Smashed Potatoes and Gravy (The Early Bird Cafe Cozy Mystery Series Book 5)

by Ginny Gold

  “Wow!” Kori said, her eyes growing wide with excitement for him. “What a lucky boy you are.”

  “I am lucky,” he interrupted. “And we got to come here for breakfast. It’s out favorite place to eat because then we don’t have to eat cereal. That’s what Mom always gives us.”

  Kori had to laugh at that. “Well, I’m glad you like the food here. What did you have with your fruit?”

  “A muffin. I had to share it with Mindy, though. She’s only two.”

  Kori nodded. “It’s good to share with your sister.”

  Max seemed to consider this and then told Kori, “Only sometimes. But not when it’s a muffin.”

  Kori knew she had to move on to the next table where she saw they were out of coffee. “It was good to see you Jan. Are you coming to Jenna’s baby shower later?”

  “Not if I still have these two. They keep me on my toes. But I’m sure it will be a blast if you’re catering it.”

  Kori smiled and patted Jan’s shoulder as she walked away. “I hope they nap so you get one of your own later,” she said and stopped at the next table, filled with a family of four from out of town. “Coffee?” she asked the parents as she held up another French press to offer them.

  They accepted and Kori continued making the rounds to each of the tables. When she could tell that she was no longer needed, she headed back to the kitchen to start getting things ready for the baby shower.

  Jenna had requested a braided apple loaf, quiche, and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. She was expecting nearly forty guests—double what the café could seat comfortably so everyone would be good friends by the end of the shower—so Kori had plenty of baking to do before eleven.

  “What can I help you with?” Kiera asked while she poured pancake batter on the hot griddle.

  Kori smiled to herself. She couldn’t have made a better selection when she’d hired Kiera in August. Kiera might have been the youngest applicant—by a long shot—and with the least formal experience, but her attitude and desire to learn made up for those minor shortcomings.

  “Just keep doing what you’re doing. I’m going to get the quiches started. I’ll try to stay out of your way. And if you need me, don’t be afraid to let me know.”

  Kiera turned back to her pancakes and Kori started chopping vegetables and cracking eggs. She wouldn’t sauté anything until they had closed, but having everything ready would make assembling the quiches very easy.

  Kori fell into a rhythm and was shocked when Kiera called to her, “It’s quarter to ten. Are you going to lock the front door so no one else comes in?”

  “Whoa, how’d that happen? I thought I’d just started.” Kori laughed and surveyed the progress she’d made. There were six piles of chopped vegetables, one for each of the quiches; six piles of cheese; plenty of sliced potatoes for the crust and more custard filling than she thought she’d need. Then there was the dough for the apple loaves, as well as chopped apples covered with cinnamon and sugar. And finally, the carrot cake was already on the counter cooling, waiting for the cream cheese frosting to be spread on top. “Sorry I abandoned you this morning. I guess I just tuned everything else out.”

  Kiera laughed too. “I would have asked for help if I’d needed it. Today was easy.”

  Kori left the kitchen and locked the front door. The café was still full, but she knew it’d be empty within the hour, before the baby shower was scheduled to start.

  Back in the kitchen, Kiera asked, “Now what can I do? There are no more breakfasts to make.”

  Kori handed her a bowl full of the cream cheese frosting ingredients. “Here, blend this until smooth. Then spread it on the cake.”

  “Are you sure you have enough food here? Aren’t there supposed to be fifty people?” Kiera looked at the piles of food with a furrowed brow.

  “Don’t worry. Nora is bringing some other snacks—carrots and broccoli and other veggies from her garden. There will be plenty.”

  Kiera nodded and got set up with one of the mixers and Kori started sautéing vegetables on the stove. As each pile finished, she put them on top of the potatoes and cheese in various baking dishes, then poured the custard over the top. Finally, freshly ground black pepper went on top, and then everything went in the oven. They would be ready right when guests started arriving.

  “What time is Jenna getting here?” Kiera asked, shouting above the sound of the blender.

  Kori glanced at the clock. “Any minute. I’m going to go check on the diners. I’ll be right back.”

  Kori left the kitchen, hoping that everyone was finished eating and that Jenna would knock on the door before Kori finished her rounds. To her great relief, she collected a credit card from each table, rang them up and returned them. Then she unlocked the door and hung up a second sign about being closed for regular business but being open for Jenna Rhodes’ baby shower.

  As she started walking back toward the kitchen, the café quickly emptied out and Kori watched them go, never happier to have an empty dining area. But Jenna didn’t walk through the door. Instead, her husband, Kyle, walked in, panicked.

  “Kyle, what’s up? Where’s Jenna? I thought she’d be here by now with her mom,” Kori asked.

  Kyle shook his head. “I don’t know. Her mom just called and said something happened. I’m going to go see if she’s okay, but can you postpone the baby shower for a few hours if needed? I’m so sorry about having you close early and then maybe needing to change the time.”

  Kori nodded, holding his hands in her own. “Go find out what happened. Just let me know when she wants the shower to start. I’ll hold everything.”

  Kyle nodded and turned around, almost running out of the café.

  ***

  Kori’s face must have given something away because as soon as she entered the kitchen again Kiera stopped working. “Is everything okay?”

  Kori felt a little dazed and realized her mouth was hanging open. She closed it and looked up, pulling her gaze away from the spot on the floor she’d been staring at. “I’m . . . not sure. It sounds like the shower is going to start a little later. I’m going to take Ibis for a quick walk. Can you stay here and keep an eye on everything? You can get started on the quotes for the napkins if you want. My computer’s on.”

  Kiera nodded. “Sure.”

  “Come on Ibis,” Kori called and the dog happily jumped up from her plush dog bed below Kori’s desk. Kori grabbed the leash by the front door and they walked out onto Main Street for a walk, leaving a new note on the door on her way. She hoped Kyle managed to let everyone know not to come at eleven but suspected someone would get lost in the grapevine of a big family’s communication.

  “Hey Kori,” Mel Styles called across the street. She was sitting on a bench outside The Treasure Chest. Now that the sun was up, it was a comfortable temperature in the sun, but the shade was still too chilly to not wear a sweater. “Are you ready for Jenna’s shower?”

  Kori and Ibis crossed the street, Ibis sniffing everything on the way, and Kori sat down next to Mel. It felt good to be off her feet now that she was given the chance. “I think so. Kiera is keeping an eye on everything that’s baking. But Kyle just stopped by and said something happened to Jenna so now I don’t even know when it’s going to start. You’re coming, right?”

  Mel nodded. “Since school’s out for the whole week Jackie is going to cover for me.” Mel’s teenage daughter, Jackie, spent much of her time out of school helping at the shop. Kori had been jealous of Mel’s help, but with Kiera in the picture now, she was happy with her own employee.

  “Great. You’ll know it’s started when you see people coming in. You won’t even have to come across the street to check.”

  “Perfect. I should get back inside and make sure everything’s all set for Jackie to take over whenever that time comes. See you later.”

  Mel got up and waved before walking back into her store. “I guess it’s just you and me, Ibis. You think Jenna’s okay?”

&
nbsp; Ibis lay her head on Kori’s lap, the perfect height from where she was sitting on the sidewalk next to the bench.

  “I hope so, too,” Kori told her and they got up to walk a little further. They veered off of Main Street and headed toward the bike path that ran adjacent to it, behind the shops. Kori didn’t really feel like talking to anyone else yet. She’d been on all morning and would be on all afternoon. So she took this time for a quick break.

  As they circled back toward the café, she saw a few people she didn’t recognize stopped in front and reading the signs she’d put up. It didn’t look like anyone had gone inside, so Kiera was still free to work on whatever needed to get done.

  Kori approached them and asked, “Can I help you?”

  The eldest of the group, a woman who looked to be about Kori’s age in her early thirties, turned and spoke for the group. “W—we’re here f—for the baby sh—sh—shower,” she said slowly and deliberately. “It’s postp—p—oned?”

  Kori nodded. “For now. I’m not sure what happened but Kyle said something happened to Jenna. Why don’t you all come inside and I’ll give Kyle a call to see if there’s been any update.

  Kori held the door open for the small group of four people to pass through and then she and Ibis entered. She brought Ibis back to her office where Kiera was working on the computer. Kori smelled the quiches and saw them on the counter, cooling. And the cake was frosted and the bread was baked and glazed. Everything was ready, except for the future mom.

  Kori picked her phone up off her desk where she’d left it hours earlier and saw that she had a message from Jenna, probably from just before she’d seen Kyle. Gonna be late. Just found Lou McKay’s body on my property by Thrush Lake. Don’t know what to do.

  CHAPTER 3

  Kori was shocked. Why had Jenna told Kori that detail but Kyle hadn’t seemed to know about it? Or maybe he’d just been too shocked to think straight and tell her any details. Or he hadn’t wanted to spread a rumor if that was what it turned out to be.

  Once Kori regained use of her fingers, she dialed Jenna’s number to see what was going on now. After three rings, Kori heard someone pick up the phone and could make out several different voices in the background. Finally, she heard someone talking to her, but it wasn’t Jenna.

  “This is Detective Silver.”

  Lani Silver. Kori would have rather that Zach had answered, but things had been getting better between herself and Lani after Kori’s brother, Jay, had suddenly dumped her several months ago and Lani had taken her anger out on Jay’s family and friends.

  “Hi Lani. This is Kori. I’m looking for Jenna. Her baby shower’s supposed to start soon.” Kori decided to play dumb. But if Lani already had Jenna’s phone, then she already knew that Jenna had texted Kori minor details.

  “Hi Kori. Let me put Jenna on for you.”

  Kori was surprised. Maybe this wasn’t as serious as it had sounded in the text.

  “Hey Kori. I’m so sorry about all this,” Jenna said, her voice slightly raspy like she’d been crying.

  “Don’t worry about it, Jenna. This was out of your control. I just got your text and wanted to make sure you were okay. A few family members have arrived so I thought I’d check to see if you wanted to still have the shower today too.”

  “Yes, definitely. Who’s there?” Jenna asked.

  Kori chuckled. “I didn’t even ask their names. I just assumed they were your family because they were reading the signs on the door. But I let them come inside instead of making them wait on the sidewalk.”

  “Thanks, Kori. You’re a lifesaver. Let me check with Detective Silver to see if I’m free to go.”

  Kori heard more muffled sounds on the other end of the phone and waited patiently, leaning against the counter until Jenna’s voice broke through the sounds again.

  “Give me a half hour. Kyle is going to start sending people your way, is that okay? You can set food out before I get there. Don’t feel like you have to wait for me. I just have to go with Lieutenant Gulch . . . ummm . . . Zach to give my statement. But I don’t really know anything so it should be quick. He said a half hour.”

  “Great. And yes, send people to the café.”

  “Thanks, Kori. See you soon.” Jenna hung up before Kori even had a chance to say goodbye.

  Before Kori went back out to where the four strangers were sitting, she sliced one of the quiches and put the squares on a platter. She placed that on the counter on the other side of the kitchen so people could help themselves. Then she finally walked to the only occupied booth.

  Extending her hand she said, “I’m Kori, owner of The Early Bird Café. Sorry I didn’t introduce myself earlier.”

  The same woman spoke for the group again. “I’m Dani, J—Jenna’s cousin. And this is M—Marla, Abby and K—Kait; more of her c—c—cousins.”

  “Nice to meet you all. I just talked to Jenna and she’ll be here in a half hour. But other people are going to start coming. So you’re welcome to help yourself to food and I’ll bring out drinks.”

  “Thanks,” the group chorused back.

  Kori heard the door open as she walked back to the kitchen and turned around to see who it was, wondering if the onslaught of Jenna’s family and friends was starting. It wasn’t. Nora walked through the door juggling plates of fresh vegetables she’d picked earlier in the month. Kori grabbed one of the plates before anything fell and placed it next to the quiche.

  “Where is everyone?” Nora asked, looking around and finding the café almost completely empty.

  Once their hands were empty, Kori motioned for Nora to follow her into the kitchen and she caught her up on what she knew.

  “Lou McKay? The land developer? Was Jenna selling out?” Nora asked.

  Kori tilted her head in question. “What do you mean? Jenna told me earlier that she owned land on the lake, but she didn’t say anything about developing it.”

  “That’s what I mean. That land has been in her family forever. But I doubt that she’d sell its development rights.”

  Things started to click into place in Kori’s mind. “Then what was Lou doing out there on her land?”

  Nora nodded. “My point exactly.”

  They didn’t have a chance to talk anymore about that right then because the door opened and Kori knew Gale was part of the crowd even before she announced herself. The energy seemed to change when Gale was in a room, Kori had noticed.

  “Jenna, Jenna. Where are you?” Gale’s voice floated into the kitchen and Kori laughed. Her mother certainly had zero inhibitions.

  Kori and Nora left the kitchen and Kiera to finish up her work on the computer and found Gale in the dining area, hands in the air, dancing to music only she could hear.

  “Mom?” Kori asked, wondering if her mom had indulged in some pre-party drinks.

  “There you are. But where’s Jenna?” Gale asked, scanning the still nearly empty room. She’d come in with several others, Mel included, but Jenna was still absent.

  “She’ll be a little late. You can help yourself to snacks and I still have to bring out drinks. Oh, and gifts can go over here on this table. It’s going to get tight in here since there’s only seating for twenty. But we’ll make it work.”

  Kori left Gale to arrange the gift table with the few bags and boxes that were already there and went to the walk-in fridge to bring out water, juices and champagne to make mimosas. She poured herself a big glass of orange juice and added enough champagne that she’d only need one, then offered the bottles to Nora who was patiently waiting beside her.

  Twenty-seven minutes after Kori had hung up with Jenna, she walked through the door, her mom and sister with her and the rest of the family not far behind. The café quickly filled up and the news of Lou’s death was just as quickly forgotten by the few who knew about it.

  It wasn’t until Vera Joy walked in—very late but unnoticed by many—that Kori remembered the blood she’d seen on her hands that morning. Could Vera have had somethi
ng to do with Lou’s death?

  CHAPTER 4

  “Kori, thank you so much for everything you did to make this go off without a hitch,” Jenna’s mom, Darla, gushed after the last of the guests had disappeared.

  “Of course. It’s just nice to finally put a face to all the people I’ve talked with over the phone to coordinate this. And all I really did was cook and open the café up for everyone,” Kori said, downplaying how much work she’d really done. In her mind it wasn’t work because she loved it.

  “Well, it certainly wouldn’t have been as relaxing for me if you hadn’t been here. You’re a real doll.”

  Kori laughed. It had been a while since she’d been called a doll—probably since she was a kid.

  “We’ll get all this packed up into my car and get out of your hair,” Darla added and then loaded her arms with boxes of diapers, bottles, toys and baby clothes. Kori followed suit and picked up as many bags as she could.

  Darla’s car was already nearly full with gifts but they found space for the final few before she drove off with a hand waving out the window. “How are you getting home?” Kori asked Jenna. Her house was just off of Main Street and she could easily walk, but with how pregnant she was, Kori wasn’t sure she’d want to.

  Jenna laughed. “Hopefully she realizes that she forgot me and comes back after she unloads.”

  “Well let’s go sit down while we wait. Can I get you anything?” Kori held the door open and Jenna waddled through it. Kori mentally slapped herself for thinking of Jenna’s movements as those of a duck.

  “No, I’m good, thanks.” Jenna sat at the nearest booth and Kori sat across from her. It was just the two of them left in the café, with Ibis. Kiera had left halfway through the shower and Kori hoped the quotes for merchandise had been left on her desk. She really wanted to get everything ordered before Thanksgiving, only three days away.