Mocha and Murder: A Cozy Mystery (A Killer Coffee Mystery Series Book Two) Read online

  Mocha

  And

  Murder

  A Killer Coffee Mystery

  Book Two

  Mocha and Murder

  A KILLER COFFEE MYSTERY

  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 address Author Tonya Kappes, P.O. Box 176988, Ft. Mitchell, Ky. 41017

  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

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies

  Apple Crisp Cookie

  Watermelon Pup-sicle

  Southern Light Pound Cake

  Vegan Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting

  Twinkie Cake

  CHAPTER ONE EXCERPT From A CHARMING CRIME

  Books by Tonya Kappes

  Acknowledgements

  I’d like to give my sincerest thanks to Cyndy Ranzau, my most excellent editor. She’s amazing with suggestions and I don’t know what I’d do without her.

  I’d also like to thank Jessica Fischer for her amazing skills in designing a cover that’s in my head. It’s not easy trying to get inside of a reader’s head and she nails it every single time.

  A special thanks goes to readers Robin Kyle and Sandy Giden for the wonderful recipes that are included in the back of the book along with recipes I make for my family.

  As always, to my amazing readers who not only keep me motivated, but keep me in coffee! This is for you!

  Xoxo ~Tonya

  Honey Springs, Kentucky

  Boardwalk Visitor’s Map

  Be sure to pick up extra maps at All About the Details.

  One

  “Good morning, Roxy,” Low-retta Bebe eyed the apple honey crisps. Really her name was Loretta, but with her deep southern accent she pronounced it Low-retta. She played with a piece of her short black hair, tilted her head to the left and to the right.

  “Good morning,” I said with a plate of honey glazed donuts in one hand and a pot of coffee in the other.

  The Bean Hive was booming for a Monday morning and I was never so thankful when I saw Bunny Bowowski coming through the door on my way over to the customers.

  “Here are your donuts and hot coffee.” I set the plate down. I ran my hand down my apron. “Give me a holler if you need anything else.”

  The customers nodded.

  “It’s a busy morning. I told you I can come in early,” Bunny said as she grabbed an apron off the coat rack that stood next to the counter.

  “I’m so grateful you are here, but I can’t be wearing out my best employee.” I winked.

  “I’m your only employee and I think I get around good for an old broad.” She tucked a piece of her grey, chin-length hair behind her ear. She let out a puff of air, her bangs flew up in the air. “Now, what does Loretta want?”

  I leaned into Bunny. “I’m not sure. She’s been eyeing the crisps for a while.” I straightened back up. “Do you mind going into the kitchen and grabbing some of the macaroons out of the freezer? It looks like we are having a macaroon kind of day.”

  “Hey, Low-retta, been to the tanning bed lately?” Bunny snickered before she hurried back to the kitchen.

  “Well, I never,” Loretta scoffed, though she couldn’t deny that the tan she had didn’t come from any sort of natural sun. The woman was brown all year around. She claimed she was Cherokee, which she might’ve been, but the lines in her neck when she lifted her chin showed an all-together different shade of skin that told me she was ninety percent tanning bed.

  “Oh, you know Bunny.” I tried to cover up Bunny’s lack of self-discipline when it came to her mouth. Bunny was in her seventies and she didn’t have any sort of filter. It was as if there was an age where the filter of the mouth seems to disappear and that age seemed to be around the seventy marker. “She’s just jealous she can’t look as good as you.”

  “Are you saying I’m an old bat like her?” Loretta’s eyes narrowed, her chin lifted and she looked down her nose at me.

  “Absolutely not. I’m saying that not many people can look as nice as you.” Again, I had to grit my teeth to keep my eyes from rolling.

  “Hmm.” Loretta ho-hummed and turned back to the glass counter to look at the apple honey crisps.

  All the café tables were filled and the stools that butted up to the window counter at the front of the coffeehouse were also occupied. Most of them had totes that were overflowing with beach towels. The Bean Hive was located in the middle of the boardwalk and had the best view of the lake. The sun was out and the day looked like it was going to cooperate with all the boaters. The lake was calm and the boardwalk was full with people. It was going to be a great summer.

  Before I headed back to the counter I checked the coffee and tea stations, both at opposite ends of the coffeehouse, to make sure the creamers were still fresh and the coffee pots were hot and steaming like my customers liked it. The coffee bar had six industrial thermoses that included different blends as well as decaffeinated. The tea bar had a nice selection of different loose-leaf teas for hot or cold drinks. Plus a wide variety of gourmet teas were there to choose from along with a choice of antique teapots I’d gotten from Wild and Whimsy Antiques which was located on the end of the boardwalk.

  I’d opted to hang large chalkboards above the L-shaped glass countertop. The first chalkboard hung over the pies and cookies. It listed the weekly selections along with prices. The tortes and quiches were in the middle glass counter and the chalkboard hung overtop. The third chalkboard hung above the counter before the bend in the L and listed the weekly casseroles along with the specialty drinks. The chalkboard on the small side of the L-shaped counter had information about catering along with some lunch options that sometimes included soups.

  Loretta looked as if she were reading every single word on each chalkboard.

  Summers in Honey Springs, Kentucky always brought in a good amount of tourists but the renovation of the boardwalk and the arrival of summer really brought in the outsiders.

  “How’s it going?” I asked Loretta on my way back to the counter.

/>   “Well,” she let out a long sigh, “the Southern Women’s Club is having our last meeting for the summer vacation.” She pulled her hand up to the pearl necklace around her neck and ran the pad of her finger across them. “You know we convene for the summer.” She said it like they were the United States Congress.

  It took everything in my soul not to roll my eyes. When I moved to Honey Springs and opened The Bean Hive coffeehouse, I wanted to make sure I was part of the community, and joining Southern Women’s Club was on my list. Loretta quickly let me know that I’d not proven myself to be in such a prestigious club. Yes, she was one of those southern women.

  “I’m not sure if these will do. I mean.” Her eyes drew up to mine when she realized she’d probably just insulted me.

  “Here.” I grabbed a white milk glass plate from one of the open shelves and slid open the door of the glass display case. “Why don’t you try one and let me know what you think.”

  I handed her the plate of crisps with the brown and crispy outside, gooey in the middle and knew that when she took her first bite, the cinnamon, apple, and pastry mixture would melt her heart.

  “You know, I try to use ingredients that are local. The honey glaze on top is from one of the bee farms and the apples are from Hill’s Orchard.” I was proud that I could support and buy from local vendors.

  As soon as she lifted the pastry to her lips and took a bite, her shoulders relaxed, her eyes closed and she chewed with a delightful glow on her tanned face.

  “Oh my.” A sigh escaped Loretta’s lips. “These will do just fine,” she said. “Is there oatmeal in there?”

  Did Loretta smile? The woman never smiled. The edges of her lips tipped up just enough that I was going to call it a smile.

  “Yes, ma’am, there is.” My heart soared. This was exactly why I enjoyed having a coffeehouse so much more than being a lawyer. The joys of seeing someone enjoy a fresh cup of coffee or a simple pastry was a way better feeling than telling a client that they were probably going to jail for life.

  “I’ll take three dozen by Thursday.” She put the plate on the counter and clasped her hands.

  “Thursday?” I questioned as my mind flipped through the days. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, I counted on my fingers and that included today.

  “Is there a problem?” she asked snidely.

  “Not at all.” I questioned exactly what I’d just agreed to. “I’m doing the apples in my head. A baking thing.” I lied knowing that Friday was the first day of the summer season and I still had to create something spectacular for the coffeehouse.

  “I don’t really care about all that.” She waved her hand toward me. The sunlight dripping through the front windows of the shop caught the big diamond on her finger and made those little rainbow spots all over the coffeehouse. “As long as they are ready by Thursday.”

  Pepper jumped up from his dog bed and bounced around the coffeehouse trying to grab the rainbow spots.

  “That’s what you get when you get a pound dog.” Loretta’s brows arched. “Thursday.” She turned on her heels and walked out of the coffeehouse.

  “You’re such a good boy,” I called to Pepper, my salt and pepper Schnauzer, as he bounded toward me.

  I grabbed one of the homemade dog treats I’d made fresh yesterday from the animal treat jar and tossed it to him. Happily, he munched on it.

  The rest of the morning, Bunny and I spent a lot of time grabbing more pastries from the freezer. Today I was very thankful that I was closed a half day on Sundays so I could bake and freeze for busy days like these. Once the coffeehouse only had a couple of customers, I took the opportunity to take Pepper out for a quick walk on the boardwalk.

  Quick was probably not the right word, because everyone loved my salt and pepper four-legged friend. He was friendly to everyone. Loretta was right. I’d moved to Honey Springs and purchased a small cabin that was a seven-minute bike ride to the boardwalk. It was great exercise for me, not to mention it helped wake me up for my four-thirty a.m. start time. Pepper didn’t seem to mind riding in the bike basket.

  The buzz of the boats coming in and out of the no-wake zone was a happy memory of the summers I’d spent in Honey Springs with my aunt Maxi. She was the reason my father would bring me here for summer vacations. He’d stay for a week and I’d stay for the summer.

  The boardwalk didn’t have as many stores back then, especially not a coffeehouse, but Crooked Cat bookstore had been there forever.

  “Hey there, Roxy.” Leslie Roarke, the owner of Crooked Cat, waved at me when she looked up after Pepper and I walked through the store’s door. Her long, copper, kinky hair stuck up all over the place. I knew her pain. My hair was also very curly, but hers was worse than mine. “Pepper, you want a treat?” she called from the counter.

  Treat was all Pepper needed to hear before he darted out in her direction.

  “I got a new collection of books over there.” She pointed to the new arrival shelf. “Anything in particular you’re looking for?”

  “I’m thinking about buying a bridal book.” I lifted my hand in the air.

  Recently I’d gotten engaged to my Honey Springs summer boyfriend, Patrick Cane. Of course we weren’t teenagers anymore and some of the residents of Honey Springs think we are rushing into things, but it’s not like I’m walking down the aisle tomorrow or even next month. In fact, Patrick and I hadn’t even discussed a date.

  “I don’t think I have any, but there is one I can order that I think you’d like.” Leslie had taken over Crooked Cat after her mother, Alexis, had been murdered. Not only was it a blow to her, but to the community. Alexis and Crooked Cat were staples in Honey Springs. I was just glad that Leslie had decided to stay.

  “That’d be great.” I offered a smile. It wasn’t like Leslie and I were good friends. She actually didn’t like Pepper the first time I’d met her. “I’m so glad you stayed in Honey Springs.”

  “Me too.” She ran her hand down the store’s cat that was curled up next to the register. “My mom would’ve loved this. It’s a shame that I didn’t take more time coming home.”

  “I’m sure your mother knows exactly what you’re doing.” It was only words, but I hoped they offered her some comfort. “You’re keeping her hard work and memory alive.”

  “Thank you, Roxy. I really appreciate that.” There was a tear in her eye. “I do love Honey Springs.”

  “Me and Crissy are going to meet at the coffeehouse around six for a quick supper before I have to go to Pet Palace if you’d like to join us.” Crissy was going to kill me, but I thought Leslie needed friends.

  “I’d love to.” She grabbed a piece of paper. “I’m going to get right on ordering your book for you. My treat as an engagement present.”

  “That’s so nice.” I patted my leg. “Let’s go Pepper. We’ve got to get back to the shop before Bunny gets too busy.”

  Two

  Bunny and Louise Carlton were standing over the stove in the kitchen of the coffeehouse looking into a pot.

  “What are y’all doing?” I asked and tied the apron around my waist.

  “Thank gawd, you’re back.” Louise held a small dog in her arms and put it on the ground.

  Immediately, Pepper rushed over to the poor shaking fur ball to check it out. All of us stood there waiting to see if we needed to step in. Pepper wasn’t going to hurt the little dog, but we didn’t know how the introduction was going to work.

  A sigh of relief escaped us when the little dog started to bounce around Pepper in a playful manner.

  “I’m so glad she fits in.” Louise’s eyes dipped. Her jaw relaxed. “Now, can you make me a chai? Bunny and I can’t figure it out for nothing.”

  Bunny walked back into the coffeehouse to take care of any customers while I made Louise’s custom chai tea.

  “Tell me about the dog.” I turned the gas knob on the stove to high to bring the water to a boil.

  “Tank came from a fraternity boy.” She rolled her eyes and ease
d herself down on one of the stools that were next to the kitchen island where I prepared most of the foods. “I don’t know why these college kids think they can take care of a dog when they can barely take care of or feed themselves.”

  “I’m glad he brought Tank to you.” I retrieved the cardamom, cinnamon powder, star anise, fennel seed, nutmeg, ginger, cloves and peppercorn that I used to make her tea. “Without Pet Palace I’m not sure what the animals in Honey Springs would do.”

  Pet Palace was Honey Springs’s take on a local SPCA. Not all small towns in Kentucky had an animal shelter and Pet Palace was solely run on volunteers and donated money. Louise never turned away an animal of any kind. Every Monday night I volunteered to clean cages and feed the animals.

  “Without you, they’d never get the exposure they needed to find a good home.” She leaned in on the counter, propping her elbows up and resting her chin in her hands.

  “I love having them here.” I stirred in the ingredients as the water boiled. “Unfortunately I can’t contribute with money, but I can offer my coffeehouse and time.”

  The coffeehouse was a dream for me. I’d become a lawyer like my own mother had dreamed. Married another law student and we opened our own practice. After I’d caught him taking more than a monetary payment from one of our clients, we’d gotten divorced. Aunt Maxi had asked me to come visit like I did when I was a child. Then she told me about the plans to revitalize the boardwalk and subtly she planted the seed that I should move there and she’d let me put my own coffeehouse in one of the two buildings she owned on the boardwalk: Crooked Cat, which I’d never allow her to kick out, and the building where the coffeehouse sat today.