Freshly Ground Murder: A Cozy Mystery (A Killer Coffee Mystery Series Book Three) Read online

  Freshly Ground

  Murder

  Book 3

  A Killer Coffee Mystery

  Freshly Ground Murder

  A Killer Coffee Mystery

  Loretta gave Patrick the nod that told him to kill the power.

  When Loretta pushed up the big fake on button, he’d reconnect the electric so it would have a dramatic effect.

  “On the count of three. Y’all ready?” Loretta’s voice echoed into the dark. “One, two, three. Merry Christ….”

  The lights came on and Loretta fainted. I’d like to say she fainted from the sheer excitement of the beauty of the tree. But I believe it was the legs and the feet that stuck out from underneath the tree and bound by lit up Christmas lights that knocked her out cold.

  Freshly Ground Murder

  Killer Coffee Mystery

  Book Three

  Tonya Kappes

  Tonyakappes.com

  Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents, and dialogue are drawn from the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2017 by Tonya Kappes. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information email [email protected]

  Also by Tonya Kappes

  A Killer Coffee Mystery

  Magical Cures Mystery Series

  A Ghostly Southern Mystery Series

  Spies and Spells Mystery Series

  Kenni Lowry Mystery Series

  A Laurel London Mystery Series

  A Divorced Diva Beading Mystery Series

  Olivia Davis Paranormal Mystery Series

  Bluegrass Romance Series

  Women’s Fiction

  Young Adult

  Grandberry Falls Series

  Contents

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  free sample of Scene of the Grind

  Recipes from The Bean Hive

  Also by Tonya Kappes

  Visit Tonya:

  Acknowledgements

  It amazes me every time I release a book and how fast the amazing readers I have devour it. I’ve had to best time writing the Killer Coffee Mystery Series. I love that my readers have had a hand in all of the characters, cozy shops, and naming of everything to do with the sweet small town of Honey Springs, Kentucky.

  A big thank you goes out to Jessica Fischer for nailing the book covers every single time. She takes what’s in my head and really does make it come to life.

  Cyndy Ranzau is worth her weight in gold with her keen since of editing and helping me turn my hillbilly talk into true writer words.

  A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Brooke Bumgardner for brilliantly coming up with the title FRESHLY GROUND MURDER.

  Christmas is a special time and I wanted it to transfer to the pages of Freshly Ground Murder. I hope you enjoy it as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it.

  Merry Christmas!

  Xoxo ~Tonya

  One

  Aah…

  “I love you my big dark, tall and delicious yummy goodness.” Happily I sighed, and then breathed in deeply the aroma, letting the Christmas Harvest dark roast curl up around and in my nose.

  I didn’t care what anyone said. That first sip of coffee had a way of creeping into my soul and tapping into a joy that I couldn’t explain. The view wasn’t bad either. Especially since The Bean Hive coffee shop had the best location on the boardwalk and view of Lake Honey Springs. Even in the winter.

  Pepper, my Schnauzer and trusted four-legged furry companion, stretched and whined.

  “You’re my favorite salt-and-pepper guy.” I bent down to pat him with my free hand and he rolled over, belly up for a good scratch.

  I wrapped my hands around the warm mug and smiled as the tree across the lake stood bare, so tall as they stretched up into darkness toward the sky. The light snoring sound of Pepper and the wafted smell of the Santa Kiss Cookies baking, kept me warm even though the moon helped keep the winter chill in the air at five-thirty a.m.

  “Want to go potty before we get started?” I asked Pepper like he was going to answer me. He sort of does. His tail wagged and he bounced around.

  The chime over the door dinged and he bounded out onto the boardwalk.

  “Which way?” I asked giving him the choice of left or right because The Bean Hive was located right in the middle of the boardwalk so it didn’t matter which end we headed toward to find the green space Pepper needed. “Right it is.”

  In the darkness of the early morning, the twinkling lights strung along the boardwalk by the beautification committee lit our way. The poinsettias were bright red and perfectly nestled into the hanging baskets from the dowel rods of the carriage lights that dotted our way along the wood planks. The little flags hung down from the potted Christmas plants with a big gold star. In the middle of the star it read Christmas In The Park Honey.

  None of the shops along the board walk opened as early as The Bean Hive.

  We passed the Queen of the Day Boutique, Buzz In-and-Out Diner, Odd Ink, Honey Comb Salon and Wild and Whimsy Antique store, which happened to be my second favorite shop on the boardwalk. Bev and Dan Teagarden always keep back little treasures they think I’d like. They were always spot on.

  The Marina was located on the far end and off the boardwalk. Pepper did his business while I glanced over all the covered and winterized boats that had so much life a few short months ago. If I closed my eyes, I could hear the rumble of the engines echoing off the limestone walled around the lake during the summer season.

  Off in the distance was Cocoon Hotel. It was the only hotel in our small Kentucky town. There were so many seasonal cabins to rent that Cocoon Hotel was normally not booked. But that didn’t stop Camey Montgomery from ordering coffee and a sweet treat from me for her hospitality area.

  “All done?” I bent down and patted Pepper when he bolted back up the steps from the grassy area. The whip of the wind chilled me to the bone. “We need to get you a sweater from Walk In The Bark.”

  He yipped. He knew that name really well. It was the pet store located on the far end of the other side of the boardwalk and a place Pepper got special treatment. Why wouldn’t he? He’s precious.

  The oven timer was going off when we got back to the shop

  Pepper and I walked through the swinging door that led into the kitchen portion of the coffeehouse. In the spring, it’d be a year ago that I’d opened the door to The Bean Hive. A coffeehouse was exactly what Honey Springs, Kentucky needed. No place better than the newly revitalized and renovated boardwalk.

  Even though Lake Honey Springs brought in a lot of tourists for the summer, our Christmas Celebration wasn’t one to miss. From what I heard…I’ve never been in Honey Springs for Christmas, but the excitement around it makes me feel like I have.

  I didn’t grow up in Honey Springs. My aunt Maxine Bloom lived here (she’s my father’s sister) and he’d bring me for long summers here. As my memory served me right, i
t felt like home. So naturally when I got my heart broken, I ran to Honey Springs. While I was looking for some of Aunt Maxi’s southern home cooking for comfort food, she gave me a knock in the head.

  “You’re gonna put your boots on and get down and dirty. It’s high time you hold your head high and follow your real dream. Now go on and put some lipstick on.” Then she brought me here. The empty building and dilapidated boardwalk had both seen better days.

  “Oh my, my.” I opened the oven. My mouth instantly started to water just eyeing the Santa Kisses. “I’ve outdone myself.” I rubbed my hands down my The Bean Hive apron and couldn’t wait to get my hands on the kisses.

  Long gone was the musty smell of the restaurant before me. The smell of coffee was now infused in every square inch.

  “Just one.” I looked down at Pepper who was eagerly waiting for something to eat.

  While I waited for it to cool, I gave Pepper a scoop of kibble and grabbed one of the domed platters to put the Santa Kisses on. They were going right on top of the counter.

  The round cookie had the perfect light browning. I closed my eyes and let the perfect combination of sugar, pumpkin, chocolate chips, and nutmeg melt in my mouth

  “Do I smell Santa Kiss cookies?” I barely got my cookie swallowed before I heard my landlord come in the coffeehouse and quickly arranged the first batch of cookies on the platter.

  “Aunt Maxi.” I pushed the kitchen door with the platter in my hands and watched her face light up with delight.

  “You’ve got a good nose.” I set the platter on top of the counter and went over to help her out of her getup.

  She looked like a bag lady dressed in an oversized coat, big scarf twisted around her neck and knit cap pulled down on her face. Her cross body purse was strapped across her body and she was busy stuffing her gloves in the front pocket. When she tugged the cap off of her head, my jaw dropped.

  “Silver bells,” she sang and swayed back and forth. “Silver bells. It’s Christmas time in Honey Springs.”

  Pepper yipped and yapped. He acted as though he didn’t recognize her.

  “What?” She looked at me.

  “Your hair is really silver.” I couldn’t stop staring, though I shouldn’t be surprised, but this was the first time I’d ever seen her hair look even close to her age.

  She raked her fingers in her hair, making it stand up even more before she tugged a big can of hairspray from her bag.

  “This weather does nothing for my hair,” she grumbled under her breath and threw her head down, spraying that sticky junk all over.

  “Go to the bathroom.” I snapped my fingers and pointed my finger toward the bathroom the customers used.

  “Give your aunt a hug.” She ignored my comment and held her arms wide open, the hairspray still in her grips.

  “You’re something else.” I gave in and hugged her, then she gave my hair a few sprays letting out a big cackle. I fanned my hand in front of my face. “I’ve got to get my Christmas Harvest brewing to overtake that smell before someone walks in and thinks we are a hair salon.”

  “What can I help you with?” Aunt Maxi asked.

  She was really good at pitching in wherever and did so without asking most days.

  “You can refill all the tea bags at the tea station. Refill all the to-go cups as well as set up the Honey Springs mugs.” I nodded toward the end of the counter where the tea bar was located.

  There was a hot tea, cold tea self-serve counter. It offered a nice selection of gourmet teas and loose-leaf teas that could be made hot or cold. The cute antique teapots I’d gotten from Wild and Whimsy were perfect if a customer came in and wanted a pot of hot tea. I could fix it for them or they could fix their own to their taste and as many pots as they needed.

  While she did that, I headed behind the counter and started to concoct my Christmas Harvest Blend in light, dark and decaffeinated. I took my Bean Hive grog blend as the base. It was more of a full-bodied coffee that was perfect with the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and vanilla bean that was added to create the perfect Christmas Harvest blend.

  It’d been so popular over the past few weeks, I couldn’t even keep in stock the mason jars I filled and wrapped a red grosgrain ribbon around for customers to purchase.

  Aunt Maxi was finished in no time and had moved on to the coffee bar on the opposite end of the counter. She glanced over to see if the six thermoses were finished brewing so she could put them in place. The coffee bar was on the honor system, which meant there was a jar where customers could put their money in and get their own coffee. Sometimes the coffeehouse got busy and it was those times that customers came in and only wanted a cup of coffee. It was a perfect system for me anyways. But the creamer, sugar, sugar substitutes, honey, cinnamon, stirs, napkins and to-go cups needed to be refilled.

  It only took a few minutes for me to blend the grog and add the ingredients to get the morning brew started. The smell of the cinnamon really did make it feel like Christmas.

  “Are you going to the tree lighting tonight?” I asked Aunt Maxi while I got started on the Gingerbread Mischiefs to make for the furry friends that come into the coffeehouse with their owners.

  “Of course. You’re going to love it.” She ran her hand along the piece of antique furniture I’d turned into the coffee bar.

  I was actually proud of the entire coffeehouse. I’d taken and redone all of it by watching all sorts of DIY videos off YouTube. The walls were shiplap that I’d created from painted plywood. The counter was “L” shaped with a glass counter top with all the goodies stored below. Instead in investing in fancy industrial menus, I took big chalkboards and hung them to the wall and over the counter. The menus listed the weekly specials and all the fancy coffee drinks I made to order.

  “I can’t wait.” I scooped some more kibble in Pepper’s bowl before I pushed through the kitchen to get more cookies out and in the oven as well as start on the furry friends’ treats. “Plus I’m going to get a tree from the lot and get this place all decorated. I’ve been driving by the lot and getting really excited with all the fun lights and decorations.”

  With the current cold temperatures and light snow, it was just way too cold for Pepper and me to ride the bicycle to the boardwalk or even into downtown. Everything in Honey Springs was just a hop and a skip away so having a car was more of a nuisance than a necessity.

  On the way back from getting more Santa Kisses out of the oven and putting the trays in the cooling rack, I grabbed the cinnamon, ginger, flour and cloves from the dry ingredients shelf and the oil, molasses and water I needed from the wet ingredients shelf. The gingerbread man cookie cutter was a perfect choice for my furry friends’ treats. A surefire hit.

  “Brrr… it sure is cold out there.” Bunny Bowowski, my only employee, waddled through the swinging door with her brown pocket book snug in the crook of her arm. She hung it on the coatrack along with her coat. She tied the apron around her neck and around her waist, over her housedress.

  “It is cold and I love it. Cold weather makes for a lot of coffee-loving customers.” I smiled and measured, mixed and blended the ingredients. “How are you this morning?”

  “You know. This weather makes me all creaky.” She ran her fingers along her grey chin-length bob. “Plus this Secret Santa thing is driving me nuts.”

  “It might be driving you crazy, but the beautification committee has really outdone themselves this holiday.” I wanted her to know that I appreciated all the hard work she and the other women on the committee put in to decorate the town. “I absolutely love all the boardwalk decorations.”

  “I just can’t believe I let Mae Belle Donovan talk all these people into doing a Secret Santa exchange.” She huffed and moseyed over to me. “What are you rolling out there? It smells so good.”

  “Gingerbread Mischiefs for our four-legged friends.” I pushed the gingerbread man cookie cutter down into the dough and placed the cut figures on the parchment paper.

  She got herself
a cup of the Christmas Harvest coffee and took a sip with her eyes closed.

  “Good, huh?” I smiled at her reaction. The reaction from her and my other customers were far different from the last customers I’d had as a lawyer.

  “You’ve outdone yourself too.” She eyed the cookies on the rack and took a couple before she headed back out the kitchen door.

  While I got the cookies in the oven and set the timer for twenty-five minutes, I refilled my cup to join the two women already arguing over who knows what. Bunny and Aunt Maxi picked at each other, but that’s all it was.

  “What are you two fussing at now?” I asked with a tray of Rudolph Quiche that was perfectly named from the red bell peppers cooked throughout.

  My specialty was the coffee and all the fixins, but I also offered a breakfast item that was usually a quiche, a lunch offering and I was closed for supper. The food items were offered the entire week along with the simple desserts and pastries I made. During the winter season, I was closed on Sunday’s. That changed once the warmer weather hit because customers loved to gather before and after church. On Sunday I’d spend the day making the food items for the upcoming week as well as changing out the chalkboard menus, which made it easy to come in here in the morning and pull out anything I could freeze.

  “I wanted to know what happened to her hair.” Bunny’s nose curled as she took the plates of quiche from me and began to place them in the glass cases.

  Aunt Maxi was wiping down the few café tables that dotted the inside of the coffeehouse before she walked over and turned the open sign on the door.