A Cold Brew Killing

by Lena Gregory

  Savannah slid a bin of dirty dishes onto a shelf underneath the counter.

  “Did you sell any cold brews?”

  Savannah held up two fingers.

  Not really the news Gia had been hoping for, but probably for the best since Savannah wasn’t trained to make them yet and Gia had been swamped at the grill.

  “And they just had milk in them, so it was easy enough for me to do.”

  “I was hoping with how busy we were, more would sell.”

  “Don’t worry. Cold brew coffee is the thing right now. Most people coming in this morning weren’t looking to try something new. They were looking for information.”

  “True,” Gia conceded.

  Savannah leaned back against the counter and huffed. “Willow sure did pick the right day to leave early.”

  Though she didn’t exactly choose to leave. With a couple of people still sitting close enough to overhear, it wasn’t the time to get into whatever was going on with Skyla. “No kidding. I don’t think we’ve ever been that packed.”

  “No way. For a little while, not long mind you, but we actually had a short line of people waiting for tables.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Yup.” She grinned.

  “Wow. Nice.” Then, remembering the reason for the crowd, Gia sobered and lowered her voice. “Too bad someone had to be killed for me to be so busy.”

  “Don’t worry, Gia. You’ll get there. It just takes time. And just think… A good portion of the people who came in today were from town and will probably return.”

  “I hope so. My breakfast and lunch crowds are usually pretty good, but I’m not doing as well as I’d hoped with the dinner hour.”

  “At least you’re making a profit now.”

  “That’s true. I was worried about that for a while.”

  “I know, but look at you now.” Savannah’s grin was contagious.

  “I’m not sure why I’m having such a hard time building a dinner crowd. I was hoping the addition of the cold brew coffee would help with that. Kind of dessert-like, you know?”

  Cole grabbed a coffee mug, filled it, went around the counter and took a seat on a stool. “Why don’t we look at the menu again, see what we can do to make breakfast for dinner even more appealing?”

  “I did, and I came up with the Southwestern menu, but it’s not really taking off like I’d hoped.”

  “You have to give it time, let people get to know about it.”

  “Told you so.” Savannah punched her arm. She gestured toward the register. “You go ahead and ring them up, and I’ll clear the table.”

  “Thanks, Savannah, and you’re right, Cole. Let me know when you have time, and we’ll see what we can come up with.”

  “You bet, but off the top of my head, I can tell you I make a mean steak and eggs.”

  “Mmm… That sounds delicious. Okay, that works. Now I’m in the mood for steak and eggs.” She laughed as she went to ring up the two women waiting at the register.

  When she returned, Cole was jotting something on a napkin.

  “What’s that?” Gia tilted her head to see what he was doing.

  “Here you go.” He turned the napkin toward her and stuck the pen back into the pocket of his Hawaiian print shirt. “Steak and eggs.”

  She read over the list he’d started.

  “There are so many different ways to make steak and eggs. You can use different cuts, you can do omelets, you can add vegetables or biscuits and gravy.”

  “I love it. Thanks, Cole. This is a great idea.”

  “You can even use your home fries scrambled together with a few eggs as a side dish.”

  Gia yanked the pen from his pocket, grabbed an order pad, and copied his list, then added the scrambled eggs with home fries. “I’ll put together a list of ingredients and order what we need, and I’ll add it to the menu as a special next week.”

  “What’s that you’re adding to the menu?” Savannah shoved the tub full of dirty dishes beneath the counter.

  “Steak and…uh…” A commotion on the sidewalk in front of the café caught Gia’s attention, and she leaned around Savannah to see if she could tell what was happening.

  Savannah turned and looked over her shoulder out the front window.

  “What’s going on?” Cole frowned and followed their gazes toward the sound of raised voices outside.

  “Was there an accident?” Savannah asked.

  Gia strode toward the front door with Savannah and Cole on her heels.

  The three customers who still remained in the café looked up briefly but then returned to their food and coffee.

  Gia opened the front door and stepped out.

  A woman she’d never seen before had a firm grip on another woman’s arm. “Don’t play stupid.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The second woman kept her voice low, her gaze darting around the street.

  Though she looked vaguely familiar, Gia couldn’t place her.

  She tried to pull away. “Stop it, Allison.”

  Allison yanked her closer but made no attempt to lower her voice. If anything, she yelled louder. “You know exactly what I’m talking about, Gabriella!”

  Gabriella? Why do I know that name? Gia mused.

  “Knock it off.” Gabriella finally yanked her arm free. “You’re going to get us both in trouble.”

  “Trouble? Really? How much trouble did he get in?”

  Gabriella looked around, her gaze falling on Gia for an instant, then took off—not quite running, but close.

  “You think Skyla doesn’t know, but she does. Even back then she knew you wanted him,” Allison yelled after her.

  Skyla. That’s where she knew the name from. Gabriella was the woman who’d made Skyla so uncomfortable the day before.

  Allison watched Gabriella run across the street and disappear down a side road, then mumbled, “Coward,” and whirled around in a huff. Her gaze locked with Gia’s. “What are you looking at?”

  Gia gasped and stepped back.

  “Here’s an idea, why don’t you go inside and mind your own business?” She stormed off, muttering to herself, and headed down the street toward Storm Scoopers.

  The police barricade still remained. Police cars blocked the far end of the street, crime scene tape was strung around the front of the building, and reporters had started to gather out front. Of course, the death—probably murder—of a mayoral candidate would be big news.

  Allison slipped into the crowd.

  Gia turned to go back inside. “Why do I have the sneaking suspicion that conversation had something to do with what happened to Ron Parker?”

  “I don’t know.” Cole stepped aside to let her pass through the doorway and glanced down the road. “But I think you should probably heed her advice.”

  Chapter 6

  Gia set a paper bag with a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich and home fries on the table she’d set up outside the back door of the café. She added a large sweet tea, then hurried back inside, pulled the door shut, and locked it.

  Ever since she’d found Harley hanging out of her dumpster searching for newspapers, putting out his dinner was the last thing she did every night before locking up and going home. Since the homeless man who’d become a friend refused to enter a building, she had no choice but to leave his food on the table out back. Hopefully, Harley would eat before everything got cold.

  She took her time walking through the café, double-checking that everything was turned off and locked. Although she took pride in all that she’d accomplished over the past months, she couldn’t help worrying about keeping the café open when she couldn’t seem to maintain a steady stream of customers. She had regulars who came in often, and Earl who came in every day, but she had to do something to bring in more business. She added
“look into more advertising” to her mental to-do list.

  Once she locked the front door, she strolled down Main Street toward Storm Scoopers. Though there was still a small police presence, including the crime scene van parked directly out front, most of the crowd had already dispersed. A small group of what she assumed were reporters still dawdled next to a news van, but other than that, not much was happening.

  A quick scan of the surrounding area didn’t turn up either of the women who’d argued outside the café. She’d have to remember to ask Skyla what the deal with Gabriella was, since Allison had mentioned her directly.

  She still hadn’t heard a word from Trevor. Or Hunt, for that matter. And his jeep was nowhere in sight. She continued past Storm Scoopers to the doggie day care center to pick up Thor.

  Often, while she was walking to the day care center, Trevor would spot her out the window and run to catch up, usually tripping over something on his way.

  She smiled at the thought. Trevor could trip standing still, and yet when it came to outdoor activities, like paddleboarding and kayaking, he was as graceful as some of the wildlife he was always pointing out. No way could he be a killer. It just wasn’t possible that sweet, charming, clumsy man could ever hurt a fly.

  She wiped a tear from her cheek and glanced back at Storm Scoopers. It felt weird for it to be closed at this time of day. It just wasn’t right. She turned and pulled open the day care center door.

  “Hi, Gia.” Zoe, who ran the day care center, stood behind the desk, flipping through paperwork.

  “Was he good today?” Gia always asked, though the answer was always the same.

  “Of course. Thor is a big teddy bear,” she answered, without her usual enthusiasm.

  “Is everything okay?”

  Zoe shook her head and looked up from the book on her desk. “I’m not sure. You’re friends with Trevor Barnes, right?”

  “Yes.”

  Zoe already knew that because they often came in together to pick up Thor and Brandy, Trevor’s German shepherd.

  “Why? Is something wrong?”

  “I don’t know.” She caught her bottom lip between her teeth while she checked something on the computer behind the counter, then looked up at Gia. “I know there was a lot of commotion at Storm Scoopers today, but no one who’s come in seems to know much. Have you heard anything?”

  Gia shrugged, unsure how much she could, or should, share. “I know someone was found dead this morning. Rumor has it, it was Ron Parker.”

  She figured that much was safe since she’d heard people discussing it in the café.

  “Do you know where Trevor is?” Zoe asked.

  She hesitated. She wasn’t about to admit he’d been taken to the station for questioning. She’d never known Zoe to be much of a gossip, but something like that could ruin the man’s reputation if it started spreading. “No, I don’t.”

  Technically, not a lie, since she had no idea if he was still there or not. “Did you need him for something?”

  “He dropped Brandy off last night for an overnight visit and never came to pick her up.”

  Gia sucked in a breath. Trevor hadn’t mentioned having plans last night, not that he always told her when he was going out, but he usually did. “I’m sure he was busy with everything going on today.”

  “Yes, but I’ve called both numbers he listed on the paperwork, numerous times, and he never answers, and now there’s no room in his voicemail to even leave another message.”

  “Is there a problem with Brandy? I could take her home with me if you can’t keep her.”

  “Oh, no, not at all. She’s a sweetheart. And I wouldn’t be able to release her to anyone but Trevor without his permission, anyway.” Red patches flared on her cheeks. “I was just worried.”

  Realization dawned. Zoe didn’t want to get rid of Brandy. She wanted to know Trevor was okay. Gia smiled. “Why don’t you give me your cell number, and I’ll call and let you know if I hear from him?”

  Her shoulders slumped a bit as some of the tension left her. “That would be great, thank you.”

  “No problem. I’m sure he’s fine, just busy.”

  “I’m sure you’re right.” Zoe jotted her number on a card and handed it to Gia. “Thank you, again, Gia. I really appreciate it. And don’t worry about Brandy. I’ll take good care of her until he can come get her.”

  “I know you will, and I’m sure Trevor knows that and appreciates it too.” Actually, if she knew Trevor half as well as she thought she did, the first thing he’d do once he was released would be stop and pick up Brandy. “Would you mind calling me if Trevor comes in to pick up Brandy?”

  “Of course, I will.”

  “Thanks.” Gia stuffed the card into her purse while Zoe ran in back to get Thor.

  As soon as Thor trotted through the door and spotted her, he strained against the leash.

  Zoe laughed and released the leash. “He’s getting strong.”

  Thor lunged.

  “Easy, Thor.” Gia bent to hug him and pet his long, black fur. She couldn’t believe how big he’d gotten. Though she knew Bernese mountain dogs were a large breed, she hadn’t expected him to grow so fast. She slid her fingers into the white fur on his chest, and his eyes rolled back.

  Thor’s entire body vibrated.

  “Did you have a good day?”

  His whole back end wagged wildly, so she took that as a yes.

  She stood and waved to Zoe. “Thanks, Zoe. Have a good night.”

  “You too, and don’t forget to call if you hear from Trevor, no matter how late it is.”

  “I’ll call the minute I hear from him. I promise.” She made sure she had a tight grip on Thor’s leash, then opened the door. Not that Thor had ever taken off on her after that one incident with the squirrel, but you could never be too careful. And if he took off on Main Street, he could get hit by a car.

  Once she reached the sidewalk, she stood looking at Storm Scoopers. The late afternoon sun still blazed warm enough to feel good, and she tilted her face toward it for a moment, then looked down at Thor. “So, now what, boy?”

  She pulled her cell phone out of her purse and dialed Savannah’s number.

  Savannah answered on the first ring. “No, I haven’t heard from Hunt or Leo.”

  “Me neither. What do you think that means?”

  Savannah sighed. “I think it means they are detectives, and they just got a tough case with an important public figure as a murder victim, and they are probably busy trying to figure out who killed him.”

  “Ha, ha, smart aleck.”

  “I’m just as worried as you are, Gia, but there’s nothing we can do until we hear from someone.”

  “I guess you’re right, but it feels weird to go home and go about my routine under the circumstances.”

  “Don’t go about your routine. Go home and pack.”

  “Pack?”

  “Yes, pack. For our trip to the Keys on Monday?”

  “Oh, right. With everything going on, I forgot about that.”

  “Gia.” Savannah’s tone held a note of warning. “Don’t you dare use this as an excuse to back out of going. There’s nothing you can do here anyway.”

  “I know. You’re right. It’s just…”

  “Just nothing. Go pack, and I’ll talk to you later.” She disconnected.

  Gia stared at the phone for a minute, willing it to ring. When it didn’t, she shoved it into the back pocket of her jeans and started back down the street toward the café. When she passed Storm Scoopers, she scanned the area. Though a few familiar faces remained, the women from earlier hadn’t returned. The closed sign still hung in the window.

  Gia reached her car, parked on the street in front of the café rather than in the back parking lot, and settled Thor in the back seat. She dialed Willow’s number
before shifting into gear, pulling out, and heading toward home.

  The phone rang four times before Willow finally answered with a quiet, “Hey, Gia, hang on.”

  Footsteps followed by the sound of a door squeaking open, then closed, came over the line, before Willow returned. “What’s going on? Have you heard from Trevor?”

  “No, I haven’t heard anything.” Gia didn’t know how much to say to Willow about Skyla. Until this morning, she’d have sworn Willow and Skyla shared everything. But after Skyla had seemed so secretive earlier, she wasn’t sure. “How’s your mom doing? She seemed shaken.”

  “That’s why I came outside to talk. She’s in her room, been in there since we got home before. She said she had a headache and went to lie down, but when I tried to check on her, the bedroom door was locked. When I knocked, she didn’t answer, but I could have sworn I heard her crying.”

  Something was going on with Skyla, but how could she help if she couldn’t figure out what it was? There had to be a way to get information without saying too much. The first time she’d noticed Skyla acting out of character had been when the woman had recognized her in the café. “Is your mom friends with a woman named Gabriella Fischetti?”

  “Not that I know of. Why?”

  Gia racked her brain. Although she was pretty sure the woman had mentioned her maiden name, she couldn’t remember what it was. “She was in the café earlier, and it seemed she and Skyla knew each other.”

  “My mom is very outgoing and does a lot of volunteer work in the community, so she knows a lot of people.”

  Unless she could think of Gabriella’s maiden name, that was a dead end. But she’d also acted strange about Mitch Anderson. Gia switched tactics. “When Savannah and Earl were discussing the candidates this morning, Skyla said she was voting for Ron Parker, and you seemed surprised.”

  “Not really surprised, because I knew she planned to vote for him. I just don’t understand why.”

  “Don’t you like Parker?”

  Willow paused as if thinking.

  Gia waited her out. As she drove out of town, the scenery changed drastically. She left behind the small bungalows lining the streets of Boggy Creek and passed acre after acre of primitive-looking forest, trees soaring into the sky, blocking the sun as it sank lower toward the horizon.