Lou Chance picked up on the first ring. “Hello, sweetheart.”
Lisa explained what she wanted.
“I can do that, absolutely,” Lou said, a smile in his voice. “I’ll get back to you in just a few measures.”
They hung up, and Lisa gave Mo a thumbs-up.
“He said he’ll take care of it and call me right back,” she said.
“Great. What’s next?” Mo said, grinning and grabbing a handful of popcorn.
“I guess we need to make sure the Valentine camp will be there. What do you think, a call? An email? Certified letter by US Postal Service?”
“Maybe both a call and an email. The call can be informal, and the email more formal,” Mo said.
“Yes, and I have an idea. What if we cc the press on the email?” Lisa said.
“Sure. Want to start composing the email now?”
“I do. But what about a moderator? We’ll want to include that in the email, won’t we?”
“Hmm,” Mo said, absentmindedly running a hand along Mama Cat’s smooth fur. “Yes, but who?”
They sat thinking and stroking the cat between them.
“Maybe the judge?” Lisa said.
“She’s the one who removed Valentine from office,” Mo pointed out. “What about the high school principal?”
“Too close to my parents,” Lisa said. “Maybe a member of the press?”
“Won’t they want to be covering the story?” Mo said.
“I know,” Lisa said. “We’ll ask the Valentine camp to name the moderator. That way, they can’t claim we picked someone biased against them. And it would make them look bad to refuse the debate, when we’ve been so reasonable about it.”
“Do you think your mother will go for that idea?” Mo said, his brow furrowed.
“She asked me to plan the debate. I’m planning it. My way,” Lisa said firmly.
Chapter 23
“Lisa Marie Chance, what were you thinking?”
Lisa held the phone away from her ear and shrugged apologetically at the customers in the front parlor. She jogged back into the kitchen before responding.
“I was thinking that you put me in charge of the debate, and actually, I think I did a good job of it,” Lisa said once she was clear of the crowd of Monday morning customers.
“This is an absolute disaster,” Penny squawked into the phone.
“Earthquakes, fires, and floods are disasters, Mom. This is just things not going the way you imagined. I’m not a mind-reader. If you wanted things to be done a particular way, you could have used words to tell me,” Lisa said.
Lisa paused a moment, bemused. Mo had told her something similar about her own expectations on the idea of a romantic proposal. Maybe she was learning something. Or unlearning something.
“You don’t need to get smart with me, young lady,” Penny snapped. “What are we going to do about this moderator situation?”
The noise from the other side of the swinging kitchen door intensified to a dissatisfied rumble.
“Mom, I’ve got customers waiting. You know how busy Monday mornings are in a coffee shop. I’ll call you when I get a break.” Lisa hung up and whizzed around the kitchen, starting a new pot of coffee and grabbing an order pad.
She stuck the order pad in her apron pocket, grabbed a coffee pot to offer refills, and went back out to serve customers.
A cluster of people stood in the sitting room. Lisa blinked when she realized the entire city council was standing in her café.
“Hi. How are you? What can I get you this morning?” she said, smiling at them.
Charlene Albert spoke first, smiling graciously. “I think we should all sit down to a full breakfast,” she said.
Herbert Rogerson scowled. “We hardly have time for that. Think of efficiency. We should get something to go.”
“You would say that,” Charlene retorted. “It’s a very short-sighted point of view.”
“You’re the short-sighted one,” Herbert said.
Bennett Parsons nodded to Lisa, ignoring his bickering co-members of the city council. “I think I’ll have a cappuccino and a muffin,” he said.
Bennett took a seat near a window. Charlene beamed and sat down as well. Herbert harrumphed and sat down on the side of the table where he could glare at Charlene.
“I’ll have the same,” grumped Herbert.
“I think I’d like to try the bagel and egg sandwich. Vegetarian style,” Charlene said.
“Would you still like cheese on that?” Lisa asked.
“Yes. And I’d like a Sunshine Muffin. And to drink, a half-caf skinny latte with sugar-free vanilla syrup and just a dash of caramel syrup,” Charlene said.
“We don’t carry sugar-free caramel syrup,” Lisa said.
“Oh, that’s fine, give me the regular caramel and the sugar-free vanilla.”
Lisa nodded. Herbert rolled his eyes. Charlene beamed across the table at him.
In the kitchen, making their breakfast order, Lisa realized she had a perfect opportunity to find out more about the late Dan Weston from the city council members. She finished the order and brought it out.
“Is this the first time you’ve been into Lisa’s Last Chance Café?” she said as she placed their food and drinks on their table.
Charlene and Herbert both nodded, then eyed each other suspiciously, unaccustomed to agreeing on anything.
Bennett shook his head. “I’ve been in once or twice.”
“I’m surprised. I seldom forget a face or a coffee order,” Lisa said.
“I think someone else was working,” Bennett said. “Teenager? Obsessed with celebrities? She said I looked like an older Brandon Lee.”
Lisa laughed. “That sounds like Annette.”
“Nice kid,” Bennett said.
“She is,” Lisa agreed. “Do you mind if I ask you a question?”
“Your cappuccino is better,” Bennett said, taking a sip.
“Thanks, but that’s not what I was going to ask. I was actually interested in finding out more about Dan Weston. Did you know him well?”
Bennett sipped his cappuccino and looked thoughtful. Charlene nodded. Herbert shook his head, then scowled at Charlene’s nod.
“Dan was an ambitious kid,” Bennett said. “But he mostly stuck close to Ethan. Mayor Valentine, I mean.”
“The kid was Ethan’s shadow,” Charlene said. “I used to wonder how Ethan managed to get his clothes so well-tailored since that would mean having more than a micron of space between him and Dan.”
“Did Mrs. Valentine mind that?” Lisa said, thinking of the snobby woman and her judgmental attitude about Taylor Hall.
“Wouldn’t you?” Charlene said.
“He wasn’t always on top of Ethan,” Herbert said. “And that kid wasn’t exactly a kid. He had a fiancée, for crying out loud.”
“That doesn’t mean he wasn’t a kid,” Charlene said.
“A potential child groom?” Herbert said.
“You’re impossible, Herbert.”
“He was Ethan’s right hand,” Bennett said.
Charlene and Herbert nodded.
“Anything anyone wanted Ethan to do, they had to go through Dan,” Herbert added.
He looked at Charlene to disagree, but she gave a half shrug, conceding it was true.
“Did that include the poker game?” Lisa said, partially turning away to make her question appear casual.
Herbert snorted. “Of course it did. What do you think we mean by everything?”
“Herbert,” Charlene said, “that’s enough.” But she gave another half shrug.
Lisa looked at Bennett for his take on the question.
Bennett smiled thinly. “I think it’s time we go. Please tell Ms. Baldwin-Chance we stopped in, and that we look forward to seeing her performance at next week’s debate.”
They hustled out of the café, Charlene and Herbert bickering with each other under their breath. Lisa watched them go, then reached over to clear t
heir table.
“I see some things never change,” a voice said behind her.
Startled, Lisa almost dropped a plate. She fumbled it onto the table and turned around. Jake Peterman sneered at her.
“Good morning, Mr. Peterman. You surprised me,” Lisa said. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Why are you asking questions about Dan Weston and the poker game?” he said.
“Idle curiosity?”
“You know what they say about curiosity and killing the cat,” he growled.
“If you’d like to order something, that’s fine. Otherwise, I’ll thank you to stop loitering in my place of business,” Lisa said, gritting her teeth.
“If you even think about throwing around accusations about me again, I’ll sue for defamation of character,” Peterman said, a snarl on his face.
Lisa put her hands on her hips and glared back at him.
“I think you need to leave now,” she said.
The front door jingled and Toby walked in, wearing his police uniform. He spotted Lisa and came into the sitting room with a smile on his face. The smile faded as he took in the way Peterman and Lisa were glowering at each other.
“Hi, cuz. Got some coffee for a hard-working officer of the law?” Toby said.
“Of course,” Lisa said. She gave Peterman the hairy eyeball for another second before making her way to the kitchen to mix up a mocha for her cousin.
Pulling the espresso shot and foaming the milk helped soothe Lisa’s nerves, and by the time she got back to Toby, she was feeling almost calm again. Seeing that Jake Peterman had departed made the calm real.
Toby took a sip of the mocha. “Delicious, as always. Cuz, you’re a real wizard with an espresso machine.”
“Thanks. Toby, can I ask you something?”
Toby inhaled the aroma of the drink before answering. “If it’s about Dan Weston’s murder, probably not.”
“Why would you even say that?” Lisa protested.
“Because I know you.”
“Ok, fine, I do want to ask about Dan Weston,” she said.
Toby sank into a chair and ran a hand over his crewcut hair. “What is it?” he said with a sigh.
“The poker game,” Lisa said. “Did everyone at the poker game have an alibi for Dan’s murder? Or only that drunk, Gary Barlow?”
“Hoping it was Peterman this time?” Toby said.
“That guy’s a real jerk,” she said, “but I wouldn’t exactly say I was hoping it was him.”
“Good, because he was out of town,” Toby said.
“Another one out of town?” Lisa said.
“What do you mean by ‘another one’?” Toby said.
“Uh…” Lisa looked away.
“Just spit it out,” Toby said. “I know you’ve been snooping around. You can’t help yourself. Stubborn.”
“Fine. Taylor Hall was out of town, too,” Lisa said.
“Yep,” Toby said, nodding. “But I know how you love to speculate about the husband or wife or what-have-you.”
“That’s what the statistics say,” Lisa said. “It’s science.”
Toby laughed. “Sure.”
“What about the others at that illicit gambling night? Alibis?” Lisa said.
“Most of them.”
Lisa waited. A teasing smile crept over Toby’s face.
“Well?” she said when she couldn’t take the suspense any more. “Who doesn’t have an alibi?”
“I’m just teasing you. They all have alibis,” Toby said.
“Oh.” Lisa’s face fell. “Strong ones?”
“Ha! No, not all strong ones. Valentine says he was at home with his wife. Regent claims he was on a business call with Bargain Box’s corporate headquarters. We haven’t been able to reach his associate to confirm that yet.” Toby scratched his head. “I hope the chief is still ok with me talking about cases with you.”
“Me too,” Lisa said. “Want to take some extra muffins to the station to ensure continuing goodwill?”
Chapter 24
That evening, Lisa was looking forward to unwinding with a good book and a hot bath. She had just finished the dishes in the café and hung up her apron when she heard a furious knocking on the front door.
Lisa sighed and trudged to the door, her feet complaining that it was quitting time. She opened the door. Penny barreled in.
“Are you trying to sabotage my campaign?” Penny demanded.
“Of course not!”
Penny sank into a chair and put her hand to her forehead. “Then why on earth would you let the other side select the moderator?”
“I thought it would make it more likely they’d even show up,” Lisa said. “He’s the incumbent. Why would he want to debate a challenger when incumbents usually win?”
“He’s not an incumbent. He was removed from office,” Penny said.
“He’s still got the name recognition of an incumbent,” Lisa argued.
“But he could select anyone to moderate! He could select a dog or a goat,” Penny said.
“He’s not going to select an animal. That would make him look like he doesn’t care about the town or the election.”
“Then he could select someone terrible. What if he tapped Jake Peterman to moderate?” Penny said.
Lisa sat in an upholstered chair and put her chin in her hand.
“That would be bad,” she admitted. “Peterman likes Valentine’s politics—”
“Because he’s corrupt,” Penny said.
“He likes his politics,” Lisa continued, “and he may still hold a grudge against our family.”
“After you accused him of murder?” Penny said. “Why would he hold a grudge over that?”
“I didn’t accuse him, I merely asked about his alibi. And don’t forget your little date with him, and Daddy’s reaction to that,” Lisa said.
Penny tried to hide her smile but failed and burst into a laugh.
“He’s not a man who likes to be made ridiculous,” she said.
“No. But this is all still speculation. They could ask for someone neutral,” Lisa said.
“Is there still such a person in this town? I’ve never seen people so divided,” Penny said. “This proposed Bargain Box store has hit a nerve.”
“Who would you have picked to moderate?” Lisa said.
“I, um,” Penny sputtered. “I don’t know offhand. But you should have asked me before you sent that email. And sending it to the press, too! What were you thinking?”
“I thought I’d embarrass them if they said no,” Lisa said.
“Oh. That makes sense.” Penny opened her purse and pulled out her phone. “Let me check my email; maybe they’ve replied.”
Lisa leaned back in the chair to wait. Mama Cat wandered in and jumped in her lap for some petting.
“Hmm,” Penny said, frowning. “Interesting.”
“What is it?”
“They’ve named a moderator.”
“And?” Lisa sat up, making Mama Cat grip her leg with claws out for balance. “Who is it?”
“Claire Comstock.”
“Claire Comstock?” Lisa said, startled at the mention of her landlady. “Really?”
“I guess having an old patrician name in town still counts for something,” Penny said. “Please tell me you’re up to date on your rent and haven’t been a problem tenant.”
“Of course,” Lisa said. “I mean, I’m up to date now.”
“But you’ve been late on rent in the past?” Penny said, raising an eyebrow.
“Yes?” Lisa said, cringing.
“Oh, Lisa,” Penny said, shaking her head.
“I don’t think that should affect her as a moderator, though. We’re on good terms now.”
“I’ll have to hope you’re right.”
Lisa stroked Mama Cat and tickled her under the chin. Gently lifting the cat off her lap and depositing her on the chair, Lisa stood up. She walked into the hall at the bottom of the stairs.
> “Did you see the bumper stickers on display?” Lisa said.
Penny followed Lisa into the hall. Lisa had placed the bumper stickers on the table at the base of the stairs, one style of sticker on the left and one on the right, with the Sunshine Muffins in the middle. A little sign invited people to take a bumper sticker for free.
“Have people been taking them?” Penny said.
“A few,” Lisa said. “Mo and I have them on our own cars, of course.”
“And who else?” Penny said. “Carly? Gideon?”
“Um, no, I don’t think so.”
“You should take care of that,” Penny said. “A strong show of community support matters. What about yard signs? I didn’t see one in your yard when I arrived.”
“Oh. I guess I was worried we might run out, and I didn’t want your other supporters to be disappointed,” Lisa said.
“Very thoughtful. But not necessary. Put up a yard sign. Put it close to the street so people driving around the town square can see it.”
When her mother finally left, Lisa needed to unwind in the bath more than ever. She dragged herself upstairs and ran the hot water with a splash of bubble bath.
“Ah, perfect,” she said, sinking into the tub.
Lisa picked up her book, a paperback murder mystery with an adorable cat on the cover, plucked out her bookmark, and started reading. Mama Cat came into the bathroom, jumped up on the lid of the toilet seat and stared into the sudsy tub with dilated pupils and a swishing tail.
“Oh no, you don’t. Neither one of us would have fun if you tried to catch these bubbles,” Lisa warned the cat.
Mama Cat flicked her tail a couple more times, then lifted a leg and began bathing herself.
“That’s better.” Lisa went back to her book.
The cat in the book was just causing trouble for the humans when Lisa heard a creak from downstairs, followed by a thump and a muffled curse.
Lisa dropped the book on the floor and sat straight up. Someone was in the Folly. Had she locked the door behind her mother when she left?
She quickly climbed out of the tub and wrapped her fuzzy robe around herself. She scooped up Mama Cat under one arm and grabbed her phone with the other hand and tiptoed out of the bathroom, through the bedroom, and into the reinforced closet. She closed it and locked it, her heart pounding.
Killer Campaign (Lisa Chance Cozy Mysteries Book 3) Page 13