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Suzanne came back to Brewed from the Bean positively glowing.
“Mads, you’ve got to have a massage with Ramon. It’s the best!”
“Maybe when this is all over.” Perhaps by then she’d be brave enough to allow Ramon’s sexy hands and voice work their magic.
“Can you imagine if I was married to him?” Suzanne’s tone became soft. “I could have an awesome massage every day.”
“I guess that’s one reason to marry someone,” Maddie teased.
“There are plenty more reasons to marry Ramon,” Suzanne joked in return, before slowly turning serious.
“So what should we do now?” Suzanne checked her watch. It was just after four o’clock, and they usually closed the truck at that time. “Try Detective Edgewater again?”
“I forgot to tell you. He stopped by the truck while you were with Ramon. I told him about the judge taking heart medication and what Walt the newspaper reporter told us, about Dave accusing the judge of taking bribes, but then Detective Edgewater got a phone call and had to leave. He said he’d look into it, though.”
“Phooey!” Suzanne shook her head. “I’m sure the judge is guilty. Maybe there’s another spell in the book you can do to check whether someone is innocent or guilty. Totally different from the Tell the Truth spell.”
“Maybe,” Maddie said slowly. She couldn’t remember such a spell off the top of her head, but they could go back to her place and look through Wytchcraft for the Chosen to doublecheck.
“What’s Trixie doing?” Suzanne asked as they started closing up the truck.
Maddie fished out her phone and tapped the screen.
“Napping next to the book.” She showed Suzanne the screen. The fluffy white Persian dozed peacefully on the sofa, curled up to the ancient tome.
“Ohhhh.” Suzanne’s tone was soft. “In my next life I want to be a cat just like Trixie.”
“Me too.” Maddie smiled at her friend, but wondered if she’d be happier being a cat who wasn’t a familiar.
They drove the truck back to Maddie’s house, then trooped inside her cottage. Trixie ran to greet them, although ten minutes ago she’d looked fast asleep on the sofa. How did she do that? Maddie wondered. Had she heard them pull up outside? Or did she use her cat’s sixth sense to know the second she and Suzanne arrived?
The three of them settled on the sofa, Maddie and Suzanne on separate sides of the book, and Trixie nestled in Maddie’s lap.
“We’re looking for a spell to find out if someone is innocent or guilty of a crime, Trix,” Maddie told the cat.
“And that’s different from the Tell the Truth spell,” Suzanne added.
“Mrrow.” Trixie looked thoughtful, then peered at the book. She yawned, then promptly re-settled herself in Maddie’s lap, looking as if she was going to have another snooze.
“Huh,” Suzanne said.
“Yeah,” Maddie kept her voice low, so as not to disturb Trixie. “I guess that means there isn’t such a spell in the book.”
At Suzanne’s frown, she continued, “But we can still check.”
“Nothing,” Suzanne said glumly a while later.
“Uh-huh,” Maddie agreed. Trixie still slumbered on her lap.
“I guess Trixie was right.”
Maddie nodded.
Suzanne stood. “I still think the judge did it. He had motive, means, and opportunity. Don’t forget Bob told us he saw him talking to Dave Dantzler before he announced you as the winner of the competition.”
“True,” Maddie agreed.
“And we’ve spoken to the other suspects on our list. I don’t think any of them did it. And Detective Edgewater has cleared that middle-aged couple we didn’t meet.”
“Yes,” Maddie said.
“So I think we should march down to the station and tell Detective Edgewater that he should bring in the judge for questioning.”
“Maybe we can suggest to the detective that he brings in the judge for questioning,” Maddie replied.
“Whatever.” Suzanne blew out a breath. “I just want to get this murder all wrapped up, you know? Then we can go back to normal – except you’ll need to start practicing for the Seattle competition.”
“I haven’t forgotten.” Just the thought of competing with all those accomplished baristas made her feel a little sick with nerves. But the competition was a big opportunity for her – and Suzanne and Trixie. She didn’t want to let anyone down.
“Okay, let’s go down to the station right now and tell Detective Edgewater what we think.”
Maddie gently placed Trixie from her lap onto the sofa, stroking the feline’s fur. The cat barely stirred.
“Maybe this week has tired her out more than we realized,” Maddie murmured as they grabbed their purses and headed toward the front door.
It was a short drive to the sheriff’s station – Maddie felt lazy at taking the car, but right now, it was the most convenient option.
She followed Suzanne into the station, hoping her friend wouldn’t just barge in there and demand to see Detective Edgewater.
They were about to ask the sheriff’s deputy at the desk if they could speak to the detective when the investigator came barreling out of one of the offices.
“Detective Edgewater!” Suzanne snagged his attention.
“Can’t stop now,” the detective called out, not lessening his stride. “I just got word the judge has been in a car accident!”
Maddie and Suzanne stared at each other, their eyes wide.
“It looks like we were on the right track, Mads.”
***
THEY FOLLOWED DETECTIVE Edgewater out of the station. “He’s at the hospital,” the detective informed them tersely. “I’m going there now to interview him.”
Maddie nodded, glancing sideways at Suzanne. She appeared as if she were about to say something to the investigator, but Maddie gently touched her arm, giving her a meaningful look.
They watched the detective drive away.
“If he’s going to interview the judge, then that means he’s alive,” Suzanne surmised. “And hopefully not too badly injured.”
“We can call the hospital and find out,” Maddie said, tapping the buttons on her phone. Once she found the number, she dialed, waiting for someone to respond.
After quickly ascertaining that Maddie and Suzanne were neither family nor friends, they were told that they were not entitled to any information on that patient.
“It looks like we’ll have to go over there ourselves,” Suzanne said when Maddie ended the call.
“But will they let us see him?” Maddie wondered aloud. “Since we’re not family – or friends.”
“But he’s one of our customers,” Suzanne argued. “He stopped by today and bought a latte. I bet if we go to the hospital, and ask to see him, they won’t even check if we’re actual friends.”
“Maybe,” Maddie replied. “But we should let Detective Edgewater talk to him first. We don’t want to get in his way.”
“I suppose,” Suzanne conceded. “But what do we do now?”
“How about we go home and talk things over?” Maddie held up her car key. “And see what Trixie’s up to?”
“Good idea.” Suzanne smiled. “Trixie can always cheer me up.”
“It sounds like Ramon can, too,” Maddie teased.
“You have no idea.” Suzanne giggled.
