Chapter 33
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
The detective answered promptly when Derek called him a few minutes after eight o’clock that morning. Jackson listened as he explained about the malicious restaurant reviews and the egging of The Sweet and Savory Table. When he was finished, she asked, “What did the responding officers have to say about your theory that Angie was responsible?”
“I didn’t see them. They were gone before Sonja and I got here. They weren’t told of the reviews or Angie. Connor said they took pictures and suggested security cameras. He’s at the store getting paint and the cameras now,” Derek answered.
“That’s a smart move. Do you have any evidence that Angie is responsible?” Jackson asked.
“No, and I realize that’s a problem, but there’s nobody else who could have done it. It’s not like they’ve got disgruntled employees or fired anyone lately. At least, not as far as I know.”
“Find out,” Detective Cagney said. “If there are alternative suspects, it weakens your chances of getting a restraining order, let alone prosecuting Angie for the vandalism.”
“But Angie threatened Sonja.”
“True, but Sonja hasn’t been attacked. The café has. That may not seem like much of a difference to you, but a lawyer can make a lot out of it. Be careful, man, and take care of your lady.”
“I see. What—” Before Derek could say more, he heard the sound of glass shattering at the front of the café. “I’ll have to call you back. Something is happening.”
Derek left the office for the main room to see customers trying to get under tables. The front window was half gone and the rest was a spiderweb of cracks. He was still holding his phone, so he immediately dialed 911 as he tried to see how much damage had been done. He caught sight of Sonja in the center of the room at a table that looked like it was ground zero for whatever had come through the window. He thought he saw blood and prayed it wasn’t hers. “Send the police, send an ambulance, send goddamn everybody. The café has been attacked by something or someone. I see blood,” he told the 911 operator before he hung up. He took a deep breath before he waded into the room and realized he needed to call Jackson back.
“I think Angie has struck again. I don’t know what she did, but the front window is half gone, and I think I see blood around at least one of the customers,” he said without preamble. “I don’t have time to talk. I need to see what’s going on. I’ve called 911 already, but I think you should get over here, too.”
“We’ll be right there,” Jackson said as he ended the call.
Sonja was crouched beside a customer and a restaurant server on the floor in the center of the room. Suzie was moving toward them with the café’s first-aid kit. Everyone was talking at once, and he couldn’t hear anything clearly.
He held his hands in the air and used his deep voice to get people’s attention. “Can I have your attention please? I’ve called 911. They’re sending help and the police. It would be good, in the meantime, if you all stayed where you are until they get here. Please raise your hand if you’re hurt.” Derek was relieved to see only three hands. Two were with Sonja, and the other was on the floor near the edge of the window. Derek went there to find a man about his age with a handkerchief pressed to his forehead and blood visible in the center. “Sir, can you tell me what happened?”
The man looked up at him with an expression that seemed to say, ‘I got hit by flying glass. What do you think happened?’ What he said was, “We were just sitting here over our coffee, and I happened to look out the window. I saw this woman with what looked like a baseball, and she threw it straight at the window. I’m just glad I wasn’t any closer. Some of the glass got me. Luckily, the couple at the next table left five minutes before.” Derek looked where the man pointed to see the table and chairs covered with multiple shards of glass. Lucky, indeed.
“Help is on the way,” Derek said. “Keep pressure on your head. The EMTs should be here soon.”
He moved around, trying to comfort and reassure people. Most were shaken, but no one else nearby was hurt. He made it to Sonja and Suzie as multiple approaching sirens became audible. He was pleased to see both women were wearing rubber gloves as they assisted the injured people, one, he recognized as a server and the other, an elderly woman. The young Black server seemed to have gotten the worst of it. She had apparently been hit in the shoulder and had fallen to the ground. The blood was coming from her arm, and he saw pieces of a coffee carafe around on the floor. He couldn’t see what was wrong with the other woman.
“This is Miss Clara,” Sonja said, introducing them. “She’s here every morning for breakfast. Krystal,” she indicated the server, “got hit and fell into Miss Clara, knocking them both to the ground.”
“Now, Sonja, just relax. I’m not hurt. Only a little surprised is all.” The white-haired lady patted Sonja’s arm. “I’ll be fine. All I need is for this strong young man to help me up.” She reached for Derek’s arm and gave a groan.
“Miss Clara,” Suzie said from her other side. “Why don’t you wait for the EMTs to get here and check you out? Just to be on the safe side.”
“If you insist. You girls worry too much.” Miss Clara leaned back against the table that was on its side on the floor and sighed.
The sirens stopped as the various emergency vehicles arrived, and two uniformed police officers were the first inside. They had their guns drawn. “We had a report of shots fired?” the first officer asked.
Derek stood up, holding his hands where they could be seen. “No shots, officer. Someone threw something through the window.”
“Who are you, and did you see it?” The officer seemed suspicious of him but lowered his weapon.
Derek identified himself and said, “No, but the gentleman by the window did. I also called Detective Cagney. He should be here shortly. I believe this is part of a stalking case that’s escalating.”
“Do you have whatever was thrown?”
“It’s over here on the floor. It looks like a rock with something taped to it,” Suzie said. “We haven’t touched it.”
“Good.” He turned to his partner. “Go get the EMTs and then have a look outside to see who’s around. See if you can get pictures of anyone who looks too curious.”
“Sure thing, Vince,” the second cop said, then headed outside.
Two paramedics, a man and a woman, came in. The man had the ex-military look with his short hair and the way he took in the scene. They quickly assessed the situation. The cop named Vince was already with the man by the window and the male EMT joined them there. Derek waved the woman over to where he was.
She joined them and introduced herself as Lydia. “Who needs help here?”
Sonja indicated the injured women. “I think you should start with Miss Clara.”
Miss Clara said, “Do Krystal first. She’s the one who was hit.”
“Sorry, ma’am, but our rule is ‘age before beauty’. Can you tell me where it hurts?” Lydia asked as she began her examination.
Activity at the door had Derek look up to see Jackson arrive with none other than Paula Stone. As always, Paula looked professional in a gray pantsuit with a fuchsia blouse and matching scarf adding a touch of color and femininity. Officer Vince broke away from the man he was questioning when he spotted the detectives enter, and the three of them spoke together for a few moments before the detectives came over to Derek, Sonja, and Suzie.
“This does not look good,” Paula said without preamble.
“No, it doesn’t,” Derek replied. “We have to stop this.”
“Yes, we do. So, who was out here when it happened?” Paula asked.
“I was,” Sonja said. “I was over at the hostess stand. Suzie was in the kitchen, and Derek was in the office. I was chatting with customers waiting for a table when I heard a noise, the glass broke, and all hell broke loose. Somebody yelled, ‘Get down; someone’s shooting,’ and you can see the results. I think I must have seen Krystal fall first, but I’m not really sure. I just knew I had to get over here.”
Paula turned to Krystal. “What do you remember?”
“I finished pouring Miss Clara a fresh cup of coffee, and it was the last in my carafe or I’d be burned instead of just cut from the glass. I heard a noise, and I think I saw the glass breaking as I felt something hit me hard in the shoulder. I fell on Miss Clara and we both went down,” Krystal said. “Someone pulled the table down to protect us, but I didn’t see who.”
“Miss Clara, what do you remember?” Paula asked.
The older woman was nodding. “It was just like Krystal said. She poured my coffee, and there was the sound of breaking glass. Krystal fell against me, and we both went down. I think that rock over there is the cause.” She pointed at the offending object.
“Has anyone touched it?” Jackson asked.
“Not since I came over,” Sonja said. “It looks like it’s covered in paper. Will that have fingerprints?”
“We hope so.” The detective pulled a pair of rubber gloves from his jacket pocket and crouched to have a look. He took several photos with his phone before he reached over and touched it carefully. “This paper is taped on pretty thoroughly. I think we take it straight to the lab and not try to do anything with it here,” he said to Paula. He pulled out an evidence bag and gently worked it over the rock.
“Sorry, folks. We won’t be able to tell you anything more about it until later,” Paula said. “Thanks for not taking the paper off before we got here, though.”
“We were tempted,” Sonja admitted.
“Everybody is,” Paula replied. “Derek thinks this is connected to the vandalism today. Do you?”
“I don’t know. He knows her a lot better than I do, but if it’s not Angie, it’s someone we don’t know about with a huge grudge against the café. Whoever it is needs to be stopped. This is a nightmare. So many people could have been hurt. Thank god it’s only three so far, but our insurance is going to go through the roof.” Sonja’s voice started to break on the last sentence.
“Relax, baby,” Derek said. “We’ll take care of this—one way or another.” He clenched his fists.
“Derek,” Paula said, “you might want to be careful what you say and what you’re doing.” She indicated his hands.
Derek looked down and consciously relaxed his fists. “I didn’t even realize I was doing that. I guess I’m angrier than I thought.”
The EMT had finished with her check of Miss Clara and was examining Krystal’s shoulder. “I don’t think anything’s broken, but I can’t say for sure. In my opinion, you both need to go into the hospital and get checked out.”
When they started to object, Sonja silenced them with a look. “The café’s insurance will take care of the expense, and I’d feel better if you went. Please, Krystal, please, Miss Clara?”
“All right, dear. If you insist, I’ll go,” Miss Clara acquiesced.
Krystal nodded in agreement, and Lydia used her radio to call for two more ambulances since they could only transport one patient per vehicle.
“That’s settled then. I need to see how the gentleman by the window is.” Sonja moved carefully through the mess in that direction.
Derek watched her with pride as she worked her magic on the man with the head wound. As he saw the EMT signal someone outside, he knew she had been successful with him as well. Then she moved to the steps and addressed the room, “Can I have everyone’s attention, please? I’m Sonja Madden, and many of you know I’m co-owner here. I’m so sorry your morning has been disrupted like this. First, whatever you ordered is on the house. If we find any money lying around, it will be divided among the servers, who are out their morning’s tips. Please leave your name and contact information with us when you leave. We would like to follow up and make sure no one is suffering any after-effects. Also, whatever you order on your next visit is on the house. Again, I’m very sorry, and I hope you won’t hold this morning’s unfortunate events against us.”
A man wearing a conservative suit stood up. “Can we get out of here now?”
“That’s not my department, I’m afraid,” Sonja said. “Detective Sergeant Stone of KCPD is making that decision.”
Paula came over to join Sonja. “Thank you, Ms. Madden. As soon as we’ve spoken with you, you’re free to go. If you didn’t see anything, the officer at the door will check you out. Thanks for your cooperation.”
People began getting up and forming a line by the door, where Officer Vince had taken up position. The man who had asked the question was the first one there.
About half the people were gone when two more ambulances arrived and interrupted the flow out the door. They were quick at getting Miss Clara and Krystal out on gurneys. The man by the window insisted he could walk, which he did. Soon, it was only Derek, Sonja, Suzie, Paula, Bill, and the staff in the café. Everyone had been interviewed, and Paula and Jackson were going over what they had discovered when Connor burst in from the back.
“I leave to get things to fix the first mess and come back to find you’ve gotten into another right bourach ?”
“Bou-what?” Sonja asked.
“ Bourach ,” Connor said. “It means mess. Sorry, lass. My temper isn’t aimed at you.”
“We think Angie struck again,” Suzie said and quickly filled him in on the morning’s events. “We’re closing, and we’ve already told the staff they’ll be paid for the full day. Jenna is calling the lunch servers to tell them not to come in.”
“Did you get everything from the store?” Derek asked Connor.
“Aye. Now tell me more about what happened here,” Connor replied.
“As I was saying,” Paula answered, “several people saw a small figure in a hoodie throwing the rock. They were described variously as a teenage boy, Hispanic, Indian, a woman with short hair, and an old man with a great throwing arm.”
“Dark-skinned teenager was the most common description, but eyewitnesses are notoriously unreliable,” Paula said. “Any of you know any teenagers who might have a problem with the café?”
“No. Absolutely not. And no one’s been fired in over a year. Our employees are really great,” Suzie said.
I really think it has to be Angie,” Derek said. “She played softball in high school and college, if that counts for anything. She had dozens of trophies.”
“It does,” Paula said. “That’s very helpful information. We need to get going. I’ll call you if there’s anything interesting on the paper around the rock. Good luck getting a new window.”
“Thanks for all your help, Paula, Jackson. You get a free meal here whenever you come in,” Sonja said.
“Now, that would be a bribe, but maybe a piece of pastry when we solve the case.” Paula winked, and everyone chuckled. “I’ll call you later. Let me know if anything more happens. Bye, everyone,” Paula called as they left.
“We need to get this mess cleaned up,” Sonja said to the room at large.
“Yes,” Suzie agreed. “Anyone still here in the kitchen?”
Several voices answered.
“Anyone who helps with cleanup gets double time for the day,” Sonja added.
In minutes, there were three servers, two busboys, and two dishwashers in the main room with cleaning supplies, trash bags, and trays for dishes that had survived the chaos. They got to work immediately.
Connor said softly, “You realize, ladies, we don’t have much of a margin to stay closed for the day, pay people extra, and waste food.”
“And Sonja promised all the customers free meals the next time they come in,” Suzie added.
“Sonja,” Connor said in his best Dom voice.
She took a step back from him but steeled herself to respond, “Take it out of my check this month. We owe it to the staff and the customers. The goodwill is worth the cost.”
“Aye, lass. You’re probably right.” Connor turned to Derek. “Shall we paint first, or put up the cameras?”
“I’m going to call a window repair company first and see if I can get a new window for you today. That’s on me, since my ex is the one responsible,” Derek answered. “I think the cameras first, though. We should wait on the painting until the day is as warm as it’s going to get. I think it’s supposed to be sunny.”
“You don’t have to do that, Derek,” Sonja objected. “I was going to call the landlord.”
“The landlord will take too long, and you don’t want a boarded-up window while you wait. You can pay me back from the insurance claim. Maybe.” Derek was determined to help. This was his mess.
“We can argue over payment later. I’m going to get a ladder and get started on the cameras. Join me as soon as you can, Kiriakis.” Connor headed toward the furnace room.
“Call James first, Derek,” Suzie said. “He’s a contractor, so he’s bound to know someone who can help. He might be able to do it himself.”
Derek went to the office to call Suzie’s brother-in-law. Five minutes later, he emerged. “James is sending a truck in an hour. He’s got people who can do it, and we can keep it in the family. They’ll take measurements, and if they can’t replace it today, they come equipped with plywood. He recommended safety glass. I agreed on your behalf. If it breaks again, it won’t cut people.”
“Thank you, Derek,” Sonja said. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I know I don’t,” he replied, “but I’m doing it anyway. I’ll be outside if you need anything else.”
“Thanks, Derek,” Suzie called behind him.
He raised his hand in acknowledgement and went to join Connor.