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“That was a bit of a bust.” Suzanne’s mouth drooped after Pamela left.
“Maybe this will cheer you up.” Maddie waved an iced mocha in front of her friend’s nose.
“Ooh!” Suzanne squirted cream on it, but not as much as she usually indulged in. “Thanks.”
“We’ve learned that Richard’s whereabouts are a bit of a mystery,” Maddie said.
“Maybe he’s run away!” Suzanne’s eyes lit up. “Maybe he saw Veronica’s trip here as his only chance to get away, so instead of killing her he tells her, “You go to Estherville, dear, and I’ll stay home and look after things.” And BAM!” Suzanne smacked her fist into her palm. “He runs off somewhere without leaving a trace – anywhere. He’s an official ghost.”
“I think you’ve been watching too much TV,” Maddie said wryly.
“What do you think, Trix?” Suzanne turned to the feline. “Do you think I’m right, or do you think Maddie is?”
Trixie wrapped her fluffy silver tail around her white feet but didn’t make a sound. She appeared to be thinking.
“Huh.” Suzanne seemed disappointed.
“You can’t be right all the time,” Maddie teased.
“Can’t I?” Suzanne made a moue, then sipped her drink, closing her eyes in appreciation.
“Maybe I should try the Tell the Truth spell,” Maddie said slowly.
“Yes!” Suzanne’s eyes flew open. “Honestly, Mads, I don’t know why you don’t use magic more often. We could solve our cases like that!” She snapped her fingers.
“You know I can only use the Tell the Truth spell once per full moon,” Maddie reminded her. “And if I use it on the wrong person then we don’t find out any new information.”
“True,” Suzanne said reluctantly. “But we could have used it on Pamela. Maybe there’s something she’s not telling us.”
“I promise to use it on the next person we interview,” Maddie said.
Suzanne pulled out her phone and frowned. “According to our list, we’ve spoken to all the suspects. Apart from the mysterious Richard, and the guy who was Luke’s customer.”
“And Luke told us that Detective Edgewater enquired about that man,” Maddie reminded her.
“Yeah.” Suzanne’s tone was glum. “So what do we do now?”
“I guess we should find out more about Richard,” Maddie replied. “And the best person to ask would be Detective Edgewater.”
“So let’s go and see him!” Suzanne jumped from the stool, looking ready to lock up the truck and go sleuthing.
“And say what? Give us all the information you have on Veronica’s husband Richard?”
“It’s a start!”
Before Maddie could reason with her, a looming figure at the counter snagged her attention.
“Detective Edgewater.” Maddie smiled. “We were just talking about you.”
“You’re not psychic, are you?” Suzanne asked mischievously.
“No. Are you?” He peered at both of them.
“Nope.”
“No,” Maddie said. She didn’t think she was. Apart from being able to do the Coffee Vision spell. Was being able to communicate telepathically with Trixie considered to be psychic? If she told anyone (apart from Suzanne) she didn’t think they’d believe her. They might even laugh. A disquieting thought arose. Would Luke laugh?
Trixie didn’t answer the detective’s question.
“Your usual?” Suzanne’s fingers were poised on the register.
“I thought I’d have another iced mocha.”
“Good idea.” Suzanne beamed at him. “I can put extra whipped cream on it for you.”
“Maybe just a little bit – not as much as last time,” he added hurriedly.
“No worries.” Suzanne handed him his change.
“So,” he said, tucking his wallet back into his pocket, “What were you two talking about – besides me?”
“We wondered if you knew about Veronica’s husband,” Suzanne said innocently.
“Yes, I do.” He looked a trifle smug.
“Well?” Suzanne demanded.
“Do you really need to know?” he asked.
“Yes!”
“Suzanne,” Maddie hissed. They had to remember that however genial the detective seemed to be – most of the time – he was still a law enforcement officer. Sometimes Suzanne’s curiosity got the better of her.
“It’s a matter of public record,” he told Maddie. “Richard Darin died a while ago. Cancer.”
“Oh.” Maddie didn’t know what to say.
“So that’s why Veronica came back to Estherville on her own,” Suzanne said.
“It looks that way,” Detective Edgewater agreed.
Suzanne squirted a small amount of cream on his drink.
“More?” she asked.
“No. That looks perfect.”
Suzanne handed him the drink, looking doubtful at his pronouncement.
“What other info do you have?” Suzanne asked.
“We’re making good progress with the case,” he told her.
“And you spoke to the guy who was in my brother Luke’s shop? The one who grumbled about Veronica?” Suzanne pressed.
“Yes.”
Maddie thought he refrained from rolling his eyes.
“We do know what we’re doing.” He sipped his drink, as if trying to stave off any more questions. “Delicious, Maddie.” He smiled at her.
“Thanks,” she replied.
“How are you, Trixie?” He glanced over at the Persian.
“Mrrow,” she said, as if she were deep in thought.
“She’s been pretty quiet all day,” Maddie said.
“She’s thinking,” Suzanne declared.
Detective Edgewater chuckled. “You’ll keep an eye on these two, won’t you, Trixie?”
“Mrrow!” Trixie opened her turquoise eyes wide and stared at him, as if to say, “I already am.”