by Jinty James
“Anything’s possible when it comes to murder,” Suzanne declared.
“But wouldn’t it be obvious when the scores for round two are posted?” Maddie continued. “Surely it would look fishy if Brad suddenly has the highest scores from all three judges on the day of the final round? I can’t believe the other competitors wouldn’t say something about it, especially when the prize is one thousand dollars and an entry into the nationals.”
“Good point.” Suzanne looked a little deflated. “But I still think it’s a decent theory.”
“It’s certainly a theory. Isn’t it, Trixie?” Maddie looked at the cat.
“Mrrow.” Maddie couldn’t tell whether Trixie agreed with her or Suzanne.
“Didn’t you think it was weird what Brad said about Diana Swift?” Suzanne continued, taking a sip of water.
“About how he doesn’t think her chain of coffee shops will get off the ground? Definitely.”
“She seemed so sure that they were going to be successful, and she offered you that job yesterday,” Suzanne added.
“Yes, how can he be so certain?” Maddie furrowed her brow. “She told us she had the financing in place and that she’s going to open the first store soon.”
“Maybe he’s just jealous,” Suzanne considered. “He looks like he’s in his forties and has one shop, while Diana seems to be thirty-something and is planning a whole chain of coffee shops. And she’s beating him in the competition so far.”
“Don’t forget that Margot might have deliberately marked her higher than the other competitors,” Maddie reminded her, “since they knew each other.”
“Which doesn’t give her a motive to kill Margot, does it?” Suzanne took another sip of water.
“No,” Maddie agreed. “It doesn’t seem to.”
They sat at the kitchen table for a few more minutes, making plans to visit the burger place again in a couple of weeks – this time on a Sunday, their day off. Then Suzanne went home, reminding Maddie to practice making mochas for the final round on Saturday.
Maddie made mochas in the truck for an hour, mentally going over everything they’d seen and heard in Seattle that day, but she was no nearer a conclusion when she shut down the espresso machine. Mochas were one of her favorite beverages to make and drink, but right now, she was becoming a little tired of them.
CHAPTER 9
FRIDAY. THE DAY BEFORE the final round.
Maddie woke up, feeling slightly sick at the thought that tomorrow she would be competing for a spot in the national barista competition.
“Mrrow?” Trixie climbed on her chest, her face close to Maddie’s.
“We have to get ready for work, Trix.” Maddie smiled as Trixie tickled her cheek with her whiskers.
The Persian brushed her white whiskers against Maddie’s face one more time, then jumped off the bed, scampering out of the room. Maddie knew what that meant – breakfast.
An hour later, Maddie drove to the town square, deliberately thinking about the latte Ellie had made her yesterday, and not about Luke coming to watch her compete tomorrow. She didn’t need any extra pressure right now. She worried she was going to be a real basket case when they arrived in Seattle the next day.
“I’ve got a great idea!” Suzanne greeted Maddie as she parked the truck and hopped out.
“What’s that?” Maddie smiled at her friend.
“Mrrow?” Trixie asked enquiringly from the window.
“You should get a massage from Ramon – to relax you for the competition tomorrow!” Suzanne looked pleased with herself.
Maddie felt even more nervous at the idea. She shook her head.
“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“Because ...” Maddie didn’t know how to explain it. She just knew that doing something out of the ordinary today wasn’t going to make her feel any better about the competition tomorrow.
“Are you sure you’re not saying that because it will give you a chance to talk to Ramon?” she asked Suzanne.
“Well, there is that.” Suzanne giggled. “But seriously, Mads, I thought a nice, relaxing massage with Ramon’s soothing voice ...” she looked dreamily into the distance “... would do you a world of good.”
“Maybe another time,” Maddie replied, not wanting to hurt her friend’s feelings. Suzanne raved about Ramon’s magic hands, and his magic voice all the time, but Maddie wasn’t sure whether massages were her thing. How much clothing did she have to take off? Suzanne assured her it was totally legit and professional but ... maybe Maddie was too self-conscious.
“I bet Luke would give you a massage if you asked him,” Suzanne said mischievously.
Maddie’s face burned.
“Stop it!” She tapped Suzanne’s arm.
“I think I’ll call Luke right now and tell him you need to see him.” Suzanne reached for her phone, a grin on her face.
Maddie lunged for the cell phone, desperate to get to it first. She knew – hoped – her friend was only joking, but she didn’t think she and Luke were at that stage in their budding relationship.
“Lost something, girls?” Claudine’s nasal voice made them freeze.
Maddie was aware Trixie watched all three of them with wide turquoise eyes, which slowly narrowed as she stared unblinkingly at Claudine.
“Why do you ask?” Suzanne asked coolly as she straightened up.
“Can we do something for you, Claudine?” Maddie asked politely, pushing back a strand of hair behind her ear. She was glad that none of their early morning customers had seen her and Suzanne wrestling.
“Just thought you’d like to know that your customers got what they needed at my coffee shop yesterday,” Claudine informed them, a smug look on her face. “They were so disappointed that you were closed, but they soon cheered up when they tasted my coffee.”
“As if,” Suzanne muttered under her breath.
“Nothing wrong I hope, Maddie?” Claudine peered at them through the serving window.
“Everything is wonderful, Claudine,” Maddie told her, forcing a big smile on her face. She would not let this woman see how nervous she felt about tomorrow.
“We had an awesome day in Seattle yesterday,” Suzanne declared. “The most amazing lunch, the most amazing coffee, and the most amazing friend to share it with.” She wrapped her arm around Maddie’s waist, and Maddie returned the gesture.
“Mrrow!” Trixie joined in, acting as if she had been to Seattle with them.
“Hmmph.” Claudine’s black eyebrows lowered. “Well, if that’s how you treat your business ...”
“Our business is better than ever,” Suzanne told her. “And after tomorrow – well, the sky’s the limit.”
“What are you talking about?” Claudine glowered at them.
“It’s the final round tomorrow,” Suzanne replied. “And Maddie’s coming third right now. And you know what the first prize is, don’t you, Claudine? One thousand dollars and an entry into the nationals.”
For a second, Claudine looked like she was going to explode.
“Hmmph.” Claudine growled, turning on her heel and striding back to her café.
“You shouldn’t bait her like that, Suzanne.”
“She deserved it,” Suzanne replied. “I hate how she comes over here and acts as if her coffee is better than ours.”
“We know it’s not, and a lot of locals know it’s not either,” Maddie pointed out. “And if some of our customers went to her café yesterday, it was probably because they were so desperate for caffeine they didn’t care what it tasted like.”
“I know. You’re right.” Suzanne sighed. “She just gets me all steamed up!”
“Maybe you should book a massage with Ramon.” Maddie giggled.
“But that might make me feel even steamier!” Suzanne laughed, her face flushing.
“Thank goodness you’re open, Maddie.” A middle-aged businessman, who was one of their regulars, looked relieved. “I’ll have
a large latte with an extra shot. Yesterday I went to Claudine’s for an afternoon caffeine fix and—” he shuddered. “I would have been better off making instant coffee in the office.”
“Coming right up.” Maddie smiled at him, and set to work at the machine, the sound of hissing and burring filling the small truck.
“Yay!” Suzanne said under her breath as she took their customer’s money.
“Mrrow.” Trixie waved a paw at their customer.
“Hi, Trixie.” He grinned at her.
After that, they had a never-ending stream of customers until mid-morning, some of them asking if Maddie and Suzanne were going to be there for the rest of the day.
“You called it,” Suzanne told Maddie as they finally got to sit down for a few minutes, their last customer holding her coffee in one hand and pushing her baby’s pram with the other. “Business will be back to usual for Claudine today – way down on yesterday.”
“Mmm.” Maddie took a sip of bottled water. She didn’t think she needed the heightened effects of caffeine today. “Claudine’s still in business though, so she must have some customers who like her coffee – or her pastries.”
“Unless she only gets people from out of town.” Suzanne shrugged. “Or aliens from out of space.” She giggled.
Maddie allowed herself to join in the silliness. Even Trixie looked like she was enjoying the joke.
“Hello, Maddie and Suzanne.” Ramon’s Spanish accent quickly sobered them.
“Hi, Ramon.” Suzanne jumped off the stool and bounced to the serving window.
“Hi, Ramon.” Maddie smiled and walked the two steps to join Suzanne.
“Mrrow.” Trixie sat up straight on her stool and waved a paw at him, tilting her head on her side flirtatiously.
“How are you, Trixie?” Ramon asked the cat.
“Mrrow,” Trixie chirped at him.
Maddie could have sworn Trixie would have batted her eyelashes at him if she had any.
“I just wanted to stop by and wish you luck for tomorrow, Maddie,” Ramon told her, his molten brown eyes radiating sincerity.
“Thanks.” Maddie took in a breath. She suddenly wondered if Ramon had ever been on the cover of a romance novel.
“Have they discovered who the murderer is?” he asked.
“Nope.” Suzanne’s ponytail swished as she shook her head.
“If they have, they haven’t informed us,” Maddie amended.
“That is too bad,” he replied. “You and Suzanne must tell me all about it on Monday. I hope you win, Maddie.”
“She’s definitely got a good chance,” Suzanne said.
Ramon smiled – a smile that would probably cause hearts to flutter around the world. “I will be thinking of both of you. You and Suzanne must be careful while you are in the city – especially if the killer is still out there.”
“We will be,” Suzanne promised.
“Yes,” Maddie replied, noticing the special smile Suzanne gave the Spaniard. A smile that seemed to be returned.
Ramon left without ordering a coffee, explaining he would make himself one at his salon, so Maddie wouldn’t be overtaxed the day before the final round.
“He is so thoughtful,” Suzanne gushed as she watched him stride across the town square to his storefront.
“Definitely,” Maddie agreed, knowing that while she could admire the sexy Spaniard, her heart belonged to Luke.
A few customers snagged their attention, then they had a few minutes reprieve.
“I must make more health balls.” Suzanne looked guiltily at the empty platter. “I’ve only made one batch all week!”
“We’ve been busy,” Maddie soothed. “And if you made some now, we’d have to sell them all today, since we won’t be open tomorrow.”
“We can take the leftovers with us tomorrow to nibble on.” Suzanne grinned, whipping out her phone and beginning to type a list of ingredients.
“Hello, Maddie.” Detective Edgewater appeared in front of the serving window.
“Hi, Detective Edgewater.”
“Have you got any news for us?” Suzanne looked up eagerly from her shopping list.
“What news would that be?” the detective teased. “Or are you talking about the judge who was murdered?” He sobered.
“You know we are.” Suzanne hurried over to the window.
“I’m afraid in that case I don’t have anything for you.” The detective shook his head. “The murder is still unsolved. That’s why I stopped by – as well as for a large vanilla cappuccino.”
“Coming right up.” Maddie set to work at the espresso machine.
“Mrrow.” Trixie greeted the detective.
“Hello, Trixie,” he replied. “You’ll make sure these two behave themselves, won’t you? And not get mixed up in any danger?”
“Mrrow.” Trixie sat up straighter on her stool as if she were saying, “Yes.”
“I’m leaving Trixie with my mother tomorrow,” Maddie informed him as she handed him his coffee.
“Good idea.” He took a sip, a smile spreading across his face. “I hope you win tomorrow, Maddie. You certainly deserve to.”
“Thanks, Detective Edgewater,” she replied.
“The final round tomorrow is mochas,” Suzanne told him. “Maddie’s been practicing all week.”
Maddie hoped she didn’t look guilty as she remembered she hadn’t practiced every day.
“Next time I’ll order a mocha,” he promised. “And if you win tomorrow, you’ll be able to call them “award winning”.
“That’s my – our – plan!” Suzanne grinned. “We’ll definitely do that, Mads.”
Maddie just hoped everyone wouldn’t be disappointed if she didn’t win tomorrow – she might be talented as a barista and make the best coffee in the small town of Estherville, but did that mean she was good enough to win the competition?
CHAPTER 10
“THANKS, MOM.” MADDIE kissed her mother’s cheek as she and Suzanne handed her all of Trixie’s essentials for twenty-four hours.
“Mrrow.” Trixie pouted as she inspected her water bowl, food dish, dry food and wet food, litter tray, and the new toy Maddie had bought on the way home from work yesterday to assuage her guilty conscience at leaving Trixie with her mother for the day – an orange hessian mouse.
What if the murderer struck again today at the barista competition? She and Suzanne might be required to stay overnight in Seattle again, and Maddie wanted to make sure Trixie was being cared for if that happened.
“I’m sure Trixie will be fine,” Maddie’s mother told her. “She was so well behaved last weekend, weren’t you, Trixie?”
“Mrrow.” Trixie blinked up at Maddie’s mother – Trixie’s grandmother? Maddie thought fleetingly – looking as if a frozen liver ice cube would not melt in her mouth.
“See?” Maddie’s mother looked pleased. “And I even bought her a blanket – so she can curl up in the armchair in the living room and be all nice and cozy.” Mrs. Goodwell held up a fluffy pink blanket. “The color compliments her fur.”
“Oh, Mom.” Maddie couldn’t help smiling. Trixie had certainly cast a spell over her mother last weekend.
“Mrrow.” Trixie looked up at Mrs. Goodwell, as if saying thank you, a pleased expression on her face.
“Why don’t we try it out, Trixie?” Maddie’s mother headed toward the living room, Trixie trotting behind her.
Maddie and Suzanne watched as Mrs. Goodwell spread the blanket on the armchair, encouraging Trixie to hop up.
The Persian did so, turning around in a circle, then settling down after giving the blanket a couple of experimental kneads.
“She’ll be as good as gold,” Maddie’s mother declared, smiling at the fluffy white cat.
“We should be back by tonight,” Maddie told Trixie, stroking her soft fur.
“Mrrow.” Trixie blinked at her, as if saying, “Good luck”, then snuggled into the blanket.
Maddie wondered at Trixie’s calm ac
ceptance that she would be spending the day with Maddie’s mom.
“I’m sure she’d rather be with you – us,” Suzanne told her as they headed back to Maddie’s car.
“I think she’s got Mom wrapped around her little paw,” Maddie said wryly.
An image flashed through Maddie’s mind of her and Trixie snuggled up on the sofa, Wytchcraft for the Chosen open on Maddie’s lap. She stopped walking so suddenly that Suzanne almost cannoned into her.
Had Trixie just communicated telepathically with her? The feelings that the image evoked were warm, fuzzy, feel good ones. Had her cat wanted to reassure her that Maddie was still her number one person?
“What is it?” Suzanne placed a hand over her chest.
“Sorry. Nothing ... bad, anyway.” Maddie smiled, wanting to share the moment with her friend, but also wanting to keep it as a private moment between her and Trixie.
“Come on,” Suzanne urged. “We’ve got to pick up Luke and get to the hotel. You don’t want to be late.”
At the mention of Seattle, Maddie’s nerves returned full force. They got in her car and drove to Luke’s house. Although she’d been dating him for a few weeks, she hadn’t been invited over – yet.
Suzanne directed her and in a few minutes they parked outside a small Craftsman style house sporting cedar shingles and attractive gray stone. His tan SUV was in the driveway.
Maddie unclenched her fingers from the steering wheel. Maybe Luke coming with them wasn’t such a good idea. But it was too late now. How much more nervous could she get, anyway?
Stage fright.
She bit her lip at the thought of freezing in front of the judges and her fellow competitors. She would be so embarrassed.
“Are you okay?” Suzanne touched her arm.
“No – yes.” Maddie forced a smile.
“You’re going to be fine,” Suzanne encouraged her. “You’re an awesome barista, and you’re coming third right now. You’ve beaten a lot of competitors already. It would be great if you win today, but if you don’t, we’ve still got the truck to open on Monday and all our customers to serve. They’ll be glad that you’re there, giving them the best coffee ever.”
