by Lyndsey Cole
Jason heated the milk, stirred in chocolate, and added a generous shot of Kahlua before he carried the mugs to the coffee table.
Annie added a squirt of whipped cream with a few mini chocolate chips on top before she sat down on the couch to enjoy her steaming chocolate.
And the company of her hot husband.
She blushed.
“You know, we won’t have much privacy with Leona next door,” Jason said.
“I hadn’t thought of that.” Annie glanced at Jason over the top of her mug. “We’ll have to work overtime to find Nelson’s murderer so we can get her back to her own space.”
“And continue our vacation?” Jason asked in a deep, throaty voice.
Annie felt heat spread across her cheeks. “You read my mind.”
“Hold on to those thoughts until we get back from checking up on Leona. If we don’t bring the cooking stuff over she’ll be knocking on our door.”
Jason picked up the box and Annie carried over pot holders and a stack of kitchen towels.
“It’s about time you two came back,” Leona said when they walked into the apartment. She stood at the stove stirring a big pot. “I’ve got chicken noodle soup, garlic bread, and salad ready for dinner. Did you think to bring over any wine? I definitely need a glass after these last two days.”
Annie groaned. There was no way they’d be dropping off the supplies and heading back to their own comfy couch, hot chocolate, and fireplace for some cuddling any time soon.
“I’ll be right back with wine,” Jason said. He winked at Annie when he walked to the door.
Annie relaxed. The garlic bread, cooling on the counter, made her stomach rumble with anticipation. How did she whip this all up so fast?
Leona ladled the soup into bowls, cut the garlic bread, and set three wine glasses on the counter.
“There’s something I need to tell you.” Leona pushed her hair behind her ear and pursed her lips.
Annie’s appetite disappeared as fast as a stray dog could steal a bone.
“When I went into Cookie’s shop?” Leona started.
Annie nodded to encourage her to continue.
“I think someone might have seen me.”
Chapter 14
When Annie opened her eyes early Monday morning, the sun was just peeking over the mountains across the frozen lake.
Her digital thermometer surprised her with a temperature in the high twenties; a heat wave compared to what it had been since they arrived home from Hawaii.
She snuggled up under her warm down comforter next to Jason and thought it felt wonderful to be able to sleep in.
Until she heard noises downstairs.
It could only mean one thing and she knew she had to get out of bed.
When Annie shuffled down the stairs, she saw Leona bustling around the kitchen making coffee and mixing up a batch of gooey cinnamon rolls.
“We’ve got a lot to do today so I decided to get an early start,” Leona said in a much too chipper voice.
The coffee dripped into the glass pot with an irresistible aroma.
Annie wasn’t sure she liked how Leona said we as she helped herself to the coffee and sat on one of the wooden stools at the counter. Leona tended to act before thinking and it could prove to be her undoing. “Did you sleep okay in the apartment?”
“Surprisingly, I did. Danny came over when he was done with work and it felt like a mini vacation.”
Annie tapped her fingers on the counter and decided to just jump to the subject that was bugging her. “Did Nelson have a big problem with women?”
“Huh? Charlene’s husband?” Leona arranged the cinnamon rolls on a baking pan. “Of course he did. You saw him at the Christmas party. Why?”
Annie wrapped her fingers around the hot cup of coffee to keep them still. “I bumped into Cookie’s boyfriend, Daryl Hansen, yesterday and I’m wondering if Nelson was trying to make a deal to sell the land to Cookie in return for some, ah, favors.”
“Sex?” Leona’s eyes popped open wide. “No wonder Charlene wanted to dump that creep.”
“Right. So if Charlene knew he was cheating behind her back, maybe she figured out an easier—and quicker—way to get him out of her life and get control of the property at the same time.”
Leona leaned both elbows on the counter. “So, you think Charlene’s motive would be jealousy? The only problem with that plan would be if she got caught.”
“Of course, getting caught is always the downside.” Annie sipped her coffee. “But what if she had such a good plan she thought she could get away with murder and then she wouldn’t have to split anything with Nelson? She’d have control of that piece of property which must be worth plenty.”
“But what about Cookie? She’s the one who researched poisonous plants, she had those berries in her bag, and you just said Nelson was trying to intimidate and take advantage of her. Doesn’t that give her a motive? If Cookie killed Nelson, it gets me off the hook with the police and it gets her out of my life with any competition between our businesses.”
Annie had to mull over the clues they had so far. She put paper and kindling in the fireplace and got a fire started while she considered the facts. Both Cookie and Charlene had motives but was she missing something? Someone else? What about Daryl?
She enjoyed the heat hitting the backs of her legs and made no move to sit on the couch. “Was it Cookie who saw you go into her shop? Or maybe Daryl?” His words about Leona planting evidence in Cookie’s shop gave Annie a sinking feeling: What was his agenda?
“I don’t know. When I was in her shop I saw someone walk by the window but I didn’t get a good look. Ever since then I’ve been getting calls but it’s a blocked number and whoever it is hangs up as soon as I answer.”
The timer rang on the oven. Annie inhaled the sweet cinnamon scent that rushed from the oven and followed the baking pan to the counter. Leona transferred the cinnamon rolls to a cooling rack, except for the biggest one which she put on a plate. “This one’s for you but I’d let it cool down before you take a bite or you’ll burn your tongue.”
Annie closed her eyes and lowered her nose close to the steaming confection. She breathed in deeply and sighed with contentment. “This aroma might be almost as good as the rich sweet taste of your cinnamon rolls. It certainly has my salivary glands working overtime.”
“Take a bite. I want to get over to the Black Cat Café and start cleaning up as soon as possible. Detective Crank said I could get back inside today, and today has arrived.
“So that’s the we you referred to before? I’m helping you?” Annie teased. She nibbled along the edge of the cinnamon roll where the streusel had leaked out.
“We, as in you, Mia, Martha, and Camilla.” Leona washed up the bowls and pans she used and left them in the drainer to air dry. “I’m going back to the apartment to pack up what I’m bringing to the café.”
Annie enjoyed the quiet, the cinnamon roll, and the crackling fire. She smiled when she heard footsteps on the stairs. “Did you wait until you heard Leona leave?”
“Of course not,” Jason replied. “I didn’t even know she was here.”
“Yeah, right. I can see right through you, Mr. Hunter.”
Jason helped himself to coffee and a cinnamon roll before he sat next to Annie on the couch. “You’re going to help Leona clean up the café?”
“Of course. And keep an eye on her at the same time. Something is cooking in her brain besides muffins, rolls, and Christmas cookies, and with her track record, I’m assuming it’s a bad idea at best. Plus, there’s another problem to deal with.”
Jason groaned.
“Leona thinks someone saw her when she was in Cookies ‘n Dreams.”
“Who?”
Annie shrugged. “She doesn’t know, and now she’s getting phone calls. The caller blocked the number and hangs up when she answers.”
“It might not have anything to do with her being in Cookie’s shop.” Jason licked the sugar
glaze off his fingers. “These are delicious. Leona really is a good baker. If she can increase her customer base, she’ll do fine financially.”
“And if this murder sinks her business? Or her?”
“Your only choice is to help her so that doesn’t become a problem.” He patted her knee. “Up for the challenge?”
“I don’ think I have a choice. Leona will either get nabbed as the murderer with the way Detective Crank was talking or no one will want to eat anything she makes for fear of being poisoned like Nelson Abbott.” Annie rinsed her cup and plate.
“Do you have a plan of attack?”
Her shoulders moved up and down. “Keep digging into Charlene’s life? She certainly benefits with her husband dead. And with a looming divorce, there was certainly a lack of love there. Not to mention that if Nelson was pressuring Cookie for some kind of unwanted relationship, that could overshadow her desire for a contract for the land parcel. She would want that creep out of her life. So, that’s where I’m planning to start.”
“It would help if you could find out what poison was used.”
Annie jabbed her finger in the air. “Camilla can help us with that. She can do her flirty thing with Officer Reynolds. She literally had him eating Christmas cookies out of her hand when we were at the police station.”
Jason chuckled. “Poor guy. He has no clue what he’s up against, does he?” Jason stretched. “I’ll give Paul another visit and see if he can fill in any more details about Charlene or Cookie.”
“That’d be great. Ask him about Daryl, too. There’s something off with Cookie’s boyfriend in my opinion. And thank him for the blueberry jam he left. He’s really not as bad as I expected from what I heard everyone say about him.”
Jason smiled and wrapped his arms around Annie. “He and I have always gotten along,” he whispered in her ear. “That vacation was so nice. No one but the two of us.”
Annie let herself relax against Jason’s warm embrace and her memory drifted to a sunny private beach with a warm ocean breeze caressing her skin.
Then the door opened.
“Oh jeez,” Leona said. “Don’t get distracted now, there are places to go and work to get done. Are you coming with me, Annie? I have to swing by and pick up Charlene. She needs a ride to get her car.”
Annie turned around but stayed nestled inside Jason’s arm. “Where’s her car?”
“The night of the party, she parked by my house and came with me to the Christmas party. Nelson met her at the café and I guess she drove his truck home. I guess she was too busy to get it yesterday.”
“I’ll come with you. Give me fifteen minutes to get ready.” She headed for the stairs.
“Hurry up. I’ll have another cup of coffee while I’m waiting. And keep your handsome husband company. I’m setting the timer and I’m leaving in fifteen minutes with or without you.”
Annie wasn’t planning to tell Leona that taking a look in Charlene’s car might reveal a clue since she was still a bit defensive about her friend’s possible role in murdering her husband. Of course, the police probably already checked the car but having a fresh set of eyes on it certainly couldn’t hurt.
With a minute to spare, she dashed downstairs in her comfy jeans, plaid flannel shirt, and warm wool socks. She had a t-shirt stuffed in her bag in case she worked up a sweat at the café and needed a cooler layer. “All set,” she announced just before her right foot slipped off the last step and she landed on her backside.
Jason rushed over and crouched next to Annie. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, help me up.” Annie put her arm around Jason’s shoulder and he helped her to her feet. She tested her ankle with a little weight and pain shot up her leg. “It’s definitely a bad twist but I’ll manage.” She limped across the room, trying her hardest not to grimace or collapse on her injured side.
Leona held Annie’s jacket for her to slip into. “Listen, you don’t have to come with me if your ankle is too painful. I’ll still have Mia, Martha, and Camilla to help me today.”
“I’m coming. Sometimes, when this has happened in the past, I can walk it off.” That was true, but she had a bad feeling that this was more than a twist she could walk off. But she wanted to be there when Leona took Charlene to her car. Before Charlene had a chance to get rid of any potential clues.
“Call me when you need a ride home,” Jason said. “I don’t think you’ll want to walk home on that ankle.” Annie suspected he was right.
Leona chattered during the drive to Charlene’s house about getting all this behind her and building her business. She let it slip that Jason paid for all her supplies the day before. She looked at Annie. “Are you okay with that? I’ll pay you guys back.”
Annie waved her hand dismissively. “Yeah, no problem. You know we both want to help all we can. Don’t even think twice about the money. You can pay us back with your baking.”
Charlene was out her front door as soon as Leona pulled into her driveway. She threw a couple of big bags in the backseat and settled in next to them. “After I get the car, I have to head over to visit my mom in the nursing home.”
“How’s she doing?” Leona asked.
Charlene tipped her hand back and forth. “She seems to have stabilized for now. She’s in hospice, you know.”
“Yes, you told me. They will keep her as comfortable as possible.”
“I can’t believe it though. She went downhill so fast and now with everything to do because of Nelson’s…”
Annie turned around and saw that Charlene was looking out the window. A tear dripped down her cheek. Was the tear for her mother or Nelson or both?
Leona pulled up behind a Honda Civic. “Here you go.”
“Thanks Leona. Before I visit my mom, I have to stop at the motor vehicle registry to get the ownership of the car transferred to my name. My mom signed the title over a while back but I just never had time to get it done.” She opened the back door. “My list is a mile long and I’m slowly managing to cross out projects.”
Annie hopped out of the passenger seat. “Let me help you with your bags, Charlene.” If this car still belonged to Charlene’s mother, there would be no reason it would have been on the police radar. She grabbed the biggest bag, wondering what could possibly be inside.
“Thanks, Annie. I’m dropping this stuff at the thrift store. I have too many clothes and these have been clogging up my closet.”
Annie opened the back door of the little Honda and put the bag on the seat. She saw an empty liquor bottle partially out of view under the front seat. Leona and Charlene were standing next to the car talking. Thankful that she had her gloves on, she quickly grabbed the bottle and hid it in her coat pocket, slammed the door closed, and hobbled back to Leona’s car.
Her heart raced.
Did she just tamper with evidence?
Chapter 15
“Did you take something from Charlene’s car?” Leona asked Annie after they left Charlene and were heading to the Black Cat Café.
“You saw that? Did Charlene see it too?” The empty liquor bottle in her pocket felt like an anchor ready to sink her in Heron Lake. It was just the kind of thing Detective Crank would love to be able to catch Annie with.
“I don’t think so. She was facing me with her back to the car. What is it?”
“An empty gin bottle.” She carefully extracted it from her pocket. “Is this the one you bought for her?”
Leona turned her head. Her mouth fell open. “It’s either the one I bought or one just like it. Why would she ask me to buy it for her if she already had a bottle? Do you think Charlene emptied it into that flask that Nelson had?”
Annie didn’t answer. It seemed too obvious to her but how would they prove it? Besides, Leona’s fingerprints would be on the bottle if it was the one she bought and that wouldn’t look very good as far as Detective Crank was concerned. Annie would have to dispose of it someplace where no one would find it.
“Take me home. My ankle i
s throbbing and I should ice and elevate it.”
“You didn’t answer my question. Do you think Charlene emptied that bottle of gin into the flask that Nelson was drinking from Saturday night? Because if she did, my fingerprints are on the bottle you just found and the flask because I’m the one who took it away from Nelson.”
“What happened to the flask?” Her stomach rolled and threatened to erupt.
“I dumped what was left and threw the flask in the trash. The police must have it, along with everything else they took from the café. Don’t let them near that bottle or Detective Crank will throw me in jail and toss the key.”
And me, too, for tampering with evidence, Annie thought. “Don’t be so dramatic, Leona.” Annie forced her voice to sound neutral even though she had the exact same image that Leona just described, plus the events that put her on the suspect list to begin with. The list was getting longer—Leona’s cookies, Nelson dying at Leona’s café, Leona’s fingerprints on Nelson’s flask, and her fingerprints on the bottle of gin. The evidence piling up was not helping to get Leona off the suspect list.
Leona pulled into the parking lot for the Cove’s Corner building. “I’m not bringing you home. I gave you the chance to stay home before I left to pick up Charlene. Give Jason a call for a ride.” Without another word, she grabbed her stuff and walked toward the café entrance with her head high and her shoulders thrown back. But Annie knew her Aunt Leona and she knew how Leona could put on a good front better than anyone.
Annie made the decision to go inside and call Jason. He might not be able to come right away so she could at least stay warm, get her ankle up with ice on it, and talk to Camilla about a strategy to dig around and find out what information she could get from the love struck Officer Reynolds.
She limped to the deck. The trampled snow from Saturday night was lightly covered with fresh flakes but she could still make out the indentation where Nelson fell off the chair and died. What a way to go, she thought. Did he cry for help or just slowly fade away? Bits of red flecked the snow, but as she looked closer, she saw that it was only fiber from his Santa Claus suit and not blood. Or berries.
