Page 145 of Not That Ridiculous

“She’s banned!” Jasper tapped the sign urgently. “Charlie. Banned until Christmas.”

“I make the rules,” I said, and waved Karen around the counter. I gestured her ahead of me to the kitchen. “I don’t know what I can tell you.” I leaned against the cabinets where Liam had not long ago. Karen took out a small notepad and flipped it open with practiced panache. “I’m not really allowed to tell you anything.”

“That’s all right. I’ve been following this case since the first bodies were found at Ray Underwood’s. I probably know more than Liam Nash at this point.”

“Really?”

“I’ve worked on it in my free time over the last few years, so yes. I had a hunch more bodies would come to light. I’ve been waiting.”

“Really?”

She nodded.

I eyed her. “Do you know who did it?”

“I have a few ideas.”

“Care to share?”

She smiled and shook her head.

“If you know so much, what do you need me for?”

“A couple of quotes to sprinkle into the article. People don’t want dry facts, they want a story.”

“All right.”

I gave her what I could.In other words, a whole lot of nothing.

Yes, I was horrified at the discovery.

No, I’d had no idea they were there the whole time.

No, I didn’t know how long they’d been there, who put them there in the first place, if Liam had any suspects, or if any evidence other than the human remains had come to light.

And no, I wouldn’t go so far as to say Kevin had atalentfor finding dead bodies. It was more like bad luck, surely?

Karen seemed happy enough with that. Out of the two of us, I was the only one who learned anything. Unlike me, she’d been there to witness the bodies getting stretchered out, and when I asked, she confirmed that there were indeed four.

Once we’d wrapped up, Karen proceeded to drive Jasper almost into a frenzy by sitting at a table all afternoon and writing her article in front of him.

I was pretty sure she was playing solitaire for at least half the time.

Before she was done, Jasper clocked off for the day to go and do his actual job at the gym. He had, I’d discovered, switched classes with one of the other personal trainers so he could work in the coffee shop up to late afternoon. When I found this out, I informed him that he now had blanket permission to come behind the counter and serve himself—or others, if the fancy took him—whenever he wanted. And it was still on the house.

He was thrilled.

Things always got a little crazy just before closing. I was still thinking about giving later opening hours a go, if I could find the right staff. Expanding my business would have to wait for less trying times, however.

I shooed the last few customers out and started to tidy up.

This was the best part of the day.

I was definitely an early bird rather than a night owl, filled with energy when I woke up—once I’d had my first coffee—and more than ready for bed by nine, but I enjoyed the vibe at the end of the day. The shop was warm, the echoes of the friendly, energetic bustle of business were fading, and I got to set everything to rights, ready for it all to begin again tomorrow.

My last customer called out goodbye and I sent him a distracted wave as I went around with a large tray, collecting used cups and plates. I cleared the tables and dropped the tray on the counter, ready to take it back to the kitchen, and diverted to lock up the front first.

If I didn’t, by the time I’d carted everything into the back and grabbed the hoover, someone would have sneaked in to try their luck and attempt to wheedle one last cup out of me.

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