Page 15 of Forensics of a Fable

“I can’t stand all this death.” He passed her order to the barista. “There’s been too much of it.”

Guilt washed over Bel.

“But it’s not your fault. You’re a blessing to our town.” David smiled, and her insides twisted. Was she a blessing, or was she the curse haunting Bajka?

“And you must be our new detective?” David glanced at Gold. “I’m David Kaffe. My daughters and I own the Espresso Shot.”

“Olivia Gold.”

“Nice to meet you. What can I get you?”

“I can’t stop staring at that peppermint mocha… but can I get an extra shot?”

“Oh, me too,” Bel added as she withdrew cash from her wallet.

David smiled as he rang up their order, and then the women moved to the side to wait for their drinks.

“This is a nice place,” Olivia said.

“You should have met his wife,” Bel said. “Emily was magic with sugar and flour. Her daughters inherited her talent, though. The oldest has one more year of college, and then she plans to take over as the full-time baker.”

“I love her daughters are keeping her dream alive.”

The barista called their names, and the women grabbed their drinks, waving goodbye to David as they drifted outside.

“You know what I was thinking?” Olivia asked before taking a sip. “Oh my God, this is so good.”

“What were you thinking?” Bel laughed. There was a reason everyone bought their coffee from The Espresso Shot, and it seemed Gold was a convert.

“The nightgown. It’s vintage, so like you said, the killer didn’t just go to the local department store and buy it off the rack. Ever since Alana’s apartment, I can’t get it out of my head. You saw her clothes. Silk pajamas, pencil skirts, ironed blouses, black or nude stilettos. Her wardrobe was professional and luxurious, if not plain. All the colors were muted, but the silhouettes were expertly tailored and modern. Almost everything had a designer label. So why that nightgown? Why the fairytale look?”

“I don’t know.” Bel sipped her coffee, mulling over the question in her mind. “It clearly wasn’t hers, so the killer would have provided it. Maybe it was all they had? Or maybe it meant something to them? The furniture and bowl of porridge were huge compared to Alana. Maybe the killer wanted a human doll?”

“Turning a woman into a toy.” Gold shuddered. “Is there a thrift store in town?”

“Yes. I bought most of my furniture there.”

“We should go. The killer might have purchased the nightgown there. It’s worth a shot, at least.”

“I’ve never seen that before,”the thrift shop owner said after studying the photo of the nightgown. “We stock clothes here, and granted, I don’t remember everything I sell, but I would remember that. It’s… unusual. Looks like it’s from a storybook.”

“So, this wasn’t purchased here?” Bel asked. She should have expected this answer. Nothing, from the autopsy that morningto this moment, had given them answers. Based on their track record, she should’ve anticipated another dead end.

“There’s always the possibility I forgot this,” he answered. “But I don’t think so. It’s just me who works here, but I could go through my records to confirm.”

“It was a long shot,” Bel said. “Thanks for your time. If you remember anything, can you call me?” She handed him her card.

“Of course, Detective,” the man accepted it with an apologetic grin.

“Thank you.”

The detectives left the thrift shop, and Gold stared at Bel without actually seeing her, her gaze unfocused and distant. Bel felt sorry for her new partner. She was used to this rat race, but this was Olivia’s first intense homicide, and the woman looked ready to tap out.

“Do you want to get dinner?” Gold asked. “I can’t handle anything else today that isn’t food or sleep.”

“Sure. What are you in the mood for?”

“I don’t know. Pizza?”

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