A Bitter Cup Read online

"It's Joshua," she said, fighting down tears. "They came and questioned him!"

  I looked to Aubrey to make sure we were on the same page. She gave me a worried glance as we quickly finished up what we were cleaning.

  Was this my fault? It had to be. Afterall, I had been the one to point to Joshua. I pointed to Frank too though, he had been just as aggressive. Tea, I should have kept my big mouth shut until we spoke to her.

  "Come with us," Aubrey said. She placed a be right back tent next to the register, not that it was needed as the mid morning lull had already settled into the cafe.

  I dropped the back counter so Jess could pass through and we walked into the storeroom. We sat together at the small bistro. This had not been what we had in mind. I stared at my feet while I tried to formulate the right thing to say.

  "You're safe here," I said and placed my hand on Jess's back. "Tell us what happened."

  "William and Barry came into the feed store," she fought down another set of tears.

  After a few deep breaths the flush in her cheeks died down, and she continued, "David called me after. But they came in and took Joshua to the back. They think he did it."

  "Poisoned Charlie?" Aubrey asked.

  "Yes," Jess said. "But there's no way. Joshua would never." She fell into another round of tears.

  "I'm sorry," I said before I could stop myself, the guilt was eating my insides. Mates before dates, Hailey. Like it would have been hard to shut down their questioning this morning. I should have requested a lawyer just for the tea of it. Barry's face would have been perfection. Talking before coffee was going to get me in trouble.

  "It's not your fault," Azure transmitted and then walked out from behind a box where he had been napping.

  Azure hopped into Jess's lap and nuzzled his head into her stomach. Instantly I could see a calm come over her. Her shoulders relaxed, and her breathing slowed.

  I shook my head to clear my thoughts, even in scolding myself, I still fell back into thinking of his chiseled jawline. He was nothing but trouble, with a capital T.

  Jess mindlessly pet Azure as she said, "It's not your fault?"

  "Actually, I'm afraid it might be," I said. "They were here earlier and I explained Joshua had been here yesterday wanting payment."

  "That darn Charlie," She spat. "He hasn't paid his bill from a couple months ago when he bought all that new ranch equipment. David broke down and told me. He says Charlie owes just over ten thousand dollars!"

  "Woah," Aubrey said.

  "That's some malarkey," I said, "Old tea-tart. What is he playing at?"

  I guess Beau knew exactly what he was talking about. Another world famous foot mouth moment for me this week. Tea.

  "Exactly," Jess said and pet Azure a little aggressively.

  "Not helping," he transmitted.

  "Do they know why Charlie isn't paying?" I asked.

  Aubrey stood up and reached into the back fridge to pull out a pitcher of cold brew coffee.

  "No," Jess said. "That's the worst part. David said once the ninety day invoices went unanswered he had Joshua try and reach out in person. But the past few weeks went by with him unable to speak to Charlie face to face.

  He either would not answer his door, or would leave any business that Joshua walked into. When he came in here yesterday, it was just to be able to corner him into listening. Either Charlie pays or David is going to get a lawyer involved. Vance Feed has been in their family for three generations, but without that money it could go under."

  Aubrey served three cups of cold brew with milk. It looked like hot coco, but was ice cold.

  As one, we sipped our coffee in silence. Even Azure stopped purring. A soft sound of cutlery against plates could be heard from the cafe, but they would be fine. Nothing mattered, aside from helping Jess and Joshua. I refused to stand by and watch Charlie ruin their family business. My anger flared as I recalled Brett.

  "Did they arrest Joshua?" Aubrey asked.

  "No, thank God," Jess said.

  "What happened then?" I asked.

  "They questioned him for nearly an hour, and then told him not to leave town," she said. "Which now means that he can't make their deliveries, and David is getting too old to get out there and throw around all that feed. With Jason still in high school, they are scrambling to get customers to change their time slots to later in the day. But even that is causing an issue. Only so many deliveries can happen between four and seven."

  "What about Jason's friends?," Aubrey said.

  "Of course," Jess said. "I should have thought of that. I bet Tony and Dylan would be willing to help. I think they all have their license."

  "David wouldn't even have to pay them right away." I said. "I mean since they are friends of Jason, I'm sure they'd take a rain check to help the family."

  "Oh, that's genius!" Jess said. "I'm going to text David now."

  "How is Joshua holding up?" I asked.

  "Not good," Jess said. "He's upset obviously, but he won't talk to me about it. He's doing that strong silent thing that men do, when they've been wronged."

  "Men," we said in unison, and that was enough to send us into a fit of laughter. Jess had managed to fit in with Aubrey and I as if she was a younger sister. It was as easy as breathing. We all got each other, and it felt like she had been a part of our inner circle for years.

  "Don't you worry," Aubrey said after the laughter had died. "Hailey solved her Aunt's death and got Brett arrested. She can figure this one out too."

  "I can?"

  "Of course."

  "What she doesn't know, is you had help," Azure transmitted.

  "If I'm being dragged into this, so are you," I transmitted back.

  "No one has perished and left you in charge."

  "You're going to help if you ever want salmon again!"

  Azure hopped out of Jess's lap, "No time like the present."

  "You wish, friends before fish." I transmitted.

  "Jeremiah told me Doug likes to brag when he has one too many over at Wish You Were Beer," Aubrey said. "About how one day he's going to own a chunk of the ranch and plans to build a subdivision, and strip mall. Thinks he's going to be a millionaire."

  "Maybe he thought he had waited long enough?" I asked, not sure I believed it myself. "Frank also had a fight with Charlie that morning."

  "I don't believe Doug would do it," Jess said, "I don't know Frank that well but I know Joshua didn't do it!"

  She turned to me and placed her hands over mine, "Please! I can't lose Joshua. Jeremy and Jordan would never recover."

  "Have you told the kids yet?" Aubrey asked.

  "Oh no," Jess said. "They are too young to understand anyway. I'm sure they will figure out something is going on, but nothing will come from scaring them over hearsay. After I got off the phone with David, Jordan gave me a big hug and told me it was going to be okay. I about died of a cuteness overload. Threenager or not, sometimes he is just too stinkin cute for his own good."

  Aubrey audibly awed. Kids were cute, but those moments would never make up for the act of having my own. I cringed internally, none and done for me.

  "Don't worry," I lied and gave Jess my best fake smile.

  I had no idea what I could do, but there was no way I would stand by. Aubrey was right. I solved Tona's death with the help of Azure. What good is a magical dragon, if I cannot help my friends?

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Thursday, March 19th

  Midafternoon in the cafe usually experienced the second lull for the day. Aubrey left to pick up her children from school, and I was alone to wrap up the day.

  Not entirely alone though, I always had Azure for company. Though he preferred to spend his afternoons sleeping in the back near the ovens, while I tended to the handful of customers that were in desperate need of an afternoon pick me up.

  Bridget was a daily regular. She and Lexi ran Love and Lather, the salon I went to any time I needed a haircut. Lexi bought their morning coffees and Bridget their a
fternoon ones. Now that Aubrey worked at the cafe with me, it explained why they were always so bubbly. How could you not be, when you spent every day with your best friend?

  "Two extra-large iced coffees, with three sugars, and two creams?" I asked as she approached the counter.

  They had been ordering the same thing, twice a day, for nearly five years. My favorite part of their visits was being able to witness the daring things they would do to their hair. Bridget's was currently colored in a sunset ombre. One day, maybe, I would get up the courage to do something crazy to mine dark locks.

  "You know it," she said with a smile.

  "How's your day going?"

  "Hairy," she laughed at her own joke. "But seriously, have you heard about Charlie? I mean obviously you know about him going to the hospital, but—"

  "That he was poisoned?"

  "Darn. I mean yes." She pretended to pout at not being able to break the news to me.

  I handed her the first coffee and said, "William and Barry were in here earlier."

  "It's all the town's talking about," she sipped her coffee. "Charlie was such a grumpy old man. I heard he wasn't paying his bills!"

  "Yeah," I said, "I heard the same."

  Give me something new Bridget. Half the town does not call you blabbering Bridget for nothing. I poured the cream into the second coffee, and then added three pumps of simple syrup.

  "I mean, if he's not paying bills, and everyone already thinks he's rude as all get out. It could have been literally anyone."

  "I agree," I said and handed her the second coffee with a straw.

  "Do you think they'll catch who did it?"

  "Of course," I said, but did not elaborate that I intended to make sure of it.

  "You better be working on a solution," I transmitted to Azure. "If Joshua goes down for this, you'll never get salmon again."

  "You don't have to make idle threats," Azure transmitted. "I'm currently preparing myself for the meeting tonight. Victoria and Butter are scheduled to return."

  "Burning tea leaves."

  "Well, I hope you're right," Bridget said and took another sip of her coffee. "We'll chat more tomorrow. Gotta get back for my four PM."

  Gossip made her disturbingly giddy.

  "It's vomit worthy is what it is." Azure transmitted.

  "To each their own." I transmitted back.

  "Sounds good, and thank you," I said and waved.

  "No, thank you! These coffees are a lifesaver!"

  The door jingled behind her as she left, and I was alone in the cafe again. I picked up a clean rag and began to wipe down the empty tables. The more cleaning I did then, the less there would be before the meeting. I had nearly forgotten that Tori would be back.

  Just as I finished the last table, the door jingled. I turned around to see David walking through.

  He looked worse for wear in his own company shirt and jeans. I could not visualize the man crying, but by the redness in his eyes it seemed plausible that he had been. It was remarkable how much Joshua resembled his father.

  "Hey David," I said, trying to be as uplifting as I could, given the circumstances. Without Aubrey here for backup, I was not sure how an emotional conversation would go over.

  "Hailey," he said. "I trust you've heard?"

  "Yes," I said and walked through the gap in the counter to get back around. "Jess stopped by earlier to fill us in. I'm so sorry."

  No need to explain it was all my fault. If Jess told him, then that was that, but if she had not, there was no reason to add to his troubles.

  "They're saying he could spend the rest of his life in prison," David said, and there were tears at the corner of his eyes.

  Joshua was his first born son, and I could not imagine the pain he felt. Knowing the heir to his legacy could face life in prison for a crime he did not commit and not being able to stop it.

  "Is there anything I can do?"

  "Tell me what you saw."

  I poured him a fresh cup of coffee, and he took a seat at the bar. For the next ten minutes I explained everything that happened that morning. I went through every fine detail I could recall. Trying to jog my own memory to solve the mystery.

  "Frank has a real temper, he should get that checked out by a professional," Azure transmitted.

  "I'll make sure to let him know the next time he's in." I transmitted back, giggling at the idea.

  "So, Joshua left before Charlie collapsed?"

  "Yes," I said, not wanting to explain how poison worked.

  "Then it couldn't have been him." He had so much hope in his eyes it killed me to lie to him.

  "Exactly," But I was not going to be the bearer of bad news on the idea that it really could have been anyone that interacted with Charlie that morning. My own doubts in Joshua were purely friendship related.

  I understood why William and Barry were looking into him, it looked overly suspicious, but I had known Joshua my entire life. There was no way he was a murderer. If Charlie had been twenty years younger, I am sure Joshua would have punched him in the face. Who would have blamed him? Ten thousand dollars is more than most cars. But there just was no way Joshua would have poisoned Charlie.

  "You have to prepare yourself that he may have done it," Azure transmitted.

  "Now who's not helping?"

  "They've said Joshua can't leave town," David said. "Jason was able to get a few of his friends to help. Jessica said that was yalls suggestion?"

  "Really more of Aubrey's," I said.

  "Well thank you," he said. "And you tell her I said thank you. I didn't know how we were going to take care of everything without Joshua's help. It's a real life saver."

  "If there's anything else—"

  "No, you've done enough," he said. "This isn't your fault. If he weren't already on his deathbed, I'd kill Charlie myself."

  I swallowed and looked at the door. Thank the bean we were alone.

  "It should have been me in here yesterday. Not Joshua. I should have never let him try collecting from that old fart."

  "There's no way you could have known. Don't beat yourself up about it. Collections are a part of business."

  "If I would have came. . . I could have just dropped off the bill and left. . . if Joshua would have just kept his cool. . ."

  He rambled to himself, seemingly unaware that I was there or had spoken.

  David finished off the last of his coffee and came back to the conversation.

  "Well," he said. "Thank you for the coffee. I wanted to hear it first hand. I'll let you get back to it."

  It pained me to see David scared for his son.

  I walked out from behind the counter and gave him a quick hug.

  "You stay strong," I said. "Joshua is going to be exonerated of this!"

  "I just want them to clear his name," David said, and the tears were back in the corners of his eyes. "He's not a bad kid. Brash, but not bad."

  "I know."

  We embraced one last time, and David left as I shook off the feeling of being touched.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Thursday, March 19th

  Just after David left the cafe, Azure went out to roam downtown Marble Falls. The whole ten square blocks of it. He assured me on more than one occasion that the area had the best pickings for small rodents due to all the eateries. It just made me want to call pest control.

  I placed the last rack of dirty mugs and plates, into the hot soapy water to soak. One by one, I pulled them out, rinsed, dunked them into the sterilizing water, and then rinsed them off one last time, before stacking them on the tray to dry. My hands grew numb from the heat of the water, but I stayed focused until the last dish was clean.

  The repetitive nature of the task washed away my stress from the day, and what still awaited me. While it was going on my fifth meeting, Tori not being there had made them easier to adapt to. I could only hope that she did not plan to steam roll back into trying to lead the tribe.

  A scratch at the back door, told me Azur
e had returned. Perfect timing. The ladies would be showing up any minute, and I was in no mood to greet them alone.

  "I'm coming, your majesty," I transmitted. "Don't get your horns twisted."

  "Clever," Azure transmitted, as I opened the door for him to come in. "As if you haven't been waiting for me?"

  I gave him a loud fake laugh that melted into a blank stare. He only wished I spent my days longing for his return.

  He shook off like a dog, but thankfully there was no mud. I never had pets because I was not up to the task of cleaning up after them. A kitty without a litter box was as far as I was willing to venture into the pet world.

  "Food?"

  "I suppose," I transmitted and we climbed the stairs together.

  "I have news that may interest you," he transmitted, as I opened a can of beef and liver.

  "Oh?"

  "Assuming you're still interested in clearing Joshua Vance's good name."

  "Don't play dumb," I transmitted and stamped my foot by his bowl. "You know full well—"

  "It was Frank," he transmitted, cutting me off mid thought.

  "What?" I could not fathom what his motives would be, aside from the debt. But honestly, dead people do not pay bills.

  "Yeah," he transmitted. "I saw him in his truck drinking—"

  "You spy in windows now?"

  "Do you want this information or not? Sometimes you are worse than a child. I was not spying, it was a suspicious vehicle, so I responsibly checked into it."

  I rolled my eyes but gestured for him to continue.

  "He was looking at an old country map. The Hayes ranch outline stood out to me, only it was much smaller than it is now. There were several other ranches around it."

  He stopped thinking to focus on his food. After a minute of hurried chomping, he let out a loud burp and laid down on his side. His stomach was so large it made him look as round as he was long.

  "You're turning into a balloon," I teased.

  "When you're as old and wise as I, you can look any way you please," he transmitted. "You should show more respect to your elders, or they won't share their stories."

  "Fine, fine," I transmitted and waved my hands in surrender. "You're as regal as ever, Azure Rune. Your belly is cute and earned."