Dreams of Professor Moriarty flitted through my head, intermingled with 007. I woke up with no more answers than I’d had the night before. I wanted to close my eyes, pull the covers over my head, and forget this nightmare ever happened. However, an image of Leroy flashed through my mind, and I tossed the comforter aside and hopped out of bed. Well, it was more like a limp than a hop. Once I slid the leg Baby was using for a pillow from under his weight and shook the feeling back into it, then I hopped.
It didn’t take me long to shower. I hadn’t closed the bakery, so getting dressed was easy. A pair of leggings, an oxford shirt I borrowed from Michael, and my Sculpts. I refused to stress about my hair. I pulled it back into a ponytail and refused to think what my friends from L.A. would say if they saw it. Even my makeup routine was a lot simpler. Simple compared to my heavily applied Real Housewives of Orange County look, but still more makeup than any housewives of New Bison would ever wear. Some changes took more time than others. Just as I finished, the magical aroma of coffee drifted through the air.
I inhaled the rich, nutty flavor and let it fill my lungs. “Let’s go, big guy.” Baby took a bit more coaxing, but eventually I convinced him that good things to eat would be in his future if he cooperated.
Downstairs, I found April and Candy sitting in the kitchen. There was a large mug of coffee sitting on the counter.
“Please tell me that’s for me?” I asked.
April smiled and nodded.
I grabbed the cup and took a big whiff of the magical elixir. I could tell from one sniff that this wasn’t your average, run-of-the-mill crushed coffee beans and water. No, this was something special. Similar to the experts who’d tasted and judged wines last night, I took a sip and allowed the liquid to roll around on my tongue. When the warm liquid went down my throat, I closed my eyes and let it infuse my soul. I might have groaned. When I opened my eyes, April was laughing.
“Is this a red eye?” I smacked my lips. “With a triple shot of espresso?”
Candy nodded. “That’s amazing.”
“Told you,” April said.
“You were right. She really knows her coffee. I wasn’t sure about the triple shot of espresso, but I figured you could use it since you were up so late last night.”
April and I exchanged a glance.
“How’d you know I was up late?” I sipped my coffee.
A red flush rose up Candy’s neck. She glanced down at her feet and then smiled. “I just happened to be with Chris Russell when you sent the text about Leroy getting arrested last night . . . well, this morning.”
Both Candy and Chris Russell were consenting adults, so I didn’t care what they did. “Is he going to be able to get him out?”
Candy shrugged, but she continued to avoid eye contact, so I knew there was more that she wasn’t saying. I guessed she wouldn’t be able to handle silence. I waited. She proved me right when she rushed to fill the silence.
“He said there’s usually no bail on a murder charge, but he’s going to go and meet with him.”
I glanced at April. My normally stunningly beautiful pageant-ready friend looked haggard. She had dark circles under her eyes, and it was clear that she hadn’t slept. I had a plan to keep her busy.
“I’ve got to get ready to open the bakery.” I turned to April. “Can you do me a favor?”
“Sure.”
“Can you drop this cake and four dozen cookies off at Trooper Bob’s? His daughter ordered them yesterday, and I promised I’d deliver.”
April seemed shocked, but she agreed.
“Michael’s bringing Daisy when he drops off Miss Hannah. I trust Baby inside, but I don’t know about Daisy. Could you keep them busy until we sell out?”
April frowned. “I don’t need to be distracted.”
“Me, distract? I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Fine. What’s the address?”
When I came home, I’d tossed the folder with the carefully researched data that I’d collected about Baby’s eating and behavior habits on the counter. I picked up the folder and glanced through it. “This isn’t my folder.”
“What do you mean? Whose folder is it?”
“Jackson Abernathy’s . . . at least, I think it is.” I rummaged through the folder. It had Jackson Abernathy’s name on the tab and included a picture of three young privates in the Army on the deck of a ship. I squinted. “It looks like a Navy ship, but they’re dressed in Army uniforms, not Navy.”
April glanced over my shoulder. “Hmm. That photo looks familiar. I think CJ had one just like it.”
“The same photo?”
She frowned and then shook her head. “It looks like the same photo, but I can’t be certain.”
“Was Clayton Davenport in the Army?”
“He joined as soon as he turned seventeen.”
“Interesting.” A thought flashed through my mind.
“Why? Lots of people join the military. What’s the significance?”
I searched my mind, but the momentary flash was gone. “No idea. My brain isn’t working yet.” I turned to Candy. “Is there more of this?”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone drink two of those before. Especially with three shots of espresso.” Her eyes were wide with awe and admiration. “Give me a few minutes.” She went to the corner of the kitchen, and I saw that she had brought two carafes. One held the drip coffee and the other the dark, rich espresso. She measured the espressos and added them to the mug. After two she turned to me. “Three?”
“Yes, please.”
She measured and added the third shot and handed me my mug.
Candy said she had to leave, and I thanked her profusely for making my day. I sat and savored the high-octane coffee.
Baby gave an excited bark, spun around twice, and then waited at the back door.
Hannah entered first, followed by Michael and Daisy. The mastiffs sniffed each other’s butts, circled each other, and then took off in a rousing game of chase.
I turned to April. “See what I meant?”
“Maybe I should take them outside.” She stood up. “Come on, guys, let’s go outside.”
Baby came running, followed by Daisy. Moments later, April and the mastiffs were outside, and a blanket of silence and peace descended.
Hannah laughed. “Whew! That’s a lot of energy. I didn’t know Baby had that much oomph left in him.”
“I’ve asked Dr. Hanover to cover me for this afternoon,” Michael said. “So, I should be back around one.”
I folded my arms across my chest and stared. “You don’t think I can handle two mastiffs?”
“You’re so defensive. Actually, I thought I’d swing by the jail and check on Leroy. I’ll check with April and find out what I can bring. I don’t suppose you have time to bake a cake with a file? But I thought he might appreciate a razor, if they’ll let him have one, and other toiletries, clean clothes. Grandma made treats and wanted him to have new underwear and socks.”
I smiled. “I’m sure clean underwear and socks will make a big difference.”
Michael helped Hannah and me carry the baked goods out to the garage. The cars were already starting to line up down the road.
Hannah and I were busy with no time to talk. We sold out in two hours, and I had five orders for cakes. It took longer than normal to get cleaned up without Leroy or Michael’s help, but we managed. When we got back to the house, I was surprised to see April sitting at the kitchen table drinking tea with Fiona Danielson.
“Mrs. Danielson, what a pleasant surprise,” I said.
“I hope you don’t mind me coming by like this, and please call me Fiona.” Her eyes were red. She’d been crying. She looked even more haggard than April.
“Of course not. I’m glad you’re here. I just wish it were under better circumstances.”
She sniffed. “My boy didn’t kill that man.”
April and I both placed comforting arms around her and muttered words of support and encouragement. We were both so engrossed in comforting his mom that we forgot about Hannah.
“Of course he didn’t kill anyone,” Hannah said. “Anyone with half a brain knows that, but sitting here crying ain’t helping that boy one bit. Are you here for the meeting?”
I was shocked at Hannah’s bluntness, but it was probably the best thing. It shocked Fiona into action.
Fiona Danielson sat up straight. Took a deep breath and wiped her eyes. “You’re right. Here I am indulging in self-pity when I need to be working to get him free.” She stared at Hannah with awe and hope. “You do think we’ll be able to get him free, don’t you?”
“Pshaw. We’ll get him out, don’t you worry. These are two of the smartest women I know. Octavia was brilliant, but Maddy’s inherited a lot of good sense, and now that she’s got more to do and think about than clothes and expensive shoes, she’s using her brains. She’ll get him out. Don’t you worry. Now, I made a pound cake and put it aside for our meeting. Let’s go get set up.” She picked up her bag and helped lead Mrs. Danielson into the dining room.
When they were gone, April and I exchanged a glance. My eyes were wide and asked the question, What just happened?
April shook her head and shrugged. Her lips twitched, and she looked about to smile for the first time since the madness began, when her phone rang. She glanced down at it and frowned. After a few moments, she swiped and answered.
“Yes, this is April, although I go by Johnson, not Davenport. Who is this?” She paused, and the frown deepened. Eventually, she glanced at her watch. “Actually, it’s not a good time. I’m really busy and—” She listened. “I suppose it would be okay if you came here.” She glanced at me, and I nodded. “Sure. What time?” She waited. “I’ll see you then.” She listened a few moments and then said her goodbyes.
I waited for an explanation, although she certainly didn’t owe me one. However, it was clear that the call had upset her.
“That was Clayton’s attorney. He wants to talk to me about Clayton’s will.”
“His will? Are you inheriting something?”
She shook her head. “Honestly, I can’t imagine CJ leaving me a dime. He certainly wouldn’t leave me anything that wouldn’t explode rotten eggs or spray skunk oil all over me. Besides, I don’t want his money. I really don’t. You saw how he behaved. He was vengeful and mean.”
“Do you want me to see if Michael can be here when he comes by?”
She shook her head. “That won’t be necessary. I’m not afraid, and I can handle anything this attorney brings. Besides, I’m still the sheriff.”
“Fine, but nothing comes inside that hasn’t passed the Baby sniff test.” I glanced over at Baby, who was curled up on his dog bed with Daisy. Sadly, he chose that moment to lift his leg and lick himself.
April and I looked at him and then at each other and burst out laughing.
There was a brief knock at the back door, and Baby stopped grooming himself long enough to go to the door. He didn’t bark. He didn’t growl. Instead, he stood, tail wagging, and waited. It was clearly a friend.
“Come in,” I yelled.
Tyler Lawrence opened the door. Baby stood on his back legs, put his front paws on Tyler’s shoulders, and licked him.
“Ugh,” Tyler said.
“Baby, off,” I said.
“What’s up?”
“It wouldn’t have been so bad if we hadn’t just watched him lick himself,” April said.
“Great.” Tyler got a wet paper towel and washed off Baby’s sloppy greeting.
Baby stood and watched Tyler and then turned on his heels and returned to his dog bed.
Tyler chuckled. “I think I hurt his feelings.”
Hannah came in the kitchen. “Are y’all gonna stay in here and crack jokes all day or are we gonna meet?”
Properly chastised, we made our way into the dining room.
Fiona Danielson had undergone a transformation in the short time that she’d sat with Hannah. Fiona was no longer the sobbing wreck of a mother we’d seen earlier. Instead, she sat up straight, and her eyes sparkled. Her face was determined. Here wasn’t a woman prepared to beg for her son’s release. No. Here was a woman ready to march to the New Bison jail and demand his release.
April leaned over and whispered, “What’s in that tea?”
I remembered the flask Hannah pulled out of her purse and wondered if she’d spiked Fiona’s tea. However, I wasn’t going to be the one to tell if she had.
“Now, Tyler, you take notes,” Hannah ordered.
“Yes, ma’am.” Tyler saluted and then quickly turned and winked. He hurriedly pulled his notebook out of his bag and hunted for a pen.
“Maddy, you give out the assignments,” Hannah said.
I thought for a few moments. “Well, I know Michael plans to go to the . . . to visit Leroy this afternoon. Trooper Bob doesn’t seem to dislike him as much as he dislikes April and me.”
“That’s not saying much,” April said. “I thought Michael was going to punch his lights out last night.”
Hannah waved away April’s concerns with a flick of her hand. “Michael knows how to handle himself. He’ll get whatever information you need outta that male chauvinist porcupine. You just tell him what you need. He’ll do it.” She leaned over to Fiona. “My grandson graduated at the top of his class.”
“I’m counting on it,” I said. “And what Michael doesn’t find out, April can.”
“Me?” April said. “He won’t tell me the correct time of day.”
“Maybe not, but I made two of those Chocolate Soul Cakes. One is for his daughter’s party. The other one might just loosen the tongues of some of your patrolmen. I got the impression that they weren’t big fans of Trooper Bob.”
“They aren’t. He yells and orders them around. Treats them like children. I might be able to find out one or two things on the sly. And I apologize for thinking you were giving me busy work.”
I grinned and turned to Tyler. “Are you still dating that woman who works at the bank?”
He rolled his eyes and groaned. “No . . . please don’t ask me to talk to her. I just convinced her that we are over.”
“I just thought—”
Before I could finish telling Tyler what I thought, Hannah smacked her hand down on the table. “Now, you listen here. This is no time to be thinking about yourself when Leroy’s in jail.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He swallowed hard and turned to me. “What do you want to know?”
“Clayton Davenport invested a lot of money in this town. He bought the bookstore from Marjorie and paid for the licenses for the huge block party with Chloe. I was just wondering if she could see who else Clayton Davenport was paying. Specifically, Mayor Abernathy and . . .” I took a deep breath. “Candy.”
“Candy? You can’t think she had anything to do with it? She could never …” His face turned red. “I’m sure she wouldn’t.”
“Motive. Opportunity. Means. She was going to lose her coffee shop. She was right next door.”
“And she’s the one who found the tunnel that leads between the two buildings,” April said. “So, she had the opportunity.”
“The knife was right there in the bakery, so all she had to do was pick it up and use it,” Hannah said. “I’ve known Candy her entire life. I don’t think she’s a cold-blooded killer, but if she were provoked, then . . . well, I guess it’s worth checking into.”
Tyler had a massive crush on Candy and didn’t want to believe her capable of murder. “She had an alibi. She was with Chris Russell all night.”
“I’m going to check with Chris Russell and confirm that she was there all night,” I said. “She could have slipped out while he was asleep.”
Tyler wasn’t happy, but he agreed to do it.
“Great,” Hannah said. “Now, what about me?”
“And me,” Fiona said. “I want to help too. I’ve let him down so many times in the past, I don’t want to do that again.” She wept.
April reached across and patted her hand. “Mrs. Danielson, I’m sure you were a great mother.”
“No. I wasn’t. Didn’t he tell you? I’m the reason he went to jail the last time.”
