by Lynn Cahoon
Cat walked back to the house. The stars were just coming out and the night sky was clear of clouds. The temperature would drop quickly now that the sun had gone down. Colorado nights were chilly even in the summer. In the fall, it was jacket and bonfire time. The house glowed as she approached it from the back. Warm and inviting, it called to her. The house was becoming her home again. But this time, instead of sharing it with Michael, she had opened the doors to the retreat guests as well as Shauna and Seth.
And the house seemed to like the energy the additional people brought. Cat pushed past the rambling thoughts and made her way to the kitchen. She grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and headed toward the stairs. Pausing at the bottom step, she heard laughter coming from the living room where the guests still were involved in the movie.
Yes, she thought as she made her way to her room, the change is good.
* * *
The next morning, Cat met Shauna in the kitchen. The smell of caramelized apples made her stomach growl. “What are you making now?”
“Caramel apple waffles.” Shauna stirred the pan, making the smell even more intense. “I thought I’d set out the waffle maker and batter and the guests could make their own breakfast this morning. I really like this group. They’re always coming in and asking questions about the food and how it’s prepared. I’m thinking a few of my dishes will be in some of their books come next fall.”
“Which is all the more reason we need to get that cookbook of yours in front of my agent so she can start shopping it to publishers.” Cat poured her coffee and sat at the table. “Come sit and tell me how your week’s going. Everything okay?”
“You’re asking about finding me in the barn yesterday?” Shauna filled her own cup and sat. When Cat nodded, she sighed. “It’s just hard sometimes. I know Kevin wasn’t the best boyfriend, but in his own way, he was a good guy. Having Snow around helps.”
“Are the kittens too much?”
Shauna laughed. “Are you kidding? They are great. They typically pull me right out of my pity party. Are we really thinking of keeping all of them?”
Cat’s eyes widened. “I hadn’t thought we would.”
“Then I’ll make up a flyer. Do you have a favorite you want to keep?”
Cat thought about the five. She adored all of them. Maybe they should keep them all. Cat held up her hands. “I can’t decide. And what if we give one away and they have a bad family? Can we vet the new parents?”
“We could just fix them all and keep them. We would have a full house, but they are happy in the barn and we could make sure there’s a heat lamp going when it gets really cold.”
Cat sipped her coffee, thinking. Then she gave up. “I can’t make a decision.”
Shauna shook her head. “We don’t have to decide today. Just be thinking about what you want to do. It’s your house.”
“Yeah, but it’s your home as long as you want to live here. You have a say too.”
At that Shauna stood and walked over to the stove to stir the apples.
Cat felt the change in mood. “Did I say something wrong? Crap, you’re not leaving and traveling the world like I suggested, are you? You know I can’t replace you.”
Shauna chuckled, then turned around. Tears flowed down her cheeks. “I’m just so blessed that you came into my bar that day and we became friends.”
Crap, Cat hadn’t meant to bring on the tears. She guessed that Shauna’s thoughtful mood as she made her way back from the barn last night had carried over to the morning discussion. “I’m glad too. If I had a sister, I’d want her to be just like you.”
“That’s sweet.” Jessica stood in the doorway watching the two of them. “I guess that explains why you haven’t reached out to me since you’ve been back. Even though we were best friends before.”
“Jessica, what are you doing here?” Cat wasn’t going to play the “who do you like the best” game. She’d refused to play it during her school years and she wasn’t getting dragged into it now.
“I came over to talk to you.” She stared hard at Shauna, then she seemed to collapse. The anger on her face turned to grief. “You have to convince your uncle that I didn’t kill Greyson.”
“Tell me one thing first.” Cat stared at her former friend until she knew she had her attention. “Were you having an affair with Greyson?”
Chapter Twelve
Jessica’s eyes went wide. “Why would you ask me that?”
“Because that’s what people are saying. And there’s a lot of things about you that I didn’t know.” Cat wanted to call her out on the book thing, but she held back. This was more important. “Well?”
“No, I wasn’t having an affair with Greyson. I love my husband. I love Tyler.” Jessica looked worn out and defeated.
Cat stared at her. “Look, I don’t know what you think you’ve heard, but my uncle doesn’t really listen to me when he’s investigating a case.”
“That’s not what everyone says. They say you should have gone into law enforcement instead of teaching or writing.” Jessica pointed to the coffeepot. “Do you mind? I’ve been up since four this morning and I’m starting to drag.”
“Of course.” Shauna hurried to grab Jessica a cup and then pointed to a chair at the table. “Why don’t you sit down? I’m Shauna, by the way.”
Jessica looked at Cat for confirmation, and when she nodded, Jessica sank into one of the chairs. “I really am sorry for just showing up like this. I know I was a total witch the other day and all I can say is I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“Drink some coffee and tell us what’s going on. I didn’t even know that Greyson Finn was Tyler’s brother.” Cat wanted to grab her notebook, but after making such a big deal out of the fact she wasn’t investigating, she thought maybe it wasn’t the best thing to do.
“That’s my fault. Greyson got me the job with Covington. I’d applied everywhere to teach, but no one seemed to want me. So when Greyson offered to talk to the dean in my behalf, I grabbed the lifeline. I just didn’t want everyone to know the only reason I was teaching at Covington was my brother-in-law’s influence.” She sipped her coffee. “I should have told you, especially after we started hanging out after work. Tyler urged me to trust you. But Michael was so good at his work. And you, you would have been accepted at any college you applied at. I felt like I didn’t belong.”
Cat didn’t know how to respond. She could see the hurt in Jessica’s eyes. Before she could say anything, Anne walked into the kitchen.
“Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize you had company.” Anne held out a coffee carafe. “Any way I could get this filled? There’s a group of us writing in the living room. Last night’s movie session made us all hungry to get some scenes down before breakfast and your seminar.”
Shauna stood and took the carafe to the coffeepot. “I can handle this.”
Jessica stood. “I’ve got to be going too. Tyler and the boys should be up by now and we have to go over to his mom’s. She’s having a gathering for family before the funeral.”
Cat walked her out of the kitchen and to the front door. “Look, I’ll do what I can, but really, you need to talk to my uncle. If I’m hearing these rumors, you can bet he has too.”
Jessica zipped her light jacket and pulled up the hood to cover her head. It wasn’t raining so Cat imagined that Jessica thought it made her less noticeable. “I’ll go talk to him tonight after I get the boys settled for the night. I didn’t kill Greyson.”
Cat nodded. She believed Jessica. Of course, her belief and three dollars would get her a cup of coffee before the jury convicted her. “Look. Just talk to Uncle Pete. I’ll see what I can do.”
Jessica was already halfway down the block before Cat realized she hadn’t asked her the most important thing. If she wasn’t sleeping with Greyson, why had she been seen meeting him at the bakery? Maybe Dee Dee would know that answer. She glanced at the clock. She had a seminar at ten. The bakery would be slammed until about two when the
breakfast and lunch crowds were gone. If she went now, Dee Dee wouldn’t even talk to her unless she bought something. And that would just be to tell her the cost of the donut. Cat made a decision. She’d go back after lunch. Then the bakery owner would have no reason to ignore her.
She went back into the kitchen to eat breakfast before she went upstairs to go over her notes for the seminar. Cat’s thoughts kept returning to Greyson Finn’s last hours. Had he been the man she’d seen sitting outside the bakery on Sunday? She wished she’d paid more attention, but at that time, her mind was on one thing. To get Dee Dee to stop calling the health department. Which made her think of Nate, and then Cat realized she hadn’t heard Seth come in last night.
As if her thoughts had called him, Nate Hearst knocked on the kitchen door. Cat met Shauna’s gaze and shrugged. She hoped Dee Dee hadn’t called in another complaint. Cat went over and opened the door. “Hey, are you all right? Seth didn’t come back before I turned in. Come on in. Tell us what happened.”
“Nothing to tell. No broken bones but I have a few bruises on my butt because I tripped backward over the curb trying to get out of the way of that crazy driver. Your uncle is pulling surveillance tapes to see if he can identify the car plate.” Nate took the cup of coffee that Shauna handed him and sank into a chair. “I really need to work out more. If I’d been thinking, I could have just turned and moved out of the guy’s way. Probably just some drunk driver who didn’t react in time.”
“Seriously? Well, I’m glad you’re okay. We were worried, weren’t we, Shauna?” That got Cat a dirty look from her friend, but a hopeful one from Nate.
“Sorry to have worried either of you.” He turned toward Shauna with a smile. “I appreciate the concern.”
“So what has you out so early this morning?” Shauna turned away quickly. Cat assumed it was to avoid making eye contact with Nate.
“Unfortunately, my job. This is a spot check. It’s part of my process. I’m hoping to close out this investigation today.” He took a deep breath. “I take it you’re in the breakfast prep stage?”
“Can you eat or is that against the rules?” Shauna flipped out a waffle from the maker and put it on a plate. She ladled two big scoops of the caramelized apples on the still hot waffle and then topped it with whipped cream.
Cat could hear the guy’s stomach rumble. He looked around. “I have to let the temperature gauges set for a few minutes. I guess I have time. If I’m not interrupting your day.”
“I’m in the feeding people part of the day.” Shauna set the plate at an empty spot at the table. “Get your gauges set up and I’ll refill your coffee.”
Cat was glad this was just a follow-up. And, as she watched Nate hurry around the kitchen to get to the waffle, she thought the report would go in their favor. As long as he liked his breakfast. “You can clean up in the washroom off the pantry.”
He quickly set up what he needed, then set his bag on the bench by the back door. He walked toward the direction where Cat had pointed. “This is so kind of you both.”
“It’s not me, it’s all Shauna,” Cat responded as he returned from washing his hands.
He sat and cut a piece off the waffle with his fork. Taking a bite, his eyes closed in pleasure. With his mouth full, he said, “I’ve never had a waffle this good.”
“You should pour a little maple syrup over the top.” Seth slapped his friend on the back as he came in from outside. “It’s heaven.”
“Are you here for seconds?” Shauna glanced up from pouring more waffle batter into the machine. “Cat hasn’t eaten so she’s first, but then I can make you another.”
“I could eat.” He poured himself a cup of coffee and sat across from Nate. He pushed the maple syrup across the table. “I’m telling you, you have to at least try it.”
Nate grabbed the container and poured some over his half-eaten waffle. He took a bite and groaned. “You weren’t wrong.”
“I tell you, Shauna’s cooking is the best. You should try her clam chowder. It hits the spot on cold winter days.” He sipped his coffee and nodded toward Shauna, who was getting Cat’s waffle ready.
“You have to say that or I won’t feed you,” Shauna teased as she sat Cat’s plate in front of her. “Let the man make his own mind up about what he thinks.”
“I think you’re a food goddess.” Nate didn’t even look up from his plate. “I might just have to pop in for breakfast again. On official business of course.”
Cat looked up into Shauna’s blushing face and raised her eyebrows in an unspoken question.
She shook her head, then announced, “Sorry, I’ve got to run upstairs to check on something. Cat, would you cook if anyone wants another waffle?”
“Sure, but what are you doing?”
“Thanks.” Shauna ignored the question and hurried out of the room.
Cat and Seth exchanged a look, but Nate looked too focused on his waffle to notice Shauna’s absence.
“I hate to ask, but I’d love a second one if you don’t mind.” Nate glanced over at Cat, who had just started eating.
“Don’t worry about it. I can make a waffle.” Seth put a hand on Cat’s shoulder to keep her in the chair. “So what’s going on in your world today, Nate?”
“Not much. We were supposed to start working on a restaurant proposal, but with the death, I guess that’s out of the works.”
Cat’s attention left her waffle and she studied Nate. “So Greyson Finn was opening a restaurant here in Aspen Hills.”
Nate leaned back in his chair, studying her. “I never said who died.”
“How many people have died here in the last week?” Seth asked as he poured batter into the waffle iron. “It’s not that much of a stretch.”
“Yeah, you’re right.” Nate scratched the back of his neck, considering his response. “I guess it doesn’t hurt. Yeah, Greyson came in last week and was talking to my secretary about what he’d need to do to start the planning stage of opening a new restaurant. I guess he was going to do American western classics.”
“Like a steak house?” Seth turned over the waffle.
“That would have been amazing.” Nate nodded. “I didn’t talk to the guy, but I have gone into Denver just to eat at his restaurant. A little overpriced for my city worker budget, but the food was great.”
Seth sat the waffle with the apple mixture down in front of Nate and took his old plate to put into the sink.
Nate took a big breath in and sighed. “Not as good as this though. She really should think about cooking professionally. She’s that good.”
“She does cook professionally, for the retreat.” Cat considered the next bite, then set it down on the plate. “Did Greyson say where he was going to put the new restaurant? Over near the highway?”
“That would have made sense in an access way. But no, he was planning on renovating an existing building downtown.” Nate sprayed whipped cream over the top of the hot apples, then added maple syrup. Seth had converted another one.
Cat held her breath. She knew the answer to the question before she even asked it. “What building downtown?”
Nate had just taken a bite of the waffle and Cat had to wait for him to answer. He wiped his mouth with the napkin on his lap before he focused on her. “It’s on Main Street. The one that currently holds the bakery? I guess he must have known the bakery was closing. No wonder Dee Dee’s in such a bad mood.”
Cat couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Greyson was going to put Dee Dee out of business? If that wasn’t motive, she didn’t know what was. She needed to call Uncle Pete. Seth must have read her mind because he glanced her way.
“Nate, are you telling me that Greyson owned the building where Dee Dee has a bakery?” Seth spoke slowly, his implication clear.
“I guess. I mean, I didn’t look at the plans. I told you, he was just in there talking about opening a new spot. My sister, she got all excited when she heard the news. Like normal people were going to be able to eat there an
yway. That guy catered to the rich and shameless in my opinion.” Nate finished his second waffle and looked longingly at the now unplugged waffle maker. He put his fork on his plate and leaned back. “That was the best breakfast I’ve had in forever.”
“Did Dee Dee know about the new plans?” Cat figured Nate wasn’t going to return to the subject unless he was directed. “Do you think she knew he owned the building?”
“Of course. She had to list the owner on her application to open the bakery. She had to know who she was writing her checks out to every month, right?” Nate looked back and forth from Seth to me. “Why all the questions? I told you, the restaurant isn’t going to be built now.”
“Exactly.” Cat pulled out her cell and dialed her uncle. When the call went straight to voice mail, she hung up without leaving a message. He’d show up for dinner sooner than later and she could tell him then. Besides, what did she really know except the victim’s plans?
“Know your victim, know the killer,” was one of Uncle Pete’s favorite sayings. When he was talking about his job, that is.
Nate watched her closely as she put her phone on the table. “No way. You think Dee Dee could do something like this? She’s a pain in the butt, I’ll give you that, but she’s local. She’s not some outsider with homicidal tendencies.”
“You’re telling me she can’t be a killer because she was born here?” Cat couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You can’t believe that.”
“People who grew up here are different. We care about each other. Well, I know that doesn’t describe Dee Dee either, but it’s the truth. We look out for each other.” He frowned, apparently realizing he wasn’t helping paint the bakery owner in a good light. Finally, he repeated his first point. “She grew up in Aspen Hills.”
“Look, I’m not saying she’s a killer. Just that it appears she had motive. Who killed Finn will be decided by people in law enforcement. Like Uncle Pete.” Cat glanced at the clock. “I need to get ready for my seminar.”
Seth stood and walked to the kitchen door with her. Lowering his voice, he put a hand on her shoulder as he talked. “I’ll hang with Nate until he’s done with his inspection. You kind of shook him up with the whole Dee Dee thing.”
