Kelly's Koffee Shop (A Cedar Bay Cozy Mystey Book 1) (7 page)

A few minutes later Kelly
walked out of the kitchen. Chris was standing by the cash register, looking as
haggard and tired as he had yesterday. “Sorry to bother you Kelly, but I never
heard from you. Did you find out what the coroner told Mike?”

“The reason I didn’t text
you is that Mike told me the report had been sealed as part of the criminal
investigation, so I didn’t have anything to tell you. Why?”

“I still can’t believe it.
I wish there was something I could do. It seems so wrong. I’ve been racking my
brain trying to come with up with a motive and a name and I can’t. I know all
the kids in high school and I’m sure it wasn’t one of them. Everyone loved
Amber. It makes me sick every time I think about it. Does Mike have anyone in
mind?”

“Not that I know of, but
that doesn’t mean much. I know there’s a lot he can’t tell me. Can I get you
your usual?”

“I think not, but thanks
anyway. I’ve already had way too much coffee. I was up half the night trying to
get my computer to work and had no luck. It seems to be frozen. Know anyone in
town who’s good with computers?”

“I highly recommend Seth
Morrison. His shop is down the street, about a block away. He’s helped me more
times than I care to remember. Don’t think he opens until nine, but you might
leave him a note. Good luck.”

“Thanks. See you
tomorrow.”

True to his word, the
editor of the local paper had written a eulogy about Amber and at the end,
wrote about the funeral that was to take place the next day, who would be
speaking, and that there would be a Celebration of Life at Kelly’s Koffee Shop
following the funeral. Based on the number of people who said “See you
tomorrow, Kelly,” as they left the coffee shop, it was going to be jammed the
next day. She walked back into the kitchen and continued with the needed
preparations.

Madison returned after her
classes were finished and helped Roxie clean up. The three of them moved tables
against the wall and set up for the Celebration of Life.

“Madison, it’s two
o’clock. You’ve really helped me a lot today. I’ll see you at the service
tomorrow. Oh, that reminds me, I need to get Amber’s locker ready for you.
Bye.” Madison took off her apron and closed the door behind her.

“Kelly,” Roxie said, “I
know you have a lot on your mind, but is there any chance I could cry on your
shoulder for a couple of minutes?”

“Of course. Let’s sit
down. What’s up?”

“Remember I told you
yesterday that Joe and I were meeting with Dr. Ramsey, Wade’s principal? Well,
it looks like there was more to it than an occasional ditch day. The principal
didn’t want to tell us over the phone, but he found almost a kilo of marijuana
in Wade’s school locker. Dr. Ramsey suspended Wade starting next week and he’s
conducting an investigation to find out if Wade was selling it to the
students.”

“Oh, Roxie. That’s
horrible. A full kilo. That’s not a baggie that kids buy for personal use. With
a stash that size he must have been selling it. If he’s arrested, he could be
sent to juvenile hall for years.”

“I know. That’s the first
thing I thought of. Kelly, I’m so scared I don’t know what to do.” 

“Have you told Mike? I
mean, I know he’s Joe’s son, but if he’s selling it to students, Mike needs to
know. Where did he get that much?”

“Joe and I sat him down
when we got home from school. It was a long night for both of us. Wade told us
he got it from some guy who works out at the Black’s ranch. He said everyone
knows that Brandon’s dad is growing it out on the back of his property.”

“Well, I can’t say I’m
surprised that it’s being grown on the ranch, but I would be surprised if Jeff
knew that someone was selling it to kids at school. You know he idolizes his
son and that sure could jeopardize Brandon’s scholarship and future if it got
out.”

“I don’t think Jeff knows.
It sounded like one of the men who works as a guard at the ranch is selling it
behind Jeff’s back. I don’t know. I’m so scared Wade will be arrested and
kicked out of school. And then what do I do? It’s bad enough when he and I are
together in the evenings. I don’t know what will happen if he’s at home all the
time.”

“How’s Joe taking all of
this?”

“He’s furious. He was so
angry I thought he was going to hit Wade when he got home from school. I was
able to calm him down, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep peace in the
family.”

“Let me talk to Mike. I
think it might be a good thing for you and Joe to talk to a lawyer just in case
the investigation shows that Wade was selling to other students. Roxie, what do
you think in your heart of hearts? I won’t tell anyone.”

She started to weep
softly. “Kelly, I love Joe. You know that. The only reason Joe and Wade haven’t
come to blows is because I’m constantly acting as a bridge between both of
them, trying to keep peace at home. I’m really worried that Joe will do
something bad to Wade if it turns out to be true. Maybe it would be for the
best. Maybe if Wade went to juvenile hall for delinquents, he’d turn around.
The way he is now, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he was selling it. I
wouldn’t even be surprised if he was selling other drugs. I don’t think Joe
would like it if he knew I was talkin’ to you about our troubles. He’s a proud
man. Proud men don’t like to hear that their only son may be dealing drugs to
fellow students and is on the verge of being arrested.”

“Well, you probably have a
few days. Amber’s murder is pretty much the main topic in town right now. Let’s
get through tomorrow and see what happens. You know you can always call me. I’m
so sorry, Roxie.”

“Kelly, this is the worst
thing that’s ever happened to me. I thought when Wade came to live with us and
turned our happy life upside down that was bad. Looking back, it was a cakewalk
compared to this. Thanks for listening.” As she slowly made her way to the
door, Kelly thought she looked like she’d aged ten years.

I thought my life was a
tragedy when Mark died and I struggled to make ends meet all those years after
he died. I knew I never could afford to send my kids to college, but at least I
never had to deal with what Roxie’s going through. Poor dear, sweet Roxie. How
my heart goes out to you.

By the time Kelly finished with the
last of the preparations needed for the next day it was dusk. She turned off
the lights and locked the door, taking a deep breath of the crisp salty air.

Darn. I forgot to clean
out Amber’s locker. Well, better get it over with. I don’t want to lose Madison
and she might think I don’t care about her if I don’t get her locker ready. I
have a feeling I’m really going to need her tomorrow, so I want to keep her
happy.

She turned around and
unlocked the door, smiling to herself as she always did when she saw the Cedar
Bay mementos that filled the coffee shop, adding to its charm. The locker, as
she referred to it, was nothing more than a big drawer in the large storeroom
located at the back of the coffee shop where she kept the dry goods,
silverware, napkins, and everything that didn’t need to be refrigerated or
frozen.

Amber had started working
for Kelly in the beginning of her senior year to earn money for college. She
helped five mornings a week and in the last month had been coming in after her
classes were finished just before noon to help Roxie and Kelly get ready for
the next day.

Kelly opened the drawer
and took out Amber’s apron and a few other things that Amber had stuck in it.
She got a sponge, cleaned the drawer so it would be ready for Madison, and left
it open for a couple of minutes to dry out. As she turned away to rinse the
sponge, she noticed something blue at the very back of the drawer. Curious, she
pulled the drawer completely out and saw a small notebook wedged between the
base and back of the drawer with a blue ribbon sticking out of it. She opened
the notebook and read the words written in pink ink on the flyleaf page, “The
Diary of Amber Cook.”

Oh my gosh! This must be
the diary Ginger’s sister told me about. I wonder if there’s a clue in here as
to what happened to Amber or about her pregnancy. Too late for me to stay here
any longer. I’ll take it home and read it later tonight.

The only people Kelly had
given her cell phone number to were Mike, Julia, and Cash, but everyone knew
her home telephone number. The red light on the answerphone was blinking
furiously when she got home. She spent the next hour returning calls to people
who asked if they could help her tomorrow or if they could bring something. She
loved the small town and its people, but as tired as she was, she would have
preferred to have a glass of wine, some dinner, and go to bed. She knew the
coming day was going to be emotionally and physically grueling.

Just as she finished
returning the last call her cell phone rang. “Kelly, glad I caught you. I tried
your home phone, but it’s been busy for the last hour,” Mike said.

“Everyone wants to help me
tomorrow, Mike. I can’t tell you how many calls I had to return. I just
finished. Gonna be able to come by for dinner?”

“No. That’s why I’m
calling. I have a couple of appointments tonight. Things are getting
interesting. I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow. Anyway, you need to eat and
go to bed. Tomorrow won’t be easy.”

“I know. I was just
getting ready to do that. By the way, I found Amber’s diary in her locker
drawer at the coffee shop. Haven’t had a chance to look at it. I’ll glance
through it after dinner and see what’s in it.”

“Kelly, I can’t stop you
from reading it, but you’re going to have to give it to me. There may be
something in it that affects the investigation. Sorry, but it’s part of my
job.”

“I understand. Glad I
thought of it. My mind’s so scattered with everything I need to remember for
tomorrow, I’m sure I would have forgotten about it. See you after the funeral.”

“Night, Babe. Get some
sleep. I love you.”

I swore I would never get
married again, but I’m having second thoughts, although I haven’t been asked,
so even thinking about it is probably just a mental exercise. I know how hurt
Mike was when his wife left him. I just wish he’d believe me when I tell him I
love him and we could get past it. Neither one of us is getting any younger. I
need to keep reminding myself that some hurts are so deep they take a long time
to heal and having your wife leave you for a guy she met on the Internet is
pretty high on the hurt list.

An hour later she sat down
in the large plaid chair that overlooked the bay, put her feet up on the matching
ottoman and opened Amber’s diary. She removed the small blue ribbon Amber used
as a bookmark and that had originally caught Kelly’s attention when she saw it
in the drawer. She read it from start to finish then closed it and sat for
several minutes, trying to make sense of what she’d just read. She wiped a tear
from her eye.

Good grief.
I can’t believe it.
Who would have ever thought? I’m stunned and feel sick to my stomach. Amber?
Never in a million years would I have suspected that of Amber.
I hope
this diary is locked up permanently. It would kill Ginger and Bob if they read
it. In some ways, I wish I’d never found it.

She let Rebel out,
watching him as Mike had suggested. “Come on, boy, time for bed.” He ran into
the house, down the hall, and curled up in his dog bed at the foot of her bed.
She turned the lights out and followed him to her bedroom.

Kelly knew there were going to be a
lot of people attending Amber’s funeral, but even she was surprised by the
number of cars that filled the church parking lot and overflowed onto the
nearby streets. She had to park three blocks away and felt lucky to find an
open spot. It was a somber occasion and no one was smiling as Amber’s friends
and family entered the church. She signed the guest register, took the offered
memorial prayer card, and entered the sanctuary. Extra chairs had been provided
and placed in every available open space. Kelly sat at the rear of the church
so she could leave early and hopefully, unnoticed. Ginger and Bob, along with
Ginger’s sister, as well as the rest of the extended family, filled the first
two rows, many of them openly weeping. She scanned the crowd for Madison who
was also looking for her. She spotted Madison seated three rows in front of
her, made eye contact with her, and nodded.

Good, we can both leave
early and not attract attention.

She looked at the card
she’d been given with the photo of Amber on it and the quote from Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
I don’t know
if Father Brown or Bob and Ginger chose that, but it’s certainly appropriate.

She opened the card and
read the short paragraph about Amber that was printed on the left side. The
schedule for the service was printed on the right side. She’d been curious as
to who would be speaking about Amber and mentally gave Brandon a lot of credit
for agreeing to do it. It didn’t matter how old someone was, speaking at a
funeral was not easy, and when the young woman you loved had been murdered,
that had to be about as bad as it gets. The principal of the high school, the
student body president, and Amber’s Girl Scout leader from years ago, were also
listed as speakers. Looking around the church, it seemed that every student who
attended the high school had come to the service. Even though there were no
more seats, people continued to file into the church, standing wherever they
could find space.