A Cup of Murder Read Online Free PDF

face spread wide and once more I
saw the old Jacob again. I took them with thanks and he followed me
to the kitchen to fill a vase with water and back to my living room.
I set the beautiful lilies on the end table next to my favorite
paisley chair. He was on my heels until I gestured toward the
matching love seat and told him to make himself comfortable.
    “I’ve been thinking about my bad behavior,
Laila. I can’t believe I’ve let my temper rise up like that.
There was something about Michael Simms that never sat well with me.
It scares me when I think about how much he affected me.” He looked
at me with a look similar to a schoolboy caught cheating and realized
it was too late to study first. “That’s no excuse for my
behavior. I know I shouldn’t let people get to me like that.”
    Instead of getting into ways to improve Roasted
Love, we spent the time discussing the recent murder. We both tried
to come up with plausible reasons for anyone to have taken resentment
to the extent of murder. Until I told him, Jacob was unaware that
there was suspicion that Michael had been poisoned. The whole time we
talked we both knew that the cops most likely would have their own
take on the murder, and that involved Jacob Weaver. I decided to
change the subject.
    “Who was the man you introduced yourself to in
Roasted Love?” I asked.
    “He said his name was Pierre. He is an artist
and commented on the works on the wall. I invited him to bring his
works in and let me see them.”
    “Did he have any with him? I noticed he didn’t
order anything.”
    “He told me he worked in a small studio in a
loft where he lived. I believe he told me it was about a mile from
the Piazza. We didn’t set a time for him to come in, but I told him
I was there every day and to come in when he was ready.”
    Without voicing it, I hoped Jacob would be there
every day until the day he decided to close his business permanently.
Until today, that day had been a long distance away. I shook my head
to clear it of all negative thoughts.
    “I’m sure the police will be in Roasted Love
tomorrow,” said Jacob. “They haven’t questioned me yet but I
certainly know I’m on their list of suspects.” He gave a crooked
smile. “Don’t worry, Laila, I’ve heard the rumors, too. I
expect them to come.”
    He stood up to go and gave me a hug. I tried to
keep the tears at bay that threatened to spill from my eyes and
managed until he closed the door behind him. I opened the door again
when he got to the end of the sidewalk.
    “Wait, Jacob, before you go I want to tell you
that you aren’t the only suspect they are looking at,” I said.
    I had forgot to mention that in our conversation.
I told him about Jen’s visit with me in the alley earlier that day.
The look of relief on Jacob’s face was startling. He turned from me
and waved, a changed man. I heard him say ‘thanks’ in a low voice
that told me my news caused an emotional response.
    That night I slept soundly and didn’t awake
until my alarm pierced my sleep. I felt confident that after telling
Jacob about Jen Perry, he would get through police interrogations
easier. Lily and Janie sided with him and, of course, I remained
loyal to the man. Several shop owners had stopped by Roasted Love the
day before offering their support. Jacob was well established on the
Piazza and many knew him for his ability to send his customers to
their shops over the years, and that resulted in a tight-knit group
of business people.
    I noted with satisfaction that Roasted Love had
more customers that morning than the week before. Happy to see the
increase, I sincerely regretted that Michael’s death was
responsible for some of it. The yellow tape hung limply around
Sunrise and the flashing lights on the shop were muted. Two police
cars parked in front of the coffee house told me they were still
combing the premises. There were no signs of Jen Perry. That was no
surprise since, until it opened again, there was