Dark Roasted to Death

by Nikolett Strachan

  “I used to think you Sawyers were all so perfect.” After dinner tonight, I knew better.

  “We’re dysfunctional. Just like everyone else.” His voice was grave. I thought about how quick he was to accept that his own grandmother might be behind the murder of the mayor. After a tension-filled dinner, it was obvious that family was more dysfunctional than most.

  “I bet you’re glad that your grandmother is off the hook about Mayor Lockwood?” That sounded tactful. At least, I hoped.

  “Yes. She’s capable of a lot of things but I’m not sure murder is one of them. We Sawyers go to great lengths to make sure we look like a perfect family, but we have our issues. We don’t deal with them well, either. As you saw,” he said.

  My heart sank. I wanted to give him a hug but wasn’t sure how welcomed that would be. I decided a side-hug was more appropriate. Stupid, since it was an awkward embrace, but he didn’t seem to mind. He leaned in, welcoming the touch. “I’m glad we’re friends now.”

  “Me too,” he said. A sigh like the weight of the world had lifted escaped him. “I’m glad I don’t have to implicate my family, but I just can’t imagine who would want Lockwood gone. And why do it at my cafe?”

  “It has to be someone with something to gain. I just wish—” then it hit me. “April.”

  “No way. Nah uh,” Dylan said. He crossed his arms over his chest as he sank deeper into the couch. “April couldn’t have done it.”

  “Just hear me out,” I said, but I could already see him shutting down. I pressed on anyway. “April said she was at the cafe on your opening day, which places her at the scene of the crime. Besides, she has the best motive. She admitted that she came here to help him change his will. She’s probably his beneficiary.”

  “That’s not a confession,” Dylan said.

  “It might as well be.” He couldn’t get past April’s beauty and grace and fanciness. He was a guy. I had to get him to see things from my perspective. Which meant, playing all my cards. I didn’t want to tell him this, but I had to. It was the only way. “Look, I know you like April.”

  “Yeah,” he said. A small smile tinged at the corners of his mouth and he turned just a slight shade of pink.

  “Earlier today, she asked about you.” I hated how he perked up at my words. I also hated what I would say next. “Why don’t you call her and ask her out to dinner? If anyone has a shot at getting information out of her, it’s you.”

  My heart sank into the pit of my stomach as he reached for his phone. “You’re a genius,” he said and dialed April’s number.

  Chapter 21

  “Honey, I wouldn’t worry about it. If it was meant to be, it will be,” my grandmother said. She swung her arms at a steady pace as she walked beside me. I nearly had to jog to keep pace with her as she power walked through the hiking trail that wound behind her property. I huffed, and I puffed while she barely broke a sweat.

  I had a restless sleep so I joined my grandmother on her morning walk, hoping it would clear my head. Soft shades of pinks and lavenders poked through the mountain view at our side as our feet padded along on the dirt road. The quiet stillness of the early morning and the bite of the chilled air was just what I needed to work out some of my frustrations.

  Bob had said to keep things on a need to know basis with the people around me, but I had to talk to someone. My investigation was stalled, I had driven my crush into another woman’s arms and someone had threatened my life. I needed to vent before I exploded, and I thought a walk with my grandmother would do me good. I wasn’t quite as in shape as she was, and the walk was more of a run for me. Still, the physical activity felt good.

  It had been two days since my dinner with the Sawyers. Two days since I watched Dylan dial April’s number and get a giddy giggle in his voice as he made a dinner date. One day since that date. I had heard nothing. Relax Lainey, it’s part of the investigation.

  “That’s not very comforting considering my life was threatened,” I said. Sweat pooled at the base of my neck and around my hairline. I could feel it slide around my face and I wiped it away with the sleeve of my sweater.

  “Sorry, dear,” she said. “I guess I’m still getting used to this real-life investigation. Have you talked to Nick DeLuca? Maybe he can help.”

  “DeLuca thinks I’m wasting my time. If I get killed, at least he’ll be sorry,” I said. My grandmother scowled at my dark sense of humor.

  “I meant that whatever happens between you and Dylan was meant to be. Your grandfather—rest his soul—took years to notice me,” she said.

  “Really?” My grandparents were always the epitome of true love. For a girl whose parents suffered through a bitter divorce, they were always a reminder that true love really existed. “I thought you two were high school sweethearts?”

  “Oh yes. But not until senior year. And not until I finally got the courage to ask him out,” she said. Nostalgia flashed through her and she sighed, remembering the happy memory. “I still miss him every day. Maybe you should just be honest with Dylan. Ask him out yourself.”

  I gave her a reluctant “maybe” and left it at that. Investigate a murder? No problem. Ask out a guy I had been crushing on since high school? I didn’t think I was that brave.

  We walked back to the house just as the first few cars pulled out of their driveways. A lot of Aurora Height’s residents commuted to the city for work. If they didn’t hit the road bright and early, they would have to sit through the morning gridlock. It was one thing I didn’t miss about living in the city.

  After a quick shower and a light breakfast, I called Bob—who was already at the office—and gave him a quick update on the investigation. He told me to keep digging but without Dylan’s report, I wasn’t sure where to go. I headed out the door to the Cozy Cat Cafe, hoping to meet him. If he wasn’t going to call, I’d just have to get information from him myself.

  “Just in time,” Dylan said as I walked through the door. He had pushed two tables together by the booth I normally sat at. He had paper cups lined up and was busy pouring what I assumed were new coffee concoctions. Fur Ball sat on the table, looking very concerned for his human.

  “What’s all this?” I asked.

  “New coffees. You’re going to be my guinea pig,” he said. He was jittery and seemed nervous, like he’d been up all night drinking his product.

  “Have you been up all night making these?”

  “Yes,” he said, like it was the best idea in the world. “I stayed up brewing. I’m trying new coffee recipes to drum up more business. These are some of the best ones.” There were at least six or seven cups filled with coffee. If these were the best, I didn’t want to know how many he had made in total. He pushed one of the cups towards me and I took a sip. “This one is my version of a dirty chai latte. It’s extra dirty”

  The bitterness hit me right away and I couldn’t help but grimace. “Wow, this is strong,” I said and coughed.

  “Isn’t it awesome?” His eyes were large and red and framed with dark circles. They bulged out at me as he waited for my answer.

  “It’s great. So, how was your interview with April?” I bit my lower lip in anticipation. My heart quickened. The caffeine must have hit me already. The dirty chai was very strong.

  “My date was…” His eyes darted away, and he looked embarrassed. “It was good. She didn’t do it.”

  “What? What do you mean she didn’t do it? How do you know?”

  He looked sheepish and uncomfortable. “Look, I don’t want to kiss and tell.”

  “So that’s it? A pretty face can’t be a murderer is that it?” He replied with another sheepish shrug. “Did something happen between you two?” Another shrug as he flashed a big smile at me.

  “I’m sorry. I really like her, okay? Besides, she didn’t do it and she has proof.”

  “How can you say that?” I was mad. Really mad. April was at the scene of the murder. She had motive. It was so clear she did it. How could Dylan be so blind?<
br />
  “I think you need to talk to her yourself. Once you get her side of the story, you’ll see that she couldn’t have killed her uncle,” he said, but his voice was drowned out by the angry ringing in my ears. Heat flushed my body. I had to get out of the cafe before I exploded. I picked up my bag and rushed out of the place.

  Chapter 22

  I wasn’t sure where I was going. All I knew was that I had to get out of there. I realized that I was acting like a jealous girlfriend when I really had no right, but it was more than that. Dylan was a typical guy; thinking with his “downstairs” brain before the “upstairs” one. April Lockwood was pretty and probably very nice, but her charms wouldn’t work on me.

  I headed to the office when I realized that my car was running dangerously low on gas, so I made my way to Town Gas to fill up. I couldn’t run away on an empty tank.

  Neil Dunn owned Town Gas, the one and only gas station. Until the Cozy Cat Cafe opened, he was also the only cafe in town, too. This wasn’t saying much. There was no place to sit and enjoy what he passed off as coffee, which was probably for the best. The small building crammed with bottles of car fluids and bags of food only suited for a road trip didn’t leave much room to move around in.

  The gas pumps were in minimum working order. Every hinge squeaked and squealed as I filled up my tank; the pump rattled and whirred as it poured the fluid into the car. I was worried that it would give up on life at any moment and self-destruct before my tank was full.

  I made my way inside to pay and found Nick DeLuca leaning against the counter, drinking that swill Neil called coffee and laughing at something. Great.

  “Lainey, we missed you at poker the other night,” Neil said. He punched the keys at the till while I pulled out my wallet to pay.

  “I was caught up with work,” I said, trying to sound apologetic. I hoped he didn’t think my appearance would be a regular one.

  “You play poker?” DeLuca drawled. He looked almost out of place in a clean, button-down shirt and pressed trousers.

  “Her grandmother is the real star,” Neil answered for me. “That old bitty cleaned me out again.”

  “That’s Grandma Gertie for you,” I said. More than anything, I just wanted this encounter to end so I could crawl into a hole somewhere. Neil was still punching away at the keys. I tried to will him to move faster with my mind, but it didn’t work.

  “You should come by, Nick. Isn’t that right, Lainey?” Neil said.

  “Absolutely,” I agreed. All the more reason for me to not go back.

  “Maybe I will,” DeLuca said. “So, how is work going? Get any more threatening notes?”

  “It’s going great,” I said. I plastered on the best fake smile I could muster up. Neil looked puzzled but DeLuca kept a tight lip. He gave me a sly, almost venomous smile, though. “Someone has to investigate suspicious activity since cops in this town won’t. And I’m glad you’re taking this note thing seriously.”

  “I’m sorry, Lainey, but it’s not like I have much to go on. Anyone could have written that note.” He didn’t seem all that sorry.

  Finally, Neil finished typing, and I paid for my gas. “Whatever. I better get to work. Some of us have to earn our money.”

  “I’m working,” DeLuca said, but his voice was hiding a smile. “You can’t fault a guy for having his morning coffee.”

  I looked at his paper cup of Neil’s black coffee. “No one likes the coffee here. No offense, Neil.”

  “None taken. I ain’t tryin’ to be like that new fancy coffee house on Main with the cats.”

  “That’s why I like it, Neil. It’s simple and unpretentious,” DeLuca said and took a long swig of the coffee. He swallowed it and let out a satisfied sigh. No grimace.

  “Have a nice day, boys,” I said and left.

  As soon as I stepped out of the door, I immediately wished that I hadn’t. Or at least left sooner. Parking their car next to the only other gas pump was the last person I wanted to see right now. April Lockwood.

  ✽✽✽

  April stepped out of her fancy black car and locked eyes with me. It was too late to run. She smiled and waved at me, so it was too late to pretend that I didn’t see her. I smiled and waved back.

  “Later, Boggins,” I heard DeLuca as he passed me on the way out.

  “Wait,” I called after him. “I didn’t want to say anything in front of Neil but… have you… you know…”

  “Looked into Minetta? I’m trying. I’ve been asking the guys some general questions, but they all say the same thing. David Minetta is the best thing to happen to this town. They’re starting to not trust me, but I’ll keep digging.”

  “Okay. Let me know what you find.”

  He let out a snort of a laugh as his dark eyes searched my face. “Not happening.”

  He waved at April before getting into his car. I watched as her gaze lingered on him a few moments longer than it should have. If I didn’t know Nick DeLuca personally, my eyes would linger on him too. But his arrogant snobbery toward journalists and cavalier attitude toward my safety made up for his physical attractiveness.

  I made my way to my car and April approached, apparently wanting to talk. I had no choice but to play nice. My guard was up, though. After all, she is my number one suspect now.

  “What is in the water in this town?” April said as she watched DeLuca drive away.

  “Sorry?”

  “All the men are just to die for,” she said. That was kind of a weird thing to say in relation to DeLuca. In my opinion. “I’m glad I ran into you. I wanted to talk.”

  “What about?” I asked, trying to keep my tone friendly.

  “I wanted to thank you for putting in a good word for me with Dylan. I had a great time with him,” she said. She had the same goofy grin on her face that Dylan had this morning. Great. My heart sank into my stomach. Apparently, I had inadvertently played matchmaker. Or she was playing the femme fatale card.

  “No problem,” I said, hoping I sounded casual and not jealous at all. Not that I had anything to be jealous of.

  “He also told me what you’re doing, and I think it’s so nice of you,” she said.

  “What did he tell you, exactly?” If she liked being the prime suspect in her uncle’s murder, she was weirder than I thought.

  “He told me you’re investigating my uncle’s murder. He also told me you think I had something to do with it. I guess given the circumstances, I would suspect me too. I’m surprised that I wasn’t suspect number one,” she said and gave a small, horsey laugh. Way to spill the beans to a suspect, Dylan! This was why he ran a coffee shop and wasn’t a detective. “Anyway, I know what it looks like and I didn’t do it. But I think I know who did.” Okay, now she had my attention. “Can you keep a secret?”

  “Well, I am a reporter, so probably not,” I said.

  “That’s fair. I guess now that my uncle is gone it wouldn’t matter if people in town knew, anyway.”

  “Knew what?” April let out a defeated sigh and bit her bottom lip. She shuffled her feet as she took a beat. I suspected she was picking her words carefully. “April, if you know something please tell me. It could mean catching a killer.”

  “All right. My uncle had debts. A lot of debts. Most of his money is gone. It’s all tied up in property he bought around town. And he liked to gamble. He wasn’t great with money. But my uncle and I were always really close, even if I lived so far away. I came here to help him get his finances in order.” she said.

  “Okay. I knew he was asking people for money all over town. Did he borrow money from the wrong people?” I asked. I had no idea where she was going with this.

  “Well, not exactly. See, after buying all of that property he could barely afford and gambling a sizable amount away, he didn’t have much for… his other payments.”

  “What other payments?” The suspense was killing me.

  “My uncle was being blackmailed. By Eli Johnson.”

  “What?” I shrieked a li
ttle too loudly. “Are you serious? Way to bury the lede, April.”

  April looked grave. “Eli wasn’t too happy when the theater renovations started, and his play was canceled. Apparently, he had some producer from New York coming.”

  “That’s right. I remember him saying something about that.” Now that I thought about it, Eli seemed a little on edge when he mentioned the whole thing in the interview. “But how could he blackmail your uncle? What dirt did Eli have?”

  April bit her lower lip so hard I was scared that she would draw blood. She tapped her foot nervously as she let out another huff of a sigh. “I think my uncle and Eli were… involved in something.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked.

  “I’m really not sure. They were close friends for a while. Then the theater renovations happened and after Eli’s play was canceled, he thought my uncle should pay reparations. Or he would tell everyone about my uncle’s secret.”

  A rush of adrenaline shot through me and my heart began to hammer. “What secret?”

  “That’s the thing, I don’t know. I came here to help my uncle with his finances. After paying his gambling debts, everything was tied up in his building projects. He was borrowing money from people to give to Eli. When I asked him why, all he said was that Eli needed to be kept quiet. He wouldn’t tell me anything.”

  “Sounds like blackmail,” I said.

  April nodded in agreement. “I have my uncle’s bank statements. It shows a withdrawal of a thousand dollars every month. That’s how much he paid Eli to keep his mouth shut. He didn’t make a withdrawal last month. I’m guessing he didn’t have the money. Two days later… I’ll send you copies of the bank statements.”

  “That would be great. Thanks, April. And I’m sorry that I suspected you,” I said.

  “Don’t worry about it. I would’ve suspected me, too.”

  “Can I ask why you didn’t go to the police with this? I mean, it’s very suspicious.”

  “I believed them when they said that it was an accident. I didn’t even think about putting two and two together until Dylan told me what you two were up to. Besides, I didn’t want to believe it. Having my favorite uncle die of an allergic reaction was bad enough. Thinking that he was murdered…” her voice trailed off.