BlueBuried Muffins (Black Cat Cafe Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) Read Free Page B

curious. A pink paper, not his color. As she pulled it out, she heard people walking in behind her so she stuffed it into the pocket of her jeans.
    Leona rushed to Annie’s side. “What happened? Are you okay?” She turned Annie around and searched her face before looking at the body.
    Annie waved her hand toward the booth. “This is what I found when I got here. That’s all I know.”
    Roy barged in, took in the scene, and bellowed to Leona. “What trouble did you get into now?”
    Leona worked her jaw muscles into a frenzy. With a firm, strong voice, she said, “Calm down, Roy. This has nothing to do with me.” She tilted her head and added, “Maybe you know what’s going on?”
    The two stared daggers at each other for what seemed like forever to Annie, but was probably only several seconds, before sirens broke the silence.
    Annie stuck her hand in her pocket, rubbing her fingers on the paper from Max’s pocket. “I need to go to the bathroom,” she said to whoever was listening and went into the hallway to find the restroom.
    As she pushed through the door, the automatic light filled the room with a harsh fluorescent glare. Annie leaned on the sink. Her body was suddenly too heavy for her legs to support. What was happening? With shaky hands, she pulled the pink paper from her pocket, unfolded it slowly and read the words written in Max’s neat printing— A. Don’t trust anyone! M .
    The bathroom door flew open. “The police need to talk to you,” Leona said to Annie’s back. Annie could see Leona’s reflection in the mirror as she carefully refolded the paper and slid it safely back into her pocket.
    “I’ll be right out,” she answered, but the door had already slammed closed.
    Annie sucked in a deep breath of air, letting it fill her lungs before exhaling. Max must have had information for Annie that he wanted to deliver in person. And now he was dead.
    The café was buzzing with people when Annie walked back in. Tyler, in his uniform, tried to manage the chaos—giving instructions, ordering people where to wait and talking on his cell phone. When he saw Annie, his face softened and he motioned with his finger for her to come over. He nodded toward the counter stool as he finished his conversation on the phone.
    “Quite a morning for you,” he said with his head tilted. “Want a glass of water or anything before you tell me what happened?”
    Annie shook her head. “I’m fine.” She leaned on the counter with her hands folded under her chin.
    Tyler waited for Annie to offer her story but she said nothing. Getting the ball rolling, he asked, “Was anyone here when you came in this morning?”
    “I didn’t see anyone.”
    “What time did you arrive?”
    “Around seven, I guess. I walked from my apartment. The door was open and something didn’t feel right, but I didn’t see anyone.” Annie swiveled to look at Tyler. “It wasn’t until I walked to the window with my coffee. That’s when I saw him.” She quickly glanced at the booth where Max was still slumped over.
    “You said something didn’t feel right? What do you mean?” Tyler said quietly as he moved closer to the counter next to Annie’s stool.
    “I can’t explain. Just that when I walked in, something wasn’t right, like a chill in the air.”
    “Okay, anything else?”
    “I know who he is.” She turned and stared at Tyler.
    Tyler’s eyebrows shot up. “Max Parker. We found an ID in his wallet. Did you check in his wallet too?”
    “No. I mean, I know him. He’s my ex-boyfriend. I left his apartment yesterday morning to drive back here to Catfish Cove.” She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
    Tyler pulled a napkin from the holder on the counter and handed it to Annie. “Did he come with you?”
    “No. I guess he followed me here.”
    Tyler leaned closer to Annie. “Was he stalking you? Are you in some kind of danger?”
    Annie rested her forehead on one hand. “I don’t know what’s happening. I