“They wouldn’t trash anything,” I said. “That’s what’s so weird. It’s what’s making me think whoever bought and delivered the coffee must be the one behind this.”

  “Did they use an app? I’m never using an app again if it means I might get shot to death.”

  “No, they couldn’t have anyone come to the house.”

  “Could they be two separate people? One who got the coffee, and someone else who handed them out?”

  “It’s possible,” I said. “There were two cups.” I stopped again, thinking out loud. “There were five people. Three officers. But only two cups. The autopsy will reveal coffee in the stomachs of anyone who drank it but not the reason why there weren’t five cups.”

  “Except for Daniel’s stomach,” said Lily. She stopped and grabbed my arm. “You don’t think he’s dead somewhere, do you?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  “Suspiciously definitive,” said Lily, narrowing her eyes.

  “I’m sure I’d feel it,” I said, “but you’re right. No one can prove what Daniel consumed.” Yet. I thought about the blood Solomon extracted from my brother and wondered if that would be enough to prove he’d been drugged. I wasn’t sure of the legalities but fairly sure it wouldn’t be admissible as evidence in a trial. Solomon had already said that blood would be no use to anyone except us. For the first time, I felt an ache of despair.

  However, there was the sample Solomon had arranged to be taken as evidence, but who took it and how could Solomon be so sure it was acceptable? Suspicion nagged at me. What was Solomon keeping from me?

  “You’re right,” said Lily, pointing. “I think Daniel’s okay. I think he’s going to be just fine and I think... what’s that over there?”

  “What?” I looked around.

  “Let me see that squiggle again.”

  I passed her the folded sheet of paper and she held it up to the sun. “That could be it,” she said, pointing to a man fixing a sign above a coffee shop window. It said “The Daily Roast” and underneath that “the best coffee in town” which seemed like an overreach. “Those squiggles could be a T, a D, and an R. See how they’re curvy but artistically lacking part of the letters?”

  “Good catch. Let’s check it out,” I said, already walking forwards. Lily jogged a few steps to match my pace. “You know, the police station is only a couple miles that way. And this street is regularly used to avoid all the traffic on the main roads.”

  “Why not just get coffee locally? Why not brew it at the safe house and drug it there? It seems so much extra effort to drive here to pick it up, then drive it over there. And it’s a heck of an opportunity to wait for if the perp who drugged the coffee was already someone else in the house.”

  “Perhaps they offered it as a treat? A proper artisan coffee? The job of defending the safe house would be boring and I doubt there were many, if any, treats to break up the day. Plus, the person who picked it up would have time to administer the drugs without being caught.”

  “That’s just nasty,” said Lily, a look of disgust crossing her face. “I can’t imagine giving someone something to consume knowing that I’ve just done something to it and I work in a bar that has a regular influx of assholes.”

  “Remind me to never get on your wrong side before you deliver my drinks.”

  “You have a lifetime pass on account of being my bestie.”

  “Thanks. You know, I don’t think the drug was administered correctly because let’s say it was just intended for Daniel and Detective Wayne... and they woke up. Maybe the other officer was on a sleep rotation and not expected to be a problem. That still leaves the two witnesses. Wouldn’t someone want them incapacitated too?”

  “Perhaps they wanted the witnesses to suffer, knowing they were going to die and no one could help them.”

  I grimaced. “That’s pretty dark.”

  “Perhaps they were discounted as a threat. Police officers carry guns. Witnesses don’t. They wouldn’t be able to fight back regardless.”

  “That’s a possibility,” I agreed.

  Lily continued, on a roll now. “Maybe they only needed two cups because Frank Desmond or Wayne were in on it. Incapacitate the other two while they carry out the murders, then frame one or both of them?”

  “I thought of that but I couldn’t find any obvious trail that suggested either of the other two deceased detectives could have been in on it.”

  “I don’t suppose one survivor getting murdered in the hospital and then someone trying to kill you was a big ol’ clue?” asked Lily.

  “They didn’t try to kill me. I suppose Detective Wayne isn’t entirely in the clear yet,” I decided. “His wife was nice but someone was cleaning house.”

  We stopped in front of the coffee shop, peering at the logo. The stylized squiggles certainly looked very close to what I remembered.

  “You can go in if you like,” said the man hanging the sign. He had a few tools stuck in his jeans pockets but his apron had the same logo as the shop. “We’re open and I won’t drop this thing on your heads. I promise.”

  “Have you been open very long?” I asked.

  “Since seven AM,” he replied.

  “No, I meant, are you new in town? You look like you’re only just putting up the sign.”

  “We are. My wife and I recently finished renovating this place and we’ve been open a month. It was always my dream to run my own business and my wife is a huge coffee connoisseur so we combined our two desires to create The Daily Roast.”

  “It sure smells good!” said Lily.

  “We have artisan coffees from around the world. That’s what sets us apart from the other franchises all over town. Plus, we serve light breakfasts, lunch and snacks.”

  “Do many police officers’ hang out here or come by?” I asked.

  The man rubbed his forehead with the back of his hand, pointing the drill away from his face. “Can’t say we get a lot of uniformed officers but I know the police station isn’t too far away. Why do you ask?”

  “My brother’s friend got a coffee from here yesterday and they said it was really good. They’re both police officers. I can’t remember which one of his buddies it was. Maybe you’ll remember?”

  “I don’t do much serving right now. Mostly, I’m the regular handyman when I’m not working in the kitchen. My wife has a good memory for faces though. She’s behind the counter,” he said, pointing the drill toward the open door. As we began to step forwards, he added, “I’d appreciate it if they told their buddies. We have loyalty cards inside. Buy nine, get one free. Make sure you pick one up and get it stamped.”

  “Thanks,” we called back as we went inside.

  “I hope Tanner wasn’t talking your ears off,” said the black-haired woman behind the counter, currently placing custard tarts in a glass display case. She laughed as she glanced at him.

  “Only to brag about the coffees,” I said. “He says you get them from around the world.”

  “We do. Columbia, Ethiopia, Costa Rica... I even have a bean from a small grower here in the US.”

  “I didn’t know we could grow coffee here,” said Lily.

  “The climate is right in California and they send it by train to keep it as environmentally friendly as possible. There are other experimental projects to see if coffee is a commercially viable crop in the country too. I can get you a taster if you like?”

  “Please,” agreed Lily.

  “I have a small batch ready,” she said, turning to reach for the French press on the counter behind her. The shelves above were artfully decorated with all manner of French presses, bags and sacks. Peeking out from behind one of the small sacks, and aimed at the cash register, was a small device. I couldn’t be sure but I thought it was a camera. “Can I get you anything else?”

  “Do you deliver, by any chance?”

  “No, not yet but it’s something we’re looking into.” She poured the coffee into two small cardboard taster cups and placed them on the counter. “We can add regular milk and plant-based milks and pretty much any flavored syrup you can think of but I think it’s best to try this coffee on its own first.”

  I sipped the coffee, finding it rich and earthy. “That’s really nice,” I said.

  “I like it too,” agreed Lily, putting the cup back to her lips.

  “My brother’s friend picked up a couple of coffees from here yesterday. I wonder if you might remember him. I think there was some kind of argument between them later about whose turn it was to pay the bill. I said I’d stop by and see if you possibly recall,” I lied, knowing it was a weak one but hoping it worked. I figured telling the woman that her coffee cups were found at a deadly crime scene might make her clam up.

  The woman pulled a face. “I’m not sure I’d remember. It’s been pretty busy here by myself. Do you know what they ordered?”

  I shook my head. “Just two coffees.”

  “No, sorry. We get enough passing trade that I wouldn’t remember a simple order. Now a complicated one might stick in my head if it were unusual enough.”

  “Is the logo exclusive to this shop?”

  “Yes, I designed it myself using one of those graphic design websites online.”

  “Okay, thanks for your help.”

  “Can I get you anything before you go? Maybe a full-sized coffee?”

  “Yes, please. Two coffees,” said Lily, who was peering at the cakes behind the glass screen, “and two slices of chocolate cake. I’m hungry.”

  “Coming right up.”

  “That was a bust,” said Lily as we walked away with our purchases. “Although the coffee is really good. If I were going to poison anyone, I would definitely do it with good coffee. It seems too mean otherwise. Plus, good coffee ensures they drink it. Bad coffee goes down the drain.”

  “Actually, I think it was a good outcome. We found the shop and I noticed they had a home security system set up with a device above the cash register. I’ll bet it’s there in case someone tries to rob them. It looked like it was pointed directly at the counter. If Lucas can get a hold of their feed, I’m sure I’ll recognize one of Daniel’s colleagues. And if I can’t, I’m sure one of my brothers will.”

  “That’s great!” Lily stopped, her cup poised to her lips. She lowered it and turned. “We should go back. We should demand that security feed right now! Why didn’t you tell them what happened and ask for it?”

  “Because the police should pick it up first. They need to see that evidence. I just need to work out whom to tell about the coffee cups missing from the scene, that I’m reasonably sure they came from this coffee shop, and that whoever picked them up possibly put the drugs in to render the detectives unconscious before they murdered everyone else,” I said. “I wonder if Garrett can tip someone off? Or maybe Jord? No, maybe one of my uncles or aunts. They’re one step removed from Daniel.”

  “Surely the officer will just say they picked up coffee, no big deal,” said Lily.

  “Yeah, but...” Then I took another step. “So if everyone’s dead or missing... Here I am thinking it matters who bought the coffees, and it does, but it also matters who removed the cups.”

  “Someone else had to be in on it,” said Lily.

  “Yeah... working in conjunction with the killer. The pizza boxes were listed in the evidence but the coffee cups weren’t so that must be how the drugs were delivered. Someone went back later, after the killings, after Daniel went missing, and removed the cups. If Lucas can get us that feed, it will give us someone to look closer at.” I stopped short of saying anything else, fearing I’d probably already said too much. Not that there was a problem Lily knowing but there would be a problem if she lied to Captain Brandt and he found out. I didn’t want to put her in that position although I did appreciate her helping me on this excursion.

  “It would be a whole lot easier if Daniel just told you.”

  “Yeah,” I agreed. “If only I knew where he was. I’ll ask Lucas if he can get anything from the cameras nearby too. That should be enough to give us something to start from. We can work backwards from there.”

  “We?”

  “Us. All of us.”

  Lily hugged me. Well, as best she could with a coffee in one hand, and a package of cake in the other. It was more like an elbow squeeze on both sides, but I appreciated it. “I’m glad I can help. I was going to say happy but I’m not happy about it because this sucks for Daniel but I’m glad to help.”

  “I’m glad you’re helping too,” I said. When my phone rang, Lily released me and took my coffee, leaving me free to answer it.

  “I might have something,” said Lucas. “Can you come back to the office?”

  “Sure, I’m not far away. Can you add another search too?”

  “Yep. Go ahead.”

  “I want to take a look at the security camera at a coffee shop called The Daily Roast on Webster Avenue. Plus, any street cameras nearby especially if they’re pointing towards the coffee shop. Say, a couple hours before the shootings yesterday?”

  “No problem.”

  “On my way.” I hung up and said to Lily, “We need to head back to the agency.”

  “Let’s go,” she said as she returned my coffee.

  We turned the corner, heading towards Lily’s bar when I saw Captain Brandt. He locked eyes with me and strode towards us purposefully, motioning for another man to follow. My stomach tied in a knot as I wondered if he were looking for me, or following me. Neither idea was a good prospect.

  “Well, if it isn’t this city’s finest PI,” he said, deadpan.

  “Captain Brandt,” I said, giving him a polite nod.

  “I think you’ve met Detective Crump already,” he said, nodding to the man next to him. Crump was a big guy at over six feet with dirty blonde hair and I felt fairly certain he was wearing the same blue suit last time I saw him.

  “We’ve met,” I said as Detective Crump stared at me stonily.

  Captain Brandt looked over to Lily “And you are?” he asked.

  “Lily Shuler-Graves,” said Detective Crump. “We meet again.”

  “Have we met?” asked Lily, obliviously. I glanced at her, wondering if she were joking. When Crump turned to look past us on the street, she winked and I had to bite back a smile.

  “Captain Brandt is heading the squad to find out what happened at the safe house where Daniel and his colleagues were attacked,” I told her.

  “Right. You sent police officers to our house. My husband, Detective Jord Graves, told me,” said Lily, appearing entirely unfazed by the two men squaring up in front of us.

  “Of course he did,” said Captain Brandt. “What are you two doing?”

  “Buying coffee and cake,” said Lily.

  “Just strolling around town, buying coffee and cake? Like nothing happened?” snorted Detective Crump.

  “That’s what I said,” said Lily.

  “Is there something you want, Captain?” I asked, directing my question to the senior officer.

  Captain Brandt shrugged. “Anything you want to tell me?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” said Detective Crump. “Anything at all?”

  I glanced at Lily. She shrugged and so did I. “Nope,” I said.

  “Have you heard from Detective Graves?” asked Captain Brandt.

  “Which one?” I asked.

  Captain Brandt heaved a long breath. “Daniel.”

  “Since you asked this morning? No.”

  “Funny thing happened since you left the station after your arrest,” he said. “I actually did some investigating.”

  “That’s not funny. That’s your job,” said Lily. She sipped her coffee, looking as unconcerned as he did.

  “Funny,” said Captain Brandt. “Isn’t that funny, Crump?”

  “Hah!” snorted Crump without a trace of amusement.

  “We’ve been canvassing the neighborhood around Sun Street.”

  “Where’s that?” asked Lily.

  “The safe house, as I’m sure you already know,” said Captain Brandt. “People keep to themselves around there. Not a lot of doorbell cameras, security cameras, that sort of thing. But you know what? There are some twitchy curtains.” He stopped, looking coolly at me.

  “Okay,” I said.

  “It’s surprising what people see,” he said. “Well, it was nice running into you both. I’m sure it won’t be long before we run into each other again. Take care.” He stepped around us and walked around the corner, slipping out of sight before I thought to watch him go.

  “Was it just me or was he really intimidating?” asked Lily.

  “It wasn’t just you,” I said. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  By the time we reached Lucas, some thirty minutes later, I still felt disconcerted by Captain Brandt’s subtle aggression and Detective Crump’s scowling henchman act. I couldn’t be certain, but I had a feeling the duo might have followed me. I had to wonder if I’d been watched since I left the station. If so, he didn’t have a very interesting day. Even worse, they were wasting their time by barking up the wrong tree. Yet how was I supposed to convince Captain Brandt of that? He’d already arrested me once and remained clearly suspicious of my involvement. I could guess Detective Crump was just itching to see me in handcuffs again... and not in the fun way.

  Plus, I had a horrible feeling Captain Brandt knew I’d been in the Sun Street house, or at least suspected someone was there and fully intended to prove it. Could it be that I was on his suspect list? Did he possibly think that Daniel and I were colluding to commit such a monstrous crime together? To what end? I had no motive and neither did Daniel.

  “Is that for me?” asked Lucas when I placed the cake box and coffee on the table.

  “Nope,” I said.

  His face fell. “I work faster with cake.”

  “You can have mine,” said Lily, offering him her piece. “Lexi and I can share.”

  “You should come over more often,” said Lucas. “You’re a wonderful human being.” He gave me a dirty look so I stuck out my tongue in return.

  “What have you found?” I asked.

  He pulled a face as he stuck a bamboo fork into the cake. “Unfortunately, not much. I doubt you’re going to like it.” Setting the fork down, he tapped his keyboard, bringing the larger of his monitor screens to life. In the center of the frame was the assassin, caught mid-stride. “This was in the hospital parking lot. She parked in the employees’ lot in a red Honda.”