie gasped. “He thinks I did it.”