The two detectives sitting in my living room nodded and I immediately walked into the kitchen without asking them how they wanted it.
Ever the gentle hostess, I brought them one cup of coffee - black, and one with cream and two sugars (aka regular). I set the coffee-black in front of the sterner of the two.
"How'd you know I like it black?" he asked.
"Trick of the trade," I said, handing the other cup to his partner, who had a notebook.
"Cream and sugar?" he asked, picking up the cup.
"Cream and two sugars."
"A regular Kreskin." He sipped and smiled at me.
"When you've served as much java as I have over the years, it's like a second nature."
"This is pretty good! A special blend you keep for yourself?" asked Cream and Sugar.
"Yes!" I didn't have the heart to tell him it was the Grocery store special.
"Mr. Cicarelli, we haven't identified any fingerprints except those of you and your staff."
"And a few hundred of my customers, I imagine."
"Partials, smeared prints..."
"What's interesting is that we found no prints on the items that appeared to be damaged by hand," said Cream and Sugar.
"Gloves?"
"That's what it looks like."
"Do you think it was premeditated?"
"Looks like it," said Black Coffee. "What we'd like from you is a list of your employees, including any that you recently fired."
I took a break from sleuthing to give my dear friend, Barbra Lawry, a call.
I got her answering machine.
At the beep, I started talking:
"Barbra, I was hoping to speak to you in person, but thanks to the wonders of technology, it's not necessary. I'm sure you're as grateful as I am. Just wanted to let you know that I'm on to your scheme with the will and Charley's remains. I know you want a piece of Mocha Daze, but I'm not going to let you have any part of it -- or him. You get my rent check every month. You're not going to get anything more from me. Have a nice day."
