by Cat Chandler
“The fact he was murdered got out quick enough. But the ‘how’ took a couple of days longer. We haven’t released the time of death yet. The rumor mill still has it as the morning the body was found, and we aren’t doing anything to discourage that.”
“Okay. That’s good to know.” Nicki stopped in front of the same door she’d found the first time she’d gone looking for the events manager. The clipboard was still hanging there, along with a pencil tied to it with a string.
“Not too high-tech,” the chief observed as he turned the handle and pushed the door open for Nicki.
She smiled. Old-fashioned manners were something Clay Thomas and Matt had in common.
The tiny front office had a small desk without any drawers on one side and was currently unoccupied. The door leading into the inner office was open.
“I’ll be right there.” The feminine voice floated out along with the clacking sound of a keyboard.
A few seconds later, a middle-aged woman, her light-brown hair pulled back into a bun at the nape of her neck, appeared in the doorway. “Hi, Chief.” Amanda raised a hand in greeting before turning her gaze toward Nicki. “And you must be Nicki Connors? One of the bridesmaids in the Kolman-Roberts’ wedding?” She added a smile. “Since we’ve only talked on the phone, it’s nice to put a face with the voice.”
Nicki liked Amanda on sight. She looked relaxed in her casual pants and over-sized blouse, and her smile was open and friendly. If the hotel’s events manager was anxious about anything, it certainly didn’t show on her face or in her body language.
Nodding a return greeting, Nicki and the chief followed Amanda when she waved them inside. Her office wasn’t too much bigger than the reception area, but it had a thick Persian-looking rug underneath a sleek glass-topped desk. Several oil paintings graced the wall, and there were two visitor chairs tucked into the tight space between the desk and the door. Nicki squeezed into the one on the far side, leaving the chair with more legroom to the much taller chief.
“I assume this is an official visit?” Amanda started out as soon as she sat down. “About Robin Boral?”
“That would be correct,” the chief confirmed. “Unless Nicki has a question or two about the upcoming wedding.”
“I see.” Amanda didn’t look as if she saw anything at all. “Is it usual to bring a member of a wedding party along on an official visit?”
“Nicki’s also helping us out on the Boral murder case.” He gave Nicki a bland look. “It’s a sideline of hers.”
“I see,” the events manager repeated, still looking confused as she glanced between the police chief and Nicki.
“We’ll try not to take up too much of your time.” The chief took out his cell phone and tapped on it a few times.
“Are you going to be recording this?” Amanda asked.
“I could. But this is an app for notes. Would you rather I recorded our conversation?”
The middle-aged woman quickly shook her head. “No, no. Taking notes is fine.” She folded her hands in front of her and gave the chief an expectant look.
“I might as well get right to the point, Amanda. We’ve been told that you had a number of arguments with Mr. Boral. Is that true?”
Amanda immediately nodded. “Yes, but hardly unusual. Robin tended to argue with everyone, although he seemed to have gotten a great deal worse lately.”
Clay lowered his phone and frowned. “How so?”
“Our most recent arguments have all been about his customer service. Or lack of it.” She shrugged. “He wasn’t willing to accommodate any small changes our guests asked for in his cake designs. Twice he refused to even offer a choice of designs. He was getting impossible to work with.” She closed her eyes and took in a couple of calming breaths. “It wasn’t just the hotel’s reputation Robin was shredding, it was mine too. I’d already talked to Brad about it, but nothing changed. Frankly, I’d been looking for another baker. But we are a good distance from the more urban centers, and none of them wanted just the baking piece. I like Brad, but unfortunately I might have to change out the entire catering contract.”
“Might have to?” Nicki asked, thinking of what Rob had said. “Are you still thinking about it?”
“More than thinking,” the manager admitted. “We’ve almost reached an agreement with another company. The Robin’s Catering contract comes up for renewal in sixty days, and I doubt if that will occur.”
“Was Brad aware that his company was in danger of losing the hotel’s business?” the chief asked, his phone once again raised up as he did a one-finger tap on the keys.
“We talked about it. I even flat-out told him it was a distinct possibility when he couldn’t present a solution for the wedding cake disaster for the Kolman-Roberts wedding.” Amanda nodded at Nicki. “But I’m assuming given the latest turn of events with Robin’s murder, and his, well, potential involvement, I’m sure no other explanation is required.”
“Brad’s only been interviewed, Amanda. He hasn’t even been charged with anything, much less proven guilty,” Nicki said quietly.
“That’s right,” the chief said. “It seems like you’re putting the punishment before the conviction.”
Amanda sighed heavily. “Believe me, it’s not my first choice either. But it is for the corporate office. They feel any further association with Robin’s Catering will damage the hotel’s reputation.”
Nicki was definitely not looking forward to telling Alex about this latest blow. “When will you be letting Brad know?”
“Formally? At the thirty-day mark, as required by the contract. Informally? I haven’t decided yet.” The manager leaned back in her chair. “I don’t trust that arrogant head chef of his. Have you met him?” At Nicki’s short nod, Amanda pursed her lips together. “He’s an excellent chef, but I wouldn’t put it past him to sabotage an event. He seems like the revenge-minded sort.”
Right you are, Amanda, Nicki thought, but she prudently kept silent. Since she and the older woman were definitely on the same page when it came to one Andrew Benson, Nicki decided to share a piece of good news with the manager.
“We do have a solution to the cake problem.”
Amanda immediately leaned forward, her eyes taking on an eager glow. “You do? You found another baker willing to make a wedding cake on this short of a notice?”
Nicki smiled and nodded. “After a fashion. It’s going to be a cupcake tower, with one layer of cake for the bride and groom to cut.”
“Really? Why that’s simply brilliant! Is the baker coming in from Seattle?”
“Um, no. But Robin’s Catering will be delivering the cupcake tower. We have a baker, but Kylie will need more help with the decorating and assembly. Can you spare anyone from your kitchens, or suggest anyone who might be able to help out?”
“I don’t know.” Amanda frowned. “Robin’s Catering has always handled their own contract labor, and June is one of our busier months. The hotel is completely booked for the next six weeks. But I can ask our executive chef and get back to you.”
“I’d appreciate that,” Nicki said. She hoped Amanda would come through with a few extra hands. “And are we all set on the wine?”
“Yes, we are.” The manager was now all smiles as she glanced at an ornate clock hanging on the wall. “As a matter of fact, I’m scheduled to meet with the new vendor in just a few minutes.”
Nicki returned the smile. “I’ll be sure to let Alex know.”
“And her mother,” Amanda said, making Nicki grin.
“And her mother too.”
The chief must have taken that to mean the conversation was over, because he stood up and slid to the side to give Nicki room to get out as well. They both said their goodbyes, with handshakes all around. Nicki had just stepped into the outer office when the door opened and she almost collided with Rob.
“Well hey, beautiful.” Rob was all smiles as he reached out to steady her.
With two men sandwiching her in between them, Ni
cki had nowhere to go.
“Hi, Rob.” She jerked her head backward. “This is Clay Thomas. He’s the Henley Bay police chief.”
Rob looked up, literally, to meet the chief’s steady gaze.
“Nice to meet you,” Clay’s mild tone didn’t quite match the intensity of his gaze. He looked down at Rob’s hands that were still wrapped around Nicki’s arms. “I take it you two know each other?”
“He’s a friend.” Kind of, anyway. Nicki was suddenly glad that Matt hadn’t been able to come along on the interview.
“We’re more like a couple who are currently on a break.” Rob produced one of his dazzling smiles for the police chief. “I’m sure you know how that goes.”
Clay shook his head. “Not really. And we need to be on our way.” He waved a hand to indicate that Rob should step back to let them pass.
Not being given much other choice, the wine buyer released Nicki’s arms and backed up into the hallway. The chief nodded at him as he ushered Nicki down the hall.
“Thanks,” he said over his shoulder at a gaping Rob.
Clay kept right on going, and Nicki rapidly stepped along with him, her lips twitching with amusement.
“I forgot to tell you something Lydia mentioned to me this morning,” the chief said as they reached the bottom of the stairs and started to climb. “It was about an ongoing argument Brad and Robin had been having over the last few months.”
“Oh?” Nicki prompted him when he paused.
“It seems Brad wanted to sell the business and Robin didn’t.”
“Oh,” Nicki said, this time with a completely different tone. Sell the business? She wondered if that was what Gin hadn’t wanted to tell her.
“Kind of puts a different light on the latest will, doesn’t it?”
That was putting it mildly. If Brad had wanted to sell the business and Robin didn’t, then the younger man did have a motive for killing his partner. It would be much easier to deal with the college-aged daughter than the extremely stubborn father. Especially if the ex-wife, and mother of that college-aged daughter, was in favor of the sale.
“Did Lydia want the business sold?”
They’d reached the top of the stairs and were slowly crossing the lobby when the chief grinned at her. “I like you, Nicki Connors. I don’t have to explain everything to you. And yes. Lydia said she liked the idea, and Brad was aware that she approved of it.”
“So the question is, did Brad know that Tina would inherit her father’s business?” Nicki said under her breath.
But the chief still heard her. “That is the big question. And hard to prove, one way or the other. Unless he happened to mention it to someone else.”
Nicki groaned. “Like his wife?”
“That would be the most likely person.” The chief shrugged. “And not something we’re going to solve in the middle of the hotel lobby.” He pulled his ball cap with the “Life is Good” embroidered across the front, out of his back pocket and settled it on his head. “I have to get to the station and check on things. I’ve got my deputy pretty much handling all the incoming calls, and I imagine about now he could use some relief. But I did want to mention that if you have a hard time finding extra people to build that cupcake mountain you’re making, I might know someone who can help out.”
When Nicki blinked, he grinned at her. “I guess Amanda Peterson has no idea that you’re a chef.”
“I guess not.” Nicki smiled. “Thanks, Clay. I’ll keep that in mind.”
He started to walk off, then stopped and turned around. “I also meant to tell you that Matt is a lot better choice than that one we ran into downstairs.”
When she rolled her eyes, he put two fingers to the brim of his cap and gave her a salute before strolling off toward the large glass doors leading to the parking lot.
Chapter Eighty-Nine
A few hours later, Nicki and Jenna walked off the elevator and turned left, heading toward Alex’s room. The thick carpet along the hallway muffled their footsteps as Nicki kept a firm grip on Jenna’s arm. If she didn’t, she was afraid her friend would make a run for it. Stopping in front of a set of double doors painted white with a gold trim, Nicki raised her hand to knock but Jenna reached out and stopped her in midair.
“All I did was send Alex my measurements. I haven’t even seen this dress. What if I hate it?”
Nicki struggled not to laugh at the sheer panic in Jenna’s brown eyes, magnified by the lenses of her glasses. “Oh come on, Jenna. It’s just a dress. What could be so bad about it?”
“Giant flounces all the way around the bottom? Puffed sleeves? A sheer midriff along with missing its entire back because our friend, the doctor, sees nothing wrong with displaying the human anatomy? Or how about ten-inch heels, so I look like a refugee from the land of the giants?”
“There aren’t any puffed sleeves, flounces, or sheer anything,” Nicki assured her, steering clear of the height of the high heels. Alex’s mom had already commented that between Jenna’s height, and Nicki’s lack of it, the choice of shoes had been problematic. Nicki had no idea if the final choice was more in favor of short or tall. “And whatever it looks like, you’re going to love it. Remember the bridesmaid code.”
The computer geek huffed out a breath. “Oh yeah, the infamous bridesmaid code, may it have a slow and painful death so it can never be invoked again.”
Nicki laughed as she managed a knock on the door, ignoring the glare from Jenna. Both women smiled when Alex threw one side of the double doors open and gestured for them to come in. Jenna looked around at the spacious suite that Alex had taken to calling “wedding ground zero”, and let out a low whistle. Tastefully decorated in muted tones of blues and grays, one entire wall was glass, with floor-to-ceiling curtains and a perfectly framed view of the leading edge of the Olympic Forest.
Alex plopped down onto the comfortable-looking sectional and pointed to a tall rolling rack next to the door leading into the bedroom. “There they are. And if they don’t fit, well, we’ll have to think of something. But whatever you do, don’t tell Mom, or she’ll be dragging all three of us off to Seattle on an emergency shopping trip.” She rested her head back against the top of the couch. “Please, at least spare me that.”
Jenna leaned over and whispered into Nicki’s ear. “You look first.”
“I heard that,” Alex said without opening her eyes. “Love it or hate it, you’re going to wear it.”
“Fine,” Jenna groused. “But I’m keeping a record of every indignity I have to suffer due to the bridesmaid code, just in case I get married someday and have a chance at a little revenge.”
The bride-to-be opened one eye and looked at Jenna. “I’m fully prepared to walk down the aisle at your wedding carrying a huge bouquet and wearing a not-so-fashionable sweat suit. And flip flops.”
“At least your feet won’t hurt all night.”
“Uh huh.”
“The two of you are being ridiculous,” Nicki called out. “I’d be happy to wear a sweat suit and flip flops, and Jenna, this dress isn’t bad at all.” Nicki held up a sleek-looking strapless gown in a midnight-blue satin.
“Hey, not bad, Alex.” Jenna moved closer and took a second gown off the rack, holding it up to her neck as she turned this way and that in front of a full-length mirror leaning against the wall next to the dress rack.
“Gee, thanks.” Alex pointed to the bottom of the rack. “Those are the matching shoes. At least in color. Nicki has five-inch heels, and yours are only one-inch, Jenna.”
Jenna grinned as she leaned down and snatched up the shoes. “Thank you, Alex. Your kindness is bringing a tear to my eye.”
“That’s good,” Alex said, waving her hand at a tall chest on the opposite side of the room. “The sparkly things for your hair are over there.”
“What?” Jenna frowned at the chest.
“It was either the sparkly things, or five-inch heels for both of you. So wear the sparkly things.”
Nicki la
ughed at the sour face Jenna made. “It could be worse. You could have to wear the five-inch heels and the sparkly things.”
“You, who could win any beauty pageant you entered, will look great with glittering hair. I, on the other hand, will look like a fairy tale gone wrong,” Jenna complained before pasting a smile on her face. “But, the bridesmaid code dictates that I be grateful for my shoes and dress, which will not make me look overly weird, and wear little sparkles that I will probably be brushing out of my hair for the next month.”
“Works for me,” Alex declared. “Something that wasn’t overly weird was exactly what I was going for.”
“Good.” Nicki pointed to the open bedroom door. “All we have to do is try the dresses on, make sure they fit, and that’s one more thing off the wedding to-do list.”
“Which is a very good thing,” Jenna said, disappearing into the bedroom.
Nicki followed suit, and both women wiggled into their dresses in record time, appearing for Alex’s inspection barely five minutes later. Their friend lifted her head and gave them a good once-over, a slow smile growing as she stood up and walked a complete circle around her bridesmaids.
“What do you think, Alex?” Nicki asked, happy to see the sudden glow on the bride’s face.
“You both look perfect, absolutely perfect.” Alex reached her arms wide and engulfed her friends in a fierce hug. “I couldn’t get married unless both of you were here with me. It just wouldn’t seem right.”
“Ditto for me,” Jenna said.
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Nicki chimed in.
The three women stepped back, their hands linked together to form a tight circle, and smiled at each other through misty eyes.
Jenna finally broke the spell by swiping away a stray tear. “Now that the wedding getup is checked off the list, what’s next?”
Nicki sighed. “I emailed a list to Gin of the ingredients we’ll need to make all those cupcakes. She’ll make sure they’re on hand. I also sent the recipe for your three different cupcakes to Kylie. She seemed excited to get started.”
