A Food and Wine Club Mystery Boxset Books 1 through 5

by Cat Chandler

  Jenna had helped her with the first demonstration set-up, and Nicki had been pleased, and a bit humbled, at the large number of people who’d been willing to sit through it. She hoped to have the same success the second time around. Now Alex was digging through her bin, having volunteered to be Nicki’s go-fer and gal Friday for the second demo while Jenna and Ty were exploring the rest of the exhibits, and of course the bake sale and food court.

  Alex was stacking several bowls and a platter on the large counter where Nicki would be making her shrimp scampi, along with a couple of side dishes she’d thought would go over well with the crowd.

  “Did I tell you I spent yesterday at the coroner’s office? That’s why Ty and I were able to get away sooner than expected.” Alex looked down at the list Jenna had handed off to her and then started recounting the bowls.

  Nicki looked up from where she was sorting through her large bin filled with the ingredients she’d need for all the dishes she would be demonstrating. “No, you didn’t. How did that happen?”

  “Dr. Tom was running very short-handed, so he called in the favor. The lead physician didn’t mind since he had extra staff on for the day shift, so over to the ME’s office I went.”

  Nicki shook her head. Even though she seemed to be stumbling across more than her share of them, she couldn’t imagine spending a whole day with dead bodies. “Did it bring back memories of med school?”

  Alex laughed. “An autopsy room is an autopsy room, and I saw the one at NYU enough when I was in training, including a stint in pathology during my year as an intern. But it was interesting getting a tour of the forensics lab, even if the one part was a little creepy.”

  Wondering just where Jenna had stashed the spice mix Nicki always blended herself, she looked around thinking maybe it had been left on the cooking table. “After working in an emergency room, what could be creepy about a lab?”

  “There was a pair of black capri pants spread out on the work bench, and the tag had a case number and Catherine’s name on it.”

  Spying the elusive jar at the far end of the table, Nicki walked over and grabbed it before she frowned at Alex. “What did you say?”

  “Excuse me? You’re Nicki Connors, aren’t you? I recognized you from the other day.”

  A short woman with gray hair, an over-sized sweater, thick-soled shoes and a pink pastry box in her hands stood next to the raised platform looking up at Nicki. Automatically smiling, Nicki nodded and took a step to the edge of the platform.

  “Yes, I am. Can I help you?”

  “I’m Beatrice Riley.”

  Nicki widened her smile. “It’s nice to meet you Mrs. Riley, is there something…” Nicki paused and put one hand to her mouth. “Oh, Mrs. Riley. Catherine’s neighbor from across the street?” Nicki sat down on the platform’s edge and eased herself over the side until she was standing on the barn’s floor. “I left your tarts over at the bake sale station.”

  Beatrice raised the pink box and nodded. “I got them without any fuss. Tried one, too. They’re good enough that I thought I should come over and say ‘thank you’.” She nodded at Nicki. “Not everyone would’ve remembered a promise they made to an old lady and a stranger at that. I wanted you to know I appreciate it. Any time you want to come over and chat, or need some more information, you just come knock on my door.”

  Nicki was charmed by the compliment and thought Beatrice wasn’t as bad as Maxie had painted her. “I should be fair and tell you that Matt made the raspberry tarts.”

  “With strict instructions from Nicki not to do a single thing until he checked with her,” Alex called out. She grinned at Nicki. “Jenna told me.”

  Beatrice’s whole face crinkled upward into a smile. “He’s a nice boy. And you must be a good teacher. Wish I could stay to see this demonstration of yours, but I’ve got to get back to keep an eye on things.”

  “Of course,” Nicki said, doing her best to keep a serious look on her face. “I’m sure everyone in the neighborhood appreciates your diligence.”

  “So they should.” Beatrice nodded and added another “thanks” before ambling off and disappearing into the crowd.

  “I wish Matt had been here to say ‘hello’ to her.” But I’m glad Maxie was on the other side of the room, Nicki thought, an amused smile on her lips.

  “Well if you’re looking for an entertaining conversation, here comes Jenna with Ty trailing after her.” Alex looked around. “This platform is great for keeping track of everyone.”

  Jenna strolled up, a half-eaten muffin in her hand while Tyler was just popping the last of his into his mouth. Alex shook her head at both of them.

  “I suppose you’re going to tell me that was the healthiest thing to eat that you could find.”

  Jenna turned and winked at the tall, solidly built man behind her. With his buzzcut and lopsided smile, Tyler Johnson looked every inch the fireman that he was.

  “I don’t have to answer that because she’s not the boss of me,” Jenna told him. “But you might have a problem.”

  “Ha, ha,” Tyler said before he gestured for Alex to come closer. When his fiancée bent at the waist to hear what he wanted to tell her, he slipped a hand behind her neck and proceeded to give her a thorough kiss.

  Jenna eyed them and shook her head. “Well, I guess that’s one way of explaining things.”

  “Looks like a good way to me,” Nicki laughed.

  Jenna held up her muffin. “Speaking of good, you have some serious competition in the baking department. This orange-cranberry muffin rivals the ones you make, and I didn’t think I’d ever be able to say that.” Jenna wrinkled her nose. “As a matter of fact, if I didn’t know better, I would have sworn this is one of your muffins.”

  “Really?” Always interested in improving her own skills, Nicki playfully snatched it out of Jenna’s hands.

  “Hey, I was eating that,” her friend complained, making a grab to get it back.

  But Nicki had already danced away and was holding it out of her reach. “You can have the rest of it. I only want a bite to see why you think it’s better than mine.”

  “I didn’t say better, I said it was just as good.” Jenna’s eyes squinted behind her glasses when Nicki took a small bite and then frowned. “What’s wrong? Can’t figure out a secret ingredient?”

  “Oh, I know these ingredients. I should.” She split the rest of the muffin in half and studied the inside. “Uh huh. Whole and chopped cranberries, a taste of ginger, definitely fresh orange juice and turbinado sugar on top.” Nicki pinned Jenna with a look. “Where did you get this?”

  “I bought it over at the baking station.”

  Nicki glanced in that direction. “Who was selling them?”

  “Suzanne Abbott.” Jenna grabbed Nicki’s arm before she could sprint off. “What’s going on?”

  Nicki shook her head and easily squirmed out of Jenna’s hold. “I don’t know yet. I’ll tell you once I find out.”

  Nicki headed straight for the baking station. She quickly passed every table selling baked goods, but didn’t see Suzanne anywhere. At the very last table she ran into Addie.

  The pleasant matronly woman beamed at Nicki. “It’s going so well, and your demonstration was the hit of the event. So are your baked goods. I can’t thank you enough for all your work, Nicki.”

  “It was no problem at all.” Nicki kept looking around, trying to spot Suzanne in the sea of people. “Have you seen Suzanne?”

  “Oh, you just missed her. She took some of the cashboxes over to the command booth for counting. You might catch her there.”

  “Thanks.” Nicki did her best to thread her way through the crowd as fast as she could, heading for the tables set to form a square on the far side of the barn. She caught a glimpse of Suzanne coming out from behind one of them and heading for the large door that opened out onto the parking lot. Nicki picked up her pace even more, sending apologies out right and left as she plowed her way toward her quarry, finally catching up w
ith her just before Suzanne stepped outside. Latching onto her arm, Nicki pulled the startled woman off to the side.

  “Whatever’s gotten into you Nicki Connors? And let go of my arm, you’re probably giving me a bruise.”

  Nicki stopped and stepped over until she was directly in front of the clearly flustered Suzanne. Holding the muffin up, Nicki kept her gaze fixed on the middle-aged woman’s face. “Were you selling these? Jenna said you sold her this muffin.”

  “Yes. That’s what I had in this plastic bin. But they’re all gone now. Why? Was there something wrong with it?” Her lip stuck out in a pout. “Maybe they weren’t as good as yours, but everyone raved about them, so Jenna shouldn’t have had any complaints.”

  “Did you bake them?” Nicki asked, still closely watching Suzanne. Somehow, she just couldn’t believe Suzanne had made the muffin she was holding in her hand.

  Suzanne’s lip stuck out even further. “What if I did? You aren’t the only one who knows how to bake.”

  “Fine. Tell me what’s in them?”

  Catherine’s best friend blinked, before she lifted her chin a notch. “Why should I?”

  “Okay. Do you even know the name of the sugar on top of this muffin?”

  Suzanne shrugged. “It’s sugar. What else is there to know?”

  “I know what kind of sugar it is, and I know what the special ingredient is that give it that little kick.” Nicki took a small step closer, forcing Suzanne to take one back. “Who made this muffin, Suzanne?”

  “Oh all right. When I spoke with Cynthia a few days ago about the memorial service, I asked her if she’d like to contribute something in Catherine’s name to the bake sale today since Catherine has said more than once that her sister liked to cook. And Catherine was the co-chair for the event and all. Cynthia dropped a measly half-dozen of these off at my house this morning.”

  Nicki stepped back and her mouth dropped open. Cynthia? Catherine’s twin sister? Conversations began to play back in her head, and suddenly what didn’t make sense started to make a lot of sense.

  “Are we done? Or do I have to go through a grilling from all your friends, too?” Suzanne pointed behind Nicki, who turned and saw Jenna, Alex and Ty making their way through the crowd.

  “Oh. We’re done,” Nicki told her. “Thanks for your help.” Without another word to the pouting Suzanne, Nicki waved at her friends and then pointed to the open barn door. She headed outside, knowing they’d follow, and dug her cell phone out of her back pocket as she walked. Scrolling through her contacts, she found the one she wanted and tapped the dial button just as the other three came running up to her.

  “What’s going on?” Alex asked.

  Nicki held up one hand as a voice came on the other end of the line.

  “Hello? Ramona? This is Nicki Connors. Are you alone? Good. I need to ask you a couple of questions.”

  In less than two minutes Nicki was putting her phone back into her pocket and turning to look at the three faces staring at her.

  Jenna was the first to speak up with a clap of her hands. “You’ve figured it out, haven’t you?”

  Nicki slowly nodded. “I think Matt was right.”

  “Matt?” Ty frowned. “What did Matt say?”

  “He said it was about the money, and that books are expensive.”

  “Books? Money? Nicki, what are you talking about?” Alex demanded. “What books? What money?”

  Nicki suddenly focused on her doctor friend. “Didn’t you say that you saw black capri pants in the forensic lab with Catherine’s name on them?”

  “Yes I did, along with a blue blouse,” Alex confirmed. “Why? You would have seen the same ones since she was wearing them the night she died.

  “I didn’t really notice her pants when I was at her house,” Nicki said. “But I did notice how nice she looked, which wasn’t at all unusual for Catherine, when I saw her at the restaurant. Blue blouse, green pants.”

  “Green? Are you sure?” Jenna asked.

  Nicki nodded. “I just called Ramona and confirmed that her mother owned a pair of green pants. Ramona bought them. They were a gift for Catherine’s last birthday. But I’ll bet they aren’t in her closet now.”

  “So what does that mean? That she changed her clothes when she went home on her break?” Jenna shook her head. “Maybe she spilled something on them.”

  “Or maybe she wasn’t wearing them,” Nicki said. When Jenna looked like she was about to tear her hair out, Nicki smiled. “You were right too, Jenna. Those were my muffins. Or at least they were made from my muffin recipe. The very same one I gave to Catherine at the restaurant the night she died.”

  “Then how did Suzanne get it?” Jenna frowned.

  “She never did get it, and she isn’t the one who made those muffins. She just told me that Cynthia did.” Nicki nodded when Jenna’s jaw dropped open.

  “Cynthia? Catherine’s twin?” Alex reached for Ty’s hand and held on.

  “Holy shit,” her fiancé said, pulling Alex into his side and looking around as if he expected to see a knife-wielding Cynthia burst into view at any moment.

  Nicki fished her car keys out of her pocket while she tossed out directions to her friends. “Jenna, can you please call the station and have them track down the chief and let him know about the muffin? And tell him I’m sure it was Cynthia at Antonio’s that night, not Catherine, and he should search her house for the recipe card. It will have my chef’s stamp on it.” She looked over at Alex. “Can you find Maxie and let her know what’s going on? Have her call Ramona and tell her to get out of that house and walk somewhere so the three of you can pick her up while Jenna’s locating Chief Turnlow in all the festival madness in town.” Nicki didn’t like the idea at all of Ramona possibly being alone in the house with her aunt. She looked directly at Ty. “Please don’t let anyone go into that house if Cynthia Dunton is there.”

  He nodded. “I won’t.”

  “Wait, where are you going?” Alex demanded as Nicki turned away. “It’s starting to get dark.”

  “Nothing dangerous,” Nicki said. “I’m just going to see if those pants are hanging in Catherine’s closet, or if the chief should look for them over at Cynthia’s place too. Remember, no confronting Cynthia! We’ll leave that to the chief.” Nicki gave a wave before heading for her car at a dead run.

  “I thought Catherine’s house was locked up and taped off as a crime scene. How’s she going to get in?” Ty wondered out loud.

  “Oh trust me,” Jenna said, her phone to her ear. “She’ll find a way.”

  Chapter Fifty-One

  What should have been a quick ten-minute ride took Nicki nearly double that as she skirted through back streets, trying to avoid the traffic snarl that went with festival days. When she finally reached Catherine’s street, she still had to drive another two blocks before she found a space just large enough to squeeze her Toyota into. Trying not to draw too much attention to herself, she forced herself to keep to a quick walk to cover the distance back to the place where she was certain one twin had murdered another. Half a block from her destination her cell phone rang. Glancing down at the caller ID, she debated with herself, but only for a second before she tapped the answer button and raised the phone to her ear.

  “Matt. How’s Los Angeles?”

  “Don’t play games with me, Nicki.

  She blinked. She didn’t need to see his face to know that Matt was clearly furious.

  “Where are you? Because you aren’t at the charity event, and all I got out of Jenna was ‘she figured it out’ before she spotted Chief Turnlow and took off.”

  Oh yeah. Make that really furious.

  “I don’t have time to explain or argue, Matt. I’m on my way to Catherine’s house. There isn’t any reason for you to worry, I’m only going…”

  “Fine,” he snapped out. “I’m on my way. Don’t you do anything that might get you into trouble until I get there.”

  When the phone went dead, she frowned. I
f he wanted to rush over here for nothing, he could do that. Then he’d see for himself she wasn’t doing anything to get into trouble. All she was going to do was take a quick look through Catherine’s closet. And maybe her laundry. Then she’d be on her way back to her own townhouse. Shaking her head at this new and annoying tendency in Matt to overreact to the strangest things, she continued down the block.

  Just before she reached the Cape Cod with crime scene tape crisscrossing the front door, Nicki crossed the street and skirted up a narrow walkway until she was standing in front of a door with faded green paint. Lifting one hand she gave a brisk knock, then stepped back and waited.

  Ten minutes later she was standing on the front porch of Catherine’s rental house, with the front door unlocked. She put one leg through a large gap in the tape and bending over until her nose almost touched her knee, she carefully slid her body through the gap. Thanking her lucky stars for having a petite frame, Nicki stood up and waved toward the big picture window in Beatrice Riley’s house before closing the front door behind her. Thank heavens she’d remembered Matt telling her that Beatrice had a key to Catherine’s house.

  Bypassing the opening into the living room, she walked across the small entryway and straight up the stairs. She intended to be in and out before Matt made his appearance.

  Lace curtains were draped across a window at the top of the stairs, and photographs of vineyards hung all along the hallway. Nicki turned to her left and followed the upper banister. She peeked into the first door which looked like a guest bedroom, then continued past a bathroom with a pedestal tub, and on to the closed door at the end of the hallway. She opened it slowly and peeked around its edge. A queen-size bed took up most of the space, along with a mahogany bureau and two side tables. Since it was definitely the larger of the two bedrooms, Nicki guessed this one was Catherine’s. There was only one other door in the bedroom and she went right over to it. On the other side she found exactly what she was looking for — Catherine’s clothes closet.

  She’d sorted through to the half-way point when she heard a loud creak directly behind her. Whirling around, Nicki’s hand flew to her throat and her stomach did a sudden backflip with enough violence she had to brace a hand against the bedroom wall.