RaspBuried Torte (Black Cat Cafe Cozy Mystery Series Book 5) Page 13

  Annie touched his arm. “Sit down Cody. I know this is difficult. What’s really going on?”

  Cody sank into a chair. His head sagged onto his arms folded on the table. In a muffled voice he said, “Abby thinks I killed my mother.”

  Annie sat across from Cody. “Did she say that?”

  He looked up at Annie with the saddest face she had ever seen. “No. She doesn’t have to. I see how she looks at me. How she tenses every time I touch her.” He sat silent for a moment. “I asked her to lie to the police for me.”

  “Why?”

  He shrugged. “I was scared when I heard my mom was dead. I had just been in an awful argument with her and I wanted an alibi.”

  “Listen to me Cody. I’m trying everything I can think of to figure out who murdered your mother. That’s part of the plan for this party. Get Abby over here at two. That’s all I need you to do. Okay?”

  He nodded. “Okay.”

  Annie sighed and relaxed her tense body after Cody left. “I wish Danny had been here. One of those three is probably the murderer,” she said to no one, but saying it out loud made her feel like she had company while she unpacked what she brought from the café. She took a quick look around. “I’m not coming back here alone.”

  Chapter 26

  “It’s kind of nice closing the café today. Mondays are always slow once summer is over,” Leona said as she drove Mia and Annie back to the Harper House with the rest of the food for the party.

  Annie sat quietly in the back, staring out the window, analyzing her conversations with Larry, Henry, and Cody. “I can’t figure out who acted the guiltiest.”

  Leona looked at her in the rearview mirror. “What are you talking about?”

  “Did I say that out loud?”

  Mia turned around to look at Annie. “Are you all right?”

  “I will be if this plan works.”

  Danny’s truck was back at the Harper House and he was waiting to help carry everything inside.

  “Why did Larry tell you to stop working?” Annie asked Danny.

  “He said it was Cody’s idea, but I don’t believe him. His car didn’t leave for at least an hour after I left.”

  “You spied on him?” Leona asked.

  “You bet. Something’s fishy with that guy. I don’t know what he was doing while he was here. I’m going to take a quick look upstairs to see if the secret compartment has been tampered with.”

  “I suppose it doesn’t matter now, since it’s empty. He told me he doesn’t want Cody and Abby moving in so my guess is he’ll be back to find out what we’re all up to,” Annie said as she carried a box of desserts into the apartment.

  Leona arranged all the food on the table in the kitchen while Annie peeked into the rest of the apartment. It was laid out efficiently with the dining and living room areas behind the kitchen. Annie climbed the back set of stairs, finding two bedrooms and a bathroom. She opened another door, expecting to find a closet, but instead it was an entry into the rest of the house. She was surprised to be in the same room with Danny.

  “Where did you come from?” he asked Annie.

  She pointed to the door she just walked through. “This door connects the upstairs of Cody and Abby’s apartment to the front of the house.”

  Danny turned the doorknob. “That’s strange. This door is supposed to be locked on this side to keep the apartment private and inaccessible from the front when anyone is here.”

  “Who would have a key?”

  Danny shrugged. “Claire had a key. She was up here telling me some new plans when she saw Larry’s car drive in the afternoon she was murdered. She went down this way, it’s quicker.”

  “What time was that?”

  Danny touched his cheek with his finger. “After you brought my lunch. Maybe an hour or two later. I was in the middle of cutting all the trim for the doors and windows and Claire wanted me to be sure I finished that afternoon. She said Cody had been by, and since they would be moving in soon, she wanted me done in the upstairs.”

  “Cody had come and gone?”

  “I guess so.”

  “Did you see Larry talking to Claire?”

  “No. Claire said it was his car and she went downstairs. I didn’t see anyone or hear anything with all the noise I was making up here.”

  Annie looked out the window and saw several cars already parked next to Leona’s. Jason drove in and Detective Crank was behind him. “We’d better get back downstairs. It looks like the show’s about to begin.”

  Martha bustled around in the living room making Abby comfortable and trying to cheer her up. “Now, isn’t this nice with all these windows. That apartment you’re in now is so dark and gloomy.”

  “I don’t know, Grandma, it doesn’t feel right being here. I’m not sure Cody is even going to show up. He doesn’t want to move in.”

  “I’m glad someone has some common sense,” Annie heard a gruff voice say behind them. “You can’t move in until this money situation is straightened out.

  “Calm down Larry. This isn’t the best time to discuss that, and Cody isn’t even here,” Violet said. “He’s the one we have to come to an agreement with.”

  Larry pulled his watch from his pocket. “It’s already after two. When is he supposed to come? I don’t want to hang around all afternoon.”

  Annie was relieved to see Christy Crank walk in as Larry checked his pocket watch.

  “That’s an unusual time piece you have, Mr. Sheldrake,” Christy said as she put her hand on his arm.

  “Yes, it is.”

  “Mind if I take a look at it?” Christy extended her hand. Larry hesitated but Christy slid the watch from his palm.

  Christy’s hand rubbed the cool gold. “It’s a pity that the cover is missing.”

  “What are you talking about?” Larry grabbed his watch back.

  “Here.” Christy pointed to the tiny hinge where a cover should be attached. “Funny thing about that, since I have a cover. Let’s see if it’s a match.” She pulled the gold cover with the engraved H from her pocket and it fit over Larry’s pocket watch like a glove.

  The color drained from his face. “Where did you find it?”

  Christy held his arm in a tight grip. “The question is, where did you get this exquisite antique watch?”

  “My mother gave it to me.”

  All eyes in the room turned to stare at Violet Sheldrake. Her hand paused in midair as the drink she held trembled.

  “I … I can explain,” Violet stammered. Her eyes darted around the room. “Claire gave it to me. She said it was for partial repayment of the money I loaned her.”

  Henry Harper the third stuck his face inches away from Violet’s nose. “Is that right? And where did Claire get my grandfather’s antique pocket watch?”

  “No. That can’t be right. You can’t prove it belonged to your grandfather,” Violet gasped.

  Detective Crank turned the watch cover over to reveal the engraved H. “I think he can.”

  Larry moved toward his mother. “You told me you found it. Along with a few gold coins. All hidden somewhere in the house. It was never about Claire repaying you, was it?” Larry shook his head. “You sent me on a wild goose chase, searching for more valuables. What was the point of that?”

  Violet looked at everyone staring at her. “I found Claire in the kitchen drooling over her discovery. At first, she tried to hide it from me but she couldn’t resist taunting me with how she found old man Harper’s hidden treasures. She told me there was more but she laughed in my face when I demanded she show me where it was hidden.” Violet looked directly at Henry Harper the third. “She thought it served you and your father right to miss out. It’s the whole reason she came back to Catfish Cove when she heard the old house was for sale. She told me she knew something no one else did. I’m not sure she even intended to finish the renovations once she found the coins and jewelry.”

  Larry grabbed Violet and shook her. “Why didn’t you tell me? You
were planning to keep it all to yourself?”

  “What? And share it with her?” Violet pointed at Larry’s wife. “She would have blabbed it all over town.”

  Larry turned away. “You disgust me. I can’t believe I let you use me for your alibi.”

  Annie inched closer, urging Violet to keep going with her story. “How convenient to find Danny’s lunch bag on the porch with a knife inside.”

  “A plus for sure. With Danny in the house at the time of the murder and his fingerprints on the murder weapon, it turned into a perfect plan.” Violet laughed as her hand darted into her big purse slung over her shoulder. “And I didn’t have to use this.” She grabbed Annie with her other hand, pulling her close and pointing the gun at her head.

  The room was deathly silent. Violet stood with her back to the exit, facing everyone else inside the room.

  “No one even think about following me or you will never see you dear friend again.” Violet jabbed the gun against Annie’s head. She looked out the window. “Who’s got the keys to that yellow Mustang?”

  “What?” Leona sputtered. “You’re not taking my car.”

  “It’s the fastest and the easiest to get out. Toss the keys to Annie.”

  Annie gasped as Violet twisted her arm behind her back.

  Leona tossed the keys and Annie did her best to catch them with her one free hand. She was so nervous, they slid from her sweaty palm.

  “Pick them up and drop them in the front pocket of my purse. And no funny stuff.” Violet emphasized her words with another jab of the gun.

  Annie saw Christy’s eyes shift to the outside door and give an ever so slight nod. What was that supposed to mean? Christy wasn’t in her uniform and Annie had no idea if she was carrying a weapon. All she knew was that a crazy maniac had a gun to her head and she hoped no one tried to be a hero without a fool proof plan in place.

  Violet backed herself and Annie to the door. “Don’t forget what I said. Any of you do anything stupid and this will be Annie’s last day. Once I’m safely away, I’ll let her go. Maybe.” She laughed again.

  Violet pushed Annie into Leona’s car through the driver side door and she slid in after her with the gun aimed at Annie the whole time.

  “Where does this stupid key go?” Violet asked, sounding frustrated.

  With her attention diverted to starting the Mustang, an arm surged from the back seat and put a strong choke hold on Violet, snapping her head back against the head rest.

  A muffled scream passed Violet’s lips and her hands dug at the arm restraining her, with no result.

  “Time to end this craziness, Violet Sheldrake,” Tyler said.

  Christy flung the door open and grabbed Violet’s gun, abandoned on the floor of the car.

  Annie’s body slumped into the Mustang’s seat. “You cut that a bit too close for comfort, Tyler Johnson.”

  Tyler grinned. “You’re welcome.”

  It didn’t take long for Christy to read Violet her rights, handcuff her and push her into the back of Tyler’s cruiser.

  “Are you all right, Annie?” Christy asked as Annie slid from the car and stood on legs that had finally stopped shaking.

  Annie nodded. “I’m all right.”

  Tyler left with Violet, and Christy brought Annie back inside.

  Silence descended on the room before everyone started talking at once.

  Leona led Cody, who arrived right after all the commotion, to a chair next to Abby. “Sit and relax. This is a lot for the two of you to digest.”

  Jason slipped out to his car. He returned, followed by Karen, Roxy and Bella, with a bundle wrapped in a fleece blanket.

  “We thought it was only appropriate to share this party with these other guests.” Jason winked at Annie before setting the bundle on Cody’s lap.

  Cody peeked inside and picked up the black puppy, cradling him on his shoulder as tears ran down his cheeks.

  Annie whispered to Karen, “I think Christy will be disappointed. It looks like that pup may have a new home once he’s old enough to be adopted.”

  Chapter 27

  Annie and Jason cuddled on his porch swing, watching the sun go down over Heron Lake.

  “At least I didn’t have to rescue you this time,” Jason said.

  Annie smiled. She decided there was no need to fill him in on her visit to the Harper House when she was alone and ran into Larry, Henry and Cody, suspecting one of them to be the killer. Instead, she rested her head on his shoulder and mumbled, “That’s too bad. You do so enjoy being a knight in shining armor.”

  The squeak, squeak, squeak of the swing was soothing. Silence fell over Annie and Jason like a favorite old sweater, wrapping them with comfort. Loons called from across the lake.

  Annie’s eyes were heavy with exhaustion and happiness as she drifted closer to sleep.

  The sound of car doors slamming made her jump. “Who’s that?”

  Jason stood up. “I’ll check and get rid of whoever it is. Stay here.” He gave the swing a push and Annie settled back with the rhythm.

  She could hear muffled voices and footsteps coming closer. Too many to belong only to Jason. With a groan, she sat up. Was it too much to have one quiet evening, without interruptions, with Jason?

  Leona rushed onto the porch. “Sorry to butt in Annie, but this news couldn’t wait.”

  “Another dead body? Because that’s about the only thing I can imagine could be important enough to share after the day I’ve had.”

  Mia, Martha, Harry, Camilla and Danny followed closely behind Leona.

  Leona sat on the swing next to Annie, her warm left hand resting on Annie’s leg. “Don’t be such a party pooper.”

  Jason joined the others, carrying a tray of glasses and a bottle of champagne. “Leona has some news to share.”

  As soon as Jason set the tray on the table, Annie’s eyes saw the glitter, and her fingers entwined with Leona’s. A smile spread across her face. “Danny Davis, you told me you had a surprise for Leona but I never guessed what it was.” She embraced her biological mother.

  Jason filled glasses for everyone and raised his in a toast to Leona and Danny. “Good luck Danny, you’ll need it.”

  Leona smacked Jason’s arm, making the champagne slosh over the edge of his glass.

  “Just kidding. You’re one lucky man,” he added, but his eyes were on Annie.

  Annie took Leona’s hand and studied the ring. “It’s beautiful.”

  Leona smiled. “Camilla made it with one of the diamonds from her necklace.”

  “I hope she used a real one,” Annie said, teasing.

  Leona’s face fell. “Camilla?”

  “Of course it’s a real diamond. It’s the one that had the most parrot poop on it when it was hidden in Charlie’s cage,” Camilla explained.

  “Won’t that make a great story someday for my grandkids?” Leona winked at Annie and squeezed her hand.

  Behind the scenes with Lyndsey

  My first granddaughter arrived! A little late, but happy and healthy. Mark and Danny have a little sister now—Emma, not ‘Boy’ as Danny was hoping her name would be. I decided Emma’s arrival deserved an extra special treat, a recipe I loved helping my mother make when I was a little girl. She would pull out the extra leaf on her kitchen table, hand me my favorite apron and we’d get busy making her:

  RaspBuried Torte

  “First things first,” she would always say, “I have to preheat the oven to 350 F. The torte can’t go into a cold oven!”

  Next, she would let me stick the beaters into her old mixer so I could cream 1 cup of butter. While the mixer was running and I watched the butter turn into a nice smooth blob, she added ½ cup of white sugar.

  She left me in charge of mixing the butter and sugar while she separated 5 eggs. Sometimes she let me separate one egg if I wanted to. The whites all went into a different bowl for later and the yolks went into the butter-sugar mixture.

  After the egg yolks were added, she mea
sured and added 2 Tablespoons milk and ¾ of a teaspoon vanilla. I always wanted to smell the vanilla before she put it back in the cupboard.

  We had to do the next step by hand. She added 2 cups sifted white flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder and ½ teaspoon salt and told me to mix everything with a wooden spoon until blended. Sometimes I couldn’t help sticking my finger in to taste it when she wasn’t looking.

  She told me the next step was very important and I had to do it carefully. The 3 pans needed to be greased on the bottoms before she poured the batter into the 3 separate 9-inch round pans. With a new stick of butter in my hand, I rubbed the butter over the pan bottoms until they were completely covered. My hands always got greasy, too, but I rubbed them on my apron.

  With the 3 pans filled with batter, my mom measured out 1/3 cup of raspberry preserves for me to spread over the batter in one pan. We did this for each pan and she told me we used 1 cup of raspberry preserves all together. I realize now that she was a little sneaky by adding a math lesson into our baking fun!

  Next, I had to wash the beaters before I could beat the 5 egg whites. She added ¼ teaspoon salt and told me to continue beating until slight mounds formed in the egg whites. She gradually added 1 cup of white sugar and I continued beating until stiff peaks formed. She took the bowl off the mixer stand and folded in ½ cup coconut and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

  Now, I covered the beautiful raspberry preserves with the egg white mixture and the 3 pans were ready to go into the oven.

  My mom set the timer for 35 minutes and I helped her clean up the mess we made.

  Once the timer buzzed, she checked the cakes. If the tops weren’t a nice golden brown, she left them in the oven for 5 more minutes.

  We let them cool for 15 minutes before they were ready to remove from the pans to finish cooling on a rack.

  Once they were completely cooled, she centered one cake on her fancy dessert plate. I spread 1 cup of sour cream on top and she added another cake layer. I spread another 1 cup of sour cream on that layer before she added the third layer.

  Before we could eat it, the cake had to be chilled for several hours. Sometimes she let me put in toothpicks to hold it all together until it was time to serve the cake.