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CHAPTER 6

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After Martha finished an apricot Danish as well as a second pumpkin spice marshmallow mocha, she waved goodbye.

Lauren’s phone buzzed. Mitch. She assured him she was okay, and reminded him it was craft club that night.

“I’ll save some cupcakes for you and leave them in our kitchen,” she promised before ending the call.

“Has Mitch got any news?” Zoe finished writing up the new drink on the miniature chalkboard and placed it near the register.

“No. But he’ll be working late.”

“And we can talk everything over with Mrs. Finch tonight.”

“Brrt!”

***

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That evening, Lauren left a box of three cupcakes on the table for Mitch – blueberry cream, triple chocolate ganache, and Norwegian apple.

She and Zoe had a quick dinner together – left over beef stew – and got ready for craft club.

“Have you got your knitting?” Zoe called out.

“No.” Lauren dashed to her bedroom and rooted through the closet. Tucked away were her needles. Phew. She grabbed the bag of yarn she’d bought the other day and stashed both items in a tote bag. “Now I have.” She emerged from the bedroom.

“Brrt,” Annie said in approval.

“What about you?” Lauren asked her cousin. “I’d love to read your script one day – when it’s ready,” she added, noticing a look of slight panic on Zoe’s face.

“I’d love you to read it.” Zoe nodded. “And I love talking about it in general terms, but what if it’s not ready to give to someone else to read? What if it’s never ready?”

Lauren looked at her in surprise. It wasn’t like Zoe to have a crisis of confidence.

“I’m sure you’ll know the exact time when it is ready,” she assured her. “You’ve come up with some great ideas.”

“Thanks.” Zoe brightened. “And I’m looking forward to my playdate next week with Annie, Mrs. Snuggle, and AJ.”

“Brrt!” Me too!

They drove to Mrs. Finch’s house, just a block away. Sometimes they walked, but after the shock of finding Cee Cee that morning, and Lauren carrying her tote bag with her new knitting project, she felt like being lazy.

“Maybe I can drive us to craft club next week.” Zoe’s eyes lit up. “If my new car is ready by then.”

“Brrt!” Annie said encouragingly.

“Thanks.” Zoe twisted in the passenger seat to beam at the feline.

They pulled up outside their friend’s sweet Victorian house. It was painted cream, and had a neat green lawn with orange Californian poppies giving it a cheerful touch in the early evening sunshine.

“Come in, come in,” Mrs. Finch urged when she opened the front door, a smile on her face. Tonight she wore a green skirt and matching blouse, her hair piled up a touch untidily in her usual bun.

“We’ve got a lot to tell you,” Zoe said, as they passed through the lilac painted hall and into the beige and fawn living room.

“Sit down,” Mrs. Finch urged, taking her usual armchair.

The trio shared the fawn sofa, then Annie hopped down and jumped up onto the arm of Mrs. Finch’s chair. Their friend obliged by stroking her gently.

“Where do we start?” Zoe glanced at Lauren.

“What about your projects?” Mrs. Finch eyed Lauren’s tote bag.

“Oh, yes.” Lauren pulled out the balls of blue and cream yarn as well as the knitting needles. “I’d like to make a lap blanket.”

“She thinks her pink living room might be too girly for Mitch.” Zoe giggled.

“They look lovely colors.” Mrs. Finch duly admired the yarn. “What sort of stitch were you thinking of using?”

Lauren cast her a panicked look. She could only do the basics – garter, purl, and stockinette.

“Stockinette stitch,” she said after a moment. “Although I’m not great at changing colors.”

“That will come with practice,” Mrs. Finch assured her. “You’ve made some lovely things already, such as your hat and a few scarves.”

“I love the scarf you knitted me last year,” Zoe enthused.

“Thanks.” Lauren smiled.

“Why don’t you cast on, and Zoe can update me on her screenplay?” their friend suggested.

Lauren nodded, and made a loop in the blue yarn, thrust a needle through it, and then started clacking away. She wasn’t great at casting on either, although she could do it. And she knew if she got stuck, Mrs. Finch would help her.

Zoe launched into the upcoming playdate with Annie, Mrs. Snuggle, and AJ.

“But,” she paused dramatically, “we have even more news! I checked out a car for sale at the local mechanic’s – you know, Gus – and I love it! Well, I will once it’s painted Zoe red!”

“Zoe red?’ Mrs. Finch’s eyes widened. “You must tell me all about that.”

Zoe did so, Lauren listening with a little smile on her face. If only they hadn’t found Cee Cee that morning, this evening would be very pleasant. But the topic of Cee Cee’s death was in the back of her mind, and she was sure it was in the back of her cousin’s, as well.

When Zoe finished telling Mrs. Finch about Zoe Two, she sobered. “And then –” she hesitated.

“Oh, no.” Mrs. Finch picked up on the suddenly somber mood. “Did something else happen?”

“Brrt,” Annie replied, bunting Mrs. Finch’s hand for another gentle stroke.

“I’m afraid,” Lauren spoke, “we discovered Cee Cee this morning.”

“Strangled.”