by Lynn Cahoon
“I can buy a new kettle.” I thought about my scan of the living room. “Except the door, everything was just as I’d left it. I haven’t been home a lot this week.”
“Yeah, I heard your voicemail. By the way, the lady you met at Beal Street is Walter’s housekeeper. She’s a little off, but has a good alibi for the time of his death.” He turned to take the water off once the kettle had started screaming. As he set up his drink, he didn’t look at me when he asked, “So you’ve been investigating?”
“Before you lecture me, I don’t have anything solid. All I know is what a great guy Walter was.” I closed the text and took a sip of my cocoa. “Oh, and that he was some sort of genius at the local high school.”
“Do you think that’s important twenty or so years later?” Greg sat down next to me. He laughed when he saw my face. “I’m serious. I want to know your thoughts on this. I’m asking because none of my leads are giving me any clue to why the guy died. If you have a theory, this is the one time I’m going to ask. Then we’re back on the you investigate, I ignore, plan.”
“That’s comforting.” I put the back of my hand to my forehead in my best drama move. “You only want me when you can’t figure it out yourself?”
“Honey, I always want you. This is about solving a murder.” He winked at me. “A good detective never ignores a clue, no matter how it arrives.”
“I don’t know. Deek’s mom seems to think there’s a connection. She says no one disliked Walter except for this Felix guy and that got pretty hot in the school yard.”
“Who is Deek?”
“A kid in my class. I think his career goal is to take every class offered at the university so he doesn’t have to go out into the real world.” I pictured his mother who looked more like Esmeralda than her son. “His mom’s name is Rory Kerr. She’s a dyed in the wool hippie.”
“It’s nice you’re making friends as school, even if they are named Deek.” He shook his head. “I heard the story. I just can’t see a guy holding a grudge that long. Besides, things happen in high school and no one ever remembers after they get out of that temporary holding pen into real life. I can’t even remember names, except for the guys I hung with in the James Gang.”
“You were in a gang?” I must be more tired than I thought. This was so not Greg.
He straightened his shoulders and smiled. “Honey, you’re looking at the lead singer for our high school rock band, The James Gang.”
“You were in a band?” Somehow this sounded more incredible than straight-laced Greg being in a real-life gang. “No way.”
“Way.” He finished his cocoa and put his hand over mine. “You ready for bed? I’ve got to get up early and head to the apartment for a clean uniform before I go to work.”
“You’re staying over?” Had he told me this earlier? Man, I was beat.
Greg let Emma outside and took his cup and mine to the sink. He rinsed them and then put them into the dishwasher. “I’m not letting you stay here alone tonight. I’d take you and Emma to the apartment, but they have a strict no pets rule. And I don’t think we should leave her alone. I’m sure the guy’s probably long gone, but now that he knows she’s here, he may take countermeasures if there’s something in the house he really wants.”
I let Emma back in. She didn’t stay out long, especially when she knew it was almost bedtime. I think there were animals in the woods behind the house that liked to torment her. “Okay, I get it. You want to be all bodyguard on my butt.”
“Great movie. But part of it’s selfish. I’m too beat to drive back to the apartment and I’d have to sleep on the couch in my office if you turn me out.” He turned off lights and walked with his arm around my waist toward the stairs. “Jill?”
“What?” I had my head resting on his arm. So, so tired.
“There isn’t anything in the house that someone would want to have, right?”
I paused mid stair. “Like what?”
“You don’t have anything that would reveal the killer that he would want to get back from you, do you?”
I shook my head. “I told you, I’ve got nothing. No clues, no thoughts, no suspects. Except for this Felix. But I don’t even have a last name for him.”
“Then maybe it was a random breakin. You’re close enough to the road for someone to get in and out without much notice. I’d hoped having Esmeralda’s house across the street would keep thieves from targeting these houses.”
“I need an alarm system.” I sat on the bed and kicked off my shoes. All I wanted to do was lay my head on the pillow and pass out.
He dug through his drawer in my dresser. “Go get ready for bed. You can have the bathroom first.”
By the time Greg emerged from the bathroom, I was tucked into bed and almost asleep. I felt his kiss on my cheek as he snuggled up next to me. “Sweet dreams.”
His phone went off what seemed like minutes later. I squinted at the clock. Two in the morning. He ran his hand through my hair as he moved to the edge of the bed. “Sorry, I’ll take this in the hall.”
A few minutes later, he came in and grabbed his clothes. He kissed me on the cheek. “I’ve got to go.”
“Problems?” I was hoping it wasn’t another dead body.
“Someone broke into Beal Street Bed and Breakfast. The alarm just went off. Our thief didn’t leave town like we’d thought.”
CHAPTER 20
When my alarm went off Tuesday morning, I rolled over and found myself alone in my bed. Either Greg had slept the rest of the night at the station, or, more likely, he hadn’t slept at all. I’d take a pot of coffee over as soon as Nick showed up to take over my shift.
I got dressed to run before work, causing Emma to do circles around my feet in the kitchen as I sipped a cup of coffee. With one exam done and the next coming up on Thursday, I was simplifying my life one step at a time. Now, all I had to do was hire Sasha’s replacement and make a decision on the Greg moving in thing, and my summer would be clear of life-changing choices. Until the next one showed up.
The beach was empty. Emma and I ran through the waves. Well she ran through the water, and I kept on the dry side. My running shoes were too new to get soaked. Toby was sitting on the tailgate of his truck looking wrung out when we got back to the house.
“Hey, I thought you’d crashed. Did you go out to Beal Street?” Emma jumped up on the tailgate and sat next to her friend, giving him a wet kiss.
He rubbed her neck. “I just finished my reports. I’m beat. Anyway I can come in a little later today?” He looked at his watch. “Maybe two?”
“That will work. Nick is taking half of my shift so I’ll just have him stay until you can get your beauty sleep.” I checked my watch. “Did you figure out who broke in or why?”
“No clue, maybe kids looking for a place to party?” He rubbed his eyes. “You meant over at Beal Street, not here right?”
“Go to bed. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” I slapped my leg for Emma to follow, which she did, after giving Toby one last nudge with her nose.
At work, after getting the commuters caffeinated up and out the door, I had a lot of time to read. Nick surprised me in the middle of a vampire war with the shapeshifting beings that were trying to take over their world. I tucked a bookmark to save my place. If I planned my time right, I should be able to finish the book before I needed to start studying again.
“Hey, Nick. Ready to start your summer job?” I gave the kid a hug. “You realize with Sasha leaving, you’re going to be promoted to run the book clubs she was in charge of, right?”
“Promotion? Does it come with a pay raise?” He looked hopeful.
I shook my head. “Sorry, just extra responsibilities. But I could be talked into doing a grant for next semester if you knock it out of the park this summer.”
“Then that will be my goal. You’re looking at the model employee here. Any grants or scholarships I get means less money I have to borrow. My student loans are going to kill me.” Nick went over
and washed his hands, slipping an apron on before returning to the counter. “Okay for me to grab a coffee?”
“Of course.” I glanced around. “I thought I’d walk you through the basics again. Then you can make me a few samples and I’ll leave you to it.”
“Wait, you’re leaving me alone?” Now Nick looked scared to death.
“Aunt Jackie thinks its best. Oh, and Toby will be late today. So if you need anything, the numbers are by the cash register. Are you ready to get started?”
We spent the next half hour walking through the menu, having him make several of the drinks until he felt comfortable with the process again. “You’re a natural.”
He shook his head. “Don’t say that. It’s not on my career goals to be a barista for the rest of my life.”
“Don’t knock it, dude. I love my life. I was a lawyer. This is much less stress.” I took off my apron when I heard the bell ring and the clack of high heels on the floor tile. “You’re up.”
I went to grab a coffee carrier to take to Greg when the woman at the counter snapped her fingers at me. “Hello?”
I put a smile on my face before I turned around. Nothing made me angrier than people who thought they could snap their fingers for help. What happened to common courtesy? The woman had too-blond hair teased a few inches above her actual scalp. Her purple pearl nails tapped on the counter. “Nick’s taking over. He’ll get your order.”
She shook her head, but the hairdo didn’t move; it had so much product sprayed in. I wasn’t sure it would dent if she lay down. “I’m not here for coffee. I want to apply for the job.”
“You do?” Both Nick and I said the question at the same time.
“I don’t know why that’s so surprising. You said you were looking for someone on your website. I regularly go in and check for anything new. So do you have an application or something?”
I reached under the counter and handed her the application. “I can interview you as soon as you finish. That way you don’t have to make a special trip back.”
She shrugged. “I’m in here most days. At least the days that Toby works.” She looked at the clock. “Won’t he be here soon?”
“Actually, he’s going to be a little late. Long night.” It was mean, but I hoped she hurried to fill out the paperwork. It was doubtful that she’d be the perfect candidate, but a girl could hope. Besides, I liked the fact this woman made Toby uncomfortable. The problem was she’d also make me, my staff, and all my customers uncomfortable too. Aunt Jackie might like her.
The woman sighed and took the pages from me. “I have to be back at school in an hour so I hope this won’t take long.”
You and me both, I thought. I grabbed a book out of my tote. “I’ll be over at the couch when you’re done.”
When the woman’s back was turned, Nick looked at me and raised his eyebrows in a question. Interpreting it to be What the Heck, I shrugged, indicating my own confusion. “Make sure you stock the dessert case.”
Fifteen minutes later, an application was in front of me and I was talking to Donna Parker about why she wanted to be a barista bookseller. It all seemed to come down to one point. She wanted to be near Toby.
“Could Toby train me?” She leaned forward, watching my face for the answer.
“We all train. It’s part of the job.” I pointed to the application. “It says here you were a secretary for a local insurance agency. Why did you leave that job?”
“Mostly because my mom said I needed to get a real job. Seriously, all they wanted me to do was answer the phone. And it was administrative assistant, not secretary.” She leaned back in her chair. “But the shift I’d work is midday, right? Would Toby be here all the time, or would I come in after he started?”
“I’m not quite sure.” I glanced at what Donna had put down for her education. “You went to Bakerstown High School. When did you graduate?”
“You can’t ask that.”
I looked up from my scan of the rest of the information, surprised at her answer. “What?”
“That question is code to see how old I am. If it’s not a job requirement, I don’t have to tell you my age. It’s the law.” She crossed her arms in front of her.
“Actually, I have a friend who used to go there, but I doubt you’d know him. Felix?” I was fishing in the wrong pool, I knew that.
“I don’t know a Felix. Must have been older than me.” She looked at her watch. “Is the interview done? I’ve got to get back to class.”
“Sure.” I pretended to look at the application. “I’ve got your cell number so I’ll get back with you.”
Without a good-bye or a thank you, she stood and clacked her way out of the shop. I looked at Nick who shook his head. “You can’t be thinking about hiring her.”
“Of course not, but I’m not getting many choices. Oh, that reminds me. One of your friends stopped by and applied.” I walked over and took the interview file from under the counter.
“One of my friends? Who?” Nick leaned forward trying to look in the folder.
“Ethan Morris? Would he be a good hire?” I saw my answer in his face before he opened his mouth.
“That guy’s a tool. He’s always talking about his famous father. Some director or something. He’s wrecked every car he’s been given.” Nick shook his head. “He’s not my friend. He just didn’t like me stealing his thunder in high school or now.”
“I kind of got the feeling he was good at appearances. Thanks for being honest with me.” I sighed and closed the folder. “Maybe we’ll just have to keep looking until the right person walks in the door.”
“It could be a while. We’re an acquired taste.” Nick grinned. “Can I fill that coffee container for you?”
“That would be great. Greg must be running on fumes by now.”
The bell over the door rang again. I looked at the clock, right on time. “Here come Toby’s girls.”
Nick looked up and his grin deepened. “I don’t think so.”
I turned around to see Deek behind me. “Hey, coffee girl!”
“What are you doing here?” I didn’t know how to greet him. A handshake seemed so formal, but a hug was way too intimate. Finally, I pointed to a stool. “Sit down, I’ll buy you that coffee I promised.”
“I’ll have a large mocha with whipped cream. Full throttle. I need the calories.” He tucked a bag under his stool and sat. “Thanks, dudette. I came bearing gifts.”
“Gifts?”
“My mom found her high school yearbook. She said she only had one, but maybe it would help.” He pulled the book out of his bag and handed it to me. “She wants it back, but she says she’ll come in and pick it up.”
I ran my hand over the leather and then set it aside, even though I wanted to pour over it and find any mention of Felix. Maybe if Greg had a name, it would at least put this lead to bed. I was certain it was a wild goose chase.
Deek had picked up the job-opening flyer. “You didn’t tell me you needed help.”
“I didn’t think you were interested in working.”
He shrugged. “I’m not, but Mom’s on a responsibility kick again. And if I got a summer job, she might be more inclined to fork out for next year’s tuition.”
Nick handed him the coffee and an application. He looked at me. “You want me to deliver this coffee to the police station?”
I sighed. “You better. I’m not getting out of here anytime soon.” I pointed to the couch. “Let me know when you’re done filling that out. I’ll be over there.”
“Cool beans.” He took a pen out of the jar by the cash register and started writing.
I took the yearbook to the couch, but before I could open it, the bell rang again. Nick froze midway to the door, the coffee carrier in his hand. He looked back at me. “Go ahead, I’ll handle the shop.”
He walked to the door and Nathan Pike held the door open. “I hope that’s not all of the coffee.”
“No, sir. Miss Jill will help you out.” Nick g
rinned at me. I guessed from the devil in his eyes he must have met Nathan before. “I’ll be back in a flash.”
Nathan walked up to the counter. “You just hire that kid? He’s so polite and well dressed for someone his age. Most kids I see like their jeans baggy and have some sort of drug advertised on their T-shirt.”
“Nick’s been working with us for over a year. His mom is our dessert supplier.” I stepped behind the counter. “The only drug he’d be advertising is the Sugar High Chocolate Meringue pie his mom makes. What can I get for you?”
“I’ll have an iced coffee and a slice of that pie.” He shook his head. “I’m very suggestible. I think it’s the author in me. I hear something that sounds good and I have to try it. I’ll be in a new pant size before I leave here at the end of the month.”
I started his order and watched as Nathan sized up Deek. With his long hair, baggy jeans, and a 70s rock band logo on his T-shirt, Deek met Nathan’s prior description. But to his credit, the kid looked up, sighed, and then went back to his application.
Nathan moved one-step away from Deek. “Hey, do you mind if I write here for a few hours? I got a lot done last time I was here.”
“Sure. The place is yours.” I handed him his drink and the pie. “Well, except for the couch. I’m interviewing Deek here for my opening in a few minutes and I need the area.”
He handed me a credit card and his eyes narrowed. He obviously didn’t approve of me even talking to Deek, and his next words confirmed my suspicions. “Well, isn’t that unexpected.”
I ran up his charge, gave him the slip and a pen. “I’m full of surprises.”
When Deek came over with his application, I looked it over.
“Before we start, can I ask you a question?” Deek sank into a chair across from me.
I was still reading. “Knock yourself out.”
“Are these South American beans? I’m betting that, but it could be Africa. The roast is really nice. Do you do it in house?”
I froze. Deek knew about coffee? My gaze lifted and I stared at him. “Central America and no, the roaster is in San Francisco. How do you know so much?”