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Ethan coasted up to 3 Alarm. Lydia wasn’t standing outside as she’d said she would be. He was glad. He didn’t want her to catch a cold. Ethan rounded the corner of the coffee shop and pulled into its tiny parking lot. He’d join his wife for a cup of coffee inside before they went home.
He couldn’t wait to tell Lydia how Ever Brandes, Flora’s oldest son, was doing after his toilet seat incident. The boy was safe. No damage had been done to anything but his young ego. Ethan was sure that Ever would rebound back to normal in a day or two. Lydia would love the details.
Kevin, Ever’s father, and Flora’s husband had taken pictures of the scene and texted them to Ethan. The sheriff imagined his wife’s eyes lighting up as she laughed over each one.
Instead, he opened the door to the coffee shop and was greeted by a crowd of wide-eyed and panicked customers. His cop senses tingling, Ethan switched gears. Something was wrong. Really wrong.
He’d look for Lydia in a moment. No doubt he’d find her in the middle of the mess, trying to fix it.
At the front counter, Tamas hung up the phone he’d been holding. His expression matched the rooms’ mood. This was serious.
Ethan looked behind the counter, wondering if a robber was hiding there. The only thing he saw was the new red-haired barista. She was huddled on the floor, hugging her knees and mumbling to herself. Ethan looked to Tamas for an explanation.
“What’s going on,” the sheriff asked the coffee shop manager.
Tamas breathed deeply and spoke slowly. The direct and even tone of his voice was alarming. No one spoke like that unless they were trying to calm a dire situation. No one needed to until then.
Ethan glanced around the room. All eyes were on Tamas. His voice didn’t shake when he spoke. “I’m not sure how to tell you this?” he said. “Lydia’s been kidnapped.”
Ethan was positive Tamas had misspoken. But then the town cruiser with Gus, Ethan’s deputy, pulled up in front of 3 Alarm Coffee. The emergency lights bounced off the glass of the pastry case and blinded Ethan’s watering eyes.
Through the emotional haze, he spotted Kat and Flora bustling through the front doors. They hustled through the crowd of distracted and nervous novelists - straight to Ethan.
Flora put a hand on Ethan’s shoulder, always one for physical reassurance but said nothing. Kat ignored Ethan. Instead, she plied Tamas with questions.
“What’s going on?” she asked the restaurant manager.
The crying barista, behind the counter, scurried away after momentary eye contact with Kat.
Kat registered the odd behavior but didn’t sway from her course. “Gus said Lydia’s been taken. Like taken, taken?”
Tamas nodded slowly. He flashed uneasy eyes to Ethan and back to Kat. “Yes, ten minutes ago. Maybe less. I wrote down the time when I called. But really,” Tamas shuffled a stack of post its around the countertop, “I don’t know.”
Ethan groaned. Everyone at the counter paused. When he didn’t speak, Kat continued her questions. “Did you see it happen?”
Tamas shook his head sadly. “No. I was making a cappuccino. I didn’t even hear it. Penny, the new girl, she saw it happen.” Tamas turned in a full circle, looking for the young woman. “I don’t know where she went. She must be in back.”
Parker, the other Honey Pot officer, joined the party at the front counter. “Ethan,” he whispered. “Gus would like to see you outside.”
Ethan croaked. Then swallowed. He adjusted his shoulders and took one long determined breath. “I’m coming,” he said. His voice had lost its waver.
Kat smirked. Flora whimpered. Sheriff Everett was back on duty.
***
ONCE ETHAN LEFT THE building, with Tamas and Parker trailing him, Kat rounded the counter and headed to the backroom of 3 Alarm Coffee.
“Where are you going?” Flora asked, wiping tears from her eyes and trying to keep up with her fit friend.
Kat surveyed the storage area and led Flora to an exit door. “I’m finding that Penny girl. She saw what happened. I’m getting to her before she can get away.”
Flora hurried behind Kat as they exited the coffee shop. Shoes hitting metal clamored above them. Penny was halfway up the fire escape that served as the back entrance to the apartments above 3 Alarm Coffee.
“Come on,” Kat instructed. She took the slick stairs two at a time. Flora lagged behind her, cautious of each step.
Penny shrieked when Kat flung open the exit door. She stood, frozen in fear, in the center of the hallway. Kat’s jaw clenched as she approached the red-haired girl.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Kat’s voice startled Flora, who entered the hall just in time to see Kat point a finger at the barista. “You’re the only eye witness. The sheriff is going to need to speak to you. Now is not the time for losing your nerve.”
Flora hastily positioned herself between Penny and Kat. “Whoa,” she said, placing her palms on Kat’s shoulders. “Penny’s not doing anything wrong. Are you Penny?” Penny shook her head without taking her eyes from Kat’s.
“Then why is she fleeing the scene? Our friend was taken. Our friend.” Kat’s sternness cracked as she spoke. Her ferocity never did.
“She’s not fleeing.” Flora kept her own voice steady and calm.
“No, I’m not,” Penny offered timidly.
“You see?” Flora said.
She turned her attention to Kat’s prey. The girl trembled like a terrified chihuahua. Flora’s heart leapt out at her. She hoped Kat could see Penny’s distress. Maybe she’d dial down her bad cop mad momma act.
“Then what are you doing up here?” Kat crossed her arms.
Penny gestured toward the door to her left. “I came to get Mr. Joe. I thought he’d know what to do.”
Kat frowned. She’d overreacted. As usual. But this was Lydia she was fighting for. Lydia was in danger. And for once, it wasn’t because she’d charged head-first into the fray. She’d been kidnapped. If someone didn’t do something soon, it might be too late to help her.
“That’s a great idea,” Flora said, in her encouraging tone.
Penny rapped on the apartment door, as Flora stood beside her. Kat turned away from Penny and Flora. She didn’t want them to see her lose it. Lydia needed her, and she was acting like a crazed woman.
Mr. Joe, aka Hobo Joe, opened the door of his flat. He stepped out into the hall, pulling on a gray jacket as he did so. “I heard the sirens,” he said. “What’s going on?”
Penny started. “I warned you Mr. Joe. I warned you, and now this has happened.” Penny sniffled. She shuddered, trying to keep it together long enough to relay the news.
Joe took one glance at the hallway and frowned. “What’s Lydia done now?”