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The next morning, Zoe enthused about her new air fryer.
“It’s amazing! I cooked the most perfect steak for Chris last night.”
“You did?” Lauren looked at her.
“I cooked one for myself too – they both fitted in the fryer at once – and it was delicious!”
“Did you hear the timer?” Lauren couldn’t resist teasing gently.
“Yep. I was working on my script in the kitchen, and it was loud enough to break my concentration.”
“That’s good.”
“And Chris and I looked at our honeymoon options. We can afford a seven-night cruise to the Caribbean, or a week in Puerto Rico or Florida. Now I’m having trouble deciding.”
“What about Chris?” Lauren asked.
“He said he doesn’t mind out of those three options. And they all sound good to me. I’m leaning toward a cruise, but I don’t want to get seasick. I don’t want Chris getting seasick, either.”
“That would be a shame,” Lauren sympathized.
“Well anyway, we’ll have fun deciding.” Zoe smiled, then changed the subject. “Hey, did you tell Mitch about Detective Castern getting pickpocketed yesterday morning?”
“I did.” Lauren’s lips curved with amusement as she remembered her husband’s laughter.
“Did he tell you anything new about Cee Cee’s murder?”
“Not really.” Mitch had been a little frustrated by his lack of progress on the case. “They’re checking everyone out who placed an ad in last week’s issue.”
“That’s us!” Zoe stared at her with wide eyes.
“You’re right.” With everything that had happened, she couldn’t believe she’d forgotten. She hadn’t even thought of it when they’d looked at Ms. Tobin’s copy of the Gazette yesterday.
“Is our ad in it?” Zoe zipped to the counter and picked up their issue that she’d bought that morning. Rustling the pages noisily, she stabbed her finger on a back page. “Yep, we are. Right next to Gus, and the handmade shop.”
Lauren leaned over her cousin’s shoulder and checked the ad. It was exactly as she remembered writing it out at the newspaper office.
“It doesn’t seem to have done much for business yesterday,” Zoe remarked.
“Give it time,” Lauren replied. “People probably have a lot more on their mind since we placed the ad.”
“Like Cee Cee’s death and the pickpocket.” Zoe nodded.
“Brrt!”
There was a knock on the oak and glass door.
Lauren glanced at her watch. “Oops. We should have opened five minutes ago.” She hurried over to the door and unbolted it. “Sorry.” She found herself apologizing to Gus, the mechanic, wearing old jeans and a faded T-shirt.
“Hi,” Zoe greeted him with a smile. “Did that other guy buy Zoe Two?”
“He did.” Gus chuckled. “Thanks to your ideas about painting it red. Didn’t quibble about the price, either.”
“That’s great,” Lauren said.
“What can we get you?” Lauren glanced around the café for Annie, but her fur baby was nowhere to be seen. Then she vaguely remembered that a few minutes ago, she’d shimmied through the cat flap into the private hallway that led to the cottage. Perhaps she’d wanted some privacy for a moment?
“A large latte sounds good.” His gaze strayed to the small chalkboard promoting their pumpkin spice mocha. “That pumpkin drink sounds too fancy for me.”
“Everyone loves it so far,” Zoe told him.
“Really?” He sounded skeptical. “I’ll have to tell my wife. She loves trying new things.”
“How about a cupcake?” Zoe gestured to the display case. “Or a Danish? Lauren is famous for her cupcakes, and she’s just created a new daisy one, and Ed is famous for his pastries. Today he’s made honeyed walnut, one of his most popular creations.”
“You’re good.” He pointed a finger at her. “If you ever want to sell cars, come and see me.”
Zoe grinned.
“Would you like your latte to have here or to go?” Lauren asked.
“To go. I’d love to take a real break, but I’ve got plenty of repairs to keep me busy.” He looked around the empty café. “This looks like a nice place to have some peace and quiet.”
“It is,” Zoe replied, “except when it’s busy. Then we’re rushed off our feet!”
Lauren created a swan on top of the micro foam, before putting a lid on top of it. The advanced latte art class they’d taken a while ago had really paid off.
“Here you go.” She placed it on the counter.
“Thanks.” He pulled his wallet out of his jeans’ pocket and thumbed it open.
After paying with cash, he looked regretfully at the tempting treats in the glass display. “Maybe I’ll get a cupcake next time.”
“We’ll be here,” Zoe said cheerfully.
A couple of minutes later, the cat flap opened, and Annie shimmied through, carrying her little stuffed hedgehog.
“So that’s what you were doing.” Lauren smiled at her fur baby.
“Brrp,” Annie managed, gently depositing her toy in her pink basket, then hopping in as well.
A couple more customers came in. Annie seated them, and returned to her basket. She seemed to know when someone was receptive to her company or not.
Lauren looked up when the door opened again, hoping it was Mitch. Instead, it was a blond stranger, looking smart in a dark suit. Recognition dawned.
“Hey, that’s Bryce, the real estate guy who came into the newspaper office after we found Cee Cee,” Zoe muttered to her.
“You’re right.” She nodded.
“This is perfect.” Zoe brightened. “We were going to check him out anyway, weren’t we? And since Mitch doesn’t have any real leads yet, I think it’s time we put our sleuthing hats on, don’t you?”
“Brrt?” Annie trotted up to him. She’d left her toy in her basket.
“She’ll show you to a table,” Lauren informed him. “Unless you’d rather take it to go.”
He stared down at Annie as if he’d never been to a cat café before. Perhaps he hadn’t.
“People told me about this, but I didn’t believe them.” He laughed and shook his head, before focusing on the cupcakes and Danishes before him. “What’s good?”
“Everything,” Zoe told him, a touch haughtily.
“I’ll have a regular latte to go,” he decided after a moment. “And one of those cupcakes. The one with the chocolate on it.”
“That’s a triple chocolate ganache,” Zoe commented. “You’ll love it.”
“Hope so.”
“How do you like Gold Leaf Valley so far?” Lauren asked, steaming the milk.
“It’s cute,” he replied. “Some of these Victorian houses are ripe for rehabbing. I’m thinking of buying one myself.”
“Did you know Cee Cee well? The gossip columnist?”
Lauren frowned at her cousin. Sometimes Zoe wasn’t known for her subtlety.
“Brrt?” Did you?
“No. I’ve just moved here.” He stared at them. “How about you? You were the ones who found her, weren’t you?”
“Unfortunately,” Lauren replied. “She seemed like a nice woman.”
“Hey!” Zoe snapped her fingers. “Didn’t you say at the newspaper office that you had some gossip for Cee Cee?”
“That’s right.”
“What was it?”
“Why do you want to know?” He frowned.
“Just curious,” Zoe replied airily.
“If you must know, I told Thelma instead. She said she’d put it in the next edition, but there wasn’t any gossip column this week.”
“What was your piece of gossip?” Lauren couldn’t help inquiring.
“Just someone who decided to sell their house. It’s the first time it’s been for sale for over forty years. I was told the locals hang onto their homes for a long time here, but I thought forty years was impressive.”
“Who is it?” Zoe persisted.
“Some older man who wants to move to another state to be closer to his adult kids. He said he’s not here a lot, anyway.” He shrugged.
“That’s it?” Zoe scrunched her nose.
“Well, I didn’t think much of that wedding bells bit last week. Who cares if someone’s getting married?”
“You would if you were a local,” Zoe told him.
“Here’s your latte and cupcake.” Lauren placed the order on the counter.
“Thanks.” He paid with a card, the machine making a little beep as it was approved.
“I don’t know if I like him.” Zoe stared after him, watching him walk down the street past their large window.
“I know what you mean,” Lauren replied, “but it can’t be easy to move to a strange town where everyone knows everyone else.”
“Apart from you – him.” Zoe nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah, maybe he’s just trying to fit in with giving some gossip to the newspaper.”
A flurry of customers demanded their – and Annie’s –attention, and then it was the lunch rush. By the time it was over, Lauren definitely needed a short break. Zoe said she’d have her lunch late, during the feline playdate.
She grabbed her meal quickly in the cottage, making it healthy by adding a ton of lettuce leaves to a small can of tuna. Annie joined her, enjoying beef and liver.
“Ready for your playdate with Zoe and the others this afternoon?”
“Brrt!”
They rejoined Zoe in the café.
“Father Mike just called. He’ll be here at three-thirty with Mrs. Snuggle.” Zoe glanced around the quiet café. A couple of customers shared a table and chatted to each other, enjoying their sweet treats.
Lauren checked her watch. Almost three. “I’ll see how Ed’s doing.” She pushed open the swinging kitchen doors.
Ed was cleaning up his pastry bench. “I’m almost ready to pick up AJ and bring her over.”
Lauren glanced around the gleaming kitchen. “It looks good. Thanks.”
“I started a little earlier today, so I’d finish before the playdate.” An old-fashioned landline tone suddenly rang. He looked startled. “Excuse me. It’s my phone.”
Lauren stepped out of the kitchen, trying not to eavesdrop, but she couldn’t help overhear Ed’s gruff voice.
“That should be okay, Rebecca. I have to bring AJ to the café first for a playdate and then I can go and pick him up.”
There was silence, and Lauren assumed he’d ended the call.
Ed stuck his shaggy head through the door. “They’re shorthanded at the animal shelter today. Rebecca just asked me if I could pick up a stray dog someone’s found. So I’ll bring AJ over now if that’s okay, and then drive out to get the dog.”
“Of course.” He and AJ regularly volunteered at the shelter, AJ making friends with the cats there, and she knew that he and Rebecca were dating.
“Thanks. I’ll leave in a couple of minutes.”
She filled Zoe in on the conversation.
“Awesome! I might be able to find a scene for Annie and AJ to act out while we wait for Mrs. Snuggle to arrive.”
Another customer entered, and Lauren made a cappuccino for them while Zoe chatted to Annie about her plans for their playdate.
When Ed arrived with AJ, Annie greeted her friend in the cafe.
“Brrt!”
“Meow.”
Ed opened up the carrier and the large brown tabby jumped out. Then she looked up at Ed with big eyes.
“Meow?”
“I have to help Rebecca at the animal shelter,” he told her gently. “But I want you to have fun with Annie and Mrs. Snuggle on your playdate. I’ll come back for you later today.”
“Meow.” AJ moved her head in a little nod, but looked wistfully after him as he departed.
“AJ and Ed have really bonded,” Zoe murmured to Lauren.
“They certainly have.”
“Why don’t we go into the cottage?” Zoe suggested to the duo. “Mrs. Snuggle should be here soon and then we can act out the scene from my screenplay that I have in mind. And we can also try out another scene while we wait for her.”
“Brrt!” Annie trotted toward the private hallway and looked over her shoulder for AJ to join her.
“Meow.” The brown tabby sauntered after Annie.
“Will you be okay here?” Zoe waved a hand toward the three diners.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll let you know when Mrs. Snuggle and Father Mike arrive.”
“Awesome!” Zoe followed the cats into the private hallway that led to the cottage, but she entered through the door, not the cat flap.
A few minutes later, one of the diners paid, thanking her for the daisy cupcake and latte. “I’ll certainly be back.”
“Thanks.” She hadn’t seen the middle-aged lady before, but it was nice to get some new customers, not that she wasn’t grateful for her – their – regulars, most of whom she considered friends.
Was there something on at the senior center? Quiet afternoons weren’t uncommon, but today was unusually slow. Hopefully it would give her a chance to join the playdate for a few minutes.
The entrance door opened, and Father Mike walked in, carrying a large carrier.
“Hi, Father Mike,” she greeted him. “Hi, Mrs. Snuggle.”
The white Persian peered through the gray plastic bars and muttered something that could be taken as a meow.
“Hi, Lauren.” Father Mike wore slacks and a blue button-down shirt, looking cool and comfortable.
“Zoe is in the cottage with Annie and AJ.” She smiled at the fluffy cat. “Are you ready to join them?”
A grumbly meow.
“I think Mrs. Snuggle is looking forward to it,” he assured her. “But sometimes she doesn’t express her feelings very well.”
“I understand,” Lauren replied gently.
She escorted them down the private hallway and into the cottage.
“Mrs. Snuggle is here,” she called out cheerfully.
“Brrt!” Annie ran to greet her friend.
“Meow.” Mrs. Snuggle sounded friendlier when she spied Annie.
AJ looked at the white Persian curiously.
“Remember Mrs. Snuggle?” Zoe asked the brown tabby. “You’ve played with her before.”
“But mostly cyber playdates,” Lauren added.
Father Mike opened the carrier and Mrs. Snuggle neatly climbed out. “Meow?” She glanced up at Father Mike, her blue eyes wide.
“I have to visit a church-goer,” he told her softly, “but Annie, Lauren, and Zoe will look after you. I’m sure you’ll enjoy playing with AJ, too. I’ll pick you up before dinner time tonight.”
“Meow.” Mrs. Snuggle tilted her head in a way that could be interpreted as a nod.
“We’re going to have lots of fun,” Zoe told the three felines. “Just you see!”
“Thanks for bringing her over,” Lauren said to the priest.
“Thank you for inviting her. I know she regards Annie as a friend.”
“And Annie feels the same.” She smiled, remembering the way Annie had tried to make the Persian feel at home here when they’d cat sat her for Father Mike a while ago.
Father Mike departed.
“Okay, everyone.” Zoe ushered them into the living room. “Now that you’re all here, we’re going to act out a scene from my script that I’ve been having trouble with. Annie, you can be the princess, so I need you to sit on the sofa, please.”
“Brrt!” Annie looked pleased and hopped up on the pink couch.
“Mrs. Snuggle, I thought you could be Annie’s head bodyguard, and protect her.”
“Meow.” The Persian sounded considering, but didn’t seem to reject the idea.
“If you could just stand in front of the sofa, so it’s like you’re guarding her.”
Mrs. Snuggle walked over to Annie, looked up at her in what passed as a friendly manner, and then turned around so she was facing Lauren and Zoe.
“Excellent.” Zoe beamed at the Persian. “Now, AJ.” She glanced around the room. “Where’s AJ?”
“She was here a moment ago.” Lauren peered into the hallway. “Oh, she’s near the front door.” She hurried over to the Maine Coon. “AJ, it’s play time now with Zoe’s script.”
“Meow.”
“We really need you to help act out this scene,” Zoe told her encouragingly when Lauren brought her back into the living room. “I thought you could be the girl who finds the royal crown. Annie needs that crown to prove that she is the rightful princess, and the next ruler in the line of succession!”
“I can’t wait to read your script,” Lauren said.
“Thanks.” Zoe grinned, then rummaged in a tote bag. “I’ve even made a crown!” She flourished a piece of gold cardboard. “I cut it out last night. So, AJ, I’ll give this to you, and then you can go over to Annie and give it to her, because you want Annie to prove she is the true princess.” Zoe looked down at the brown tabby earnestly. “Can you do that?”
“Meow,” AJ decided. She sounded encouraging.
“Great.” Zoe handed her the shiny gold crown.
AJ took it in her mouth.
“So, you go over to Annie, and hand her the crown. I really need to see if this will work in my script.”
AJ ambled over to Annie, sitting on the sofa. Mrs. Snuggle had a forbidding expression on her face, just like a real bodyguard.
“Great acting, Mrs. Snuggle,” Zoe praised.
Lauren hoped it was acting.
“Brrp?” Is that for me? Annie looked encouragingly at AJ.
AJ cast her gaze down at the crown in her mouth, and then up at Annie. A mischievous expression flickered across her furry face.
AJ gave a muffled meow and galloped out of the room, the crown still in her mouth.
“AJ!” Zoe’s mouth fell open. She turned to Lauren. “That’s not supposed to happen!”
AJ darted down the hall.
“Brrt?” Annie looked at Lauren.
“Meow.” Mrs. Snuggle frowned, her white furry face all wrinkled with disapproval.
“AJ!” Lauren hurried down the hall. No brown tabby. “I’ll check the bedrooms.” She dashed into her bedroom and peered under the bed. “AJ, don’t you want to play with the others?”
No answer.
Lauren checked Annie’s bedroom, which used to be Zoe’s, before her marriage to Chris. No AJ.
“Brrt!” Annie poked her head into the doorway.
“Where is she?” Lauren whispered.
Annie turned and trotted down the hall to the kitchen.
“Meow?” AJ sat in front of Annie’s lilac bowl, looking hopeful. Somehow the crown had ended up on her head, tilted at a rakish angle.
“Oh, AJ.” Zoe appeared in the doorway. “Why didn’t you say you were hungry?” She spied the crown. “Did you want to be the princess? I didn’t realize.” She glanced at Lauren. “I guess we’d better give them all a snack.”
“Good idea.”
Mrs. Snuggle’s blue eyes lit up at the mention of food, and she joined them in the kitchen.
Lauren grabbed two bowls from the cupboard for the guests, and soon they were all happily licking away at chicken in gravy.
Lauren’s phone buzzed. She grabbed it from the kitchen table and shared a surprised look with Zoe. “It’s Thelma,” she mouthed.
“Lauren, Phil feels terrible that we haven’t paid you for the cupcakes last week,” the newspaper receptionist said. “Are you able to come into the newspaper office this afternoon? We close at five.”
“I’ll be there,” she promised, and ended the call. Shock suddenly hit her. “I’ve left the café unattended!”
“All the time you’ve been here?” Zoe’s eyes rounded. “I assumed you must have locked up.”
“I thought I’d only be in here a minute.” She rushed down the private hallway and into the café. Zoe followed.
The last two customers were gone, and money was placed next to the register.
She opened the drawer and looked at the notes and coins inside, and then at the card machine. Everything looked correct.
“Phew.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe I did that.”
“I can. You were having fun with the cats. Just like I was.” Zoe paused. “Until AJ decided to act out the scene in her own way.”
“She’s always been independent,” Lauren said ruefully, remembering the time they’d tried training her as Annie’s assistant. It was something they still laughed about occasionally.
“True. Well, from the limited acting out they did, I think that scene will work, after all. As long as the girl in the story doesn’t run off with the crown – ooh, wait. Maybe she does run off with the crown because she wants to be a princess and the real princess and the bodyguard have to chase her!” Zoe’s eyes sparkled with inspiration. “Thanks, AJ!”
Lauren smiled. “Since there aren’t any customers, maybe we should close early for once.” She didn’t usually like doing that, but with the cats in the cottage, and needing to visit the Gazette office, there didn’t seem to be much choice.
“Good idea. Where are you going, anyway? When you told Thelma you’d be there?” Zoe asked curiously.
“Thelma said they want to pay for last week’s cupcakes.”
“Awesome! I’ll go with you.”
“What about the cats?” Lauren looked over at the private hallway. “We can’t just leave them alone – can we?”
“Annie’s a good hostess and we – you – leave her alone when you need to. I’m sure Mrs. Snuggle and AJ will behave.” A sudden thought seemed to strike her and she dug out her phone from her jeans’ pocket. “I know! We can record them! We can set up the camera on one phone, and watch them with the other phone. Just like we do on a cyber playdate with Annie and Mrs. Snuggle, or AJ.”
“Great idea.” Lauren felt better about dashing over to the Gazette office. She called Zoe on her device.
“All set. Point your phone over there.” Zoe gestured to the espresso machine.
Lauren did so.
“It’s working. The espresso machine is appearing on my phone.”
“That is—”
“Genius, if I do say so myself.” Zoe giggled. “So, we can leave your phone in the cottage keeping an eye on the cats, and we’ll be able to watch them with mine!”
“As long as we’re not gone too long,” Lauren warned. “We’re responsible for Mrs. Snuggle and AJ during this playdate.”
“I know.” Zoe nodded. “We’ll just dash to the newspaper office and dash back. I promise.”
“Well, all right.” She hoped it would be as simple as Zoe made it sound. “But we’d better tell Annie and the others what’s happening.”
They returned to the cottage, outlining the plan for the trio.
“Annie’s in charge,” Lauren finished. “Are you okay with that?” she asked her fur baby.
“Brrt!” Yes!
“And we’ll be watching you with the phone camera.” Zoe pointed to Lauren’s. “Like when you have a playdate on the phone with Annie, and you can see each other playing.”
“Meow.” Mrs. Snuggle sounded slightly agreeable.
AJ didn’t say anything, busily licking her bowl clean, and then licking the others, which didn’t seem to have a scrap of food left in them.
“So, I think you three should play in the living room,” Lauren suggested.
“Brrt!” Good idea.
Lauren smiled at Annie, watching her shepherd her playmates into the living room.
“We won’t be long,” Lauren called, making sure she locked the door behind her and Zoe.
“See? They’re having fun already.” Zoe showed her the phone screen. The three felines were playing with Annie’s jingle balls.
“Good.” Lauren nodded. “Let’s go!”
They jogged around the corner to the newspaper office.
“Hi, Thelma.” Lauren was slightly out of breath as she approached the reception desk.
“Hi.” Thelma smiled at them. “Thanks for coming. We feel terrible we didn’t pay you last week for the cupcakes, but with everything that happened with Cee Cee ...”
“I understand.” Lauren nodded.
“Let me just get the money from the boss.” She rolled her eyes. “He has to approve everything. I’ve told him that in other offices the receptionist or secretary handles the petty cash, and since he doesn’t have a secretary, I should be in charge of it, but he says every little thing has to be accounted for. Honestly.” She shook her head. “The reason you have petty cash is so you don’t have to account for every little item.”
“Hey, did you get my voicemail last week?” Zoe asked her. “About there being a pickpocket in town?”
“I certainly did.” Thelma nodded. “Thanks. I’ve already written the article – and spoken to the police department about it. Now my boss is going over it.” She held up crossed fingers. “I hope he publishes it. I told him we were doing a public service by letting everyone know about it.”
“I think you are,” Lauren replied.
“Yeah, I spoke to a Detective Castern – he’s a grumpy guy, isn’t he?” Thelma shook her head. “He said he was going to catch this pickpocket but he wouldn’t tell me anything else. He promised he’d call me as soon as he’d made an arrest, but I’m still waiting.” She tapped the landline phone on her desk.
“What about the gossip column?” Zoe wanted to know. “We checked the Gazette but there wasn’t one this week, just a short message that it wasn’t running in this issue.”
“I’m working on it.” Thelma frowned. “I’m still trying to convince the boss I’m the right person for the job. Now he’s suddenly talking about hiring someone else to do it.” Her eyes narrowed. “If he does, that’s it! I’m out of here.”
“Thelma!” Phil poked his head out of the inner office. “Here’s the cupcake money for when they get—” He looked at Lauren and Zoe in surprise. “You’re here.”
“Just arrived,” Zoe informed him.
“Good, good.” He handed a handful of cash to Thelma. “Sorry we didn’t pay you last week but with poor Cee Cee’s death—”
An elegant woman suddenly emerged from the inner office. She wore a pale pink floral dress that flattered her slim figure.
“You must be Lauren and Zoe.” She smiled at them. “Cee Cee told me she enjoyed going to your café. I’m Katherine, Phil’s wife.”
“Hello.” Lauren smiled in return.
“I can’t believe my friend is dead.” She shook her head. “I thought I was doing her a favor getting her this job, but now look how it’s turned out!” Sorrow flickered across her face.
“The police are doing everything they can,” her husband told her. “Detective Denman seems to know what he’s doing.”
“Yes. He does. I just wish he was in charge of catching this pickpocket as well. A friend from the tennis club said their wallet was stolen from the change room last week.”
“Really?” Thelma jumped into the conversation. “Detective Castern didn’t tell me that. For my article,” she added, when Katherine furrowed her brow.
“I do wish you’d publish the article, dear,” Katherine told her husband. “I already have a couple of friends asking why there’s nothing in the Gazette about this criminal.”
“You know I like assembling all the facts first,” Phil told her a little testily, his gaze swinging toward Lauren and Zoe, before turning back to her. “We can talk about this tonight.”
“Of course.” Katherine nodded, then turned to Lauren and Zoe. “It was nice meeting you two. I must stop by your café one day.” She stepped around the reception desk and waved goodbye to her husband.
Phil retreated into his office, closing the door behind him.
“Here you go.” Thelma handed Lauren the handful of cash.
She counted it quickly, as the wad seemed a little big. “It’s too much.” Lauren peeled off a couple of one-dollar notes and held them out to Thelma.
The phone rang, and Thelma answered it immediately. “Gold Leaf Valley Gazette. How may I help you?” She gestured to Lauren to go into the office with the change. “Uh-huh, yes, I understand. Really? We’ll definitely investigate that.” Thelma continued to listen to the caller, waving her hand toward the office again.
Lauren glanced at Zoe, and shrugged. They stepped behind the reception desk, and then she knocked on the inner door.
“Excuse me, Phil?” she called softly, not wanting to disturb Thelma’s phone call.
Zoe knocked a little more forcefully, then opened the door.
Phil looked up, startled. He slammed his desk drawer shut. “What is it?”
“Sorry to disturb you,” Lauren said apologetically.
“We did knock,” Zoe added.
“Come in.” He beckoned them in.
“You paid us too much.” Lauren held out two dollars.
“Keep it. Consider it commission.”
“Thank you, but—”
“Thanks,” Zoe said brightly. She pushed Lauren’s outstretched hand down. “Let us know when we can deliver cupcakes again.”
“Soon, if Thelma has her way.” He forced a chuckle. “They were good.”
“I’m glad you liked them.” Lauren urged Zoe back into the reception area.
“All set?” Thelma had finished her phone call.
“Yes.” Lauren smiled at her. “We’d better get going.”
“Let’s check what the cats are up to on their playdate.” Zoe dug out her phone. She was silent for a moment.
“What?” Lauren peered over her shoulder. The living room was empty.
“Maybe they’re drinking some water in the kitchen,” Zoe suggested hopefully.
“We’d better get back.” Lauren’s heart started to pound. She told herself she was being silly. There was no way the cats could leave the cottage – but had she locked the cat flap on the back door? She trusted Annie to look after Mrs. Snuggle and AJ, but had a sudden flashback to when they had cat sat Mrs. Snuggle, the Persian determined to return home – by walking from the cottage to the parsonage, Annie keeping her company.
Meeting her cousin’s gaze, they nodded at the same time and dashed back to the café.
“I see them!” Zoe put on a burst of speed and nearly skidded into Ms. Tobin.
The three felines were on the inside of the glass door, staring up at that lady on the outside.
“What’s going on, girls?” Ms. Tobin observed their flushed faces and puffed breathing. “Is it cats only this afternoon?” She sounded amused.
“Sort of,” Lauren replied. “I’m sorry, we were just at the newspaper office for a minute – well, it was supposed to be a minute.”
“And Annie is having a playdate.” Zoe gestured to the trio, now scrutinizing them as well.
“Why don’t we go inside?” Lauren suggested. “I’ll have to unlock from in there. Then we’ll make you a latte – on the house.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Ms. Tobin replied. “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on instead?”
“We will in a jiffy,” Zoe promised.
They rushed around the back and entered the café through the commercial kitchen. It was a quicker way to enter the coffee shop than through the cottage and connecting private hallway.
“What have you three been up to?” Lauren glanced down at her fur baby, and then Mrs. Snuggle and AJ. She was just relieved they hadn’t wandered any further, and made a mental note to always supervise a live playdate.
AJ tried to look demure but failed, and Mrs. Snuggle looked a little less grumpy than usual, as if she’d enjoyed their illicit foray into the café.
“You two knew Annie was in charge while we were gone,” Lauren reminded them.
“Maybe they sensed Ms. Tobin was outside and they wanted to let her in,” Zoe suggested.
“Brrt!” That’s right!
“How were you going to reach up here?” Lauren slid the bolt back at the top of the door.
“I bet they were going to stand on each other’s backs.” Zoe giggled.
Lauren hastily let in Ms. Tobin, who still looked amused, and then encouraged the cats away from the entrance.
“We’d better take them back to the living room,” she suggested.
“I’ll go.” Zoe urged the cats to follow her. “You guys still have some playdate time left.”
“Maybe you should supervise,” Lauren called after her.
“Good idea!”
She hastily made a large latte for Ms. Tobin and filled her in on the playdate.
“I’m glad Annie is having fun.” She smiled as she sipped her latte. “I’d love to have a cupcake as well, but I want to enjoy my dinner tonight. I’m making chocolate mousse for myself for dessert.”
“That sounds delicious.” Lauren’s mouth watered at the thought. Perhaps she should make it too that evening – it would be a treat for Mitch – and herself.
Father Mike entered the café. “I hope I wasn’t gone too long.” He glanced around the room, empty apart from Ms. Tobin.
“No, AJ is still here as well.”
“Did Mrs. Snuggle enjoy herself?” He looked hopeful.
“I think so. She was great at acting the part of Annie’s bodyguard in the scene Zoe asked them to help her with.”
He chuckled. “I can just imagine that.”
After saying hello to Ms. Tobin, he accompanied Lauren through the private hallway to the cottage. He’d just put Mrs. Snuggle into her carrier when there was a knock at the back door.
Ed stood in the doorway.
“Meow!” AJ ran to him, and stretched her top paws gently on his leg.
“Did you miss me?” He chuckled as he picked her up. His face was almost obscured by her bushy brown tail. “I hope she was good for you guys,” Ed said.
Lauren and Zoe looked at each other.
“Pretty good,” Zoe replied. “She really helped me out with the scene from the script. In fact, she’s given me a new idea for it!”
“Really?” Ed looked at his Maine Coon proudly. “Did you hear that?”
“Meow!” AJ sounded pleased.
The two men left, Annie saying goodbye to both of her friends, then Lauren ran back to the café, making her apologies to Ms. Tobin.
“No need to worry. No one else came in.”
“Good.” Lauren leaned against the edge of the counter. “Is there something going on at the senior center today? Business has been slower than usual.” Not that she should complain – the lack of custom had been convenient for the playdate and the dash to the Gazette office.
“I think there’s a martial arts demonstration,” Ms. Tobin replied. “Not my sort of thing, I’m afraid.”
She wondered if Martha had attended – she could just imagine their older friend cheering with every move the expert showed.
“I’m back.” Zoe rushed into the café, followed by Annie.
The silver-gray tabby trotted over to Ms. Tobin’s table and hopped up on the chair opposite her.
“How are the mug designs coming along?” Ms. Tobin asked.
“I’ve just had the greatest idea.” Zoe grinned. “A mug with all three cats on them – Annie, Mrs. Snuggle, and AJ!”
“Brrt!”
“I’ll have to ask Father Mike and Ed if that’s okay with them, and I’ll split some of the profits with them.”
“It sounds like a marvelous idea,” Ms. Tobin approved. “I can’t wait until they’re ready. I would love to be the first to buy one.”
Zoe pulled out her phone from her jeans’ pocket and made a note. “Thanks, Ms. Tobin.”
“Thank you, Zoe. Your mugs definitely brighten up my kitchen.”
Zoe beamed at her. Once again, Lauren marveled at how their prickliest customer a few years ago had now become a kind friend to them.
When Ms. Tobin left, Lauren made them both a latte.
“I definitely need this.” Zoe hopped up on a stool behind the counter and dangled her sneaker-clad feet.
“Me too.” Lauren glanced at the empty tables and chairs. For once, she hoped no one else came in before closing. Annie had ambled to her pink basket and snoozed, curled up in a silver-gray ball.
She checked her watch. Only twenty minutes to go until they could lock up and start cleaning. She sighed. That was not one of her favorite tasks, but the sooner they got it done, the sooner they could relax.
The door opened, and Thelma walked in.
“Brrt?” Annie lifted her head for a second, then went back to sleep.
“She’s had a very busy day,” Lauren explained to the newspaper receptionist.
“I’m glad I made it before you closed.” Thelma looked relieved. “My boss Phil is driving me nuts! He said I have to rewrite parts of my article about the pickpocket – said there’s some inconsistencies. If you ask me, he’s trying to discourage me from writing any stories for the Gazette. He wants to be the only reporter and editor!”
“That’s too bad. I hope you get the article published.” Zoe put down her latte and hopped off the stool. “Hey, what happened with your cold calling businesses in Zeke’s Ridge last week? Get any nibbles?”
“You bet I did.” Thelma smiled. “That’ll show my boss – ha! He couldn’t believe it when I sent him three ads for this week’s issue – and grumbled about having to pay me commission. But a deal is a deal. That’s what I told him.”
“I’m glad,” Lauren smiled at her. She was also glad she was her own boss.
“Would you like a latte?” Zoe asked. “Or a pumpkin spice marshmallow mocha?” She pointed to the small chalkboard advertising their new beverage. “Or—”
“I wanted to order more treats for cupcake Friday this week.” Thelma’s gaze strayed to the glass case, where a few cupcakes and Danishes remained. “And maybe I should get one now – I definitely need something after dealing with Phil today.”
“Oh?” Lauren picked up the tongs.
“I’ll have this one.” Thelma pointed to the new daisy cupcake. “And for our order on Friday, can you deliver us six again? Cash on delivery this time – no one else should be dead when you arrive there this week.”
Lauren blinked at Thelma, too shocked to say anything. She glanced at Zoe, whose mouth had parted open.
“Sorry, that didn’t come out the right way.” Thelma shook her head. “I’m just as cut up about Cee Cee’s death as everyone else. I can’t believe anyone had the nerve to come into the office and kill her – in broad daylight!”
Lauren nodded, mechanically placing the treat into the brown paper bag.
“I think it must have something to do with the gossip column, don’t you? I mean, Cee Cee was practically a stranger here in town. Who would even know her to kill her?”
“Who indeed?” Lauren managed.
“Oh, can you make us the same cupcakes this Friday that we had last week?” Thelma asked as she paid for her to-go treat.
“No worries,” Zoe piped up.
After Thelma left, Lauren sank onto a stool and stared at her cousin.
“I feel exactly the same way.” Zoe nodded. “I think she’s the killer!”