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The next day, Monday, Lauren and Zoe decided to go grocery shopping and check on Mrs. Finch.
“We can tell her what happened at the farmers’ market,” Zoe said. She’d returned from lunch with Chris yesterday in a cheerful mood.
Mitch had called Lauren the previous afternoon apologizing for disappearing. He’d contacted the detective in charge of the case who’d been interested in the photo fragments they’d found.
“I’ll make it up to you,” he promised. “What about dinner Tuesday night?”
“Since most places around the small town were closed Monday, she accepted.
“Hopefully this case will be wrapped up by next weekend,” he’d continued, “so when we go to the farmers’ market again, we can just enjoy ourselves.”
Chug chug, grr grr. The sound dragged Lauren back to the present.
She dropped her spoon at the breakfast table and turned wide eyes to Zoe.
“What?” Zoe put down the slice of whole-wheat toast she was about to bite into. “No way.”
Chug chug, grr grr.
“Brrt?” Annie jumped onto the chair next to Lauren, her green eyes inquiring.
“It can’t possibly be Jason.” Zoe chewed her lip. “He’s dead.”
“Scott said he wasn’t going to continue with the cupcake truck,” Lauren said.
“It’s not Jessica, is it?” Zoe scooted back her chair. “Let’s find out!”
Lauren hurried after her, Annie by her side.
Zoe pulled open the front door and stepped out onto the porch.
“It is the truck!” She pointed at the gleaming pink vehicle parked outside their cottage. The van still had the gold lettering loudly proclaiming Cupcakes.
The engine idled, chugging and grring away.
“Hi!” The serving hatch opened and Scott appeared, smiling at them. He wore jeans with a leather belt and a green t-shirt.
“What – what are you doing here?” Lauren managed.
“Don’t worry,” he said easily, “I’m not here to sell cupcakes. I thought I’d take this thing for one more spin before I sell her.”
“You’ve got a buyer?” Zoe asked, her eyes round.
“Nope. I’m going to take her to a dealer and get the best price I can. I was going there this morning, then I thought it wouldn’t hurt to visit this place one more time. Jason raved about it.”
“You mean he raved about stealing our customers.” Zoe’s eyes narrowed.
“Not at all.” Scott shook his head. “What he did with setting up shop here wasn’t great, but he genuinely seemed to like this place. He said it had a cool vibe, and it was almost as good as being in Sacramento.”
“What do you mean, almost?” Zoe’s eyes narrowed even further, until she squinted like a pirate.
“Hey, don’t get mad.” Scott held up his hands.
“It’s nice to see you,” Lauren said.
“Want to check out this rig?” Scott asked. “Hey, are you two in the market for a truck like this? You could sell your cupcakes anywhere!”
“Not at the moment,” Lauren replied, thinking of her finances.
“That thing probably costs a lot,” Zoe added. “But, it would be cool one day to go on the road and spread cupcake joy everywhere.”
“Brrt!” Annie agreed.
“I could give you a good deal,” Scott continued. “And it would save me having to drive all the way to the dealership and haggle with them. I won’t rip you off, I promise.”
“Well, if you put it that way ...” Zoe ran down the steps.
“Zoe—” Lauren shook her head. They hadn’t discussed anything like this. Who would look after the café while they plied their wares somewhere else? What about permits? She certainly didn’t want to butt in on someone else’s business the way Jason had with theirs. And if one of them was out on the road, how would the other cope with a busy café on their own, even if Annie helped them?
“Brrt,” Annie said, brushing against her leg.
“Do you want to take a look?” She picked up Annie. “We’d better stop Zoe before she agrees to buy it in the very next second.”
“Brrt!”
Lauren carried Annie over to the truck.
“Come inside, Lauren!” Zoe beckoned to her from the interior of the serving hatch. The engine was now silent – Scott must have turned it off.
The memory of finding Jason’s body in there caused Lauren to hesitate. Hadn’t her cousin felt the same way just now? If Zoe had, she certainly wasn’t showing it.
“I think I’m good right here.” Lauren stood at the rear door of the truck, which was open.
“But this set up is so cute!” Zoe grinned at her. “Look, there’s a small refrigerator, and there’s drawers and tiny cupboards. You could practically live in this thing!”
“Zoe’s correct.” Scott appeared inside the rear door, right in front of Lauren. “Why don’t you and Annie come inside and check it out? No sales pitch, I promise.”
“I’m certainly not in the market to buy any type of vehicle,” Lauren said, before allowing curiosity to get the better of her.
“I totally understand.” He smiled at her.
Wondering if she was doing the right thing, Lauren entered the truck.
The faint scent of Jessica’s rose perfume flashed her back to the moment she’d seen Jason’s body lying on the floor. Her stomach jittered. Annie tensed in her arms.
“I need to go outside and get some air,” she muttered to Zoe, turning around to exit.
“That won’t be happening.” Scott stood in front of the rear door, barring her from leaving.
“Uh-oh,” Zoe whispered. “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
“Now you think that?”
“Brrt!”
“I just can’t afford to buy anything like this, Scott,” Lauren said, pretending to misunderstand his meaning.
“Who cares about this stupid truck?” Scott stalked toward her and Annie. Zoe stood behind her, so close she could feel her cousin’s sharp inhale of breath.
“Umm, you do?” Zoe offered.
“The sooner I dump this truck the better. I’m going to college and I’m going to be an environmental consultant and make the world a better place.” His voice was fierce.
“Don’t let us stop you.” Lauren took a deep breath and stepped toward him. “We have to get going to the grocery store, anyway.”
“Yeah.” Zoe was right beside her. “It’s our day off.”
“I know.” Scott smiled, and it wasn’t a nice smile. “That’s why I came here today. No witnesses.”
“I knew it!” Zoe pointed her finger at him. “You did it! You killed Jason!”
“Zoe,” Lauren hissed. It might not be the best time to accuse him of murder.
“Yeah, but he pushed me to do it. And I thought I’d totally gotten away with it. Until I bumped into you yesterday at the farmers’ market.”
“But how did you know I picked up your piece of torn up photo?” Zoe asked.
“I put my hand in my pocket to see if I had any loose change, because Jessica wanted me to buy her some daisies, and that’s when I felt one of the scraps of photos in my pocket. I turned around to check I hadn’t dropped any, and I saw you showing something to your friends. What else could it have been?” He scowled.
“But why would you carry a torn-up photo in your pocket?” Lauren asked.
“Brrt.” Yes.
“I forgot about it,” Scott admitted. “See, I have three pairs of the same jeans I wear all the time and five different t-shirts. I rotate them. After – Jason – I got drunk and slept it off. When I woke up, I thought I must have gotten rid of those photo scraps. Besides, what can they prove? That I took a photo of Jason and tore it up? So what?”
“That’s what Chris said,” Zoe muttered.
“Then Jessica called and asked me to take her to the farmers’ market. Of course I wasn’t going to refuse. Jessica’s a great girl – except she seems to think I have money.”
“But you won the lottery,” Lauren said.
“Yeah, but we didn’t win that much money. Jason and I went halves in the ticket, but Jason was the one in charge of it, and he’s the one who collected the money. He kept saying he’d give me my half, but it never happened.” Scott shook his head.
“Anyway, just before we bought a lottery ticket, I came up with this cupcake truck idea. It was a joke. But Jason had dated a woman from around here, who kept raving about your cupcakes. He decided we should operate a cupcake truck and make the cakes from box mixes and put any old stuff in them—”
Lauren’s eyes widened.
“—and the ladies would buy them because Jason has – had – that special appeal to the ladies.”
“Not these ladies,” Zoe told him.
“Brrt!”
“Will you stop interrupting?” Scott glared at them. “So Jason borrowed money off my Mom to buy this piece of junk.” Scott waved his hand around the interior. “Without clearing it with me first. I couldn’t believe it! Mom—” his voice broke “—Mom beat cancer and had returned to work not long before he asked for the money. Mom’s always had a soft spot for him – we’ve been friend since kindergarten, and he’s always at our house. He promised to pay her back, said his idea was gold, and we’d make a fortune.”
“Then what happened?” Lauren asked, unable to help herself.
“We won the lottery. Jason kept telling me he’d pay back Mom, and give me my share of the winnings, but he also kept saying he was busy selling cupcakes, and didn’t realize how long they’d take to make, even using a mix. Then he had to drive out here, which is an hour from Sacramento—”
“We know.” Zoe nodded.
“Now Mom needs the money for some more tests. She – we – thought she’d beaten it, but she’s found another lump and she’s worried ...” his voice trailed off and he looked miserable, certainly not like a killer.
“I’m sorry.” Lauren meant it.
“I dropped out of college to look after her the first time,” Scott told them. “I hadn’t been doing well, anyway – too much partying – so it made sense to take a break. Besides, Mom needed me. Dad works hard six days per week to provide.” He cleared his throat. “Jason told me he’d paid back Mom, but it was a lie. Mom told me she hadn’t received a penny from him.” His eyes flashed with anger. “I couldn’t believe he’d taken advantage of Mom like that – he knew she’d been sick. I confronted him that morning and told him he’d better pay Mom back that day and give me my share of the lottery money.”
“What did he do?” Zoe asked.
“He laughed! Can you believe that?” Scott’s face twisted. “He said he’d pay up when he was good and ready. I tore up the photo I’d taken of him with the instant camera and threw it in his face, telling him our friendship was over. That made him laugh even harder. So I grabbed the tire wrench and hit him over the head. He wasn’t laughing after that,” Scott said with remembered satisfaction.
“But why did you have a tire wrench here?” Zoe waved her hand to indicate the cupboards and small refrigerator.
“I told him we needed one, just in case we ever got a flat. So he bought one the day before, but just chucked it in the back here.” He laughed without any humor. “I made sure to wipe my prints off it – after – after.”
Lauren shivered.
“I picked up all the pieces of the photo and shoved them in my pocket. Then I got out of here. Jason wanted to get here super early that day. He thought you opened too late at nine-thirty and he’d sell tons of cupcakes to people who didn’t want to wait until then.”
“How did you get back to Sacramento?” Zoe asked.
“I hitched a ride in the back of a truck. They didn’t even know I was lying down in the rear. When they reached the city, I got out when they parked. I don’t think anybody saw me.”
“Huh,” Zoe said. “But you missed one piece of the photo.”
“That’s right.” Lauren nodded. “One of us – or Jessica – tramped it into the café on our shoe. Annie found it.”
“We didn’t realize the significance of it until yesterday, when I picked up the fragment at the farmers’ market,” Zoe said. “The two fitted together and we could see it was a photo of this truck.”
“And some of Jason’s hair,” Lauren added.
“If only you hadn’t picked up that piece of photo,” Scott said sorrowfully. “Then I wouldn’t have to kill you.”
“The police have the photo fragments,” Lauren said quickly.
“Yeah! If you kill us, the police will know you did it,” Zoe told him.
“You’re bluffing.” Scott advanced toward them. “Because otherwise, why isn’t that detective knocking on my door right now?”
“Because he doesn’t know you’re here?” Lauren offered.
“How do you know he’s not at your house right now in Sacramento?” Zoe challenged him.
“Arrgh!” Scott slapped his hand to his forehead. “Stop talking! Here’s what we’re gonna do. You’ll drive the truck.” He pointed to Lauren. “And you’ll ride shotgun.” He pointed to Zoe.
“And what are you going to do?” Zoe asked.
“I’m going to stand behind you and make sure you two don’t try any funny business.”
“Brrt!” Annie sounded indignant at being overlooked.
“Three,” Scott amended. “Don’t worry about your cat. I’ll give her to Jessica after this is over. She rarely talks about anything else since she met her – unless it’s all the stuff she wants me to buy her – Jessica, I mean.” His glaze slid towards Annie. “Unless she’ll want me to buy stuff for the cat as well. Oh, jeez.”
“Why don’t you give yourself up now?” Lauren asked as gently as she could.
“Yeah,” Zoe seemed to copy Lauren’s tone, although it wasn’t quite as soft. “I’m sure the police will understand – Jason was a piece of work.”
“He was my friend.” Scott glared at her. “Until – until—”
“We understand.” Lauren made her voice as soothing as possible.
“Why don’t we go into the café and make you an awesome latte?” Zoe proposed. “We’ll even put a peacock on top of it.”
“You girls are good. No wonder you have so many customers. But it’s too late. I can’t let you two –” he glanced at Annie “—three – go. I’m in too deep now.”
“Where are we driving to?” Lauren asked.
“Somewhere deserted,” he replied. “Unfortunately, there isn’t another tire wrench and I don’t have a gun, so I’ll just have to strangle you with my bare hands. I’ll make sure the cat doesn’t see me do it.”
Lauren shared a stricken glance with Zoe – eek!
“Purrr. Purrr. Purrr.” Annie growled the sound, her fur rising.
“Why is your cat making that noise?” Scott frowned at Annie.
“Because she’s scared,” Lauren stroked Annie, who was still in her arms.
“Yeah. She’s just heard you say you’re going to kill us,” Zoe said indignantly. “How do you think she’s going to react?”
“The sooner this is over the better.” He pointed at Lauren. “Get in the driver’s seat.”
“Why can’t I drive?” Zoe asked. “Annie likes being held by Lauren. How is she going to drive while holding Annie?”
“Okay.” Scott furrowed his brow. “But this better not be a trick.” He pointed at Zoe. “You drive. Can you drive a stick?”
“Can I drive a stick?” Zoe’s eyebrow raised in disbelief. “Who do you think you’re talking to? Of course I can drive a stick.”
“Good,” Scott said in obvious relief. He unbuckled his belt and wrapped it around his wrist, pulling one end out with his other hand and stretching it tight. “No funny business or else.” He held up the belt in a menacing fashion.
Lauren sucked in a breath. Her heart hammering, she slid into the passenger seat. She hoped Zoe had a plan. Or Annie. She glanced at the passenger door. It was the only thing she could think of. It didn’t appear to be locked. She didn’t have her phone on her, so she couldn’t surreptitiously call Mitch – if Scott’s eagle gaze left her alone for a couple of seconds.
Zoe tapped her arm. “Here we go,” she whispered. Her gaze cut to the shift stick, then Lauren’s door, then her own door.
Lauren gave the slightest nod.
“Hurry up!” Scott barked.
Zoe turned on the ignition. Chug chug, grr grr.
“You’d better buckle up,” Scott ordered. “I don’t want to get pulled over because you’re not obeying the road rules.”
“Okay,” Zoe said. “I’m putting my seatbelt on right now.” But instead of reaching for it, she quickly clunked the gear, causing the truck to lurch forward.
“Now!” Zoe shouted, opening the driver’s door.
Lauren opened her own door, jumping out while holding Annie. Maybe she didn’t need to investigate fitness classes after all. She flew toward the cottage, Zoe right beside her.
“Brrt!” Hurry!
“Come back!” Scott pounded after them.
Zoe wrenched open the front door of the cottage. Lauren hadn’t locked it since she thought she would only be in the truck for a minute.
Lauren placed Annie on the ground. “Call Mitch,” she urged.
“Brrt!” Annie raced to the living room, where Lauren had left her phone the night before.
Lauren helped Zoe bolt the door. They dragged a side table over to barricade themselves in.
“Is the back door locked?” Lauren asked her cousin.
“I’ll check!” Zoe ran to the other end of the house. “Yes!” she called.
“Brrt, brrt,” Lauren heard Annie say in a loud voice.
Furious pounding on the front door made her jump.
“I know you’re in there,” Scott’s voice boomed. “You can’t get away from me!”
“Annie?” Lauren heard Mitch’s voice crackle from the living room. “What’s wrong?”
“Brrt, brrt, brrt!” Annie said urgently.
“Mitch!” Lauren ran into the living room, grabbed the phone from the coffee table, and threw Annie a grateful look. “We need the police right now. Scott’s the killer and he’s—”
“He’s at the back door now!” Zoe shouted from the kitchen.
“I’m on my way! Stay on the line,” Mitch ordered.
“Okay.”
Lauren and Annie joined Zoe in the kitchen. Scott pounded on the back door.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
“Quick! Let’s drag the table over to the door.” Lauren pulled at the heavy pine kitchen table.
Zoe joined her and they managed to shove it against the back of the door.
Zoe picked up the clay ashtray and dumped the house keys out of it.
“What are you doing?” Lauren asked.
“Scott’s going to be sorry he threatened to kill us.” A militant gleam appeared in Zoe’s brown eyes. She hefted the piece of pottery, and walked to the window closest to the back door.
“Zoe!” Lauren’s eyes widened. “What if you maim him?”
“He’s trying to kill us, so fair’s fair.”
“You won’t get away from me!” Scott’s menacing voice sounded from the back door.
“Purrr. Purrr. Purrr.” Annie growled the sound, her fur rising as she stood next to Lauren, her gaze focused on the back door.
“Oh, yeah?” Zoe opened the window by a couple of inches.
“The police are on their way,” Lauren shouted.
“They won’t get here fast enough.” Scott banged on the back door.
“But this will!” Zoe threw the ashtray out of the window.
There was a thud.
“Ow!” A scream of pain. “You got me!”
“This is the second time my ashtray came in handy,” Zoe said with satisfaction, turning to Lauren. She shut the window with a little bang.
“Ow,” Scott whimpered from outside. “That really hurt.”
“I’ve got another one,” Zoe threatened in a loud voice. “If you don’t leave right now, I’ll aim the second one at your head!”
Sirens blared.
“Thank goodness.” Relief swept through Lauren.
Mitch appeared at the back window. Lauren watched with admiration as he efficiently cuffed Scott and read him his rights. Two uniformed officers joined him and marched Scott around the corner of the yard.
“It’s safe to unlock the door,” Mitch told them.
Lauren turned the key with a click and let him in.
“Brrt!” Annie stood up straight and proud, waving her plumy tail at him.
“Thank you for calling me, Annie,” Mitch said gravely. “It was very clever of you.”
“Brrt.” Thank you.
Lauren rushed into his arms for a brief second.
“Are you okay?” He scanned her expression.
“I’m fine,” she replied a little shakily.
“I can’t believe I just talked to a cat like that.” Mitch passed a hand over his face. “And on the phone.”
“Not just any cat,” Lauren reminded him with a little smile.
“No,” he agreed. Turning to Zoe, he asked, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Zoe told him breezily. “My aim was pretty good, don’t you think? Where did I hit him?”
“In the chest,” Mitch said. “If the department ever has a baseball team, I’ll ask them if you can play.”
“Deal.” Zoe grinned at him.
“What about the second ashtray you threatened Scott with?” Lauren asked her cousin. “I’ve never seen it.”
“That was the first one I made in pottery class,” Zoe explained. “It looked so horrible I didn’t show it to anyone and hid it in my closet. It’s a shame it didn’t come in handy today. Maybe I can use it next time.”
“Hopefully there won’t be a next time,” Lauren said with feeling.
“Brrt!”