Croaked Wheat (The Early Bird Cafe Cozy Mystery Series Book 4)

by Ginny Gold

  Finally, she was ready to bake the second batch of bread and she put the dough in the hot Dutch ovens. Just as she was closing the oven door and setting the timer so they wouldn’t burn, she heard the front door open and she knew the day was starting.

  She turned back to her working space and leaned through the window into the dining area to see if it was a local and she could make her own breakfast or if someone who might need a little guidance had entered.

  “Hey Kori,” called Spencer Graff, the owner of HC Auto Body, Jay’s place of employment.

  Kori waved and called back, “Hi Spencer.” She could see that someone was behind him but Spencer was still blocking the other person. Kori waited just a moment longer as they walked toward a booth before getting off her tippy toes and starting to make herself a green smoothie.

  Just as she leaned back into her kitchen she saw that the person accompanying Spencer was Jay. And he hadn’t glanced her way once. He’ll be thrilled when he finds out Mom already told me about his breakup, Kori thought to herself, adding yogurt, banana and fresh spinach to the jar she would use to blend her smoothie.

  When those ingredients were fully incorporated, she added frozen blackberries, blueberries and mango. A little almond milk went on top and she blended everything again until she knew there would be no big chunks of frozen berries.

  Then she was finally ready to start taking orders. She calmly walked to the only occupied booth and greeted her still-silent brother, “Morning Jay. How’s it going?” She didn’t want to pry in front of his boss, or let on that she knew anything from their mom.

  “Hey Kori. Things are good.” Jay was never one for talking much, but this was quieter than usual.

  “What can I get you guys started with?” she asked, splitting her attention between Jay and Spencer.

  “No home fries today?” Spencer asked.

  “Sorry. I’m running low on potatoes. I’ll get some this afternoon and make sure I have them tomorrow. Just make sure you come in again.”

  “Will do. How about an omelet with spinach instead. And a side of toast. You have strawberry jam?”

  Kori nodded. “But not for much longer. I’m running low already. I can’t believe how popular it’s been this summer.”

  “I might be its biggest fan. Oh, and some coffee,” Spencer added as an afterthought.

  “Jay?” Kori asked, turning to the other side of the booth.

  “Coffee. And an omelet with Swiss chard and a muffin.”

  Kori nodded, still wishing she could ask him about Lani, and headed back to the kitchen where she started making omelets. She listened to hear if Dan was still busy loading crates onto his truck but she didn’t hear anything so assumed that he was finished. She would have liked to check to make sure, but she heard the door open and the café fill with voices and had a sudden moment of panic because she hadn’t even mixed together the waffle batter.

  As the omelets cooked, she snuck sips from her smoothie, checked the muffins—which were warmed and smelled fresh baked—and bread—which still had some more time to go—and then walked back out to take more orders. She couldn’t wait to have someone working for her to help manage the chaos!

  And managed chaos was what the next seven hours felt like until she could finally close the door and sit down. She hadn’t had a bite to eat since she’d finished her smoothie so she treated herself to the ends of the fresh bread that she didn’t serve and dipped them in seasoned oil.

  As she filled her stomach, feeding nibbles to Ibis who was antsy to go outside, Kori thought back to the previous night with Zach. It had been perfect. She wouldn’t have changed anything, except her early morning. In her daydream, they enjoyed a cup of coffee together on a deck that she didn’t have, feet up, sun on their faces.

  Thinking of him, she suddenly remembered why he had rushed out without any coffee or breakfast. She had to check on Nora.

  But that would have to wait. “Let’s go, Ibis,” Kori said instead.

  Her dog happily followed her to the front door where Kori grabbed the leash, clipped it to Ibis’ collar, and they walked up Main Street.

  Main Street just after lunch was so different from Main Street just after four in the morning when she took Ibis for her morning walk.

  “Closed already?” Vera Joy called from across the street. She was opening the door to Furry Friends, the shelter where Kori had found Ibis.

  “Yup,” Kori called back and waved as Vera walked into the shelter. Kori was jealous that she got a break, even if it was for lunch and Kori closed after lunch.

  Down the street, Kori saw The Treasure Chest, a consignment shop owned by Mel Styles, was hopping with business, more than usual. Kori wondered if her teen daughter Jackie was working there all summer or if she’d talked her mom into letting her get a job elsewhere.

  Kori and Ibis passed the auto body but she didn’t see Jay and she didn’t want to look like she was tracking him down to corner him into telling her things he didn’t want to share.

  They crossed a street and came to Scoop’s Scoops, owned by Betsy Scoop. Kori made the impulse decision that this would be their final destination and she would treat them both to an ice cream before heading back to get ready for Kiera’s interview.

  “Hey Kori. It’s been so long since I saw you. How’s it going? I hear things are getting serious with you and Lieutenant Gulch.” Betsy raised her eyebrows a couple times.

  “You’ve gotta start coming to breakfast again. We’ve missed you there,” Kori replied, ignoring the part about Zach.

  “My days have gotten long this summer. I thought growing the business would be only good, but I liked having a little more time.” At the beginning of the summer season, Betsy had moved Scoop’s Scoops over one building, doubling its size.

  “I’m glad it’s busy. At least it pays the bills,” Kori offered.

  “Good point. Did you and Ibis come in just to say hi or can I get you an ice cream?” Betsy asked, backing up from the counter and giving Kori space to browse the options.

  Scoop’s Scoops was known for their unique flavors ranging from the standard chocolate chip to bacon or garlic. Kori had tried the garlic once out of curiosity, and because she hadn’t found anything that garlic couldn’t improve, and thought there wasn’t enough garlic! Betsy’s excuse was that a previous batch had been far too garlicky.

  “You have something for Ibis?” Kori asked. She didn’t like giving her dog food that was too far out of the ordinary, but many places had a treat tailored to dogs because so many travelers brought their dogs when visiting Hermit Cove.

  “Sure do. What can I get you?” Betsy handed over a waffle-looking cone but Kori didn’t dare try it, assuming it would taste like cardboard to her.

  “I’ll have the . . . mmm, the pumpkin cheesecake. Small. Isn’t it a little early for pumpkin flavored treats? It’s still only August.”

  Betsy started scooping. “Cup or cone?”

  “Cone.”

  “It’s never too early for pumpkin in my opinion.”

  Kori accepted the offered cone and took out money to pay. “I guess you’re right. Can’t go wrong with pumpkin. Or cheesecake.”

  “This one’s on the house. You’re always treating everyone to breakfast, now it’s your turn to accept a free treat.”

  Kori was a little embarrassed. She always thought that no one really noticed how many meals she gave away. She pocketed her money without trying to pay a second time, knowing she’d be refused. “Thanks.” Kori held up her cone in a “cheers” gesture and walked back outside where she gave Ibis her treat. Then they walked back slowly to The Early Bird Café, Kori enjoying her ice cream the whole walk back.

  By the time they got back and settled, Ibis in Kori’s office and Kori at a booth that she wiped down, she only had twenty minutes before the scheduled start time for Kiera’s interview and she still had to print out her résumé. She’d reviewed it on her computer, but she wanted to have it in front of her while she interview
ed her first, and preferred, candidate.

  With résumé and interview questions in hand, Kori unlocked the front door to the café at five minutes to two and waited. She pulled up her email on her phone, hoping to have something from Nora since she hadn’t received a text from her all day even though she knew her day had probably been just as busy as Kori’s.

  Three minutes later, Kiera walked through the front door and Kori got up to greet her.

  “Kiera, you’re an adult!” Kori thought she’d seen her more recently than the last time she’d babysat, but it must have just been in passing because her comment made the twenty-something year old blush and look down, an embarrassed smile on her face.

  Kiera looked back up at Kori and said, “It happens. How are you?”

  Kori was pulled back to professionalism when Kiera stuck her hand out to shake. Kori ignored it and pulled her in for a hug. “I’m doing great. But it’ll be even better once I have someone working for me. What about you? How are your parents?”

  Kori motioned for Kiera to take a seat across from her in the booth and Kiera sat. “They’re good. I’m really glad you asked me to come in for an interview. I’m sure you saw on my résumé that I was taking culinary classes at the community college. But I know working for you would be a way better way to learn about food.”

  Kori was immediately impressed with Kiera’s desire to show off her background.

  “What was your favorite class?” Kori asked, glancing down at the résumé in front of her to double check that she had the list of classes Kiera had completed.

  “I really loved the couple I took about international cuisine—Thai and Italian. I always thought Italian food was just pasta and pizza but there’s so much more that goes into it.”

  Kiera’s passion for all things food was palpable and her energy was engaging. Kori was just happy to be having this conversation, but thrilled that it was an interview. Adding a young, passionate individual to her team would be priceless.

  They talked more about Kiera’s experience—which included a winter catering and a summer as a camp cook in Hermit Cove—before Kori got to other details that could make or break a candidate.

  “I’m sure you’re aware of this, but The Early Bird Café opens early. My day here starts by four thirty and we’re open at five thirty. Right now we’re open until one but I’m hoping to extend that to two o’clock so we can start offering a more comprehensive lunch menu. How would that schedule work for you? Are you a morning person?”

  Kiera laughed. “I knew you were going to ask something about that. Right now I get up at five, but I could easily get up an hour earlier. I love the quiet of the morning and getting things done before the distractions of other people get in the way.”

  Kori smiled. This girl was perfect. “What about any experience in business or graphic design? Have you taken any classes in those areas?” Kori was anticipating upping her online presence and having Kiera be responsible for a Facebook page and website would be perfect. And that darn logo that had to get printed. She was also always looking for ways to expand the business without much output from her side, and a new person with a business background would be the perfect person to brainstorm with.

  “I didn’t put that on there because I didn’t think it was relevant, but I’ve taken a couple business and accounting classes. I have a basic understanding of QuickBooks and marketing strategies. I haven’t done any formal work with graphic design, but I’m confident in my abilities to figure out a new program on the computer.”

  That was more than Kori had expected, and more than she herself possessed. She made a few notes and said, “Great. Do you have any questions for me?”

  Without missing a beat Kiera asked, “When do I start?”

  They both laughed. “I have two others who I’m interviewing so I’ll be in touch early next week. Thanks so much for coming in today and if you have any questions, feel free to call.”

  Kiera extended her hand again and this time Kori shook it. “Thanks Kori . . . Can I call you that?”

  Kori chuckled. “Of course. It would feel strange if you called me anything else.”

  “Great.”

  Kori held the front door open for Kiera and watched her walk down the street to her car. Am I that old that I feel like she’s too young to be driving? Kori laughed at herself. Of course she felt old. She’d changed Kiera’s diapers when Kori was in high school. Now she was interviewing her for a job.

  Kori walked back to the kitchen and put a few things away, made sure everything was off and called Ibis. “Let’s go see about this body at Red Clover Farm.”

  CHAPTER 3

  “Thank God you’re here, Kori. This has been the longest day ever,” Nora said after she opened the front door before Kori even knocked. Milo and Otis charged out from behind Nora, almost knocking Kori over, and started chasing Ibis around the yard between the house and the barn.

  “Tell me about it,” Kori said before she could stop herself. She didn’t want to burden Nora with the building drama in her own life when finding a body was much bigger than anything that had happened to Kori today.

  Nora gave her a questioning look, seeming to miss Kori’s self admonishment to stick to the topic of the body. “What happened? Is everything okay?”

  Kori wished she hadn’t said anything. “Yeah, just a longer day than usual. I had to meet the delivery truck this morning, my mom is spreading rumors about Jay and I interviewed Kiera Bell this afternoon. So it was just taxing. But Zach told me you found a body? What’s going on?”

  Nora’s eyes narrowed and her head tilted to one side. “When did you see Zach? He’s been here since before six and just left a few minutes ago.”

  Kori could feel the heat creeping up from her neck to her face. But before she could say anything Nora gasped and grabbed Kori by her shoulders. “He spent the night didn’t he? You devil you. You weren’t even going to tell me!”

  Kori thought Nora’s teeth were going to fall out of her face, her lips were stretched so wide in a grin. Kori nodded and Nora’s grin grew even more, defying all reason.

  The body seemed to be forgotten for the moment as Nora stormed ahead with questions. “Was it planned? Did you go somewhere? Did you cook for him? What’d you wear? What’d he wear?”

  Kori finally had to hold up her hand to get Nora to stop. “Yes, I cooked for him.”

  “What? You don’t cook for just anybody—”

  “Well, I kind of do. That’s my job,” Kori interrupted, both of them laughing at Nora’s absurd comment.

  “You know what I mean. Who was the last guy you cooked for at your house?”

  Kori shook her head, thinking. “I don’t remember.”

  “My point exactly.”

  Nora was still holding Kori’s shoulders, standing in the doorway. She seemed to suddenly realize that this was cause for celebration and turned and led Kori inside. “What can I make you to drink? We definitely have to cheers this momentous occasion.”

  Kori laughed. She’d been flying high ever since she had decided to let Zach spend the night, but she felt Nora was taking it to a whole new level. “Whatever you’re having.” It was still mid afternoon and Kori didn’t want to get too carried away.

  “Gin and tonic? With lime?” Nora asked from the kitchen counter, already taking things out of the fridge, freezer and cabinet above her.

  “Sounds great. I’ll meet you out on the patio. I’m going to make sure I can still see the dogs.”

  “Okay. But you really don’t have to worry about them. They wouldn’t take off.”

  Kori ignored Nora’s protests and sat at the patio table, watching the dogs race circles between the house and barn. Moments later, Nora was handing her an already sweating glass. The humidity of August wouldn’t seem to let up.

  “To you and Zach,” Nora offered, clinking her glass against Kori’s.

  Kori smiled in return and waited for Nora to sit so she could start interrogating her about this body, inste
ad of Nora interrogating Kori about Zach. She finally got her chance when Nora took a sip of her drink and Kori jumped in to ask, “So, this body you found? Who was it?”

  Nora shrugged, setting her glass on the table. “Don’t know yet. But it wasn’t so much who he was as where he was. You remember telling me you would buy wheat from me if I grew it?” Kori nodded, not sure where this was heading since she hadn’t heard anything since then that would indicate Nora was adding a crop to her farm. “Well, I decided to take the leap. I’ve been researching it all summer and I know it’s a long shot, but I ordered a delivery of grain. I was going to grind most of it straight into flour so I would know I can do it and then I’m going to start out with half an acre next year to see what happens. So I got a grain delivery yesterday, and I went out to the barn this morning to get work done, and there was a hand sticking out of the grain.”

  Kori almost spit out the gin and tonic she had just sipped. A hand in a grain delivery?

  “Yeah, that was my reaction too. So I called the police and Zach and Lani came out to start investigating. Oh, by the way, what’s up with Jay and Lani? She seemed totally different today.”

  Kori hesitated before answering. “You have to promise not to tell anyone. I heard from my mom this morning that Jay broke up with her. But Jay doesn’t know I know. And I don’t want to spread rumors, or the truth. I shouldn’t know yet so you shouldn’t either.”

  “Huh. So you don’t know what happened?”

  Kori shook her head. “What was different about Lani?”

  Nora sat back and put her feet up on the table. The drink was clearly calming her down after finding a second body in as many months on her farm. “I felt like lately she’d finally been finding her own rhythm in Hermit Cove and was warming up to me. And then today she was just really cold. I mean, I know I’m friends with you, so I guess I’m friends with Jay by default, but why take it out on me?”