Cozy Mystery Boxed Set: Rare Catch Cozy Mystery

by Liz Turner

  *** The End ***

  Murder at the Barbecue

  A Rare Catch Cozy Mystery

  Liz Turner

  Chapter 1

  “Turn on the second right, Delta Avenue,” Veronica’s Sous Chef Lucy instructed from the passenger’s seat of the truck. Veronica was at the wheel and turned as directed. “The houses should be at the end of the road.”

  “It’s a cul-de-sac, right?” Veronica asked.

  “That’s right,” Lucy confirmed. “The park is at the very end, so we probably should park near there.”

  “Got it.”

  Delta Avenue did in fact dead end at a cul-de-sac, and Veronica pulled her food truck as close as she could to the park. The surrounding four houses all looked relatively the same, except for their colors and landscaping in the front yard. One had lots of flowers and a potted shrubbery cut in the shape of a multi-pointed star stood next to the door. Another was a little more run down with long grass, but it had a fresh coat of paint and a moving truck in the driveway.The third house was colored blue with symbols of falcons on the porch. The fourth house was the only one with three floors instead of two, and it had a fenced in yard with multiple toys left on the grass. There was also a small tree house only a few feet up in the nearby oak, although it looked like it hadn’t been used for a while.

  Overall, the cul-de-sac had a chic yet homey atmosphere.

  Veronica whistled. “Upscale neighborhood, huh?”

  “You said it,” Lucy agreed, pulling her blonde hair behind her ears. “Are you sure you don’t want Sakura here instead? Are the two of us enough for this party?”

  Lucy wasn’t wrong in this concern. Veronica and Sakura were best friends and had been since she first recommended Sakura as a starting cook at a restaurant where Veronica worked at the time. That had been years ago. Once Veronica had the funds to open her restaurant, The Rare Catch, focusing mostly on seafood, she wasted no time hiring Sakura as her Executive Sous Chef.

  “Sakura’s fine on her own. I trust her,” Veronica said, speaking highly of her friend, who she left in charge of her restaurant. “And this is a pretty small gathering. The two of us should be fine.”

  “You’re right. Most of the food is already prepared,” Lucy recalled. “All we really need to do is cook it, right?”

  “Right. And the woman who hired me said there are a couple of barbecues at the park we can use.”

  “Well, that’s convenient. I guess that’s why you didn’t bother to have us pack the portable one?”

  “Exactly,” Veronica confirmed as she parked. “Though I bet she’s going to want revenge on me for leaving her behind on a day like this.”

  “You can say that again,” Lucy replied. She hopped out of the vehicle and took a deep breath as the sun shone through the clouds. “What a lovely Saturday!”

  “Perfect time for an outdoor lunch party, I’m telling you!” Veronica declared, exiting the van as well.

  She joined Lucy, standing at the edge of the park where the party was scheduled to take place. It took up the large space of land between two houses and, as Veronica said, there was a propane barbecue to the side closer to the three-story house. A couple of small tables were bolted to the ground near the barbecue while some picnic tables stood on either side. Tablecloths were draped over the tables, and a few people were already sitting as Veronica and Lucy walked up to them.

  One woman noticed the two chefs’ approach, and she stood with a smile to greet them. She held out her hand to Veronica.

  “Hello, you must be Chef Koche,” she greeted, her wavy brown hair blowing in the slight breeze. “I’m Amy Edwards. We spoke on the phone.”

  “Ah yes. Thank you for considering us to cater your party,” Veronica returned, shaking the woman’s hand.

  “My husband and I have been to your restaurant multiple times since it opened,” Amy described. “When I heard you did catering, I knew you’d be perfect for this party.”

  “We’re happy to be here,” Veronica repeated. “This is my Sous Chef, Lucy.”

  “Nice to meet you,” Lucy replied.

  “Same to you.” Amy glanced over their shoulders at the van. “Do you need help getting anything out?”

  “No, that’s okay, but thanks for offering,” Veronica answered. “There isn’t much. Lucy and I can handle it.”

  “Well, don’t hesitate to ask for help,” Amy offered. “We’re more than happy to lend a hand.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Edwards, but you’re our guests. Let us take care of everything.”

  Amy left the two chefs to work, and Veronica and Lucy had all the supplies and ingredients out of the van within ten minutes. A couple of coolers kept the meat chilled until it was ready to be cooked, and Lucy took out all the vegetables and quickly chopped them into the correct proportions. Veronica lit the barbecues, warming them up to get ready. She sneezed as some smoke accidentally got in her face.

  “Hate it when that happens,” she mused.

  “Bless you,” she heard Amy say from above. Veronica raised her head to see her client and a couple standing a few feet away. “Is everything all right?”

  Veronica laughed. “Yes, I’m fine. Just starting up the barbecue.”

  “Things are already smelling good,” Amy commented. “How long until the food’s ready to eat?”

  “Not long. Surf and turf never take much time.” Veronica glanced over at the couple. “Hello. I’m Chef Koche.”

  “Nice to meet you, Chef,” the man said. His dark eyes looked at the trappings for the meal. “This smells good.”

  “Just wait until we get the grilling going,” Veronica said.

  Amy’s bright eyes sparkled. “As long as there’s fish.”

  “Oh, there is!”

  There was a small cough from the young woman beside Amy, who promptly stepped aside.

  “Sorry! Chef, this is Henry and Denise Mullins,” Amy introduced. “This is Chef Veronica Koche. She owns The Rare Catch. The one I told you about, remember?”

  “I remember,” Henry agreed. “Pardon us, Chef, but we only just moved to town, so we aren’t familiar with a lot of good places to eat yet.”

  “No worries. My restaurant has been open for less than a year so I would be surprised if you knew it.”

  “But it’s an excellent restaurant!” Amy declared. “I’ve been there several times. It’s ideal for special occasions, and the food is fantastic.”

  “You make it hard to stay humble, Mrs. Edwards,” Veronica joked.

  “Yes, don’t tell her that,” Lucy joked. “It’ll go to her head.”

  “Anyway, like Henry said, the Mullins are new around here,” Amy continued. “They just moved into the second house on the right. This is their welcome party.”

  “Well, then let’s make it a memorable one, huh?” Veronica suggested. “Cheers to you!”

  “Thank you, Chef,” Denise said, the sun glimmering against her dark skin. “There’s going to be more than fish, right? I can’t actually eat it right now.”

  “No problem, Mrs. Mullins,” Veronica reassured her. “There’s chicken and beef too. I can set some aside for you, to make sure you get it and no one else accidentally eats it. It certainly wouldn’t do for the lady of honor to go hungry!”

  Denise’s smile widened. “I’d appreciate it. Um, one other thing?”

  “Yes?”

  “Do you take requests for how well done the meat is?” Denise inquired. “The steak at least, I mean?”

  “Of course! What kind of chef would I be if I didn’t?” she replied. She pulled a small notebook out of her pocket, along with a pen. “How do you like yours?”

  “Well done,” Henry replied for his wife. “For both of us.”

  “Not a problem,” Veronica answered. “Actually, if you can ask around about how everyone likes their meat, I’ll make sure we cook them to their preference.”

  “That’s a simple task,” Amy responded. “I’ll get right on it!”

  As Amy b
ounded away, almost like the two young boys who were also running around the park, the Mullins turned back to the chefs.

  “Does your restaurant do take out?” Henry asked. “Denise isn’t always up to cooking, and we’ve been compiling a list of places where we can pick something up.”

  Veronica shook her head sadly. “Unfortunately, we don’t…although that doesn’t sound like a bad idea. Seafood isn’t always the best take-out, but I could probably arrange something.”

  “We don’t mean to give you trouble,” Denise added.

  “Don’t worry. You’re not. If anything, you’re giving me inspiration.”

  The couple grinned, although Denise’s smile began to wane seconds later, and she gripped her husband’s arm.

  “Sorry, but I need to go sit down,” she said. “I look forward to the meal.”

  “Sure thing,” Veronica replied. “And I’ll make sure your steak is well done.”

  “Thank you.” With that, the Mullins headed to one of the picnic tables, where a few others were already seated. Veronica turned her attention back to the barbecues, where Lucy was already grilling some of the vegetables.

  “Sure is a picky thing, isn’t she?” Lucy said, pointing her chin at Denise.

  “Everyone has different tastes,” Veronica debated. “If she doesn’t want fish, I certainly won’t force her.”

  “I’m mostly thinking about the steak,” Lucy corrected. “Well done? More like burnt to a crisp…but I probably think that because I like my steak as rare as I can safely get it.”

  Veronica chuckled at her Sous Chef as she put a few steaks on the barbecues. As she waited for the meat to brown, Veronica glanced around the park.

  The Edwards and the Mullins were not the only ones at the party. A pair of young boys, who must have been no older than seven or eight, chased each other around as they played tag. An older boy, looking like more of a young teen, went after them, growling as he pretended to be a ferocious dragon chasing a pair of knights. Denise and Henry were at the closer picnic table, where another couple also sat drinking some soda. The woman, who Veronica presumed was the mother of at least two of the playing children, yelled at the boys not to hurt themselves.

  At the other table was an older man with a teenage girl sitting next to him. The girl held a book in her hand but occasionally glanced up to look around, anxiously biting her lip all the while. Her light brown hair was done up in a bun. She looked vaguely similar to Amy.

  She doesn’t look like she’s having much fun, Veronica thought. She waited until the girl turned her eyes to her, and then Veronica gave her a friendly wave. The girl smiled before standing and walking over to her. Ah, that’s better. The girl’s stride was very proper; like she had been taught to walk perfectly straight since she first stood on two legs. Her neck was stiff, but her expression was sociable, and Veronica got the impression of forced refinement in someone who didn’t completely believe in it.

  “Hi there,” Veronica greeted once the young woman reached her. “Nice day for a picnic, isn’t it?”

  “Very nice. Beautiful, in fact,” she answered. “I’m Naomi. You’re the chef my mother hired to cater this party?”

  That explains the resemblance. “If your mother is Amy Edwards, then you’re correct. I’m Veronica. How do you like your steak?”

  “Medium rare, please,” Naomi informed her. “Is that what’s for lunch? Steak?”

  “Surf and turf,” Veronica proclaimed. “With grilled vegetables and cooked rice. We’ve got a fresh chocolate cake for dessert.”

  “Sounds yummy,” Naomi said, licking her lips at the list of food. “Dessert? At lunch?”

  “Of course. Why not?”

  “No reason I guess. Just never heard of it. Dessert’s always been after dinner.”

  “Depends on the chef and the family,” Veronica said with a shrug. “But I always do dessert for catering jobs. It’s the most fun part of the meal.”

  “I agree with you about that,” Naomi answered. “I can’t wait—”

  “Naomi, that’s enough.” Veronica turned to see the older man Naomi had been sitting with had walked over to them. “Come back to your seat.”

  “Okay Dad,” the teenager replied, disappointment apparent in her voice. “It was good to meet you, Chef Koche.”

  “You too, Naomi.” She watched as father and daughter walked back to the table they had occupied before, and Naomi looked down to read her book again. “Poor thing. That can’t be fun.”

  “I don’t know,” Lucy contributed. “My dad was protective of me too, and I turned out fine.”

  “I guess so,” Veronica stated. “But sometimes being overprotective can be a bad thing too.

  As the two chefs continued to prepare the meal, Veronica spotted two men who joined the more crowded table. Amy stood and shook their hands.

  “Hi, Lorenzo. Hi Pietro,” she proclaimed. “Glad to see you could make it.”

  “Same for us,” the elder of the two men returned. “Pietro was able to get off shift in time, so we hurried over as soon as we could.”

  “Thanks for looking after Rupert for me, Aileen,” the younger, Pietro, said to the other woman at the table. “I couldn’t get someone to babysit at such short notice.”

  “No problem. You know how Cale and Rupert love playing together,” the woman named Aileen described. “I’m surprised Leo wasn’t around to help out. Where is he?”

  “Honestly, I have no idea,” Pietro replied.

  “Not good for him to miss keeping a promise like that, huh?” Aileen said darkly. “Or not tell you where he’s gone.”

  What’s got her so worked up? Veronica wondered as she finished placing some cheese on a large plate.

  “It is strange,” Denise added. “Leo’s been really reliable for me.”

  “Yeah, I’m starting to get really concerned,” Lorenzo affirmed. “I haven’t heard from him since yesterday.”

  “He’s probably just fooling around somewhere,” Pietro stated, clearly not as concerned as the older man.

  By this point, Veronica had finished a cheese and vegetable platter that was to serve as an appetizer, and she carried the plates over to the table.

  “Appetizer time, everyone!”

  “Oh good!” Amy declared. She stood and picked up her plastic cup filled with soda. “Everyone! May I have your attention, please! I’d like to propose a toast!”

  She is certainly making a big deal of this. It’s just two people moving into the neighborhood, Veronica thought, but mentally shrugged. Oh well. Go big or go home, as they say!

  Everyone but the two youngest boys rushed to the table, lifting their own cups in unison.

  “I’d like to officially welcome Henry and Denise Mullins!” Amy announced. “Our newest neighbors! Let us all become good friends as well! Cheers!”

  “Cheers!” And everyone took a gulp of his or her drinks.

  A few minutes of merriment passed before the cries of a young boy rang through the air.

  “Mommy! Mommy!” A young boy with red hair ran to the table, stopping in front of Aileen and jumping in her lap. “He’s not moving!”

  “Who’s not moving?” Aileen asked the child who was obviously her son. “What’s wrong, Cale?”

  “Rupert and I were playing, and we found Leo sleeping in the bushes!” the boy described. “But he won’t wake up!”

  Pietro stood up immediately. “Leo? Where is he, Cale?”

  The boy slid off his mother’s lap and pointed to some bushes across the park, closer to the two-story house. Pietro and Henry both headed over, and Veronica quickly followed them, wanting to make sure everything was all right.

  Sleeping but not waking up? She repeated in her head. That never bodes well.

  Her instincts were correct. The three reached the bushes in no time, and Pietro bent over the still body of a man with blonde hair. Veronica didn’t get a good look at Leo, but Pietro immediately shot up and shouted.

  “Someone call an ambulance
! He’s not breathing!”

  Veronica stopped for a split second, not understanding what he said for a moment, before pulling her phone from her pocket and dialing nine-one-one.

  After this, I’m calling Detective Bernard, she thought. Something’s really not right here.

  Chapter 2

  Veronica didn’t want to watch as the group of paramedics loaded Leo’s body into the ambulance.

  Detective Maximilian Bernard, who frequently worked with the Meloda Police Department, was directing most of the officers while also discussing the scene with an older man. She presumed this was the Chief of Police based on his distinct uniform compared to the others. His being slightly grayer in color than the dark navy blue of the rest.

  As the two men exchanged words, Veronica noticed some technicians she had grown to recognize as forensic crime scene investigators. They wore dark overalls and rubber boots, as opposed to the uniforms of the police officers. She supposed the overalls were the uniform for a forensic tech.

  It was no mystery what they were doing. Sakura had described to Veronica at length what crime scene investigators did in mystery books and on television shows. They were there to search for fingerprints, DNA, and any other clues that might lead them to the criminal.I hope they find something helpful, Veronica thought.

  Detective Bernard finished his conversation with the Chief of Police and started walking towards Veronica. She watched as his long and powerful stride brought him closer. The light breeze blowing through the neighborhood made his brown hair swirl in the air, and his black suit and tie flapped behind him as he walked. He pulled his sunglasses off so he could look at Veronica with his blue eyes, but this didn’t last long because he had to squint in the bright sunlight.

  “Chef Koche,” he greeted. “Nice to see you again.”

  “Same to you, Detective Bernard.” Veronica had to remind herself to call him by his title and last name instead of his first name of Max. “Although I wish it were under better circumstances.”

  “I know what you mean,” Max replied. “Thanks for calling me so quickly. I haven’t seen you for two months.”