The Estate Murder: A Cozy Mystery (The Witch Mysteries) by Kristal Wales Page B

you?” She said, a cheery air about her felt genuine to Cassidy.
     
                   “Well, I will take a chai latte,” she ordered her favorite coffee house drink. Not a day went by when she didn’t crave chai lattes. “And I wonder if you might be hiring?” She asked, hopeful. She had only just met Sandra, but she liked her right away. Something about her clear, gray eyes had a kindness to them. Not to mention, being able to put an awesome named like “The Twisted Claw” on future resumes would be fun, once she was fired from this job.
     
                   “Actually, my one employee was supposed to be here by now, so I might be hiring, at that.” Sandra said, a note of exasperation not quite hidden behind her kindly tones. She slid a stock application across the counter to Cassidy and set about heating the milk for her chai. As she did so, the phone rang out. Sandra smiled apologetically and raised one finger up, indicating ‘just a second’ while picking up the phone from its cradle.
     
                   “Twisted Claw,” she said in a pleasant voice. Her expression changed from one of passive contentment, to one of anxiety, then her lips finally settled in a fine, tight line of displeasure. “Okay, Remy. I understand.” She said. A slight shake of her head and her knuckles, which were white from clenching the phone so tightly, indicated that she most certainly did not understand. She deliberately put the phone back on its cradle and turned to finish making Cassidy’s drink. When she had finished, and set the tall, shiny black, ceramic mug in front of her, Cassidy had completed the application. She had this one skill down to a science by now, and wished that filling out application forms could be a full time, paying job.
     
        “When can you start?” The older woman asked.
     
        “When was Remy supposed to get here?” Cassidy asked, putting two and two together. Sandra let a soft smile touch her lips as she reached under the counter and pulled out a starched, black apron. Handing it to Cassidy, she asked if she had ever worked as a barista before,
     
        “Uh, no. I make pretty good donuts though.” Cassidy said, taking stock of all of the instruments before her.
     
        After a morning of training, Cassidy felt like she had the basic gist down, though she would still need to check the reference list to remember how much of what ingredients to put in. She remembered how to make her chai latte, though, and had a fresh one sitting before her since there was a lull in customers.
     
        It was half past 3 in the afternoon when Thomas Caine entered the shop. He wore a suit that looked expensive. His dark hair was well groomed, and his smile was sparkling. Cassidy pictured a black leopard preparing to pounce as he approached Sandra.
     
        “Mr. Caine,” Sandra said, her voice betraying a certain distrust for the man before her.
     
        “Sandra, an espresso please.” He said. His voice was smooth and unhurried. His dark eyes took in Cassidy as well, and he nodded in her direction, politely. Cassidy turned to fix his order for him while Sandra rang him up. “Listen, Sandra, I do hope you’ll consider my offer on the Fontaine Estate.” He said quietly to her.
                  “Mr. Caine, I had considered your offer the moment you first made it, and I am not inclined to change my mind now.” She said, tension laced through her over-polite voice.
                  “My offer still stands. Let me know if you change your mind.” He said. His attention was then completely on Cassidy as she handed him his drink. “Hello,” he said, a genuine smile spreading across his face. “I’m Thomas Caine, nice to meet you.”
                  “Cassidy,” She said holding out her hand.
                  “Cassidy,” he rolled the name off his tongue like it was a fine selection of wine to