Close Knit Killer Read Online Free Page B

café in the back of the shop.
    “There you are, Mimi. I’ve been looking for you.” Jennifer hurried to them, breathless.
     Her face was flushed.
    “What’s the matter, Jennifer? You’re all flushed,” Mimi said, clearly concerned. “Are
     you sick, dear?”
    “No, no, I’m fine,” Jennifer said, waving away the suggestion. “Pete just got a call
     from his grandfather Ben’s neighbor in Denver. Ben had a heart attack this morning.
     The neighbor came out to get into her car and saw Ben lying on his driveway across
     the street. The neighbor called nine-one-one right away.”
    Mimi gasped, her hands at her face. “Oh, no!”
    “How’s he doing? Did the neighbor say?” Kelly asked.
    “The neighbor doesn’t know.” Jennifer paused to catch her breath. “The paramedics
     said Ben was still breathing but his pulse was very weak. She followed them to the
     hospital, but the staff couldn’t tell her anything since she’s not family. All they
     said was Ben’s condition was serious. They may be taking him in for heart surgery.
     And they suggested she notify Ben’s family. Thank God, she had a key to Ben’s house.
     Ben keeps important phone numbers on his fridge.”
    “Oh, that’s awful!”
    “I imagine Pete must be panicked,” Kelly said. “It sounds like he and his grandfather
     were very close.”
    “Oh, they are. When Pete’s mom and dad were killed by the drunk driver years ago,
     Ben and Mary were the only family Pete had left.”
    “Has Pete already left for Denver?”
    “Yes, he drove off a few minutes ago. He’ll go straight to Methodist Hospital. That’s
     where they took Ben.”
    “Oh, goodness, what about Cassie? Pete’s niece?” Mimi asked, worry lines appearing.
    “The neighbor told Pete that she put a note on the door telling Cassie to come over
     to her house when she comes home from school.”
    “That’s good. You don’t want to take her out of school. That would probably scare
     her even more,” Kelly said.
    “Absolutely. Pete will be staying down there in Denver, right?” Mimi added with a
     maternal nod.
    Jennifer nodded. “Yes, he’ll stay at the house with Cassie and make sure she’s taken
     care of and gets to school. Then he’ll be at the hospital all day. Who knows when
     Ben will go into surgery. Maybe he already has.”
    “Can you and Julie and Eduardo handle the café all by yourselves?” Mimi asked.
    “We’ll need help. Pete told me to call the part-time cook we use when we have bigger
     catering events. Frank can fill in while Pete’s gone. Who knows how long it’ll be?”
    Kelly watched the worried expression on her friend’s face and sought to reassure.
     “Don’t worry, Jen. Doctors have so many more life-saving procedures now. I’ll bet
     they can take care of Ben.”
    Jennifer looked a little dubious. “I hope so. Ben wasn’t in the best kind of shape
     to begin with. That’s the problem.”
    “Well, we’ll say a prayer and then keep thinking the best,” Mimi added. “Meanwhile,
     is there anything I can do for you, my dear?”
    Jennifer shook her head. “No, thanks, Mimi. But I’ve already called the real estate
     office and told them I wouldn’t be in for a few days. Thank goodness I don’t have
     any clients in the active phase of looking or buying right now. I didn’t think I’d
     ever say that. But I’m needed here at the café every day through lunch and for the
     prep work afterwards. I may have to help Frank, too.”
    “Well, just let us know if you need anything, Jen,” Kelly said.
    “Don’t worry, I will. Thanks, guys,” Jennifer said, then hurried back down the hallway.

Three
    Kelly looked up from her laptop computer screen. The breakfast rush at Pete’s Porch Café
     was in full swing. Waitresses Jennifer and Julie, ever-present coffeepots in hand,
     were efficiently moving between customers’ tables and the counter where grill cook
     Eduardo placed plates of scrumptious breakfast orders, fresh from his