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That night, Lauren tried to enjoy pizza with Zoe and Chris, but she couldn’t help thinking about poor Shirley.
Mitch was working the case, and wouldn’t be home until late.
She and Zoe showed Chris their gold flakes, and decided to hide their find in a small bag with a few scraps of yarn left over from Zoe’s knitting and crochet phase, and buried deep in the closet.
“No one will ever discover it there,” her cousin declared.
After eating her share of a Zoe special, comprising of pepperoni and sausage, she and Annie went home. She hadn’t even wanted to order a Lauren special, made up of Canadian bacon, sundried tomatoes, and mushroom. But she had bought a whole Zoe special for Mitch to enjoy when he arrived home – he could heat it up in the oven or microwave.
She went to bed, the clue they’d found on the scrap of paper playing on her mind. What did it mean? Anything? What had been in the cookie jar? Shirley’s gold nugget, something else, or maybe nothing? Perhaps it had only been used as the murder weapon. She hadn’t noticed any crumbs on the floor indicating there had been cookies in that jar. But why would you store a gold nugget in a jar in the kitchen? She didn’t consider that to be a very safe place.
She eventually fell asleep, not even stirring when Mitch slipped into bed beside her. All night she dreamed of a big gold nugget and the little flakes they’d found panning for gold.
***
THE NEXT MORNING, SHE yawned as she woke up.
“Brrt?” Annie scampered into the bedroom. Now that she was married, her fur baby had her choice of her own bedroom, which used to be Zoe’s, or the living room sofas with plenty of blankets.
“Is Mitch up already?” She struggled to sit up, Annie pouncing on her lap.
She stroked her, the velvet fur soft against her fingers.
“Morning.” Mitch carried in two steaming cups of coffee.
“Thank you.” She took one of them, relishing the warmth on her palms. Looking up at him, she noticed dark shadows under his eyes.
“You should still be asleep. I didn’t even hear you come in last night.”
“Thanks for the pizza.” He smiled, then took a gulp of his coffee. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“I dreamed all night about gold.” She realized she hadn’t told him about their find yesterday, and did so now.
“I doubt anyone will find those bits of gold in Zoe and Chris’s closet. Just don’t tell anyone.”
“I won’t. As long as Zoe doesn’t tell anyone.”
“Yeah.” He was silent for a moment. “Shirley died from a blow to the head. It looks like it was the cookie jar. There was a small amount of dried blood on the bottom of it. She could have surprised a burglar.”
“Looking for her gold nugget?”
“That’s the obvious conclusion.” He nodded. “We had a good search but we couldn’t find it. So either the killer got lucky or it’s hidden in a great place.”
It wasn’t like her husband to be so forthcoming early on in a case.
“Are you going to stay in charge or is Detective Castern going to—”
“It looks like Castern is going to get it.” He sighed. “And I’ll be back on my missing persons case, although the trail went cold a few years ago. The boss told me last night.”
“I’m sorry.” She reached out and captured his hand. “You’re a much better detective than Castern.”
“Thanks.” He smiled wryly. “Let’s hope Castern can catch the killer.”
“Do you have to work today or are you coming to church with me?”
“Work. Until Castern officially takes over Shirley’s case. Tell Father Mike I’m sorry I can’t attend.”
“I will.”
Until their marriage they’d been sporadic church goers, although they’d always enjoyed going when they’d made an effort, and the local Episcopalian priest, Father Mike, was beloved by the whole town. But since Father Mike had officiated at their wedding, it seemed the least they could do was attend regularly. And now his cat, Mrs. Snuggle, was friends with Annie, and sometimes they enjoyed playdates together.
After a quick shower, Lauren dressed for church. Mitch had already departed. Annie approved her choice of her teal wrap dress.
“I’ll see you after the service.” She kissed Annie’s temple, and went out to the car.
Zoe was already standing there, looking smart in a lilac skirt and cream blouse, her church-going attire.
“Where’s Chris?”
“He got called into work.” She made a face.
“Mitch too.”
They smiled ruefully at each other, then got into Lauren’s car.
“I thought we could give you and Mitch a ride to church this time until Chris found out he was needed to do a shift.” Zoe buckled her seatbelt.
“What about next weekend?”
“Deal. Let’s visit Mrs. Finch on the way home,” Zoe proposed.
“Good idea.” They usually visited their friend on Sunday or Monday, since the café was closed until Tuesday.
“And we can tell her about finding gold yesterday!”
“Mitch said we shouldn’t tell anyone.”
“But Mrs. Finch isn’t anyone.”
“True.”
“And I know she wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“Also true. Okay. But no one else.”
“Yes, Mom.” Zoe grinned for a second, but then it disappeared. “I hope Martha’s okay.”
“Why don’t we check on her as well?”
“Good idea. Martha first, then Mrs. Finch. And we’ll tell Martha not to tell anyone about finding gold.”
“Deal.”
They greeted Father Mike outside the cream clapboard church, built in the 1800s, Lauren apologizing for Mitch’s absence, and Zoe apologizing for Chris’s.
“I understand.” He nodded. Middle-aged and balding, Father Mike’s kindness and goodness shone out for everyone to see.
“Did you hear about Shirley?” Lauren asked awkwardly.
“Yes.” His expression sombered. “She was a very nice lady and often attended the services. I think the whole town will miss her.”
“We found her,” Zoe whispered. “With Martha.”
“Maybe this isn’t the right time to tell him,” Lauren cautioned.
“Are you two all right? Was Annie with you?”
“Yes. And we’re fine,” Lauren assured him. Or they would be.
“We looked after Martha and we’re going to stop by her place after church.”
“Good. I’ll make sure to visit this afternoon and see how she is.”
They took their seats in a middle pew and tried to enjoy the service, but Lauren’s thoughts kept flitting to the moment they found Shirley yesterday.
She noticed Zoe nodding when Father Mike began his sermon about positivity happening in the most surprising of places.
After the service, they said goodbye to Father Mike, and headed for Martha’s house.
“What Father Mike said in his sermon is so true,” Zoe stated. “I mean, we usually find something good in unexpected places – and finding Shirley’s killer will definitely be a positive thing!”
“I think we should leave it to Mitch,” Lauren replied.
“I notice you didn’t say leave it to Detective Castern.”
Lauren made a face. “Mitch is working the case today, but Detective Castern could be taking over.”
“That means we should definitely investigate! I bet we find the killer faster than Castern.”
“You could be right,” Lauren replied, “but you know how I feel about sleuthing.”
“Just as well Annie and I love it!”
She suppressed a groan.
They pulled up outside Martha’s place and knocked on the front door.
“This is a nice surprise.” Martha beamed. “What are you up to?” She took in their church attire. “Don’t you look good?”
“Thanks.” Lauren smiled.
“We just wanted to make sure you’re all right,” Zoe said.
“Father Mike said he’d stop by as soon as he can to check on you as well.”
“You girls are good to me – so is Father Mike,” Martha said. “But why are you standing around here when you should be out sleuthing?”
“We’ll give you an update on Tuesday,” Zoe promised. “Ooh – don’t tell anyone about our—” she dropped her voice, although there was no one else around “—find yesterday. You know, the flakes.”
“Gotcha.” Martha nodded.
They stopped by Mrs. Finch’s, breaking the bad news to her about Shirley.
“Oh dear.” She sank down into her armchair. “That is a shock.”
“Let us make you a drink.” Lauren hurried to Mrs. Finch’s kitchen and quickly made a latte using the pod machine, taking care to add some sugar.
She returned to the living room and gave Mrs. Finch the mug, gently wrapping her knotted hands around it.
Zoe looked at their friend in concern.
“That does help.” Mrs. Finch took a sip, her hand wobbling slightly. “Thank you, dear.”
They told her about panning for gold, bumping into the historian, and then going to Shirley’s house.
“Martha knew the address,” Zoe said.
“And then we called for help and Mitch arrived.” Lauren glossed over the other details.
“Ooh – we found a clue!” Zoe filled her in on the scrap of paper with the wording: ‘It’s knot in here.’
“I wonder what it can mean?” Mrs. Finch settled back in her chair.
“There was nothing in the cookie jar – ooh – maybe the killer found another clue in there and grabbed it!”
“And Shirley came home unexpectedly, and the person hit her with it. Mitch told me this morning that the cookie jar is the murder weapon.”
“I do hope you two – three – will be careful. Where is Annie?” Mrs. Finch looked around the room.
“She’s at home,” Lauren replied.
“Yeah – we wanted to check on Martha straight after church, and then visit you.”
“What a lovely thought.” Mrs. Finch smiled at them.
They chatted about more pleasant things, Zoe telling Mrs. Finch all about Father Mike’s sermon.
“I can’t believe I forgot to tell you!” Zoe clapped a hand to her temple. “We found gold flakes yesterday!”
“You didn’t!” Mrs. Finch looked impressed.
Zoe told her all about it, except where she’d hidden their find. “It’s in a very safe place,” she concluded.
Lauren couldn’t help thinking that was what Shirley had said.
“You mustn’t tell me,” Mrs. Finch insisted.
After a few more minutes, they said goodbye. Mrs. Finch promised to pop into the café on Tuesday saying she was already looking forward to one of Lauren’s cupcakes.