my cup of tea. A wealthy mute showing up where I was supposed to meet someone felt suspicious.This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    He must be mute. That thought cooled my irritation towards him. However, that boutique he came out of seemed like one of those upscale designer ces I''d heard Helen and the gang discuss. I remembered it because its prices were sky-high and the styles weren''t really But I couldn''t dwell on it too much. I changed my clothes and called Kate again. This time she picked up: "Let''s meet at the bookstore on the corner instead. The café doesn''t seem safe."


    I guess I''ve be more cautious after a few too many close calls. Kate was puzzled but didn''t argue: "Alright, I''ll turn around."


    We decided to meet elsewhere. Just as we arrived at the bookstore, we overheard a clerk browsing his phone. "Whoa, just saw in the local chat that the coffee shop down the road just exploded. A huge fire. No idea what started it. Totally out of the blue!" Kate and I exchanged a look. Who''s out to get us?


    It was supposed to be just us meeting. I had told Max, but Max wouldn''t hurt me. I nced at Kate, who swore with one hand: "I just went home to see my brother, then sneaked out. Didn''t even tell him."


    Our gaze then shifted to Tracey, who was blissfully looking around, holding a rose. A rose scent? A rose?


    "Kate, does your brother like to grow roses?"


    "Nope, my brother''s not into gardening. But he does like floral-scented cologne. Why?"


    I chuckled and looked at Tracey: "So, Tracey, do you like roses?"


    Her head bobbed, and she beamed at me: "Yes."


    "How about I pin this rose in your hair?"


    Taking the rose from her, I pinned it in her hair as she looked on eagerly. Then, guiding her to a nearby


    irror,


    she pped her hands in delight: "So pretty, so beautiful!"


    Kate was confused about my


    actions but


    Was more concerned


    about the café explosion: "Did


    someone know you were meeting


    her and


    some to scare you off? If


    you hadn''t noticed, would we have been caught in that explosion?"


    Before I could reply, Tracey hugged Kate tightly: "Tracey doesn''t want to die, too scary, fire everywhere..."


    Her mention of fire everywhere strangely resonated with me. "Kate, I suddenly think the arson case isn''t just Hannah''s doing. There might be others, just hidden deeper."


    She quickly connected the dots with her brother: "It couldn''t have been my brother. He was at home all this time."


    I pulled out a blue-striped handkerchief from my pocket: "Is this your brother''s?"


    Kate examined it and shook her head. "No, my bro might be into floral cologne, but he''d never ssh it on his hanky. This smell is too obvious. Someone''s trying to set him up."


    I nodded and then turned to Tracey, patting her head: "Tracey, let''s y a game. If you answer correctly, I''ll buy you lots of beautiful flowers, okay?" Tracey''s face lit up with joy: "Tracey wants that."


    I asked, "Tracey, Why fake being bonkers?"