A Caffeinated Crunch: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book 2) (3 page)

“What can we get for you sir?” Essie asked in a dry tone.

Unfortunately Carl didn’t get the hint and he sat down at one of the stools at the counter.

“Well how about a coffee black with one of those nice looking muffins in the case.”

“Would you like this to go?” Hildie asked. Ha! Good one.

“Why I think I’ll eat it here so I can enjoy the view.”

Ugh! I can’t believe Mildred fell for this crap. What a load he was shoveling. I looked over at Harvey who was watching the entire show. He finally stood up and walked over to the counter, Miss Pickles in tow on her leash. He ignored Carl and looked directly at Hildie.

“I’ll pick you up at 6:30 on Saturday if that works for you?”

“That’s fine,” Hildie answered.

Now I knew that Harvey would make it back into the coffee shop tomorrow so his little reminder to Hildie was more for Carl’s benefit. Unfortunately I didn’t think Carl thought Harvey much competition since he ignored the comment and continued to flirt with Essie and Hildie after Harvey left. At least he wasn’t hitting on me. It was humorous though watching my aunts trying to deflect his obvious attempts to flirt with them without being too unpleasant. Wouldn’t be good for business. About the time he took his last bite of muffin, I looked up and saw a familiar red head. Egads! It was Mildred. She was looking at a vehicle parked in front of our shop, then peered through the front glass window of the coffee shop. She started for the shop door and by the look on her face she wasn’t in the mood for a latte or muffin.

As soon as the door opened, my aunts looked over and started to say hello, but before they could utter a word Mildred marched over to Carl and smacked him clean across the face.

“You two-timing snake! How dare you stand me up with that bimbo!”

Now wait a minute. This guy is married. Seems to me the only person he’s two-timing is his wife. And now we have a bimbo. Carl needs a scorecard.

After he recovered from the smack in the face, Carl tried to soothe Mildred by grabbing her arms and smooth talking her. She was having none of it. She removed his hands from her arms.

“Don’t ever call me or even speak to me on the street,” she said. Then she looked at Essie and Hilde. “And if you ladies know what’s good for you, you’ll stay away from the wolf in sheep’s clothing.” With that she marched out the door and we all looked at Carl.

“I’m so sorry you ladies had to witness that unfortunate set of events. Seems she and I have had a bit of a misunderstanding.”

“Seems so,” Hildie replied. “Well if you don’t mind, we close the shop around 4pm.”

Carl looked at his watch and it was a quarter past 4. “I’m so sorry ladies. I will remember that for future visits.”

He walked out the door, but before he could get the car keys out of his pocket, another person accosted him on the street. This time a man. He was tall and wearing a suit. Essie, Hildie and I cleaned out the bakery case and tables, all the while keeping an eye on the two men. At first the conversation seemed amicable enough, but then the tall man became agitated. We could hear rising voices, but it was difficult to make out what they were saying. Suddenly I saw Essie creeping towards the door to open it slightly.

“Listen, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep your distance. Understand?” Said the tall man towering over Carl Jefferies.

“Last I looked this is a free country,” Carl answered. “I can go anywhere I please.”

“Just remember, I warned you,” the tall man answered as he walked out of view.

Essie let the door slide closed as we watched Jefferies get into his car and drive off.

“Well that was an eventful afternoon,” Hildie replied. “This Jefferies fellow just makes all kinds of friends.”

Essie shivered. “He makes my skin crawl. What on earth is Mildred doing seeing a married man? Has she lost her mind? I thought maybe Harvey’s little gossip group had it wrong about Mildred, but apparently not.”

“Ever since Fannie was killed she hasn’t been herself,” Hildie said as she dry wiped the counter and bakery case. “She just seems lost.”

Essie wasn’t feeling any sympathy. “That is no reason to be flouncing around with some married man especially that creep. She needs a good talking to.”

By this time my head was hurting and I was ready to go home and take a long, lingering bath. The day’s events were bizarre, but I had no idea how crazy things would become.

Chapter Three

The next day was uneventful thank goodness. Jules and I went shopping after work to look for new dresses to wear to the police fundraiser. The dress for the event was casual, but we felt a summer dress would suffice. Since Sweet Home, Florida is a small town, there aren’t many places to shop for clothes, but there was a boutique called the Purple Passion that had a few items so we stopped there.

When we opened the door to the shop we were met with a vanilla and coconut fragrance. The store owner’s name was Lucille Meyers, a widow who held eclectic taste in fashion. She loved flowing dresses and shirts, and would pair them with high heels, and brilliant layered jewelry. It was like playing dress up every time we visited the shop.

“Hello girls,” Lucille greeted us. “Are we looking for an outfit for the fundraiser tomorrow night?”

“How did you know?” Jules asked.

“Everyone and their dog have been in here the last week looking for outfits. I had to place an order to refill my empty hangers, but you’re both in luck because the UPS man just dropped a few off. If you give me a minute I’ll unpack what he brought and have the clothing out in a jiffy.”

“Take your time Lucille,” I said browsing through the colorful scarves hung along the wall. “We’re in no rush.”

“Yes look around. You might find a delightful bracelet or scarf you can’t live without.”

Lucille had the most wonderful items in her shop. I loved trying on the hats although I knew I’d never by one. However, a red floppy hat with a wide brim looked crazy good on me. As I continued to try on different styles of hats, including a cream colored Panama hat and a suede black fedora, Jules searched through the exotic jewelry.

“Don’t you just love her jewelry,” Jules exclaimed as she picked up a gold metal cuff bracelet and examined it. “I might have to splurge and get this.”

We heard the tinkle of the boutique door opening and were surprised to see Mildred stepping into the shop. She ran over as soon as she saw me.

“Lily, I’m so sorry about yesterday and my outburst at the coffee shop.” Mildred wrung her hands as she flustered about. “That isn’t like me at all. Something just came over me and I had to let that no good jerk Carl Jefferies know what I thought.”

It came through loud and clear Mildred, right across his face!

“That’s okay Mildred…I know that isn’t how you normally are. And from the looks of it, he probably deserved it.”

Jules walked over to where we were standing and put her hand on Mildred’s arm. “Are you okay Mildred. I hate to hear you were so upset.”

“Thank you dear. I’m trying to hold it together. I’ve been seeing Carl for over a month now and he promised he was getting a divorce. He told me that he and his wife had been separated for some time. I’d kept it to myself, but then the other evening I couldn’t hold it in any longer and told Gladys about it. She then informed me that Jefferies was a philanderer and had been for years and his wife knew all about it. In fact, I wasn’t the only woman he was seeing. Gladys said he was seen with some young blond bimbo in one of the nightclubs in Orlando.”

Jefferies at a nightclub?

I scrunched my face. “That seems a little out of place don’t you think?”

“Well, yes it did. But Gladys also said he’d been seen around town with a number of women. But that’s not the worst of it.”

Mildred looked as if she was about to burst out crying.

“Mildred, what is it?” Jules asked.

“The scoundrel talked me out of $1000 dollars.”

“Oh Mildred, that’s terrible.” Leading her on was one thing, but to squeeze money out of her…I’d been there and knew how it felt.

Jules was just as dumbstruck as I was. “Mildred, why did you give him money?”

Mildred pulled a hanky from her purse and blew her nose as Jules and I stepped clear. When she was finished she said, “He told me he was ill and needed it for some kind of expensive medicine the doctor put him on. I couldn’t deny him the money if he was sick.”

“He didn’t look sick,” I said.

“He’s not,” Mildred said, dabbing at her eyes. “Yesterday I was mad about the young blond he’d been seen with, but last evening Gladys and I found out he’s been milking unsuspecting women for years with the same con. I’m such an idiot.”

I felt sorry for Mildred. She wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed, and I could see a creep like Jefferies taking advantage of her. She didn’t deserve such treatment…no woman did.

“Now this is all going to get out all over town. I’m such a dolt. Not only am I dumb enough to think the man was going to leave his wife for me, but I gave him all that money as well. People will think I’m naïve and desperate.”

Lucille came around the corner from the back of the store, her arms filled with flowered and shimmering summer dresses for Jules and me to try on.

“Hello Mildred, I didn’t know you were here. I was getting dresses for the….are you alright dear?”

Mildred composed herself as best she could. “Yes Lucille, I’ll be fine. Just a touch of allergies you know.”

Mildred looked at Jules and me and we nodded.

“Are you looking for a dress for the fundraiser as well?”

Mildred nodded. “Why yes I am. Gladys and I and some friends are headed there tomorrow evening.”

I was glad Mildred was coming to the fundraiser and not allowing Jefferies to ruin her weekend. We all tried on dresses, even getting Mildred to laugh a little as Jules and I flaunted our stuff in front of the mirrors. Of course Jules looked awesome with her cute little figure. She finally chose a cap sleeve dress in a leopard print with a skinny belt. I went with something a little more conservative. A sleeveless dark purple dress with a pleated top and a black skinny belt. I felt it showed my curves without making me look frumpy. Mildred decided on a pair of cream colored slacks and Lucille picked out a flowing green top that would accentuate her red hair. We three and my aunts were ready for a party. Little did we know the fundraiser would turn into a disaster, especially for one poor soul.

Chapter Four

The day of the police fundraiser my aunts and I closed the shop early so we could go home and primp. I especially wanted to take some time with my unruly and lifeless hair. My shoulder length blond hair was the thorn in my side. It was fine and flat, but if I used mousse or gel it weighed it down. If I used hairspray, it would frizz. I was in a perpetual trap of bad hair days, but I was determined to whip my hair into shape for tonight’s date. When I finally finished, it didn’t look half bad. Soft blond waves fell around my face. I dusted them with a little bit of hairspray, just so they’d keep their shape. Now if the humidity didn’t wilt them, I’d be good.

Before I knew it 7pm was fast approaching and I still had to get my makeup on. I rushed through and was finished right before 7 bells. I slid into my dress, put my heels on, and there was a knock at the door. Eli was prompt. Something I’m sure he learned from the police department. When I opened the door a big smile spread across his face. He removed his sunglasses and said, “You look amazing.”

“Why thank you. You don’t look bad yourself.” And he didn’t. He wore a pair of brown slacks with a cream colored polo shirt that looked great against his tanned face and neck.

We talked a bit on the way to the senior recreation facility, mostly about the town and how the coffee shop was doing. Nothing heavy. It was a first date after all. At least I was hoping it was a date.

When we pulled into the large parking lot most of the spaces were taken by decorated golf carts. Since the fundraiser was held at the senior rec center, it wasn’t a surprise that many who lived in the senior village would attend. I loved looking at the skill people took in making their golf carts part of their own identity, like Harvey’s shark fin golf cart. Apparently he picked up my aunt Hildie in it since she was accompanying him to the event. Now most women might not like riding in a golf cart especially after spending hours on their hair, but my aunts had bullet-proof manes. Their hair was so thick a man could lose his hand in there for days. Of course I didn’t inherit their dense locks and with the Florida humidity, it was all I could do to ensure my fine hair looked like it had any life at all. Fortunately Eli picked me up in his SUV so no hair catastrophes yet.

As we got out of his SUV, Toe pulled up in his big old Lincoln with my Aunt Essie in tow. I did a double take as she stepped from the vehicle. She was dressed to the nines! She wore a pair of taupe high heels (I’d never seen either aunt in high heels. Tennis shoes were more their style.) and a red dress with a short black sweater that hung across her shoulders. A necklace with large red baubles that matched the dress hung from her neck, along with a matching bracelet. Of course every hair was in place. I must have stood there with my jaw hanging open.

“What?” Essie asked rather prickly.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so dressed up.”

“You’re whacked girl, of course you have.”

I could tell she was getting irritated. It didn’t take much with Essie so I changed my demeanor from shocked to nice surprise.

“You look beautiful,” I exclaimed. “So where did you get that dress and the jewelry?”

I knew by refocusing I could lower the heat level emanating from my aunt and it did the trick. She began telling me how she and Hildie drove to the outskirts of Orlando to go dress shopping and how she saw the necklace in a department store there. Suddenly she looked at me and put a hand to the side of her face.

“Oh my, don’t you look pretty. Here I’m going on about myself, and you look like the cat’s meow. I love that dress. Where did you get it?”

“Jules and I went to Lucille’s last night and picked out a couple of summer dresses. You like?”

“I love it. Hildie and I stopped there earlier in the week but she didn’t have anything left.”

“Yeah she just got some dresses in when we stopped in. Oh, that reminds me, we saw Mildred at Lucille’s last night.”

“Really? Did she say anything about the perv she’s been seeing?”

“As a matter of fact she did. First she apologized for her behavior that day in the shop.”

“That’s good. Lordy, that’s twice the woman has made a scene in our coffee shop. We had a front row seat for this last one.”

I glanced over at Eli and Toe who were deep in conversation, then I continued.

“Mildred said she’d been seeing this Carl Jefferies for a month, and that he told her he was getting a divorce. But of course he was feeding her line, and then she heard he was seen with some blond bimbo in Orlando.”

“Poor Mildred,” Essie said pulling on her necklace to ensure it was hanging straight. “She just can’t seem to get it right with friends or boyfriends.”

I knew what Essie was saying. Mildred was best friends with Fannie, who was killed several months ago in our shop. In fact she was a suspect at first.

“That’s not the worst of it,” I said.

“What do you mean?” Essie asked as we walked towards Toe and Eli.

“She gave him a thousand dollars,” I whispered.

“What?” Essie practically yelled. Toe and Eli looked over at us and I grabbed Essie’s arm.

“Don’t be so loud. Use your inside voice.”

Essie rolled her eyes. “What do you mean she gave that scoundrel a thousand dollars? Oh good gravy! Why did she do that?”

“He was singing some sorry tune that he couldn’t afford some expensive medicine. Of course we all know that’s a bunch of dog logs.”

Essie gave me a look. “You have such a way with words child.”

“Runs in the family,” I said with a bit of snark.

“Now what has you ladies in such a tither?” Toe asked as he and Eli walked up.

Essie grabbed her chest. “Heavens Toe, you need to wear a bell around your neck and quit scaring me.”

Toe looked at Essie thoughtfully. “You get scared an awful lot. Makes me think you’re hiding something.”

Essie straightened her back. “Be careful old man. You might not want to find out my secrets.”

Toe looked at Eli. “She has a point. Well, let’s quit standing out here and get into where the festivities are.”

I joined Eli and followed Toe and Essie into the rec center. The middle of the building looked like a large gym with many smaller rooms off each side for minor gatherings. The middle part was used for theater groups from Orlando who would come down and put on shows, music groups, and today the police fundraiser. It was also used for exercise classes in which my aunts attended.

Tonight the area was filled with round tables for the dinner and a stage was set up for speakers of the event. The area was decorated nicely, with blue and white streamers and table cloths. Many people were standing and milling around talking with one another. Side tables along the wall held drinks for those who wanted them.

“Would you ladies like a drink?” Eli asked.

“Oh Eli, get me some of June’s punch over at the left table. She makes the best raspberry and orange punch,” Essie said.

Didn’t sound that great to me, but I said I’d take the same. Eli and Toe walked over to the punch table and were accosted by several men, including Eli’s father Harvey. I’d be lucky to have him all to myself for any amount of time tonight. At that moment Hildie and Jules walked over to Essie and me.

“Oh Lily, you look so pretty,” Hildie replied.

“So do you,” I exclaimed. While she wasn’t as decked out as Essie, she still looked like the bees knees in her flowing emerald green dress. We discussed our outfits for a few more minutes, and then got down to the heavy duty agenda. Mildred and her worrisome behavior.

“Jules filled me in,” Hildie said.

“Lily just told me out in the parking lot. How in the world does the poor old girl get into these situations?”

Hildie shrugged. “I don’t know. She’s here this evening with Gladys and a few of their friends.” Hildie motioned over to a table where the women were sitting.

“She seems to be having a good time,” I said.

“She is now,” Jules replied. “Carl the creep came in earlier and you could tell it was getting to Mildred. She ran to the ladies room and Gladys followed her. After a few minutes Gladys came out and walked over to Carl who was standing watching the crowd. She pointed her finger in his face and they got into a heated argument. He finally turned and left. By that time Mildred emerged from the ladies room and they went back to the table. Gladys got her something to drink and I think she may have poured a bit of vodka in it.”

Essie’s eyes almost popped out of her head. “Huh? How do you know this Jules?”

Jules looked surprised. “I thought everyone knew that Gladys carries a flask of vodka around in her purse. She says it’s for medicinal purposes.”

“First I’ve heard about it,” Essie exclaimed, as she looked at Hildie. “Did you know about this?”

Hildie waved her hand. “I’ve known for years.”

Essie’s eyes grew large. “And nobody filled me in on this little tidbit?”

Hildie shrugged. “I thought you knew. Everybody knows.”

“Well I didn’t!” Essie was not pleased. She liked to have her pulse on the goings on in the community, and the fact she never knew of Gladys and her pet flask…well, there would be heck to pay for that little oversight. However, Hildie was having none of it.

“Oh Essie, it’s not a big deal. So what? Gladys totes a flask full of booze in her purse. Jeanette over there packs a .22 handgun in hers.”

Essie’s head almost spun off her neck. “She what?!”

Hildie nodded. “Yep, ever since her husband died her son took her to one of those conceal and carry classes so she could take a gun with her wherever she goes. I heard she’s pretty good with it since he took her a few times to the shootin range.”

Essie put her hands on her hips. “Well, aren’t you the gal with all the news.”

“Maybe if you listened once in a while you’d know what’s going on in town,” Hildie remarked.

“Don’t you start with me sister!”

“Okay you two break it up,” I said getting between them. I’m sorry to say their quarrels happened quite frequently, but no one seemed perturbed. Most of the town was use to my aunts and their squabbles. Jules excused herself and went to sit with the girls she came with. The rest of us headed over to our designated table for dinner. My aunts and I along with our escorts sat at the same table, where we feasted on grilled chicken or steak, green beans, and mashed potatoes. Dessert was ice cream sundaes or devil’s food cake.

During dinner we noticed Carl Jefferies had returned with his wife. She was a lovely lady with short grey hair and a cute little figure. I didn’t understand why he caroused around on her. I also saw Lucille who was sitting with a different group of ladies across the aisle from Mildred and Gladys’ table. Guess they didn’t run in the same circles. 

After the dinner, while everyone drank coffee or other beverages, (note Gladys and her flask) the emcee for the night stood on stage to read off the list of companies contributing to the police fundraiser. I noticed Mildred left her table when dessert was served and never came back. Not long after, Essie elbowed me and pointed. Carl Jefferies had excused himself from his table as well.

I put my hand over my mouth and whispered, “Do you think he’s following Mildred?”

“I wouldn’t put it past him. She better tell him where to go. I mean his wife is here!”

I nodded then turned my attention back to Eli. We were having a nice time talking about old friends we grew up with. It was fun and sentimental to discuss some of our shared past together. Although we weren’t exactly friends growing up and didn’t socialize in the same circles, we had known each other since we were kids. The emcee continued reading off names and companies and their corresponding donations to the police department. Most people were sitting at their tables visiting, while a few others stood or mingled at the side walls of the room. I’d lost track of Mildred, Carl and Jules for that matter.