They ran out of cream at three o’clock. Luckily, there were no customers, so Maddie clipped on Trixie’s harness and they closed the truck, Suzanne sticking a “Back in ten minutes ” sign in the window.
“I don’t think five minutes will be long enough,” she said in reply to Maddie’s questioning glance.
They walked across the square to the small supermarket. It carried nearly everything they needed for their own groceries, and just about everything Suzanne needed for her health balls.
“There she is!” Suzanne muttered to Maddie as they entered the store. Amy was restocking the milk. “Perfect. The cream is right next to her.”
“What are we going to ask her?” Maddie whispered. After Ramon and Luke had departed, they’d been busy with customers and hadn’t had time to develop a plan.
“I’ll think of something,” Suzanne said airily.
Maddie gulped. That’s what she was afraid of.
“Hi, Amy.” Suzanne grinned at the older woman.
“Hi, girls. Hi, Trixie.” The older woman bent down to say hello to the Persian. “How are you?”
“Mrrow,” Trixie replied politely.
“I’d love to have a cat one day,” Amy said wistfully as she straightened.
“Is there any reason you can’t have one now?” Maddie asked.
“My landlord won’t allow it.” Amy grimaced.
“Oh.” Maddie was glad her landlord did allow cats.
“Pooh.” Suzanne frowned in sympathy. “You should stop by for one of our specials to cheer yourself up. I’ll put extra cream on for you.”
“I’ve heard about your iced mochas and whipped cream toppings. Maybe I will.” Amy did look slightly happier at the thought. “Do you girls need any help here?”
“Just stocking up on more cream.” Suzanne picked up a basket. “So many of our customers can’t believe Veronica was murdered.” She tsked.
Maddie didn’t think it was much of a segue but Amy didn’t seem to notice.
“The whole town is talking about it,” Amy replied. “Veronica was a nasty piece of work but I didn’t expect her to be murdered.” She didn’t sound very sorrowful about it, though.
Suzanne cast a sideways glance at Maddie, as if she didn’t want Maddie to miss her cue. Feeling slightly shady, Maddie said, “Suzanne found the – Veronica’s body.”
“No!” Amy stared at Suzanne, her mouth parted. “I hadn’t heard. How terrible!”
“It was.” Suzanne shuddered, and Maddie didn’t think she was acting.
“Tell me everything.” Amy leaned forward, her eyes bright with curiosity.
“We were walking at the rear of—” Suzanne was interrupted by a twenty-something guy with acne on his cheeks. John – Acting Manager was emblazoned on the badge pinned to his shirt.
“You’re not paid to stand around gossiping with customers, Amy,” he told her shortly. “After you restock the milk I need you to fix the dogfood display – some kid knocked all the cans down.” He looked as if he wanted to exile children to the nastiest place on earth – forever. “And then you can go out back and start unloading the pallets of cookies.”
“It’s my fault.” Suzanne frowned at the guy. “I was asking Amy which brand of cream she recommended.”
The acting manager scanned the cartons of cream in Suzanne’s basket. “Then she should have told you to buy the other brand. It’s more expensive.” He gave Amy a dark look and stalked off.
“Wow.” Suzanne shook her head in disgust. “What a jerk!”
“He’s like that all the time,” Amy said bitterly. “If I didn’t need this job, I’d tell him to get lost.” She hesitated. “If Veronica hadn’t stolen that scholarship from me, I wouldn’t have to put up with this – heck, I probably wouldn’t be working here. I’d have a big city job somewhere making a lot more money.”
“I’m sorry,” Maddie said sympathetically.
“Mrrow.” Trixie sounded sorry, too.
“It is what it is.” Amy sighed. “But if you ask me, someone did the world a favor by killing Veronica.”