Coffee & Crime (29 page)

She looked at him in the rearview mirror. "Somebody busted it last night, so there's nothing to roll up. What was in the file?"

Joe jammed his hands in his pockets. "Lab results for Lily. She's his."

I turned to him. "That's normal then? Having paternity tests done?"

Joe angled himself to avoid the cold air. "Depends on the circumstances."

I grabbed a fleece throw out of the console and tossed it to Joe in the backseat. "How so?"

He spread the throw over his lap and sighed. "If the story don't match up with the facts. George could've found her story questionable."

I recalled our talk with Tina. "Or his wife or daughter did?"

Joe nodded. "Sure. Man's gotta keep the peace in his family." He shrugged. "And old George had a lot to lose. Rich folks get bamboozled all the time. Could be his lawyer

told George to have them done. If he was putting Miss Lily in his will he'd wanna be sure." Zelda hit a pothole and he winced. "Money makes people do a lot of things they wouldn't bother with otherwise."

I felt sorry for Lily. Being an outsider sucked. But the tests being a dead-end didn't thrill me either. "So, not that unusual, huh?"

"It depends on how Lily reacted to the request. That might've been the real test." He turned and squinted through the back windshield. "And y'all want to tell me, why we're being tailed?"

Zelda muttered under her breath. "Is it the dynamic duo?"

I peered through the back windshield and shrugged. "Can't tell but it looks like their unmarked cop-mobile."

Zelda looked at Joe in the rear view mirror. "Hungry, buddy?"

"Now that you mention it, I'm feeling a might peckish."

<<>>

Zelda stopped at the first diner she saw - a tiny establishment apparently famous for its pancakes and waffles. Clearly the word hadn't gotten out because there were only three customers in the place.

We grabbed a booth by the front windows to keep an eye on our surveillance detail. While Joe plowed through a plate of waffles, eggs, grits and sausage
—
with a side of biscuits and gravy, we drank coffee. The bonk on the head and eight stitches hadn't affected his appetite at all. According to Joe, his injury required a second helping of

grits and biscuits because that mighty load of pain and suffering burned up a powerful lot of calories.

While Joe power-ate, we briefed him on what he’d missed.

Joe pushed his plate away and grinned. "Ladies, if y’all ever get out of the food business you'd make a couple of fine detectives. Some real potential there." He chuckled. "Except you gotta learn how to blend in more. Stay off the cop's radar."

Zelda glanced out to the parking lot. "Bastards probably broke my window too."

Joe rolled his eyes. "Cops don't need to go around busting up your windows to scare you
—
they got the power of the law on their side. Why mess around with windows when they can lock you up?"

"Then it had to be VW guy."

Joe cocked an ear. "Come again?"

I told Joe about our two brief encounters with the unknown VW driver.

He scratched at his chin stubble. "I'd say VW guy has more potential as the perpetrator. For the window and my fancy new stitches."

"The cops could've done that too."

"Oh pish. Cops would just get a warrant, tear up the place and haul it all away. Whilst we sat and watched." Joe wrapped his hands around his coffee cup. "Question is, who's this VW guy? Problem is it could be anybody whose business you've been nosing into."

"Like who, the killer?" Zelda chuckled.

Joe took a loud sip of coffee. "What do you think?"

Zelda came out of her seat. "This isn't funny!"

Joe eyed Zelda over his coffee cup. "Need I remind you that I'm the one with the stitches in my skull? I know it ain't funny. But you two don't seem to understand this ain't a game we're playing here. Your friend was murdered. And whoever did it knows we're poking around in it.” He let that sink in. "And for all we know, he took our evidence with him."

We got Joe settled in at home and made it to the diner just in time for the lunch rush. Halfway through lunch a storm hit and the rain pounded the roof for the rest of the afternoon. Zelda cursed about how rain was filling the inside of her jeep because she had no window. But Manny wouldn’t let her run home to even throw a tarp over it because the storm drove customers into the diner non-stop. We ran our tails off all day and by three were desperate to get out of there. But the downpour flooded Debbie's street, and she couldn't make it in to relieve us, so we got stuck there until closing.

Around eight, the storm slowed to a drizzle and the diner emptied. I slumped against the cash register. "I don't know if I can make it until ten." I stared out at the street where drivers zoomed by as though it was just another sunny day in southern California.

Zelda sat at the counter with her head on her arms. "Quiet, people trying to sleep here."

I yawned so hard that my jaw popped, then poured myself another cup of coffee. On my way back to my seat, I whacked Zelda on the back of her head with my checkbook. "Wake up! I'm not working this shift alone."

Zelda raised her head and glared. "Try that again and you're dead meat." She squinted at the pass-through. "Where's Manny?"

I waved a hand at the kitchen. "In the back, on the phone."

Zelda dragged herself to her feet, grabbed a tray, and started collecting salt and pepper shakers. "Talking trash with one of his chicas?"

I grabbed the salt and pepper buckets and set them on the counter. "I don't think it's a chica." Zelda brought the tray with the shakers back to the counter and set it down next to the buckets. I unscrewed the salt shaker caps. "When I knocked, he locked the door and told me to go away."

Zelda filled the salt shakers and handed them to me to wipe down and re-screw the caps. "The other buyer then."

I pouted. "Probably."

Zelda started on the pepper shakers. "You can't let it bother you."

I snapped my fingers and pointed at Lily, who rushed for the entrance. She threw the door open and rushed to the counter. "Scotti! Are you okay?"

Zelda groaned. "A perfect end to a perfect day." She rolled her eyes at Lily. "Don't we look okay?"

Lily peeled off her expensive raincoat and tossed it on a seat at the counter like it was a thrift store rag. Her dark eyes intent on me and only me.

I reared back. "Stop looking at me like that, Lily. You're freaking me out."

Manny came out front, spotted Lily, and looked away. He walked straight to the cash drawer, grabbed some twenties and hurried back to the kitchen.

Zelda stared at Lily suspiciously. "Why does he keep looking at you like that?"

Lily blotted the rain from her face with a napkin. "I heard you and a friend were in the hospital." She looked so concerned it was scary. "Are you sure you're all right? I was worried something terrible had happened to you and Zelda."

Zelda smirked. "Yeah, sure you were."

But unlike Zelda I didn't feel snarky, instead my radar went up. "Lily, what are you talking about?"

Her gaze never faltered. "Your friend was attacked and you were in the hospital. Isn't that right?"

I lowered my voice and asked, "Where’d you hear that?"

Zelda leaned in too. "Yeah Lily?"

Lily itched her nose and blushed. "I could really use a cup of coffee. It's freezing out there." I poured her a cup and prodded her with my eyebrows. Lily poured cream in her coffee and chuckled. "Well, obviously I got the wrong information because here you are and you're fine."

Zelda slapped the counter. "Information? Are you spying on us?"

Lily's hand flew to her chest. "No. I called here last night looking for Scotti, and the person who answered the phone told me she was in the hospital with a friend because she was attacked."

I looked at Zelda and shook my head. "Damn Debbie."

Zelda eased back into her seat. "How can she be such a good waitress and such a ditz at the same time?" Zelda grabbed the tray of salt and pepper shakers and carried them out to the floor to put them back on the tables.

Lily furrowed her brow. "Who's Debbie?"

"Another waitress who works here. She must've gotten mixed up on the details."

Lily sipped her coffee then said, "So you weren't in the hospital?"

I didn't want to explain myself to Lily. And I didn't want her to know my business, but after her big display of concern I had to tell her something. I shook my head. "A friend of ours was hurt and we took him to the hospital."

Lily's face filled with concern. "Is he going to be okay?"

I nodded. "Eventually."

All of Lily’s concern disappeared and she turned to the pastry case. "Well, after all that panic for nothing, I need some sugar. Do you have any brownies?"

I stuttered. "Brownies?"

Lily smiled. "Yeah, you’ve heard of brownies right? Didn't you make some special ones for George? I'd love to try one."

Zelda looked up from her salt and pepper shakers and frowned. I looked back to Lily. "No, we don't have any of those." I went to the pastry case and pulled out a chocolate chip muffin, put it on a plate and brought it to her. "This will have to do."

Lily seemed just as happy with the muffin and pulled off a small piece. "Looks yummy." She popped it into her mouth. "Oh, so good. Did you make this?"

I nodded. "Guilty."

Lily took another bite. "Well, they're fabulous. No wonder George was such a fan." She pushed the plate aside and leaned her elbows on the counter. "So, what happened to your friend? How was he hurt?"

"He hurt his head but he'll be fine. Not to worry."

Zelda brought the empty tray back to the counter and sat next to Lily. "Why did you call? Last night?"

Confused, Lily glanced at Zelda. "What?"

Zelda stared her. "You said you called here last night, looking for Scotti. So I'm asking why?"

Lily cleared her throat and twirled a lock of hair with her finger. "To invite her to see a movie or just hang out." She shrugged. "I was bored and felt like some company."

Zelda smirked. "You called here because you wanted to hang out with Scotti?" She got to her feet. "Sure you did, Lily." She walked back to the kitchen. "My ass."

Lily called after Zelda. "I did. I don't have many friends here. Actually, I don't have any friends here." She turned to me. "I was climbing the walls and needed to get out of

there. You understand, don't you?"

I nodded. "Sure, I understand." But that didn't mean I believed her.

Lily sighed and reached for her raincoat. "Thank God it was just a big mistake and you're okay." She put on her raincoat and smoothed back her hair. "Anyway, it was good seeing you again." She looked at the kitchen pass-through just as Zelda ducked out of sight. "And you too, Zelda." Not wanting to prolong the conversation, I walked Lily to the door. She squeezed my hand. "If you need anything, call me. I really mean that. Or even if you want to go to a movie. That would be fun, wouldn't it?"

I sketched a little wave. "Good night Lily."

I watched through the window as Lily got into her little red sports car, waved and drove off. Zelda came out of the kitchen and watched Lily with me. "What's her deal? What does she want from you?"

I shook my head and frowned. "I'm afraid she wants to be my friend."

Zelda cackled. "Yeah that’s a scary thought."

I hip-bumped her and went back to the counter. "She's no competition for you, if that’s what you’re worried about." I sat on a stool and picked at the muffin that Lily barely touched. "Not even close."

Zelda plopped down next to me. "I don't trust that chick." She grabbed a big hunk of muffin and popped it into her mouth. "I mean, who leaves a whole muffin like that?"

I pulled off a piece of muffin and popped it into my mouth. "I don't trust anyone
—
except you and Joe."

Zelda cocked her head. "Not even Ted?"

I jerked back and scoffed. "Ted? Did you forget that he broke up with me?"

Zelda scrunched up her face. "Technically, I think you broke up with him."

I pushed the muffin away then stepped behind the counter for a cup of coffee. "And why are you bringing up Ted anyway?" I dumped a half pitcher of cream into my coffee cup. "You know I don't want to talk about him."

Zelda popped the last bite of muffin into her mouth and chewed slowly. "I don't know. Just wondering."

Glaring at her, I put my hand on my hip. "Damn it Zee, have you been talking to him?"

Zelda jutted her chin. "No! I've just been thinking about what he said about getting hurt." She held out her arms. "And Joe did get hurt. You have to admit Ted called that one."

I squinted at her. "I don't have to admit anything."

She gave me a hopeful look. "Scotti, come on. He's good guy. And he really likes you. And I know you really like him."