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“I’m sorry I forgot to tell you about Donald last night,” Lauren said that evening when they sat down to dinner. She’d made pork chops with apple sauce and steamed veggies.
“We were both tired.” He captured her hand across the kitchen table. “I spoke to Donald this afternoon. He didn’t think going to the bathroom with no one being able to account for his whereabouts actually counted, since he said he never stepped foot outside the town hall.” He shook his head.
“What about everyone else?”
He finished a forkful of pork and apple. “I’m still trying to get the photos Jill took. Her boss in Sacramento is making it difficult for some reason. Says the photos belong to the newspaper and we have to go through the proper channels.”
“What about Thelma?”
“So far she’s still a suspect, but would she really kill Nathan because he brushed or pushed past her? I can’t see it, but I think we both know there can be hidden reasons why people kill.”
“Brrt,” Annie agreed.
Lauren stroked her fur baby, relishing the velvet softness of her coat against her fingertips.
“Martha’s already keen on ‘snooping’ as she called it today,” she told him. “I just hope she doesn’t put herself in danger.”
“Me too.”
“What about Detective Castern? Is he really retiring?”
“He hasn’t put in his papers yet, but he moved another item from his desk today. And he’s booked a vacation day for Friday. So I guess I’ll have to wait and see if he turns up next week.”
After dinner they watched a movie about a unicorn teaching a girl to fly. Annie chose it, and Lauren enjoyed it. She snuggled next to Mitch, with Annie on her lap.
“We should have a pizza night soon,” he suggested when the movie ended. “Us, and Chris and Zoe. And Annie.”
“Brrt!”
“That sounds nice,” she agreed. “I’ll discuss it with Zoe tomorrow.”
***
“YES TO PIZZA NIGHT!” Zoe’s brown eyes sparkled the next morning as they readied the café. “Awesome! When?”
“Saturday?” Mitch hadn’t specified an actual day, but he should be able to take some time off this coming weekend – she hoped.
“I’ll text Chris.” Zoe pulled her phone out of her jeans’ pocket, her thumbs busy. A minute later, her phone buzzed. “Oh good, he’s off this weekend, so he said your house or ours?”
“How about ours?”
“Brrt!” Annie agreed.
They finished setting up the café: unstacking the chairs, turning on the espresso machine, and sliding the freshly baked cupcakes and pastries into the glass case at the counter.
“Brrt?” Annie scampered to the oak and glass entrance door and stood on her hind legs, peering out.
“Who is it?” Lauren glanced at her watch – nine-twenty-seven.
Martha appeared pushing her walker, with a white bundle of fur sitting on the seat.
“Brrt!” Annie’s green eyes widened at the sight.
Lauren unbolted the door, thinking her eyes must be as wide as Annie’s.
“Oooh, who’s this?” Zoe zoomed over.
“This is my dog,” Martha said proudly. She wore gold sweatpants and a matching sweater, with an occasional white dog hair decorating it. “You heard me talk about him with Ed yesterday, Annie.”
“Brrt!” Annie seemed to remember the conversation.
“Is this your secret?” Zoe asked.
“Ruff!”
“Yes, but I haven’t come up with a name for the little guy yet,” Martha explained.
“Come in.” Lauren held the door wide open.
“Now I have this little man on my seat, I can’t go racing around like I used to,” Martha said. The puppy looked around the café with wide button brown eyes, seeming to take it all in.
“But you were always careful when Annie sat on the walker,” Lauren pointed out.
“That’s true.” Martha grinned.
Annie led them all to a four-seater near the counter.
“Tell us all about it,” Lauren said.
“Well,” Martha began, sitting down, and patting the puppy, who stayed on the walker seat, “I had the secret conversation with Ed. One of my friends at the senior center helps out at the animal shelter. And I was saying to her the other day that sometimes I feel a bit lonely, living alone like I do.”
“We didn’t know that.” Zoe sounded shocked. “You’re so full of life!”
“And you have a very positive way of looking at things,” Lauren added.
“Thanks.” Martha nodded. “My friend mentioned it to Ed, and that’s why he wanted to talk to me the other day. Two little dogs just came into the shelter – they’re brothers. But this little guy’s brother got snapped up right away. Ed told me to go visit the shelter and see if this dog would suit me – and he did!” Martha grinned.
“Ruff!” The puppy had a pleased expression on his face.
“That’s wonderful.” Lauren smiled at both of them.
“Brrt?” Annie eyed the walker seat, and the dog on it. Then she jumped onto it, landing neatly in the spare space. She turned around and touched noses with the dog, who sniffed her tentatively.
“Would you look at that!” Martha grinned. “They’re going to be friends – I just know it!” She suddenly looked worried. “It’s okay if he’s in here with me, isn’t he? Because he’s not a cat.”
“I don’t see why not,” Lauren began slowly. “You’re right – cats are allowed because it’s a certified cat café, so why can’t your dog enter?”
“We could say he’s an honorary cat!” Zoe giggled.
The fluffy white puppy looked as if he didn’t know what to think about that.
“Brrt?” Annie lifted her paw and gently patted his shoulder.
“Ruff,” he answered quietly, delicately putting his furry paw on Annie’s shoulder.
“It’s like they’re shaking hands,” Martha marveled. “See, I knew adopting this pup was a great idea. You’re going to be good friends with him, aren’t you, Annie?”
“Brrt!” Yes!
“How old is he?” Lauren asked.
“I don’t know for sure. Maybe six months.”
“Is he trained yet?” Zoe wanted to know.
“Sort of,” Martha admitted. “He didn’t make a mess in the house last night. But they said at the shelter I should take him to a puppy training class.”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea,” Lauren encouraged.
“Yeah, you’ll meet other dog owners and can swap tips.”
“I hadn’t thought of that.” Martha’s eyes twinkled.
“Have you told Ed you’ve adopted him?” Lauren asked.
“Not yet.” Martha got to her feet and trundled her dog and Annie toward the swinging kitchen doors. “Hey, Ed, I got the dog!”
Ed poked his shaggy auburn head out, a brief smile crossing his face. “That’s great.” He looked down at the puppy. “You’ve got a good home now, boy.”
“Ruff,” the dog replied, as if he understood.
“What sort of breed is he?” Lauren rose and started toward Ed.
“We’re not sure,” he confessed. “Maybe a Poodle/Bichon mix, or a Havanese mix or—
“A perfect mix,” Martha said proudly. “Or maybe he’s some rare breed that no one’s identified yet!”
“Ruff!” The puppy sounded as if he liked that idea.
“Brrt,” Annie said encouragingly.
“See, Annie knows,” Martha said.
Ed disappeared back into the kitchen, and Martha pushed the twosome back to the table.
“What can I get you?” Lauren asked.
“It’s definitely a hot chocolate day,” Martha replied.
“Chocolate is toxic to dogs – and cats,” Zoe suddenly said.
“I didn’t know that.” Martha looked horrified. “Good thing I didn’t give him any of my hot chocolate last night.” She gave him a fond look. “Don’t worry, little guy, I’ll be careful with you.”
Lauren steamed the milk, while Zoe called out from the counter, “How about a cupcake as well?”
“Got a new one yet, Lauren?” Martha asked.
“Not yet,” Lauren replied. Hopefully tonight she could come up with something.
Martha decided on a salted caramel cupcake. “So, what’s happening with the case?” she asked when Lauren and Zoe brought the order over to her.
“Mitch is trying to get hold of the photos Jill took at the premiere.” She’d already updated Zoe that morning.
“I wonder why her boss is making it so difficult,” Zoe mused.
“He is?” Martha’s eyes widened. “That must mean he’s guilty!”
“But he wasn’t even there,” Lauren protested. “And what if Jill’s boss is a woman?”
“Good point.” Martha nodded.
“I think we should zoom up to Sacramento and talk to Jill ourselves,” Zoe proposed.
“Good idea.” Martha gestured with her half-full hot chocolate mug. “I bet we can fit in Lauren’s car, can’t we, puppy?”
“Brrt,” Annie said encouragingly.
Lauren drew in a surprised breath. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she tried to be tactful. “Don’t you need some bonding time with this little guy?”
“What could be more bonding than sleuthing together?” Martha patted the white bundle of fur.
“Ruff!”
“You’re right, Martha, you two are perfect for each other.” Zoe grinned.
“You betcha.”
“I don’t think today is a good day to do this.” She tried to buy some time. Surely Mitch would get hold of Jill’s photos by tonight?
“When, then?” Martha demanded.
“It’s craft club tomorrow,” Zoe said, “so we can’t miss that.” She turned to Lauren. “Why can’t we go tonight?”
“Because I think we should give Mitch a chance to get the photos.” And she needed to work on a new cupcake idea.
“Oh, all right,” Martha grumbled. “Maybe you’re right, Lauren. I need to go to the store and buy my little guy some more food, and some toys.” She paused. “How about Saturday?”
Lauren inwardly groaned.
“That works for me!” Zoe’s eyes sparkled. “But it will have to be in the afternoon. We’ve got a double date happening that evening.”
“You girls are busy.” Martha sounded approving. “Okay, Saturday after the café closes.”
“Ruff!”
“Brrt!”