A Heap of Truffles Read online

  “Hello, Zach,” she said. “What are you doing here?”

  “My mom had some extra chocolates and she thought you guys would like some.”

  “That is so sweet,” said Cindy. “David is in a meeting with someone, but you’re welcome to come on back and pass them out to the other officers.”

  “Thanks,” said Zach. Cindy buzzed him in. He was getting ready to walk down the hall when he saw someone sitting outside of David’s office. He walked over.

  “Michael?” he said, surprised to see his friend at the station. Michael was still in high school but he often hung around with Zach’s group of friends. He was a cool kid and Zach wondered what was happening. “What are you doing here?”

  Michael looked up at Zach.

  “You didn’t hear?” he asked Zach.

  “Hear what?” Zach asked.

  “My father is dead,” said Michael.

  Zach was shocked. “What happened?” he asked, sitting down next to Michael.

  “I don’t know. I found him at home. Just—dead.”

  “I’m really sorry,” said Zach.

  “Yeah. No one knows what happened. There were all these candles and he just was lying there on the floor.”

  “Oh man, that is a bummer,” said Zach.

  “Yeah,” Michael said.

  They sat in silence for a few moments.

  “Listen,” said Zach. “Do you have a private investigator or someone who can help the police find out what happened?”

  “No, not that I know of,” said Michael. “Why?”

  “Well, my mom has done some stuff like that. She helped David solve his last two big cases.”

  “Really?” asked Michael.

  “Yes,” said Zach. “I set up a website for her. Here is her business card. You should look into hiring her.”

  “I don’t have any money to hire a PI,” said Michael. “And my mom and stepdad don’t have a lot of money right now either.”

  Zach thought for a minute. “You know, this website I made for my mom is brand new. She’d get more business if she could show she’s already had some clients. She had one client already a few months ago, but another one would really help. She’d probably work for you for free, especially since you’re my friend.”

  “Really?” For the first time, Michael looked hopeful. “I’ll think about it,” he said, taking the card.

  Zach patted his friend on the shoulder. “If anyone can help you, my mom can,” he said. “Call me if you have any problems with the website.”

  “I will,” said Michael. He thanked Zach and Zach got up. He walked toward the break room with the chocolates. He heard David’s door open and turned around. It was Michael’s mom. She didn’t see Zach, but Zach saw Michael put the card in his pocket.

  Zach had created a web page for his mother for her private eye business, but she didn’t know about it yet. Zach believed his mother was a good investigator and she should let people know, especially now that she was a licensed PI. Zach had set everything up, including a payment method, and had even printed business cards. He was thinking about telling her that night. Running into Michael was a great coincidence. Now Zach would see if his web page worked. He smiled. His mom would be thrilled when she found out. Zach knew how much she liked helping out with David’s cases.

  Zach put the chocolates on the break room table. He slipped his headphones back on and walked back down the hallway. He waved hello to a few police officers and hesitated when he walked by David’s door. Zach thought about knocking but decided not to. He knew David must be busy getting started on the case. Zach decided he would just go back to the store and let Margaret know about Michael.

  “Have a good day, Zach,” Cindy said as he passed by her desk.

  “Thanks, Cindy. You too,” Zach replied. He walked out of the police station and got into his car. His mom had helped him buy a used Toyota to drive around town in. He rolled down the window. It took a little while for the air conditioning to kick in and it was hot out. Even with the ocean breeze the temperature was in the high nineties. Zach started his car and drove back to the candy store, where Margaret was helping a customer. I wonder where Patty is, he thought.

  Margaret looked at Zach quizzically, and he motioned that he was going to the back of the shop. She nodded and got back to her customer. Zach went to the back of the store and sat down. He pulled up Margaret’s website on the computer while waiting for his mother to be done with her customer. Mom is going to love this, Zach thought, looking at the web page he had designed.

  5

  Margaret finished with her customer, wondering what Zach was doing back at the shop. He’s supposed to be surfing, she thought as she walked to the back of the store.

  “What are you doing here?” Margaret asked Zach. “Not that I don’t want to see you but I thought you were going to the beach after dropping off the chocolates.” She noticed his laptop was open on the table.

  “I was, but something else came up,” said Zach, closing his laptop.

  “What came up?” asked Margaret.

  “Well, I have been developing something that I think you will love. I was going to tell you about it tonight, but then I ran into my friend at the police department and I thought I would let you know now,” said Zach.

  “What are you talking about?” asked Margaret.

  Zach’s laptop dinged. He smiled.

  “Let me show you,” he said, opening his laptop. Margaret walked over and looked at it. The computer was opened to a private investigator’s page.

  “What is that?” Margaret asked Zach.

  “It’s your very own private investigator web page,” said Zach.

  “What are you talking about?” asked Margaret. She was confused. Web page? Private investigator? Margaret sat down while these thoughts raced through her head.

  “Mom, I created a web page for you. You can now run your private investigator’s job through the web,” explained Zach.

  Margaret took a deep breath. “Wait. You did what?” She understood what Zach was saying but she needed time to process it.

  “Yeah, aren’t you happy?” asked Zach.

  “No,” said Margaret. Just then the front door bell sounded signaling a customer. Margaret stood up. “Stay here a minute,” she instructed Zach. Margaret went out to the front of the store. She saw a woman standing there.

  “Oh, hi, Patty,” Margaret said to her other employee. “How did your errand go?”

  “Just fine. Thought I’d pop back in here before I left for the day. Were you in the back?”

  “Yes, I’m talking to Zach about something. Do you mind watching the front?”

  “I want Patty to see it too,” said Zach, coming from the back. “We can listen for the door if someone comes in.”

  “See what, dear?” asked Patty.

  “My mom’s web page. I designed it for her.”

  “For the store?” asked Patty.

  “No, for her private investigator’s business,” said Zach.

  “What? I didn’t know you had a private investigator’s business,” said Patty to Margaret.

  “Neither did I,” said Margaret. “In the back. Now, Zach.”

  Zach followed Margaret to the back of the store. Margaret sat down.

  “Zach, I didn’t say I was opening a new business,” said Margaret.

  “I know,” said Zach “I just—”

  Margaret interrupted him. “You just what, Zach? Thought if you created a web page people would come? There is more to a business than just a web page. I need a business license and numerous other things. What made you think I want to do this?”

  Zach waited until his mom was done talking. He cleared his throat. “Well, you did get your private investigator’s license, so this was the next logical step, right? And I didn’t just set up a web page, Mom. I did the research. I got you a business license to run this and the other paperwork has been filed with the agencies. Why did I do this? Because you loved helping David with his
cases. I could see it when you were helping him. You were on fire. You love being a private investigator and if you can help people it’s all the better.”

  Margaret hesitated. She saw how enthusiastic Zach was.

  “Also, you have your first customer,” said Zach, grinning.

  “What are you talking about?” asked Margaret.

  “Do you know my friend Michael?”

  “The one who plays football at the high school?”

  “Yeah. Well, his dad died and he found the body.”

  Margaret’s mouth dropped open. “Oh my gosh, that is awful. The poor boy.”

  “I told him about the website and he signed up. Here, look,” said Zach, pointing at the screen. There was an email logo and a number one beside it. Margaret clicked on it and an email popped up. She read about how Michael found his father dead on the floor and there were lit candles all over. She had to admit the case sounded intriguing.

  “That does not get you off the hook for going behind my back, though,” said Margaret to Zach.

  He smiled. “Okay, Mom. Also—he and his mom and stepdad don’t have a lot of money, so—well, I kind of said you’d maybe help him for free? That way you’ll get another reference to use for when other people want to hire you.”

  “Well, of course I won’t charge him. He’s your friend.” Margaret read through the email again. “Did you read this?” she asked Zach.

  “Yeah. Pretty weird, right? Especially after the note you got,” he said.

  “Exactly,” said Margaret. “Maybe there is something going on in our quiet little town.”

  The bell on the front door rang and Margaret poked her head up front. It was David. He said hi to Patty, who told him Margaret and Zach were in the back. Margaret was trying to decide how to break the web page to him when Zach spoke up.

  “Hi, David. Guess what I have been doing? I made up a web page for my mom’s private investigation business,” Zach said excitedly.

  “What?” asked David incredulously, directing his attention to Margaret.

  “I’m as shocked as you are,” Margaret replied.

  “You didn’t know about this?” asked David.

  “She didn’t,” reassured Zach.

  “But—well, I did kind of get my private investigator’s license,” Margaret said, trying not to wince. “I took classes online. I was going to tell you soon.”

  David sighed, and sat down.

  “So, any new cases?” Margaret asked David.

  “No,” he answered.

  “Are you sure?” Margaret asked.

  “Yes. Why do you keep asking me?”

  “Because Michael Santiago hired me to find out what happened to his father,” said Margaret, pointedly.

  David’s mouth gaped. “How did he do that?”

  “He used my web site,” Zach said, proudly.

  “Evidently Zach told him about my incredible skills,” said Margaret.

  David shook his head. “Between the two of you I’m going to go gray in a month,” he said.

  Margaret and Zach laughed.

  “Are you taking his case?” David asked Margaret.

  “Absolutely,” she said.

  David sat for a moment.

  “Well, I suppose it would be better if we worked together, then,” David said.

  Margaret smiled and hugged him. “I know that was hard for you to admit,” she said laughing.

  “Well, I figure if we work together, at least I can keep an eye on you,” said David.

  “Hey,” said Margaret, playfully smacking his arm.

  “You know what I mean. I can keep you safe if we work together,” said David.

  “Fine,” said Margaret.

  Patty stuck her head in the door.

  “I’m going to leave now,” she said.

  “Okay,” said Margaret. “Have a good night, Patty.”

  “You too, Miss Private Investigator ,” Patty replied, winking.

  David rolled his eyes and Margaret laughed.

  “Is it okay if I hang out with my friends now?” asked Zach.

  “Sure,” said Margaret.

  Zach smiled and packed up his laptop. He left the store and quickly walked toward the beach. Margaret and David went to the front of the store.

  “It’s about time to close up,” Margaret said.

  David flipped the sign over and locked the front door.

  “What are you doing for dinner tonight?” he asked Margaret.

  “I don’t know,” said Margaret. “My cook just left for the beach.”

  “Why don’t you come over to my place? I can’t believe you haven’t been there yet. I can whip something up for us really quick.”

  “Okay,” said Margaret. “I’d love to see where you live. Just let me finish up in here.”

  “Sure thing,” said David. “What do you need me to do?”

  “Nothing,” said Margaret. “Don’t you have a case to work on?”

  “I promised to walk you to your car, remember?” said David.

  “That’s right,” said Margaret. “Okay, you can put the lids on the jars and fill me in on the case.”

  As David tightened the lids he told Margaret everything he knew about the case. When he mentioned the burnt paper and the sign on the floor, Margaret gasped. “I thought we didn’t have cults in this town,” she said.

  “Me too,” said David. “If that’s really what this is about.”

  “I wonder if anyone else had notes taped to their doors,” said Margaret.

  “I haven’t heard anything, but we could ask around.”

  “Okay,” said Margaret. “Let me just finish with the register.” She placed her deposit in the bag.

  “I’ll hold on to that for you,” said David.

  “Thank you,” said Margaret. They walked out of her shop.

  “Why don’t I drop this over at the bank, then I’ll come right back and I can meet you next door at Stacy’s café,” suggested David.

  “Great, thanks,” said Margaret. She turned and walked into the café. Stacy was there and said hello, asking if Margaret was eating there or if she wanted something to go.

  “Neither, actually,” said Margaret. “Although I would have a cup of coffee to go.”

  “Sure thing,” said Stacy. While Stacy was getting the to-go cup ready, Margaret asked if anything weird had happened last night.

  “Weird like what?” asked Stacy.

  “Did someone tape a note to your door?”

  “No,” said Stacy. “Why? Is someone advertising something?”

  “Not quite,” said Margaret. She told Stacy about the mysterious note that had been taped to her door.

  “That is weird,” said Stacy. “I didn’t get one. Where is the note now?”

  “David has it,” said Margaret. “He thought it sounded threatening enough to merit an investigation.”

  “I’m glad he’s watching out for you,” said Stacy.

  “Yeah, me too,” agreed Margaret, as David entered the café. Stacy said hello and asked him if he wanted some coffee to go as well. He said yes and she poured him a cup.

  “She didn’t get a note,” Margaret informed David.

  “Okay. We’ll ask some other people, and if no one else got one, we’ll have to conclude that the person who left it was definitely targeting you,” David replied.

  “I don’t think Mr. Stewart got one,” said Stacy. “He would have mentioned that to me when he was here for lunch today.”

  “Okay, one more down,” said David.

  “Let’s go ask Simone,” said Margaret.

  “Yeah, that is right up her alley,” said Stacy, getting a laugh out of Margaret. Simone ran the antiques store. She was a bit quirky, but nice. Margaret and David left and walked over to the antiques store. They talked to Simone, but she hadn’t received a note either. Next they talked to Allie Harris, the baker who used to be in a punk band.

  “I haven’t gotten any notes,” she said, brushing aside some pink hair
. Her naturally dark hair was pulled up into a sensible bun, but a bit of the pink streak had come undone. Allie might not be in a band anymore, but she still favors that punk style, thought Margaret. David and Margaret thanked Allie and left the bakery.

  “Okay, this looks more and more like someone was targeting you,” said David.

  “That or they didn’t have an opportunity to put notes on the other doors. Maybe they had customers or something and the person didn’t want to be seen,” suggested Margaret.

  “Maybe,” said David, “but I still want you to be careful. Where are you parked?”

  “Right over there,” Margaret replied, pointing, and they walked over to her car.

  “Should I follow you to your house?” Margaret asked.

  “Sure,” said David. David got in his car, which was across the street, and Margaret followed him. They wound through the small streets of the town and drove toward the ocean. David took a road that paralleled the beach and Margaret followed him out of town. David turned down an unmarked driveway, and Margaret gasped when she saw his house. It was a beautiful old Victorian that David was obviously working on. It had an outside staircase and two floors. Margaret pulled up beside David.

  “Why do you even bother coming to my house?” asked Margaret.

  “For the wonderful company,” David replied.

  “I didn’t know you had a house on the beach,” she said.

  “You never asked,” he winked. Margaret followed him inside, and David led her to the kitchen. The house was modestly, though nicely furnished.

  “Are you restoring this house yourself?” Margaret asked.

  “Yes,” said David. “A little bit at a time.”

  “Wow, you cook, solve mysteries, and are good with your hands. I’m impressed,” said Margaret.

  David made a show of polishing his nails on his shirt. “Yep. I can do it all.”

  Margaret laughed.

  “Would you like some sweet tea?” he asked.

  “You make sweet tea, too?” asked Margaret, astonished.

  David held up his hands. “No, no. I get it from Stacy. She sells it to me by the gallon.”

  “Ha, okay. I would love some in that case,” she said.

  After David poured her a glass, he looked in the refrigerator.