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Mitch had to leave early the next morning, saying he’d grab breakfast on the way to the station. But before he departed, he made Lauren a latte from her espresso machine in the cottage kitchen.
“I know it won’t be as good as yours.” He kissed her. “I just wish I could stay longer.”
“I know.”
“I’ll stop by the café today.”
“Good.”
Annie scratched on the bedroom door, demanding to be let in. Mitch opened the door, watching as the feline made a beeline – or catline – for Lauren.
“Brrt!” She jumped up on the bed, turned around in a circle, and snuggled next to Lauren.
“See you later. Bye, Annie.” Mitch smiled.
“Brrp.”
“I’m sure she just said goodbye to you,” Lauren said.
Mitch chuckled as he left.
“Where did you sleep last night?” Lauren asked. Annie had been snoozing on the pink sofa when she and Mitch returned from the bistro. But Zoe had been sitting with her, watching a movie.
“Not with me,” Zoe’s cheerful voice sounded in the doorway before she entered, dressed already in jeans and a purple sweater
“She must have slept on the sofa again,” Lauren surmised.
“Along with this.” Zoe held up a peach sweater.
“Thanks.” Lauren smiled as she looked at her fur baby, who seemed to be suddenly asleep. Or was she just pretending? Lauren could have sworn one green eye peeked open just the tiniest bit.
“I guess I’d better get dressed.” Lauren slid out of bed, careful not to disturb Annie.
“I got up extra early,” Zoe told her, “so I’ll have time to watch TV before we start work.”
“What for?” Lauren crinkled her brow.
“To see who’s going to replace Stefnee on the show.”
“Right now I don’t want to think about Stefnee – or what happened to her.”
“That’s totally understandable – but don’t forget you’re a suspect in her murder.”
“How could I?” Spending the night with Mitch had taken her mind off such awful things – until now.
“Sorry.” Zoe made a sympathetic face.
Annie stayed on the bed while Lauren took a quick shower and dressed in her work clothes of jeans and a pale blue sweater.
When she headed toward the kitchen, she heard the TV droning in the background. Curious, she grabbed a bowl of granola and joined Zoe in the living room.
“You’re not going to believe this.” Zoe grabbed her arm, causing the milk in the bowl to slosh dangerously close to the rim. “Jenna is on TV!”
“What?” Lauren stared at her cousin, and then the screen.
Jenna, Stefnee’s assistant, sat on the studio couch, talking to Stefnee’s co-host.
“How did that happen?” Lauren asked.
“I have no idea. But I want to find out!”
***
ZOE TALKED ABOUT NOTHING else while Lauren gulped down her cereal.
“We have to go to the studio right now!”
“Why?” Lauren mumbled around a mouthful.
“Because—” Zoe looked exasperated “—obviously we have to solve this murder.”
“That’s what the police are doing.”
“The Sacramento police,” Zoe reminded her. “Mitch isn’t solving this one.”
“When has Mitch solving a murder ever stopped you before?” Lauren asked wryly.
“Never,” Zoe admitted. “But don’t you think something weird is going on? Why would Stefnee’s assistant suddenly take her place on the show?”
“Because they couldn’t find anyone else at short notice?” Lauren suggested.
“I’m sure there are plenty of out of work actresses or presenters who would jump at the chance to fill in temporarily,” Zoe told her. “So why did they choose Jenna?”
“Why don’t you ask her?”
“I will!”
Lauren groaned inwardly.
“Brrt?” Annie wandered into the living room.
“Annie, don’t you think we should go to the TV studio right now to investigate Stefnee’s murder?” Zoe asked her.
“Brrt!” Annie’s eyes sparkled.
“I don’t think they allow cats in there,” Lauren warned her. “I’m sorry.”
“Brrp.” Annie looked disappointed, her mouth tilting downwards.
“I guess Lauren’s right.” Zoe sounded just as disappointed as Annie looked. “I’m sorry, Annie.”
“Brrp.” Annie let out a little sigh.
“What’s the time?” Zoe grabbed Lauren’s wrist and peered at her watch. “Ooh, it’s only eight. We could zip down there, interrogate Jenna, and get back here by oh, ten-fifteen.”
“Ten-fifteen?” Lauren set down her bowl with a thunk. “After we had customers complaining a couple of days ago when we opened late? And I didn’t make enough cupcakes?”
“Well, I could go by myself,” Zoe began.
“Oh, no.” Lauren shook her head. “You are not going there on your own.” She loved her cousin, but Zoe could be impulsive, especially when she was ‘sleuthing’.
“Oh goody, you’re coming with me, then.” Zoe’s face brightened.
“It looks like it,” Lauren replied reluctantly. “But if we’re doing this right now, we’d better zip down there and zip right back. And I’ll need Ed to make extra pastries.”