Enchantments and Espresso

by Jinty James

  Once the morning rush was over, she and Suzanne would start investigating.

  “Are you coming today, Trix?” Maddie asked.

  “Mrrow!” Trixie looked up at her, delicately licking her mouth. Her food bowl was empty.

  “Come on, then.” Maddie smiled at the feline, before grabbing the keys to the coffee truck.

  A few minutes later, Maddie and Trixie pulled up at their usual spot in the town square.

  Suzanne waved to them, looking like her old self. Thank goodness. Maddie couldn’t remember seeing her friend being as shaken as she had been last night.

  “Let’s make some coffee!” Suzanne jumped into the back of the truck, looking jazzed.

  “I think you’ve already had some.” Maddie observed, getting out of the truck and entering through the back.

  Trixie scampered over the seat until she reached “her” stool in the back.

  “I did make a strong mocha this morning,” Suzanne admitted, “although it wasn’t as good as yours. I thought I needed something to start the day, but now I don’t know.” She crinkled her brow. “I do feel a bit buzzed.”

  “It must have been super strong.” Maddie looked at her friend in concern. Maybe Suzanne hadn’t bounced back as quickly as Maddie thought. Usually, her friend didn’t have a problem drinking a couple of coffees per day, although she usually drank a ton of bottled water as well.

  “No more coffee today,” Suzanne declared, as she opened the cash drawer, and started getting ready for their first customers.

  “Good idea.” Maddie paused. “Other than caffeinated, how else do you feel?”

  “I’m okay.” Suzanne touched Maddie’s arm. “I called Luke last night and told him what happened. He was all set to come over but I told him I was okay. And I am, Mads.” She squared her shoulders. “And I’ll be even better once we find the killer and clear my name.”

  “I promise,” Maddie replied with all her heart.

  “Mrrow!” Trixie agreed.

  “So where do we start?” Maddie asked as she turned on the espresso machine, a quiet hum filling the truck.

  Suzanne opened the serving hatch and peered out at the town square.

  “As soon as we’ve served our early morning customers, we’ll close up and start investigating. I think we should start with Vanessa first. I mean—” Suzanne turned to Maddie, “—what sort of person was she? Besides obnoxious? Who hated her badly enough to kill her?”

  “That’s a good point.” Maddie pulled an espresso for herself. Normally she didn’t have one as soon as they opened the truck, but she had a feeling that today she was going to need plenty of caffeine.

  “So how do we find out more about her?” Maddie sipped her coffee. “Should we ask Jill or—”

  “Bob.” Suzanne’s ponytail bounced. “Definitely Bob. He’s the one who invited her so it stands to reason he knew the most about her.”

  “Apart from the killer,” Maddie pointed out.

  Suzanne’s expression fell. “Yeah.”

  “I can’t believe Bob would do something like that though, can you?” Maddie finished her espresso.

  “Nope.” Suzanne shook her head. “Why would he? He seems happy to be going into business with Jill, and you know …” Suzanne wiggled her eyebrows.

  “You mean dating Jill,” Maddie said.

  “Yep.” Suzanne’s expression brightened as she looked out of the serving hatch. “Here’s our first customer – a jogger in dire need of bottled water!”

  Maddie was continually surprised at the number of joggers who didn’t carry water with them. Still, they made a nice profit selling bottled water to exercise enthusiasts.

  The morning rush was full of their regular customers –employees needing a jolt of caffeine before clocking in, harried mothers doing the grocery shopping, and senior citizens taking a stroll in the town square, stopping by Brewed from the Bean for a coffee or hot chocolate, and telling Maddie, Trixie, and Suzanne that just seeing them brightened their day. Maddie put it down to Trixie waving a paw to her favorite customers.

  Maddie and Suzanne barely got a chance to talk until after nine, when the crush of customers eased.

  “Luke said he’ll stop by as soon as he can.” Suzanne flopped on a stool. For a minute, there were no customers to serve. She tilted her head sideways as she looked at Maddie. “He said you hadn’t told him about last night and … Vanessa.”

  Maddie’s cheeks flushed. “I didn’t know whether to or not,” she admitted.

  “Why not?” Suzanne furrowed her brow. “He’s crazy about you, Mads. He’d want to know if something was wrong.”

  “Really?” Maddie’s heart lifted in hope.

  “You should know that by now. I’ve told you often enough – ever since he first asked you out.”

  “I know but ….”

  “But what?” Suzanne asked curiously.

  “He still hasn’t kissed me,” Maddie blurted out.

  Suzanne stared at her with wide eyes.

  “I don’t believe it,” she finally breathed.

  “You’re not going to laugh?” Maddie asked. That was what she had been afraid of.

  “Of course not.” Suzanne touched Maddie’s arm. “Wait until I talk to my brother. He’s going to—”

  “Don’t.” Maddie shook her head.

  Trixie looked at both of them, her eyes rounded.

  “What if he’s friend-zoned me?” Maddie admitted her biggest worry.

  “No way.” A smile played around Suzanne’s mouth. “There’s no way he’s even thinking about that.”

  “Don’t laugh,” Maddie warned Suzanne.

  “Mrrow!” Trixie seemed to nod her head in agreement.

  “I wasn’t going to.” Suzanne grinned. “Although it is the teensiest bit hilarious. Luke has the biggest crush on you imaginable! If I didn’t know better, I’d suspect you’d put a love spell on him.”

  “I wouldn’t,” Maddie protested. “Even if I knew how to do that.”

  “Yep.” Suzanne nodded, her ponytail swishing. “Like I said, you haven’t used any magic to attract him – because I know you.”

  “Did you, Trix?” Maddie looked at Trixie. Was her cat capable of doing magic on her own?

  Suzanne opened her mouth in surprise. “I hadn’t even thought of that! Did you put a spell on Luke, Trixie, to make him fall for Mads?”

  “Broomf!” Trixie seemed to shake her head, looking cross.

  “I’m sorry, Trix,” Maddie apologized. “I should have known you wouldn’t do something like that.”

  “Mrrow.” Trixie sounded partly mollified, allowing Maddie to scratch behind one of her white ears.

  “My brother is an idiot,” Suzanne declared. “Don’t worry, Mads. I’m sure he’ll get around to kissing you some time, if you don’t want me to interfere.”

  “I don’t.” Maddie shook her head violently.

  “Ooh!” Suzanne snapped her fingers as a thought struck her. “You could always put the moves on him! Why not?”

  Maddie, her expression brightening, looked at Trixie. Suzanne had a point.

  “What do you think, Trix?”

  “Mrrow!” Trixie sounded enthusiastic.

  “All sorted.” Suzanne beamed and patted Maddie on the shoulder. “Next time you see my brother, you can kiss him and everything will be okay.”

  Maddie knew she was blushing as she spied a middle-aged woman step up to the counter to be served. Would she be brave enough to make the first move on Luke? What if she was so nervous she made a mess of their first kiss and it became a horrible memory?

  Before she could torture herself any longer, a new wave of regulars arrived.

  When the last customer departed, Maddie sat down on a stool and dangled her feet above the floor.

  “I think we should lock up now and go visit Bob.” Suzanne checked her watch. “I bet he’s at their Redbud Glen location. We might even make it back here in time for the lunch rush.”

  “That would be go
od,” Maddie said. Clearing Suzanne’s name was the most important thing right now, but it wasn’t great for their business if they were continually closing their truck to “sleuth”.

  Just as Maddie and Suzanne were about to lock up the truck, Jill rushed up to them.

  “You guys aren’t going somewhere, are you?”

  Maddie was shocked at Jill’s appearance. She had purple circles under her eyes, indicating a bad night. Her face was paler than usual, and her frizzy hair was all over her face, as if she’d forgotten to brush it or tie it back.

  “We were going to visit Bob,” Suzanne told her.

  “What’s wrong?” Maddie asked.

  “Everything.” Jill looked woebegone, as if she was going to start crying.

  “Come into the truck.” Maddie opened the back door and ushered the older woman inside.

  “Mrrow?” Trixie greeted Jill, as if asking what was wrong.

  “Hi, Trixie.” Jill summoned a wan smile. “Thank you for keeping Boyd company yesterday.”

  “Mrrow.” Trixie coyly ducked her head, as if pleased with the praise. Then she settled back on her stool, her gaze flickering to all three of them, as if assessing the situation.

  “I know you didn’t kill Vanessa, Suzanne. Or you, Maddie.” Jill sank heavily on a stool. “I didn’t do it. And Bob didn’t do it.”

  “I know you two didn’t.” Suzanne nodded.

  Maddie looked at Suzanne, uncomfortably aware that Jill and Bob were on their suspect list.

  “I didn’t sleep a wink last night.” Jill blinked at them blearily. “This morning Bob and I had a long talk and – we’re not sure if we should go ahead with our coffee chain!”

  “What?” Maddie couldn’t help herself.

  “That’s silly!” Suzanne stared at Jill.

  “I know.” Jill twisted her hands. “But what if we don’t get any customers? We’ll go bust. And that will put both of us out of business, instead of just me – since it happened in my coffee shop.”

  “What does Bob say?” Maddie asked gently.

  “He said it will blow over and he doesn’t think we’ll lose much business – maybe none at all. You know how some people are – they love to gawp at a location where something terrible has happened. But I don’t want them doing that at my café.” Jill buried her face in her hands.

  “Maybe he’s right,” Suzanne said. “If you close for a couple of days, perhaps people will put it out of their minds and won’t even think about it when they come to your place for a cappuccino.”

  “The sheriff will have to get rid of the crime scene tape first,” Jill mumbled.

  Oh. Maddie and Suzanne exchanged a look.

  “Well, after that,” Suzanne added.

  “Girls, you have to do something,” Jill begged. “I know you’ve investigated before. I need you to snoop around and ask questions and make sure that no one thinks Bob or I had anything to do with Vanessa’s death – including the sheriff!”

  CHAPTER 5

  “Mrrow!” Trixie looked like she was agreeing to Jill’s request.

  “I don’t know,” Maddie said slowly. It was one thing to try and clear Suzanne’s name, but were they capable of also clearing Jill and Bob? And what if … she didn’t want to even think it … but what if Jill or Bob weren’t innocent? What if one of them – or both – were guilty?

  Suzanne looked sideways at her. Maddie knew she was thinking the same thing, despite her bestie just telling Jill she believed in her innocence.

  “Please.” Tears track down Jill’s cheeks. “I’ll pay you whatever it takes to clear our names.”

  “There’s no need for that,” Maddie said.

  “What Mads said.” Suzanne nodded.

  “It’s not as if we’re qualified,” Maddie cautioned.

  “But you’re going to investigate anyway, aren’t you?” Jill asked. “To clear Suzanne’s name? After you left last night, Kevin kept telling us he was sure you were the killer, Suzanne. Even when I told him you wouldn’t do something like that.”

  Suzanne turned pale, and she sank onto a stool.

  “You’re right,” Maddie said when Suzanne remained silent. “We are going to ask some questions and see if we can make sense of what happened last night. Because Suzanne is innocent.”

  “Then you’ll do it?” Hope brightened Jill’s expression.

  “Yep.” Suzanne rose. “We’ll do it.” Color returned to her cheeks.

  “And you’ll let me know what you find out?” Jill pressed.

  “Definitely.” Suzanne nodded.

  “Thank you,” Jill said, relief crossing her face.

  “How well did you know Vanessa?” Maddie asked.

  “I didn’t.” Jill shook her head. “Last night was the first time I’d met her – or even heard of her.” She tutted. “I don’t know what Bob was thinking. He’s a good man, but … I don’t know.” Her shoulders sagged for a second. “I can’t believe he couldn’t tell Vanessa was making a play for him.”

  “Some men are clueless,” Suzanne replied, her voice loaded with meaning.

  Maddie wondered if she was referring to her brother Luke and the fact that he hadn’t kissed Maddie yet.

  “What about Genevieve?” Maddie asked curiously.

  “She’s a good egg.” Jill laughed. “We go back a long way – since college. She’s a landscape gardener – in fact, she designed my garden, making it a nice space to relax, and for Boyd to play in.”

  “She was certainly helping out last night,” Suzanne observed.

  “I’m sorry about that.” Jill gnawed her lip. “I invited her as a guest but she insisted on helping – not that I thought you two needed any extra assistance.” She looked at them worriedly.

  “It’s okay,” Maddie said.

  “I know she can be bossy at times, but she means well.”

  “I guess we should talk to Genevieve as well,” Suzanne said thoughtfully.

  “She lives just outside Aunt Winifred.” Jill reached into her purse and pulled out a small notepad. “I’ll write down her address. She has a large garden there where she tries out new species of flowers and plants before she recommends them to her clients.”

  Maddie tucked the piece of paper into her jeans pocket.

  “We’ll go there today,” Suzanne promised. “And we’ll speak to Bob as well.”

  “He’s at the Redbud Glen store right now,” Jill replied, her expression glum. “He said he didn’t want to lose any customers by closing.”

  Maddie and Suzanne exchanged a look, Suzanne’s eyebrows raised.

  “I think he needs to keep busy.” Jill forced a chuckle. “So do I. But I don’t think trying to pretend this never happened is the answer.”

  “Mrrow,” Trixie seemed to agree.

  “Would you like a coffee before we set off?” Maddie asked Jill. “Or I could make you a hot chocolate or even a cup of tea.”

  “No thanks, girls.” Jill summoned a small smile. “I’ve taken up enough of your time already. I just can’t believe this has happened.”

  “I know.” Suzanne’s voice was heartfelt.

  They waved goodbye to Jill, then locked up the truck again.

  “We can take my car,” Maddie said, pulling Trixie’s harness out of her purse.

  “Why don’t we just take the truck?” Suzanne asked. “It will save us walking back to your house and getting your car.”

  “Mrrow!” Trixie agreed.

  Maddie wondered if the Persian didn’t feel like wearing her harness right now, and that’s why she approved of Suzanne’s idea.

  “Okay.” Maddie climbed into the driver’s seat. “Let’s go!”

  On the way to Redbud Glen, Maddie and Suzanne discussed what they were going to ask Bob.

  “We’ll have to find out his whereabouts when the – murder happened,” Suzanne said.

  “Definitely,” Maddie agreed.

  “Mrrow!” Trixie joined in from the back seat.

  “And I want to know if
he really was clueless about Vanessa’s intentions toward him,” Suzanne continued.

  “Do you think we should ask him that?” Maddie crinkled her brow. “Isn’t that being a bit … snoopy?”

  “But we are snooping.” Suzanne sat up straight in her seat. “I don’t think any questions are off limits if the outcome means clearing my name – as well as Bob’s and Jill’s.”

  “Mrrow!”

  Maddie looked in the rear-view mirror. Trixie looked like she was nodding in agreement.

  “I guess I’m outnumbered.” Maddie gave in. “But just try to be tactful when you ask him questions. He’s our friend – remember?”

  “Okay,” Suzanne acquiesced. “But we need to make sure he didn’t do it, Mads.”

  ***

  Forty-five minutes later, they pulled up outside Bob’s café in Redbud Glen. It was painted in the same color scheme as Jill’s café – cream, with accents of yellow and almond.

  “It doesn’t look very busy,” Suzanne observed as she stared out of her window.

  Maddie had been able to snag a parking spot directly outside the café. There wasn’t much traffic in the small town, and there were empty parking spaces near them.

  “Maybe today is a quiet day,” Maddie suggested.

  “Let’s go and find out.” Suzanne opened her door.

  Maddie put Trixie’s harness on her, and they walked over to the front entrance of the coffee shop.

  Suzanne cupped her hands around her eyes and peered in through the glass door.

  “Suzanne,” Maddie hissed.

  “Just checking how busy it is,” Suzanne replied airily. “Not very.”

  “What if Bob sees you doing that?” Maddie asked.

  “I’ll think of something.” Suzanne waved a hand in the air.

  Yes, Suzanne seemed to be ninety-nine percent back to her old self, and Maddie was grateful.

  Suzanne opened the door, a little rattle emitting from the door handle, and they walked inside.

  Soft jazz played in the background, the main space dominated by tables and chairs – most of them empty.