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The next morning, Lauren and Zoe unstacked the chairs and got the café ready for their first customer.
Ed was already in the kitchen, judging by the faint rattle of pastry tins.
“What are you going to do about buying a car for yourself?” Lauren asked.
Before their marriages, they’d been roomies with Annie in Lauren’s cottage. She’d inherited the Victorian cottage and adjoining café from her Gramms a few years ago. Sometimes Zoe had borrowed her car, since she didn’t have one of her own. But now Zoe and Chris were living in their own house, and Chris needed his vehicle to get to work.
Luckily, Zoe only lived a few blocks away from the café and it wasn’t too far to walk. And in bad weather, either Chris or Lauren drove her to the café or back home at the end of the day. Zoe had recently embarked on a search for her own wheels, but hadn’t found anything she liked. She’d ended up happily using part of her car money towards her belated honeymoon in Puerto Rico.
“The search continues.” Zoe winked. “And last night, I had the most amazing thought!”
“Was this before or after you enjoyed your air fryer chicken wings?” Lauren teased.
“Brrt?” Annie had been checking the corners for anything they might have missed in their cleaning yesterday afternoon. Now she looked up at Zoe, her pretty, furry face interested in the answer.
“They were good, Annie. I coated them with Island Jerk seasoning. A bit spicy, but mmm!”
“Seasoning isn’t good for you,” Lauren told her fur baby apologetically. “And cooked bones aren’t good either – they could splinter in your throat.”
“Yeah, I did make them a bit hot. And good point about cooked bones. Anyway, wait until you hear my idea!”
“I’m all ears,” Lauren assured her.
“Brrt!” Me too! Annie twitched her ears to show them.
“Kitty day care!”
“What?” Lauren blinked.
“After Annie had the play date with AJ and Mrs. Snuggle a little while ago, and they helped me act out a scene for my screenplay, and I was able to sketch them for my latest mug design as well – that’s what gave me the idea last night. If you have a cat and you need to go out for most of the day, to work, or on a big shopping spree, you leave your cat at home.”
“I’m with you so far.”
“Brrt,” Annie agreed.
“So why not have them come over to my place – or your place—” Zoe winked at Lauren “—and they can play with their friends? All supervised, of course.”
“Supervised by ...?” Lauren wanted to know.
“Brrt?” By me? Annie asked hopefully.
“Yes!” Zoe nodded. “That’s just what I was thinking, Annie. You could be in charge of them, just like you were in charge when we had to dash out quickly when you had your play date with AJ and Mrs. Snuggle before my honeymoon.”
“AJ didn’t exactly co-operate,” Lauren reminded her.
“But she did give me an idea for my screenplay.” Zoe grinned. “So, I’ll charge people to drop their cats off here, and I’ll supervise along with Annie. We’ll have so much fun,” Zoe told the feline. “And the money I make will go toward my car fund.”
“Why here?” Lauren asked.
“Because unless I hold the day care on Sunday or Monday, I’ll be working here. And I can’t imagine cat owners will be going out at night much – there’s not that much to do here, anyway.”
“True.” Lauren nodded. “I think that’s one of the things people like about this town.”
“I know,” Zoe agreed. “I love living here but sometimes you need to go to Sacramento to buy something you can’t find here, and you mightn’t want to order it online, like clothes or shoes or—”
“I get the picture. How are you going to advertise?”
“I thought I’d put a sign up next to the register,” Zoe replied. “And tell all our cat loving customers.”
“How are you going to supervise the cats in the cottage if you’re working in here?” She didn’t like to poke holes in Zoe’s idea but it did sound a little ambitious. She reminded herself that sometimes Zoe’s grand plans actually worked.
“Good point.” Zoe tapped her cheek, then glanced down at Annie. “I know! Annie and I can take turns supervising!”
“Brrt!” Yes!
“Let me get this straight.” Lauren didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “While Annie is escorting customers to their tables, you’re supervising the cats in the living room. Then you come back here, help me with the orders, while Annie goes to keep an eye on her friends in the cottage?”
“Exactly!” Zoe grinned.
“How are you two going to know when it’s time to switch?”
“Good point. Hmm.” Zoe closed her eyes for a second, then snapped them open. “A bell! Yeah, I’ll ring a bell when it’s my turn to look after the cats, and Annie will hear it and come out to choose tables for our customers.”
“And I’m guessing she’ll ring it when there aren’t any customers to seat so she can return to the cats.” Lauren stifled a giggle.
“Exactly!”
“Brrt!” Yes!
“Are you going to hear this bell while you’re in the cottage?” Lauren asked. “You’ve got human hearing, not cat hearing.”
“Well, what about ... a phone call! Yeah!” Zoe’s eyes sparkled. “Annie can call me on the phone when she’s seated all the customers – you know she can speed dial us on your phone – and I’ll be able to call Annie in the cottage when she has customers to seat out here.”
“I have this image of you and Annie constantly dashing back and forth all day.” Lauren gave in to the temptation and giggled.
“I’m sure it will work,” Zoe persisted. “You’ll see!”
“Brrt!”
“If it’s okay with Annie, it’s okay with me – for a trial, anyway.” She wondered what she was getting herself into. “But what about the lunch rush? I can’t see kitty day care working then.”
“No,” Zoe agreed. “It will have to be before noon or after two. The afternoon will work better because it does get slow sometimes.”
“True.”
“Let’s put up a sign right now!” Zoe turned to Annie. “How about we call it Zoe and Annie’s Kitty Day Care?”
“Are you going to give her a share of the day care fees since she’s co-supervising?” Lauren couldn’t help the amusement in her tone.
“Good point.” Zoe nodded. “That’s fair, isn’t it, Annie?”
“Brrt!”
“I could look after your share of the profits – if there are any,” Lauren told her fur baby. “You could buy a new toy with the money – or whatever you’d like to do with it.”
“Brrt.” Thank you.
“Of course there are going to be profits!” Zoe sounded surprised.
“Do you need to feed the cats while they’re here?” Sometimes AJ and Mrs. Snuggle wanted a snack when they were playing with Annie in the cottage.
“Bring your own cat food! I’ll include it in the ad.”
“How much are you going to charge?”
“I have no idea. Five dollars per cat?” Zoe wrinkled her nose. “I want it to be affordable but the goal is to make extra money for my new – okay, secondhand – car.”
“Four cats equals twenty dollars between the two of you,” Lauren felt obliged to point out. “How many hours are they going to be at the cottage?”
“Three? Four?” Zoe guessed. She looked at Annie. “This might be a little trickier than we thought, but I’m sure we can do it.”
“Brrt! Yes!
“We might have to charge a little more than five dollars – I know! How about five dollars per hour?”
“Brrt!” Good idea!
“Write it up,” Lauren encouraged. She was curious to see if Zoe’s idea would work – she hoped it would.
Zoe grabbed the mini chalkboard from behind the counter, and a piece of white chalk. Lauren shuddered at the sound of the squeaky chalk.
“There!” Zoe dusted off her hands. “What do you think?”
Zoe and Annie’s Kitty Day Care
$5 per hour
Weekday Afternoons
For cats who like playing with Annie – and Zoe!
Zoe lifted down the small board and showed it to Annie.
“Brrt!” She patted her name on the board – in both places.
“I think she likes it,” Lauren observed. She couldn’t wait to tell Mitch.
“Brrt!” Yes!
They finished getting the café ready for nine-thirty.
“I should tell Ed,” Zoe said. “He might be interested.”
“But AJ comes over sometimes for a playdate with Annie. For free.”
“Good point.” Zoe nodded. “I can’t exactly charge him for the same thing, can I?”
“No.”
“I guess it would be the same with Mrs. Snuggle.” Zoe tapped her cheek, then brightened. “I’m sure there will be some cats and their owners who will be interested.”
“I hope so.”
A couple of minutes later, Martha barreled into the café, pushing her rolling walker. Today she wore fuchsia capris and a pink T-shirt.
“Brrt!” Annie scampered over to her and jumped onto the black vinyl seat.
“Hi, cutie pie.” Martha grinned at the silver-gray tabby. “Where am I sitting today?”
“Brrt!” Annie directed her to wheel them to the counter. She stretched up and patted the mini chalkboard.
“Kitty day care?” Martha’s eyes widened. “What a great idea!”
“Thanks!” Zoe beamed at their friend. “Now all we need are some customers.”
“I’ll tell everyone at the senior center,” Martha promised.
“Brrt!” Thank you!
Her gaze roved around the empty café. “Where’s that cute fellow you had working for you?” She tsked at herself. “He was only here while you were in Puerto Rico, Zoe. Right?”
“That’s right. But—”
“I’m afraid we have some bad news about Darrell,” Lauren said. “Maybe Annie should find you a table first.”
“Uh oh.” Martha’s expression dimmed, and she pushed the walker, with Annie directing, to a four-seater near the counter.
“What is it?” Martha asked after sinking into a pine chair. Annie perched on the one next to her.
“Darrell drowned,” Lauren told her.
“And it doesn’t look like an accident,” Zoe added.
Martha looked shocked as they filled her in on the scant details. “I liked that fellow. He was a real hoot. But I guess someone didn’t like him so much.”
“I guess so.” Zoe nodded.
“It’s strange I haven’t heard about this at the senior center.” Martha frowned.
“Have you been there this week?” Lauren asked.
“Yesterday,” Martha said.
“Darrell was from Zeke’s Ridge, so that might be why no one has heard about it yet,” Lauren said.
“That could be it.” Martha nodded.
The senior center could be a hotbed of gossip.
“Wait until you see this amazing handcuff trick I bought,” Zoe tried to lighten the mood. “There was this street magician, and he performed this awesome trick. I asked him how he did it, and he said I could find out for myself if I went to the magic shop and bought it!”
Zipping to the counter, she brandished the pair of silver handcuffs. Waving her hands in the air like a magician, she twirled around, but her hands were still cuffed. “That’s not supposed to happen.” She made a moue and unlocked herself.
“Brrt.” Like this. Annie slid her paw in the dangling cuff, and then out again.
Martha chuckled, her face lighting up. “You should be on the stage, Annie, and Zoe could be your assistant.”
“Brrt!” Yes!
“The Amazing Annie, and her Assistant Zoe.” Zoe giggled. “Who knows? It could be a real money maker – and lots of fun!”
“Is this going to happen before or after you finish your screenplay and run kitty day care?” Lauren wanted to know, a smile on her face.
“Before – no, after, no – at the same time.” Zoe giggled.
“Brrt!” Annie’s mouth tipped up in a smile, as if she were giggling too.
“Don’t forget house hunting as well,” Lauren added.
“You’re right.” Zoe sobered, and told Martha about the letter she and Chris had received from their landlord.
“That’s a shame,” Martha sympathized. “And just when you got back from your honeymoon!” She shook her head. “If I hear of anything, I’ll let you know. I’ll ask around at the senior center as well.”
They took Martha’s order of a hot chocolate and a lemon meringue cupcake. Annie stayed to “chat” with her friend.
“Ms. Tobin might be interested in our day care.” Zoe plated the cupcake while Lauren steamed the milk. “Her cat Miranda might like to make friends with other cats.”
“True.”
The café had held a kitten adoption day a while ago, to help out the local animal shelter where Ed volunteered. Annie had chosen a sweet calico kitten for Ms. Tobin, who loved her dearly, and had called her Miranda, in honor of her childhood friend. That decision led her to tracking down the human Miranda, and now the two ladies were in regular contact, long lost friend Miranda even visiting Ms. Tobin from Cincinnati.
After they took Martha’s order over to her, their friend Brooke entered.
“Brrt!” Annie gave Martha an apologetic look and trotted to meet the hair stylist.
“Hi, guys.” Brooke smiled at them. She looked neat and efficient in denim jeans and a blue T-shirt. Her chestnut locks had attractive reddish highlights, cut in a long bob with feathered ends. The hair color flattered her friendly green eyes. “Zoe, you’re back from your honeymoon! How was it?”
“Awesome!” Zoe followed her to the table Annie chose – a four-seater in the middle of the room.
“Do you have time to sit down?’ Lauren joined them.
“I do. I have thirty minutes before my next client.”
“Brrp.” Annie said goodbye and rejoined Martha.
Lauren thought her fur baby looked a little conflicted as she enjoyed Brooke’s company as well, but Martha didn’t have a cat of her own.
“Kitty day care!” Zoe snapped her fingers and glanced at Brooke. “What does your cat do all day while you’re at the salon and your husband Jeff is at the flower shop? Do you think he’d like some company sometimes?”
“Sorry, I’m lost.” Brooke looked bewildered.
Zoe zipped to the counter, grabbed the chalkboard, and zipped back. “This is what I’m talking about.”
“Oh, I see.” Brooke smiled as she read the sign. “What a great idea! I think Henry would like to try it. Sometimes I do feel guilty leaving him alone all day, although he has plenty of toys to play with.”
Brooke and Jeff had found their kitten at the same adoption event as Ms. Tobin.
“Awesome! You can be our first client. Now, I just need a few more – or at least a couple. Do you think five dollars per hour is too much to charge, or just the right amount? I don’t want to price out potential clients.”
“I think it’s fair,” Brooke said after a moment.
“And what about food? Should I ask people to bring a can of food in case their cat wants a snack? You know how a lot of cats are fussy about what they eat, and some are on special diets.”
“Bringing their own food is a good idea,” Brooke agreed. “I’ll make sure Henry brings his favorite food with him.”
“Great.” Zoe beamed. “Once I have a few more cats, we can decide on an afternoon – of fun!”
“Does Annie get a say in which afternoon is best for her?” Lauren couldn’t resist.
“Of course.” Zoe took the question seriously.
“I hope your idea succeeds,” Brooke said. She looked around the café – empty apart from themselves, Martha, and Annie. “How did your new hire work out? I’m sorry I couldn’t stop by last week, but business was great and I didn’t get much of a break. This week is a slightly different story.”
They filled her in.
“Oh, no, that’s terrible.” Brooke’s expression reflected her shock. “I’m sorry you had to find him, Lauren. You too, Zoe.”
“It was Mitch who actually did that. But Annie led us to him.”
“Has Mitch made any progress on the case yet?” Brooke asked.
“Not yet,” Lauren said. “He’s still waiting for the toxicology report, but he’s received the ME’s report.”
“I think someone murdered Darrell,” Zoe said. She told her friend the details Mitch had shared with them, including the sudden rush of water in Darrell’s lungs.
Brooke shuddered. “I don’t think I’d like to be drowned.”
“Me neither,” Lauren agreed.
“Have you seen his friends around town?” Zoe asked. “There are two girls, Stacey – a brunette, and Tanya – a blonde. And a wiry guy called Jon who was tutoring Darrell.”
“No.” Brooke shook her head, her chestnut hair swinging slightly. “I don’t recall them coming into the salon.”
“If they do, you’ll let us know, won’t you?” Zoe asked.
“Why do you want to know that?” Lauren had a sinking feeling.
“So we can grill them!”
“I’m sure Mitch is quite capable of “grilling” them,” she pointed out.
“Yes, but you know how I love to investigate.”
“Brrt?” Annie called from Martha’s table.
“Oh, no,” Lauren pretended to groan. “Annie heard you say that special word.”
“What, ‘investigate?’” Zoe grinned.
“Brrt!” Yes!
Brooke and Zoe laughed, while Lauren just shook her head. Out of the three of them, she was the reluctant sleuth, Zoe and Annie seeming to love the thrill of checking out the suspects and asking questions – well, Zoe doing the “grilling”, while Lauren was the voice of reason – she hoped.
“I’ll let you know,” Brooke promised, “if anyone matching those college kids come into the salon.”
“Thanks.” Zoe took her order of a large latte and a super vanilla cupcake. “You chat with Brooke,” she told Lauren, “while I make the coffee.”
Wondering if it was a semi-bribe to be on board with the ‘investigating’, Lauren decided it wouldn’t hurt to stay at the table with their friend.
“Do you have plans for a new cupcake creation?” Brooke asked.
“Yes, I just have to think up one.” Lauren couldn’t help a rueful smile. “Sometimes the ideas pop into my head when I least expect them to. I’m hoping it will happen this time as well.”
Brooke nodded in understanding.
When Zoe returned with their friend’s order, she regaled them with her impressions of Puerto Rico.
“Lauren and Mitch are going on vacation there,” Zoe finished with a grin.
“Really?” Brooke looked interested.
“Zoe persuaded us,” Lauren admitted. “Their resort and the beach look beautiful. As soon as Mitch can arrange some vacation time, he’s promised we’re going.”
“And guess what?” Zoe waited a beat. “I’ve decided the princess in my screenplay needs to visit Puerto Rico!”