A Caffeinated Crunch: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book 2) (4 page)

Suddenly there was a scream. The room sort of hushed, as if no one knew for sure if what we heard was exactly a scream. Then came another scream. Eli jumped from his chair and ran for the exit. Toe was right behind him. I jumped up from the table as did my aunts and most of the people in the room. I started for the exit and Essie grabbed my arm.

“Where are you going?”

“I want to see if I can help. Someone could be hurt.”

Essie looked at Hildie. “Alright, let’s go!”

A few others were filing out the door while many stayed standing around in circles. Jules caught up with us as we were heading out the door.

“Where did you go?” I asked. “I lost track of you at your table.”

“I had to take a phone call and it was too loud in the rec center,” she answered.

After we made it out of the building we saw the men standing in the middle of the parking lot. As we approached we saw the top of Harvey’s golf cart. I could tell by the shark fin he attached to the roof. Toe looked around and saw us.

“Don’t come any further ladies, we have a crime scene.”

We stopped short, then Essie said, “With a golf cart? Somebody try to steal it?”

I heard crying and looked to my left. Mrs. Jefferies sat in one of the parked golf carts softly weeping. What the heck was going on? At that moment Eli, Toe and the other men parted away from the golf cart and we all gasped. Lying stiff as a rail under the golf cart was Carl Jefferies. His cream colored shirt and slacks had several tire tracks etched across them like someone had mowed him down and then backed up and drove over him again and again.

The four of us stood in shock as we heard other people walking up behind us gasping and murmuring.

Toe and a few other men began moving us back as we heard the sirens in the distance. I watched as Eli stooped down to take a closer look at Jefferies. He took a handkerchief out of his pocket and with it he pulled something from the front of Carl’s shirt. I then turned around before I fell flat on my face as Toe pushed us back farther away from the golf cart. By this time Harvey found us.

“What happened ladies? Is anyone hurt?”

Essie pointed towards Harvey’s golf cart. “More than hurt…Carl Jeffries is dead and it appears someone used your golf cart to flatten him.”

Harvey looked shocked.

I put my hand on Harvey’s arm. “We don’t know he’s dead. Although it didn’t look like he was breathing.” I’m sure that made Harvey feel better.

“Ayup, he’s dead alright,” Toe said as he walked to over to our little group. “Looks like they plowed him down several times over. Just kept driving back and forth.

My aunts, Jules and I all blanched. Toe had a way with words.

“How in the world did someone use your golf cart Harvey?” Essie demanded to know. “Don’t you have your keys?”

Harvey looked at Essie. “I always leave them in the ignition.”

Hildie did a double take. “You what? You left them in the ignition?”

“Did you notice that?” I asked. “You rode here with him.”

Hildie shook her head. “I didn’t pay any attention.”

I looked at Harvey. “Do you always leave your keys in the ignition?”

Harvey nodded. “Yep. Didn’t figure anyone would want to make off with a golf cart with a shark fin on top. I mean it would be pretty easy to identify. Besides, I always forget where I put them so I just leave them in the ignition.”

Essie shrugged. “Well now we see how easy it was for someone to use your golf cart and try to throw the investigation off. Use the golf cart of a police officer’s father to do the deed.” Essie looked at Toe and motioned towards Carl Jefferies wife who was still sitting in one of the golf carts crying. A few other women had now come out to console her.

“I take it she found him and was the one we heard screaming?”

Toe nodded. “She was kneeling down beside him when we got here.”

Essie glanced over at Mrs. Jefferies. “Maybe she got tired of his philandering ways and decided his number was up.”

Toe followed Essie’s gaze. “She seems mighty upset.”

“Oh Toe, it’s probably a rouse to throw off the cops…playing the grieving widow,” Essie announced. “I’ve watched many a crime show, and 90% of the time it’s the spouse.”

“But why off him here?” I asked. “This seems like an odd place to commit premeditated murder. She could easily have done it at home or at least somewhere she might not be seen performing the act.”

“That’s true,” Hildie agreed. “I can’t see it being Mrs. Jefferies, although she has plenty of motives with all the women he was seeing.”

“There might be a rather large life insurance policy,” Essie announced. “There’s another motive.”

Toe shook his head. “Lawdy ladies, the man’s still warm…can we have a little breather for the dear departed?”

Essie put her hands on her hips. “He may be departed but there was nothing dear about him.” Essie put her hand up as we started to protest. “I know I know, don’t speak ill of the dead, but as far as I can see the old coot pushed someone too far. If you ask me he was living on the edge canoodling with all these different women, and taking money from them to boot.”

Toes eyes widened. “He took money from them?”

I gave Essie a look. “Well, that’s what I’ve heard. He’d give them some sad luck story about needing money for an expensive medication and they’d give it to him.”

“That’s dirty,” Toe responded and Harvey nodded. “To take a woman’s money is hitting below the belt.”

Now Hildie seemed miffed. “What, you mean the philandering isn’t?”

Toe held his hands up. “Now I didn’t say that Miss Hildie. It definitely is, but taking money from a lady is even more low down.” Hildie and now Essie were giving Toe death stares. “I mean it’s not lower down…I suppose it’s equally low down. Heck, I don’t know what I mean. You women can drive a man to an early grave.”

I looked over at Mr. Jefferies whose body was being place in a body bag. “Seems that’s exactly what someone did to Mr. Jefferies.”

Chapter Five

The night ended abruptly as we were all asked to leave the event. Of course Harvey didn’t have a vehicle and Eli had to stay for the investigation so we all crowded into Toe’s Lincoln for the ride home. After our conversation in the parking lot, everyone seemed subdued. I was let out first and thanked Toe for the ride and told my aunts I’d see them at the Coffee Cabana.

That evening after putting on my purple silk pajamas and curling up with a cup of cocoa I thought about how the night unfolded. I had hoped to be thinking about Eli and a goodnight kiss, but that didn’t transpire. Instead, another murder had occurred in Sweet Home under our very noses.

Like my aunts, I was intrigued by mystery. I remember watching gory crime shows while Essie babysat me, my Mom having a fit when she walked in on us. But that never stopped her from watching the shows with me. We liked to try and figure out who the murderer was. Hildie would watch with us once in a while, but she wasn’t as intrigued as we were. I guess if Essie and I had something in common, that was it.

So I tried going over the timeline of how things played out that night and who might have had motive. Of course Mrs. Jefferies was still a high contender and many times the culprit was the spouse, just like Essie said. However, there were others that may have been just as angry at the scoundrel, like Mildred. Oh, here we go again with Mildred. She was a suspect in the last murder…now she might be in this one as well. Then there was the mysterious man who my aunts and I saw corner Mr. Jefferies outside our coffee shop. We couldn’t tell what exactly they were arguing about, but the man was definitely not happy with Carl. There was also the blond bimbo Mildred mentioned. Perhaps she had a hand in the murder. I yawned and looked at the clock which read 1am. I knew I’d better get to bed if I was to get any sleep before the morning alarm went off.

The next day was busy for a Sunday. We didn’t open as early on Sunday as we did the rest of the week since much of our business came from people heading to work. Although I slept in longer than I do during the week, it still wasn’t much since I tossed and turned most of the night. However, my aunts looked like they’d slept like a rock. They came marching into the shop like someone pumped them full of adrenaline. I was pouring my first cup of coffee as they strode in carrying their boxes of pastries.

“Good grief girl, did you even try to rake a comb across your head this morning?”

“Good morning to you too Essie,” I croaked. “And how are you two so chipper today?”

“Probably because we got to bed at a decent hour,” Hildie remarked as she filled the bakery case.

“Hey, I couldn’t get to sleep last night with all that happened. I tossed and turned.”

Hildie stopped loading the pastry case and peered at me. “You should have had a nightcap like we did.”

Huh? Were my ears still asleep? Did she say nightcap? Did Hildie even know what a nightcap was? Maybe she meant it literally, like a cap you wear at night. Essie saw my bewilderment and inability to move my tongue to speak.

“Yes she said nightcap…now you know. We indulge in a little bit of spirits to help us sleep since we have to get up at such an ungodly hour.”

I took a sip of my coffee which helped awaken my tongue. “And what type of spirits do you partake of?” I’m thinking a glass of wine.

“Couple shots of whiskey,” Hildie announced. Not what I was expecting.

“Between the two of you,” I asked not knowing if I wanted the answer.

“No, apiece,” Hildie answered.

I still couldn’t wrap my brain around it. I’ve never known my aunts to so much as touch a beer let alone take shots of Jim Beam.

“You surely mix it with something, like coke?”

“Nope, we drink it neat.”

I shook my head as if to remove the cobwebs. “Let me get this straight. You and Essie drink two shots of whisky apiece in the evening before you go to bed.”

My aunts nodded and looked at me like I was a screw loose in the head. “We are of age, you know.” Essie retorted. “Besides, I can’t stand the taste of beer.”

“Oh, you’ve tried it? Where have I been? Maybe I should look in your purses for a flask like Gladys.”

Hildie turned to Essie. “That reminds me, I want to ask Gladys where she got that flask. I wouldn’t mind having one myself.”

I peered out the front window of the shop, ready to forget this conversation, when I saw Eli approaching. When the door opened, my aunts turned to see who it was and promptly ran over to quiz him.

“Eli, what happened to Mr. Jefferies? Do you have anybody on the suspect list?” Essie asked.

Eli shook his head as he maneuvered over to the counter where I was standing. “The coroner is performing the autopsy this morning, but it’s pretty evident the golf cart caused internal injuries.”

“Poor Harvey,” Hildie lamented. “Will he get his golf cart back soon?”

Egads! My aunt Hildie was more concerned about the golf cart than the dead person under it. And I thought she was the soft one. Fortunately Eli didn’t pay any mind. I think he knew how my aunts were.

“Not for a few days. The forensic team needs to dust it for prints and look for any incriminating evidence.”

“Oh Eli, my prints are in that golf cart,” Hildie exclaimed. “I rode with your father to the fundraiser.”

“I know Miss Hildie and don’t you worry…you are not a suspect.”

Hildie grabbed one of the pamphlets lying on the counter that someone dropped off to advertise insurance and quickly started fanning herself. “Well that’s a relief.”

I walked by her and whispered, “Maybe you do need to keep a flask in your purse.” To my horror she appeared to be contemplating the suggestion.

“Eli, are there any suspects?” Essie was getting impatient as usual. “We actually have thought of a few ourselves.”

I gave Essie a look but she ignored me.

Eli leaned over the counter. “Is that so? Maybe you should come down to the station and tell me what you know.”

Essie’s eyes got big. “Why would I have to come to the station? I don’t want to be put into one of those tiny rooms with the bright lights and you interrogate me. Nope, not happening.”

Eli straightened up. “But don’t you want to help the police?” I could tell he was giving her a hard time.

“Well, of course I do,” Essie huffed. “But I don’t want to be treated like a suspect.”

“Who says anyone’s going to treat you like a suspect?” I finally chimed in. “You’ve been watching too many cop shows.”

Essie threw her dish towel over her shoulder and headed towards the back of the shop. I looked at Eli who didn’t appear to have had much sleep either.

“What can I get you Eli?” I asked.

“Coffee black, to go. And I want to offer you an apology for last night.”

I waved my hand as I poured his coffee into a large to-go cup. “It wasn’t your fault there was a murder and you had to stay to investigate it.”

“Still I hated that I couldn’t escort you back home like a proper date.”

Aha! So it was a date!

Eli sat down at one of the stools at the counter and stroked his forehead. “I was up most of the night and only got a few hours sleep.”

I handed him his coffee. “Were you able to figure out anything? Are you aware of his trysts with other women?”

Eli took a sip of his coffee and nodded. “Yeah, Dad called me at the station later and filled me in. Seems he had a pretty long dance card.”

I wiped the counter in front of him. “Yes, and he also had a confrontation with a tall man in front of the shop a few days ago.”

Eli straightened. “Oh really? Did you recognize the man?”

“Unfortunately no. He was wearing a suit and they seemed to know one another. The only thing we heard was the man telling Jefferies to keep his distance. We don’t know what that meant…keep his distance from him or from someone he knows.”

Eli rubbed his chin. “Interesting.” He suddenly looked at me. “Do you think you’d recognize him again?”

I nodded. “I’m sure I could. We all got a good look at him.”

Eli stood and grabbed his coffee. “That’s awesome. I talk to Mrs. Jefferies today. She was too distraught last night to fill us in on anything. I’ll ask her about his friends; see if I can get a lock on this mysterious man.”

Eli headed for the door, and then turned around. “I hope we can redo that date.”

I smiled and said, “Sounds good to me.” He grinned and headed out the door.

“I think we have a blossoming love affair,” Hildie said as she came out from the back.

I turned to peer at her. “I guess you two were eavesdropping, and I wouldn’t call half a date a blossoming anything.”

Essie strode in from the back. “I heard you told him about that tall drink of water we saw Jefferies talking to the other day.”

“Tall drink of water? That date with Toe has got you all stirred up.” Hehe…I knew that’d get her going.

“That wasn’t a date,” Essie huffed. “It was simply a get together by two old friends.”

“That dress said otherwise.” It must have been my lack of sleep because normally I wouldn’t continue to push her buttons.

“That wasn’t for Toe’s benefit,” Essie growled. “I just wanted to look nice for the fundraiser. Isn’t that right Hildie.”

Hildie continued to place muffins and cupcakes into the bakery case. “Don’t put me in the middle of this.”

I began filling my coffee grinder. “You didn’t look so bad yourself Hildie. I think Harvey was leering at you.” Oh man, I was definitely sleep deprived, inviting the wrath of two aunts on me.

Hildie giggled. “Oh he was not.” Okay…not what I was expecting.

“If I wasn’t so drowsy I’d think you have the hots for the Harve.”

Hildie waved her hand. “I don’t have the hots for Harvey, but it’s nice to think one provides an eyeful for the opposite sex.”

Essie began putting the chairs down from the tables. “Besides, Miss Pickles would carve her a new face. No way is anyone getting past that wicked feline.”

So true, Miss Pickles wanted Harvey and any other available male all to herself. She was not one to be trifled with.

“I don’t have to worry about Miss Pickles,” Hildie responded. “I like Harvey as a companion, but that’s it.”

I knew that to be true. Hildie had never been married and she was fine with that. However, she enjoyed male companionship; she simply didn’t want any extras added on. Essie on the other hand I couldn’t quite pin down. She’d been married and then widowed. Mr. Joe Selby, her dear departed, was a wonderful man whom she loved dearly. No one would ever come close to his standards. He’d worked hard, providing a good living for them and left her in fine financial shape with a generous life insurance policy. Yet, I wondered if Essie longed to remarry someday. As much as she protested, I believed that’s exactly what she wanted.

Fortunately customers began streaming in, more than usual in fact. People wanted to talk about the Jefferies murder and everyone and their brother speculated on who did it. The usual suspects were discussed, like his wife. However, many people who knew her didn’t think she was capable of performing such a heinous act. There was also talk about the many women he had on a string and of course poor Mildred’s name came up. It was bound to happen since the gossip vine already knew about it. I didn’t want to think Mildred killed Jefferies, but my aunts and I were privy to the display that unfolded the other day in the shop when she socked Carl across the face. Could she have gotten angry at him again and allowed rage to take over and mowed him down? However, that might include half the women at the fundraiser.