Page 71 of Derek

“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 onthe 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 rightbourach?”

“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.

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