East Pender Boxed Set: Cozy Mystery Series Bundle of Books 1-14

by Leona Fox

  The only truly awkward moment of the day came when Pippa popped in, and walked up to the counter with ice in her voice.

  “Congratulations,” she said.

  “Thank you,” Alexander replied, and Ellen watched from afar as the two of them talked. Pippa's body language was tense and confrontational. After she ordered her drink she turned and walked past Ellen, and stopped in front of her.

  “You know, you're making a big mistake. I was the best person for this job,” she said.

  “I'm sorry that you feel I made a mistake but there were a lot of factors I had to take into consideration. It was a hard decision,” Ellen replied, trying to be diplomatic about the whole thing.

  “There's something strange about him. Maybe you can't see it but there's something not quite right.”

  “Pippa,” Ellen said in a disappointed tone, “I know you're disappointed but there's no need to insult him, he's a good man.”

  “That he may be, but I'm telling you there's something wrong. I'm sure you know that I know a lot about people around here. Some people call me a gossip. I just like to say I have a healthy interest in the community.”

  “Sure,” Ellen said.

  “And, to be honest, there's always things around. There's always people talking about other people, but I haven't heard anyone talk about Alexander recently. Don't you think that's strange? That he's been a part of this town for years but there's barely any evidence he's been a part of the community? It doesn't even have to be bad things. You're practically a paragon of virtue but there's still gossip about you.”

  Ellen shrugged and ignored the pointed remark. “He just likes to keep himself to himself, that's all.”

  “Think what you will, but don't say I didn't warn you,” and that was all Pippa said before she walked off.

  Ellen glanced over at Alexander and watched as he collected empty plates and dishes, then cleaned a table, ready for another customer to sit down. Through the day he had become more used to speaking with people and enjoyed a rapport with them. A few people came up to Ellen and said they approved of the new man, but what Pippa had said echoed in her mind. Coupled with her own observations about how secretive Alexander could be, doubts started to form in her mind. But for the time being she decided to ignore them, putting it down to an irrational fear of detaching herself from the cafe. For so long it had been hers and hers alone, but now she was going to share it with someone. As with most things, she had to go with her instinct. She told herself if Alexander didn't want to talk about a certain period of his past then he didn't have to do so. It plainly was none of her business. All she could do was judge him on how he performed in his role, and so far, he was excelling.

  “So how do you think that went?” Ellen asked at the end of the day as they were clearing up, doing the opposite of what they had done in the morning.

  “I can't believe it's the end of the day already. Time flew by!”

  “Yeah, it gets like that,” Ellen said, smiling.

  “Especially in the evenings when you get the rush in. Of course, it used to be even busier, but since Maggie's has opened, well, you can see for yourself how many people go in there.”

  “I wouldn't worry about that too much. It's still new and I'm sure people will enjoy coming to both. This cafe is almost like an institution in East Pender. They should put it up as a landmark or something.”

  Ellen had to laugh at this. “That's sweet, but I really don't think it's all that important. At the end of the day, it's just a café,” She sighed, resting her hand against a wall.

  “That it may be, but it's your cafe, and even though I haven't been that involved in day to day life around here, I know of the great Ellen Thatch.”

  “None of that talk,” she scolded.

  “I'm just an ordinary woman who happens to be able to help the police. And you're just an ordinary man who is able to help me. So thank you for that. Now, let's get this place cleaned up and we can go home.”

  “Sounds good to me. I tell you what, though, my legs are aching already. I'm not looking forward to the walk home.”

  “I'll give you a lift,” Ellen said.

  “Are you sure? I don't want to be a burden.”

  “Nonsense, it's fine. I'm surprised you don't drive.”

  “I do drive; I just don't have a car at the moment. It was one of those things that, well, it was difficult to keep up the payments without a job and I guess I just didn't really feel like being out on the road.”

  “You know, if you ever want to talk to me about anything, you can. I won't judge you or anything.”

  “I know, but it's all good. I'm focusing on my new beginning right now. I think this is going to be good for me,” he said, and the two of them continued cleaning the cafe.

  With the two of them working together it took less time than usual. Ellen was glad for the help, and even wished she had hired someone else a long time ago. She locked the door and walked to the car. When Alexander opened the passenger door Scampy looked at him expectantly.

  “I hope you don't mind him riding on your lap. He's kinda used to riding in the front,” Ellen said with an apologetic look in her eyes.

  Alexander just laughed and said it was fine, then lifted the dog on his lap as he got in the car. It was a short drive, perhaps ten minutes or so, but after a hard day's work it would have been a big effort to walk back, especially since Alexander hadn't been used to working such long hours.

  “So, do you think you'll be able to cope with everything?” Ellen asked.

  “Yeah, sure, it's pretty simple. I think I know how to fill out the order forms for suppliers and things, but with that stuff you may have to double-check what I do until I've got it down properly.”

  “For the moment I'll probably keep doing those. We'll just get you used to actually working in the cafe for now.”

  “Other than that it's just a matter of getting used to working again and having a schedule. It got to the point where doing nothing was so normal I wondered how I ever had the time to have a job. I do want to thank you, really, for taking a chance on me. I've applied for some other jobs, but when they've seen the huge gap in my resume they've politely told me that I'm not suitable for the position.”

  “I try taking people as they are, and understanding the reasons behind their past or the choices they've made. I think it's stupid when I hear a lot of people aren't getting jobs because they don't have the right kind of experience, but then they can't get the experience because they can't get any jobs! I wanted to hire the best person for the job, no matter what.”

  “Well, I'm glad you feel that's me,” he said, smiling with a little look of embarrassment upon his face.

  “I'll try my hardest not to let you down.”

  “Damn straight,” she said, winking at him.

  “I'll be around a fair amount anyway. The thing is that I never know when a crime is going to happen. Really, I hope I don't ever have to work with the police again. That will mean there are no more crimes being committed, at least none that require my attention, but sadly, given human nature, I don't think that's going to be the case.”

  “Yes, we are capable of some terrible things.”

  “Some of us are, but most people are happy to help, at least in my experience,” Ellen said, too focused on the road to notice the slight shift in Alexander's voice.

  “For now we'll both be at the cafe. So I'll be able to shadow you and make sure you're comfortable in all areas of the business.”

  “And then we can start planning how we're going to steal business back from Maggie,” he said, cocking an eyebrow. Ellen looked shocked, but a smile soon followed.

  “I never would suggest such a thing...but it would be good to plan a few events and show people we're more than just a traditional, quiet cafe.”

  The car drove around a corner onto Alexander's street. He was just about to reply to Ellen with some ideas he had for events when he caught sight of his house and his face fell. Ellen soon saw w
hat he was staring at as well. As they approached the house the car’s headlights illuminated the message that had been spray painted over his doorway.

  “Oh my word,” Ellen said, disgusted by the expletives used.

  She got out of the car and walked toward the door, leaving the headlights on so the message was still lit up. Alexander followed with a somber look on his face. The paint was yellow and smelled fresh. Ellen dabbed it with her finger. It was still wet and sticky.

  “I'm assuming this wasn't here when you left this morning?” Ellen asked, turning to Alexander. He pressed his lips together and shook his head. He looked haunted, not that Ellen could blame him.

  “Do you have any idea who could have done this?” she asked.

  Alexander shook his head, but although Ellen trusted him with the cafe she felt as though he was hiding something from her now. She wondered if perhaps Pippa was right and that there was more to him than met the eye.

  Chapter 3

  Ellen waited around for Andy, and told Alexander not to go into the house as it was now a crime scene. Alexander looked despondent as he sat on the small wall that ran around his front yard. The house was picturesque, although at that moment it was framed in the black cloak of night. Alexander lived on a road that was away from the town’s main street, and the air was quiet. The good thing about living in East Pender, at least in Ellen's opinion, was that it was so quiet. At night you could hear a pin drop and the sky was aglow with glittering stars, unlike the city, which blinded you with its artificial lights. However, this did have a downside since people could walk around quiet neighborhoods like these and spray paint graffiti on unsuspecting people's houses.

  Alexander's house had a small front yard that was kept well, although there were only a few flowers around the edge. The small wall was made of brown brick and Alexander was sitting like the ancient sculpture, The Thinker, with his elbow on his knee and his chin on his hand. Ellen looked at him and wondered what was on his mind. Did he feel threatened? Was this the continuation of a feud he had had with someone?

  Ellen had many questions but few answers. Before Andy arrived she had a look around the house to see if she could see anything. The concrete path ran from the front down the middle of the front yard, so there weren't any boot prints on the grass. There were no flecks of paint anywhere else either, suggesting the person knew what they were doing, and had a very specific message to deliver. But was this just for Alexander's benefit or was it the start of a crime spree that would once again throw the people of East Pender into chaos?

  The vulgar words were etched into her mind and she wished that she could blink them away. Ellen was far from a prude and had used expletives on occasion in her life, but to think that anyone in East Pender would want to spray paint that kind of language was a saddening thought. Once again she was faced with the stark reminder that a lot of people were unpleasant.

  She ordered Scampy to stay with Alexander while she walked carefully around the house, although she didn't see any sign of anything untoward. None of the windows were broken, suggesting this wasn't a burglary, and there were no other messages written anywhere else. When she got back around to the front of the house Alexander was unmoved, and Scampy was sitting with his ears pricked up, ready to leap into action if he was needed.

  “Alexander, are you sure you don't know anything?” she said softly.

  “Whoever did this wanted you to see that message, that's why they put it over the front door. Can you think of anyone who would want to say these kind of things about you?”

  For a moment Ellen was unsure if he even had heard her words, as he only responded with a slow shake of his head. His eyes looked past her into another realm, and she was unable to see whatever it was he was seeing.

  Soon enough a car pulled up. Andy and Iris got out. Ellen updated them on what was happening and introduced them to Alexander.

  “Do we have any suspects?” Andy asked.

  “Not yet,” Ellen said, and glanced at Alexander, who still was lost in his own world. Ellen tossed her head to the side and moved out of Alexander's earshot, speaking in a low voice so he couldn't hear.

  “So far there's nothing. I took a look around the house and there's no sign of anyone. As far as I can tell this is the extent of the crime.”

  “And he doesn't know anyone who would be capable of this?” Andy asked.

  “He's not saying he does, but with the way he's acting I think he's hiding something. He's barely said two words since we got here but before that he was chatting away happily. We spent all day together in the cafe and it was going really well. Then he saw that and he's just clammed up. He's been sitting like that ever since we got here.”

  “It has to be a shock, seeing your home disgraced like that,” Iris added, looking with sympathy in Alexander's direction.

  “You know him the most out of all of us. What can you tell us? Do you think he's the type to have enemies?” Andy asked, a determined look in his eyes, the look he always got when he was faced with a new crime.

  “I wish I could tell you. I'm afraid I don't know him that well. I interviewed him and I was with him today but that's about it. From what I know he's a very open man. He's honest, and he's friendly,” she began.

  “But...?” Andy prompted, sensing that Ellen was trying to decide if she should say something or not. She furrowed her brow and glanced over at Alexander.

  “There just have been a few times when I feel like he's been avoiding certain subjects. He's been willing to talk about his depression, but when it comes to actual events in his life...he's not very forthcoming. Maybe this is why.”

  “Well, he'll have to talk at some point if he wants us to catch whomever did this. Iris, I want you to call the station and see if there have been any recent signs of vandalism in town. From the looks of it this is directed at our friend here, but we'd better check just to be on the safe side,” Andy said. Iris walked off to the side and picked up her phone to dial the station, leaving Andy and Ellen alone.

  “What else can you tell me?” he said.

  “The paint was wet, suggesting the person has been here recently, definitely within the last couple of hours. I guess the best thing to do is ask around the neighborhood, see if anyone saw anything. But if I were the person who did this I would have waited for the sun to set then sneak up, which is what they seemed to have done. It's not like spray painting is loud. They could have done it without anyone noticing. But that does mean they probably knew Alexander would be out today, which suggests they've been around the cafe recently, and knew he had his trial shift today. Who knows? They may even have been in the cafe today, although I didn't notice Alexander acting strangely around anyone. But, like I said, I don't really know him all that well, unfortunately.”

  At this point Iris came back and let them know there hadn't been any recent activity involving graffiti or any other kind of vandalism. Andy sighed and walked over to Alexander, introducing himself with a firm handshake. Alexander was shaken from his daze and shook Andy's hand weakly, then rose from his wall and stood up. Scampy wagged his tail as he saw Andy approach but Andy thought it best to keep things professional and not pet the dog while he was questioning a crime victim.

  “I know Ellen's talked to you a little bit, but I just wanted to see if you've managed to think of any information that might help us. Can you think of any other instances where something like this has happened? Or maybe there was some kind of dispute or argument you've been involved in recently? It could be even a small thing, something you thought was innocuous at the time. Sometimes you don't know how people can react. They can hold grudges for the smallest of things.”

  “I'm sorry, officer, but I really can't help you. I can't think of anyone who would want to do this to me. I've been minding my own business for the past couple of years. I can't think of a single person who would want to do this to me. Maybe some kids got the wrong house and this is all just some misunderstanding.”

  “Maybe,” And
y said, looking at him skeptically.

  “I suggest you take care and keep the doors locked. We'll try getting a crew down here to help you clean off the paint. Hopefully it's just a prank, but if you think of anything else that can help us don't hesitate to call. I think the best thing now is for all of us to go home and get some sleep. We can try figuring out who did this to you tomorrow,” Andy said.

  Alexander nodded and bid farewell to Ellen. She was concerned by how distant he seemed as he walked in the door, momentarily fracturing the phrase that had been spray painted over his house, only for it to be completed again when he closed the door behind him.

  “Let's spit up and go knocking on doors, that's about all we can do for now,” Andy said, and for a time he, Ellen, and Iris went around the neighborhood to ask if anyone had seen anything out of the ordinary.

  However, nobody had. The neighbors seemed to be oblivious to anything that was happening, and they were none too pleased at being disturbed at such a late hour. When asked about Alexander they said he mostly kept to himself and sometimes it was easy to forget he was there at all, which ended the vague suspicion that the perpetrator of the crime was a disgruntled neighbor.

  “So where do we go from here?” Iris asked.

  Ellen chewed her bottom lip, something that Andy knew she did only when she had something on her mind. “What's up?” he asked.

  “I think I might know somebody who wasn't too fond of Alexander, but I'd prefer to talk to them myself. I'll call you when I'm done,” she said, and squeezed Andy's arm, giving him a kiss as she got back in her car. Iris moved beside Andy.

  “Sir,” she said, “I hate to remind you of this, but the correct procedure is that one of us be present if she's going to question a witness.”

  “I know, but Ellen tends to make her own procedure, and I trust her with whatever she's doing,” he said, then turned away and drove back to the station.

  Meanwhile, Ellen drove to Pippa's house and knocked on the door, hating the idea of accusing Pippa. They already had had an unpleasant encounter earlier in the day, and Ellen didn't want to risk alienating anyone else, not like she had done with Maggie. However, Pippa was the only person she knew for sure had any disdain for Alexander. Furthermore, if anyone was going to hear anything about vandals it was going to be Pippa. Ellen knocked on the door and waited a few moments. Behind the door she heard Pippa yell for someone to get it, then heard aggravated footsteps stomp toward the door. She looked surprised when she saw Ellen standing there.