Coffee & Crime

by Anita Rodgers

  "No note? Nobody said anything?" Zelda asked.

  "I asked around the office but nobody knew. I assumed George had gotten them himself. Like I said it was a crazy day and everybody was prepping for trial. I spent most the day in the copy room, copying exhibits, so I don't know what anyone else was doing. We were all so focused on our own tasks that none of us was paying attention to anyone else."

  "Then all you did was put the brownies in the fridge?"

  "Right, that's where we kept them — the mini-fridge in his office. And then I went home." Tears welled in Peggy's eyes. "The next day George was dead." She raked a hand through her hair. "A couple of days later, Maggie stormed into the office, accused me of killing George, and fired me." She leveled a gaze at me and Zelda. "A few hours after you two left the office."

  Peggy's change of attitude made sense. "No wonder you thought..." I shook my head. "No, that was a coincidence."

  Peggy's guard went up. "Where did you get that video, then?"

  Zelda picked up the phone from the sofa and pointed to it. "It was on this phone that George gave to Scotti."

  Peggy narrowed her eyes. "That wasn't George's phone. Why are you really here?" She jumped to her feet and pointed to the door. "No, don't tell me. Leave. I want you to leave."

  I slid off the arm of the sofa and nodded. "Okay, we'll go but please let me explain a couple of things first."

  Against her better judgment Peggy said, "Make it quick."

  "It started when George gave me his briefcase..."

  Peggy spent several minutes digesting everything I'd told her then said, "But why aren't the police investigating?"

  "They've decided it was an accident." I excluded that the cops had warned us off the case and had threatened us to stay away. "At first, we thought it was an accident too. Then we opened the briefcase George gave me." I also didn't mention breaking into George's office or bringing in a private detective. "Maybe George was being paranoid and it really was an accident but I don't think so."

  She frowned at us. "I saw Maggie's television interview. Quite a reward. But I didn't think anyone would take it seriously. Do you really think you can find proof that George was murdered?"

  I shrugged and figured the less I said the better.

  Peggy granted me a weak smile. "You've got balls. I'll say that for you."

  Peggy's five-minute limit had long passed but she didn’t throw us out — she put on a pot of coffee and offered us cookies. "I can't get over that video. George's clock is a security camera?"

  I snagged a cookie from the platter. "We were hoping you'd verify that for us." I shrugged. "So much for that idea."

  Zelda jumped in. "But we can verify whether they had partner insurance." She looked at Peggy. "Did they?"

  Peggy nodded. "It's standard stuff — most partnerships have it to protect their firms if anything happens."

  "And now that George is dead, the insurance money goes to the firm?"

  Peggy stirred sugar into her coffee. "Not exactly. Partner insurance is to protect your interest in the business should your partner die or become incapacitated. It usually

  includes some kind of buy/sell agreement."

  "Sounds like Wall Street," Zelda said.

  "Not at all. It's an agreement that says you can buy the deceased partner's interest in the business from the deceased's family or heirs."

  "So the insurance money would be used to buy out George's family then?"

  "Right," Peggy said.

  "But since Maggie fired you, then he obviously didn't buy out Maggie's interest in the firm. Could Jake use the money for other things?" I felt a motive for Jake blossoming.

  and asked, "What if he wanted to use it to pay off debts or to buy a house?"

  Peggy shrugged. "Technically, he could do what he wanted with the money. But that wouldn't make sense because then he'd be partners with Maggie. She'd own half the firm and since she isn't an attorney and has no legal skills, she’d be a liability to the firm not an asset. Jake would be crazy not to buy her out. He probably hasn't received the check from the insurance company yet. When he does, I'm sure he'll buy out Maggie's interest."

  That news took the wind out of my sails and Peggy noticed. "You're disappointed?"

  "Any chance you know George's passwords or encryption keys?" Better to distract Peggy with a question of my own than to answer hers. "Even one might help."

  Peggy chuckled. "Not on your life. George was a wonderful person and very generous, but he was also secretive. He never shared his passwords with anyone. Not even Jake."

  Zelda munched on a butter cookie. "George came up with all this secret password stuff and nanny cams? He was a techie?"

  Peggy shook her head. "He had a security guy who helped him out with that sort of thing."

  "Who was that?" If we could get this security guy's name he could be persuaded to give us the passwords. "Do you know how to reach him?"

  Peggy shrugged and looked away. "I never met him and George never said."

  While we had momentum going, I tossed Peggy another question. "Anything else that George was secretive about? Or seemed bothered by?"

  "He kept family matters private — like anybody would." She shook her head. "I'm not comfortable discussing George beyond what we've already talked about." I could see her discomfort but it had started long before that question — I wondered if she was being completely honest. Or honest at all.

  I pushed back my chair and stood. "We understand, and we wouldn't want you to betray any confidences." Awkward silence. I smiled brightly and said, "We'll get out of your hair now."

  Peggy seemed relieved that our time together had come to an end.

  I dug Joe's card out of my bag and handed it to her. "On another note, given your current job situation, you might want to give Joe a call. He works with lawyers — maybe he can give you a job lead."

  Peggy looked at the card and blushed. "Now I feel like a shit for the way I treated you. Thanks."

  "After what you've been through, I'd be suspicious too."

  I gave Peggy our numbers and asked her to call if she thought of anything else. I felt bad for her because she'd become collateral damage in somebody's game of death and deceit. I hoped that Joe would give her a lead to another job because she didn't deserve what Maggie had done to her — in my book the universe owed her one.

  When we were back in the jeep again Zelda said, "How could somebody bring a giant box of brownies into an office without anybody seeing them?"

  I stared through the windshield at the rain-soaked day and longed for my bed. "You'd be amazed what people don't see right under their noses." I glanced at her. "It couldn't have been George though. There’s no situation in which he’d buy the wrong brownies, disguise them, then eat them."

  "Then Maggie was right — it was murder?"

  I slumped against my seat. "He died in his office and the anaphylactic shock that killed him was brought on by," I made air quotes, "the ingestion of nut derivative ingredients." I glanced at her. "And there just happened to be a dozen brownies in his personal fridge? Quite a co-inky-dink if it ain’t murder." I stared up at Peggy’s building. "I wonder though, was she telling us the truth?"

  Zelda switched on the engine and gunned it. "About what?"

  "The security stuff. The nanny cam. How could she not have known about it? She was his office manager — they’d worked together for ten years. Doesn’t ring true to me."

  Zelda backed out of the parking space. "After what happened to her, maybe she’s not in a trusting mood." She nosed the car toward Glenoaks Boulevard. "I wouldn’t be."

  "Maybe."

  Zelda glanced at me. "You think Peggy’s lying about the brownies appearing out of nowhere too?"

  "That’s the funny thing, I believe her about that." I shook my head. "But why lie about the other stuff?"

  Chapter Thirty

  Four weeks and counting. The official loan rejection letter from the bank was crumpled and tucked into my apron
pocket. And every time I thought to walk away from our investigation, I closed my hand around it and squeezed — not as gratifying as smacking Manny around but an okay substitute.

  I felt like two people — one who was a mild mannered waitress and the other who was a desperate amateur detective working to solve a puzzle as though my life depended on it. Frankly, it did.

  Then there was my budding relationship with Ted. I knew from experience that secrets weren't good for relationships and I was keeping a big one from him. If things between us heated up much more, I'd have to tell him soon. It was clear he wanted more and under normal circumstances, so would I. But my life was anything but normal.

  Work helped to distract me from all the worry, but once the lunch rush ended and the diner emptied out, the acid stomach and nail biting returned.

  Zelda surveyed the demolished dining room. "What a mess."

  I handed her a bus tray. "It ain't going to clean itself."

  We attacked the dining room from opposite ends and worked our way toward the middle. Like robot cleaning machines, we bussed dishes, wiped down tables and refilled condiments. And then order was restored — at least to the diner. After we cleaned up, Zelda announced she deserved a break and went to the espresso machine. I wiped down the last table. "Don't forget me."

  The front door whooshed open bringing cold damp air and Ted inside. I smiled so widely my teeth hurt. Twisting the rag in my hands I said, "Hi."

  "Hi gorgeous." He gave me a peck on the lips and took a seat at the table where I stood. He wiped the rain off his face with the back of his hand and shrugged off his leather jacket. "Have a cup of coffee with me?"

  "Sure." I smiled and nearly tripped over the chair on my way to the coffee pot.

  Zelda sidled next to me and muttered. "Didn't you have dinner with him last night? He's like a dog in heat."

  I glanced back to see if Ted had heard Zelda, but he smiled and winked. I returned his smile then glared at Zelda. "Shut it."

  Zelda taunted me with her eyes. "Maybe if you slept with him, he'd calm down a little."

  I hip-bumped Zelda and knocked her back a few inches. "Would you be quiet? He's going to hear you." I took the latte out of Zelda's hand, sprinkled it with cinnamon and brought it to Ted's table. "Here you go, a hot fresh latte."

  Ted wrapped his hands around the mug and took a sip. He nodded his approval. "Where's yours?"

  Zelda appeared with another latte and set it on the table across from Ted. "Take a break." I plopped into the chair across from Ted. Zelda jabbed a finger at Ted. "She's got ten minutes."

  Ted straightened, executed a crisp salute and said, "Sir, yes, sir."

  Again the door whooshed open and in pranced Lily. Zelda muttered under her breath. "What does she want?" She put her hand on my shoulder. "I'll take care of this." Zelda zipped back to the counter and waved the coffee pot at her. "Hot fresh coffee over here, Lily."

  Lily ignored Zelda and waved at me. "Hi Scotti."

  I forced a half-smile. "Hi Lily."

  Lily nodded to the lunch counter. "Join me for coffee?"

  "Sorry," I murmured to Ted. "I'll try to get rid of her."

  Ted nodded and the curiosity in his eyes made me nervous.

  I dragged myself out of my chair and joined Lily at the counter.

  Zelda poured Lily a cup of coffee and gave me a look. I shrugged and rolled my eyes. Lily assessed the diner with a cold eye. "So this is the famous diner that George was dying to own?" She wrinkled her nose. "It's so tiny. The way he described it, I thought it would be bigger."

  I glanced back to Ted and frowned. "What’s up Lily?"

  Lily looked down her nose at me. "You’re in a mood today, huh?"

  I gnawed on my thumbnail but said nothing.

  Lily shrugged. "I don't know. I was driving around and decided I should come see the place." She made sad eyes at me. "I thought it would comfort me. You know what I mean?"

  I gnawed harder on my nail and shook my head. "Not really." I tapped my foot against the floor, and cast another look at Ted — worried he was listening to our conversation.

  She crossed her eyes. "Stupid, right? I guess I just thought it would make me think of George. To feel closer to him?"

  The skin around my thumbnail started to bleed and I stuck my hand in my pocket. "Ah."

  She looked around the dining room. "How's it going? Will you be able to get the money for the diner now?"

  I arced my back against the knots forming with each passing second. Lily wasn’t there to remember George but to spy on me. It was my bad luck that Ted was just a few feet away and eavesdropping. "Now?"

  Lily patted my hand pretending to be sympathetic. "With Maggie fighting your claim on George's estate, I thought you'd be out of options." She flicked a look at Ted and lowered her voice. "And feeling a little desperate."

  My fist clenched in my pocket and I gave her a tight smile. "Don't worry about me, Lily. I'll be fine."

  Lily nudged my shoulder. "We're survivors, right?"

  I raised my eyebrows.

  Lily flicked her wrist. "Anyway, I wanted tell you that I tried to get Maggie to stop fighting the inheritance. It's what George wanted, right? Why is she fighting his last wishes?" She sighed. "But that woman couldn’t care less about my opinions." She frowned. "Now I’m worried I made it worse for you. I probably should have kept my mouth shut."

  Zelda smirked. "You expect us to believe you stood up for Scotti?"

  Lily smiled at Zelda. "Whether you believe it or not, I'm on Scotti's side because George was. He believed in her and so do I."

  Manny came out front from the kitchen carrying the night bank for the register. He smiled when he saw Lily, then caught himself and looked away abruptly.

  Lily didn't seem to notice Manny at all. "Look, all I'm saying is that if you need help, I'm here."

  Manny changed out the cash drawer and carried the day bank back toward the kitchen. But I caught the glance he shot at Lily before he disappeared into the back.

  Zelda slapped a guest check down in front of Lily. "Okay, well thanks for dropping by."

  Lily's smile faded and she glanced back at Ted. "Is that your guy?"

  I chewed on my lip and said nothing. All I needed was for Lily to zero in on Ted.

  Lily whispered to me. "He's really into you. He hasn't taken his eyes off you since you walked over here." She watched for a reaction. "He's gorgeous, you lucky girl."

  My eyes darted to Ted who stared at his coffee cup — a sure sign he was listening to every word. "I really have to get back to work, Lily."

  She leaned in and whispered. "Does he know what you're doing?"

  I frowned at Lily, but my heart hammered in my chest.

  She giggled, "That reward money would make your dreams come true, huh? Plus, how pissed would Maggie be if she had to pay it to you? After all the crap she’s done to keep your hands off George's money?"

  It was all I could do to hold Lily's gaze and not pull her tonsils out through her button nose.

  Lily shrugged, gathered her things and stood. "Okay, have it your way. I understand." She put a five-dollar bill on top of the guest check and said, "Keep the change Zelda. I guess you're going to need it." Her eyes flitted to Ted and then back to me. "I could help you." Her face filled with mischief. "I know things."

  She threw her coat over her shoulders and walked out the door like she was Bette Davis making her exit. We stared after her for a few seconds. Zelda knitted her brow and whispered, "She knows things?"

  Then Ted slid into the seat next to me. "What was that all about? Who is she? Who's George?"

  I smiled and fussed with his hair, pushing it off his forehead so I could avoid his eyes. "My friend’s daughter. He died a couple of weeks ago." I shrugged. "She misses him and wanted to talk."

  Not satisfied with my explanation, Ted turned to Zelda but she busied herself by refilling ketchup bottles that she lined up on the counter.

  "Then why all the whispering?" Ted asked.<
br />
  I slid out of my seat, grabbed a bar towel and wiped off the ketchup bottles that Zelda had refilled. "Lily’s a little weird." I chanced a look at Ted. "Says things that don't make any sense." I shrugged and concentrated on the ketchup bottle. "Grief can make people do weird things."

  Ted stared at me until I looked at him. He questioned me with his eyes and I looked away. "Yeah, people do weird things all right." He put a five on the counter and went back to the table for his jacket.