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The next day, they readied the café for their first customer.
Ed was in the kitchen, and judging by the rattle of pastry tins, he was making lots of his wonderful Danishes.
Lauren had just placed her creations of Gold Rush, salted caramel, and blueberry cream cupcakes into the glass cases.
On the dot of nine-thirty, Lauren unbolted the oak and glass entrance door, smiling when she saw their friend Brooke on the doorstep.
“Hi, guys.” Brooke entered, immediately greeted by Annie.
“Brrt?”
“I can stay for a few minutes.” The hair stylist glanced at her watch. Her chestnut locks, cut in a long bob with feathered ends, had attractive reddish highlights. The hair color flattered her friendly green eyes, while her denim jeans and black sweater looked neat and efficient.
“Oh, good.” Zoe zoomed over to her. “We’ve got lots to tell you!”
Lauren sent her cousin a warning glance, although she knew Brooke was trustworthy. Zoe quickly mimed zipping her lips shut and winked at Lauren.
“How did your catering gig go at the senior center last week?” their friend inquired, after requesting a large latte and a salted caramel cupcake.
Annie led Brooke to a four-seater near the counter, and hopped up on the chair opposite her.
Zoe launched into the tale of the gold rush talk, and how Shirley had claimed she had a gold nugget.
“Really?” Brooke’s eyes widened. “That must be worth a bit.”
“Yes,” Zoe agreed, “and then we found her. Killed,” she added soberly. “She seemed like a nice lady.”
“If she had salt and pepper hair cut in a feathery style and lived in a green Victorian, she was one of my clients.” Brooke looked sad.
“That’s her,” Zoe agreed.
“Shirley was a nice person. Oh.” Brooke blinked back tears.
“Drink this,” Lauren advised, coming over with her order.
“Thanks. I think I definitely need this cupcake now.”
They filled her in on their panning for gold – Zoe omitting the fact they’d found anything – and how they’d ended up at Shirley’s house, because they’d wanted to ask her if they’d been panning in the same location as her great-great-grandfather had when he found the nugget.
“Is Mitch on the case?” Brooke asked, looking a little better after trying the cupcake.
“Not anymore.” Lauren told her about Detective Castern taking over.
“I’m afraid I don’t like him,” Brooke replied.
“I don’t think anyone does,” Zoe said gloomily.
“Brrt,” Annie added sadly.
Lauren tried to enjoy the rest of Brooke’s visit, but Shirley’s death weighed on her mind. After waving goodbye to their friend, Zoe made a face.
“I didn’t enjoy not telling Brooke everything, like how we found some gold flakes.”
“Me too. But we can tell her after Shirley’s killer is found.”
“Deal.” Zoe cheered up.
Lauren stared at her for a few seconds, furrowing her brow.
“What?” Zoe touched her cheek. “Do I have some dirt on my face? But I don’t know where that would have come from.”
“No, it’s your buttons,” Lauren said slowly. “You wore that sweater on Saturday afternoon, didn’t you?”
“Yep.” Zoe glanced down at her red and purple sweater. “This is one of my favorites.”
“Brrt,” Annie agreed.
“There’s a button missing on your shoulder.”
“Where?” Zoe twisted her head and screwed up her eyes to see. She prodded her shoulder with her finger. “Oh, yeah. When did that happen?”
“I didn’t notice anything on Saturday. There were two buttons on each shoulder then.”
“That’s how many I’m supposed to have.” Zoe nodded.
“Now you have two buttons on the left shoulder, but only one button on the right.”
“Pooh.” Zoe frowned. “I love this sweater, and the buttons. They really make it special, with the red swirl in the middle of the purple.”
“Brrt!”
“Where could I have lost a button?” Zoe paced the café.
So far, Brooke had been their only customer that morning.
Zoe looked down at the silver-gray tabby. “Annie, do you think my button fell off in here?”
“Brrt.” Annie trotted over to a corner and started sniffing, then made her way around the room, stopping to check a floorboard every so often. After sticking her nose into every corner and under every table, she returned to them, looking disappointed.
“Brrp.” No.
“And you haven’t been in the kitchen with Ed,” Lauren said.
“Maybe it’s behind the counter.” Zoe zipped behind the espresso machine and bent down. “No, not here. Nor here. And not over here.” She straightened, her face a little flushed. “I mustn’t have lost it in here this morning.”
The entrance door opened and Martha barreled in.
“Brrt!” Annie ran to greet her, jumping onto the black vinyl padded seat of her walker.
“Hi, cutie pie.” Martha beamed at her. “Hi, girls.”
“How are you?” Lauren asked. Today, their friend wore turquoise slacks and a matching sweater, and looked like her old self.
“I’m feeling okay. Father Mike visited me Sunday afternoon like you said, and we had a nice chat. He’s such a good person. And I’ve been looking forward to hearing what you’ve found out so far.”
“Not much,” Lauren admitted.
“Nothing so far,” Zoe confirmed.
“But ... aren’t you girls going to crack the case?” Martha looked disappointed.
“Well ... I have left a message for the historian to find out where we can sell our gold flakes,” Zoe began, “but we’ve hardly made anything after taking out the cost of the pan and classifier, only about fifty cents each.”
“And Detective Castern is going to be in charge of the case now,” Lauren added.
“Well, that’s a poop about the gold.” Martha pouted. “Maybe we can go panning again soon, and find a bit more.”
“I lost a button.” Zoe pointed to her shoulder. “Did you notice one of these buttons anywhere on Saturday? Maybe it came off when we panned for gold.”
“Nope.” Martha shook her head. “I remember watching you digging up the dirt that afternoon and admiring your cute buttons and sweater. I’m sure you had all four of them then.”
“Huh. And I haven’t worn this sweater since then. I did wash it, but I do the laundry as quickly as possible because it’s boring, and I was busy thinking about my princess screenplay at the same time, so I didn’t notice the missing button. And this morning I was running late, so I just threw on my sweater so I’d get here on time.”
“Maybe,” Lauren said slowly, not really wanting to say it, “the button came off at Shirley’s house.”
“Yeah!” Zoe pointed a finger at her. “I bet you’re right. So that gives us a legitimate excuse to go to her house and snoop around.”
Martha’s eyes lit up. “See, now you’re sleuthing!”
“Mitch didn’t mention finding a button there.”
“Maybe he thought it was Shirley’s and didn’t think anything of it,” Zoe mused.
“So, when are you going back to Shirley’s house?” Martha wanted to know.
“Right away!” Excitement flitted across Zoe’s face.
“After work,” Lauren said at the same time.
There was a pause as they looked at each other.
“And we’ll have to check with Mitch if we can do that,” she added. “Maybe he or Detective Castern has the house key.”
“You could text him right now and ask him if he found my button,” Zoe said.
“Good idea.” Martha grinned.
Lauren got her phone out from under the counter, and sent the message. A couple of minutes later, her husband replied.
“He said he didn’t see any buttons. And there weren’t any buttons bagged as evidence by his colleagues,” she told them.
“Good!” Martha looked at them mischievously. “You’ll have to check out Shirley’s house now.”
“I think you’re just as bad as Zoe,” Lauren mock-grumbled. “And Annie.”
“Brrt!”
They all chuckled.
“I’ve got an even better idea, but lemme sit down for a minute.” Martha pushed the walker to a nearby table, Annie directing her in a series of brrts and brrps.
“What is it?” Lauren asked curiously.
“I could be a spy!” Martha flung an arm out to indicate the empty café.
“A what?” Lauren stared at her.
“Do you mean you want to be a spy in my princess script?” Zoe tapped her cheek. “That could work – maybe.”
“No, no,” Martha replied impatiently. “Although, that would be great if I was in your screenplay.” She winked at Zoe. “I mean I could be a spy right here in the café, and Annie could be my assistant.”
“Brrt!” Annie’s green eyes shone with intelligence as she looked at Martha.
“Or you could be Annie’s assistant.” Zoe giggled.
“Potato, potahto.”
“What sort of spy?” Lauren eyed her suspiciously.
“To get some gossip. About who killed Shirley. And you girls can still look for Zoe’s button at Shirley’s house.”
“I thought you got your gossip at the senior center.” Zoe frowned.
“I do, but there hasn’t been much talk there lately. After everyone exhausted the topic of Shirley’s gold nugget, and everyone said they hadn’t seen it, they moved on to how they were too old to go panning for gold themselves, and then it was all about the movie they showed on Thursday, about a bunch of seniors robbing a bank and going on the lam. That was good. Then,” she sobered, “yesterday it was about Shirley – you know.”
“What exactly would you do here?” she asked, not liking the idea of someone spying on their customers, even if it was for a good cause.
“I could ... I could bus the tables. Yeah! And then I would overhear tidbits and I’d tell you what they were.”
“Don’t we do that already?” Zoe looked at Lauren.
“But you’re not spying, are you? And Annie could direct me to the tables with the juiciest gossip!”
“Brrt!”
“But if you’re bussing the tables, that means the customers have already left,” Lauren pointed out.
“What about the tables close by?” Martha waggled her eyebrows.
“It could work,” Zoe said.
“I knew you’d get it, Zoe. How about it, Lauren?”
She looked at Martha’s excited expression, and Annie’s hopeful one. And wavered.
“O-kay.” She let out a breath. “But—” she held up a hand “—you mustn’t disturb any of my – our – customers. And not obviously eavesdrop on them. And follow Annie’s lead.” She couldn’t believe she was saying this.
“You’re the best.” Martha beamed at her.
“Brrt!”
“And,” she added, “I get to say if I think this spying operation has gone far enough. Or if I just change my mind about the whole thing.” She wanted to make sure she covered all her bases.
“That’s fair,” Zoe said after a moment. “Martha?”
“Yeah, I guess.” Martha nodded.
“Brrt!” Thank you!
“There’s no time like the present to start.” Martha glanced around the café. “But there’s no one to spy on.” Her mouth pulled down at the corners.
“Would you like a hot chocolate?” Lauren offered.
“With plenty of marshmallows. Please. And gimme a cupcake – ooh, I like those blueberry ones.”
Lauren and Zoe headed to the counter.
“I’m not sure this is such a good idea,” she whispered to Zoe. What had she just agreed to?
“But you will give it a chance, won’t you?” Zoe asked hopefully.
“Yes,” Lauren replied. “I just hope no one thinks it’s suspicious if Martha hangs around the tables.”
“I’m sure she’ll come up with some kind of excuse.” Zoe grinned.
Lauren just hoped it would be a feasible one.
Their friend eyed the hot chocolate appreciatively.
“Lots of marshmallows. Goody.” She took a sip, closing her eyes in enjoyment. “No one makes it like you do, Lauren.”
“Thanks.”
“Now all we have to do is get the key to Shirley’s house and go sleuthing after work,” Zoe said.
“That’s if Martha hasn’t cracked the case by then with her spying.” She gave the older woman a reluctant smile.
“Maybe it will be both things combined that will do it!” Martha lifted the mug to her lips.
“Brrt!”
***
MORE CUSTOMERS TRICKLED in, and after Martha enjoyed her treats, she was true to her word and started bussing tables, pushing her walker around the café, Annie directing her.
Lauren couldn’t help smiling to herself as she saw Martha trying not to be obvious while eavesdropping at neighboring tables. But with her head turned one way toward the occupied table, and her hands clanking the empty plates together at the vacant table, she did look like she was trying to overhear the customers.
“I think Martha needs to be more discreet.” Zoe zipped up to her. “I saw that lady looking over at her while she was trying to have a conversation with her friend, obviously wondering if Martha was going to butt in.”
“You’re right,” she replied, her smile fading. “I don’t want our customers to be put off coming back here, especially if they’re not regulars yet.”
“I’ll have a word with her.” Zoe zoomed over to Martha and helped her collect the dirty mugs and plates, whispering to her at the same time.
She saw Martha nod, say something to Annie, then her fur baby directed her to another vacant table where a lone plate and cup waited to be tidied away.
“Hello, Lauren.” She looked up, surprised to see Ms. Tobin standing at the counter. She’d been so busy with her thoughts she hadn’t noticed the middle-aged lady enter.
“Hi, Ms. Tobin.” She smiled at their friend, dressed in a fawn skirt and cream blouse, her brown hair neat and shining.
“Where’s Annie?” The older woman looked around the room.
“She’s with Martha.”
“Is Martha bussing tables?” Ms. Tobin’s eyes widened as she looked over at the senior standing at an empty table, sorting the dirty crockery. “Can’t she afford to pay her bill?”
“It’s nothing like that,” Lauren rushed to assure her. “And if it was, we would give her a hot chocolate on the house, and a cupcake as well. We’d do that for you, too.”
“That’s very kind of you.” Ms. Tobin smiled. “But don’t worry, I can afford to pay for my treats.”
Lauren nodded.
“So,” Ms. Tobin said after a micropause, “what is Martha doing?”
Lauren leaned over the counter. “Don’t tell anyone else.”
“I won’t.”
“Martha is spying.”
“She’s what?” A surprised expression flickered across Ms. Tobin’s face.
Since Ms. Tobin knew about their previous sleuthing experience, she quickly told her about Shirley’s death.
“Oh, I am sorry to hear that.” Ms. Tobin pressed her lips together. “I didn’t know her well, but she seemed like a nice person.”
“That’s what a few people have said,” Lauren agreed. “I’m afraid we only met her for the first time when we catered the senior center talk last Monday.”
“I wanted to go to that, but I had a dental appointment that day. Are you and Zoe going to investigate?” Her expression lightened a little. “I think that’s a very good idea, but what does Mitch think?”
“Detective Castern will be on the case.”
“Oh, dear.”
Lauren nodded.
“I can see why you girls want to find out who killed her. Are you sure it’s not an accident?”
“Mitch doesn’t seem to think so.” She thought it best not to say too much.
Ms. Tobin nodded. “I hope you’ll all be careful.”
“We will.”
After placing her order of a large latte and salted caramel cupcake, she sat at a small table near the counter.
“Brrt!” Annie turned around on Martha’s walker and spied her friend. She jumped down and trotted to greet Ms. Tobin.
After sitting on the opposite chair and chatting to her in a series of brrts and brrps for a few minutes, she returned to Martha.
“How is Miranda, your cat?” Lauren asked when she brought over the latte and cupcake.
“She is such a dear little girl.” Ms. Tobin smiled, her face lighting up. “I was just telling Annie about our new game. I roll a little ball for her, and she brings it back, and then she rolls it away with her paw, and wants me to find it!”
Lauren laughed. Annie had chosen a sweet calico kitten for Ms. Tobin when the café had hosted a cat adoption day a while ago, and her matchmaking had been successful.
“Is Zoe spying too?” Ms. Tobin twisted around in her pine chair, glancing over at Martha and Zoe, their heads together as they cleared the dirty plates and mugs from a table.
“Probably,” Lauren replied. “I think she’s helping Martha.”
“I hope this spying operation works.”
“Me too.”
She chatted with Ms. Tobin for a few minutes, and then returned to the counter when more customers trickled in.
When the door opened a short while later, she immediately glanced over to where Zoe and Martha were still bussing tables, and talking to the occasional customer. Unfortunately, Zoe’s head was turned away from her.
Joyce stood at the Please Wait to be Seated sign. After a moment, she walked over to the counter.
“I’m sorry,” Lauren said, “Annie is busy helping Martha at the moment. Please sit wherever you like.”
Joyce looked over toward the back, where Annie sat on Martha’s walker, while Zoe gathered up a plate.
“Is Martha working here?”
“Just helping out,” she temporized. “What would you like to order?”
“A cappuccino and one of your Danishes.” Joyce admired the display in the glass case. “Is that a honeyed walnut?”
“Yes, it is. They’re very popular.”
“I’ll have one of those.” Joyce paused. “Did you hear about Shirley? I knew that her telling everyone about having a gold nugget was a bad idea.”
“What do you mean?” Lauren asked carefully. She wasn’t sure if it was common knowledge about Shirley’s death, and since she didn’t know Joyce well, she thought it best not to say anything.
“Someone killed her on the weekend,” Joyce replied. “It was all over the senior center yesterday.”
“How did they find out?” Lauren asked.
“Who knows?” She shrugged. “But it just goes to show you shouldn’t boast about your possessions.” She paused. “Not that I really believed she owned a gold nugget.”
Lauren said she’d bring her order over when it was ready, and watched Joyce choose a table in the middle of the room.
“That was lovely, Lauren.” Ms. Tobin came over to the counter. “Oh, there’s Joyce.” She glanced sideways at the tables. “I didn’t see her, as I was sitting in the opposite direction.”
“Do you know her well?” Lauren asked.
“Just to say hello to,” Ms. Tobin replied. “But I do know that her family were one of this town’s founders. And she’s lived here all her life.”
Lauren took the payment and said goodbye to Ms. Tobin.
Her eyes widened when she saw Martha and Zoe head to the table next to Joyce’s. What could they possibly be doing, since Joyce sat alone, and therefore was not talking to anyone? They wouldn’t be able to pick up any gossip. She noticed Joyce glancing at them – maybe she was admiring Zoe’s eye-catching red and purple sweater?
She hurried over to the trio. Zoe looked a little guilty.
“I think all the bussing has been done this morning, don’t you?” She looked meaningfully at the empty cup on the table.
“But Joyce didn’t think Shirley had a nugget. She said so at the senior center last week,” Martha protested in a whisper. “That’s why we’re spying on her.”
“She’s sitting alone,” Lauren whispered back.
“Let’s have a meeting at the espresso machine,” Zoe proposed, leading them back to the counter.
Lauren shook her head. That might make them look even more obvious, but hopefully none of the customers would be able to overhear them.
“Have you found out anything?” she asked when she and Zoe were behind the counter and Martha and Annie were on the customer side, Annie still sitting on Martha’s walker.
“Brrt,” Annie replied, nodding slightly.
“One lady is going to leave her husband, and another is going back to college,” Zoe informed her.
“And two people said they’re going to pan for gold, after all.” Martha grinned. “Just like we did on Saturday – not that they know we did that,” she added hastily.
“Did you say anything about Shirley’s death at the senior center yesterday?” Lauren asked.
“No.” Martha shook her head. “Truly, I didn’t.”
Lauren could tell by the straightforward expression on her face that she was telling the truth.
“Why?” Martha asked.
“Because Joyce knows about it, and said she heard about it at the senior center,” she replied.
“It wasn’t me,” Martha declared.
“Have you found out anything about Shirley?” Lauren asked.
“No,” Zoe said regretfully. “I’m sorry I didn’t come back to help you right away, but I was having fun listening to our customers’ conversations. It’s amazing how many people didn’t take much notice of us when we were being discreet.”
“Although Ms. Tobin noticed you,” Lauren pointed out.
“She wasn’t at the gold rush talk, was she?” Martha queried.
“She was at the dentist.”
“Yuck.” Martha screwed up her face.
Lauren checked her practical white wristwatch. “The lunch rush will be starting soon, so I think we should wrap up this spying operation.”
“But that’s when I can really help you,” Martha protested. “You two will be busy with lots of orders, and I can clear the tables for you.”
Zoe looked at Lauren. “She does have a point.”
“And more customers means more gossip.”
“Brrt!”
She hesitated.
“Please?” Martha asked.
“Please?” Zoe looked hopeful.
“Brrt?” Please?
“Oh, all right.” Lauren sighed. “But I think you’re going to have to be a little more subtle this time, Martha. Just collect the crockery and take it to the kitchen, or even just stack it on the trolley outside the kitchen—” she eyed Martha’s walker “—and Zoe or I will wheel it in there. Don’t linger over each table – you probably won’t have a chance to do that anyway if we’re slammed.”
“Yeah, everyone will be wanting a table,” Zoe put in.
“Gotcha.” Martha beamed.
“And if you get tired, feel free to go home whenever you’re ready,” Lauren added.
“Ooh, we should give you lunch,” Zoe said. “How about a turkey and cranberry panini to take home with you?”
The sandwiches were created out of bread she had delivered, and she made up a small batch each morning when she was in the commercial kitchen baking the cupcakes.
“That sounds yummy. See, I knew this spying idea would turn out well.”
Lauren decided to reserve judgment – for now.
Customers started streaming in just before noon. Zoe helped her take orders and bring them over to customers, while Annie resumed her hostess duties and seated the newcomers.
Martha took care of the dirty dishes, piling them on the trolley as Lauren had suggested, while she and Zoe took turns wheeling them in and quickly stacking them in the dishwasher.
Ed was still in the kitchen, making a last batch of apricot Danishes.
When Lauren had a spare second, she would glance over at Martha to see what she was up to. To Martha’s credit, she didn’t linger at each table like she and Zoe had earlier – perhaps because she didn’t have time. Lauren just hoped that spying and bussing wasn’t too taxing for her, since she’d been doing it for a couple of hours now.
“Phew!” Zoe declared one hour later, during a short lull.
“There!” Martha stacked the last plate on the trolley.
Lauren scrutinized her face. She did look a little tired.
“I think you should sit down for a while,” she said. “Why don’t I grab you that panini and you can eat it here? With a hot chocolate or latte.”
“You might need a cupcake as well,” Zoe said. “Everything on the house.”
“Thanks.” Martha grinned. “You girls are good to me. But I want to make sure I do my fair share.”
“You certainly have,” she replied. “And it would make me feel better if you did have a break now.”
“And after you take your break, we can take turns having our breaks.”
“In that case ...” Martha moved a little stiffly to a two-seater at the back.
Lauren brought over the turkey and cranberry panini, a large hot chocolate with plenty of marshmallows, and a Gold Rush cupcake.
“How’s that?” She smiled.
“Perfect.” Martha sank back in the chair. “I enjoyed myself, but I could do a lot more bussing if I was younger.”
“I understand,” she replied gently.
“Brrt!” Annie trotted over and jumped onto the opposite chair.
“Annie might need a break as well.” Martha nodded at the silver-gray tabby.
“You might be right.” Lauren looked at her fur baby. “You know you can go home for a rest if you want one,” she told her.
“Brrt.” I know.
“So did you find out anything?” Zoe asked.
“Only that Bob’s short of money,” Martha mumbled around a mouthful of turkey and cranberry.
“How did you hear that?” Zoe’s eyes widened.
“Two ladies from the senior center. They go to my watercolor class. I bet that’s why he was so interested in Shirley’s gold nugget. Maybe he stole it!”
“And killed her as well,” Zoe added excitedly.
“But we don’t have any proof,” Lauren pointed out.
“But you girls are going to get some, aren’t you?” Martha waved her panini in the air. “You’re going to Shirley’s house after the café closes and you’re going to snoop around. Maybe he left something incriminating behind.”
“Something the police didn’t find?” Lauren crinkled her brow.
“They haven’t found my missing button.” Zoe pointed to her right shoulder.
“True,” she said after a moment.
They left Martha to enjoy her lunch with Annie, and returned to the counter to serve the next wave of customers who had just entered.
“I’ll pay for Martha’s lunch,” Zoe murmured to her as she plated paninis and cupcakes.
“No, I will,” Lauren said.
“Why don’t we split it?” Zoe suggested. “I did suggest the cupcake as well.”
“I think the business can afford to absorb it all this time.” Lauren smiled at her cousin. “We did make a decent profit on the catering job last week.”
“You’re the best.” Zoe touched her arm. “I’m sorry I didn’t come back to help you like I should have, but I really was having fun snooping and spying with Martha.”
“I could tell,” she replied good-naturedly.
“Don’t worry – I’ll make sure I only have a short lunch break today to make up for that, and you have a longer one so you can relax a bit.”
“Thanks.”
They worked side by side, until all their customers appeared happy with their orders, and either found a table, or departed with their treats.
Annie stayed with Martha while she ate her lunch, then the two of them returned to the counter, Annie sitting on the seat of the walker again.
“Why don’t you have your break?” Zoe turned to Lauren. “You and Annie can go to the cottage, and Martha and I will take care of everything here.”
“Are you sure?” She scrutinized Martha. The senior seemed revived, but still looked a little tired.
“I’m sure.” Martha waved a hand in the air, nearly hitting a nearby customer who had just spied an empty table. She turned around. “Oh, look, there are dirty plates again!”
“Well, all right,” Lauren said reluctantly.
“Brrt!” Annie jumped off the walker and trotted toward the private hallway leading to the cottage.
“We’ll be fine.” Zoe shooed her away.
“Call me if you need me.”
“I will,” Zoe promised.
Lauren followed Annie to the cottage.
“Brrt!” Annie headed straight for her bowl.
“Chicken in gravy?” Lauren grabbed a can from the pantry and opened it, the ring pull making a crinkly sound.
Annie’s little pink tongue lapped at the brown gloop, then she ate enthusiastically.
Lauren opened the fridge and studied the contents. She should have grabbed a panini for herself. Settling on left over beef stew, she heated it up in the microwave and sat down at the old kitchen table. It was good to get off her feet.
“Brrt?” Annie hopped up on the chair beside her and bunted her arm.
“Beef stew,” she mumbled around a hot mouthful. “Did you find anything out from your sleuthing operation?”
“Brrt,” Annie replied thoughtfully.
“Anything about the case?”
“Brrp.”
Lauren remembered Martha telling her they found out Bob was short of money.
“I guess we need to verify somehow if Bob really does need extra cash.”
“Brrt!”
“It’s a shame Mitch isn’t in charge of the case anymore.”
“Brrp.” She bunted Lauren’s arm again.
Stroking her gently, Lauren allowed her thoughts to drift as she ate her stew. She knew Zoe had urged her to have a decent break, but she wasn’t sure if leaving Zoe alone with Martha in the café for a long time was a great idea. They were both enthusiastic sleuths.
“Brrt!” Annie’s ears pricked up and she headed for the door that led to the café.
“What is it?”
Lauren hurried after her, smiling when she saw Mrs. Finch standing at the Please Wait to be Seated sign.
Annie scampered over to her. By now, the lunch crowd had thinned and there were a few tables vacant.
“Hi, Mrs. Finch.”
“Hello, Lauren.” Mrs. Finch beamed at her. Today she wore a sage skirt and white blouse. “I hope I haven’t come at a busy time but my son called me for a chat this morning – he’s having a day off work.”
“That sounds lovely.” Mrs. Finch’s adult son lived in New Mexico.
“Hi, Mrs. Finch.” Zoe zipped over to them. “Lauren, what are you doing back already?”
“Annie knew Mrs. Finch was here.” She glanced at her fur baby.
“Well, aren’t you a clever girl?” Mrs. Finch beamed at Annie.
“Brrt.” Annie’s mouth tilted up a little smile.
“How’s Martha?” Lauren looked around the room.
“She’s clearing one of the back tables.”
“Martha’s working for you?” Mrs. Finch looked surprised.
“Not exactly,” Lauren replied. “Why don’t we sit down for a minute so we can fill you in?”
“Great idea.” Zoe zoomed over to a four-seater and shifted impatiently until they joined her, Mrs. Finch’s cane making a tap tap sound.
Zoe told their friend about their spying operation. Lauren noticed Mrs. Finch looked amused and a little apprehensive at the same time.
“I do hope you’ll be careful. What if someone realizes that’s what Martha is doing?”
“We hadn’t exactly thought of that,” Zoe admitted. “I helped her earlier and once we were more discreet, most customers didn’t seem to notice we were there.”
“Maybe Martha should take the rest of the day off.” Lauren glanced around the rapidly emptying room. She checked her watch. “It’s two o’clock. You must be starving!” She looked at her cousin in consternation.
“I am, but I wanted to see our sleuthing through.”
“I think you should have your lunch break now,” Lauren said.
“Okay.” Zoe nodded. “But let’s get Mrs. Finch’s order first.”
After taking their friend’s order for a pot of tea and an apricot Danish, they headed to the counter. Annie stayed to “chat” with Mrs. Finch.
“What are we going to do next?” Martha pushed her walker over to them, but Lauren noticed she didn’t have her customary energy.
“You’re going home,” Lauren told her.
“Yeah. You do look a bit tired.” Zoe scrutinized her face.
“I’m sure I can do more,” she protested.
“There won’t be many tables to clear,” Lauren said. “And Zoe is taking her break in a minute.”
“Did you find out any more gossip?” Zoe asked.
“No,” Martha replied glumly.
“The bit you found out about Bob being short of money is good,” Lauren tried to sound encouraging. “I was telling Annie that we need to verify that somehow.”
“Lemme think about that tonight.” Martha sounded a little cheerier. “And I’ll pop in tomorrow and then you can update me on tonight’s sleuthing expedition.”
“Shh.” Zoe looked around the room but there weren’t any customers nearby.
“You’re right.” Martha tapped her mouth. “Loose lips and all that.”
“We can drive you home,” Lauren offered.
“Yeah, I can take Lauren’s car,” Zoe added.
“I’ll be fine.” Martha waved away their concern. “Tell Annie I’ll see her tomorrow.”
“Will do,” she promised.
They walked Martha to the door and watched her push her walker down the sidewalk.
“I hope I’m like Martha when I’m that old,” Zoe mused.
“I don’t think you need to worry.” She looked at Zoe affectionately.