Freshly Ground Murder

by Tonya Kappes

  “Of course, we do.” Bunny pushed back the only extra chair at their café table. “Sit.” She patted the seat. “Where have you been?”

  Alexis waved her off and was content standing next to the table.

  “I don’t have time to sit. I’ve got to open the shop. Maxine Bloom is at it again,” she said my aunt’s name with exhaustion. “Raising the rent on the bookstore. I’m gonna have to stop volunteering at the Pet Palace.”

  “Why? Because you volunteer with Maxine?” Bunny asked and sipped on her coffee.

  “No. So I can keep the bookstore open an extra day. I close early on Fridays so I can go volunteer. No more.” She shook her head. She pointed at me and shook her finger. “I hear you are Maxine’s niece.”

  “You hear right.” I offered a warm smile in hopes she didn’t hold it against me that my aunt Maxine was her landlord. “Did I also hear you say that you are the owner of Crooked Cat Bookstore?”

  “I am.” Her eyes narrowed as though she was sizing me up.

  “I have fond memories of your bookstore when I used to come visit during the summer.” A happy sigh escaped me. “I remember sitting in that big purple bean bag that was in the front window next to the cat tree. You had that little grey cat and that amazing banned book section.”

  “I’ll be. I remember your eyes.” A smile formed and reached her eyes. They twinkled as though the memory was bright. “That’s when Maxine and I got along. She’d bring you in there while she was doing her property rounds and tell you to read books. I knew I was watching you.”

  “I believe my love of reading stems from you and all the time I spent in your store.” I pointed to the coffee maker. “Can I get you a cup of coffee? On the house.”

  “Ours wasn’t,” Mae Belle grumbled under her breath.

  “I’d love one to go. And give me one of them cake doughnuts.” She pulled her chin to the side, and tilted her eyes over her shoulder as she enjoyed the look on Mae Belle’s face.

  With the to-go cup of coffee and The Bean Hive bag filled with a doughnut, she bid her friends goodbye.

  “I’ll see y’all at the town council meeting tomorrow. I’ve got a few things to say about this zoning thing and Maxine Bloom.” She skirted out of the shop.

  Mae Belle and Bunny put their heads together and both tried to whisper above the other. I figured it was a good time to take the workers the coffee.

  “I’ll be right back. I’m going to run some coffee down to the workers.” I held the thermos up along with the cups.

  The sun was popping up over the trees that stood along the lake like soldiers and filtered over the calm water of the lake. There were a couple of small bass boats running side-by-side with a couple of men in them, probably looking for a good inlet to bass fish.

  The wood boards of the boardwalk groaned underneath each step I took as I got closer to the group of men.

  “Good morning,” I greeted them. “I’m Roxanne Bloom, owner of The Bean Hive.” I gestured toward the coffee shop. “I’ve made all this coffee and only a few customers have come in.” I left out the fact that I’d only had the same two customers all week long. “And I’d hate to see this fresh coffee go to waste, so I thought I’d bring it to y’all.”

  “That’s mighty nice of you.” The tall man grinned from under the hardhat. He kept his eyes on the thermos.

  One of the men took the cups out of my hand while another one took the thermos.

  “We appreciate that, don’t we boys?” The man’s deep voice echoed off the limestone banks of the lake. The glare of the sun reflecting off the lake made it difficult to see his face.

  The men thanked me.

  “If y’all get hungry, I also serve food.” I smiled and clasped my hands in front of me. I was definitely trying to use the old saying that a way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. Not that I was trying to get into any of their hearts, I wasn’t, but I was trying to get to their stomachs and their wallets. “Enjoy.”

  “We will. And we will return your thermos,” the man said before he went back to pointing out things about the spa.

  It was my cue to head on back. They had work to do and so did I.

  “Hello, honey.” Aunt Maxi was leaning her bike up against the outside of the shop. She pulled off her knit cap. She tucked the hat in the purse that was strapped across her body and pulled out a can of hairspray. She raked her hand upward through her hair and used her other hand to spray it to high heaven. “You know, you need to get a bike rack.”

  “I do need a bike rack, but I also need to get a new oven or have this one looked at.” I opened the door for her and let her walk in before me. “New hair color since yesterday?”

  She gave the newly blond-colored hair another good spray before she stuck the can back in her purse and started toward the door.

  “Alice Dee down at the Honey Comb says it’s all the rage. Makes me feel young as a whippersnapper.” She turned to me. The morning sun sprinkled down upon her.

  I shook my head and realized having her bike up against the coffeehouse was probably not a good place for it to lean in case someone tripped over it.

  Most of the community rode bikes everywhere since Honey Springs was a small, compact town that took pride in their landscape and Kentucky bluegrass that made the entire town look like a fancy landscape painting.

  “You look a little like Phyllis Diller.” And it wasn’t just the hair. Aunt Maxi had put on a little too much makeup

  “Well, well. If it’s not Maxine Bloom.” Bunny Bowowski didn’t seem all that happy to see Aunt Maxi. “And with a new hairdo.”

  “You’ll serve just about anybody.” Aunt Maxi curled her nose at me.

  “You two know each other?” I asked, hoping to bring a little peace between us.

  “Know her?” Bunny scoffed. “She’s been down at the Moose trying to get her claws into Floyd, my man.”

  “Don’t flatter yourself, Bunny. I want a man that can walk without stopping every two feet so he can get his footing up under him so he don’t fall.” Aunt Maxi drew her chin in the air and looked down her nose. “Besides, that’s not what’s got you all worked up.”

  “Aunt Maxi is why I’ve come to Honey Springs.” I patted my aunt on the back. “I used to come here when I was a child and spent many summers here. Right here in this very spot when it was the diner. I loved being here so much, that I decided to move here and open The Bean Hive.”

  I hoped that their mutual like for me would at least bring them together. The last thing I needed was my only two paying customers to boycott me because of Aunt Maxi.

  “We will see you tomorrow, Roxy.” Bunny stood up and motioned for Mae Belle to follow. “We’ve got committee stuff to do.”

  The three women gave each other the Baptist nod where they didn’t wish ill-will but not necessarily success. The southern woman’s way around good manners.

  “Glad they’re gone.” Aunt Maxi spouted out and walked to the back of the shop. She put her hands on her hips and looked around. “This looks good,” she said in approval. “Many customers?”

  “Nope, you just ran off the only two I’ve had since I opened.” I gave her a wry look. “Cup of coffee?”

  “I can’t. I’ve got to get your casseroles and head to a meeting. It’s hard being a councilwoman.” Aunt Maxi had held the office for over thirty years and was very proud of it. “That’s why old Bunny is all mad. She and her group of cronies think that just because we are in craft group together that I’ll just let them do whatever they want regarding the festivals and the beautification committee.”

  Apparently Aunt Maxi didn’t agree on something in their meeting. Didn’t surprise me. Aunt Maxi wasn’t one to go along with the crowd when she was passionate about something. There were two things I knew not to get into with others: Politics and religion. Around here both were just as important as a new born baby, wedding, or a funeral. “They aren’t too worried about whatever it is that you’ve made them mad about. They are worr
ied about one of their friends.”

  “Who?” Aunt Maxi perked up and walked on my heels on our way back to the kitchen.

  “I don’t know. I can’t remember her name. She actually came in.” I grabbed the two lunch quiches I’d taken out of the oven earlier and wrapped them in tinfoil, pinching the sides as tight as I could. “She owns Crooked Cat.”

  “Alexis Roarke.” Aunt Maxi groaned.

  I laughed and stacked the two quiches. “She said that you two are fond of each other.”

  “Don’t get me started on her because I don’t come with brakes.” Aunt Maxi picked up the quiches. “You know those left-over doughnuts you gave me yesterday?”

  “Yes. What about them?” I asked.

  “I took them to her last night. Sort of a peace offering,” Aunt Maxi said. “She was just fine. So there’s no need to worry about her. Those women love to worry. If they aren’t gossiping or worried about someone, they’re dead.”

  “They were happy to see her and that she was okay.” I was just about to ask her about Alexis’s claim that Aunt Maxi was going to raise the rent, but the bell over the shop door dinged, alerting me that someone had come in.

  Aunt Maxi and I looked.

  “Good morning, Maxine.” The man I’d taken coffee to took off his hardhat with his left hand, his right gripped the thermos.

  “Good to see you.” Aunt Maxi’s joy of seeing the man was evident all over her face. Even her eyes tipped up in the corners with giddiness.

  “I wanted to thank you for the coffee. My men appreciate your kindness.” His features were familiar. His big brown eyes were warm and matched the tender smile.

  “I’m glad to see the two of you have mended ways. You know I believe everything happens for a reason.” Aunt Maxi walked over to the door as she recited her favorite saying. “I’ll have these back to you in a couple of hours. See you later, Patrick.”

  Patrick? I took a deeper look at the man standing in front of me. Patrick Cane? I looked a little deeper. Patrick Cane.

  My heart sank.

  Recipes from The Bean Hive

  Christmas Harvest Blend Coffee

  Made by Roxy Bloom from The Bean Hive Coffeehouse

  Ingredients:

  1 pound of French Dark Roast Ground coffee

  2 tsp ground cinnamon

  1 tsp ground nutmeg

  1 tsp ground ginger

  1 vanilla bean

  Directions:

  Combine the coffee, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger in a bowl. Scrap the vanilla bean and add that to the bowl. Mix together and put into a container. Use the coffee just like you’d use your regular coffee.

  Soul Harvest Chicken Soup

  INGREDIENTS:

  2 tsp olive oil

  1/2 cup onion, chopped

  3 cloves garlic, minced

  3 cups less sodium chicken broth

  8 oz can tomato sauce

  1/4 cup chopped cilantro (plus more for garnish)

  15 oz can black beans, rinsed and drained

  14.5 oz can petite diced tomatoes

  2 cups frozen corn

  1 tsp cumin

  1/2 tsp dried oregano

  2 skinless chicken breasts (16 oz total)

  For topping:

  3/4 cup shredded part skim cheddar cheese

  1/4 cup chopped scallions

  1/4 cup chopped cilantro

  4 oz (1 small) haas avocado, diced

  6 tbsp reduced fat sour cream, optional

  DIRECTIONS:

  Slow Cooker:

  Heat oil in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add onion and garlic and sauté until soft, 3-4 minutes. Slowly add the chicken broth, tomato sauce and bring to a boil. Add cilantro and remove from heat. Pour into crock pot.

  Add the drained beans, diced tomatoes, corn, cumin, oregano and stir. Add the chicken breasts; cover and cook on low heat for 4-6 hours.

  Remove chicken and shred with two forks. Add chicken back into the soup, adjust salt and cumin to taste. Serve in bowls and top with cheese, avocado, scallions and cilantro. Also great with sour cream or crushed tortilla chips. Enjoy!

  Gingerbread Mischiefs Animal Treats

  Ingredients

  1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

  1 tablespoon ground ginger

  1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

  1/4 cup molasses

  1/4 cup water

  2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  Directions:

  Preheat your oven to 325°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  In a medium bowl, whisk together dry ingredients.

  In a small bowl, whisk together molasses, water, and oil. Using a wooden spoon, slowly mix liquid ingredients into the flour mixture, stirring until well-combined.

  Roll dough out to 1/4-inch thick and cut out shapes, gathering dough and re-rolling as necessary. I use a cute gingerbread cutter.

  Bake for 20 minutes and allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet.

  Praline Liqueur Cake

  Submitted from reader Connie Walker.

  Ingredients:

  Cake Ingredients:

  Up to 1 cup chopped pecans

  4 eggs

  1 – 18 oz. yellow cake mix

  1/4 cup cold water

  1 – 3.4 oz. (small) package Jello Instant Vanilla pudding

  1/2 cup Wesson Oil

  1/2 cup Pecan

  Praline Liqueur Glaze Ingredients:

  1/4 lb. butter (1 stick)

  1/4 cup water

  1 cup granulated sugar

  1/2 cup Pecan Praline Liqueur

  Directions:

  Preheat oven to 325 Grease and flour a bundt or tube pan (I use Crisco butter flavor and dry cake mix in place of flour). Sprinkle up to 1 cup chopped pecans in bottom of pan if desired. In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, cake mix, water, Jello, oil and Liqueur until well mixed. Pour into bundt pan and bake for approximately 1 hour @ 325. While cake is cooling in pan; in medium saucepan, melt butter, water and sugar. Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in 1/2 cup Pecan Praline Liqueur. With cake still in pan, poke holes in cake. (the round end of a wooden spoon works great) Pour glaze over cake slowly, letting the glaze soak down in the holes. Let cake stand for a minute until all the glaze is absorbed into cake. Turn cake out onto serving platter.

  Note: anytime you pour liqueur from the bottle, you should carefully wipe any drips from the bottle rim so that they don’t crystallize and get sticky. A good way to clean the bottle rim is to take your finger and run around the rim, licking your finger to clean. You’ll also want to clean the liqueur measuring cup the same way (no need to waste any of that good liqueur). And don’t forget to pre-clean the glaze from the saucepan and spoon. Yeah, the glaze is so good, warm and buttery that you’ll want to stand in front of the sink and lick the spoon and saucepan clean before you put in the sink to wash.

  Christmas Coffee Bean Bark

  Submitted by reader Diana Borgstedt.

  Ingredients:

  1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

  1/2 cup of French roast coffee beans

  Directions:

  Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Pour melted chocolate into an 8x8 pan add coffee beans stir or press into chocolate. Cool until harden & cut into squares.

  Any Specials Instructions:

  If you line your pan with plastic wrap it pops out easier.

  Memaw's Christmas Coffee Punch

  Submitted by reader Lynn Wood.

  Ingredients:

  1 gal strong black coffee

  2 C sugar

  1 qt. Half and Half

  1 gal vanilla ice cream

  Directions:

  Make strong black coffee, add sugar. Chill overnight. When ready to serve, add Half and Half and vanilla cream (in scoops) in punch bowl.

  Any Specials Instructions:

  This is a family favorite. You can't drink just one cup!


  Pumpkin Cookies

  The Bean Hive calls these Santa Kiss Cookies

  Submitted by reader Stormi.

  Ingredients:

  2 Eggs

  3 cups Sugar

  1 and 1/4 stick butter

  1 16 oz can of Pumpkin

  1 pkg. chocolate chips

  1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

  3 tsp. cinnamon

  1 and 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

  1 and 1/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

  3 tsp. baking soda

  1/4 tsp. cream of tartar

  6 cups of flour.

  You can add raisins if you want.

  Directions:

  Cream together eggs, sugar, stick butter, then add can of pumpkin, chocolate chips and walnuts. Mix it all together. Shift together the cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, cream of tartar and flour. Add wet ingredients to dry and mix well. Add raisins here. The stiring might take some muscles. :) Makes a large batch of cookies. Bake at 425 for 12-14 minutes.

  Also by Tonya Kappes

  A Killer Coffee Mystery

  Magical Cures Mystery Series

  A Ghostly Southern Mystery Series

  Spies and Spells Mystery Series

  Kenni Lowry Mystery Series

  A Laurel London Mystery Series

  A Divorced Diva Beading Mystery Series

  Olivia Davis Paranormal Mystery Series

  Bluegrass Romance Series

  Women’s Fiction

  Young Adult

  Grandberry Falls Series