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The next day, Lauren, Zoe, and Annie entered the café from the private hallway.
“Look!” Zoe pointed to the large window. “Smirky Jason’s here already, parked outside our cottage.”
“I didn’t hear him pull up.” Lauren frowned.
“Maybe he came super early. We could have had the microwave on or been in the shower,” Zoe suggested.
“That’s possible.”
“Let’s not worry about him,” Zoe said.
“Agreed. I’ll go and bake the cupcakes.” Lauren entered the gleaming commercial kitchen and set to work. Once the cakes were out of the oven, she joined Zoe and Annie in the café area.
“AJ is coming to work with you today, Annie.” Zoe grinned.
“Brrt,” Annie sounded a little unsure.
“She doesn’t have to come and help you if you don’t want her to.” Lauren bent down to the cat. “Zoe thought you might enjoy having her around, but the decision is up to you.” She gave Zoe a pointed stare.
“Of course,” Zoe said hastily. “Everyone knows you’re in charge of seating the customers, Annie.”
“And talking to them,” Lauren added. She knew some of their regulars valued their interaction with Annie, especially Annie’s favorites, whom she spoke to in a series of brrts and chirps, and appeared to listen to them as they told her about their day.
“Brrp.” Annie wandered over to her cat bed and curled up in it.
“Oh, dear.” Lauren turned to Zoe. “Perhaps AJ coming in isn’t a good idea.”
“Perhaps you’re right,” Zoe replied, doubt flickering over her face. “Maybe we should tell Ed—”
There was a frantic banging on the glass entrance door. Lauren and Zoe turned around. Jessica, Jason’s ex, swung her arms wildly in the air.
“He’s dead!” she wailed, loud enough for them to hear her through the glass.
“What?” Lauren rushed to unlock the door. “What’s wrong?”
“Jason’s dead!” Tears streamed down Jessica’s face. “And the police are going to think I did it!”
***
LAUREN AND ZOE RACED out of the café.
“Are you sure he’s dead?” Lauren tossed over her shoulder as they neared the van. Bits of litter lined the gutters – a tell-tale sign it had been windy the night before. Jessica’s red car was parked in front of the pink truck.
“I – I think so,” Jessica stumbled after them.
Annie stood in the doorway of the café, watching, her green eyes wide.
“Hello? Jason?” Zoe jumped up on her tiptoes at the serving hatch.
“I can’t see anything.”
“That’s because you have to get inside.” Jessica wrenched open the back door of the truck and pointed. “See?”
Jason lay on the floor, a big bloody gash on his head. He wore jeans and a t-shirt, the blood staining some of his blond hair. But for once, he didn’t have a smirk on his face.
The coppery scent of blood mixed with Jessica’s cloying rose perfume hit Lauren’s senses.
Lauren quickly reached for his wrist, trying to find a pulse. There wasn’t one. She closed her eyes, hoping she wasn’t going to be sick.
“Well?” Zoe asked.
Lauren shook her head, opened her eyes, and gently released Jason’s wrist.
She avoided looking at the body and instead focused on the interior of the truck. White cupboards lined each side of the vehicle, apart from where the serving hatch was. A small refrigerator was also included in the layout.
“We have to call the police,” Zoe said in a subdued voice, her brown eyes huge.
Lauren dug out her phone from her jeans pocket. And dialed 911. She quickly gave her details.
“Someone will be here as soon as they can,” she told them after she ended the call. “We mustn’t touch anything.”
Jessica’s face crumpled, her mascaraed eyes clogged with tears.
“Why don’t you come to the café and I’ll make you a hot drink?” Zoe placed an arm around her
“I’ll guess I’ll guard the scene,” Lauren said reluctantly. “Make sure Annie stays inside the café.”
“Will do.” Zoe nodded.
Lauren watched her cousin usher Jessica inside the coffee shop.
What was Jason’s ex doing here, anyway? And where was Sweet Boy, and Jason’s friend Scott? Although, Scott hadn’t seemed to be here every day. Maybe he had another job?
Not that it was any of her business, she told herself.
Mitch. She could call him. Lauren speed dialed him, relief flowing through her as he answered. She quickly told him what had happened, relaxing her grip on the phone a little when he said he’d be there right away.
Lauren paced in front of the truck, careful not to get too close. They’d closed the back door after discovering Jason’s body – even though she hadn’t liked the guy, she didn’t want anyone coming over to gawk at him.
Finally, just when she thought she couldn’t stand being out there any longer, a police vehicle pulled up.
After giving her details to the officer, she was allowed to return to the café. She’d just opened the door to go inside when Mitch arrived.
“Are you okay?” Worry creased his face as he strode over to her.
“I’m fine.” She allowed herself to nestle in his arms for a moment, then pulled back. “Zoe and I didn’t discover the – victim this time. It was his ex-girlfriend Jessica.”
“Where is she?”
“Inside.” Lauren gestured to the café behind them. “Zoe’s looking after her.”
“Good.” He nodded. “I don’t know if I’ll be assigned this case. We’ve finally wrapped up the string of burglaries, but since you’re my girlfriend and you’re involved ...”
“But I’m more of a bystander this time,” she protested. “Jessica banged on the café door and told us she’d found Jason in ... there.” She pointed at the truck, shuddering at the memory of seeing his dead body.
“I’ll talk to the officer and tell them to come and see you in the café.” Mitch pressed a swift kiss to her forehead.
“Okay.” Lauren entered the shop.
“What did Mitch say?” Zoe pounced on her the moment she walked inside. Luckily – or was it? – there weren’t any customers, besides Jessica.
“Not much.” Lauren sank down on a chair beside Jessica and smiled wanly at her. “How are you holding up?”
“I think I’ll be okay.” Jessica lifted her tear-streaked face to her. “Zoe’s been making sure I have lots of sugar – she gave me a large hot chocolate because she said there aren’t any cupcakes ready yet.”
“Good.” Lauren nodded.
“And now I’m making you a big hot chocolate.” Zoe started steaming milk. “I had a small one when I made Jessica’s, but I think I should have another one as well.”
“How’s Annie?” Lauren looked over at the cat bed.
“Brrt!” Annie ran over to Lauren and demanded to be cuddled.
Lauren lifted the feline onto her lap and gently stroked her. Annie purred, closing her eyes.
“I wish I had a cat like that,” Jessica said.
“You should definitely get one, Jessica,” Zoe told her as she brought over the drinks. “Would you like something else?”
“No, I’m good – thanks.” Jessica stared through the large windows to the scene outside.
Lauren followed her gaze. Mitch spoke to the uniformed officer, then followed him inside the truck.
“Maybe we shouldn’t look,” Lauren told her gently.
“Yeah.” Jessica grimaced and focused on Annie purring away on Lauren’s lap.
“Do you want to talk about it?” Zoe asked, taking a sip of her hot chocolate.
“Not really.” Jessica shivered. “It all happened so fast. I couldn’t see Jason standing there at the hatch even when I called out. He wasn’t in the driver’s seat, either. So I went around to the back of the truck and knocked. He didn’t answer. I tried the handle and the door just opened.”
“Really?” Zoe exchanged a glance with Lauren.
“Yeah.” Jessica nodded. “But who would do such a thing to him? He had it all!”
“Really?” Now it was Lauren’s turn.
“I know some people say – said – he was a jerk.” Jessica sniffed. “But he was awesome – so good looking, and smart. Even though he had a manual job and wasn’t a CEO or something like that. But he could have been if he’d wanted to.” She sounded convinced.
“Didn’t you say he hurt his hand working construction?” Zoe probed.
“That’s right. He complained to the foreman but instead of helping him, they laid him off instead. Said the job was coming to an end anyway and they didn’t want complainers. Then he got this idea for the cupcake truck – well, it was really his and Scott’s idea.”
“Oh?” Lauren asked.
“Yeah. Scott told me he was just joking around one day with Jason and said what a hoot it would be if they made money selling cupcakes. But Jason took the idea seriously, and look!” She pointed to the truck outside. “He even knew to paint the truck pink and put the gold lettering on it. Pink’s my favorite color, you know. I told him that once and he must have remembered. That’s why I found it hard to believe him when he said it was over between us. Because why would he paint it that color if he didn’t want to see me anymore?” She buried her face in her hands.
Lauren and Zoe looked at each other. To get female customers, seemed to be the same thought they had.
The door opened and Mitch strode in, coming over to their table.
“This is Jessica.” Lauren gestured to the weeping girl.
“Another detective is going to come out and question you,” Mitch told them. “Can you keep Jessica here until then?”
“Sure.” Lauren nodded.
“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Mitch asked her, indicating one of the rear tables.
Lauren got up awkwardly, still cradling Annie. She followed him to the back of the room.
“What is it?” she asked.
Annie opened one sleepy eye, saw it was Mitch, and shut it again.
“Is Annie okay?” He frowned at the cat.
“I think so. She’s had something else to deal with despite – Jason. I’ll tell you about it later.”
“Okay. It looks like Jason died immediately – blunt force trauma to the head. But we won’t know officially until the medical examiner confirms it.”
“What sort of weapon was it?” Lauren asked. She couldn’t remember seeing anything obvious.
“Tire wrench. We found it under one of the cupboards.”
Lauren shuddered.
“Yeah.” He paused. “When the detective questions you, it might get a bit detailed. We don’t know why Jason had picked this location for his truck, or why he targeted your café.”
“Zoe and I don’t know, either.” Scenes from last week flashed through Lauren’s mind. “What about Scott, Jason’s friend? He was with him in the truck yesterday. And Sweet Boy, the dog. We didn’t see him there today.”
“There was no one else in the truck just now,” he told her. “No animals, either.”
“Jessica knows Scott,” she told him.
“Good.” He nodded. “I’ll pass that on to the detective who’s coming. I wish they’d assigned me, but because of our relationship ...”
“I understand,” Lauren told him. And she did.
Mitch told her he’d stop by the cottage after work that evening and check she was okay. His phone rang, and he answered it.
“I have to go.” He grimaced. “The burglar we arrested only wants to talk to me.”
“Go.” She shooed him away.
She returned to Zoe and Jessica, Annie still in her arms. Was Annie still out of sorts about AJ coming in for a training session? Or had it been the discovery of Jason’s body, even though the feline had only watched from a distance? Or did she know that Lauren needed comforting?
Perhaps it was all three, she mused as she sat down again at the table, nursing the cat.
Zoe had visited the kitchen, informing Ed of the morning’s events, then zoomed back to the café area.
“I think maybe we should close for a little while,” Zoe told her, after Lauren filled her in on her conversation with Mitch. “If a detective is going to question all three of us – four if we count Ed – we don’t want customers getting the wrong idea.”
“If we have any,” Lauren said gloomily.
“I’ll put a sign up on the door.” Zoe hurried to the counter, scrawled on a piece of paper, and taped it up on the glass door. “All done.”
“I’ll have to tell his Mom,” Jessica said. “And Scott.” She hesitated. “Or will the police do that?”
“I’m sure they will,” Lauren told her. “But they’ll probably need to get Scott’s contact details from you.”
“Oh, yeah.” Jessica nodded.
A man dressed in a gray suit entered the café and introduced himself as Detective Castern. He accompanied each of them to the rear of the café, including Ed, and took their statements and contact details.
By the time he finished, Lauren needed a latte – or a mocha.
“I guess we can re-open.” Zoe pulled down the sign on the door.
“Thanks, guys.” Jessica smiled wanly at them. “I’m sorry Jason was trying to take your customers away from you – I also told the detective I was sorry about that.”
“You did?” Lauren asked.
“Oh, yeah. He asked me lots of questions about Jason and why he was parked outside. I told him you two make awesome cupcakes and Jason must have found out and that’s why he set up his truck here, to sell his cupcakes to your customers.”
Zoe looked like she was trying hard not to let steam erupt from the top of her pixie cut.
“Thanks for telling us,” Lauren said faintly.
Jessica waved goodbye to them, not seeming to realize that she might have inadvertently caused trouble.
“Brrt?” Annie called from her cat bed. Her usual good mood seemed to have been restored – perhaps it was because the detective had admired her before taking their statements.
“It’s okay, Annie,” Lauren assured her. “Jessica was being honest, I guess.”
“Her honesty could make us look like major suspects.” Zoe blew out a breath. “We’ve got a great big motive for bumping off Jason – he was the reason why business was down.”
“But it did seem to bounce back before he was killed,” Lauren reminded her. She looked around the empty café. “Until today.”
“Yeah, what’s up with that?” Zoe drummed her fingertips on the counter. “Where’s Hans, and Mrs. Finch, and Ms. Tobin, even?”
“And Martha, Father Mike—”
“Hi!” Brooke, the local hairdresser, entered the café. By her side was Jeff, who owned the flower shop. His previously shaggy sandy hair was now neat and tidy, the look suiting him. He wore a cream button-down shirt tucked neatly into brown slacks, and his blue eyes were framed with square navy metal glasses.
“Hi!” Lauren was genuinely pleased to see the couple. They’d met a few months ago and had seemed instantly smitten with each other.
“What’s going on?” Jeff motioned to the bright pink truck outside which still had the uniformed officer guarding it.
Lauren and Zoe filled them in on the events of that morning.
“That’s terrible.” Brooke looked distressed. “I had no idea that this cupcake guy was even here – I’ve been swamped with bookings for the last few weeks and my clients have been talking about topics other than cupcakes.”
“Like what?” Jeff looked interested.
“Like their boyfriends.” Brooke smiled at him fondly. “And then they want to hear all about us.”
“So that’s why you haven’t been in here lately,” Zoe said.
Brooke nodded. “I’ve also had some more requests for home visits – Mrs. Finch told her friends that I come to her house to cut her hair, so that’s taken up some of my time as well. But it’s worth it.”
Annie showed the couple to a table, and sat with them for a while. Lauren and Zoe whipped up the order of two large lattes and two salted caramel cupcakes.
“Hot chocolate, stat!” Martha barreled in, pushing her walker.
“Brrt!” Annie scampered to greet her friend, hopping onto the padded seat of the walker without waiting to be invited.
“We’re definitely friends again.” Martha beamed at Annie. “Let’s go, cutie pie.” She pushed the walker, Annie’s paws pressed securely on the padded seat as they wheeled through the café, stopping at a table when Annie issued a commanding, “Brrt.”
A wave of seniors followed Martha into the café.
Lauren’s eyes widened at the unexpected business.
“We had a huge craft club morning at the senior center,” Martha called to them from her table in the middle of the room. “Now everyone’s dying for coffee and cupcakes.”
“What’s going on out there?” A plump woman asked them, pointing to the police presence at the pink truck outside.
Lauren and Zoe glanced at each other. What should they say?
“Don’t tell me someone’s been murdered,” Martha joked. She sobered when Lauren and Zoe didn’t answer. “They haven’t, have they? And I just said we’re dying for cupcakes!”
“Yes,” Lauren and Zoe blurted.
“Brrt.”
There was a lot of tsking among the crowd, with everyone asking the duo for details.
Lauren and Zoe told them briefly who the victim was.
“I never liked his cupcakes,” one man said.
“Far too sweet,” a woman said. “I thought they were going to rot my dentures!”
“I’m sorry I ever tried those cupcakes,” another woman said. She looked embarrassedly at Lauren and Zoe. “I felt like a traitor. That’s why I haven’t been in again – until now.”
“Everyone’s welcome here,” Lauren told them.
“That’s right.” Zoe nodded. “Even if you did buy his cakes.”
“Zoe!” Lauren hissed.
They took everyone’s orders and set to work, making lattes, mochas, hot chocolates, and a few pots of tea.
“We’re going to be sold out at this rate.” Zoe picked up the last salted caramel cupcake with shiny silver tongs and placed it on a plate. “And Ed’s pastries have nearly all gone as well.”
“Good.” Lauren couldn’t wait to count the day’s takings. She hadn’t liked to tell Zoe she’d been worried about business being down so much. Hopefully everything was back to normal now.
After a busy couple of hours, they finally had time for a break.
“Brrt!” Annie pounced on something near the rear of the café.
“What’s that, Annie?” Lauren headed over to her.
“Brrt.” Annie patted the small scrap of ... paper?
“Can I see it?” Lauren asked her.
“Brrp.” Annie pushed the fragment over to her with her paw.
Lauren picked it up and turned it over.
“What is it?” Zoe hurried over to them.
“It might be part of a photo.” Lauren frowned.
“You think?” Zoe peered at the glossy scrap about an inch in size. “Yeah, it could be.”
“It’s pink,” Lauren said.
“Isn’t that Jessica’s favorite color?” Zoe said. “Maybe she dropped it when she was in here earlier.”
“Or maybe she walked it in and it has nothing to do with her,” Lauren countered.
“Yep, it was super windy last night,” Zoe commented. “Did you see all the litter out there when we went to check on Jason’s dead – you know.”
“I know.” Lauren shivered at the hours old memory.
“Maybe I walked it in,” Zoe suggested. “Or you.”
“True,” Lauren agreed.
“Or one of our customers. Huh.”
“What should we do with it?”
“I know, I’ll put it in my ashtray where we’ve put our keys,” Zoe proposed. “Just in case. It’s Annie’s Lost and Found again.”
“Brrt!”
Zoe zipped to the cottage and was back in less than two minutes. “Safe and sound in my ashtray.” She grinned.
“Good.” Lauren nodded. “Do you think we should cancel AJ’s training session this afternoon?”
“But we’ve been interviewed,” Zoe replied. “And we’ve already told Annie it’s happening. Ed’s probably told AJ as well. We don’t want to disappoint them, do we?”
“Or do you mean you don’t want to be disappointed?” Lauren asked. “I’m not sure if Annie is as sold on the idea as you are.”
“But we can give it a try, can’t we?” Zoe pleaded. “I think it will be so cute! And maybe Annie would like to share her duties with AJ.”
“Well, if it’s okay with Annie,” Lauren said dubiously. At least the café wasn’t busy at the moment.
“I’ll tell Ed.” Zoe raced to the kitchen before Lauren could change her mind.
“Ed’s gone home to fetch AJ,” Zoe announced barely two minutes later. “He says all afternoon might be too much for her, but we could give it a try for an hour or so.”
“Okay,’ Lauren replied, thinking that Ed probably felt the same way she did about the whole notion – dubious.
A little while later, Ed clomped into the café from the front door, carrying AJ’s cage.
“I don’t know about this.” He set the carrier down on the floor.
“Brrt!” Annie trotted over to greet her friend.
“Mew!” AJ poked one paw out of the metal squares, her eyes shining brightly.
“Annie, would you like to show AJ how to help you this afternoon?” Lauren asked.
“You could show her how to seat customers at tables,” Zoe added.
“Brrp.” Annie seemed to be mulling it over.
“You don’t have to, Annie,” Ed told her. “Maybe I should just take AJ home again.”
“Mew!” AJ sounded cross.
“I think AJ wants to stay here with Annie.” Zoe giggled.
“I guess we could try it,” Lauren said. “But we’ll have to make sure the front door is shut at all times. We don’t want AJ getting out on the street.” She knew Annie had enough sense to stay inside the café – apart from the couple of times lately with the drama from Jason’s truck.
“Definitely,” Ed said. “AJ’s microchipped, but I wouldn’t want anything happening to her.”
“I understand.” Lauren nodded.
“Let’s do this!” Zoe opened up the carrier.
“Meow!” AJ jumped out and greeted Annie.
“Brrt.” Annie led the way to her basket, glancing at AJ over her shoulder, as if encouraging the younger cat to follow her.
They watched as Annie indicated to AJ that she could share her basket with her. The two of them cuddled up together, but Annie’s expression was alert as she took in the few occupied tables.
Ms. Tobin stepped into the café.
“Brrt.” Annie hopped out of the basket and trotted over to greet her.
AJ stayed in the basket, her eyes wide. Then she jumped out and ran to Ed. “Mew!”
“Go with Annie,” he told the cat. “Watch what she does.”
AJ emitted a low grumble and joined Annie at the Please Wait to be Seated sign.
“I’m sure AJ will be okay,” Zoe told him.
“All right. I’ll clean up the kitchen before I leave.” Ed clomped into the kitchen, closing the swinging door behind him. AJ ran after him. “Meow!” She was too late – the door shut her out.
“You’re not allowed in there, AJ.” Lauren joined the cat. “Only humans are allowed in the kitchen. But you can stay out here with Annie – and us.”
“Meow!” AJ rapidly blinked, as if trying not to cry. “Meow!”
“Goodness, Lauren, what is going on here?” Ms. Tobin called.
“Annie is training her assistant,” Zoe told her brightly.
“It doesn’t seem to be going too well,” Ms. Tobin tutted as she followed Annie to a small table near the counter. “You might have to put a lot of time into training this cat, Annie.”
“Brrt.”
“It’s AJ.” Zoe came over to Ms. Tobin and Annie. “Do you remember her? Annie found her in the garden and Ed adopted her.”
“Oh, yes.” Ms. Tobin’s expression cleared. “The poor little thing. I’m sure you’ll be very kind and patient with her, Annie, and show her what to do.”
“Brrt.” I’ll try.
“Mew!” AJ scratched at the kitchen door.
“What’s wrong?” Ed stuck his head out, then looked down. “AJ, you’re not allowed in here.” His tone was gentle.
“That’s what I told her,” Lauren said. “But I think she wants you.”
“I wondered if this would be too much for her.” Ed frowned. “Maybe she just wants to play. She’s not like this when she has a play date with Annie, is she?”
“No,” Lauren replied. “The two get along like best friends.”
“AJ, come and see what Annie is doing,” Zoe called out to her.
With a sigh, AJ wandered over to Annie, sitting at Ms. Tobin’s table. Ed went back inside the kitchen.
“Brrt.” Annie hopped off the chair, seeming to encourage her friend to jump onto it.
“Hello, dear.” Ms. Tobin smiled at AJ. “Would you like to sit with me for a little bit?”
“Brrp.” Annie nudged AJ, indicating the chair in front of them.
“Mew!” AJ ran back to the kitchen door. “Meow!” She scratched frantically at the door.
“Maybe she just needs time to become assimilated,” Zoe mused.
“Maybe she just needs to go home.” Lauren knocked on the kitchen door. “Ed, AJ wants you.”
The door opened immediately. Ed bent down and picked up the bundle of brown fur.
“What’s wrong?” He scratched AJ behind the ear. The Maine Coon purred instantly and snuggled into his arms.
“I don’t think this is going to work out,” Lauren said, her eyes a little misty at the sight of the big, gruff man being so gentle with the feline.
“Yeah.” Ed nodded.
“Why don’t you take her home and have the rest of the afternoon off?” Lauren proposed. “Zoe and I can finish cleaning the kitchen.”
“If you’re sure.” He stepped into the café and grabbed the carrier.
“Is AJ going home already?” Zoe sounded disappointed.
“I don’t think AJ’s ready to do this.” Ed sounded certain. “She’s not even one year old. But she can still have play dates with Annie, if Annie wants to.” He glanced over at Annie.
“Brrt.” Yes.