wrung out. My own appearance was nothing to brag about.
I dashed ahead of him and got inside and grabbed a couple of large
dish towels. He followed me and I was relieved he refrained from any
comments or further questions about Thor. I wondered what he would
think knowing I had Michael’s dog.
"Looks like you got a little wet," said
Jacob. "I told you Roasted Love could make a watercress sandwich
for you if you would just tell me what the secret ingredients are
that take you to Sam’s to eat."
He swept his eyes over Daniel and I quickly
introduced him. I didn’t tell him he was the paramedic and the one
who carried Michael Simms out of Sunrise the day of his murder. But
when Jacob responded to the introduction no doubt was left that he
knew that.
"You're the paramedic who helped out across
the street, aren’t you?" said Jacob.
"Yes, I was on call that day," said
Daniel.
I recalled that specific morning when I arrived at
Roasted Love and found Jacob in an almost fetal position in the
corner of the kitchen. Wondering how he had seen Daniel was a mystery
unless he had first witnessed the commotion and then collapsed. It
was time to change the subject.
"Come on in, Daniel," I said. "What
can I get for you?"
He ordered a cappuccino with extra cinnamon on
top. I went to the espresso machine and started his order. Lily came
up behind me.
"Where did you find such a good-looking
customer?" she said. "I saw you bring him through the back
way."
Inwardly, I groaned. There was nothing to explain
but I still felt it necessary to do so.
"He was nice enough to give me a lift from
Sam’s Sandwiches. I thought at least I could get him a warm drink
as a 'thank you'.
"I see now why you like Sam’s for lunch on
occasion," she said. "I always knew it wasn’t the
watercress sandwiches."
She looked over her shoulder and laughed. I
watched as she set the cappuccino in front of Daniel. Our eyes met
and I hoped that wasn’t a wink from him directed at me. Turning
back to my work, I resolved to hold the reddish tint from creeping up
my neckline. Roasted Love was busy enough since some customers
ordered seconds while waiting out the rain. My attention was drawn
elsewhere and Jacob was busy bringing out more scones. He glanced my
way but I couldn’t read his thoughts.
"Do you need anything else, Laila?" he
said. "I still have some fruit turnovers ready."
One thing about my boss: he wasn’t afraid to
work like the rest of us. I had always felt it gave more character to
the atmosphere when he was easily recognized by everyone who came in.
He believed all of us should be visible which gave the correct
impressions of family and friendliness that he wanted. Jacob did not
excuse himself from this responsibility. In the case of recent
happenings, it also reassured customers of Jacob Weaver’s
innocence.
I had almost forgotten Daniel Jenkins until I
passed his table and realized he was still there. The rain was
letting up and some of the customers were leaving. He smiled at me
and obviously he was taking his time drinking his once-hot
cappuccino.
"I guess I’d better leave before I have to
spend more money," he said to me. "I’ll see you around."
He stood and reached for his wallet. He pulled a
few bills and left them on the table but not before he leaned over
and whispered, "Michael was poisoned with belladonna found in
his coffee cup. The cup left next to his had coffee in it but was
left untouched. No fingerprints, no DNA."
He silently placed his finger on his lips. I got
the meaning.
Chapter Eight
The truth of how Michael Simms died clinched it
was poison. Belladonna was not a familiar term to me and I wondered
where Jen Perry would have gotten any kind of chemical that
translated to poison. If she left Sunrise around ten that night then
Michael must have come back later. He was found in his own coffee
house the next morning, slumped in his chair where he customarily
took his breaks. He must have had a meeting with someone.
I dashed ahead of him and got inside and grabbed a couple of large
dish towels. He followed me and I was relieved he refrained from any
comments or further questions about Thor. I wondered what he would
think knowing I had Michael’s dog.
"Looks like you got a little wet," said
Jacob. "I told you Roasted Love could make a watercress sandwich
for you if you would just tell me what the secret ingredients are
that take you to Sam’s to eat."
He swept his eyes over Daniel and I quickly
introduced him. I didn’t tell him he was the paramedic and the one
who carried Michael Simms out of Sunrise the day of his murder. But
when Jacob responded to the introduction no doubt was left that he
knew that.
"You're the paramedic who helped out across
the street, aren’t you?" said Jacob.
"Yes, I was on call that day," said
Daniel.
I recalled that specific morning when I arrived at
Roasted Love and found Jacob in an almost fetal position in the
corner of the kitchen. Wondering how he had seen Daniel was a mystery
unless he had first witnessed the commotion and then collapsed. It
was time to change the subject.
"Come on in, Daniel," I said. "What
can I get for you?"
He ordered a cappuccino with extra cinnamon on
top. I went to the espresso machine and started his order. Lily came
up behind me.
"Where did you find such a good-looking
customer?" she said. "I saw you bring him through the back
way."
Inwardly, I groaned. There was nothing to explain
but I still felt it necessary to do so.
"He was nice enough to give me a lift from
Sam’s Sandwiches. I thought at least I could get him a warm drink
as a 'thank you'.
"I see now why you like Sam’s for lunch on
occasion," she said. "I always knew it wasn’t the
watercress sandwiches."
She looked over her shoulder and laughed. I
watched as she set the cappuccino in front of Daniel. Our eyes met
and I hoped that wasn’t a wink from him directed at me. Turning
back to my work, I resolved to hold the reddish tint from creeping up
my neckline. Roasted Love was busy enough since some customers
ordered seconds while waiting out the rain. My attention was drawn
elsewhere and Jacob was busy bringing out more scones. He glanced my
way but I couldn’t read his thoughts.
"Do you need anything else, Laila?" he
said. "I still have some fruit turnovers ready."
One thing about my boss: he wasn’t afraid to
work like the rest of us. I had always felt it gave more character to
the atmosphere when he was easily recognized by everyone who came in.
He believed all of us should be visible which gave the correct
impressions of family and friendliness that he wanted. Jacob did not
excuse himself from this responsibility. In the case of recent
happenings, it also reassured customers of Jacob Weaver’s
innocence.
I had almost forgotten Daniel Jenkins until I
passed his table and realized he was still there. The rain was
letting up and some of the customers were leaving. He smiled at me
and obviously he was taking his time drinking his once-hot
cappuccino.
"I guess I’d better leave before I have to
spend more money," he said to me. "I’ll see you around."
He stood and reached for his wallet. He pulled a
few bills and left them on the table but not before he leaned over
and whispered, "Michael was poisoned with belladonna found in
his coffee cup. The cup left next to his had coffee in it but was
left untouched. No fingerprints, no DNA."
He silently placed his finger on his lips. I got
the meaning.
Chapter Eight
The truth of how Michael Simms died clinched it
was poison. Belladonna was not a familiar term to me and I wondered
where Jen Perry would have gotten any kind of chemical that
translated to poison. If she left Sunrise around ten that night then
Michael must have come back later. He was found in his own coffee
house the next morning, slumped in his chair where he customarily
took his breaks. He must have had a meeting with someone.
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