by Lyndsey Cole
The crowd started to thin out a bit after the initial surge when they opened the café door at seven. Annie busied herself preparing all the meats and veggies for the lunch rush so she’d be able to whip the sandwiches together as quickly as possible. If the morning rush was any indication, she expected the lunch crowd to be much busier than yesterday.
Detective Jaffrey showed up, helping himself to coffee and granola. He made himself comfy at one of the booths just vacated by a family of four. Leona found time to slide into the booth and do a bit of flirting. They leaned their heads together as if they were sharing their deepest secrets until she laughed and made her way back behind the counter.
Leona gave the chili a good stir and turned the burners off. “Can you help me pour this into the warmers on the soup cart?”
As Leona tipped the pot, Annie carefully ladled the steaming hot chili into the warmers to avoid any splashing. She whispered to Leona, “We need to search Clay Design and find out what Jake is packing into those boxes.”
“Do you think it’s drugs?” Leona said with a gleam in her eyes.
“Maybe. I heard him talking to Vincent, and something isn’t right with those two. Plus, Jake’s knife wasn’t in his holster.”
“Okay. Reconnaissance mission. I’m in. We’ll need a distraction to flush them out of the shop. Martha and Mia can help with that if necessary. Let’s plan it for after lunch. Oh, I almost forgot, Detective Jaffrey needs to talk to you. Says he received some information you’ll be interested in.” Leona scrunched one eyebrow. “Two hot guys in here and they both have their eye on you. You need to decide which one you’ll let me go after.”
Annie laughed. “You’re full of baloney, Leona. You do whatever you want, you always do. But don’t you think they’re both a bit young for you?”
“Nope. Not at all.” She winked and nodded toward the detective. “That’s the one I want.”
“Well, go for him then, and good luck.”
“What are you two laughing about over here?” Mia asked as she helped herself to a small bowl of chili.
“Your sister has her eye on Detective Jaffrey. Poor guy,” Annie teased. “I’ll put in a good word for you.”
Annie slid into the booth opposite the detective. “You have some information for me?”
“I think so. My office found some mail that came for Max.”
Annie felt her heart skip a beat. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Was he helping you with a search?”
Annie stared at the detective silently.
“Your name is in the document.”
“Can I see it?” She barely managed to get the words out.
“How about I swing by your apartment later? I don’t have it with me now.”
Annie nodded. “I’ll call and let you know when I’m home.”
“Sure.” Detective Jaffrey covered Annie’s hand with his warm fingers. “You’re as white as a ghost. What do you think it is?”
“I’m afraid to find out.”
Chapter 19
Annie was frozen in the booth wondering if she would finally find out who her birth parents were. Weeks ago, Max told her he was getting closer, then the lead dried up. This might be the information he had been waiting for. A tear ran down her cheek and plopped on the table.
“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
Her eyes focused on the detective’s face. “It’s not your fault.” She slid out of the booth. “I’ll call and let you know when I’m home.” she repeated.
Annie told Leona she needed some fresh air. She grabbed her camera and headed toward the door but Mia stopped her. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah, Mom. I’m going to visit Karen and the shelter dogs for a few minutes. I promised I’d take photos with their new families.” But really, Annie needed some time to herself.
Annie used her camera as a barrier between her feelings and the world. It had worked before and it would work again. Once she focused through the lens, her attention was on the image framed inside instead of the feelings she wanted to avoid.
The fishermen were about done with the derby and she snapped photos of the interesting characters with their gear and catches. Boats bobbed along the docks and little kids ran up and down, excited to see what their mom or dad caught.
Annie’s camera found Danny’s smiling face as he held up a big trout. She snapped quickly before he saw her and hid the true happiness on his face from the camera. When he stepped up to the scale, the crowd held their breath and erupted as one when the indicator stopped on nineteen and a half pounds. Danny’s fish tipped the scales as the biggest of the day, a real beauty. Annie snapped away, lost in the excitement and Danny’s happiness.
A light touch on her shoulder and Jason’s voice brought her out of her zone. “I don’t think he could be any happier, could he?”
Annie smiled to herself. What was it about this guy that made her nerves tingle, she wondered. “I think everyone is sharing his happiness.” She passed Jason her camera to show him the photos she captured.
“You have an incredible eye and perfect timing capturing the moment. Beautiful work.” He gave her camera back. “You left in a hurry. Is there a problem?”
“No.” She turned away, not wanting him to guess that she was lying. “I promised Karen, from the animal shelter, that I would take some photos of her dogs and cats with their new adoptive families. Come on.” Annie reached for Jason’s arm, pulling him along with her. “Maybe you’ll get sucked into volunteering at the shelter too after you meet everyone.”
“I’m not sure I like the sound of this,” he protested. “I haven’t met a homeless dog yet that I didn’t fall in love with.”
“Great!”
Karen had a portable fence around a grassy area with volunteers standing with each dog ready for adoption. Cats were in kennels, mewing, hoping for attention from the many people walking around.
Annie started to click photos, forgetting that she had pulled Jason along with her. As her eye behind the lens moved around the enclosure, she stopped when Jason came into view, crouching down beside Roxy, the dog Annie had walked when she went to the shelter with Leona. Jason seemed to be having a heart to heart talk with the sweet dog and the tip of Roxy’s tail wagged tentatively.
Annie knew she got several amazing shots before she walked over to Jason and Roxy. “She’s a perfect sweetheart and I heard she’s great with cats.”
“Annie Fisher, you found my weakness. The only problem is that I travel too much to adopt a dog. It wouldn’t be fair to the dog,” he said as he stroked Roxy’s silky head.
“Well, you do have a tenant that also has a weakness for this four legged beauty,” Annie hinted.
“Give me your camera and I’ll see if the two of you make an adorable couple.” Jason took Annie’s camera before she had a chance to protest. He backed away and Roxy put her two front paws on Annie’s side and looked into her face with big soft milk chocolate eyes. Annie crouched down so Roxy’s face was even with hers as Jason clicked away with her camera.
Annie stood up laughing. “Okay. Enough! I don’t want to break my favorite lens.”
Jason was already looking at what he took. “Nothing here to break your lens, only someone’s heart.”
Annie felt a rush of heat to her face as she stumbled over her words. “What are you talking about?”
“Roxy’s heart. Take a look. That dog has ‘I love you’ oozing out of every hair on her face. You two are meant for each other.” He handed the camera back to Annie so she could see the photos for herself.
She felt her face get even hotter as she realized she was hoping Jason meant she would break his heart. What was she thinking? He probably had a girlfriend in every town he visited. Someone as handsome as Jason would have every female draping themselves over him.
Karen came over to see what Jason and Annie were discussing. “I hope you convinced her that she needs Roxy in her life.”
“I’m working on her.” J
ason elbowed Annie. “Just say yes. I can see it in your face that you want her to move in.”
With a big smile on her face, Annie nodded. “Yes! Now, give me my camera back. I want to get some more shots before I head back to the café.”
“Take as long as you need. I’ll go back and help Leona and tell her the good news.”
Annie took photos of the people and their newly adopted pets. Everyone had huge smiles on their faces, including Karen who looked happiest of all. “This is one of the best days we’ve ever had. Ten dogs found homes, including Roxy, and a dozen cats. That opens up spaces for more dogs and cats waiting for room to get into my shelter.”
“You have a waiting list?”
Karen laughed. “I’m a no kill shelter so, yes, there are always animals waiting for a spot.”
“I’ll put these photos on a disk for you and you can use them on your website or whatever you want.”
Karen hugged Annie. “You have no idea how much this will help. Once people see the true spirit of these animals shining through they always find a home. And you made a good decision with Roxy. She’s a special one. I’ll keep her until you get done with work. Stop by the shelter later.”
Annie started walking back to the café when she noticed Vincent carrying boxes out of the Cove’s Corner building and heading to his car. She hurried inside. “Leona, we have to get into Jake’s Clay Design shop before all the boxes are gone.”
“Perfect timing, I just put a batch of muffins in the oven. Ask your mom if she’s okay here by herself for a few minutes, and get Martha too if she can leave her shop.”
Annie explained to Mia what she wanted to do and Mia was all on board. “If I see Vincent walking in, I’ll call him into the café to give you some more time.”
Martha was busy with customers so Annie went into Clay Design alone, assuming Leona wouldn’t be too far behind. “Jake, where’s your new best friend Vincent?” Annie asked and saw Jake flinch at the mention of Vincent’s name.
“What’s it to you?” He continued to tape up boxes, doing his best to ignore Annie. “Don’t you have someplace else you need to be? Like, anyplace but here? I’m busy and not in the mood for chatting.”
Leona sauntered in. “That’s too bad, Jake, because we have a few questions for you.” She walked over and pulled out a piece of pottery from a box that wasn’t taped yet.
“Hey, what do you think you’re doing?” Vincent reached to grab the pot from Leona.
That gave Annie the opening to rip open the box he was working on and search inside. She pulled out a coffee mug stuffed with a bag of drugs. “I knew it.” She held the bag up for Leona to see.
Leona grabbed Jake by the collar of his shirt. She leaned in, mere inches from his nose. “Tell us what’s going on. Did you kill Max? We found a knife that looks a lot like yours in the café.”
Jake’s face went completely white. “I didn’t kill him. Vincent is blackmailing me. I knew my knife was missing. He must have stolen it to make me look guilty,” he pleaded with Leona. “You’ve got to believe me.”
She twisted his shirt tighter. “Why should we believe you?”
“I know about the drugs hidden behind Annie’s photographs. If we work together, we can nail Vincent and get him locked up once and for all.”
Leona practically picked Jake up off the floor before letting go of his shirt. “Okay. Give us something.”
“All the drugs are packed in these boxes of my pottery. Everything will be in his car. Make sure you get to him before he leaves town.”
“And what about Max?” Annie asked
“Max wanted out. I don’t even know if he was part of the drug connection or just wanted out of the partnership with Vincent. I want out. Everyone wants out but Vincent has something on us so we can’t walk away. Max tried to and look what happened. But, I swear, I didn’t kill him.” His eyes went from Leona to Annie and back again.
“How did you even get involved? It’s not like Catfish Cove is next door to Vincent’s gallery,” Annie pointed out.
Jake shook his head. “I was looking for a gallery to show my work and I contacted the wrong one. It’s complicated.”
They heard Mia’s voice in the hallway. “Vincent? Can you help me for a minute?”
“I’m busy.” His footsteps continued toward Clay Design without slowing down.
Leona, Annie and Jake held their breath as Vincent stormed into the shop. “What’s going on in here?”
Chapter 20
Vincent glared at Annie. She turned around, happy that her mother had called out his name, giving her enough warning to be prepared for Vincent coming into Clay Design. She had a split second to stuff the bag of drugs back into the mug before riveting her eyes on him.
“You look terrible, Vincent. You should think about crawling back under the rock you came from and try to get over whatever is ailing you.” Turning her attention back to Jake, she asked, “How long will it take to get the new mugs done for the café? Leona and I think the pot you gave us with the black cat design would be a hot seller on coffee mugs with all the tourists.”
“I, ah, could make about dozen for next week. How does that sound?”
“Perfect,” Annie said. “Come on Leona. We’d better get back to the café. Business is booming.”
Vincent moved in front of Annie to block her path. “You think you’re clever, don’t you? Watch out.”
Leona pushed between them like an overprotective mama bear. “Are you threatening us, you little snake? You don’t know who you’re messing with. I could break you in two like a dried twig. Why are you even here in town?” Her eyes traveled over Vincent from head to toe. “Be careful or your shiny suit might need a trip to the cleaners.”
Leona knocked him aside with her elbow as she walked out of Clay Design with Annie leaning against her.
“Did you see his face? Calling him a snake is an insult to all the snakes in Catfish Cove.” Annie bent over double laughing so hard she had to cross her legs so she didn’t wet her pants. “You made him mad, Leona.”
“Good. We’ve got that meeting tonight at eight with Roy. I think Jake and Vincent need an invitation too. Get the three of them fighting with each other.”
“What about Tyler and Detective Jaffrey?”
“Not yet. Let’s keep them out of this for now.” Leona stopped. “Hey, what’s this I heard about you adopting Roxy?”
“Someone has a big mouth.” Annie smiled. “You should have seen Jason with the dogs. I think he wanted to adopt her but he said he travels too much. What’s his story? He finds things?”
Leona shrugged. “Jason and I got pretty close when his dad helped get my sentence reduced when I went to jail at eighteen. I don’t know what strings he pulled but he made me swear I would straighten my act out or else. Jason was just a kid then and we’ve always stayed in touch. I think it’s more like he makes sure I keep my promise to his dad.”
“So nothing ever romantic between the two of you?”
Leona grinned. “Nope. He’s more like an annoying little brother that always shows up to spoil the fun.” Her face broke into a wicked grin. “Are you interested? I can tell he’s a bit, shall I say, taken with you?”
A scream and loud crash made both Leona and Annie sprint into the café. Mia held her arm and muffins were scattered on the floor around her feet.
“What happened?” Leona and Annie both asked at the same time.
“I was rushing, taking two pans out at once and one hot tray flopped onto my arm. Stupid.”
Jason wrapped a wet cloth around the red burn on the inside of Mia’s arm. “I’ll take her to the emergency room, you two can stay here and finish up the baking.”
“Are you sure?” Annie asked, full of worry.
Mia waved off the concern. “I’ll be fine. You two need to get ready for tomorrow.”
“This day is flying by. I’m going to close up the café which will piss Roy off, but since we’re short-handed now, that can’t be h
elped. Business is tapering off anyway.” Leona picked up the muffin tray, which had thankfully landed right side up. “This isn’t a total loss. Only a few popped out, the rest can be sold.”
Annie began to dump ingredients into a large mixing bowl for a batch of granola. “Once this is in the oven, I’ll mix up another recipe of Chubby Chickpea Salad. It was a huge hit today.”
“I’ll finish this batch of cinnamon rolls, but they can sit in the fridge until tomorrow morning. I’ll stick them in the oven when I get here. The cinnamon smell is about the best aroma to greet everyone’s noses first thing. After you finish the salad and granola, aren’t you going over to the animal shelter to pick up your new family member? I’m sure she’d rather be with you than stuck in the kennel.”
Annie did a little dance of happiness. “I can’t believe I’ve only been back in Catfish Cove for less than a week and I have a job, an awesome apartment and a dog and cat. I wasn’t sure I’d be staying, but these events kind of made up my mind for me.”
“Don’t forget finding a body and the drugs,” Leona added.
“Well, yeah, there’s that too, but I would rather focus on the good parts of being back here. I want to check on Mom before I pick up Roxy. How about Baxter? Are you going to visit him?”
“That’s my plan. Let’s get this done so we can head out for some fun.”
The radio blasted Leona’s favorite oldies songs as they worked efficiently. Martha knocked on the door, holding up a package. “Hey, hon, let me in.”
Annie wiped her hands on a towel and unlocked the door for Martha.
“I’m popping in to show you some more aprons I made for the two of you. What do you think?”
Annie held it up in front of herself. “You’re so creative. I love this big black cat sitting on the front of the apron. And the bright yellow background really makes it pop. It’s a lot like the sign Danny made.”
“I couldn’t find enough of the other fabric so I cut out this cat design and appliquéd it on the background.”
“If you can make this design smaller and put it on tea towels, I’ll sell them here along with the mugs Jake is making for us,” Leona said.
