Read Online Death at the Day Lily Cafe by Wendy Sand Eckel - Free Book Online Page A

over his shoulder. “There you are. This is Bini.”
    I stepped onto the stoop. “Bini?”
    She stood and turned to face me. Small in stature, she looked to be in her early forties. She wore a white ribbed tank and snug-fitting denim shorts. Her biceps were defined, her hair in a short, easy-to-maintain cut. She was cute in a petite, rugged sort of way, with small hazel eyes that were fixed on mine. She switched a sweating bottle of National Bohemian beer to her left hand and held out her right. “Bini Katz.”
    I extended mine, and she gave it a very firm shake. “Hi, Bini. It’s nice to meet you.”
    â€œBini started working here today.” Tyler looked over his shoulder. “Beer?”
    â€œOh,” I said, relieved he wasn’t on a date. “You’re going to help out around here?” I closed the door behind me and sat next to Tyler on the steps. “That’s so great. And, yes, please. A beer sounds perfect.”
    He popped off the cap and handed it to me. My first sip made a glugging sound as it funneled through the long neck of the brown bottle. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “So what did you two do today?”
    â€œI mainly showed her the ropes,” Tyler said. “But Bini has already proved her worth.”
    â€œAnd you, Bini?” I leaned forward and looked past Tyler so I could see her face. “Did you have a nice first day?”
    â€œYep,” she said, staring ahead.
    I looked around and realized the Volvo was gone. “Annie must be out.”
    â€œShe’s meeting Custer in town,” Bini said. “There’s some live music in the square tonight.”
    â€œOh. Okay. Thanks for letting me know, Bini.” I sat back and took a longer sip, trying not to feel weird that Bini Katz knew where my daughter was before I did.
    Tyler opened the cooler, popped off another cap, and handed it to Bini. She accepted it without a word. She didn’t even have to ask. No wonder Tyler hired Bini. Unlike me, she seemed perfectly content with his minimalist approach to conversation. I tried to gather my thoughts. Was I feeling jealous? That’s what it was. But why? Bini had already helped Tyler. They’d probably known each other for years.
    Be a grown-up, Rosalie. “I’m really glad you’re working here, Bini. Tyler needs some help with the farm, now that we have the chickens and the café is occupying so much of my time.”
    â€œSay, Ty,” Bini said, “There’s been a Butch sighting.”
    â€œYeah, I heard.” Tyler drained his beer and reached for another.
    â€œI heard that, too,” I said. I set my beer down and hugged my knees. “Custer’s father, right? Are you close with your brother?”
    â€œI wouldn’t say that.” Tyler dangled his beer between his knees. He took a swig and continued to stare ahead. Bini mirrored his every movement. She took another sip of beer as well and held it the same way. No one spoke for several minutes. We all seemed to be staring down the lane at nothing.
    â€œSo, are we waiting for someone?” I said. “Godot, perhaps?” I laughed a little at my own wit, but they remained silent.
    Despite the lack of conversation, I realized there was a cacophony coming from the side of the house. “What is that racket?” I stood and headed around the corner of the house toward the chicken coop.
    I stopped in my tracks. Hundreds of crows filled the towering sycamore trees. They squawked and chattered, crowding onto several platform bird feeders that had suddenly appeared in my yard like mushrooms after a rain. I shivered at the number of flapping wings and sharp beaks, feeling as if I were in an Alfred Hitchcock movie.
    I hurried back around the house. “Tyler, have you seen this?”
    â€œThey’ve been here most of the day,” he said, finally making eye contact.
    I smiled instinctively when our