by Jinty James
“It’s definitely quieter around here,” Zoe informed her cheerily.
If you don’t count two murders in two months.
Lauren and Zoe hurried to the counter. “I’ll make the latte and babycino if you plate the cupcake,” Lauren suggested.
“Sure thing, boss.” Zoe grinned.
While they worked, a couple more customers arrived. Annie came over to greet them and lead them to their tables, then trotted back to the toddler and her mom.
“It’s usually busier than this in the morning,” Zoe muttered.
“I know.” Lauren shook a generous helping of chocolate powder on the not-too-hot milk foam that was the basis of the babycino, then added a marshmallow on the side. She served it in an espresso cup – just the right size for children.
“I’ll take these over.” Lauren grabbed the tray and walked over to Claire.
“Let me know if you’d like anything else.” Lauren carefully placed the babycino in front of the toddler. “The foam isn’t too hot.”
“That looks wonderful.” Claire looked admiringly at the silky white foam, the lavish serve of chocolate powder, and the pink marshmallow.
“Cino, cino!” The little girl clapped her hands in delight.
Annie looked inquiringly at the babycino.
“The chocolate powder isn’t good for you,” Lauren told the cat. “And I don’t think the marshmallow would be, either.”
“Brrp.” Annie seemed to understand, although she sounded disappointed.
“And mine looks wonderful, too.” Claire plunged her fork into the triple chocolate cupcake and closed her eyes as she tasted the combination of ganache and cake. “That’s incredible.” She blinked as she slowly opened her eyes.
“Thanks.” Satisfaction filled Lauren. She loved it when customers appreciated her baking.
“I must buy another triple chocolate to take home with me.”
“I’ll take care of that right now.” Lauren grinned as she hurried back to the counter.
“Another satisfied customer – make that two customers?” Zoe asked hopefully as she studied the trio at the table.
“Yes.” Lauren busied herself with the to-go order. “Claire loves the cupcake.”
“Who wouldn’t?”
“My waistline.” Lauren looked ruefully at the waistband of her blue capris.
“Men like a bit of curve. I’m sure of it.” Zoe glanced down at her straight-waisted figure. “Sometimes I wish I looked like you.”
“And sometimes I wish I looked like you.” Lauren shook her head in wonder.
“Well, from now on, we’re going to believe we’re perfect just the way we are,” Zoe declared.
“You’re right.” Lauren nodded. She’d tried diets in the past and had been miserable on them. If tasting her sweet treats was a crime, then so be it. If she couldn’t indulge in a cupcake when she needed – wanted – needed one, then her curvy figure was the price she would pay.
Annie stayed with Claire and Molly until they left, the happy girl waving goodbye to Annie, alternately chanting, “cat” and “cino” all the way to the door.
“Are you open every day?” Claire asked hopefully.
“We’re closed on Sundays and Mondays,” Lauren told her. “And Saturday afternoons.”
“We’ll definitely visit again next week,” their new customer promised.
“Brrt!” Annie sounded approving.
The rest of the morning passed by in a blur. After a slow start, they had plenty of customers, resulting in the triple chocolate cupcakes selling out by lunchtime.
Zoe looked mournfully at the empty glass case. “I was going to have one for lunch.”
“Me too.” Lauren sighed. “I didn’t expect them to be such a big hit.”
“Promise you’ll make more tomorrow.”
“I will.”
“They’ve even outsold Ed’s apricot Danish.” Zoe cheered up.
“That might be a first.” Lauren smiled. Sometimes she thought Ed’s pastries were just a little more popular than her cupcakes. And after having sampled plenty of them, she could understand why.
Lauren and Zoe barely had time for a lunch break. The room was packed, all the customers talking about the food critic’s murder.
But Lauren didn’t see Brandon come in. She didn’t know if he’d already returned to Sacramento or was still in town. Would the newspaper let him take over Todd’s column since he was an intern?
Lauren had no idea if her café would still be reviewed. She just hoped that Todd hadn’t had time to post a bad review about his experience at Gary’s. When she had a chance tonight, she could search online and see if anything came up for Gary’s restaurant.
They were just about to close up at five that afternoon, when Claire rushed back in, Molly sobbing in the stroller.
“What’s wrong?” Lauren hurried over.
“Want Bear,” the little girl wailed. Her face was wet with tears.
“We’ve lost her teddy bear,” her mother said. Her face was flushed and she looked like she’d run all the way to the café pushing the stroller. “Molly says he came with her this morning but I can’t remember when I saw him last. It could have been here or it could have been back home later today. But I’ve searched the house and I can’t find him.”
“Bear,” Molly sobbed, kicking her feet.
Lauren looked around the café. All the customers had departed and Zoe was stacking chairs on the tables.
She called her cousin over and explained the situation.
“I haven’t noticed anything out of the ordinary.” Zoe crinkled her brow. “What does the bear look like?”
“He’s a small brown bear. That’s his name actually.” Claire gave them a tired smile. “Bear. Molly takes him everywhere.”
A thought struck Lauren. Last month, Hans, one of their regulars, had left his spectacles behind, and Annie had been the one to find them.
“Annie,” she called.
The Norwegian Forest Cat was already making her way over to them, her expression curious. Was she wondering why Molly was crying?
“Have you seen Molly’s teddy bear? It’s small and brown. And furry.”
“Brrp.” Annie tilted her head to one side, as if considering the question.
“Bear,” the toddler sobbed.
Annie turned and headed toward her cat bed on the shelf. But instead of jumping up, she nosed around underneath the shelf, her plumy tail waving back and forth as she searched a corner.
“Brrt.” The sound was muffled as she turned around and trotted toward Molly with the teddy bear dangling from her mouth.
“Bear!” Molly hugged the stuffed toy to her, her tears drying up. “Bear!”
“Thank goodness.” Claire breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Annie.”
“Brrt,” Annie replied, looking pleased at the praise.
“Fank you, Annie,” Molly said, reaching out to gently pat the cat, tightly clutching the teddy in her other hand.
After promising to come in again next week, Claire and her daughter left, Molly laughing and hugging her toy.
“Phew!” Zoe dramatically mopped her brow. “Crisis averted.”
“Thanks to Annie.” Lauren smiled at the cat.
“Brrt,” Annie agreed, her mouth tilting upwards, as if she smiled.
“I was going to sweep the floor boards after I finished stacking the chairs,” Zoe said. “But I’m glad Annie found Bear.”
“Me too.”
Lauren and Zoe finished closing up.
“If I hurry, I might be able to catch the handmade shop and buy that crochet yarn, and some coffee pods at the grocery store.” Zoe checked her watch.
“Okay.” Lauren smiled.
After a quick dinner, Lauren, Annie, and Zoe set out to Mrs. Finch’s house.
“I can’t wait to show her my yarn.” Zoe dangled the paper bag that contained her new purchase. “And the espresso capsules I bought for her.”
“I think she’
ll like both.” Lauren had seen the balls of yarn and they looked exciting and colorful.
“Brrp,” Annie agreed, wearing her harness. She walked beside Lauren and seemed to enjoy the admiring glances a couple of passersby gave her. The memory of walking in her harness to the motel and discovering the food critic’s body with Lauren did not seem to bother her today.
They turned into Mrs. Finch’s street. Orange and yellow poppies, almost the same color of the sun low in the sky, dotted her neat front garden.
Zoe knocked on the door.
“Hello, girls.” Mrs. Finch looked pleased to see them. She wore a pastel blue pantsuit and leaned on her cane.
“Hi, Mrs. Finch,” Lauren greeted her.
“Come in, come in.” She ushered them down the lilac painted hall and into the living room.
“Oh, Annie, it’s so lovely to see you.” She beamed at the Norwegian Forest Cat.
“Brrp,” Annie said, brushing against Mrs. Finch’s leg.
Lauren unbuckled the harness. This wasn’t the first time Annie had been to knitting club and Mrs. Finch delighted in seeing the cat being able to move around freely.
“How is your scarf coming along, Lauren?” Mrs. Finch asked, settling into a fawn armchair. The carpet was beige, and the pulled back drapes were of a similar hue.
“I’m not sure I’ll ever finish it.” Lauren sighed as she sank down onto the sofa.
“I’m going to make a scarf, too.” Zoe grinned, waving her paper bag. “But I’ve decided to learn crochet, Mrs. Finch!”
“Crochet?” She looked surprised. “But your knitting was coming along so well.”
“It was.” Zoe nodded. “But now I feel like I need a new challenge – so it’s crochet for now. And look!” She pulled multi-colored yarn out of the bag, like a magician producing a rabbit out a hat. “Isn’t it fun?”
“Why, I haven’t seen anything like this before.” Mrs. Finch fingered the worsted weight strands, one bold primary color slipping into the next. “I can just see you in a scarf made from this.” She looked up at Zoe.
“Do you know how to crochet, Mrs. Finch?” Zoe asked hopefully.
“Yes, I do. But it’s a been a while – a very long while.”
“Then you’ll be able to teach me the basics!” Zoe pulled out a pattern from the paper bag. “I picked this up at the shop, and a hook. So now I can get started tonight!” She plopped down on the sofa and looked at Mrs. Finch expectantly.
“Zoe also bought you some coffee pods,” Lauren said.
“Oops! That’s right.” Zoe jumped up and rummaged in her large red purse. “Here you are.” She held out a cardboard box to Mrs. Finch.
“Why, thank you, dear.” Mrs. Finch peered through her spectacles at the label. “These look different to the first ones you got for me.”
“They are,” Lauren said. “We thought you might like a change.”
“Brrt,” Annie agreed. She sat next to Lauren on the sofa.
“That’s so thoughtful of you, dears.” Mrs. Finch smiled at them. “We could try them tonight.”
“Great idea!” Zoe beamed.
Lauren started on her knitting, while Zoe perched on Mrs. Finch’s armchair, learning crochet. Annie wandered over to them, and patted the dangling jade yarn.
“Annie wants to crochet, too.” Zoe giggled.
Lauren left her cousin and Mrs. Finch to the intricacies of crochet, finding the motion of wrapping her red wool around the knitting needles soothing. She let her thoughts drift.
Who could have murdered Todd? Why? When they returned home, she’d have to get Zoe to check online and see if Todd had posted a review for Gary’s eatery before his death. She hoped if he had, it wasn’t a bad critique.
Who knew Todd was staying at the motel? It was the only place in town, apart from a few private bed-and-breakfasts, so it would be easy to assume that’s where he and Brandon would stay.
Brandon. The intern definitely knew which room was Todd’s – he’d been occupying the room next door.
But why would Brandon kill Todd? He’d admitted to Lauren and Mitch that he couldn’t assume he’d get the opportunity to take over Todd’s column because of his inexperience.
And if Brandon was innocent, then why hadn’t he heard the killer next door with Todd? He’d claimed he’d heard Lauren knocking at Todd’s door when she’d found his body, so why hadn’t he heard the murderer?
“Lauren?” Zoe’s bubbly voice broke into her thoughts.
“Hmm?” Lauren blinked and looked over to her cousin.
“Look! I’ve just learned chain stitch!” Zoe waved a dangling line of yarn. “And now I’m going to learn my second crochet stitch!”
“How is your scarf coming along, Lauren?” Mrs. Finch asked.
Lauren held up her work in progress. Tonight, only a couple of sneaky holes had managed to appear in her garter stitch.
“That looks lovely, dear.” Mrs. Finch smiled at her. “I’m sure you’ll finish it by winter.”
“Do you think so?” Lauren asked hopefully. “Because I’ve been thinking it mightn’t be ready until the winter after next!”
The three of them laughed. Annie looked amused, her green eyes sparkling.
“Why don’t I make us all a coffee?” Zoe hopped up. “We could try your new capsules, Mrs. Finch.”
“That would be delightful. And then you can tell me more about this murder.”
Lauren and Zoe exchanged a glance.
“What would you like to know?” Lauren ventured.
“Do you girls know who did it?”
“Of course not!” Zoe sounded shocked.
“Brrp,” Annie added. No.
“Let’s make that coffee.” Lauren rose.
Lauren and Zoe hurried to the kitchen.
“Do you really think we should discuss the case with Mrs. Finch?” Zoe asked as she turned on the machine.
“I’m not sure. There’s no way Mrs. Finch could be a suspect this time.”
“I can’t believe we ever thought of her as a person of interest last time,” Zoe remarked.
“I know.” Lauren smiled ruefully. “I don’t see what else we can tell her,” Lauren said as they made three coffees, the machine growling loudly each time it extracted the espresso from the pod.
She opened a cupboard and got out a small bowl, perfect for Annie’s water. Mrs. Finch had given her permission weeks ago to use her china for Annie’s use.
“I don’t want the little darling to feel left out when we have a drink but she doesn’t,” the elderly lady had explained her reasoning one evening.
“Maybe Mrs. Finch knows something!” Zoe turned off the machine, and added warmed milk to each cup, since there wasn’t a milk frother available. “Maybe she’s heard something and wants to tell us!”
“Like what?”
“That’s what we’re going to find out!” Zoe grinned, picking up two of the floral mugs.
Lauren carried in Annie’s bowl of water, then returned to the kitchen for the third coffee.
“It smells lovely, Zoe.” Mrs. Finch picked up her cup, her hands wobbling slightly. Zoe had recently converted her to coffee, after showing her how to use the machine, which had been a gift from her son in New Mexico.
“Thanks.” Zoe looked pleased.
“Brrt.” Annie lapped at her bowl, her little pink tongue making darting motions in the water.
“Mm.” Lauren sipped her coffee. “Good choice, Zoe.”
“I went for medium roast, with spicy notes of chocolate.” Zoe grinned.
“I think I like this pod slightly better than the first variety,” Mrs. Finch admitted.
“I’ll buy you this one again next time,” Zoe promised.
After they sipped their coffees, Mrs. Finch cleared her throat.
“Do you girls know anything more about the murder?” she tried again.
“No.” Lauren shook her head and looked at Zoe.
“No,” Zoe replied after a moment.
; Lauren let out a breath she hadn’t known she was holding. She was glad Zoe hadn’t uttered a word about Cindy’s run-in with the food critic before his death.
“Well, that’s too bad.” Mrs. Finch looked disappointed. “I was sure you girls would be up to date with it all.”
“I believe the police are investigating it thoroughly,” Lauren replied.
“Very thoroughly.” Zoe winked at Mrs. Finch. “Mitch – Detective Denman – came into the café to ask Lauren some more questions.”
“What did he say?” Mrs. Finch asked.
“He wanted to know if I’d brought anything else to Todd’s motel room besides Ed’s pastries,” Lauren said.
“Why would he ask that?” Mrs. Finch frowned.
“I have no idea.” Lauren shrugged. “Apparently Paul, the owner of the motel, told him I stopped by the office to find out Todd’s room number.”
“I bet Mitch just wanted to see you again.” Zoe giggled. “So he came by the café to ask you that question.”
“There were a few others,” Lauren admitted.
“Like what, dear?” Mrs. Finch leaned forward.
“He asked if Brandon said anything else to me, stuff like that.”
“And did he?” Mrs. Finch asked.
“No.” Lauren shook her head.
“Brrp.” That’s right.
Annie jumped up on the sofa and bunted Lauren’s hand.
Lauren stroked the Norwegian Forest Cat’s silky fur, the motion soothing her.
“So who do you think did it?” Mrs. Finch asked.
“I have no idea,” Lauren replied.
“Me, neither.” Zoe sighed. “There’s no way it could be Gary.”
“Gary?” the senior queried.
“He runs Gary’s Burger Diner and makes amazing burgers.” Lauren shot Zoe a warning look. She wanted to keep Cindy’s confidence.
Zoe looked sheepish.
“Why would he be guilty?” Mrs. Finch asked.
“Todd tried their food,” Zoe said with a forced laugh. “Apparently he didn’t like it much.”
“I’ve never been there,” Mrs. Finch admitted. “But some of my friends at the senior center said their grandchildren love the burgers there.”
“We like them,” Lauren said. “So does Annie.”
All three of them gave the cat a fond look.