A Cup of Murder Read Online Free PDF Page B

no reason for her to
be there.
    I pulled into my space on the side of Roasted Love
and cringed in fear when I saw Michael’s monster staring at me. The
Doberman stood watching me with an intensity I didn’t know dogs
could muster. I made it into the shop and looked out the side window
of the kitchen. He was still standing there. Grabbing a couple of
biscuits and a bowl of water, I went out the back door hoping to make
friends somehow with the dog. I was on my own. No Michael appeared to
save me this time. He slowly came toward me. Hunger supersedes hatred
I supposed. He eagerly lapped the water and dove into the biscuits
and in less than four bites had devoured them. Thor looked at me as
if a small lost puppy and my heart was won. I fed him a few more
biscuits with butter this time. I had no idea who would take the
dog’s ownership over. I was sure Jen had no interest and wondered
if Michael’s wife cared. I had never seen her around Sunrise in the
past. I decided if no one claimed him by the end of the day, I would
try to take care of him.
    When I went back inside of Roasted Love, I came to
the front area just in time to see two cops enter. In times past,
they were there to take a coffee break. Today, they asked me if Jacob
Weaver was around. Reluctantly, I led them back to Jacob’s office.
    “Jacob, these officers want to talk to you.”
    Silently, he stood up and shook hands with both
policemen and they all settled down as if they were there for a
social visit. My glance toward Jacob questioned him whether or not I
should stay. He told me to go ahead and take care of customers. I
left him on his own. I was glad to see he was relaxed since that
should speak volumes to the interrogators. I closed the door behind
me as one policeman began asking questions.
    After an hour or so I found myself constantly
looking at the clock on the wall. How many questions did they have
for Jacob? Janie came in the kitchen and picked up more raspberry
muffins and sesame bagels. I believe her look was one of reproach
since I wasn’t doing my part. The coffee shop was filling up and I
knew it was time for me to pitch in. I told Janie I would be right
out. I had to get my mind off Jacob and the policemen in the office.
Besides, with our clientele returning I didn’t want to give
negative vibes. I was sure most were there to observe activities
inside and outside Roasted Love but it never hurt to give them good
service.
    Forty-five more minutes elapsed and the crowd in
the coffee house thinned out. I started cleaning up the kitchen when
I heard Jacob’s voice. Obviously, he was agitated. I quickly closed
the door into the outer service area a little more securely. Voices
and noise rarely escaped through to the area reserved for customers.
    “I did not murder Michael Simms,” said Jacob.
“I disliked the man and resented him taking customers away from
Roasted Love, but that doesn’t mean I killed him.”
    His tone was measured but loud enough for me to
hear from the closed door. I heard a chair shuffle on the tiled floor
and concentrated on placing dishes in the dishwasher rack. No one
came through the office door. Low tones from one of the cops floated
out. It was as if he talked with a child. Squeezing the dishcloth, I
clinched my teeth. How dare they talk down to Jacob that way? An
irate tone escaped my boss when he spoke next.
    “I worked on books late that night. I left at
ten or so. I went straight home. I fell asleep in my chair watching
television. I woke up enough to get to bed around one in the morning.
I overslept. I came straight to work.”
    Apparently Jacob was repeating in a nutshell all
the answers he had already given them.
    “Surely you can understand our concerns, Mr.
Weaver,” said one. “You did spend time in prison for assault so
that tells us you could very well have hurt someone again.”
    “I didn’t talk with, nor did I go near him at
all since a week ago. I did spend three years in prison for assault
but