Kat didn’t know what to do. After sealing the EpiPen in a plastic bag, she had called out for Jessie. Now they stood on opposite sides of the kitchen counter, the EpiPen looming larger than life between them.
“What if it fell out of Aaron’s briefcase yesterday?” Kat suggested. “Maybe he dropped it while he was reaching for it. The cat could have found it under the booth and carried it back here.”
“I would have seen it when I was sweeping up that broken water glass,” Jessie said. “And that still doesn’t explain the peanut oil.”
“You’re right. I should call Andrew.”
Jessie fiddled with her bun. “What if he arrests me?”
Kat’s conversation with Andrew floated back into her consciousness. Surely he had only been playing devil’s advocate when he’d made those accusations against Jessie. He couldn’t actually believe Jessie would kill a man, could he?
“I Googled Aaron last night,” Jessie said. “Tiffany was right about him being hard to please.”
“I know,” Kat replied. “I read the write-up he did on Taste of Tuscany.”
“With him dying here yesterday and all this stuff showing up today, the police might think I killed him before he could trash the diner’s reputation.”
Before Kat could think of something reassuring to say, the back door banged open. The orange tabby, who had been lounging in the corner, sprang to his feet and dashed off.
Lisa stepped inside, sliding off her knit cap. “Hey, guys.”
“Hi, Lisa,” Kat said.
Jessie was too busy tracking the cat’s retreat to respond to the greeting. Her lips were slanted as though she were considering something. “Aaron threatened to shut me down because of the cat.”
“The cat?” Lisa repeated. “You mean the orange one that likes our Dumpsters?”
Jessie nodded. “He showed up out front when Aaron was here.”
Lisa hung up her coat. “He must have sneaked inside while I was taking out the garbage.”
“Well, Aaron saw him, and he scolded me for letting a cat inside an eating establishment. He said he could have me shut down for health code violations.”
Lisa gathered her hair up into a ponytail. “I guess there’s no need to worry about that anymore.”
Jessie shook her head. “You don’t get it. The police are going to think our argument gives me reason to kill him.”
Lisa scoffed. “Oh, come on now. You’re not letting that Tiffany Reed get to you, are you? Aaron accidentally ate some nuts and had a reaction. He wasn’t murdered.”
Kat swallowed. “Um, Lisa, some more evidence has turned up that indicates Aaron’s death might be more deliberate than we first assumed.”
Lisa frowned. “Evidence?”
“A peanut oil bottle was under the counter up front,” Kat said. “Did you leave it there?”
“No way.” Lisa looked appalled. “You think I killed Aaron?”
“I’m only trying to figure out how the bottle ended up where it did,” Kat assured her. “And Jessie tells me all the cooking oil is kept back here, in the kitchen. I thought there was a chance you took it up front with you, then forgot to bring it back.”
Lisa folded her arms across her chest. “It wasn’t me. And, besides, we don’t use peanut oil for anything. It’s all canola and olive.”
“We also found his EpiPen,” Jessie said, picking up the plastic bag and shaking it.
Lisa stared at the bag. “I’ve never seen that thing before in my life.”
“It was right there by the walk-in,” Kat told her.
Lisa’s eyes hardened. “What are you two getting at?”
Jessie sighed. “We’re not accusing you of anything. We’re just trying to understand.”
“Well, I can’t help you.” Lisa yanked a plastic tub from the stack on the counter. “And if you both are done with the third degree, I’ve gotta start setting up for breakfast.” Without waiting for a response, she headed for the walk-in cooler.
Jessie set the EpiPen back on the counter, a helpless expression on her face. With Lisa unable to offer any insights into the mysterious appearance of the peanut oil, they were once again left with more questions than answers.
Although, now that Kat thought about it, Lisa was a prime suspect. She had access to everything in Jessie’s. How hard would it have been for her to pour a little bit of peanut oil into Aaron’s milkshake when Jessie had her back turned? All she would have had to do was pop her head out of the kitchen for a second. No one would think anything of her appearing out front. All of Jessie’s regulars knew Lisa and were used to seeing her around the restaurant.
Jessie checked her watch. “It’s getting to be that time.”
“Are you waitressing again?” Kat asked.
“Yup.” Jessie smiled. “Unless you’d like to do the honors.”
Kat smiled back. “I’m just here for the cat.”
Jessie looked around. “He must have gone up front.”
Kat followed Jessie into the dining area. As Jessie flicked on the lights, Kat found herself drawn toward the bottle of peanut oil. Maybe if she inspected it more closely something would clue her in on how it had ended up there.
She had just crouched down for a better look when a knock startled her. She shot to her feet, spying Tiffany Reed standing outside one of the front windows. Tiffany was dressed all in black again today. She smiled and waved when she caught Kat’s eye.
Jessie sucked in a breath. “What is she doing here?”
“I don’t know,” Kat replied, although she had a good idea.
Jessie’s eyes veered toward the peanut oil. “I can’t let her see that. She’ll publish it in the Courant that I’m a killer.”
“She can’t see it unless she comes behind the counter.”
Jessie didn’t seem to hear her. She was looking wildly around, as if desperate to find a place where she could dump the bottle.
“Here,” Kat said. Careful not to touch too much of the bottle’s surface area in case it housed any fingerprints, she slid it behind a stack of clean aprons on one of the lower shelves. “Nobody will see it back there.”
“I don’t know.” Jessie shifted her weight between her feet. “Why don’t we just throw it away?”
“We can’t throw it away. If the oil from that bottle was what killed Aaron, it’s evidence.”
Jessie didn’t look entirely convinced, but she must have realized they didn’t have all morning to debate over what to do. Tiffany was still watching from the window. With a slight nod at Kat, Jessie took a deep breath and strode over to the front door.
She flipped the lock and swung the door open. “Tiffany. Hi.”
Tiffany bustled inside. “Hi. I thought you guys opened at seven on Saturdays.”
“We do.” Jessie smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I was just running a little late this morning. What can I get you?”
“Nothing. I’m not here to eat.”
Jessie’s smile slipped. “You’re not?”
“Nope.” Tiffany pulled off her mittens and tucked them into her coat pockets. “I’m here to take another look at the crime scene.”
“Crime scene?” Jessie squeaked.
“You know, where Aaron died.” Tiffany draped her coat over an empty chair and clomped over to the booth Aaron had occupied the day before. “If I want to write a dope enough article that Bill has no choice but to give me a slot on tomorrow’s front page, I’ve gotta find something that makes it impossible for him to refute that Aaron was murdered.”
Before anyone could reply, Tiffany got down on her hands and knees and crawled under the table. As intently as she was squinting at the crevices in the floor tiles, Kat half expected her to start testing them for nut residue.
Jessie fingered her bun, fear etched all over her face. Kat knew she was imagining Tiffany’s delight if she happened to get wind of the oil bottle and EpiPen.
“Uh, Tiffany,” Kat said, deciding to come to Jessie’s aid. “Since you’re here, maybe you could help me with something.”
Tiffany poked her head out from under the table. “What’s that?”
“There’s a cat loose in here. I had hoped to catch him before Jessie opened for business, but it’s really a job for two people.”
Tiffany’s eyes widened. “And you’re asking me? I don’t know anything about cats.”
“We all have to learn somewhere.”
“I don’t know.” Tiffany stood up and smoothed out her black shirt, as though imagining it covered in fur.
“If you’re worried about your outfit, I’m sure Jessie can loan you an apron.”
Jessie bobbed her head. “I sure can.”
“And since our interview yesterday was cut short, I can tell you about 4F while we’re working,” Kat said.
Tiffany frowned.
“I can also tell you about that man who was murdered at 4F’s silent auction a couple weeks ago,” Kat offered. “I’ll give you the inside scoop on what it was like to help nab his killer.”
“For real?” Tiffany’s blue eyes brightened. “I’d love that.”
“Great. Give me a second, and I’ll be right back with a cat carrier.”
Jessie mouthed a silent thank-you as Kat passed her on her way to the kitchen. Kat gave her a thumbs-up, ignoring the gnawing sensation in her stomach. She hadn’t overlooked the fact that between her, Tiffany, Jessie, and Lisa, four out of the five people who had witnessed Aaron’s death were back at Jessie’s again this morning.
She just hoped she wasn’t helping one of them get away with murder.