by Lyndsey Cole
“Ask Abby what she wants to do.”
Martha took out her phone. “Brilliant. Why didn’t I think of that?”
While Martha chatted with Abby, Mia’s phone rang. She frowned when she looked at the number. “It’s your father,” Mia said to Annie. “I hope it’s not bad news.”
Leona and Jason brought the chili and corn bread to the porch, setting everything on the table for a self-serve meal.
Martha finished her conversation with her granddaughter and hung up. “Abby says stick to the original plan and Cody agrees. He thinks that’s what his mother would want.” She walked to the table. “Smells delicious.”
“Help yourself,” Leona said as she filled a bowl for Danny and one for herself.
Mia closed her phone. “Roy says his mom’s house is finally on the market and she’s comfortable in the assisted living apartment. He expects to be driving home in a few days.”
“That took forever,” Annie said.
“Roy had a hard time convincing her it was best to move into a smaller place where she would always have someone around to help her. I think she was dragging her feet hoping Roy would just stay with her but she was starting to drive him crazy.”
Annie handed a bowl of chili to her mom and they sat together on the porch swing. “Why didn’t you go out with him?”
“Your grandmother never liked me. I decided it would be best if she had this time alone with Roy. It wasn’t exactly what he wanted. It’s easier for him if I’m there as a buffer.”
Leona hovered next to Danny sitting on the top step. “Don’t think the worst or you’ll start to believe it. And don’t let Detective Crank bully you.”
Danny sat with his head hanging. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
Leona patted his thigh. “Anything, babe.”
“When I cut my hand?”
Leona nodded. Everyone else was quiet so they could hear Danny’s story.
“I went into the kitchen to wash out the cut. That’s the only place with running water at the moment.”
Martha’s spoon clinked against her bowl. “They’ll find your blood in the kitchen. Where Claire was murdered with a knife with your fingerprints on it.”
Danny nodded. “It’s only a matter of time before they find my blood in the sink. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time today. It reminds me of what happened during the Iraq war; my buddy stepped on a land mind and got blown to bits and I came home. My only injuries were on the inside.” He shook his head.
“How did you cut your hand?”
“With my hand saw. I washed the saw off in the sink. They’ll find my blood in the kitchen and this cut on my hand. In the same room with a body.” He stood, looking down at the ground, shaking his head. “The worst part is that I forgot to tell the detective that I was in the kitchen during the first round of questions. I completely forgot. I think I was in shock or something. But she’ll think I was trying to cover it up.”
All the color drained from Leona’s face. “You should hide until this is figured out.”
“No,” Danny said. “I didn’t kill Claire. I’m not going to do anything to make myself look guilty.”
Jason turned his head at the sound of knocking on his door. Everyone watched him as he set his bowl down and walked to the door. “Hello Tyler. Can I help you with something?”
Before Tyler had a chance to answer, Danny stood next to Jason.
Tyler held up a saw. “Is this yours, Danny?”
Danny nodded.
“You need to come to the police station with me.”
After Danny left with Tyler, Leona paced on Jason’s porch like a caged lion. “We can’t just sit here waiting for Danny to be arrested.”
Chapter 5
Annie and Roxy arrived at the Black Cat Café early Friday morning. No oldies were playing on the radio. The only sound coming from the café as Annie opened the door was pots and pans banging around.
Annie patted Roxy’s head. “Oh boy, Leona’s going to be tough to work with today.” She tied her green apron on, poured two cups of coffee, and made Leona sit at the counter with her.
Leona pushed the coffee away. “That’s the last thing I need, my nerves are already about to explode.”
“Okay. Don’t drink it, but sit here with me and talk. How’s Danny doing?”
“On the outside? He’s as cool and calm as ever. But I know him. Inside, he’s barely able to hold it all together.”
Annie blew on her coffee before taking a sip. “Where is he?”
“Home. Claire already paid him to finish the upstairs so he wanted to keep going with the remodeling but the police won’t let him back in.”
“Are the police done examining the house for evidence?”
“I don’t think so. They found his saw but I don’t know what else turned up. If anything. They kept him at the station for hours last night. He went straight to bed, wouldn’t even talk to me when he got home.”
Mia pushed the door open and carried in a box of books. “Danny did a nice job with the book library out on the deck. I’m going to restock it. At least a half dozen books are gone since last night.”
Leona stood up. “I have to keep busy. Martha wants me to make cupcakes for the baby shower—half pink and half blue since Abby decided not to find out if she’s having a boy or a girl.”
Annie pushed the breakfast cart with the granola and juices into place. She checked the pastry display, adding a few blueberry muffins and raspberry scones to fill in some empty spots. Business was slower during the week now that the summer season was over but the weekend would still be busy with leaf peepers clogging the roads.
“What time is the shower?” Annie asked.
“Four. Martha is expecting about twenty people but maybe there will be some no shows on Claire’s side. It’s bound to be an awkward event in my opinion.” Leona starting creaming the butter for her cupcakes.
“Right. I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Annie said, thinking that she might hear some interesting conversations that could help Danny.
Martha arrived with an armful of gifts. “Want to see what I made for the baby?”
Annie glanced at the cuckoo clock. “Of course. We have about ten minutes until opening.”
First, Martha held up a baby quilt covered with jungle animals and polka dot squares. “I dyed these squares myself,” she said, indicating the green, yellow and blue squares with stenciled elephants, lions and giraffes. “What do you think?”
Annie held the quilt in front of her. “I love it. You do beautiful work. Abby will treasure it forever!”
Leona turned the mixer off and finally smiled. “What else do you have?”
Martha pulled one baby outfit after another from her bag. Leona and Annie oohed and aahed over each one, especially the ones with baby animals. “Here’s the cutest of them all.” She held up a green onesie that said dad and I agree that mom is the boss. The three women roared with laughter as Martha carefully folded everything and put them back in the quilted tote. “I hope Cody has a sense of humor.”
“You made this bag for Abby too?” Annie asked, running her fingers over the quilted dragonfly pattern on the tote bag.
“Yes. It has lots of pockets for all the stuff moms need these days. And a nice wide strap if she wants to carry it across her chest to keep her hands free.”
The cuckoo clock chirped seven times and Leona turned the closed sign to open. She sighed. “I can’t believe Danny isn’t here. I had gotten so used to him helping me. I wish he never agreed to take on that renovation project.”
Annie draped her arm over Leona’s shoulder. “We’ll figure this out. Maybe it’s better that they found the saw in the kitchen. It backs up his story about cutting his hand and gives him a legitimate reason to be in the kitchen. Now we just have to figure out who else was there.”
Harry came in and Martha fluttered around him, fixing him a coffee with cream and two sugars. “Want something sweet to go with your
coffee?” she asked him.
Harry smiled. “Are you an option?”
Martha swatted his arm. “You’re naughty, Harry Crowley. I meant a blueberry muffin or something like that.”
“Yes, dear. Whatever you think is best.” Annie couldn’t help but notice the twinkle in Harry’s eyes as he gazed at Martha.
Martha winked at Annie and smiled, as pleased as punch. “Annie, can we have two blueberry muffins?”
Martha slid into the seat next to Harry. Annie brought over two muffins and sat down across from them. “Have you heard anything about the murder, Harry?”
He took a big bite of the muffin and nodded. After he swallowed and took a sip of coffee, he continued. “I heard that Henry Harper the third, old man Harper’s grandson, wasn’t happy with the amount of money his dad sold the house for. Apparently, the home inspector was a good friend of Claire McClaven. The report was doctored.”
Annie’s jaw fell. “In what way?”
Harry looked over the rim of his glasses. “This could just be hearsay, but the report said the house needed major repairs on the sill but it turns out not to be true.”
Leona pushed in next to Annie. “So Henry killed Claire in revenge?”
“Slow down Leona. We don’t know what’s fact or fiction. You know how stories get a life of their own.” Annie turned back to Harry. “Do you know who the inspector was?”
“Yup. Marv Mason. I play horseshoes with him every Sunday at the fire station.”
Annie asked, “Can you ask him some questions? Find out more about this?”
“Sure. Anything to help Danny. He’s a nice boy and it sounds like he’s in a bit of a pickle at the moment.” Harry finished the rest of his coffee. “Well, I better be getting on my way. Don’t want to slow you girls down.”
Martha squeezed his hand and reminded him about the baby shower.
“I don’t have to come do I?”
Martha gave him a pouty face. “Please?”
“Oh, come on Martha. You know I hate that kind of thing. I’m just a big bull in a china shop with all that baby stuff.”
“Okay. Don’t expect me home until late.”
More customers arrived. They helped themselves to coffee and selected pastries, keeping Annie busy, or ordered grilled sandwiches, keeping Leona hopping. Mia bounced between cleaning tables and manning the cash register. Martha headed across the hall to open Annie’s Fisher Fine Art Gallery.
Annie squeaked when Jason snuck up behind her while she straightened some books on the freebrary shelves. He whispered in her ear, “You left early.”
“I wanted to be here to give Leona some moral support.”
He raised one eyebrow. “Did it work?”
“So so.” She tilted her hand back and forth. “I think Harry helped the most with his tidbit of information.”
“And?”
“The inspection report about the Harper House was doctored. In Claire’s favor.”
The click clack of high heels echoed down the hallway toward the Black Cat Café. Violet Sheldrake entered, stopping to look around until her gaze landed on Annie. She pointed. “You were in that house yesterday. I want some answers.”
Jason took the books from Annie and finished filling the shelves.
“Would you like some coffee, Violet?” Annie asked.
“Thank you. Black please.”
Annie pointed to the coffee cart. “Help yourself.”
Violet huffed a little before click clacking her way to the coffee pot and pouring herself a cup. She paused at the pastry display, placing her index finger over her lips. “Why not?” she mumbled to herself. “I’ll have a piece of that yummy looking raspberry torte.”
Annie placed it on a plate, carrying it to one of the booths and sliding in across from Violet. “What’s going to happen with the Harper House now?”
Violet licked a stray raspberry from the corner of her mouth. “What?”
“The Harper House. With Claire dead, what’s going to happen with it now?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Claire hired Danny Davis to do all those renovations. Did she already pay him?”
Annie stood up, disgusted. “Why don’t you ask Danny?”
“Well, I’m afraid to go in their alone. What if he’s the murderer?”
Leona stormed to the booth, slamming both hands on the table. With her jaw clenched, she stared at Violet. “Danny is not a murderer. What do you know about Marv Mason’s inspection report?”
The coffee in Violet’s mug splashed over the edge of her cup and onto her white pants. “What is it with you people? You’re all looking at me as if I murdered Claire. She owes me a lot of money. How am I going to get paid now?” Violet stood up, trying to wipe the coffee stain from her pants as she walked toward the door. Halfway there, she returned to the table and snatched the rest of the raspberry torte, wrapping it in a napkin before she left for good.
Jason, Mia, Annie and Leona stood listening to the click clacking of Violet’s heels fade down the hallway. Jason was the first to say what they were all thinking. “Someone needs to have a look at that inspector’s report. It seems as though Violet Sheldrake has a guilty conscience.”
Chapter 6
Danny walked into the café with his shoulders drooping, his head hanging, and his Red Sox baseball cap scrunched in his hand. “I was going crazy sitting at home. I need something to do.” He sat on a stool at the counter. “After I have a blueberry muffin.”
Leona laughed. “That’s the best thing I’ve heard all morning, Danny Davis. At least you’re sticking with your routine. I’ll get you some coffee.” Leona fluttered around the café pouring half coffee and half cream into a mug for Danny while Annie chose the biggest muffin, overflowing with blueberries and streusel topping.
Danny tucked his cap into the back pocket of his jeans before taking a big bite from the muffin. “I can’t start my day without your muffins, Leona.” The next bite almost finished the muffin. He savored it. “You know, I’ve been thinking.”
“Thinking is good.” Leona plopped onto the stool next to Danny. “Did you remember something about Claire?”
He nodded and finished the muffin. “Claire and Violet Sheldrake were arguing yesterday morning, before Annie brought my lunch. Violet said Claire was spending too much money on the renovations.”
Annie pulled a batch of scones from the oven. “Too much money? What is it to Violet what Claire was doing?”
“Violet financed part of the house,” Danny explained matter of factly.
“That’s what Henry Harper the third mentioned too. That explains Violet’s comment about Claire owing her money. Who inherits the house now? Claire’s son, Cody?” Leona twirled the stool around and hopped off. “This could be important.”
“I don’t know who I’ll be working for. Cody, I suppose.” Danny headed toward the French doors leading to the deck overlooking Heron Lake. “I’ll be outside getting some raking done.”
Some out-of-towners strolled into the café, making everyone get back to business.
“What a wonderful smell in here,” the woman said to her husband. “Let’s buy something yummy to bring to your mother.”
“She won’t like it. She complains about everything we bring.” He wandered to the bookshelves, browsing the titles.
She stood in front of the pastry case, trying to make a decision. “What’s that one?” she asked, pointing to Leona’s newest addition.
“That’s our raspberry torte. The raspberries are from the Hayworth Fruit Farm, a local farm.” Annie cut a sliver off and handed it to the woman on a napkin. “Try it.”
She nibbled the crust, then shoved the rest in her mouth. She closed her eyes and chewed slowly. “This is heavenly. I’ll take one. Can you put a ribbon on the box?”
“Of course.” Annie placed a doily in the Black Cat Café box, set the perfect raspberry torte carefully inside, closed it and tied a lime green ribbon covered with black cats around the box.
“Here you go.” Annie lowered her voice. “I’m sure your mother-in-law will love it.”
“I hope so.” She glanced over her shoulder at her husband. “She can be quite difficult. Maybe you know her. Violet Sheldrake?”
Annie covered her mouth to hide the gasp that came out. “Violet is your mother-in-law? The owner of Catfish Real Estate?”
The woman nodded her head. “My husband, Larry, is her only son and she still tries to control his life. We only come here to visit once a year. I don’t think his sisters visit at all.”
“As a matter of fact, she was in the café this morning and, just to warn you, she wasn’t in a particularly good mood.”
“Oh dear. There’s always some type of drama in her life. She told us a crazy story about a house she’s part owner of which might have gold coins hidden inside.” The woman rolled her eyes. “That sounds about as likely as having alligators in this beautiful lake.” Annie noticed Violet’s son, Larry, listening.
He selected a book and hustled his wife out the door as soon as she paid for the torte. “You should keep your big mouth shut, Margery,” Annie heard before the door closed behind them.
A few more customers meandered into the café, browsing the freebrary bookshelves, sipping coffee and enjoying a delicious pastry. It wasn’t busy, but there was no opportunity for Annie to discuss the gold coin comment with the others.
Cody McClaven hurried into the café, sitting at one of the booths away from everyone. His eyes darted around nervously. Annie brought him a muffin as soon as she had an opportunity. Sliding into the booth opposite Cody, she offered her condolences. “Sorry about your mom. I can’t imagine what you’re going through.”
Cody’s eyes were red rimmed and puffy. He shook his head. “It hasn’t sunk in yet. I’m stopping by to make sure you’ll keep an eye on Abby at the shower. I won’t be able to make it and she’ll need all the support she can get.”
Annie covered his hand with hers. “Are you sure we shouldn’t cancel?”
“No. Definitely not. Relatives have come for this, and Mom wouldn’t want it cancelled.” He hung his head and sniffled. “She couldn’t wait to meet her first grandchild.” He looked up at Annie. “Do you know what Abby said to me?”
