A Caffeinated Crunch: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book 2) by Constance Barker

 
     
     
    Chapter One
     
    The town of Sweet Home, Florida finally settled down after being rocked by the murder of Francine Diddlemier. Not that many people grieved the old girl since she practically vilified almost all the town residents in her weekly paper. However, the thought of a murderer running loose conking people over the head with cookware was certainly unsettling. Mike Barton took his son and moved to Miami while his wife remained in jail in Orlando awaiting trial.
     
    We finally settled into a groove two months after the murder that occurred in our shop, the Coffee Cabana, which I own along with my two aunts, Essie and Hildie. They are in their 60’s but as spry as spring chickens. I was 30 years younger but I swear they could outrun me in a foot race.
     
    It was 10am and the morning rush had simmered down. I saw the familiar shark fin atop one of the many golf carts pull into a parking space in front of the coffee shop. Harvey Davis, one of our regulars had arrived to get his usual, coffee and a chocolate chip muffin that Essie would hold back for him since most of the pastries she and Hildie would bring each morning would be gone by the time he arrived. We would need to hire another baker to keep the muffins, fried pies, crème horns and cupcakes in supply for afternoon stragglers.
     
    Harvey strode in wearing his Tampa Buccaneer baseball hat. “Good morning ladies. I hope everyone is in a good humor today.”
     
    “Why?” Essie asked. “Am I not going to like the next thing out of your mouth?” Now my Aunt Essie can have a hard edge mind you, but it’s all a façade. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. Harvey has known her for 50 years so her brash side had no effect on him.
     
    “No,” Harvey said innocently. “But I did hear some gossip around our little community last evening.”
     
    Harvey and my aunts lived in a senior gated community just a few blocks away from downtown Sweet Home. Hence, all the decorated golf carts that populated the town’s streets. The senior community was quite large, encompassing acres inside the town limits. They had their own post office, gym, golf course and recreational building where the residents gathered for pitch-in suppers or to simply get together for gossip fests. My aunts and Harvey were known to partake in the festivities at the rec center and they knew many of the people who inhabited Sinking Springs Village, as it was called.
     
    Since it was a slow time and no customers besides Harvey were in the shop, Essie and Hilde sat down at his table to be filled in on the latest happenings within the senior society. I stayed behind the counter, reading the manual of my new cappuccino maker, but eavesdropping all the same. My life was boring so I had to live precariously through my elders.
     
    Harvey took a sip of his coffee and a bite of his muffin. My aunts stared at him impatiently. But Harvey was in no hurry as he savored the taste of the chocolate chip muffin. I smiled as I watched Essie roll her eyes waiting for Harvey to swallow. Hildie was more patient, wiping the table of crumbs with her damp wash rag.
     
    Harvey made the sin of taking another sip of coffee to wash down his muffin. “Old man, if you take another bite of that muffin before telling us the scoop, you’ll be wearing it as a tie!”
     
    Harvey gulped hard. “Lands sake Essie…you are an impatient soul.”
    Essie waved her hand. “Just get on with it Harve.”
    “Well,” Harvey began. “Last evening I was playing euchre with a few of the ladies at the rec room.” Hmmm, now that surprised me. Harvey and three women. Go on….
     
    “They were saying that Mr. and Mrs. Jefferies had a shouting match the previous evening. It seems that Mrs. Jefferies believes Mr. Jefferies is having an affair, and she may be right.”
     
    Essie waved her hand. “That old coot…who’d want to have an affair with him?” My aunt Essie had no barriers.
     
    Harvey raised his coffee cup