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The next day, Trixie accompanied Maddie and Suzanne to work. To Maddie’s relief, their usual morning crowd was there, albeit a bit thinner than usual.
But apparently, joggers weren’t fussy who they bought their bottles of water from. Sweaty, panting runners seemed happy to hand over their money for some cold water, as they staggered over the green lawn of the town square to prop themselves up on the counter of Brewed from the Bean.
“It’s been good so far,” Suzanne said during their first lull. “I know we’re down by a few customers, but considering that newspaper article—”
“I know.” Maddie sighed.
“But at least it gives us a chance to interrogate Claudine.” A dangerous gleam appeared in Suzanne’s eyes. “I think we should go over there right now.”
“Mrrow.” Trixie seemed to agree.
Maddie gazed around the truck. Trixie sat up straight on her stool, looking interested in what she and Suzanne were discussing. There were no potential customers outside. Her friend was right – now was probably the perfect time to question their first suspect.
“Okay. Let’s do it.”
Maddie locked the truck, making sure the window was open for Trixie. “We won’t be long, Trix.”
The feline stretched out on the stool and yawned, looking like she was getting ready for a snooze.
“Lucky her,” Suzanne said with a smile. “Sometimes I wish I could have a nap whenever I wanted to.”
“Me too,” Maddie replied with feeling. She usually got up at 6.30 a.m. on workdays. Sunday was the only day she got to sleep late. What would it be like to be a cat and relax whenever you felt like it?
“I’ll have to make a batch of health balls later,” Suzanne remarked as they walked across the town square toward Claudine’s coffee shop. “I didn’t get up early today and make some before we opened.” She looked guilty at her confession.
“No worries.” Maddie smiled at her friend. “You know I don’t expect you to go above and beyond to make them.”
“I know, but—” Suzanne sighed, “—now I’m used to the extra profit they’ve been giving us.”
“Me too,” Maddie said ruefully. If this morning’s custom set a new precedent for their business, did that mean they’d have to pay themselves a slightly lower wage every week?
Ever since Suzanne had come up with the idea of making health balls last month, they’d been making a respectable profit on them every day. It had also been her idea in the beginning to sell bottled water to early morning joggers. It was amazing how many exercise enthusiasts didn’t carry water on them and were happy to pay for it.
They reached Claudine’s café and looked at each other.
“Let’s go in together.” Maddie took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
They walked side by side into the café, noting that it was just under half full. Maddie recognized some of her customers, who looked a little embarrassed at being caught in there. Not many people in Estherville seemed to like Claudine’s coffee, so why was she still in business? It was a mystery Maddie had often pondered ever since she’d quit working for the older woman.
“There’s Mrs. Jones,” Suzanne murmured as they made their way to the counter. “And Mr. Dunbabbin.”
“It’s a free country,” Maddie said mildly, although she was disappointed that two of their regular customers were now patronizing Claudine’s café.
Suzanne didn’t answer, letting the frown on her face speak for her.
“Maddie and Suzanne.” Claudine’s whining nasal voice went straight through Maddie’s ears and she suppressed a wince.
“Claudine,” Suzanne coolly greeted the older woman.
“What can I do for you?” Claudine smirked. “Some coffee?” She gestured to the occupied tables. “You might have to wait a few minutes though – I’ve got customers to serve!”
“We just wanted to ask you a few questions,” Maddie said.
“Oh?” Claudine’s gaze sharpened. “Shouldn’t you be in jail, Maddie?”
“What are you implying?” Suzanne squared her shoulders.
“What was obvious to the newspaper reporter when he reported the radio personality’s murder,” Claudine returned. “He was found holding one of your coffee cups.”
“First of all, we haven’t been told it’s murder. But if it was, the killer could have staged that part,” Suzanne said hotly. “Maybe you’re the killer, Claudine. You could have dug out one of our coffee cups from the trash and shoved it in his hand right after you did the deed in order to frame Maddie.”
Maddie’s eyes widened at her friend’s accusation. She and Suzanne hadn’t discussed how they were going to handle the interview with Claudine, but she hadn’t expected Suzanne to accuse the older woman of murder!
“What about the cappuccino foam on Dave Dantzler’s lips?” Claudine countered, her hands on her hips. “The detective seemed to think it was yours.”
“That’s not proven.” Maddie found her voice. “Anyone who knows me will realize I couldn’t do something like that.”
“No?” Claudine gestured to her semi-occupied café. “That’s not what these people think. I’ve got some new customers today. They’re obviously scared about what you would put in their coffee.”
“Take that back!” Suzanne ordered.
“Did you see anything suspicious around the time the judge announced the winner?” Maddie decided to plow on with her questions and ignore Suzanne and Claudine’s antagonism.
“No.” Claudine shook her head. “Only you and this one—” she pointed to Suzanne “—right at the front of the crowd, as if you knew you were going to win.” The last words were hissed.
“Anyone who’s tasted Maddie’s coffee knew she had a great chance at winning.” Suzanne rolled her eyes, as if to say, “Well, duh.”
“So you didn’t see anyone loitering around the judge’s tent?” Maddie persisted.
“No,” Claudine snapped. “I told you, I didn’t see anyone besides you two.”
“How did your interview go with Dave and the newspaper reporter?” Maddie held her breath as she waited for the older woman to answer. By the scowl on her face, she wasn’t sure if Claudine would answer.
“Fine,” Claudine bit out.
“But Dave didn’t ask you for a free cappuccino, did he?” Suzanne asked.
For a moment it looked like Claudine wouldn’t reply.
“No, he didn’t,” Claudine finally said. “More fool him.”
“I think that’s all,” Maddie said, not wanting the daggers in Claudine’s coal black eyes to pierce her.
“I don’t want you girls coming in here again unless you want to buy something,” Claudine snapped.
“As if we would,” Suzanne retorted.
“Let’s go, Suze.” Maddie tugged on Suzanne’s arm, gesturing to the entrance. “Thanks, Claudine.”
It cost her to thank the older woman, but after all, Claudine could have refused to answer any of their questions. But was she telling them the truth? She and Suzanne would have to discuss that possibility later.
“Phew!” Suzanne said once they were outside and heading back to the coffee truck. “I don’t know what gets into me when I see that woman.”
“I do,” Maddie said wryly. “But who knows – maybe her massage with Ramon today will make her less grumpy.”
“I don’t know how I feel about that,” Suzanne admitted. “He was really kind to book an appointment with her, but I don’t know if I want to think about his hands – his magic hands – touching her.”
“Magic?” Maddie quirked an eyebrow.
“You know what I mean. Not magic magic – at least I don’t think so.” Suzanne stared at Maddie, her eyes wide. “Do you think he’s—”
“I don’t know.” Maddie shrugged.
“Can you sense anything when you’re around him?” Suzanne asked curiously. “Like he’s got witchy abilities the same as you?”
“No.” Maddie shook her head. “But I’ve never sensed that about anyone I’ve met. And I don’t feel like I’ve got magical abilities. It’s hard to describe.” She exhaled. “I feel normal except for when I cast the Coffee Vision spell, and when I cast the Tell the Truth spell. When the spell works, I know it deep inside. But otherwise, I feel completely normal – and human.”
“Huh.” Suzanne looked thoughtful.
By this time, they reached the truck.
“We’re back, Trixie.” Maddie opened the door and stepped inside. The feline was still stretched out on the stool, lying on her back, her white furry tummy inviting Maddie to reach out and stroke her.
But Maddie knew from experience that Trixie was ticklish there, and the cat didn’t really want anyone to touch her – it was as if she played a game with Maddie.
“Mrrow,” Trixie greeted them sleepily, slowly blinking her eyes awake.
“You were right not to go with us.” Suzanne flopped on the stool next to the cat. “Claudine is such a witch – oops.” She covered her mouth. “I shouldn’t haven’t said that.”
“No,” Maddie said, amusement in her voice.
But Trixie didn’t seem to take the faux pas so well, sitting up and looking disapprovingly at Suzanne.
“Sorry, Trixie,” Suzanne said. “And Maddie.”
“I know what you meant,” Maddie said with a smile. “But I don’t think Trixie did.”
“Yeah.” Suzanne held out her hand to the cat, then slowly petted her, Trixie allowing the caress. “I think we’re good though.”
“Looks like it,” Maddie replied. She opened the serving window and peered out at the town square. “No customers in the vicinity.”
“Hopefully we’ll get the usual lunchtime crowd.” Suzanne pulled out her phone. “Maybe I should make a list and go to the grocery store while it’s quiet. I can whip up a batch of health balls and they might be ready for our lunch customers.”
“Good idea. And when you come back, we can discuss whether Claudine was telling the truth or not.”
“Do you think she was lying?” Suzanne looked up from her phone and frowned.
“It’s a possibility. After all, she didn’t have to answer our questions. You know how she feels about us.”
“And how we feel about her.”
“Mrrow!”
“But she said she didn’t see anyone around the judging tent – except us,” Suzanne said.
“Do you think that’s true?” Maddie asked.
“I don’t know. But why would she lie?”
“To cast more suspicion on me?” Maddie gnawed her lip. “Or do you think I’m being paranoid?”
“No way.” Suzanne shook her head, her ponytail bobbing. “You’ve got every right to be suspicious of Claudine – and her answers. Don’t forget, she told Detective Edgewater that you killed Dave.”
“Yeah,” Maddie said ruefully.
“Have you got your suspect list?” Suzanne asked.
“Yep.” Maddie dug it out of her purse.
“We better write down what she said,” Suzanne suggested. “So we don’t forget.”
“That’s a good point.” Maddie made a notation on the piece of paper. “Maybe I should type it up on the laptop when I get home tonight – I don’t think this is going to be big enough if we write down everyone’s answers on it.”
“Mrrow,” Trixie said approvingly.
Suzanne went to the grocery store to buy ingredients for the health balls, and Maddie took care of the few customers who arrived in the meantime.
When Suzanne came back with a shopping bag bulging with ingredients, she had a grin on her face.
“Maple macadamia. My own recipe.”
Maddie’s stomach growled as if on cue. “That sounds delicious.”
“They will be.”
Suzanne set to work, shooing Maddie away when she tried to help. “I’ve got this.”
Since there weren’t any more customers to serve, Maddie sat down on the stool next to Trixie. Suzanne hadn’t made this combination before and she was curious to see how it would turn out.
She didn’t have to wait long. Suzanne blitzed the ingredients in the food processor, rolled them into small balls, and coated them in shredded coconut.
“Ta da!” Suzanne held out the tray to Maddie. Twenty-four morsels sat neatly on the baking sheet. “What do you think?”
“They look great,” Maddie said truthfully, her tummy rumbling once more. “When will they be ready to eat?”
“In one hour. I’ll put them in the fridge to firm up.”
Trixie looked at the tray, her eyes wide, and tentatively put out one paw, as if to touch one of the balls.
“Not for cats, Trix.” Suzanne held up the baking sheet so Trixie couldn’t reach it. “Sorry.”
“Broomf.” Trixie put down her paw and pouted.
“I brought your dry food with me, Trixie.” Maddie pulled out the bag of food from a cupboard. “Would you like your lunch now?”
“Mrrow,” Trixie said grudgingly as if she didn’t quite believe that the health balls could be bad for her.
Maddie poured the hard-little pellets - salmon and tuna flavor - into Trixie’s bowl, the food making a rattling noise.
“There you go.”
Trixie sniffed the bowl, then deigned to eat a few mouthfuls, her teeth audibly crunching the hard little brown pellets.
“Maybe we should have our lunch now,” Maddie suggested, looking out through the serving hatch. “Still no customers.”
“I am getting hungry, although it’s only 11.30.” Suzanne checked her watch. “The lunch rush usually doesn’t start ‘til noon, so the maple macadamia balls will be ready by 12.30. I bet we’re going to sell out by this afternoon.”
“I hope so,” Maddie replied. Suzanne’s new recipe would definitely help their bottom line, and she was looking forward to trying one.
They’d both brought sandwiches from home, and they ate them in the truck. Maddie made a mocha for both of them for dessert while they waited to sample the maple macadamia balls.
“So tomorrow,” Suzanne said after finishing her coffee, “we’ll visit Jill in Aunt Winifred. And afterward, we can stop in and see Bob, the other coffee vendor.”
“Sounds good,” Maddie replied. Then a thought struck her. “But we’ll have to close the truck for part of the morning – maybe we can get back in time for the lunch rush.”
“Yep.” Suzanne nodded. “What time do you think Jill’s café opens?”
“Is she online?” Maddie gestured to Suzanne’s phone lying on the counter.
“Let me see.”
A few seconds later, Suzanne showed Maddie the information on the phone screen. “The opening hours say 9.30 ‘til 5.”
“Great.” Maddie smiled. “We can get there as soon as she opens, then visit Bob, and get back here by noon.”
Before Suzanne could reply, a customer arrived, putting in an order for a large latte.
The lunch period was busy, although they weren’t as slammed as they usually were. Still, Maddie was grateful that a lot of their customers hadn’t deserted them – yet.
When Suzanne brought out the tray of maple macadamia balls, Maddie’s mouth watered.
“I’ve saved some for us.” Suzanne winked.
Which was just as well. Because as Suzanne had predicted, the health balls sold out.
Finally, Maddie got to try the tempting morsels. Suzanne had saved two each for them.
Maddie sank down on a stool after serving the last customer. The square was now deserted, with employees hurrying back to their jobs, and housewives and seniors returning home.
“Yum,” she mumbled around a mouthful of macadamia, maple syrup and coconut. “I think these are the best you’ve made so far.”
“I think so, too.” Suzanne looked pleased with herself. “At least they’ve made us a little extra profit today.”
“You’ve got to make more of them,” Maddie ordered with a smile. “If we make another batch this afternoon, they’ll be ready for lunch tomorrow when we get back from Aunt Winifred.”
“Okay.” Suzanne nodded. “I’ll go back to the grocery store for more ingredients in a sec. I only bought enough to make this one batch, apart from the bottle of maple syrup.”
Trixie had snoozed through the lunch rush, but now sat up on her stool, looking interested.
“They would probably make you sick, Trixie,” Maddie told the cat gently. Trying to change the subject, she asked the feline, “Do you want to come with us tomorrow when we interview Jill? She runs a café in Aunt Winifred.”
“Mrrow!” Trixie nodded her head. Or was Maddie imagining things?
“Don’t forget Jill has a dog,” Suzanne pointed out, typing another shopping list on her phone.
“What do you think, Trix?” Maddie looked enquiringly at the Persian. “Do you want to meet Jill’s dog?”
Trixie seemed to ponder the question, then said, “Mrrow.”
“I think that means yes,” Maddie told Suzanne.
“Trixie could wear her harness tomorrow,” Suzanne suggested as rose from her stool.
Maddie nodded. Although Trixie was very good when she wore the harness, Maddie suspected she didn’t like wearing it that much. But it would be practical for tomorrow, in case Jill’s dog was too enthusiastic or didn’t like cats.
Suzanne looked out through the serving hatch and pouted. “No customers.”
“It will give us a chance to make the maple macadamias when you get back,” Maddie said. “Do you think we should make double?”
“Even better – a triple batch.” Suzanne grinned. “That way there’ll be more for us!”
