by Jinty James
Lauren and Zoe glanced at each other.
“Last week wasn’t the first time she’s tried to adopt a cat.” He shook his head. “She got a big surprise not long after we were married when she brought home this gorgeous furry kitten. I sneezed all night, and I had to go and sleep on the couch.”
Zoe’s expression to Lauren read, Yikes!
“How many years were you married?” Lauren asked, wondering if his answer would tally with his mother’s.
“Twenty-three.”
It did.
“That’s a long time,” Zoe remarked. Lauren couldn’t decide whether her cousin was impressed – or depressed.
“Do you know Rebecca?” Lauren remembered how his mother had praised Rebecca, the shelter volunteer, at the adoption event.
“Oh, yes.” His expression brightened. “We used to go to school together – she was a nice girl, and she’s turned into a nice lady.” He hesitated. “My mother wanted us to date, and we went out a couple of times, but I thought we made better friends than anything else.”
“When did you meet Nellie?” Zoe inquired.
“At college. I’ve always been—” he pressed his lips together.
“What?” Zoe leaned toward him.
“Drawn to bad girls,” he admitted, his cheeks turning crimson. He scanned the store, as if checking for eavesdroppers.
“Nellie was a bad girl?” Zoe’s expression was one of astonishment, mirroring Lauren’s silent thought.
“Yes. Well, not really bad. She was different to any of the other girls I’d dated, and she said she wanted to be with me. She was very attractive back then.”
“Do you have any idea who wanted to murder her?” Zoe pressed.
“No.” His face hardened. “The police have already asked me that – a horrible detective called Castern. I told him I have an alibi.”
When they didn’t say anything, he continued, “I was here.” He gestured to the bed linen in the aisle surrounding them.
“And I have witnesses.” He pointed to the sales clerk who’d given them some privacy. “I also have to clock in, even though I’m a manager. Now, can I help you two with something? We have a special on pillow shams right now.”
“No, thanks,” Zoe replied. She patted her pillowcase purchase. “I’ve already got what I need.”
“But thank you,” Lauren added.
He nodded, then strode toward the staff entrance.
“Let’s get out of here.” Zoe headed toward the elevator. “I definitely need some ice-cream.”
“Me too.” Lauren followed her cousin, noticing a shelf of ugly vases. Each one had a different pattern, but they all sported diamond shapes in depressing colors, like puce, and sooty smoke. She wondered why anyone would want one in their home. Then she reminded herself that everyone had different tastes – someone who liked that style of vase might think her pink sofa was ugly!
CHAPTER 8
“I CAN’T BELIEVE NELLIE was a bad girl.” Zoe licked her coconut and matcha ice-cream. “Mmm. We should come here more often.”
“I agree,” Lauren mumbled around her mouthful of maple rhubarb. They sat on a nearby bench enjoying their treat.
“But don’t you think it was a bit weird he said so much so quickly?” Zoe asked. “I mean, he told us all about his allergies without us even asking him.”
“Maybe he’s missed having someone to talk to,” Lauren replied. “He was married a long time and suddenly he’s all alone.”
“Yeah.” Zoe nodded. “A long time.” She paused. “But I don’t think it would feel like a long time if I was married to Chris for twenty-three years.”
Or Mitch, Lauren thought.
“Richard seemed henpecked on adoption day,” Lauren admitted, “but maybe that sort of relationship works for him?”
“It wouldn’t for me,” Zoe replied instantly.
“Nor me.”
“He’s back at work very quickly, too.”
“Maybe he couldn’t get any time off?” Lauren suggested. “Maybe he’ll take a couple of days for the funeral.”
“Mmm.” Zoe licked her cone again. “But he obviously had a motive to kill her. I think Nellie made his life a misery. She kicked him to the couch after they were first married because she brought home a cat and he was allergic to it.”
“That’s what he said,” Lauren reminded her. “But we don’t know if that’s the truth.”
“But we do know that Nellie wasn’t happy she couldn’t have a cat – especially the cat she chose at the café. So, I still think Nellie’s husband is the prime suspect.”
“What about his alibi?”
“I bet he faked it somehow.”
“Like how?”
“I’ll have to think about it,” Zoe admitted. “But I bet you can fake computer records if that’s how he punches in. Or bribe a colleague – no, blackmail a colleague into punching in for him. It wouldn’t be the first time an employee has fudged about the time they started work.”
“Good think we don’t have to punch in at the café,” Lauren said mildly.
“Yes, boss.” Zoe grinned. “But just think about how long he was married to Nellie – I bet you serve less time in jail for murder these days.”
THEY STOPPED AT THE grocery store on the way home. Lauren stocked up on cupcake ingredients, while Zoe browsed the aisles, eventually buying two candy bars.
“My treat.” She pressed one of them into Lauren’s hand.
“Thanks.” The bar was studded with nuts – which were good for you – at least, that’s what a lot of health experts said.
When they arrived home, Lauren checked on Annie, curled up on the sofa, nestling against the pink velvet cushion Mitch had given her.
“Ohhh,” Zoe whispered.
Lauren nodded. She didn’t want to disturb her fur baby.
“We’ll be quiet.” Zoe exaggeratedly tiptoed to her bedroom.
“We’re home,” Lauren murmured. Annie didn’t stir.
She put away the groceries, then gathered the special ingredients for the cupcakes. It would make things smoother in the morning if she mixed up the batter for them now.
Once in the cafe kitchen, she hummed while she worked. Zoe hadn’t emerged from her bedroom. Lauren wondered if she was seeing how her new pillowcases fit.
After mixing up the batter, Lauren put it in the big refrigerator for the morning. She’d make sure she gave Ed one of the new cakes and get his opinion.
When she got back to the cottage, Annie had woken and wanted to play. Zoe joined in the fun as well, and they had a pleasant evening, just the three of them. For the first time that day, murder was the last thing on Lauren’s mind.
“I CAN’T WAIT TO FIND out if the rest of the kittens got adopted.” Zoe unstacked chairs in the café the next morning.
“Me too.”
“Brrt!” Me three! Annie walked around the room, as if checking everything was in place – or perhaps she was inspecting that Zoe was unstacking the chairs correctly.
The rattle of pastry tins in the kitchen signaled Ed had started work.
“I wonder what Ed is going to make today?” Zoe placed the last chair on the floor with a little scrape. “I love his apricot Danish – but also his honeyed walnut.”
“I love all of his pastries,” Lauren admitted.
“Yeah.” Zoe grinned.
“I’ll frost the mocha cupcakes in a minute.”
“Make sure you save me one.”
“Of course.” Lauren smiled. She already had plans for some of them.
That morning she’d also made cinnamon swirl, and salted caramel cupcakes. Hopefully they would sell out of all the baked goods by five today.
Entering the kitchen, she greeted her pastry chef.
“Hi, Ed.”
“Hey.” He lifted his head briefly.
“Would you like one of my new cupcakes?” she offered. “It’s mocha. I’ll just add the frosting.”
“Thanks.” He smiled briefly. After
a second, he cleared his throat. “Um ... have you and Zoe made any progress?”
“On Nellie’s murder?”
“Yeah.”
“Not much,” she admitted. “We spoke to her husband yesterday but he claimed he has an alibi for the time of the murder.”
Ed looked disappointed. “Castern hassled Rebecca again yesterday.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” she replied.
“I told her not to say anything without a lawyer, but she said she doesn’t know if she can afford one.”
“He hasn’t arrested her, has he?”
“No.”
“That’s good.” Relief rolled through her. “Maybe you could ask Rebecca if she knows anyone else who could be considered a suspect?” Lauren suggested.
“Great idea.”
Lauren iced the cupcakes, gave Ed one, then took the others out to the café. She updated Zoe on Rebecca’s situation,
“That means we have to keep on sleuthing.” Zoe’s brown eyes lit up. “She’s depending on us.”
“Hopefully she’ll come up with another suspect apart from Richard, Nellie’s husband,” Lauren replied.
“I’m sure Ed will get onto that as soon as he can.” Zoe sounded cheerful.
A steady stream of customers filled the café that morning. Mrs. Finch came in, as well as Ms. Tobin, and Hans. The three of them shared a table, Ms. Tobin updating them on her kitten Miranda.
“Oh, Lauren,” Ms. Tobin said, when Lauren and Zoe appeared with their orders. “I reconnected with Miranda, my childhood friend on the weekend. I found her on social media.”
“No way!” Zoe grinned.
“That’s great.” Lauren smiled
“Brrt!” Annie approved. She sat with the trio.
“Is she still living in Cincinnati?” Zoe asked.
“Yes, she is. And she’s suggested I go visit her – or maybe she can come to me, since Miranda – kitten Miranda – is still settling in with me. I don’t want to leave her so soon.”
“I understand.” Lauren nodded.
“I think it would be awesome if human Miranda came to visit you. Then you’d have two Mirandas in the house!”
“Brrt!”
THAT AFTERNOON, REBECCA came into the café.
“Ed said I should come and talk to you,” she said softly.
“Brrt?” Annie trotted up to her.
“Can you find Rebecca a table?” Lauren asked her fur baby.
“Brrp.” Of course.
Rebecca followed the feline to a four-seater in the back.
“Good choice,” Zoe praised from the counter. “No one will hear our conversation.”
“I hope not.” Lauren finished off a peacock design on a latte and carried it over to the customer before they headed over to Rebecca’s table. Annie sat next to her, keeping her company – or was she guarding her?
“Can we get you anything?” Lauren asked.
“No thanks, I’m fine.” Rebecca smiled wanly.
“Did any of the kittens at the shelter get adopted over the weekend?” Lauren asked.
“Yes.” Rebecca brightened. “All of the little creatures. I’m so happy for them.”
“Awesome!” Zoe beamed.
Lauren studied the woman sitting opposite her. She didn’t look like a killer – but she and Zoe had been fooled before.
“Is Detective Castern giving you a hard time?” Zoe asked.
“The worst.” Rebecca nodded. “He keeps saying he knows I did it and he’s going to prove it.” She spread out her hands helplessly. “But I didn’t kill Nellie. I wish I’d never gone to her house that morning. I wish I wasn’t trying to be nice and apologize to her.” She pressed her lips in a firm line. “Have you ever noticed that bad things happen to nice people, but they never happen to bad people?”
“What do you mean?” Lauren asked. She hoped she was a nice person and so far, nice things had happened to her. Of course, she’d had unlucky incidences, but she tried to make the best of things, and she knew Zoe did, too. Zoe’s upbeat, positive attitude inspired her.
“Nellie,” Rebecca answered. “She wasn’t a nice person. But nothing bad ever seemed to happen to her. She had a husband who worked. She didn’t need to. She had a nice house. She had a new car – she was always telling me about it when I bumped into her.”
“I remember you mentioned that.” Lauren nodded.
“Nellie was murdered,” Zoe reminded her. “I’d say that was something bad.”
“You’re right,” Rebecca sounded regretful. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“You enjoy your time helping out at the shelter, don’t you?” Lauren asked.
“It’s the best.” Rebecca’s face lit up. “So is Ed.” She blushed. “I mean, I enjoyed helping out there before Ed started volunteering. And AJ is so cute. Sometimes he brings her with him.”
“He told us.” Zoe nodded.
“Didn’t you just come back from vacation?” Lauren continued to probe.
“That’s true.” Rebecca nodded. “Hawaii. I saved up a long time. I have a part-time job at the library, and can manage on my income. I always wanted to go there, and I thought now is as good a time as any.” She laughed self-consciously. “I didn’t have anyone to go with, so I went on my own.”
“So you got to do what you wanted to do there,” Zoe pointed out.
“I hadn’t thought about it like that,” Rebecca admitted. “I did enjoy myself.”
“And then you returned home and saw the red kitten you named Oliver at the shelter just before adoption day?” Lauren wanted to make sure they had all the facts straight.
“Yes.” Rebecca nodded. “He was the cutest little thing. I wanted to snatch him up and take him home with me right then, but I didn’t think it was fair if I got first pick. What if someone else loved him just as much as I did?”
“I don’t think Nellie did,” Lauren commented. “It seemed to me she wanted him because he was the best looking kitten on the day, not because she’d fallen in love with him instantly.”
“You could be right,” Rebecca replied. “She did seem disappointed he wasn’t a girl.”
“So why does Detective Castern think you’re guilty?” Zoe asked. “Do you know of anyone who had a grudge against Nellie?”
“No,” Rebecca said after a pause. “I don’t think so.”
“What about her husband?” Zoe inquired.
“Richard?” Rebecca’s eyes widened. “He’s a nice man.”
“He said you two went to school together,” Zoe pressed.
“That’s true,” Rebecca replied, “but it was a long time ago. When he married Nellie he seemed in love with her – and she seemed smitten with him, too. She was nicer back then.”
Lauren and Zoe exchanged a skeptical glance. Nellie hadn’t sounded nice when she’d kicked her husband Richard to the couch when they were newlyweds. According to Richard, Lauren reminded herself.
The entrance door opened with a bang.
Lauren turned around, frowning.
Detective Castern stalked into the café, a big scowl on his middle-aged face. He loomed over them, planting his palms on the table.
“Rebecca Atwick, why didn’t you tell me about your ongoing feud with Nellie? Lying to a police officer is an offence.”
“What? I didn’t – what?” Rebecca shrunk back in her chair. “I ... I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I’ve just heard that you had an affair with Nellie’s husband – and she found out,” he growled.
“I never! What are you talking about?”
Rebecca seemed genuinely confused.
“Rebecca was just telling us about—”
“Zoe,” Lauren murmured a caution. She didn’t want to do anything to set off the detective even more.
He turned to them. “You two can stay out of things or I’ll arrest you, too.”
Annie watched the exchange with wide, green eyes.
“You’re – you’re going to
arrest me?” Rebecca sounded frightened.
Detective Castern was silent for a moment.
“Not right now,” he finally spoke. “But I’m gathering evidence against you and as soon as I have enough, I’ll march you down to the station in front of everyone.” He shook his finger in front of Rebecca’s face. “I’ve got my eye on you. Don’t leave town.”
He marched out of the café.
“Is there something you forgot to tell us?” Zoe’s eyes looked like they were going to pop out of their sockets.
“Umm...” Rebecca looked she was about to cry.
“Brrt?” Annie asked softly.
“Are you having an affair with Nellie’s husband Richard?” Lauren asked evenly. “Or did you have one?”
“No. Of course not.” Rebecca vigorously shook her head. “I have no idea who told him that, because it isn’t true.”
“So why does he think it is?” Zoe probed.
“Because ...” Rebecca hesitated.
“If you want us to try and help you, then you need to tell us everything.” Lauren rose. “Otherwise, you’re wasting our time – and yours.”
“Yeah – what Lauren said.” Zoe rose too, although she glanced with surprise at her cousin. “We want to help you, but if you won’t confide in us—”
“I’m sorry. Please, sit down.” Rebecca’s lower eyelids trembled with tears. “I do need your help.”
“Okay.” Lauren resumed her seat, feeling mean. Maybe she wasn’t as nice as she thought she was. But sometimes there was a limit, and it seemed that she had just about reached hers.
“I’m not having an affair with Richard. I never have. But a couple of months ago he asked me for some advice.” Rebecca turned her head this way and that, as if checking she wouldn’t be overheard.
“About what?” Zoe leaned forward.
“He was having problems with Nellie.”
“And?” Lauren asked.
“And he wanted to know what to do.” Rebecca shook her head. “I’ve never been married, so I didn’t know how much help I could give him. He wanted to buy her a present, so I suggested flowers, chocolates, or her favorite perfume, if she wore any.”