Mocha Mayhem by C. A. Phipps

Author:C. A. Phipps
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cheryl Phipps

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Nate arrived long before they were due to open the café. As usual, he came to the back door, armed with a wary look. Scarlett didn’t bother with pleasantries, simply wiping her hands she ushered him inside.

“Here’s the note, but before you say anything, it was under a stone at our back door with no envelope, and without knowing what it said, we both handled it,” Violet informed him as she wrapped her arms around her middle.

Scarlett held the note by her forefinger and thumb as if this could rectify anything. “Obviously, we wouldn’t have if we’d known it was evidence.”

“Whoa.” Nate reached out to her. “I get that you’re upset, but if you’d stop waving it around and lay it on the table, I could actually read it,” he instructed.

His logic was sound, and Scarlett did as he asked. Nate took out gloves from one of his handy and plentiful pockets and slipped them on. After reading the note, he turned it over. Only he elected to use a pair of tweezers pulled from yet another handy pocket and smoothed out the corners.

“Scarlett can’t go alone,” Violet stated.

Nate looked up in astonishment. “I wouldn’t let her, and what makes you think the note was for Scarlett?”

That momentarily stopped Violet in her tracks. “Who else could it be meant for?”

“You both work here,” he pointed out.

“Scarlett’s the one with her nose in everybody’s business,” Violet reminded him.

She should be mad at her sister, but seeing these two continue with their needling made it hard to concentrate on what they should be discussing—such as, who sent the note?

“She may be the ringleader, but I seem to recall that you’ve had your fingers in as many of the pies.” Nate placed the note in a plastic bag and sealed it.

“You may have noticed since you’re so clever, that her pies are much deeper and richer than mine.” Glaring at Nate, Violet tapped her foot furiously.

Out of the blue, laughter bubbled up and out of Scarlett. She laughed so hard that fat tears rolled down her cheeks, even as she apologized. “I’m so sorry. This is not funny at all, but oh, my, gosh. Your face, Vi. Your face!” she gasped.

Violet crossed her arms, tapping a foot even faster, waiting for Scarlett to control herself. “Please, excuse, my sister, Sheriff. She’s become a little unhinged.”

Scarlett snorted loudly, then wondered if she was in real danger of hysteria when it seemed to take forever to calm down. Nate’s raised eyebrow and small smirk finally helped, and after several hiccups, Scarlett decided that she needed water and strong coffee.

“Are you okay to talk?” Nate inquired with a straight-face.

She took in a deep breath and held it for a moment before exhaling loudly. “I think so.”

“Good. So what’s all this about?” Nate held out the bag containing the note.

Taking a large gulp of water, Scarlett felt better. Laughing was supposed to be good medicine. “I’m guessing, but to me, it appears that someone has come to their senses and wants to help us solve the case.

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