Hot Coffee Iced Santa (Roasted Love Cozy 2)

The note read: "We can talk at the restaurant tonight 11 p.m." My heart beat rapidly. The house was silent. Thor stood waiting and alert. I carefully tucked the ominous note back where I found it.

I led Thor back the way we had come. Frank's laptop was on the end of the entertainment center. I still carried the clean shirt. With it wrapped around my hands, I reached for the computer. I used every password I could think of to get into its contents. Nothing worked. I gingerly put it back where I found it. I made sure the dust around it met the perimeter of the computer before I dropped it back in the center. Thor and I took the same trail back to the street. I hoped no snoopy neighbor observed our actions. Once in my car, I dialed Chief Donald Hayes. When he picked up, I already knew what I would say.

"Did the police check Frank's house for any evidence?" I asked.

"We have someone on the way over there right now. I don't know how that slipped past any of us. I guess the blame is with me. I should have followed up much sooner."

"I just wondered if anything of interest was found there," I said. "I thought you probably had done that right away."

"Well, if this is any explanation at all, I did think the detectives had done that the next day at the latest. When I asked about evidence at the victim's house, everyone looked at everyone else," said Donald. "I have to admit I was more than harsh with every one of them. Anyone could have broken in there by now and disturbed things."

My face flushed at the thought he already knew I had been there. When he didn't say anything about that, I decided there were no snoops in Frank's neighborhood after all. We ended the call and I moved my car down the street, and then turned around for a good view of the house. Two patrol cars came around the corner. Officer Stanton and the two detectives, who were at the Steakhouse the night Frank's body was discovered, got out of their cars.

They were lucky I was the only intruder there since Frank's murder. As for me, I was lucky I got out in time. The footprints I saw on the back steps didn't belong to the police after all. I figured they could have belonged to Frank. They weren't recent, but the snow hadn't completely covered them. I wondered if anyone else had been there since the dishwasher's death. At least they hadn't gotten inside or there wouldn't be bundles of cash in the closet.

I watched the activity. One of the detectives put the laptop in the trunk of the cruiser and took two large boxes back inside. There was nothing else for me to do at this point. I wanted be a fly on the wall and watch the reactions when they found the huge stash of bills in the closet. This Santa didn't plan on giving any of it to kids on Christmas. He became a big spender on himself. I could only imagine what grandiose plans Frank had for spending it all. It was too bad he didn't get any more chances.

It was getting late and I told Thor he would have to go to work with me. It wouldn't be his first time there. Jacob was nice enough about letting him come inside during bad weather. Thor and Jacob understood each other. As soon as the dog's begging eyes met Jacob's, he got a treat.

As I drove, I recalled Cassie telling Daniel and me about Frank's childhood of poverty. At least he died rich. The mystery of where that money came from was a new wrinkle in the matter. Once that was solved, it would bring me much closer to the killer.

Chapter Nineteen

"Have you solved that mystery yet, Laila?" asked Jacob when Thor and I came in.

"Not yet, but new clues come up almost every day."

"I don't guess you plan to fill me in."

I shook my head no. "It isn't good to divulge too much while the case is still open." Jacob understood my kidding when I answered him. It was too soon to tell him anything.

"That's what the cops always say," he said. "I doubt Sherlock Holmes lets too many secrets out."

I had just a few days left before it was time to head home for the holidays. Roasted Love was very busy as one customer after another came and went. Eddie made up more sandwiches. Jacob kept the ovens going with tantalizing Christmas specialties. Lily and I sat down for quick cappuccinos when Jacob came to our table.

"Laila, do you mind taking this mail to the Post Office for me? It all has to go out today and they close in about a half hour. Pick up a roll of stamps for me, too."

I told him I didn't mind at all. I finished the hot drink quickly and went to get my coat and gloves.

Four people were in line ahead of me when I got inside the Post Office. Daydreaming about the holidays with my parents flooded over me. I was ready for some normalcy. It took a few minutes to register that a faint odor of a familiar scent was in the air. I looked ahead in the line to see if I knew anyone there. I turned toward the door that led to the street. I saw the coattails of a suit jacket that belonged to a man. The rest of his body was invisible to me as he left.

"Are you wondering why that man wears such strong cologne, too?" asked a lady behind me.

"Yes," I smiled at her. "Do you know who it was? There was enough on him to make it linger even after he left."

"I don't know the man. I noticed he was in a business suit. I guess he was someone important. Maybe he had a hot date." She laughed at her joke.

I chided myself for not picking up on the odor sooner. He must have been in the second line and I didn't even look over in that direction. I just picked the shortest line I saw. I finished Jacob's business and headed back to Roasted Love. When I came in the back door, Thor thought I was going to give him a run. I put the leash on him and we walked up and down the alley for a couple of minutes.

"I wish I had picked up a bundle of that money, Thor," I said. "I'd like to take it to Jared Freedman and surprise him with it. I bet he'd have plenty to say." It hit me then of a possible strong link between the investor and Frank. Of course, the money could have come from anyone that worked at West River Bank. And, he was fired for missing money, but that seems like an awful lot to just be fired. I glanced at my watch. Two hours to go before the coffee house closed. Tempted to call Daniel, I knew they needed me back inside. When one car drove away from the shop, another was there to take the parking spot. Running back and forth between tables and the expresso machine made the time pass faster.

"Lily, what do you plan to do over the holidays?" I asked her. She waited for a Latte in the making.

"I'm staying right here in West River. I told Jacob I would work Christmas Eve. He said he was going to close at three and not open again until the day after Christmas. My mother will come for the day and a few cousins. Eddie will be there, of course. I guess you are looking forward to seeing your family again."

"I am!" I told her. “My airline ticket is secure at home. Jacob told me he would get me to the airport and he would keep Thor over Christmas for me."

There was no more time for chit-chat and we ran nonstop until closing. Once Thor and I were settled in at home, I planned to call Daniel.