A Caffeinated Crunch: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book 2) (5 page)

By 11:30 the crowd had thinned and Jules came in for her lunch break. “Is everyone as tired as I am?” She asked, plopping down in a chair and opening her lunch sack. I walked over carrying my Tupperware bowl of salad and grilled chicken and sat next to her.

“I think I’ve drank a gallon of coffee this morning and it hasn’t helped. I guess you couldn’t get to sleep either last night.”

Jules shook her head and took a bite of her chicken salad sandwich. “Just tossed and turned, trying to figure it out.”

I poured raspberry vinaigrette on my salad and nodded. “Me too. I just couldn’t get that image of Jefferies out of my head.”

Hildie and Essie made their way over with their lunches of vegetable soup, heated up in the microwave in the back of the shop. How they could eat soup when it was hot and humid out was beyond me.

Hildie sat her bowl carefully on the table. I had to admit, the aroma of the vegetable soup had my taste buds salivating. “You know, I didn’t want to mention this in front of customers, but I noticed Mildred left her seat at the fundraiser before all the commotion, and I never saw her come back.”

Jules nodded. “We were discussing that at the dentist office too. She got up and left, but someone saw Gladys get up and leave about five minutes later. We assumed it was to check on Mildred.”

Essie sat down with her bowl of soup and crunched saltines between her hands. “I can’t see Mildred plowing down Jefferies and then driving back and forth over him. I just can’t, but Gladys on the other hand…I swear that woman has an evil streak.”

Jules looked confused. “Why is that?”

“I just do,” Essie replied. “She was one of Fannie’s friends so that doesn’t speak highly of her.”

“So was Mildred,” I offered. “So how can you say that about Gladys and not Mildred?”

Essie dipped her spoon into the soup. “I just can. Mildred is too fragile, but Gladys is like a storm trooper. I could see her laughing with glee as she rolled back and forth over the man.”

Wow, my aunt had a morbid imagination. Or…maybe she had an ulterior motive for fixating on Gladys.

“Gladys hasn’t got her eye on Toe does she?” I asked.

Essie whipped her head around. “I don’t know…what have you heard?”

“Boy, you’re awfully quick to respond when you think someone’s encroaching on your territory,” I said with a smile. Boy, I was so asking for it.

Essie pointed a finger at me. “Listen girl, if you’re speaking about Toe, I don’t have any claim on him and don’t want to. We’re friends and that’s all there is to it. Get that through your thick skull.”

Yikes! She was really grumpy today.

“Everyone just calm down,” Hildie said. “Essie, she’s teasing you, so get a grip.”

Essie harrumphed and continued slurping her soup.

I speared a lettuce leaf and a piece of grilled chicken and commenced eating. We all sat in silence, munching on our lunches when Toe and Harvey walked in.

“Where have you boys been?” Hildie asked. “We missed you all this morning.”

Harvey took a seat while Toe explained. “Well, I knew it would be a late night so I didn’t schedule any work this morning. I called Harvey and told him to meet me at Reva’s for an early lunch today. We just came from there.”

Essie stood up. “You boys want some coffee?”

“Sit back down and finish your lunch,” Toe said as he rounded the counter. “I can get Harve and me a cup.”

Essie sat back down and gave me a look like ‘don’t you even dare say anything.’ I knew I’d pushed her about as far as I could go so I kept my mouth shut.

“Hear anything juicy at Reva’s?” Jules asked. “The dentist office was all abuzz this morning.”

Toe rounded the corner with two cups and sat down at the table next to ours with Harvey. “We heard a lot of conjecture, but nothing that has legs. At least that’s my two cents worth. What did you think Harvey?”

Harvey scratched his bald dome. “The only thing of interest I heard was from Jason Tuber. He said that the police questioned a Mr. Jackson.”

My aunts and I looked at one another. “Who’s that?” I asked.

“They say he’s one of the lawyers in Carl Jefferies old law firm. Seems they had a falling out. Something about Jefferies hitting on his 18 year old daughter.”

“Yuk!” I exclaimed. Then I looked at Jules who was now peering down at the table.

“What was with this man? He must have thought he was God’s gift to women,” Hildie replied

“He was delusional that’s for sure,” Essie remarked as she stood up and cleared her bowl, spoon and napkin from the table. “I bet you a dollar to a donut he’s the guy we saw getting into an argument with Carl the other day outside the shop.”

“I bet you’re right,” I said.

“What argument?” Toe asked.

“We didn’t think much of it at the time,” Hildie remarked. “Jefferies was in here the other day and when he left some man stopped him on the sidewalk and they ended up in a heated argument. The only thing we could hear was the tall guy saying something about keeping his distance. Now it makes sense. Evidently the man was talking about his daughter.”

“I wonder if this Mr. Jackson is a suspect?” I asked still watching Jules.

“From what Jason said the man had a clear cut alibi. It was his usual poker night and three other men can vouch for him,” Harvey replied.

Jules stood up. “Well, I need to get back to work. See you all later.”

She started for the door and then I jumped up to follow her outside.

“Jules, what’s going on? You got so quiet when Mr. Jackson was mentioned.”

Jules looked around to see if anyone was nearby, then she whispered, “I don’t want anyone to know this came from me alright?” I nodded. “It was known around the firm that Jefferies was a womanizer, but the reason he left the firm was because he was hitting on some of the daughters of his partners.”

I cringed. This guy’s reputation kept descending, from cow pies to sewer sludge.

“So it didn’t surprise me that he was hitting on Mr. Jackson’s daughter…she’s a beauty, but I can’t think she’d would have given him the time of day. I just don’t want to get involved in this because, well, they’re lawyers and I could end up in a defamation case or something.”

“Don’t you worry; I’m not saying anything that would involve your name. Besides, it sounds like Mr. Jackson has cleared his name of any wrong doing.”

Jules nodded. “Yeah it does. I’ll keep my ears open at the dentist office and see if I hear anything else of interest.”

We parted and I walked back into the shop where the four of them continued to discuss the murder.

“Hey Harvey, will you get your golf cart back soon?” I asked walking behind the counter.

Harvey sighed. “I hope so. Miss Pickles would like to go for a ride.”

Essie rolled her eyes.

Toe stood up and walked to the door. “Well I better get going. Need to install a new kitchen faucet at the MacGregor place.”

We bid him goodbye and Harvey as well who had to get home to Miss Pickles. The afternoon slowed down as it normally does. About a half an hour before closing and to our surprise, Gladys walked in. We usually didn’t see her much in the Coffee Cabana and if we did it was in the morning, never later in the day.

“Has Mildred been in the shop here today?” Gladys asked as she walked to the front counter.

“No,” Hildie answered. “We haven’t seen her today. Why?”

Gladys sat her purse on the counter. “I can’t seem to find her and she’s not answering her cell phone. I went by her house this morning and she was very upset about Carl being murdered. I didn’t want to leave her, but I had a doctor’s appointment in Orlando. I told her I’d check back with her this afternoon, but she’s not home and won’t pick up any of my calls.”

“Maybe she doesn’t want to talk to you,” Essie said as she wiped the counter. Gladys gave her a stern look. “Or anyone,” Essie added. Essie was careful when poking this bear. She’d prod her, but recoiled when it looked like it might escalate.

Gladys turned back to Hildie and me. “She became upset when she saw Carl come in with his wife at the fundraiser.”

“I noticed she got up and left the table,” I said. “Is that when she became upset?”

Gladys sighed. “Yes. In fact she left several times because of it and I would go and get her. The last time I went to look for her in the ladies room she wasn’t there. I looked in several of the rooms and then finally found her sitting in the craft room crying. Before I could even walk over to her we heard the screams coming from outside.”

Essie began cleaning the bakery case. “So you’re saying you don’t know where Mildred was when Carl became road kill in the parking lot.”

“Essie!” Hildie exclaimed giving her a harsh look. Essie just shrugged and continued cleaning. Hildie turned back to Gladys.

“So what is it you’re trying to say? That Mildred may have had a hand in his demise?”

Gladys shook her head. “I’m not saying any such thing.” Oh yes you are sly dog…you’re trying to plant a seed. Gladys headed for the door. “I just want you to be on the lookout. If you see her, let her know I’m trying to get a hold of her.” With that she waltzed out the door and we three stood looking at one another.

“You see what she did there don’t you?” Essie asked.

I nodded. “Yep, she’s throwing suspicion in Mildred’s direction.”

Hildie looked confused. “What do you mean?” Bless her heart. My aunt Hildie was a little slow on the uptake. Unfortunately Essie wasn’t as patient with her as I was.

“Didn’t you see how she couldn’t find Mildred and when she did Jefferies was already dead?”

Hildie nodded. “So?”

Essie sighed. “I’m too tired for this. I’ll explain on the way home.”

At that moment the shop’s phone rang…it was Eli. “I was hoping I’d catch you before you closed for the day.”

“What’s going on Eli?”

“I was wondering if you and Hildie could stop by the police station on your way home. I have something I want her to look at.”

“Sure,” I answered. “We’re getting ready to close now. I’ll bring her by.”

As soon as I got off the phone Hildie asked, “Who was that?”

As I pulled money from the cash register I said, “That was Eli. He wants us to stop by the station on the way home. He wants you to look at something.”

“Oh dear Lord!” Hildie gasped. “He thinks I did it.”

Essie pulled her apron off. “Get a hold of yourself Hildie. He thinks no such thing. You were sitting at the same table with him the entire night.”

“Then what does he want to show me?” Hildie continued to wring her hands. I put my arm around her shoulders. “I’m sure it’s nothing. Believe me he sounded normal on the phone.”

“But that’s how the police do you know. They sound all polite right before they put the cuffs on you.”

“Hildie, that’s enough.” Essie’s patience, if she had any, was wearing mighty thin. “Lily can take you to the station and then bring you home. I’m heading there to take a nap.”

As Hildie and I headed to the station she seemed calmer. “Sorry about that Lily. You know me…if something upsets my daily routine it throws me into lather.”

“I know Hildie. This whole ordeal has everyone uptight.”