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“Lauren, I can’t find my string-art threads.” Zoe placed her hands on her hips and surveyed the kitchen.
It was the next morning and Lauren had been crunching her breakfast granola before getting ready to open the café.
“You can’t?” She glanced down at Annie, who was licking up the last bit of gravy from her bowl.
Annie looked up at Lauren, her green eyes impossibly wide –and innocent.
“Have you decided which design to make next?” Lauren asked.
“Not yet.” Zoe frowned. “But I was going to get all the different colored threads out. I thought going through them and seeing what I’ve got might give me some inspiration.”
“Ah.” Lauren didn’t know if she was supposed to give the game away. It was obvious that Zoe didn’t know about it.
“Have you checked the living room?” she asked.
“Brrt!”
“Yes, but I’d better check it again.” Zoe zoomed to the living room. “I’ve already looked in my bedroom.”
Lauren heard her from the next room.
“They’re not here. Someone’s stolen my string-art threads!”
“Brrt!” I did! Annie jumped up on the chair next to Lauren’s.
“I know you did,” Lauren whispered to the cat, “But I thought Zoe was playing this game with you.”
“Brrp.” Annie moved her neck so that it looked like a slight shake of her head.
“Why did you do it?” Lauren asked.
“Brrp.” Annie passed a paw over her ear. A second later, she did it again.
“Ohhh.” Understanding dawned. “I feel the same way, but string-art might be important to Zoe.”
“Brrt.” Annie’s mouth settled into a pout.
Lauren stroked the silver-gray tabby.
“Have you looked under the sofa?” she called out.
“Why would they be under there?” Zoe sounded exasperated.
A few seconds later, Lauren heard a muffled, “Found them!”
“Brrp.” Annie sounded disappointed.
“Look!” Zoe ran into the kitchen, holding the red, yellow, green, and turquoise spools of thread. “Why were they under the couch?”
“Don’t look at me.” Lauren tried hard to stifle her smile.
“Annie?” Zoe’s eyes rounded, just as Annie’s had before when she looked so innocent. “Did you put them there?”
“Brrt!” Annie stood up straight on the chair and thrust out her chest and chin. Yes, I did!
“But why?” Zoe frowned.
Annie glanced at Lauren, then jumped off the chair and ran into the living room.
“I think she wants you to follow her,” Lauren told her cousin.
“Are you coming?”
“Definitely.”
They found Annie in Zoe’s bedroom, pawing at the closed closet.
“Is there something in here?” Zoe opened the door.
“Brrt!” Annie pounced on the hammer that Lauren had lent Zoe. Next to the hammer was a clear plastic bag full of shiny silver nails.
Then she passed her paw over her ear.
Zoe stared at Annie and then her string-art tools, a quizzical look on her face.
“I think,” Lauren said gently, “Annie is trying to tell you that banging the nails into your canvas makes a lot of noise.”
“But why did she steal my threads?” Zoe asked. “They don’t make any noise when I string them along the nails to make a picture.”
“Maybe she couldn’t get into your closet to relocate the hammer or the nails,” Lauren suggested. “The hammer might be too heavy for her to move.”
“Good point.” Zoe nodded. She faced both of them. “I’m sorry. I know I’m a bit noisy at times, but I really enjoyed the whole string-art process at first.” She sighed. “To tell you the truth, I was starting to get a bit bored with it. I made a lot of pictures, though.”
“You definitely did.” Lauren smiled. “Like the goldfish picture you made Annie that’s hanging in the living room.”
“Brrt!”
“Next time, tell me if I’m being too noisy – with anything.”
“We will.”
“Brrt!” Annie nudged Zoe’s hand, as if to say sorry.
“And you can tell me if I’m being too noisy,” Lauren countered.
“I don’t think that will ever happen.” Zoe laughed. “You’re such a quiet person.” She looked down. “So are you, Annie. And you’re both awesome! I’m so lucky living with both of you.”
“Brrt!” We’re all lucky!
***
BECAUSE OF THE STRING-art hide and seek, Lauren and Zoe were a few minutes late opening the café that morning. Not that anybody seemed to mind – there weren’t any customers lined up outside. Lauren heard the faint rattle of pastry trays as Ed worked in the kitchen.
“I want to get an update on AJ.” Zoe bounced into the kitchen.
Lauren followed her. “I’ll tell you what we find out,” she told Annie.
Annie curled up in her cat bed, watching both of them enter through the swinging doors.
“Have you checked the lost and found column?” Zoe asked Ed.
“This morning,” he replied, his hands deep in the pastry he kneaded.
“And?”
“No one’s posted about AJ yet,” he replied. “I’ll go to the vet’s after I finish here this afternoon and check.”
“I hope no one claims her,” Zoe said. “Maybe we could have a bring your pet to work day.” She looked at Lauren. “What do you say, boss?”
“I say we need to abide by the health regulations,” Lauren replied.
“What about the café area, where Annie is?” Zoe suggested. “Annie could train AJ as her assistant!”
“AJ’s only a baby right now,” Ed informed her as he pounded the dough. “And she needs to gain some strength first. She mightn’t even be a people person like Annie is.”
“And we’d have to check with Annie,” Lauren added. “She might prefer to be the only cat in the café. But I’m sure she’d like to be friends with AJ.”
“We could arrange a playdate.” Zoe was not about to be put off.
“Maybe,” Ed replied. “When AJ’s bigger.”
“Just let me know.” Zoe beamed.
They left Ed to his work.
“I think I’ve got kitten cuteness,” Zoe confessed when they sat behind the counter.
“I understand.” Lauren patted her cousin’s shoulder.
“Brrt?” Annie sat up in her basket.
“We’re just waiting for our first customer,” Zoe said to her. “Ed’s going to check at the vet’s today about AJ, but he says she’s doing well.”
Annie’s nose wrinkled at the word “vet”.
The door opened and a tall, athletic woman pushing a stroller walked in.
“Hi, Claire. Hi, Molly.” Lauren smiled at the duo.
“Annie!” The blonde toddler waved to the cat.
“Brrt!” Annie jumped down from her bed and ran over to the little girl.
“I really need a latte,” Claire told them. “I know it’s just after nine-thirty, but it’s been one thing after another this morning already!”
“I know the feeling,” Lauren said ruefully.
“Table, pwease, Annie.” Molly beamed at the cat.
“Brrt!” Right this way.
Claire followed Annie to a four-seater near the counter.
“What would you like?” Lauren asked as she approached, notepad in hand. Zoe accompanied her.
“Wait until you hear about the kitten Annie found yesterday,” Zoe enthused. “She is so cute! And small.”
“Annie found her in the garden,” Lauren put in. “Let me make your order while Zoe tells you all about it.” She could see Zoe was bursting to do just that.
“A large latte and one of your delicious cupcakes, please. You choose which one – unless it’s triple chocolate,” Claire replied.
“Yes, we’ve got triple chocolate today.” Lauren smiled.
“Great! And Molly would like her usual babycino. Isn’t that right, darling?”
“Cino, cino!” Molly grinned.
“Coming right up,” Lauren promised.
She hurried back to the counter, Zoe’s voice in the background as she began telling Claire and Molly about AJ, Annie interjecting with an occasional “Brrt.”
Lauren finished off the large latte with a peacock design on the microfoam and carried the order over on a tray.
“Yum, yum.” Molly smacked her lips in anticipation as she gently petted Annie using “fairy pats”. She pointed to the little white cup with steamed milk froth, a pink and a white marshmallow, and lots of chocolate powder on top. “Ook, Annie.”
“Brrp?” Annie asked Lauren.
“Chocolate powder isn’t good for you,” Lauren told her.
“Brrt.” Annie’s mouth settled into a pout for a second.
“It looks wonderful.” Claire eyed the cupcake with chocolate ganache frosting. “I’ve told everyone I know about your delicious cupcakes and coffee. And Annie, of course.”
Claire and her husband had recently moved from Los Angeles to Gold Leaf Valley to escape the bustle of a big city.
“Thanks.” Lauren smiled.
“Did you hear about the senior center murder?” Zoe posed the question.
“No.” Claire looked shocked.
“Should we talk about it in front of Molly?” Lauren asked.
“If we don’t mention particular words we should be okay,” Claire said. “I don’t think she’s paying attention, anyway.”
Molly looked intent on spooning up the babycino, talking to Annie the whole time.
Zoe quickly told Claire about the hit and run, keeping her voice low.
“My goodness! And I thought we’d moved to a nice small town where these kinds of things don’t happen.”
“So did we,” Lauren replied.
“Yeah,” Zoe agreed. “Although it is rewarding trying to find out who did it.”
“You two aren’t going to get mixed up with this one, are you?” Claire frowned.
“We’ll be careful,” Zoe promised.
“I think the police have it all in hand,” Lauren countered.
Zoe looked like she wanted to pout now. “But we’re going to the senior center meeting this evening. Denise asked us to come up with some ideas for them in case they can’t renew the lease with the new owner.”
“And have you come up with anything?” Claire asked.
“Not yet,” Zoe admitted.
“Me neither.” Lauren gave a rueful smile.
“Hopefully the new owner will be nicer and leave the senior center alone,” Claire said.
“That would be the perfect solution,” Lauren replied.
They kept Claire and Molly company until more customers arrived. Annie stayed with the mother and daughter – ever since their first visit to the café, they’d become some of Annie’s favorites.
The rest of the day grew busier, until Lauren didn’t even have time to think of the upcoming senior center meeting.
“I can’t believe it’s five o’clock already!” Zoe sank down on a chair in the middle of the room. The last customer had just departed.
“I know.” Lauren locked the door. If she sat down now, she didn’t know whether she could get up again.
“At least we can rest our feet at the meeting this evening,” Zoe said.
“Brrt.” Annie jumped down from her bed and walked over to the door that led to the private hallway.
“You want to go home now?” Lauren unlocked the door and watched her saunter down the passageway until she met the cat flap. With a shimmy, Annie entered the cottage.
“I guess we’d better clean up.” Zoe got up with a sigh. “And then get ready for the meeting.”
“Should we have dinner first?” Lauren asked, her stomach growling.
“Good idea. If we call now, the pizza might arrive just as we finish up here.” Zoe grinned.
Lauren ordered a sausage pizza, and was promised it wouldn’t take long.
The thought of an early dinner spurred them on. Soon the hardwood floor looked clean and tidy with all the chairs stacked on the tables. Zoe turned off the droning vacuum.
“Time for pizza!”
Lauren looked out the window. A car pulled up outside their cottage next door.
“I think it’s here.”
Lauren and Zoe went outside and greeted the delivery driver.
One minute later, they were in the cottage kitchen, opening the large cardboard box.
“Brrp?” Annie asked as she wandered in from the living room.
“We’re having dinner early,” Lauren explained.
“Because we’re going to the meeting tonight,” Zoe added.
“Would you like something to eat now?” Lauren asked Annie.
“Brrt!”
Lauren opened up a new can of chicken with gravy and spooned it into Annie’s bowl.
“I don’t think pizza is good for cats,” Lauren said regretfully.
“There are lots of food that isn’t safe for cats,” Zoe mused as she grabbed a large slice of pizza. The tantalizing aroma of the melted mozzarella and pizza sauce filled the kitchen.
“Brrp,” Annie agreed sadly, before investigating her dinner.
Once they finished eating, they quickly got ready for the meeting.
“We shouldn’t be too late tonight,” Lauren told Annie, stroking her thick, velvety soft fur.
They drove to the center, the sky a pinky-orange as the sun set.
They were lucky to find a space to park as the lot was jammed with cars, including Denise’s shiny blue vehicle.
“Everyone must be here,” Zoe remarked.
A gleaming pewter colored minivan stood in the carport.
“I hope we’re not late.” Lauren turned off the ignition.
They hurried into the building. The place seemed deserted, until Lauren heard voices. Barry stood at the front of the same room as last time, speaking to a packed audience.
“Sorry,” Zoe said as they entered.
“We haven’t really started yet,” Barry informed them. “Take a seat.”
There were a few spare chairs left in the last row – the layout reminded Lauren of the church hall meeting.
She and Zoe said hello to Denise, Mrs. Finch, Hans, Ms. Tobin, Father Mike, and Martha as they walked down the aisle to the vacant seats.
“You might as well get started now, Barry,” Martha called out. “The cupcake girls are here!”
There were a few chuckles.
“I think they forgot to mention our coffee,” Zoe whispered to Lauren with a wink.
Denise got up from her seat in the front row and stood next to Barry.
“Yes, we should get started now,” Denise echoed Martha.
“Very well.” Barry nodded. “We haven’t heard anything yet about who is the new owner of this property, I’m afraid. As soon as I know, I’ll tell you.”
There were a few groans.
“What about Crystal, the wife?” Martha asked. “She’ll probably inherit.”
“How do you know that?” a grumpy looking man asked.
“The wife usually does.” Martha chuckled.
“We haven’t been in contact with her,” Barry stated. “I thought it would be best not to disturb her at present. She must have a lot to deal with.”
“Yeah, like how to spend all her husband’s money!” Martha was in good form.
“Has anyone come up with an idea in case we lose this building?” Denise took over. “Father Mike has been kind enough to confirm that we’ll be able to use the church hall for some activities if we’re kicked out of here, but we won’t be able to have a fully functioning center at the hall.”
“What about the crowd surfing idea?” a frail gray-haired woman asked.
“I think it’s called crowd funding,” Denise answered gently. “And I’m looking into that at the moment. But there are a lot of different sites online and we’ll need to agree on which one to use. Even if we are successful and raise enough money to build our own center, we’ll still need somewhere for our activities when we’re in the construction phase.”
“True,” a few people muttered.
“More protests!” Martha called out. “I got a half price cappuccino for marching outside the café!”
“Me too!”
“It was good coffee.”
“Now they’re mentioning our coffee,” Lauren whispered to Zoe with a smile.
“I got a swan on my latte!”
“Maybe the cupcake girls have got some ideas,” Martha suggested.
A lot of the audience turned their heads toward Lauren and Zoe.
“Uh oh,” Zoe muttered.
“I haven’t come up with anything,” Lauren murmured, shifting in her plastic chair.
“Lauren and Zoe?” Barry prompted.
Zoe stood up. “We don’t have any new ideas. Sorry.” She sounded regretful. “But on Tuesday we’re having another half price coffee special between ten and eleven. Everyone’s welcome.”
There was a burst of applause.
“I can’t wait to see Annie again,” a woman wearing a pink jumper called out.
“I still think the crowdfunding idea is a good one,” Zoe added.
“Thank you,” Barry said.
“So let’s get going with the crowdfunding,” Martha directed.
“Denise?” Barry glanced at his assistant.
“I will get right on that and give you a report in two days’ time,” Denise promised.
“Let’s talk about what really happened to Ralph,” Martha proposed. “Since he was deliberately run over.”
Half the people in the room inhaled in shock.
“I didn’t know that!”
“Oh, my goodness!”
“I didn’t like him, but I wouldn’t have killed him.”
“How does Martha know that?” Lauren whispered to Zoe. The only people she’d told about Ralph being deliberately run over was Denise and Zoe.
“I didn’t tell her.” Zoe mimed zipping her lips. “I haven’t told anyone.”
“Denise?” Lauren suggested. Would the no-nonsense assistant have gone around town telling everyone? Or had someone overheard her conversation with Denise in the café?
“Martha’s a real livewire tonight,” Zoe whispered to Lauren.
“You were out driving the minivan, Barry.” Martha stood up, gripping the handles of her walker. “Did you see Ralph on the road before he was run over?”
“Of course not.” Barry drew himself up.
“What time did you finish taking people home that night?”
“Ten p.m. I was busy dropping off people from just after nine until then.”
Martha rummaged in her basket and pulled out a notepad and pen. She scratched something on the paper.
“What about you, Denise?” she asked.
Denise’s mouth parted in a surprised O. “I was talking to you, Martha, and a few other members while Lauren and Zoe were packing up. Once all the guests left, I locked up and went straight home. You can check with my husband – he was waiting up for me.”
Martha made another note, then grinned. “Just joshing with you two.” She put the notebook back in the basket. “What about the cupcake girls?” Martha turned to the back of the room. “Lauren and Zoe. Someone told me you found him!”
Everyone stared at them.
Lauren cleared her throat. “Who – who told you?”
“Someone,” Martha said mysteriously. She tapped the basket where she’d stashed the notebook. “Not much gets past me.”
“The police are investigating,” Lauren said.
Zoe nodded vigorously. Lauren half expected her cousin to blurt out they were too, but Zoe’s lips stayed zipped.
“I think we should get this meeting back on track.” Barry called everyone to order. “Lauren’s right. The police are investigating. They told me so themselves.”
“When was that?” Martha asked.
“The next morning,” Denise spoke. “An officer contacted us and we told him what happened at the party the previous evening. I was shocked when I was told that Ralph Lapton had died like that. Shocked.” She shook her head.
“Didn’t you get the minivan washed the morning after the party, Barry?” Martha persisted. “I drove past your house and you were washing the minivan, the same as you always do every Tuesday morning.”
“That’s right,” Barry replied stiffly. “I’m sure everyone here knows how I like to keep the van clean and shiny. It’s a good advertisement for the center. By the time I’d dropped off the last member at their house, I thought it would be easier to drive myself home in the van and bring it back here the next morning. I’ve done that before when we’ve had an evening function.”
The meeting soon broke up after that.
“I don’t think they decided on anything,” Zoe muttered.
“Except to keep investigating your crowdfunding idea,” Lauren replied.
Zoe stifled a yawn. “Let’s go home.”
“We could see if Mrs. Finch or Hans needs a ride,” Lauren suggested.
They made their way to two of their favorite people who were busy talking to each other.
“Hi, Mrs. Finch,” Zoe greeted her.
“Hi, Hans,” Lauren said.
“Hello, Lauren, and Zoe,” Hans replied. “How do you think the meeting went?”
“No one had any new ideas,” Zoe remarked.
“True.” Hans nodded.
“Perhaps Denise and Barry will use your crowdfunding idea, Zoe,” Mrs. Finch told her.
“I hope so.” Zoe brightened.
“Can we offer you two a ride home?” Lauren asked.
“That is very kind of you,” Hans replied, “but Barry is driving us home.”
“See you tomorrow, then,” Zoe said.
“Make sure you come in next Tuesday for our half price specials,” Lauren added. “If you can make it then.”
“That is a generous offer of yours,” Hans said. He lowered his voice. “Can you afford to do that?”
“Yes,” Lauren assured him.
“We were run off our feet with the protestors’ half price coffees,” Zoe added. “And we made a nice profit!”
“Gut.” Hans nodded.
“Can’t wait for your coffee specials.” Martha stopped on her way out.
“Annie might ask for another ride on your walker.” Lauren smiled.
“That was fun.” Martha grinned. “Tell her anytime.”
“We will,” Zoe promised.
“Oh, girls.” Denise approached them as Martha departed. “I wondered if you could help me stack these chairs for a few minutes. Barry’s attending to the minivan.”
“Of course,” Lauren said. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the older people leaving the room.
Lauren and Zoe stacked the chairs alongside Denise.
“I’m so glad I asked you for help,” Denise admitted when they were halfway through the task. Now the three of them were alone in the room.
“No problem.” Zoe grinned. She surveyed the remaining twenty chairs. “The rest won’t take us long.”
“What do you think of Martha writing things down in her notebook?” Lauren asked. She’d been curious ever since she’d first seen Martha do so.
“Oh, she’s been doing that as long as I’ve known her,” Denise said. “She loves finding things out, particularly if it’s a little salacious.” She tsked. “I even caught her one day at the grocery store, buying one of those scandal rags.”
“Oh, dear.” Zoe sounded suitably shocked. A muscle twitched in her cheek.
Lauren wondered if her cousin was trying not to giggle, since she was guilty of the same offence.
“I do so hate it when Martha brings in those tabloids and shares them with the other members.” Denise shook her head. “Of course, Barry lets her – he allows her to do whatever she wants – but if I was running this place, things would be different.”
“In what way?” Zoe asked as she started stacking the last row of chairs.
“For a start, we would have more physical activities,” Denise answered. “Like Pilates. It’s so good for your core.”
Lauren glanced at Denise’s trim figure. Maybe she should consider trying something like that.
“Why don’t you take over Barry’s job when he retires?” Zoe suggested. “I know you said you worked here part-time but would you be interested in working longer hours?”
“To tell you the truth—” Denise looked around the room as if to double-check they were alone “—I would have loved to have Barry’s job. I think I would have been a better director. More efficient. But he was already employed as the director when I started work here, and I soon realized he had no intention of leaving until he retired.” She sighed. “And now my husband wants me to quit so I can enjoy myself while I’m still young enough. He’s retiring soon and wants us to go on an extended cruise – around the world!”
“Wow,” Lauren murmured.
“That will be awesome!”
“I am looking forward to it,” Denise told them. “That’s why I’m not applying for Barry’s job when he finally leaves. It’s just a shame I haven’t been able to realize my full potential here.”
They finished stacking the chairs, then said good night to Denise.
Lauren and Zoe walked out to the parking lot. Only Lauren’s car and Denise’s remained.
Once they were in the car, Zoe turned to Lauren. “That’s a shame about Denise’s frustrated ambitions.”
“I know.” Lauren nodded.
They discussed the meeting on the way home.
“Martha sure asked a lot of questions tonight,” Zoe remarked. “And wrote things down in her notebook. Do you think she’s investigating the murder?”