by Jinty James
“Girls, I just heard! Dave Dantzler, the radio host, is dead!”
CHAPTER 5
“What?” Maddie turned to face the other woman, conscious that Suzanne had mimicked her actions.
“I just found out,” Jill burbled. “They discovered him behind the judge’s tent clutching his heart – definitely dead!”
“Are you sure?” Suzanne asked.
“Yep.” Jill nodded her head. “He didn’t seem like a very nice man. What if he annoyed someone so much, they … murdered him?” She looked sideways at Maddie and seemed to hesitate.
“What is it?” Maddie asked slowly.
“It’s just … oh heck, you’re going to hear it from someone else, if not me.” Jill swallowed. “He held one of your to go cups in his hand and had been drinking one of your coffees when he … died.”
“No way!” Suzanne exclaimed. “That can’t be possible. Maddie’s coffee is the best. It’s not as if she put poison in his drink.”
There was an awkward silence as the three women stared at each other.
“Mrrow!” Trixie called out to them.
Maddie opened the truck door, grateful for her cat’s interruption.
“Mrrow!” Trixie looked at Maddie, concern in her eyes, or that’s how it seemed to Maddie.
“It’s okay, Trixie,” she soothed. “Look, I won.” She held out the trophy so the Persian could see it, but couldn’t avoid her voice sounding flat.
Surely Jill didn’t think she was capable of murder?
Trixie put out a paw to touch the gold colored trophy, then looked up at Maddie.
“Mrrow?”
“You know I didn’t hurt Dave Dantzler, don’t you?”
Trixie looked at Maddie with her turquoise eyes, intelligence gleaming from their depths.
“Mrrow!” The cat seemed sure that Maddie was innocent.
Was Maddie crazy? Was she reading too much into her cat’s meows? But she couldn’t shake the feeling – the same feeling she’d experienced when she’d first found Trixie just over a year ago – that the Persian wasn’t just an ordinary cat.
If Trixie was her familiar, did she have powers of her own? Could she see into the future, just like Maddie could when she used the Coffee Vision spell? Did the cat have other abilities that only she knew of?
“Maddie Goodwell!” A male voice boomed from outside the truck.
It couldn’t be, could it? Maddie and Trixie stared at each other, before Maddie moved to the serving hatch and opened the window.
Detective Edgewater stood outside the truck. A portly man in his sixties, his gray hair was more salt than pepper, and his brown gaze fixed on them intently. He was dressed in plain clothes – a slightly crumpled brown suit with a white shirt and charcoal tie slightly askew at the neck.
Maddie and Suzanne had met him last month, when he investigated the murder of one of their customers.
And right now, he did not look happy.
Jill took one glance at the detective’s face, sketched a wave at Suzanne and Maddie, then hurried back to her stall.
“What can I do for you, detective?” Maddie asked calmly trying to mask her unease.
“Jill just told us,” Suzanne burst out. “And there’s no way either of us killed him!”
“Calm down,” Detective Edgewater advised, shaking his head slightly. His gaze flickered to the inside of the truck, where Trixie sat on her stool. “Hello, Trixie.”
“Mrrow,” the cat replied in a subdued tone.
“Health ball?” Suzanne grabbed the sample plate and held it out to him. Maddie wondered if she was trying to distract him.
He looked at the plate of morsels covered in shredded coconut, and then at Suzanne.
“You wouldn’t be trying to bribe me, would you, Suzanne Taylor?”
“Of course not.” Suzanne forced a laugh. “I just know how much you like them.”
“I’ll pass this time,” he told her, although he looked a little regretful at his refusal. He pulled an old-fashioned notebook and pencil out of his jacket pocket.
“First of all, who’s Jill?”
“She’s a coffee vendor and contestant – the woman who just left,” Maddie replied, still standing inside the truck and looking at the detective and Suzanne through the serving hatch. “Her stall is over there.” Maddie gestured to the opposite side of the square.
The detective jotted something down in his notebook.
“Okay.” He looked at both of them. “You may or may not have heard that Dave Dantzler has been found dead. Behind the judge’s tent.”
“Yes.” Suzanne nodded. “Jill just told us.”
“Did she?” Detective Edgewater looked thoughtful.
“And that he was holding one of our cardboard cups,” Suzanne continued indignantly.
“That’s why I’m here.” Detective Edgewater sighed. “Unfortunately, that part is true. The cup had Brewed from the Bean printed on it. And he had cappuccino foam dribbling from his mouth.”
Maddie and Suzanne stared at each other. Maddie was certain the dismay on her friend’s face mirrored her own.
“Maddie just won the award for best cappuccino,” Suzanne found her voice. “There’s no way her coffee would have killed him.”
“I didn’t say it did,” the detective told her. “There will be a coroner’s report, and I have to get all the details I can. Now, why was he drinking one of your cappuccinos?” He addressed the question to Maddie.
“Just because it was our cup doesn’t mean it’s one of our coffees,” Suzanne interrupted. “Maybe he got it topped up from another vendor.”
“Then wouldn’t they give him their own paper cup?” the detective asked.
“Maybe he was trying to do his bit for the environment,” Suzanne replied. “Cut down on waste.”
The detective’s eyebrow rose, as if he were skeptical of that theory, but made a note in his little book.
“Miss Goodwell?” Detective Edgewater looked up from his notepad. “Do you know why Dave Dantzler was holding one of your cups when he died?”
Maddie bit her lip. She knew she had to confess. But before she could part her mouth, Claudine came rushing up to the detective, her cheeks flushed red.
“She killed him!” Claudine pointed to Maddie. “Because he was blackmailing her! I overheard everything!”
Maddie froze. Was it possible Claudine was telling the truth?
“What are you talking about?” Suzanne glared at Claudine. “Maddie didn’t do anything! You’re just trying to make trouble.”
“I know what I heard,” Claudine said stubbornly, glowering first at Suzanne, then at Maddie, then at Detective Edgewater. “Dave Dantzler threatened to tell his listeners how bad Maddie’s coffee is, if she didn’t give him free drinks all day long.” She sniffed. “I don’t know why he didn’t come to me. I would have gladly given him as much coffee as he wanted – for free. And then he could have told his listeners how good my coffee is and what a travesty it was I didn’t win the competition.”
“How did you overhear this, Miss …?” Detective Edgewater asked, casting a glance first at Maddie and then back at Claudine.
“Claudine Claxton.” Claudine watched him write down her name. “I just happened to be passing by Maddie’s truck when I overheard Dave Dantzler threatening her.”
“You overheard or you were eavesdropping?” Suzanne scowled at Claudine.
Claudine waved a hand in the air as if Suzanne’s question was of no concern to her. “You know how it is, detective. One can’t help overhearing conversations when one walks by people.”
“One can if they linger on purpose.” Suzanne put her hands on her hips, attempting to stare down Claudine.
“Ladies, please,” Detective Edgewater said firmly.
Maddie noticed that he hadn’t called them “girls”. Was that because of Claudine who looked to be in her forties?
“Mrrow?” Trixie said softly.
Maddie glanced at the cat, noticing the worr
ied expression on her furry face. She and Trixie were still in the truck.
“It’s okay, Trix.” She stroked behind the cat’s ear. “Detective Edgewater is asking some questions, that’s all.”
But was it okay? By the looks on Suzanne and Claudine’s faces, it looked like they were ready to duke it out any second.
The detective took control of the situation.
“So, Miss Claxton, you were walking past—” he glanced at the signage on the truck, “Brewed from the Bean and you overheard a snippet of conversation between the victim and Miss Goodwell. Is that right?”
“It was more than a snippet,” Claudine said triumphantly. “I clearly heard that man tell Maddie that if she didn’t give him free cappuccinos all day, he would bad mouth her on his radio show. And,” she drew in a breath, “he also threatened to tell the health inspector about—”
“Detective Edgewater,” Maddie called out urgently. “I’ll tell you exactly what he said to me, if we can do it in private.” She flicked a glance toward Claudine.
“In a minute, Miss Goodwell,” the detective replied.
“Anything else?” the detective asked Claudine.
Claudine screwed up her face, as if trying to remember anything else to Maddie’s detriment, then finally shook her head.
“No.” She looked disappointed. “But I’m sure that cat shouldn’t be allowed in a food preparation area.”
“Broomf!” Trixie narrowed her eyes to little turquoise slits as she stared at Claudine through the serving hatch.
“Exactly, Trix. Broomf.” Maddie nodded in agreement.
“Thank you, Miss Claxton.” Detective Edgewater wrote something in his notebook, then dismissed her with a polite smile. “Where can I find you if I need to speak with you again?”
“I have the coffee shop over there.” Claudine gestured toward the far side of the town square. “I’m open Monday through Saturday.”
“Thank you.” He made a notation, then nodded.
But instead of taking her cue to leave, Claudine just stood there, intense curiosity on her face.
No way was Maddie going to confess to the detective while her nemesis was in the vicinity!
“Now I’d like to talk to these ladies alone.” Detective Edgewater seemed to realize that Claudine wasn’t intending on leaving.
“Oh. Very well, detective.” Claudine sniffed, then strolled toward her stall, her movements seeming to be deliberately slow.
But the detective waited in silence until she was out of earshot.
“Now, what’s all this about the victim blackmailing you?” Detective Edgewater asked, his eyes keen on Maddie’s face.
Maddie continued to stroke Trixie, the soft touch of the feline’s fur bolstering her inner strength.
“What Claudine said was true.” She took a deep breath as she waited for their reaction.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Suzanne burst out.
“I was going to, Suze, but it was embarrassing. It happened when you left the truck to get lunch. And I didn’t want you to worry.” She also didn’t want Suzanne confronting Dave Dantzler and potentially making the situation worse. “I didn’t like the fact he tried to blackmail me, but I didn’t kill him.”
“Tried to blackmail or actually blackmail you?” The detective’s gaze never left her face.
“He actually blackmailed me into giving him free coffees for the rest of the day,” Maddie confessed.
“Tell me everything he said,” Detective Edgewater ordered.
Maddie did so, noticing Suzanne’s face grow redder and redder. When she finished, her friend looked like she would explode.
“I can’t believe he did that, Mads,” Suzanne forced the words out through her clenched teeth.
“I know,” Maddie replied. “And I hated giving in to his demand, but what else could I do? It was only for today, and I didn’t want us to lose customers over it, although I don’t know how many listeners he has – had – to his radio program. And also—” she hesitated, not sure if she should confess the next part with the detective standing there – “I didn’t want Trixie unable to come to work with us when she wants to.”
“Mrrow!” Trixie said in agreement.
Detective Edgewater’s face softened as he looked at the cat. “Having your cat in the truck is a matter for the health inspector, not me,” he said. “And if he’s already signed off on you, then I don’t see how it’s any of my business right now.”
Maddie, Suzanne, and Trixie exchanged relieved glances.
“Is there anything else you need to tell me?” the detective continued. “When was the last time you saw him?”
“Maybe ten minutes before we left the truck to find out who won,” Maddie offered.
“Were you here, Miss Taylor?” the detective asked.
“No.” Suzanne looked guilty. “I went to the bathroom.”
“I made him another cappuccino then,” Maddie put in. “When Suzanne came back, we locked up the truck, and went to the judge’s tent to hear who won the competition.”
“Along with everyone else,” Suzanne added.
“Where was Trixie?” Detective Edgewater asked, humor edging his mouth.
“Mrrow.” Trixie replied, sitting up straight on the stool.
“Here in the truck,” Maddie replied. “We left a window open for her. I thought it would be better for her to stay here than be out in the crowd with us.”
“When was Dave Dantzler killed?” Suzanne asked.
“So far the approximate time of death puts it just before the judge announced the winner,” Detective Edgewater replied. “We won’t know more until an autopsy is undertaken.”
“What … what killed him?” Maddie wasn’t sure if she wanted to know the answer. What if it had been her cappuccino? Had she somehow tainted the milk or the coffee subconsciously with her limited amount of witchy powers? Was that even possible? It wasn’t as if she’d hated the man and wanted him to die, she’d just been annoyed that he’d backed her into a corner like that. Would that be enough to kill someone without meaning to?
“We don’t know yet. But it’s already been reported to me that he was heard boasting today that he’d just received a clean bill of health from his doctor.” the detective replied. “We won’t know exactly what killed him until after the autopsy.”
“Will you tell us?” Suzanne asked.
“Well … ”
“So we’ll be able to put our minds at rest and know it wasn’t Maddie’s cappuccino that killed him,” Suzanne added.
Maddie nodded in agreement.
“I’ll see what I can do,” the detective said. “Now, what else can you tell me about the victim?”
“Nothing,” Maddie said slowly. “I met him for the first time today, and so did Suzanne.”
“Yes,” Suzanne agreed. “I’m afraid I didn’t like him.” She looked at the detective, as if regretting that last sentence. “He seemed very cocky and sure of himself. And now we know he didn’t have a problem bullying people for what he wanted. What if he went too far and threatened the wrong person?”
The detective looked up from his notebook. “Have you ever listened to his radio show?”
“No.” Suzanne shook her head.
“No,” Maddie replied. “I don’t listen to the radio much. If I have some spare time, then I’ll watch a TV show – sometimes with Suzanne, or we go to the movies.”
“Sometimes we watch funny video clips online,” Suzanne added. “Even if I did listen to the radio, I’m sure I wouldn’t have listened to his show. There was something about his voice I didn’t like when I met him today.”
“Mrrow!” Trixie said in agreement.
“Suzanne and Trixie are right.” A little shiver ran down Maddie’s spine at the thought of the man – now dead. Not that she wished anyone to be murdered – however odious they might be in real life.
“Thank you.” Detective Edgewater snapped his notebook shut. “I know where to find you if I have any m
ore questions for you.”
“We’re not open on Sundays,” Maddie said.
“No problem.” The detective nodded. “I have your home addresses.”
Maddie and Suzanne looked at each other.
Oh.
“I’ll leave you to it.” The detective glanced around the square. The other vendors were in the middle of packing up. “I have a couple more people to question, then I’ll be back at the station for a while. If you think of anything else, you know how to contact me.”
“Yes,” Maddie replied.
Suzanne nodded.
They watched the detective stride away, then turned to each other.
“What are we going to do, Suze?”
“I know you didn’t kill that – that jerk.” Suzanne touched Maddie’s arm. “And anyone who knows you will realize you didn’t kill him.”
“But what about Detective Edgewater?” Maddie asked. “It looks like Dave Dantzler died holding the cappuccino I made for him, and now the detective knows he blackmailed me into giving him free coffees for the day. And I’m sure Claudine will be quick to tell anyone she meets that I’m a killer.”
“Not if I have anything to do with it.” Suzanne’s expression and voice were fierce. “As soon as we pack up, I’ll go and give her a piece of my mind. She’s an idiot if she thinks anyone will believe her.”
“But some might,” Maddie said in a small voice. “People who don’t know me very well.”
“Mrrow.” Trixie sounded sad.
Maddie straightened her spine. “There’s only one thing for it. We’ll have to find out if someone killed him.”
CHAPTER 6
“Mrrow!” Trixie stood up on the stool, her ears alert. She cast a glance of what could only be called approval at Maddie.
“Yes!” Suzanne eyes lit up. “After all, we solved Mrs. Hodgeton’s murder last month, didn’t we? I’m sure we can do it again.”
“Detective Edgewater also solved it, remember?” Maddie pointed out.
“Yeah, but at exactly the same time we did,” Suzanne replied. “In fact, you got there before he did. Anyway, we know what we’re doing now.” Suzanne’s strawberry-blonde ponytail swung from side to side in her enthusiasm.