“Hello?”
“Brynn, are you alright?” Lisa shouted, seemingly excited.
“Yeah, I'm fine. Why?”
“Because I called the house a few minutes ago and no one answered. I thought something happened to you,” she said loudly. Lisa's tone sounded angry instead of just concerned, and Brynn understood because it was one of her traits. She usually reacted that way when she was afraid.
“I know. I was scared to answer after what happened with Myrtle. I locked all the doors and sat down. Are you busy?”
“Actually I closed up and left when I couldn't reach you. I should be there in five minutes.”
“Okay, there's something I need to tell you,” Brynn said as she bit her bottom lip.
“Alright, see you in five,” Lisa said as she hit the end call button on her steering wheel.
Hearing the loud knock on the door was enough to almost cause Brynn's heart to stop beating. She took a deep breath and walked into the living room and unlocked it.
“Hey, what's going on?” Lisa asked as soon as her body cleared the doorway.
“Oh Lisa, its bad. I don't even know where to begin,” she said as they walked to the kitchen.
“Well, listen, I have to show you something,” Lisa said as she dropped the afternoon paper on the table in front of Brynn. “Get a load of what's in there!” she said as she pointed at it.
Brynn looked at her with a confused look. “What is it?”
“Page ten,” Lisa replied. She grabbed a soda from the fridge and sat down opposite Brynn.
Brynn nervously rifled through the paper until she reached the page that had Lisa upset. “Legal notices?” she asked, unsure if she'd found the right place.
Lisa nodded. “Yeah, halfway down.”
Brynn's eyes scanned the page until she saw the tax filing accompanied by a short article.
“Read it,” Lisa said.
Brynn read the article and looked at her best friend. “Oh my god! Cole Hancock wants the bakery property so he can build condos?” She was in shock, unsure if she'd read it correctly.
“Yep. He wants the property so he can tear down the bakery and build some huge, ugly, tourist condo crap!”
Lisa was angry. She had always let her stance be known when it came to issues about turning their quaint little town into a tourist trap. She was against it and had helped in getting petitions signed on two occasions when out-of-town corporations tried to change their little piece of heaven.
“Oh, my gosh, you don't think he would have killed Aunt Millie just to get the property, do you?”
“Hey,” Lisa said. “I don't put anything past anybody. People are greedy and cruel, Brynn.”
Brynn shook her head and stared at the paper. What if was true? What if the man her aunt had been involved with had just been using her? She had to find out.
“Hey, what did you want to tell me?” Lisa said, jarring Brynn out of her thoughts.
Her eyes lit up as she remembered the coffee and the dog food. “Oh, take a look at this.”
She pushed the paper aside and got up. Retrieving the coffee pot, she stuck it under Lisa's nose for her to sniff. “Smell that?”
“Oh crap!” Lisa shouted. “What is that?”
“Take another sniff,” Brynn said as she pushed the pot back in Lisa’s face.
“No way! That junk stinks. What did you put in it?” Lisa asked.
“I didn't make this. It was the coffee that Aunt Millie was drinking the day she died.” Brynn stood staring at Lisa, waiting for her to put the puzzle pieces together.
“Yeah, so, you haven't washed the pot yet.”
“Lisa, what does it smell like to you?” Brynn pushed.
“I don't know, old coffee?” She shrugged.
“No.” Brynn shook her head and set the pot down on the table.
Walking to the counter again, she got the dog bowl and pulled the aluminum foil from around it. “Here, smell this.”
Lisa leaned in and took a sniff of the kibbles. She slowly looked up at Brynn. “Oh my god. Is that what I think it is?” she asked as she covered her mouth.
“I think so. Now smell the coffee pot again.”
Lisa leaned over and inhaled the scent from the old coffee. She stood up and walked to the door.
“Brynn, that only means one thing,” she said as she closed the wooden door and locked the deadbolt.
Brynn shook her head in agreement. “The poison wasn't in my muffins. It was in the coffee pot.”
Lisa's eyes darted from the dog food to the coffee. “But how did it get in the dog food? And when?” She paced around the table. “If it's been in the dog food the whole time, then both animals would be dead by now.”
Brynn could see by the look on Lisa's face that her mind was flowing with ideas about who the suspect was, and how they had pulled it off.
“No. This ,” Brynn said, holding up the dog bowl, “was only put in today”.
“Today?” Lisa was clearly becoming more confused. “But how? You've been here the whole time.”
“Yes, but here's what happened. Sit down and I'll tell you the events that took place.”
Both girls sat down. Brynn pulled her lean legs up in the seat in front of her and wrapped her slender arms around them, hugging them tightly. Taking a deep breath, she explained her version of what took place.
“Here's what I've pieced together,” she began as Lisa listened intently.
“The pets were playing and fighting a little. They stopped to eat and take a drink. Everything was fine because both animals visited the bowl without a problem. Because of the stress of everything and their fighting, I pushed Thunder out the door so I could take a bath in peace.”
She stood up and got a bottle of water from the fridge. After taking a drink, she sat back down and continued. “I remembered hearing the thud the morning Aunt Millie died, so I got out of the tub and re-enacted the basket falling from the dresser. It wasn't loud enough, so I came to the conclusion that the sound must have been Aunt Millie falling in here.”
She took another drink and began again, with a shaky voice. She was on the verge of tears but continued with what had happened that afternoon. “I got dressed and came in here to fix some lunch. That's when I heard Thunder bark.”
“But wait, you said you'd put him out while you took a bath,” Lisa interrupted.
Brynn's face lit up. “Exactly! That's what threw me off. I saw him and wondered how he'd gotten back in. Not giving it another thought, I fixed my burrito and talked to you. A little while before you called me, I saw Versace go to the food bowl. Thunder ran up to him and swatted him away as if he knew there was something wrong. I thought he was being mean and not allowing my cat to eat, but it turns out, he was only being protective.”
Lisa nodded as Brynn went on.
“I picked up the spilled food from the floor and it felt wet. I thought they had spilled their water as well and went about my day. But after discovering the coffee pot by accident, I watched again as Thunder went to the food bowl, whimpered, and walked away. Everything started to click for me and I smelled the food and put it all together.”
Lisa's eyes were huge. She had been engrossed in the story. “Wow, Brynn. The killer was in the house today while you were in the tub! Oh my god! Who could it be?”
Brynn stared at Lisa. “I have no idea, but I'm scared to death, and I'm glad you're here with me.”
“Well, you have to call Alec. They're going to need all of this stuff to test it,” she said as she handed Brynn her cell phone.
Brynn
“Okay, I called Alec and he said he's tied up right now, but he should be here in an hour or so,” Brynn said to Lisa as she emerged from the bathroom.
“Good,” Lisa said as she wiped her face with the wet cloth.
“Hey, I've never seen you like this before. Are you alright?” Brynn asked her best friend.
“Yeah, that was just a lot of information to take in all at once,” Lisa replied a
s she sat down at the table in the kitchen. “I just felt light-headed for a bit.”
“Have you eaten anything besides the croissant?”
“No, but I'm not hungry either. I just want this mess taken care of right away.”
“Well, we'll just wait for Alec and then order a pizza or something.”
“Okay, that will give me time to settle down,” Lisa said as she giggled. “So much for me being tough.”
“Hey, you're tough in other areas. We've just never dealt with a murder before.” Brynn smiled. She reached for Lisa's hand and squeezed it. “Thank you for being here with me through all of this.”
Lisa smiled back at her. “I wouldn't be anywhere else.”
The loud bang on the front door caused them both to jump. Lisa looked at her phone. “It's only been five minutes since you called Alec. That couldn't be him.”
Brynn walked to the front door and opened it to find a stranger standing before her. “Can I help you?” she asked as she tried to manage a smile.
“Hello, miss. I'm a friend of Mildred Stevens and I'm here to pay my respects. You must be her niece, Brynn,” the stranger said.
“Yes, I am. May I ask your name?”
“Oh, yes, ma'am. I'm Cole Hancock.”
Brynn felt her heart drop into the pit of her stomach. She knew her face must be pale because she felt light-headed all of a sudden. “Mr. Hancock?”
“Yes, I'm a friend of Mildred's.”
“Oh, yes. Come on in.” Brynn moved out of the way so he could step inside. “Would you like to sit down?” she asked politely.
She was hoping against all hope that he'd decline, stand at the door for a moment, and then get out.
“Yes, I would. Thank you,” he said as he took a seat on the couch.
Brynn sat on the wingback chair on the opposite side of the coffee table. She was at a loss for words. “Can I get you something to drink?” Again, her hospitality took over.
“Uh, yes,” he said. “That would be nice.”
She was shocked. She was praying he wouldn't stay long enough to drink anything.
“I'll have a cup of coffee if you have any. I know Mildred always had a fresh pot brewing.” He smiled at Brynn.
His remark about her aunt always having coffee sent her mind racing with images of him putting the antifreeze in the pot. Her stomach churned as she pictured it and she felt as though she would throw up right there.
“I'm sorry, but I'm all out,” Brynn lied. “I have water, though.”
“Okay, that will do.”
“I'll be right back,” she said as she got up and headed towards the kitchen.
“Oh my god,” she whispered when she saw Lisa.
“What?”
“That's Cole Hancock!” She tried her best to keep her voice down, but her nerves caused it to raise an octave higher.
“What?!” Lisa shrieked.
“Shhh!” Brynn said.
“What are you doing in here?” Lisa asked.
“You're never going to believe this,” Brynn said. She swallowed hard. “He asked for a cup of coffee!”
Lisa's eyes got big and round, causing Brynn to laugh. “What?” Lisa nodded in the direction behind Brynn.
She turned to see Cole standing in the doorway of the kitchen with them.
“Mr. Hancock, I was just telling my friend we have company.”
“Oh, I wondered what could be taking so long. I hope you don't mind me joining you in here,” he said as he pulled out a chair and sat down in the kitchen.
Lisa looked at Brynn still wide-eyed but said nothing.
“Not at all. Let me get you that water.” Brynn opened the refrigerator and pulled out a chilled bottle.
“So, what's your name?” he asked Lisa.
“I'm sorry,” Brynn spoke up. “This is Lisa Newcomb. She's my best friend and right hand at my bakery. Lisa, this is Cole Hancock, Aunt Millie's friend.”
Lisa tried her best to manage a smile for him. “Nice to meet you.”
He nodded his head. “So you work down at the bakery too, huh?”
“I do. Brynn has worked really hard to turn the place around. I believe it will be a huge success.” Lisa was back to her old self and she was ready to pounce.
Brynn smiled. “Yes, that's the plan,” she said as she joined them at the table.
“Well, I hope you can make that happen, Brynn.” His tone had changed as well. He was more relaxed.
Brynn knew he'd come with an agenda. This was no ordinary “I want to pay my respects” kind of meeting. Cole Hancock had something on his mind. If he thought he was going to take advantage of her, he had another thing coming. Brynn felt the fighter in her rising up.
“Yes, I don't think I'll have a problem. I can do anything I set my mind to.”
“I heard that you're trying to get the property, Mr. Hancock,” Lisa spewed suddenly. It was quick, to the point, and surprising to Brynn. And judging by the look on Cole's face, it was to him as well.
He chuckled. “Well, you know. I'm trying,” was all he said.
“I'm afraid that's not gonna happen,” Lisa replied. “That belongs to Brynn now and she's not going to allow anyone to take it and turn it into some big old ugly resort for out-of-towners who know nothing of this place.”
There, she'd said her peace.
Brynn watched his expression change as Lisa gave him the condensed version of what she really had in her arsenal.
He turned to Brynn. “Is that how you feel?” he asked.
“Yes, it is,” she answered softly.
“Well,” he began but was interrupted by a knock at the kitchen door.
“Who could that be?” Brynn asked as she went to open it.
“Oh, Mrs. Cutler, is something wrong?” Brynn asked her. The woman had just been over earlier and Brynn couldn't fathom what she could want again.
“Aren't you gonna ask me to come in?” Myrtle asked.
“Oh, well, I have company right now.”
Myrtle pushed past Brynn and walked into the kitchen.
“Okay,” Brynn muttered.
“Hello, Cole,” Myrtle said as she walked over to where he was sitting.
“Hi Myrtle, how are you?” he asked.
“Oh, you know, I'm hanging in there. Missing Millie though.”
Brynn did a double take. Missing Millie? You hated my aunt.
She looked at Lisa who was watching with raised eyebrows. She knew that Lisa was thinking the same thing.
“I know,” Cole said. “Mildred was a fine woman. Fine woman.”
“Yes, well. If you need to talk about it, feel free to drop by any night of the week. I've always got an ear to listen or a shoulder for you to cry on,” Myrtle said as she put her hand on his arm.
The girls looked at each other and smiled. Brynn suspected Lisa was dying to laugh as loudly as she was.
“Thank you, Myrtle. That means a lot.” He shook her hand and stood up. “Well, Ms. Monroe, I best get going. I just wanted to stop by and let you know where I stand on everything.”
“Mr. Hancock, I'm glad you did. Because now you know where I stand as well,” Brynn said with her best fake smile. “I'll see you out.”
“Goodbye, Cole,” Myrtle said as he left the kitchen with Brynn.
Before he walked out the house, he turned to Brynn one last time. “Brynn, please don't make this hard. I will win, you know. I always do.”
His words felt loaded with threats and Brynn shivered as he turned to walk away. She quickly closed the door and locked the deadbolt. Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself for whatever it was that Myrtle wanted. When she entered the kitchen, she saw Lisa was alone.
“Where did she go?” Brynn asked.
“She went home right after you walked out.”
“She didn't say what she wanted?”
Lisa grinned. “Oh, I suspect she got what she came for.”
Brynn laughed. “I know, right? Could she have been any more transparent?”
>
Lisa stood up and walked toward Brynn. Getting close to her, she did her best imitation of Myrtle’s sexy voice. “Oh, Cole, if you need me, you know where to find me.”
Both girls burst into laughter as they mocked their neighbor for her forward behavior with Cole.
“She's got it bad,” Brynn said.
“I wonder if Millie knew that.” Lisa's mind was beginning to work overtime again.
Brynn raised her eyebrows. “I bet she could tell. That Myrtle woman seems just a little loose if you ask me.”
“Loose?” Lisa asked. “Oh Brynn, you have such a way with words. I could tell you what she is, but I don't want to speak that way in front of the children,” she said, pointing to Versace, who had walked into the room.
They both laughed loudly.
“I was so afraid that one of them would spot the coffee pot and the dog bowl.”
Lisa looked at her and smiled. “Brynn, honey, there was so much sexual tension in this room that neither of them would have seen the dog bowl even if it was on fire.”
Brynn laughed. “That's true. I wonder what was really going on in there?”
Another loud knock at the front door startled them from their laughter. “Oh my god, who could that be?” Lisa said.
“Alec?” Brynn said with hope in her voice.
“Yeah, with all that other excitement, I'd forgotten that he was on his way,” Lisa said.
Brynn walked to the door and opened it to find her Aunt Beulah there instead of the handsome detective.
“Aunt Beulah, what are you doing here?” she blurted out before she could think.
“Well, hello to you, too,” Beulah said sarcastically.
Brynn was already worn out and she just didn't have any politeness left in her. She hoped Beulah wasn't there for a fight.
“I'm sorry. Come on in.” She stepped aside and allowed her aunt to enter the house.
Beulah laid her purse on the coffee table and proceeded to look around the living room as if she was taking inventory. “I've come to get some of my parent's things,” she said bluntly.
Brynn was tired. “Aunt Beulah, I'm expecting Detective Anders to come by. Is there any way that you can put this off for another day?” she dared to ask even though she knew what her answer would be.
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