| |
“What?” Lauren gasped.
“What?” Zoe’s mouth fell open.
“Brrt??” Annie demanded from her basket.
“You two found him. That means you did it. Isn’t it usually the killer who pretends to find the victim?” Kyle scowled at them.
“Not all the time.” Zoe recovered. “We’ve found dead bodies before. And we didn’t kill any of them!”
“Zoe!”
“Are you okay?” Ed poked his head out of the kitchen swinging door. He frowned at Kyle.
“Yeah, we’re okay,” Zoe told him.
He looked at them doubtfully. “Call me if you need help.”
“We will,” Lauren told him. “Thanks.”
The kitchen door swung shut.
“I’m sorry about your brother,” Lauren said to Kyle. “Truly.” Although she hadn’t cared for the little she’d known of Jay, his death must be devastating for Kyle.
“But ...” Lauren’s sympathy seemed to mollify him a little. “... if you didn’t kill him, who did?”
“I’m sure Mitch will find the killer,” Lauren said. “If he was murdered, and it wasn’t some kind of accident.”
“A stab to the stomach doesn’t seem like an accident.” His eyebrows drew together, making him look forbidding.
“Did Mitch tell you that?” Zoe enquired.
“Of course. I’m the next of kin. And I saw the ... blood.”
“What about your mom?”
“She’s next of kin too, but Jay and I lived together. Mom’s in assisted living.”
“Can we make you a latte or cappuccino?” Lauren indicated the coffee machine. “On the house.”
“Or a mocha, espresso, Americano, hot chocolate, hot tea?” Zoe ran through their offerings.
“No, thanks.” Kyle took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I blew up at you. Jay was a big part of my life. I don’t know what I’m going to do without him.”
He just stood there, sunk in thought.
“What about Father Mike?” He snapped his head up. “Do you think he knows anything?”
“Why would he?” Lauren was taken aback. “He wasn’t there.”
“Yeah, we were the only ones at the theater, apart from ... Jay,” Zoe told him. “Father Mike was at home because I called him after Mitch got there, and told him not to come because of what had happened.”
“But was he really at home or did he just say he was at home?” Kyle narrowed his eyes. “Did you call him on his cell or landline?”
“Cell,” Zoe admitted after a small pause.
“Father Mike wouldn’t hurt a fly,” Lauren protested. “He does a lot of good for the community.”
“Yeah, everyone loves him.” Zoe narrowed her own eyes as she stared at Kyle.
“I think you should talk to Mitch if you have any concerns,” Lauren told him. “He’s in charge of the case.”
“That’s right.” Zoe nodded. “Mitch is doing the investigating.” Lauren hoped only she heard her cousin mutter under her breath, “And if he doesn’t catch the killer, we will.”
***
“I CAN’T BELIEVE HIS nerve,” Zoe grumbled an hour later. “Honestly – do we look like killers?”
“Brrt.” Annie tilted her head to the left as if she were shaking it no.
“Thanks, Annie.” Zoe smiled down at her. “You always know what to say.”
“And I don’t?” Lauren asked wryly.
The confrontation with Kyle had shaken her. Unfortunately, it was a slow morning so far, without a lot of customers to focus on.
“I can’t believe he tried to accuse Father Mike.” Zoe frowned. “We’ll have to tell him.”
“Why?”
“To warn him. What if Kyle bangs on his door and accuses him of being a killer? Father Mike shouldn’t have to deal with that.”
“You’re right. I’ll call Mitch now and let him know.”
“And I’ll call Father Mike. I should have done it as soon as Kyle left but ...” Zoe trailed off. “I was still processing it all.”
“I hear you.”
First, they’d stumbled upon Jay’s body yesterday, and this morning his brother accused them of murder. It was a lot to deal with.
Lauren quickly told Mitch what had transpired while Zoe called Father Mike.
“Mitch is going to talk to Kyle,” she told her cousin when they both finished their calls.
“Good.” Zoe nodded. “Poor Father Mike sounded a little worried.”
“Hopefully Mitch will catch up with Kyle before he decides to go over to the church.”
“He’d better.” Zoe sounded fierce.
The rest of the morning passed a lot more pleasantly. Mrs. Finch came in, as well as Martha.
“Now all we need is Hans to stop by.”
“Don’t forget Claire and little Molly,” Lauren added.
“Brrt!” Annie’s ears pricked up at the mention of three of her favorite customers.
To Annie’s disappointment, Hans, Claire, and Molly didn’t visit that morning.
“Mitch just texted me.” Lauren showed Zoe the phone a little later. “He’s warned Kyle not to approach Father Mike.”
“Good.” Zoe nodded, her pixie bangs bouncing against her forehead. “One less thing to worry about.”
“What else is there?”
“Finding out who did it, of course.” Zoe looked at her sideways. “You were here when Kyle roared in accusing us, weren’t you?”
“I’m sure Mitch will find the murderer.”
“But if he doesn’t, we can start sleuthing.” Excitement flickered across Zoe’s face.
“Do you really think that’s wise?”
Zoe was always the more enthusiastic of them when it came to sleuthing, or as Lauren tended to think of it, snooping, or being nosy.
“I don’t want anyone else to accuse us of Jay’s death. Do you?”
“No.”
“And I’m sure Annie will want to help.”
“Brrt?” Annie trotted toward them, her ears pricked and her green eyes shining with curiosity.
There were only a few customers in the café at the moment, and none of them sitting near the counter. Lauren thought that might change in thirty minutes, when the lunch rush usually started.
“Not here,” Lauren admonished, flicking a warning glance at the seated customers.
“They won’t be able to hear me,” Zoe protested.
“You’ll have to whisper.” Lauren didn’t want to take any chances.
“Annie,” Zoe said in an exaggerated whisper as she bent down to the cat, “do you want to help us do some sleuthing and find out who killed Jay?”
“Brrt!” Yes!
***
ONCE AGAIN, LAUREN was outvoted when it came to the matter of investigating a murder.
After the lunch rush, the café had emptied until it was only the three of them.
“I think we should give Mitch a chance to catch the killer first,” she told Zoe and Annie.
Mitch was a good detective, and she didn’t like interfering in his work. But she also didn’t want their friends and customers, as well as Kyle, to think that she and Zoe had something to do with Jay’s death.
“Oh, all right,” Zoe grumbled. “I guess we can give him a couple of days.”
“How generous.” Lauren frowned at her cousin.
“Fine.” Zoe’s expression lifted a little. “You’re right. Mitch does know what he’s doing – I guess. It’s just that I don’t like a killer running around Gold Leaf Valley.”
“Neither do I.”
“Brrt!”
“So if we can’t do some sleuthing right away, what can we do instead?”
“Get ready for Christmas?” Lauren suggested.
Their plans were still undecided. She hoped she and Mitch would spend the day together, but he wasn’t sure if he would be on duty. And Zoe hadn’t determined whether to visit her family in Sacramento over the holidays, or spend time with Chris – if he wasn’t working.
“I’ve got your present.” Zoe grinned. “Yours too, Annie.”
“Brrt!” Thank you.
“And I’ve got both of yours,” Lauren replied.
“We can always grab a turkey from the grocery store,” Zoe said.
“If they haven’t sold out by Christmas Eve,” Lauren warned her.
Zoe shrugged. “We don’t really know what we’re doing though, do we? So let’s just wing it.”
Sometimes, winging it seemed to be Zoe’s specialty.
“I know!” Zoe snapped her fingers. “We can go sofa shopping.”
“Brrt?” Annie asked.
“Remember you suggested we buy a bigger sofa?” Zoe prompted Lauren. “And we haven’t done anything about it.”
“You’re right.” Lauren nodded. “But we’ve been busy.”
“I know. But now might be the perfect time to go shopping!”
“The stores might be open later because it’s Christmas time,” Lauren mused.
“Exactly! In fact, I saw an ad last night on TV about a furniture store in Sacramento staying open in the evenings, and they deliver!”
“Are they having a sale?” Lauren asked hopefully. Price-matching sofas had slipped her mind, but Zoe was right. When Mitch and Chris came over to the cottage and they all watched a movie together, there wasn’t enough room for all of them on the couch.
“Probably,” Zoe said breezily. “I’ll pay half the costs.” She crossed to the tip jar next to the register and shook the coins onto the counter. There were a couple of bills stuffed in the glass jar as well.
“Ooh – fifteen dollars for me, and fifteen for Ed. Hey, what about instead of buying a sofa big enough for all four—” Zoe glanced down at Annie “—five of us, we buy a two-seater instead? It will be cheaper, and that way you, Mitch, and Annie could hang out on the couch we have now, and Chris and I could sit together on the other one.”
“You mean you get to sit on the new sofa and I get to sit on the old one?” Lauren asked wryly.
“Yeah.” The word oops flittered across her expression. “I mean—”
“It’s okay. In fact, that might work better than the five us on one huge couch – if another sofa can fit in the living room.”
“And we can all see the TV,” Zoe added.
“Brrt!”
“Maybe we should take some measurements,” Lauren suggested.
“And then we could go after work today!” Zoe’s brown eyes lit up.
***
SINCE THE REST OF THE afternoon had been quiet, Zoe persuaded Lauren to close fifteen minutes early. During the lull, Zoe had zipped back to the cottage, and measured the living room.
Now, as they stacked the chairs on the tables, Zoe told her what she’d discovered.
“If we move the current couch a little to the right, and the coffee table a little to the left, we should be able to squeeze in a new sofa.”
“How much squeezing?” Lauren asked. The last thing she wanted to do was buy a sofa that wasn’t going to fit in the space she had.
“Not much.” Zoe flapped her hand in the air. “I’m sure it won’t look a total squish. And you know what? I’m thinking we should buy another coffee table as well.”
“What?”
“It makes sense,” Zoe told her earnestly. “Two sofas and one coffee table in the middle – how is anyone going to reach from their seat and grab their mug or phone? You’d have to get up, take a step forward, and then pick up what you wanted. But if we had a coffee table in front of each couch ...”
“I hear you.” Lauren nodded. She just hoped her checkbook did as well.
“I’ll go halves on the coffee table as well,” Zoe said brightly.
“Good.” Lauren didn’t want to know what her bank balance would look like after their shopping foray today.
They finished cleaning the café, then followed Annie down the private hallway that led to the cottage kitchen.
Lauren spooned some chicken in gravy into Annie’s bowl, then sat down at the kitchen table for a second, before rising.
“You’d better show me your measurements,” she told Zoe as she headed to the living room.
Zoe had already shoved the blue sofa to the right.
“See?” She indicated the little space she’d made. “I’m sure we can fit a two-seater in here.”
“Can we find the same shade of blue?” Lauren asked. “I don’t think we should get a total mishmash of colors happening in here.”
“Of course not,” Zoe agreed. “I know! We could get slip covers made for both couches if we can’t find the right color tonight.”
“That’s a good idea. But how much is that going to cost? We’re already buying a sofa and coffee table. And it’s not as if either of us could make them.”
Lauren had finally finished a two-tone tea cozy, but hadn’t been game to use it in the café, as she didn’t think it looked very good. After her struggle with changing colors – she now suspected that some of the color changes were falling apart – and following a pattern that had been marked ‘easy’ but had proven a little challenging for her beginner knitting skills – she had decided to take a short break.
Zoe was not known for her sewing, and neither was Lauren. In fact, Zoe usually shuddered when the word ‘sewing’ was mentioned.
“Maybe Mrs. Finch could make them,” Zoe suggested hopefully.
“Do you really think Mrs. Finch is up to a big sewing project like that?” Lauren looked at her. Although their friend was experienced in handcrafts, she didn’t think it fair to ask her to take on such a project.
“Probably not,” Zoe admitted. “But maybe she knows someone who could do it, and would charge us a fair price.”
“What about the clerk at the handmade shop?” Lauren suggested.
“Yes!” Zoe’s eyes sparkled. “I’m sure she would have some recommendations.”
Zoe talked about the potential slip covers during the drive to Sacramento. Annie had stayed behind in the cottage, saying hello to her friend Toby on a video play date.
“It’s going to be so much fun choosing the right color. Something that goes with the décor we already have.”
“And not too loud,” Lauren said. “And Annie approved.”
“Of course.” Zoe nodded. “Not too pale either, so dirt doesn’t show up so quickly.”
“And easy to wash,” Lauren added.
By the time they arrived at the furniture store, she was sure they’d be able to agree easily on the perfect sofa.
***
“THIS ONE!” ZOE ZOOMED to a plaid sofa with curved arms. “No, this one!” She raced over to a gold and cream striped sofa that looked like it should belong in a posh castle.
“That is beautiful.” Lauren hurried after her cousin and admired the elegant creation.
The store was crowded with evening shoppers. The TV ads must have been very effective.
Lauren fingered the price tag and gasped. Three thousand dollars. No wonder it looked like it belonged to the aristocracy.
Zoe plopped down onto the satin upholstery and leaned back.
“Mmm.” She closed her eyes and wiggled into the sofa.
“Zoe, get up. We can’t afford it!”
Zoe slowly opened her eyes.
“We can’t?” She frowned.
“No.” Lauren showed her the price tag.
Zoe jumped up, shock flashing across her face. “Why didn’t you tell me that before?”
Lauren just shook her head
“Hey, there.” A man with gelled back hair came up to them. “Can I help you two find something?”
“Something like this.” Zoe pointed to the gold and cream sofa she’d just tried out. “But much cheaper. Just as comfy, though.”
“I can sign you two up for our super easy payment plan. Just one hundred down and minimum monthly payments. Spend the rest of your life in comfort.” He flashed them a smile.
“No, thanks,” they chorused.
The salesman eyed them, then heaved a sigh. “Then you’d better follow me.”
They trailed after him as he led them through a maze of sectionals, coffee tables, and recliners, until he came to an area of the store that Lauren hadn’t noticed before.
“Here you go.” He pointed to plain colored couches and armchairs, interspersed with coffee tables. “Let me know if you find anything you like.” He gazed past them, in the direction of the elegant sofa. “Gotta go and help that customer.”
Lauren watched him dart back to the expensive section, where a well-to-do woman browsed.
“I’m sure these couches are just as good,” Zoe said determinedly. She flopped down on a tan one. “Ow! There’s a spring sticking up somewhere under the fabric.” She jumped up and glared at the offending cushion seat.
“What about this one?” Lauren wandered over to a pale (but not too pale) pink two-seater. It looked quite nice and in a similar style to their blue couch. But if they were going to order slip covers, did it matter what color they chose?
She sat down carefully. Comfortable. Relaxing back into the seat, she reached over for the price tag. And blanched.
“Are you sure they’re having a sale?” she asked Zoe.
“Well, I thought they might be,” Zoe admitted. She sank down next to Lauren. “This feels nice.” She wiggled. “Yeah.”
“The price isn’t. It costs four hundred dollars!”
“I’m paying half, remember? And it’s not three thousand.”
“But we still have to buy a coffee table.”
“Now we’ve decided on this one, we can choose a coffee table together.” Zoe jumped up.
“Do you think this sofa will fit in the living room?” Lauren dug out the tape measure from her purse. “Help me?”
“Okay.” Zoe held one end of the tape and Lauren the other as they measured the back of the sofa. “Yes, it will totally—” she suddenly dropped the measure, ran around the sofa, and disappeared from view. “Hide!”
“What?” Lauren whirled around but didn’t see anyone they knew. “Zoe?”
“Quick!” Zoe whispered urgently.
Lauren obeyed, dropping down on the carpet next to her, the couch shielding them.
“What is going on?”
“Mrs. Wagner. Over there.”
“Where?” Lauren half rose.
“No! She’ll see us!” Zoe tugged her back down.
“So?” Lauren crinkled her brow.
“What is she doing here? I just saw her talking with a salesman. And not in this cheap section. In a more expensive section.”
“You think this furniture is cheap?” Lauren shook her head, then focused on the rest of Zoe’s words. “How could she see us if she’s not close by?”
“Because she has eyes like an eagle,” Zoe muttered. “She was always noticing something wrong with the costumes for the play. I bet if she turned her head slightly, she would have seen us.”
“And that’s bad because ...?”
“Because she has no money! So what is she doing in a furniture store?”
“Maybe she’s with a friend,” Lauren suggested.
“Nope. There was no one with her.”
“Maybe she’s window shopping.”
“Then why come inside?”
“Maybe she wants to sign up for their payment plan.” Lauren was running out of ideas.
“And pay tons of interest?”
“We don’t know for sure there’ll be a ton of interest.” Lauren tried to be fair. “But I thought it best to say no and only buy what we could afford – or what we thought we could afford.”
“Me too.” Zoe grinned. Then sobered. “So what is Mrs. Wagner doing here?”
“Why don’t we ask her?”
“What if she murdered Jay?”
“Do you really think she could have done such a thing?” Lauren stared at her.
“Someone had to. And we know she was mad at him because he destroyed her expensive, rare, rose bush.”
“True.”
“And she had to save up for it.”
“Also true.”
“And she hasn’t been able to find a replacement.”
“Triple true. But what has being in this store got to do with killing Jay?” Lauren frowned. “It’s not as if Jay had a wad of cash on him, she killed him, and stole his money.”
“Isn’t it?”
“I think Mitch would have told me – us – if there had been a large sum of money missing from Jay’s wallet. Surely Kyle would have known if there had been?”
“I guess you’re right,” Zoe replied after a moment. “And Jay always seemed to be short of cash. Remember at dress rehearsal when he told Kyle he couldn’t pay for his share of the groceries? He was going to ask his mom for a loan.”
“I know.” Lauren had thought it seemed a little immature since he had a job, although she didn’t know what he did.
“But if Mrs. Wagner has no money, then why is she shopping for furniture?” Zoe half rose and peered above the back of the sofa. “I can’t see her.”
“Good.” She was tired of crouching down. Maybe Mrs. Wagner hadn’t spotted them, but what about the people browsing behind them? Had they even noticed their antics? Lauren was glad a sales clerk hadn’t demanded to know what they were doing.
She stood and turned around. No one giggling or staring at her sideways. Good.
“Now we have to look for coffee tables. Come on!”
***
THEY DIDN’T SEE MRS. Wagner again. After Zoe haggled a little with the same hair-gelled salesman, they bought a simple oak coffee table, and the pink sofa they’d agreed on. They were promised delivery before Christmas Eve.
“Now all we have to do is decide on a color for the slip covers,” Zoe declared as they drove home.
“I think Annie will like the sofa before we get it covered, anyway,” Lauren said. “She likes pink.”
“Just like us.” Zoe grinned. “Hey! We could just order pink covers and recover the old blue sofa with them. The new couch won’t need covering.”
“Good idea.” Lauren nodded. They’d had the blue couch for a while and it was starting to look a little shabby. And two pink sofas would look good together.