Keyless at the Coffee Station

By Bee Littlefield

Five strangers are stranded at a coffee shop on New Year's Eve when their car keys mysteriously vanish. It's up to barista Betti to figure out who's responsible before her New Year's Eve plans are ruined.

 

This short novella is a prequel to Clueless at the Coffee Station (coming 2024).

 

Keyless at the Coffee Station previously appeared in Riddles, Resolutions and Revenge: A Limited Edition Cozy Mystery Anthology.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bee Littlefield
• Release date: Mar 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224987603

Book preview

Keyless at the Coffee Station

A Betti Bryant Mystery Novella

Bee Littlefield

Copyright © 2023, 2024 by Bee Littlefield

Keyless at the Coffee Station was first published, in slightly different form, in Riddles, Resolutions and Revenge: A Limited Edition Cozy Mystery Anthology.

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permission requests, contact [e-mail]

The story, all names, characters, and incidents portrayed in this production are fictitious or are used fictitiously. No identification with actual persons (living or deceased), places, buildings, and products is intended or should be inferred.

Book Cover by James at goonwrite.com

Contents

1.Chapter 1

2.Chapter 2

3.Chapter 3

4.Chapter 4

5.Chapter 5

About the author

Chapter one

Istand behind the cash register, a smile fixed on my face while the young woman in the tiara takes a phone call. I don’t have anything else to do but stand here , my smile says. It’s three minutes till closing time on New Year’s Eve. But it’s cool. Take your time.

She frowns at the voice coming through her phone. "This is Eva. You called me. Yeah, I’m on my way home right now."

In addition to the tiara, Eva is wearing a feather boa, a trench coat, a skimpy nightgown, and rain boots. I’m sure there’s some explanation. I shift my blank smile to the wall behind her and let my mind wander back to what I was thinking about before she walked into the coffee shop: New Year’s resolutions. I don’t want to pick something boring like be healthier or get a better job. Maybe something craft related. Knit a sweater?

Ten bags of marshmallows? Eva says into the phone. Oh. Chubby Bunny, I see. Yeah, sure. I’ll swing by the store. She hangs up and sighs. I am not buying them ten bags of marshmallows. She takes a ten-dollar bill out of her satin clutch. Do you have something like a Frappuccino?

We sure do. What size would you like? I refocus long enough to count out her change, then turn my thoughts back to knitting as I make her drink. I don’t think I have it in me to do a whole sweater. Maybe a shawl. Or maybe I should resolve to learn to crochet.

I love New Year’s resolutions. I couldn’t tell you what my resolution was last year; the joy is in the imagining, in the hope of a brighter future, and in the purchase of a brand-new notebook to write it all down. I top Eva’s frappé with a dome of whipped cream and bid her good night.

Then I watch in dismay as she takes her frappé to a