by Jinty James
“I think maybe we should close for a little while,” Zoe told her, after Lauren filled her in on her conversation with Mitch. “If a detective is going to question all three of us – four if we count Ed – we don’t want customers getting the wrong idea.”
“If we have any,” Lauren said gloomily.
“I’ll put a sign up on the door.” Zoe hurried to the counter, scrawled on a piece of paper, and taped it up on the glass door. “All done.”
“I’ll have to tell his Mom,” Jessica said. “And Scott.” She hesitated. “Or will the police do that?”
“I’m sure they will,” Lauren told her. “But they’ll probably need to get Scott’s contact details from you.”
“Oh, yeah.” Jessica nodded.
A man dressed in a gray suit entered the café and introduced himself as Detective Castern. He accompanied each of them to the rear of the café, including Ed, and took their statements and contact details.
By the time he finished, Lauren needed a latte – or a mocha.
“I guess we can re-open.” Zoe pulled down the sign on the door.
“Thanks, guys.” Jessica smiled wanly at them. “I’m sorry Jason was trying to take your customers away from you – I also told the detective I was sorry about that.”
“You did?” Lauren asked.
“Oh, yeah. He asked me lots of questions about Jason and why he was parked outside. I told him you two make awesome cupcakes and Jason must have found out and that’s why he set up his truck here, to sell his cupcakes to your customers.”
Zoe looked like she was trying hard not to let steam erupt from the top of her pixie cut.
“Thanks for telling us,” Lauren said faintly.
Jessica waved goodbye to them, not seeming to realize that she might have inadvertently caused trouble.
“Brrt?” Annie called from her cat bed. Her usual good mood seemed to have been restored – perhaps it was because the detective had admired her before taking their statements.
“It’s okay, Annie,” Lauren assured her. “Jessica was being honest, I guess.”
“Her honesty could make us look like major suspects.” Zoe blew out a breath. “We’ve got a great big motive for bumping off Jason – he was the reason why business was down.”
“But it did seem to bounce back before he was killed,” Lauren reminded her. She looked around the empty café. “Until today.”
“Yeah, what’s up with that?” Zoe drummed her fingertips on the counter. “Where’s Hans, and Mrs. Finch, and Ms. Tobin, even?”
“And Martha, Father Mike—”
“Hi!” Brooke, the local hairdresser, entered the café. By her side was Jeff, who owned the flower shop. His previously shaggy sandy hair was now neat and tidy, the look suiting him. He wore a cream button-down shirt tucked neatly into brown slacks, and his blue eyes were framed with square navy metal glasses.
“Hi!” Lauren was genuinely pleased to see the couple. They’d met a few months ago and had seemed instantly smitten with each other.
“What’s going on?” Jeff motioned to the bright pink truck outside which still had the uniformed officer guarding it.
Lauren and Zoe filled them in on the events of that morning.
“That’s terrible.” Brooke looked distressed. “I had no idea that this cupcake guy was even here – I’ve been swamped with bookings for the last few weeks and my clients have been talking about topics other than cupcakes.”
“Like what?” Jeff looked interested.
“Like their boyfriends.” Brooke smiled at him fondly. “And then they want to hear all about us.”
“So that’s why you haven’t been in here lately,” Zoe said.
Brooke nodded. “I’ve also had some more requests for home visits – Mrs. Finch told her friends that I come to her house to cut her hair, so that’s taken up some of my time as well. But it’s worth it.”
Annie showed the couple to a table, and sat with them for a while. Lauren and Zoe whipped up the order of two large lattes and two salted caramel cupcakes.
“Hot chocolate, stat!” Martha barreled in, pushing her walker.
“Brrt!” Annie scampered to greet her friend, hopping onto the padded seat of the walker without waiting to be invited.
“We’re definitely friends again.” Martha beamed at Annie. “Let’s go, cutie pie.” She pushed the walker, Annie’s paws pressed securely on the padded seat as they wheeled through the café, stopping at a table when Annie issued a commanding, “Brrt.”
A wave of seniors followed Martha into the café.
Lauren’s eyes widened at the unexpected business.
“We had a huge craft club morning at the senior center,” Martha called to them from her table in the middle of the room. “Now everyone’s dying for coffee and cupcakes.”
“What’s going on out there?” A plump woman asked them, pointing to the police presence at the pink truck outside.
Lauren and Zoe glanced at each other. What should they say?
“Don’t tell me someone’s been murdered,” Martha joked. She sobered when Lauren and Zoe didn’t answer. “They haven’t, have they? And I just said we’re dying for cupcakes!”
“Yes,” Lauren and Zoe blurted.
“Brrt.”
There was a lot of tsking among the crowd, with everyone asking the duo for details.
Lauren and Zoe told them briefly who the victim was.
“I never liked his cupcakes,” one man said.
“Far too sweet,” a woman said. “I thought they were going to rot my dentures!”
“I’m sorry I ever tried those cupcakes,” another woman said. She looked embarrassedly at Lauren and Zoe. “I felt like a traitor. That’s why I haven’t been in again – until now.”
“Everyone’s welcome here,” Lauren told them.
“That’s right.” Zoe nodded. “Even if you did buy his cakes.”
“Zoe!” Lauren hissed.
They took everyone’s orders and set to work, making lattes, mochas, hot chocolates, and a few pots of tea.
“We’re going to be sold out at this rate.” Zoe picked up the last salted caramel cupcake with shiny silver tongs and placed it on a plate. “And Ed’s pastries have nearly all gone as well.”
“Good.” Lauren couldn’t wait to count the day’s takings. She hadn’t liked to tell Zoe she’d been worried about business being down so much. Hopefully everything was back to normal now.
After a busy couple of hours, they finally had time for a break.
“Brrt!” Annie pounced on something near the rear of the café.
“What’s that, Annie?” Lauren headed over to her.
“Brrt.” Annie patted the small scrap of ... paper?
“Can I see it?” Lauren asked her.
“Brrp.” Annie pushed the fragment over to her with her paw.
Lauren picked it up and turned it over.
“What is it?” Zoe hurried over to them.
“It might be part of a photo.” Lauren frowned.
“You think?” Zoe peered at the glossy scrap about an inch in size. “Yeah, it could be.”
“It’s pink,” Lauren said.
“Isn’t that Jessica’s favorite color?” Zoe said. “Maybe she dropped it when she was in here earlier.”
“Or maybe she walked it in and it has nothing to do with her,” Lauren countered.
“Yep, it was super windy last night,” Zoe commented. “Did you see all the litter out there when we went to check on Jason’s dead – you know.”
“I know.” Lauren shivered at the hours old memory.
“Maybe I walked it in,” Zoe suggested. “Or you.”
“True,” Lauren agreed.
“Or one of our customers. Huh.”
“What should we do with it?”
“I know, I’ll put it in my ashtray where we’ve put our keys,” Zoe proposed. “Just in case. It’s Annie’s Lost and Found again.”
“Brrt!”
Zoe zip
ped to the cottage and was back in less than two minutes. “Safe and sound in my ashtray.” She grinned.
“Good.” Lauren nodded. “Do you think we should cancel AJ’s training session this afternoon?”
“But we’ve been interviewed,” Zoe replied. “And we’ve already told Annie it’s happening. Ed’s probably told AJ as well. We don’t want to disappoint them, do we?”
“Or do you mean you don’t want to be disappointed?” Lauren asked. “I’m not sure if Annie is as sold on the idea as you are.”
“But we can give it a try, can’t we?” Zoe pleaded. “I think it will be so cute! And maybe Annie would like to share her duties with AJ.”
“Well, if it’s okay with Annie,” Lauren said dubiously. At least the café wasn’t busy at the moment.
“I’ll tell Ed.” Zoe raced to the kitchen before Lauren could change her mind.
“Ed’s gone home to fetch AJ,” Zoe announced barely two minutes later. “He says all afternoon might be too much for her, but we could give it a try for an hour or so.”
“Okay,’ Lauren replied, thinking that Ed probably felt the same way she did about the whole notion – dubious.
A little while later, Ed clomped into the café from the front door, carrying AJ’s cage.
“I don’t know about this.” He set the carrier down on the floor.
“Brrt!” Annie trotted over to greet her friend.
“Mew!” AJ poked one paw out of the metal squares, her eyes shining brightly.
“Annie, would you like to show AJ how to help you this afternoon?” Lauren asked.
“You could show her how to seat customers at tables,” Zoe added.
“Brrp.” Annie seemed to be mulling it over.
“You don’t have to, Annie,” Ed told her. “Maybe I should just take AJ home again.”
“Mew!” AJ sounded cross.
“I think AJ wants to stay here with Annie.” Zoe giggled.
“I guess we could try it,” Lauren said. “But we’ll have to make sure the front door is shut at all times. We don’t want AJ getting out on the street.” She knew Annie had enough sense to stay inside the café – apart from the couple of times lately with the drama from Jason’s truck.
“Definitely,” Ed said. “AJ’s microchipped, but I wouldn’t want anything happening to her.”
“I understand.” Lauren nodded.
“Let’s do this!” Zoe opened up the carrier.
“Meow!” AJ jumped out and greeted Annie.
“Brrt.” Annie led the way to her basket, glancing at AJ over her shoulder, as if encouraging the younger cat to follow her.
They watched as Annie indicated to AJ that she could share her basket with her. The two of them cuddled up together, but Annie’s expression was alert as she took in the few occupied tables.
Ms. Tobin stepped into the café.
“Brrt.” Annie hopped out of the basket and trotted over to greet her.
AJ stayed in the basket, her eyes wide. Then she jumped out and ran to Ed. “Mew!”
“Go with Annie,” he told the cat. “Watch what she does.”
AJ emitted a low grumble and joined Annie at the Please Wait to be Seated sign.
“I’m sure AJ will be okay,” Zoe told him.
“All right. I’ll clean up the kitchen before I leave.” Ed clomped into the kitchen, closing the swinging door behind him. AJ ran after him. “Meow!” She was too late – the door shut her out.
“You’re not allowed in there, AJ.” Lauren joined the cat. “Only humans are allowed in the kitchen. But you can stay out here with Annie – and us.”
“Meow!” AJ rapidly blinked, as if trying not to cry. “Meow!”
“Goodness, Lauren, what is going on here?” Ms. Tobin called.
“Annie is training her assistant,” Zoe told her brightly.
“It doesn’t seem to be going too well,” Ms. Tobin tutted as she followed Annie to a small table near the counter. “You might have to put a lot of time into training this cat, Annie.”
“Brrt.”
“It’s AJ.” Zoe came over to Ms. Tobin and Annie. “Do you remember her? Annie found her in the garden and Ed adopted her.”
“Oh, yes.” Ms. Tobin’s expression cleared. “The poor little thing. I’m sure you’ll be very kind and patient with her, Annie, and show her what to do.”
“Brrt.” I’ll try.
“Mew!” AJ scratched at the kitchen door.
“What’s wrong?” Ed stuck his head out, then looked down. “AJ, you’re not allowed in here.” His tone was gentle.
“That’s what I told her,” Lauren said. “But I think she wants you.”
“I wondered if this would be too much for her.” Ed frowned. “Maybe she just wants to play. She’s not like this when she has a play date with Annie, is she?”
“No,” Lauren replied. “The two get along like best friends.”
“AJ, come and see what Annie is doing,” Zoe called out to her.
With a sigh, AJ wandered over to Annie, sitting at Ms. Tobin’s table. Ed went back inside the kitchen.
“Brrt.” Annie hopped off the chair, seeming to encourage her friend to jump onto it.
“Hello, dear.” Ms. Tobin smiled at AJ. “Would you like to sit with me for a little bit?”
“Brrp.” Annie nudged AJ, indicating the chair in front of them.
“Mew!” AJ ran back to the kitchen door. “Meow!” She scratched frantically at the door.
“Maybe she just needs time to become assimilated,” Zoe mused.
“Maybe she just needs to go home.” Lauren knocked on the kitchen door. “Ed, AJ wants you.”
The door opened immediately. Ed bent down and picked up the bundle of brown fur.
“What’s wrong?” He scratched AJ behind the ear. The Maine Coon purred instantly and snuggled into his arms.
“I don’t think this is going to work out,” Lauren said, her eyes a little misty at the sight of the big, gruff man being so gentle with the feline.
“Yeah.” Ed nodded.
“Why don’t you take her home and have the rest of the afternoon off?” Lauren proposed. “Zoe and I can finish cleaning the kitchen.”
“If you’re sure.” He stepped into the café and grabbed the carrier.
“Is AJ going home already?” Zoe sounded disappointed.
“I don’t think AJ’s ready to do this.” Ed sounded certain. “She’s not even one year old. But she can still have play dates with Annie, if Annie wants to.” He glanced over at Annie.
“Brrt.” Yes.
CHAPTER 7
That evening, Mitch stopped by the cottage after dinner. Zoe discreetly left the two of them alone in the living room, saying she was going to text Chris.
“So what was up with Annie today?” Mitch asked as he sat beside Lauren on the couch. He looked over at Annie, sitting in the armchair, her expression alert, as if she knew he was talking about her.
Lauren told him about Zoe’s idea to train AJ as Annie’s assistant, and AJ’s antics that afternoon. Mitch chuckled. “It looks like you’ve got the café to yourself, Annie.”
“Brrt.” Yes.
“If you’d told me a year ago that I’d be talking to a cat like a regular person, I would have thought they were crazy,” he admitted to Lauren.
“But you’re not.” She smiled softly at him. When she’d met him, he’d told her he’d never had a cat, or had much to do with them. Annie seemed to have gradually changed his attitude, though.
They spent a pleasant evening together watching a TV show, Lauren snuggled in his arms, Annie sitting on the other side of Lauren. When it was time for him to leave, he kissed her goodnight.
“Be careful if the detective talks to you again about Jason’s death,” he cautioned. “I heard at the station today that he considers you and Zoe major suspects.”
“EEEK!” ZOE’S PIXIE cut seemed to stand on end as Lauren told her the news. She’d just put her PJs on, and now stood in front of La
uren and Annie in a red t-shirt with matching red cotton sleep shorts.
“I know.” Lauren nodded, trying not to be shaken by the news. At least Mitch hadn’t told her that before they watched TV. She wouldn’t have been able to concentrate, or enjoy spending time with him.
“Brrt!”
“What are we going to do about it?” Zoe demanded.
“Apart from saying we’re innocent, what can we do?”
“Investigate!”
“Brrt!” Investigate!
“First, we need to make a suspect list.” Zoe looked around, as if expecting a piece of paper or a device to suddenly materialize. “Where’s my phone?”
“I haven’t seen it,” Lauren replied.
“We’ll have to grab a piece of paper from somewhere. And a pen.”
“There’s scrap paper in the kitchen.”
Zoe and Annie rushed to the kitchen, Lauren following.
“Should we do this now?” She stifled a yawn as she sat down at the kitchen table. “We’ve got to get up early tomorrow and open the café.”
“I know, but this is important.”
“Brrt!”
“Jessica.” Zoe scratched on the piece of paper.
“You think Jessica killed Jason?” Lauren sounded shocked.
“I don’t know,” Zoe admitted. “But she was there at the scene, wasn’t she? And you know what they say – there’s a good chance that the person who discovers the body is the killer!”
“Who says that?”
“Everyone.” Zoe waved a hand in the air, as if citing her sources wasn’t important. She tapped the pen on the kitchen table. “And his friend Scott.”
“Why would Scott kill Jason?”
“I don’t know.” Zoe looked exasperated. “You’re not playing along, Lauren.”
“Sorry.” Lauren covered her mouth in an attempt to halt another yawn. “It’s late and I just want to go to bed.”
“Ooh, I know!” Zoe scribbled something. “The angry man who demanded a refund on the cupcakes.”
“That’s right.” Lauren sat up a little straighter.
“He was very upset about the cupcakes not tasting good, wasn’t he?”
“Brrt,” Annie agreed.
“So that’s three suspects,” Lauren said.
