by Lyndsey Cole
Annie took a long sip of her wine. Jason placed his hand on her thigh. “I’m sorry. Finding the truth quite often solves one issue, but can create new ones. Just be yourself. Leona has to figure out her new role.”
“But that’s the problem. I don’t want her to have a new role. I want us to have the same carefree fun relationship we used to have. I’m twenty nine. She can’t start over like I’m her little girl now.”
The oven timer interrupted their conversation and Jason stood up. “Be patient. She’ll work it out.”
Annie frowned but tried to shake off the bad mood as she followed Jason into the kitchen. She knew he was right, he usually had a good sense about people.
“This isn’t exactly a summer meal, but it’s all I could manage to finagle out of Leona.”
Annie inhaled deeply. “The garlic and oregano are making my mouth water. Dish it out before I faint from starvation.”
Holding the food from Annie, Jason teased, “That would give me an excuse to catch you in my arms.”
“I’m not planning to eat and run,” Annie replied with a sly glance from the corner of her eyes.
Jason carried the eggplant parmesan to the table and pulled a chair out for Annie. “Good to know.”
After Jason lit the candle, he held his wine glass up. “Cheers,” he said as he clinked Annie’s glass and settled comfortably into his chair. “I’m glad to be home. With you.”
Jason served Annie a portion of the eggplant. She helped herself to a big serving of the salad which was loaded with tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded carrots, avocados and feta cheese, with a tangy orange dressing drizzled over the top. “Leona didn’t make the salad too, did she?”
“No. I can handle salads. Actually, it’s about my favorite thing to make. So, tell me what I’ve missed around here.”
Annie set her fork down and broke off a big chunk of the garlic bread. “Robbie Benson is dead.”
Jason’s eyebrows shot up, almost to his hairline. “When? How?”
Annie shrugged. “I don’t have many details. Martha told me he died today. She heard about it from one of the Crowley twins. Stacey Jordan found him when she went for a home visit.”
“Interesting.”
“What do you know about that nasty little man?”
Jason chuckled. “Don’t mince your words. What did he ever do to you?”
“Nothing, really. He’s just rude and condescending when he comes into the café.” She stabbed a cherry tomato with her fork.
“I suppose he would be. Interacting with women isn’t his strong point.”
“And everyone knows how he treats his sister. So, what do you know about him?”
“He has a piece of valuable land that several people have been trying to get their hands on.”
Annie’s fork stopped half way to her mouth. “Valuable enough for someone to murder him?”
Chapter 5
“Murder? You didn’t say anything about murder.”
“You’re right. I’m speculating. I didn’t want to think about this tonight, but, well—”
“What is it Annie?” Jason asked with concern in his voice.
“It’s something I found in my apartment.”
“And?”
“Someone put a book through Smokey’s cat door with a message inside. The message doesn’t make any sense to me, but the idea that somehow it’s connected to Robbie’s death popped into my head.” Her fork clicked on her plate as she got back to eating.
“What was the message?” Jason wiped his mouth with his napkin.
“Annie, Oliver knows what happened. Do you know an Oliver in town?”
Jason shook his head. “It could be a coincidence. Can you talk to Tyler about it? See if he’ll give you any information?”
“I suppose so. Maybe tomorrow. I don’t want to bother him tonight about what might just be a wild goose chase. It’s Dylan’s ninth birthday and JC told me they were taking him out for miniature golf and burgers.” Annie refilled her wine glass.
“Fair enough. Too be continued tomorrow then. How is that relationship going?” His eyes twinkled. “As long as Tyler and JC are involved, I don’t have to worry about you and Tyler renewing your old love affair.”
Annie grinned but didn’t give Jason any reply.
Jason finished his eggplant parmesan. As Annie reached for more garlic bread he reminded her, “Make sure you leave room for dessert.”
“Are you implying I should watch my weight?”
Annie watched a slight blush creep up Jason’s neck. “No, don’t put words in my mouth. You’re perfect just the way you are.”
“I guess I shouldn’t eat this second piece of bread.” Annie grinned. “What did you make?”
“Well, I can’t exactly take credit for it.”
“Right. Leona made it. Let me guess. Blackberry pie?”
“How did you know?”
“We’ve been making them all week. And I picked up another order of blackberries from Peter’s farm this morning.”
“How is Peter?” Jason asked after stacking the dishes to bring to the kitchen. “I don’t know how he manages that big farm.”
“Good question. Going to his farm was an interesting twist in my day.” Annie carried the salad bowl to the kitchen counter.
Jason returned with the blackberry pie, placing it on the table. “Don’t tell me he’s dead too?”
“No, at least he wasn’t dead when they put him in the ambulance this morning. And I heard he was released from the hospital.” Annie scooped vanilla ice cream onto the piece of pie Jason served her. “I found him, well, actually, Roxy found him passed out in one of the blackberry rows. There was a terrible smell.”
“This pie is fantastic,” Jason said between bites, apparently more interested in dessert than Peter’s problems. “Tart and sweet with a light flaky crust.”
“They are selling like hot cakes at the moment. I’m not sure we’ll be able to keep up with the orders. Especially if Peter doesn’t get more blackberries picked.”
“Doesn’t he have any help?”
“He does, but if he’s not well enough to oversee what’s going on, the work might not get done.”
The candle flickered as Jason got up from the table and turned his iPod to a romantic mix of music.
“Shall we sit on the porch and watch the stars?”
Annie followed Jason to the porch swing with a big smile on her face.
***
Annie woke up when Roxy jumped off the bed and she tensed when she heard Roxy’s deep throaty growl. A soft thud came from the main part of her apartment, followed by a rustling noise. Her heart raced. Then silence.
Annie quietly slid out from under her cotton blanket, grabbing her flashlight as an afterthought, which could work as a weapon if needed.
She stood silently behind her bedroom door for what felt like several minutes, listening to the early morning sounds. A few birds sang, a branch tapped against the house from the breeze and the sound of tires crunching on the driveway faded and disappeared. With her heart pounding in her chest, she forced herself to breathe in and out until it calmed to a normal beat. Roxy stood guard between Annie and the closed door.
Finally, she cautiously opened her bedroom door. At first, nothing seemed different. As she entered the room and got a clear view of the big front window to the left of her front door, she saw a book on the floor, about a foot inside the cat door. The hairs on her arms prickled up. The first book that she found the day before still sat innocently on her coffee table.
Annie stared at the book as if it might disintegrate if she stared at it long enough. Roxy sniffed it and poked it with her paw, then walked away disinterested.
Taking a deep breath, Annie picked up the book and opened the cover. Annie, check the trash, was written in red ink.
She compared the writing from the two messages and decided it had to be the same person. Who was sending her messages and what did they mean? She checked her trash which
was empty, so whose trash was the message referring to?
Smokey let himself out through the cat door. The noise of the flap swinging closed gave her goosebumps with the memory of the sound when the book was pushed through.
With a sigh, she filled Smokey’s water and food bowl and picked up her new bag. Martha had started making the cutest quilted bags and Annie couldn’t resist buying the one covered with black cats. Black cats were sleeping or jumping and even stretching on the back, and the front had one big curled up black cat on a big pocket. It reminded her of Smokey when he made himself comfortable on the windowsill of her big window overlooking Heron Lake. He always had one eye open and his tail twitched when a bird landed on the bird feeder.
“Okay Roxy, ready to roll?” Annie asked her dog a half hour later. She dropped the two books into her bag and slipped her camera strap over her shoulder.
Roxy sat by the front door, waiting patiently for Annie to clip on the leash.
“I should take lessons from you on how to be patient.” Annie laughed as she stroked the soft white fur on Roxy’s head. “Come on Roxy. We may as well head to the café and get a jumpstart on the day.”
She picked up Roxy’s leash and left her apartment. A quick glance at Jason’s dark house, and a small smile at the memory of the evening before, was all the time she allowed herself before driving down the hill into Catfish Cove. She looked in awe at the sliver of light and pink glow beginning to peek above the mountains.
Annie pulled to the side of the road to enjoy the silence and the beauty before getting out and snapping several photos for the grand opening of her Fisher Fine Art Gallery.
The squeal of tires taking the corner near Annie made her jump out of the way as Leona’s yellow mustang sped by. The top was down and Leona’s hair sailed behind her unsmiling face. Annie stared in disbelief at the reckless driving and the lack of acknowledgement from Leona.
Ten minutes later, when Annie walked into the Black Cat Café, Leona had the oldie station blaring and she seemed like her old self. Almost. Annie turned the radio down, prompting a glare from Leona.
“How was your date with Luke?” Annie asked, ignoring the angry stare.
Leona shrugged. “Okay, I guess. Not sure I’ll see him again.” She pulled cinnamon rolls out of the oven and set them on a rack to cool.
Annie poured two cups of coffee, bringing them to the counter and sliding one toward Leona. “Nothing better than coffee with one of your cinnamon rolls straight out of the oven. Bring a couple over and take a break.”
After Leona sat down on the stool next to Annie, they ate in silence side by side.
“Gonna share any more details?” Annie finally broke the silence. “He acted like the perfect gentleman yesterday.” That was true she thought to herself. Too perfect, but that was her opinion.
Leona swiveled ninety degrees so she faced Annie. “Yeah, he is. Almost too perfect. Handsome, polite, thoughtful, and he has a boatload of money.”
Annie laughed. “What’s wrong with that?”
“No one is perfect. He has to have flaws, but he hides them so well he doesn’t seem real.” She shook her head. “I want to like him, but I’m afraid he’s got a motive for being in town and I don’t want him to break my heart.” She covered Annie’s hand with hers.
“You don’t have to fall head over heels in love with him after one date. Have a good time and see what happens.” She smiled to herself about how they both came to the same conclusion about Luke.
Leona hugged Annie. “How did you become so wise? You must have gotten that from Mia, because there’s not one shred of common sense in my body. Don’t ever change. I thought I was supposed to be giving you advice, not the other way around.”
Annie drained her coffee. “Is that what’s been bothering you lately? Feeling like you have to be the mature one in the crowd?” She hoped she didn’t touch a nerve.
Leona spun back toward the counter. “I guess so. I thought I had to start being a better role model.”
“Don’t try to change. I love you for who you are, not who you think you should be.”
“Okay.” Leona slid off the stool, pulling Annie with her. She twirled her around and they kicked up their heels to the music.
“That’s more like it, Leona. I need your spontaneous energy, not a serious unhappy bore.”
“I was a bore for the last few months?”
“Uh huh,” Annie teased.
Danny Davis poked his head around the café door. “Too early for my coffee and blueberry muffin?” He slipped his Red Sox baseball cap into the back pocket of his khaki shorts.
Leona linked her arm in Danny’s and pulled him to the counter. “Sit down, I’ll get it for you. I need you to make me some more of those beautiful hexagonal picnic tables for the deck. Everyone wants to sit outside in the nice weather.”
Danny smiled. “I have a couple made already. I thought you might be needing them.”
Leona kissed Danny on the cheek. “What would I do without you?”
“Did you hear about Robbie Benson?” Danny asked.
“Yeah. Can’t say we’re too broken up about it.” Leona brought him his coffee and a big blueberry muffin with extra streusel on top.
“Did you hear the police suspect murder?” Danny said before stuffing his face with muffin. “Possibly Stacey Jordan.”
Chapter 6
“Murder?” Leona sputtered.
“Well. I guess it’s more like the death hasn’t been ruled from natural causes yet,” Danny explained.
Annie filled the granola containers and moved the breakfast cart into place. “Stacey Jordan? Her daughters work here. I heard she found the body, why is she a suspect?”
Danny wiped some crumbs from his mouth with the back of his hand. “That’s all I heard from Bob Crowley.” He slid off the stool and started to walk toward the door. “Do you want me to bring the picnic tables over this morning?”
“The sooner the better. Customers will be coming in soon,” Leona replied.
Luke Carbone brushed by Danny, nearly knocking into him. “There you are Leona. Why’d you rush out so fast this morning?”
Annie couldn’t miss the glare Danny gave Luke as he turned around to observe this intruder.
“I have a business to run. Maybe you missed that part of the conversation last night while you were busy talking about yourself,” Leona replied as she bustled around the kitchen getting organized for smoothie and breakfast sandwich orders.
“Slow down, babe, don’t get your panties in a twist. I thought you were having fun last night.”
Leona slammed a container of yogurt on the counter. “Don’t call me babe.”
Danny grabbed Luke’s arm. “Maybe you should leave. Leona’s kind of busy.”
Luke looked Danny up and down as if he was something that should have been thrown out with the trash. “Get your hand off me. Who are you?”
“It’s time to leave.” Danny repeated in a quiet but menacing tone.
Luke jerked away from Danny and started to walk toward Leona. Before anything came out of his mouth, Danny had Luke’s arm twisted up behind his back and was escorting him out of the café. “You don’t listen too good, do ya?”
Leona watched with her mouth hanging open. Annie put her arm around Leona’s waist. “Looks like Danny’s got your back. He can read people, and my guess is he doesn’t think much of Mr. Fancy-Pants Luke Carbone. Oh. I almost forgot. We have a new worker starting today,” Annie told Leona, hoping to get her mind off of Luke and Danny.
“Oh?”
Annie filled Leona in on the drama with Bree. “We can’t let Bree keep the job if she’s so irresponsible. I told Ashley to bring her friend.”
Mia arrived at the same time as the ice cream delivery man and opened the door for him. He pushed his hand-cart into the café. “Where do you want this stuff?”
Leona motioned for him to bring it to the freezer. “Everything goes in here for now and we’ll stock the window free
zer as needed.” Mia helped to unload the hand-cart while Leona wrote a check for the ice cream.
The morning rush of customers started to stream in for their coffee, pastries and a view of the lake. By late morning, Ashley and her friend walked into the café, laughing and playfully knocking into each. Bree followed with an embarrassed look on her face. She sidled up to Leona. “Are you really going to fire me?”
Leona put her hands on her hips. “What you did yesterday is unacceptable but I’m willing to give you another chance. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt that it was an error of judgment and you learned your lesson.”
Bree’s smile spread from ear to ear. She elbowed Ashley. “See, I told you I didn’t lose my job.”
Leona took Bree by the arm and pulled her away from Ashley and the new girl. “Don’t even think like that when you are in this café. You treat everyone with respect. Customers, and especially your sister. Do you understand?”
Bree nodded, her face turning bright red.
“You can work at the pastry counter.” Leona walked away to meet the new girl.
“Annie asked me to bring in my friend today. This is Kristen,” Ashley said.
“Great. You two can get the ice cream freezer stocked. There’s a new delivery of ice cream in the big freezer. Any questions?”
Ashley shook her head. “We can manage that. Thank you.”
Annie was happy to hear that drama was sorted out. At least for the moment.
Danny was outside setting up two new picnic tables by the time customers started moving to the deck for seating. Annie smiled and felt her heart beat a bit faster when she noticed Jason helping Danny. He was always ready to lend a hand to anyone in need, even when it put his life in danger. She shivered in the July heat at the memory of Jason rescuing Tess when she fell through the ice last February. She thought she might never see Jason again on that cold dark night.
Leona went out on the deck to direct the placement of the tables and to bring out new red umbrellas.
Bree gently elbowed Annie and whispered, “My mom is talking to you.”