by Eryn Scott
Spring flowers bloomed, bursting in color and scent from the large wine-barrel planters dotted along the Main Street sidewalk. For the first time in her life, Hadley felt as though their cute town was a lie, that these colorful planters and bright buildings were just covering up a darkness no one could’ve imagined.
Stoneybrook’s Cascade River Coffee came into view on their right. The light brown color of the building always looked like a toasted marshmallow to Hadley, making her mouth water at the thought of the homemade syrups the owner, Wendy, made for her signature lattes.
Surely all Hadley needed was a coffee to make the world seem a little brighter.
As they pulled the door open and walked inside, both Hadley and Suzanne closed their eyes and sighed. The smells were some of the best in town. Between the sweet-cream smell of steamed milk and the bitter, roasted scent of the coffee beans, the café smelled like heaven—or at least, what Hadley hoped it might smell like.
Wendy glanced up from her espresso machine, steam rising in a cloud in front of her while the screech of the steamer faded as she turned the knob all the way off. Tapping the metal cup so the foam would move to the top, she poured it into a mug, swirling and zigzagging the milk so it would make a beautiful design as it mixed with the dark, buttery shots of coffee.
“Hey!” Wendy called. “What can I get you two?” She handed a customer the drink she’d been working on and then wiped her hands on her apron, turning to face Suze and Hadley.
“I’ll have a twenty-ounce vanilla latte, please,” Hadley ordered.
“Make that two.” Suze smiled.
Wendy nodded and got to work. Even though a vanilla latte sounded plain, Wendy’s version of the drink was anything but. Between the expertly roasted coffee beans that she imported from a guy named Miguel and the vanilla syrup she made right in her kitchen—she infused cinnamon and cardamom in with the vanilla beans—even the plainest of drinks felt like a decadent treat.
They also ordered two beautiful scones with clotted cream and a small serving of Hadley’s own jam—Wendy was a loyal customer and often sent business Hadley’s way when customers tasted the jam and wanted more.
After paying and grabbing their orders, the women headed outside onto the large back porch. Like the rest of the businesses this far down on Main Street, the coffeehouse’s backyard was the rushing river. Between the sunshine, the looming mountains, and the cool comfort provided by the water, the porch was a prime destination for locals and tourists alike.
While the bottom section was crowded, almost every table occupied, Hadley took a quick turn to the right and scaled a small wiry staircase that hugged the building and led up to another section of rooftop seating only the locals knew about. If they were going to get information, they needed someone who lived here.
Hadley sighed in defeat as she noticed Mr. and Mrs. Ambler were the only other customers occupying the rooftop. Living on the edge of town with their young children, they were two of the least gossipy locals Hadley knew. Knowing the Amblers would probably not even know Edith was dead yet, Hadley waved and then chose the table farthest from the couple.
“So how did Edith die?” Suze asked, leaning forward.
Hadley explained what Paul had told her about the autopsy results from Sheriff M&M.
“Who does he think could’ve done it?” Suze took a sip of her latte, and before Hadley could answer, said, “After the way Louise reacted at the market, she’s gotta be on the short list, right?”
“Paul didn’t say anything about suspects yet.” Hadley paused to think. “If Louise did kill Edith, that seems silly for her to go around saying things like that. It would point right to her as a person of interest.”
“Maybe that’s what she’s counting on, that it’s too obvious so we’ll think it couldn’t be her.”
“Maybe.” Hadley shrugged. “Or she didn’t count on anyone finding out it was murder.”
“Did anyone else have a problem with Edith?” Just after asking it, Suze shook her head. “Sorry, that’s a dumb question.”
“There aren’t many people more unliked in town.”
“Not unless you’re talking about Dirk Croft.”
Hadley’s eyebrows lifted at her mention of the disagreeable man. “He and Cathy were uncharacteristically present at the market the other day.”
“Yeah, that was weird.”
“Thea Clark seemed to think they were there to find out the gossip about Edith.”
“Makes sense.”
“Or he could’ve been there specifically to show his face so he wouldn’t look guilty.”
Suze leaned closer. “Luke did say he’s seen Dirk at Edith’s place a lot lately, and that they were fighting.”
“If Edith was out of the way, maybe he’d be able to get a hold of her land for that golf course.”
“True.” Suze took another sip of her coffee then a bite of her scone.
“Hazel Smith also makes the list, in my mind.”
“I hate to admit it, but I think you’re right. After all of that stuff last year with Robert.” Suze widened her eyes dramatically. “That was a mess.”
Hadley agreed. “But why would Hazel wait all of this time to do something about it? It was last year. If she was going to get revenge, wouldn’t she have done it right away?”
“Maybe she waited so she would be a less likely suspect.”
Sighing, Hadley ate more of her scone and looked out at the river.
“And then there are all of the other people who Edith’s rubbed the wrong way throughout the years with her nosy, know-it-all ways,” Suze added.
“Not to mention people who don’t live here, though anyone who didn’t live around Edith would definitely have less motive.”
“True.” Suze nodded. “Nor would they know about her blood pressure meds.”
Hadley softened her features as she remembered Paul’s question about the front door. She hated that she hadn’t stopped to check whether or not the door had been locked. That certainly would’ve given them a clue as to whether the killer had known the person or not.
About to ask if Suze had heard anything more about Dirk’s company rebrand, Hadley stopped herself when her friend glanced over at the stairway leading up to the rooftop. Turning to look, Hadley watched as Tyler’s Aunt Mickie finished scaling the stairs and caught sight of her.
Surprise pushed Hadley up out of her seat. When it came to Tyler’s family these days, that normally would’ve meant she was getting up to run the other direction. But it was different with Mickie. Mickie was the big sister she never had. Tyler’s young aunt was only fifteen years older than Hadley, and they had hit it off the moment they’d become family.
In fact, Hadley had played a big part in convincing Mickie to move here from Cascade Ridge about five years ago.
“Hey you!” Mickie walked forward, enveloping Hadley in a tight hug. “I was dropping off an order, and Wendy told me you were up here, so I thought I’d come say hi. It’s been a minute, hasn’t it?”
Hadley pulled back from the hug after a second. “I know. Sorry.”
Mickie shrugged. “I’m the one who left for a few weeks.”
“I know, but I’ve been meaning to catch up and just haven’t had a moment,” Hadley said.
“Don’t worry about it.” Mickie smiled, then waved at Suzanne as she noticed her. Her attention landed on their half-eaten scones. “What do you think of those?” She pointed.
“Better than ever,” Hadley said.
“The perfect complement to Had’s jam, as always,” Suze added.
“Oh good. I added a pinch of ginger to this batch, but I wanted to make sure it wasn’t overpowering.”
Suzanne’s eyes widened. “Okay, that’s what I’m tasting. It’s lovely.”
Mickie was the best baker in Stoneybrook, in Hadley’s opinion. She’d had to fight tooth and nail for purchase in the baked-goods retail market up in Cascade Ridge—going up against giant chain bakeries as well as a slew of
local shops. It was that fact that caused Hadley to urge her to move down south to the smaller town, especially since Glenda, the previous town baker, had just closed her shop to move to Arizona with her grandchildren.
Once Mickie’s shop had opened, she’d been an instant hit.
Mickie put her hand on her hip as she studied Hadley. “How’ve you been, doll?”
“Okay.” Hadley smiled, trying to appear more okay than she felt. She wasn’t sure why, though. Mickie could read Hadley almost as well as Paul and Suze could at this point in their friendship.
“Huh, weird since I heard you stumbled on a dead body a few days ago, and if I had done the same thing I most definitely wouldn’t be okay.”
Hadley wrinkled her nose.
Mickie continued. “Not to mention hearing Luke is moving back in town.”
“Right.” Hadley sucked in a long breath through her teeth.
“That’s probably the last thing you need.” Mickie shook her head slowly.
Hadley agreed, but didn’t know what she could do about it. Luke was free to move wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted.
Mickie checked her watch. “Well, I’d better go. I only had a few minutes here before I have to hit the rest of my deliveries.”
“We should all do dinner later,” Suzanne said. “I’m craving a burger.”
“Yeah.” Hadley nodded. “I never say no to a BLT from Seven Stones.”
Wrinkling her forehead, Mickie sighed. “Sorry, I’m swamped tonight. Right after I finish my deliveries this afternoon, I’m off to start a cake for Hazel for her party tonight.”
Both Suzanne and Hadley frowned.
“Party?” Suze asked.
Mickie’s eyebrows rose. “Yeah, you heard Robert just got out of prison last week. Hazel’s throwing him a big welcome home party.”
Hadley’s stomach clenched tight. “Like he’s coming in tonight from Seattle?”
“No, he’s been staying here with Hazel since he got out. Apparently he sublet his place in Seattle while he served his time, and he has a few weeks before he can move back in. Hazel was only all too happy to put him up.”
Suze and Hadley glanced at each other and swallowed.
“I’m sure.” Hadley feigned a smile.
“See you two around,” Mickie said as she headed back down the staircase.
“Bye.” Suze waved, then immediately looked to Hadley, eyes wide with fear. “You don’t think…?”
“Well of course I do. He gets out of prison and the woman who was responsible for putting him there dies the same week? That’s no coincidence. Is it?”
Hadley chewed the last bit of her scone and took another sip of her coffee. They’d ended up getting some gossip from the rooftop after all.
9
After they finished up their coffees, Hadley and Suze went back to work. Hadley tried calling Paul multiple times to tell him what they’d learned, but he must’ve been busy because he didn’t answer. He sent her a single text that afternoon.
“Sorry, crazy day here. What’s up?”
Hadley typed back, “Just some info you might be interested in about Mrs. B.”
“Can it wait until later? I could do dinner.” was his response.
Weighing her answer, Hadley decided that it could. Edith Butler was already dead. A few hours weren’t going to change much.
Even though Mickie said she couldn’t do dinner, Suze and Hadley had decided the idea was too good to pass up. It was only natural for Paul to join them.
She texted back. “Sure. Seven Stones. Meet me and Suze there at six.”
“K. I think I’ll be hungry enough to eat two burgers. See you then.”
Hadley put her phone away and then closed the kitchen up so she could drop a load of packages off at the post office. Then, after heading home to feed Ansel and let the cat roam in the sunny yard a bit, she found herself too antsy to sit and wait around.
So she threw a book in her basket and biked into town. After about ten minutes, the large, timber-frame building came into view. The contrast of the dark-stained wood with the huge, white-rimmed picture windows created a cozy, homey feel even though the place had to be close to four thousand square feet with the large deck, which was almost as big as the interior. Hadley didn’t blame the owners, though. Even though the deck was out of commission for the snowy and rainy months, it was too lovely during the other times of year to pass up. Plus, with the deck lower than the main building, following the slope of the hill down toward the river, nobody’s views were ever compromised.
“Hey, Hadley!” a high school girl greeted her as Hadley walked inside.
“Hi, Kelse.” Hadley smiled. She had babysat Kelsey Morrow when she was a little girl. “What are you, a sophomore this year?”
Kelsey shook her head. “Junior, actually.” The girl beamed, looking suddenly more mature than Hadley had realized.
Nothing better to make you feel old than seeing the kids you babysat become young adults, Hadley thought with a sigh as Kelsey led her out onto the deck and to a four-seater table.
The rough, hand-carved tables, created by Hadley’s father, sat in a geometric pattern to fill the space. She wanted to run her fingers across their lacquered surfaces as she walked through the dining room. The scent of grill-smoked and garlicky specialties snaked through the place, stealing her attention away from the tables. And then there was the steady sound of the rushing river as they walked out onto the deck. White noise for some, but akin to the sound of her own heartbeat for Hadley and most of the Stoneybrook residents.
Seeing she was settled, Kelsey left her with a few menus before going back to the hostess table. Hadley didn’t need to consult the menu, though, so she leaned back in her chair, opening her book until someone came to take her drink order.
When Paul arrived about fifteen minutes later, he found her smiling down at her book, sipping on pint of her favorite blonde ale—Seven Stones was a microbrewery along with a restaurant that served up the best food in town.
“Man, life’s rough, huh?” He chuckled as he settled into one of the empty seats across from his sister.
She stuck her bookmark into the page she was reading then closed it, focusing on her brother.
“Can’t complain.”
“Nor should I.” He rubbed his face. “Though on days like today, sometimes it’s tempting.”
“What happened?” Hadley asked, noting the bags under her brother’s tired eyes.
Paul was in the middle of describing how he’d been mostly thwarted from doing any real digging into Edith’s murder because it had been one thing after another at the station that day. First, a stolen bicycle which ended up just having been loaned out and forgotten: Second, Mr. Hite got himself stuck up on his roof and didn’t know who else to call: And third, the paperwork McKay had sent Paul’s way for a case they’d worked on last week—one he could’ve sworn he’d already finished all the paperwork for.
“It’s like the guy doesn’t even want me to look into Edith’s death,” Paul said the last part quieter. Hadley guessed the fact that the death had been ruled a murder wasn’t quite public knowledge yet.
“Maybe he doesn’t.” She shrugged. “You said it yourself. If he’s trying to find reasons to get rid of you so he can put his nephew in your position, that’s going to be a lot easier if you seem incompetent, not if you end up solving the biggest case Stoneybrook has seen in years.”
Paul nodded, but Hadley’s point didn’t seem to alleviate his fatigue. In fact, it only seemed to intensify the slump to his shoulders. Feeling responsible, Hadley waved Derek, their waiter, over and ordered her brother a beer, plus one for Suzanne, who would be there soon.
Just as Derek returned with the two microbrews, Suze walked in, finding them on the deck and waving off Kelsey to tell her she’d found her party.
“Hey!” Suze shimmied down into the seat next to Hadley excitedly, taking a long sip of her beer before saying anything more. “Boy, that’s good.”
Suze’s lip curled up, and she let out a short grunt. “Meh. Just not super creative today.” She sighed. “Alas, my muse is a jealous one.”
“Who’s it jealous of?” Paul asked with a smirk.
“This case,” Suze whispered, leaning forward. “I couldn’t seem to think about anything else all day. And by the time I realized that and switched to my other design orders, I’d already wasted half of my work hours today.”
“What happened to don’t get involved?” Paul asked, focusing on Hadley.
“You might want to reconsider that order once you hear what we found out.” Hadley motioned to Suzanne to fill him in.
Suze told Paul everything they’d learned about Robert Smith being let out of prison just last week and how he’d been staying with Hazel. She only paused to order some stuffed mushrooms and nachos for the table.
“So?” Hadley asked as Suze sat back. The women watched Paul take in the information.
“I hadn’t heard he was out.” He shook his head. “I mean, his sentence was for a year, but I should’ve figured they’d let him out for good behavior. Who’d you hear this from?”
“Mick came and talked to us during a coffee break. We invited her here tonight, but she said she couldn’t, had to get a cake ready for Hazel’s party tonight. A coming home celebration for Robert.”
Paul took another sip of his beer. “Interesting. Okay, plus what we know already, that makes for three strong suspects.”
“Isn’t it four?” Suze asked. “Louise, Hazel, Robert, and Dirk?” She listed them out.
“Hazel’s out,” Paul said. “She has an alibi. Was at work and stayed there for lunch, so she had no opportunity. That’s already been corroborated by multiple employees at the pharmacy.”
“Oh. Got it. Three.” Suze refrained from saying any more names as their waiter dropped off their appetizers, but Hadley noticed the relief evident in her friend’s posture. Suze loved Hazel like a mother and would be glad to have her off the suspect list.
After digging into the food for a silent couple of minutes, Hadley said, “So what should we do next?”
