Ginny Gold - Early Bird Café 02 - Deadly Surprise Read online

  Deadly Surpise

  The Early Bird Café Cozy Mystery Series

  by Ginny Gold

  Copyright © 2014 Ginny Gold

  No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author and/or publisher. No part of this publication may be sold or hired, without written permission from the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are a product of the writer’s imagination and/or have been used fictitiously in such a fashion it is not meant to serve the reader as actual fact and should not be considered as actual fact. Any resemblance to actual events, or persons, living or dead, locales or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  IN THE KITCHEN WITH GINNY GOLD

  CHAPTER 1

  Kori was nervous beyond belief. She couldn’t believe she’d said yes. She was going on a date with Zach Gulch. After nearly twenty years of pretending she didn’t have feelings for him, here she was getting all dolled up and was as jumpy as a teenager.

  “Where is he taking you?” Nora asked, seated on Kori’s bed. Kori knew she wouldn’t be able to make all the important decisions about what to wear and how to do her hair so she’d asked her best friend to come over.

  “Jackson’s,” Kori said, turning around to gauge Nora’s reaction. Jackson’s was located on the north side of Thrush Lake, looking south toward Hermit Cove. The outside seating was perfectly located so they would be able to look back at their hometown while they enjoyed the fanciest meal in the state.

  “I can’t believe he could get a table so fast!” Nora reacted exactly how Kori knew she would—shouting in excitement and leaping off the bed. Kori blushed and turned back to the mirror to work on her makeup.

  “Let me do that,” Nora said, coming up beside her and taking the mascara from her hand. “You’re shaking and you’re just going to smudge it.”

  It was true. Kori gladly let Nora take over. They were celebrating the two month anniversary of Kori clearing her name and solving the first murder case in Hermit Cove in decades and she wanted to look her best.

  “Have you decided what you’re going to wear?” Kori was still wrapped in a towel, a second one on her head drying her hair.

  “No. That’s why you’re here,” Kori joked, but she was dead serious.

  “Well, let’s think about this. It’s late May so it could still be cold at night. What time is your reservation?”

  “Seven. He’s picking me up in half an hour,” Kori said as calmly as she could while her heart beat against her ribs at the thought of how soon she’d be with Zach.

  “You’ll want something that will keep you warm enough. I’m almost done with your makeup and then we’re going to raid your closet.”

  Nora put the finishing touches on Kori’s face and then stepped back to admire her work. “Look in the mirror,” Nora instructed her. “What do you think?”

  “You do amazing work.” Kori couldn’t take her eyes off herself. She wasn’t usually vain, but she looked great. Her eyes popped and the color on her cheeks wasn’t overdone.

  “Now, to the closet!” Nora wasted no time with dawdling. She took off as if she were headed for the Batcave.

  Inside Kori’s closet they start rifling through the few dresses Kori had acquired over the years. She had the dress she’d worn to a friend’s wedding in New York years ago, but it was strapless and wouldn’t work in this weather. There was the dress she’d bought for almost nothing at a consignment shop just before a vacation to the beach. But it wasn’t formal enough for this evening.

  “This is it,” Nora said, pulling a fitted maroon dress from its hanger. Kori’d had it altered years ago and had never had a reason to wear it. Until now. A friend, who was a bit heftier than Kori’s size six, had given it to her. After paying pennies to have it adjusted, it fit her perfectly.

  “But it has no sleeves. And it doesn’t come past my knees. I’ll be cold,” Kori protested.

  “You have a white sweater?” Nora asked, checking what else was in the closet. She pulled a cashmere cardigan off a hanger. “Here, put this on too.”

  Kori took the towel off of her head and let her wet hair fall down her back. She knew Nora wouldn’t let her get away with her usual ponytail tonight. She slipped the dress over her head and let it slide down her body and at the same time she let the towel fall away.

  “Zip?” Kori asked and turned around so Nora could zip the back.

  “Perfect,” Nora said, admiring Kori. “Sit on the bed. I’ll do your hair.”

  Kori paused in front of the mirror and took in her new look. Her chest had never been her proudest feature, but the tightness of the dress accentuated it just enough to make her take a second glance. And the underwire bra did miracles. She was glad she’d decided to take the time to shave her legs.

  Finally, Kori did as instructed and sat on her bed. She wondered where Nora got her fashion sense since farming required her to usually dress in baggy overalls and boots but she loved that her best friend complemented her own complete lack of any desire to be fashionable.

  Nora plugged in the hair dryer and got to work. They were running out of time. She combed while she dried and ended up with perfectly straight, flowing blonde hair. A side part let some hair fall in front of Kori’s face, making her even more enticing.

  As soon as the hair dryer was turned off, the doorbell rang and Kori gave Nora a look of fear. “Don’t worry. This is Zach,” Nora reminded her. “You’ve known him your whole life.”

  Kori nodded. “Right. I’ll get the door. Let yourself out after we leave.”

  “Have such a great time.” Nora hugged Kori and started cleaning up the makeup and hair accessories. “Remember, let him treat you like the princess you are.”

  Kori slipped on her sandals—she could only hope that they matched her dress since they hadn’t had time to work through that piece of her outfit—and headed quickly downstairs through The Early Bird Café and opened the front door. In front of her was heart stopping Zach Gulch, childhood crush she’d always thought was out of her league.

  “Wow,” he said, eyes growing wide with lust. She watched his smile spread and she returned it with one of her own. “Not only am I finally taking Kori Cooke out to dinner, but she looks … beautiful.”

  Kori smiled and looked at her feet quickly. “You look great, too,” she said shyly, looking back up into Zach’s eyes. Those eyes. She couldn’t get enough of them. They were swimming pool blue and made her think of summer.

  “Ready to go?” he asked and offered his arm.

  Kori gladly accepted and walked to his car.

  ***

  Once Zach and Kori were seated at their table at Jackson’s—right on the water—Kori’s nerves picked up again. She’d relaxed in the car with the radio to distract her but now that it was just the two of them, her words seemed to have sunk to the bottom of the lake.

  “Business picking up for the summer?” Zach asked, seemingly unaware of her inability to make conversation.

  “It is. And it doesn’t hurt that The Early Bird is the only café in town again.” She could have kicked herself under the table at bringing up her rival’s murder.

  Zach just chuckled. �
�I’m sure it doesn’t. Something to drink?” he asked, picking up the drink menu and looking it over. “A bottle of wine?”

  “That’d be great.”

  “Red or white?”

  “Red.”

  “Are you cold?” he asked, concern in his voice.

  Kori shook her head. She was actually sweating from the adrenaline coursing through her veins but shivering at the same time from nervousness. She couldn’t figure out why she couldn’t reel in her nerves. She’d known Zach her whole life, what was wrong with her tonight?

  The waiter came to their table and Zach ordered a bottle of red wine and a fried calamari appetizer. Kori wondered, How is he so calm?

  “How’s work going for you?” she finally asked when the waiter had walked away. Really? Work? She chided herself for being so lame.

  Zach didn’t seem to care. “Quiet since Tessa’s murder. Now it’s back to DUIs and speeding tickets.”

  “That’s a good thing, right?” Kori asked.

  “Yes. We don’t need another murder in Hermit Cove.”

  They were interrupted again with the wine arriving. Zach tasted it and approved the bottle before both of their glasses were filled.

  Zach held up his glass and Kori mirrored him. “To a quiet future,” he said and their glasses clinked together gently. She quickly wondered if he meant the future in general or theirs specifically. That thought made her smile.

  The first sip immediately calmed Kori and she started to enjoy herself more, letting herself admire Zach for the person he was—down to earth, kind and always ready to give a hand to someone in need.

  “Hey, have you hired another detective since Gunn was arrested?”

  “Yup. Just yesterday. Detective Lani Silver.”

  “A girl?” Kori wasn’t sure why she was surprised.

  Zach nodded in confirmation and then changed the subject. “Tell me about your life in New York City.” Kori easily slipped into stories from the years she lived away from Hermit Cove and started to thoroughly enjoy the evening.

  She told stories and watched his body respond to her words. His blue eyes sparkled when he laughed; his broad shoulders relaxed more with each story; his short hair reflected the setting sun, giving it a tinge of red. Her heart was racing faster and faster as she looked at his muscular body.

  She finally understood why she’d been so nervous—she desperately wanted this relationship to work.

  ***

  Zach pulled up to the Early Bird Café just after ten that night. Kori sat in the passenger seat longer than she’d intended hoping the night wouldn’t end.

  “Tonight was, well—” Kori looked at Zach, temporarily speechless. She tried again. “I had an awesome time tonight,” she told him, her nerves totally gone after the hours they’d spent together chatting about everything.

  “Me too.” Zach returned her gaze and put his arm around Kori.

  “Thanks for taking me out. I can’t even think of the last time I went out to dinner.”

  “It was my pleasure. We could do it again if you wanted.”

  Kori smiled and leaned slightly toward Zach. He met her halfway and they kissed for the first time after years of avoiding their true feelings. She had imagined this kiss many times but the real thing was so much better.

  “Good night, Zach,” Kori said, slightly speechless.

  “Good night, Kori.”

  Kori let herself out of the car and into her café. She couldn’t remember walking upstairs but somehow she made it to her living room. She sat on the couch, turned the TV on and relived the last several hours. Her eyes were unseeing but the sound of whatever show was on was a welcome sound. Eventually she headed to the bathroom to wash her face free of the makeup Nora had so expertly applied and brush her teeth before going to bed.

  At four the next morning her alarm rang and Kori slowly opened her eyes. She was still on a high from her date and knew that today would be a good day.

  It was Sunday, often the busiest day for her. She pulled on a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt and headed downstairs to get everything ready.

  She started with the coffee. She didn’t offer anything fancy, just a variety of roasts including coffee from Kona, Hawaii—a personal favorite—Tanzania, Ethiopia and Guatemala. She added additional varieties sometimes, depending on what was available in bulk and for what price. She had large pots that customers could order on the go, or if they were staying for a meal she ground fresh beans and served them in a French press.

  Today she would make Kona and Ethiopian in the large pots and she got them going right away.

  Then she headed to the walk-in freezer and fridge. Yesterday before she’d left for the day she’d made squash and sage biscuit dough. She took that out and set it on the counter. Everything else had been eaten and she’d have to make everything from scratch this morning.

  Belgian waffles were easy, so those immediately went down as a menu option. She would make whipped cream that she would pair with strawberries. Or maple syrup.

  She also had plenty of veggies from Nora’s Red Clover Farm including kale and spinach, which were great additions to smoothies. Mixed with frozen fruit, yogurt and a little juice, green smoothies were a great Sunday morning breakfast side.

  With granola, she’d add yogurt and fruit. And finally, she needed egg options. Feeling overly ambitious after last night, she considered popovers and huevos rancheros.

  All of this went on the three chalkboard menus painted directly on the walls and then she set to work getting everything ready.

  Fruits were placed next to the blender with yogurt, milk and juice nearby. Containers of granola, more yogurt and fruit were placed next to tall stemmed glasses that she’d serve them in. Waffle batter was whipped up and she placed that next to the waffle press, followed by whipped cream, strawberries and syrup. She made popover batter and took out her four popover pans. They had to bake for longer than anything else so she even stuck one pan in the preheated oven to get them started before she opened. And finally, she got gravy started and placed the first tray of biscuits in the oven as well.

  Kori was feeling proud of her early morning energy when she glanced at the clock. It was already ten to six and she hadn’t unlocked the door or flipped the sign to open! She’d never been so engrossed in her work that she’d forgotten to open on time at five thirty but there was a first for everything.

  She quickly walked to the front of the café and opened the door. She was happy to see Jenna and Kyle Rhodes patiently waiting outside for her to open.

  “Sorry for the delay,” Kori told them as she held the door for them to enter.

  “No worries. We didn’t want to rush you so we walked up and down Main Street and enjoyed the quiet,” Jenna told her. Then asked with a smile, “Late night last night?” Jenna winked and Kori blushed.

  “No later than usual. I got so caught up in my cooking and getting everything ready that I didn’t notice the time. Can I get you some coffee to start?”

  Jenna and Kyle sat across from each other in a booth by the front windows with a view of Main Street.

  “Black coffee for me. Kona,” Jenna said, glancing at the menu to see what was available. Kyle held up two fingers to indicate he’d take the same.

  Kori headed back to the kitchen and ground some beans, put them in a French press and poured hot water over them. She brought that to their table with two mugs.

  “What are you putting in your smoothies?” Jenna asked when Kori set everything down on their table.

  “There are plenty of options for you to choose from. I have kale or spinach for the greens, apple juice, orange juice or coconut water for the liquid, and bananas, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, pineapple and mango for the fruits. And a yogurt base. Do you think you want one?”

  “Not sure yet. Give us a couple more minutes,” Jenna requested, looking at her husband and seeing that he was nowhere near knowing what he wanted.

  “Sure.” Kori turned and headed to t
he oven to check on the popovers and biscuits. Both were ready so she took them out and got seconds of both ready to be popped into the oven once more customers arrived.

  The door opened just then and Kori looked up to see who had entered. A group of three adults came inside, looking slightly lost—tourists, she assumed—and Betsy Scoop was with Vera Joy, the owner of Furry Friends, the animal shelter across the street from The Early Bird. Kori didn’t wait for anyone to order popovers or biscuits and gravy; she put the second trays of each in the oven and headed back out to make the rounds.

  Kori started an easy conversation with Betsy and Vera, two people she had known for a long time. “Good morning. How’s the move for Scoop’s Scoops going?” she asked Betsy who looked up and smiled.

  “All moved in! Can you believe how late I’m opening? I can’t believe it took almost two months since the whole disaster with Tessa for things to get finalized,” Betsy told her, visibly more relaxed now that she’d be able to open her business

  Two months ago, Hermit Cove had seen its first murder in years—something that everyone was worried would put a damper on the summer tourist season. Tessa Doyle, the owner of a second café, had been murdered and Kori had been the prime suspect given their unfriendly past as students and near colleagues in New York City. Instead of landing in jail, Kori had cracked the case and Betsy had been able to move her ice cream shop, Scoop’s Scoops, into the larger area that had been occupied briefly by the café.

  “That’s great to hear. Are you opening today?”

  “I am. I can’t wait. I have two high school sophomores working for me and I’m so excited to be able to expand so much this year.”

  “Congratulations!” Kori said with genuine excitement. She was happy for her friend and also for Hermit Cove’s growing popularity. “And how are the cats and dogs?” she asked, turning to Vera.

  “I was hoping you’d ask. I just got the perfect dog for you—she’s four, so a little older, but friends with everyone. It was an owner surrender. I know you keep saying you’re not ready, but I’m telling you, this dog is for you.”