Text copyright ©2016 by the Author.
This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Marina Adair. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original St. Helena Vineyard Series remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Marina Adair, or their affiliates or licensors.
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DESSERTS CAN BE DEADLY
K. T. Roberts
BOOKS BY K.T. ROBERTS
The Last Witness (Kensington-Gerard Detective Series Book 1)
Elusive Justice (Kensington-Gerard Detective Series Book 2)
Deadly Obsessions (Kensington-Gerard Detective Series Book 3)
Blind Retribution (November 2016)
Contemporary Romance
Strangers in the Night
Kindle Worlds
St. Helena Vineyards: Desserts can be Deadly
BOOKS WRITTEN BY CAROLYN HUGHEY
Contemporary Romance
Cupid’s Web
Shut Up and Kiss Me
Dishing Up Romance- (Chef’s Toque Series-Book 1)
One Menu at a Time – (Chef’s Toque Series Book 2)
Catering to Love – (Chef’s Toque Series- Book 3 -)
Insanity Claus
Kindle Worlds
Gossip Girl: Lover’s Liars and Thou
Gossip Girl: Murder & Mayhem
Blame It on Texas: From Princess to Prairie
DEDICATION
I dedicate this book to Marina Adair, one of my favorite authors whom I truly admire, and even though she’s a huge success, she never hesitates to acknowledge her friends by unselfishly asking them to join her on her journey. I’m honored to call her friend.
Thank you for always making me laugh.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I thank my sister, L. Jessie Esposito, former detective in the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for always being there to answer my unending questions about police procedures, criminals and poisons.
A special thanks to the president of the K.T. Roberts Street Team, Julie Nopen and Mary Terry for critiquing this story to make sure I didn’t leave anything out.
Cover Design by Carol Webb, Bella Media Management
Dear Readers,
Welcome to the St. Helena Vineyard’s Kindle World, where romance is waiting to be uncorked and authors from around the globe are invited to share their own stories of love and happily ever after. Set in the heart of wine country, this quaint town and its cast of quirky characters were the inspiration behind my St Helena Vineyard series, and the Hallmark Channel movie, AUTUMN IN THE VINEYARD. I want to thank these incredible authors for spending time in St. Helena, and all of you readers who are adventurous enough to take the journey with us.
I hope you enjoy your time here as much as we have.
Warmly,
Marina Adair
Chapter One
October was an exciting month in St. Helena, a small quaint town in the Napa Valley. It was a time to enjoy the brilliant colors of leaves covering the hilly landscape and the sweet fragrance from the grapes that would soon become hearty wines that filled the cool crisp air.
Tonight, the full harvest moon had finally shown its face and had cast an amber hue over the leaf covered sidewalks. But for Nico DeLuca, the nephew of Nonna ChiChi, an up and coming chef, who’d created delectable confections during his apprenticeship at La Bonne Auberge, this night had just taken a turn for the worse.
Anxious to showcase his chocolate Lava cake, a creation he was most proud of, the platter was filled with delectable chocolate desserts that would melt in anyone’s mouth and two quenelles of lavender ice cream to offset the richness of the chocolate. Plated on a silver platter, Nico was excited to serve the dessert himself. Walking out of the kitchen, he headed for table fifteen in the large dining room. Soft music played overhead and complimented the excitement dancing in his stomach anxious to showcase his luscious platter of chocolate.
Weaving through the busy dining room, his stomach turned over when he saw Lyndsey Williams a few feet away at the table with the same cliquey girlfriends he’d remembered from high school. The memory of their short fling breezed through his mind and how quickly she’d dumped him for the captain of the football team. The resentment still lingered, but in the name of business, he acted like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. Now, more than ever he wanted her to know what she’d been missing, especially since he was working in a three-star Michelin restaurant. All twelve pairs of eyes stared at him as he approached the table.
“Nico,” Lyndsey said surprised, “you’re a busboy?”
He laughed it off. “No,” he said scrunching up his face. “I’m the dessert chef here, and this is my latest creation, so I thought it was fitting for me to deliver it. Now that I see it’s your table, I couldn’t be happier.” He grinned. “So which one of you ordered this?” he asked.
“I did,” Lyndsey said. “It looks scrumptious.”
“Thank you.” He set the platter down in front of her.
“I’m flattered to be the first to taste it.”
Nico stepped aside and waited for her to take the first bite. She stuck her spoon into the Lava cake, the steam from the warm chocolate oozing out. She moaned with anticipation while her friends looked on, watching every move she made. Sliding her utensil under the cut piece, she made sure to get the cake and the chocolate in the same bite, then brought it to her mouth, allowing the chocolate to linger on her tongue. She moaned with satisfaction, then scooped up another spoonful just before she swallowed. Her hand made it mid-way to her mouth when, within seconds, a horrified expression capped her face. The spoon dropped from her hand. She tried to say something, but the words got caught in her throat. A minute later she keeled over and hit the floor with a thud.
Panic broke out in the restaurant. Someone screamed “Call 9-1-1.” Nico tried CPR and by the time the medics arrived, Lyndsey Williams was stone cold!
***
The minute Nonna ChiChi heard about the second death over her police scanner, a Christmas present from her family, she called Priscilla Moreau and Lucinda Baudouin for support. The trio, commonly referred to as the grannies, were well-known as the lead social directors of the Daughters of Prohibition for controlling the social scene in St. Helena.
She quickly learned it was her nephew, Nico, who was being accused of tainting the food with poison. That made two deaths, two nights in a row from foods prepared by her family, and she was loaded for bear.
Shaking and worried after discovering it was Nico, Nonna ChiChi stood in the parking lot of the La Bonne Auberge behind the yellow crime scene tape anxiously waiting for the other grannies to arrive. Attracted by the flashing red and blue lights from the four police cruisers lined up next to the ESU vehicle, hordes of curious residents and visitors congregated in the parking lot to find out what happened in this swanky restaurant.
It wasn’t but a minute later that Pricilla and Lucinda, along with Mr. Puffins arrived on the scene. They continued to snake through the crowded parking lot until they found her, thanks to Mr. Puffins, who meowed the minute he spotted her. They immediately engulfed her in a group hug trying to comfort their friend as best they could. Seeing the EMT’s carry out the black body bag had them tightening their grip and looking away, glancing up every so often, until they finally shut their eyes. When they heard the doors of the vehicle lock into place, they scanned the crowd for Nic
o.
***
Nico stood motionless on the sidelines with the other chefs and several guests waiting to be questioned while the crime scene investigators searched for evidence. His pulse kicked up when he noticed one of the investigators emerge with a plastic bag containing a small jar with white powder—a jar he’d used many times. It was confectioner’s sugar—at least he’d thought it was.
Based on the few comments he’d overhead, the sheriff’s department was calling this a death by poison, and if they were bringing that jar out, maybe they thought it contained the poison. Numb and frightened, he wasn’t quite sure how to act, but he was certain he was not the one to kill Lyndsey. Tension coursed through his body every time he thought about her dumping him. Surely, her friends were all going to report he’d done it on purpose because of their break-up. He was no lawyer, but he’d learned enough about the law to know it would be labeled probable cause, and boy, did that ever make him look guilty. Couple that with his fingerprints being all over the jar, and the dessert platter, and that was enough to send him away for a long time.
Two murders back to back in a touristy town wasn’t going to sit well with the business owners. They were already lining up to speak to the deputies watching the process. Would they think he was getting his revenge? Cripes, dating Lyndsey back then was simply high school puppy love, regardless of how they ended the relationship. Besides, it was over four years ago. How could they think such a thing?
Nico blew out an exhaustive breath. His head ached, his heart was ready to burst through his chest, and his stomach flipped over every time he saw the faces of the investigators when they discovered something else.
He stopped thinking about himself and began to think about poor Lexi, who was the grand daughter-in-law of ChiChi, the wife of Marco DeLuca, and granddaughter of Priscilla Moreau, who owned and operated the Sweet and Savory Bistro together. No doubt, she was feeling the same things he was. She had already been questioned last night after her customer died, and the fact that they’d released her, gave him hope. Lexi was a sweetheart. Everyone could see that. Nico leaned against the wall and prayed to God that the sheriff’s department would see someone was trying to frame the DeLucas.
A firm voice interrupted his worry. “Mr. DeLuca, we need you to come down to headquarters for questioning.”
Nico’s heart sunk. He’d been expecting it, but hearing the words from the sheriff’s gruff voice made it real.
***
As the grannies watched Nico being helped into the backseat of the cruiser, ChiChi was beside herself. She knew, with the help of the other grannies, they were the only ones who were going to get to the bottom of these crimes.
It was no secret there was no love lost between the sheriff and ChiChi, who’d reminded herself that she hadn’t seen him but once since he’d arrived three months ago. That told her Sheriff Jack, whom she referred to as Sheriff Jerko, was one of those who sat around with his thumbs up his ass all day just waiting for something like this to happen to make a name for himself.
ChiChi had always been pretty good at solving crimes. Well, if you could count the few minor thefts in town, as crimes. They certainly weren’t anything of this magnitude, but still, she and the grannies had figured out the whodunit before the sheriff did. She’d thrown a few hints at Jonah Baudouin, who was a deputy in town, and the grandson of Lucinda. But when nothing happened to solve the crimes, she could only assume word hadn’t gotten to the sheriff.
This time, however, was a different story, and she wasn’t waiting around for him to pick up little hints. She would run this operation herself, just like Gianna DeLuca did all those years ago with the Secret Woman’s Society, namely the Crime Buster’s Unit, or as the grannies lovingly referred to it as the CBU.
According to Ancestry.com, Gianna had started this group because someone close to her was being accused of doing an unthinkable act, and according to ninety-year old John, the wino in town, Gianna didn’t trust the sheriff any more than ChiChi did. So, the way she saw it, the only thing she and the grannies had to worry about was getting caught snooping around and having their asses hauled off to jail.
Staring into the distance, ChiChi noticed Jonah talking to the sheriff who kept glancing in their direction. Although Jonah might have meant well, she had no doubt what they were talking about, because not long after, the sheriff’s tall imposing stature stood before her, his bald head gleaming from the street lights, and reminding her of a pumpkin. She could tell by the way he was standing—legs apart, arms crossed and looking at her through beady eyes that he thought he was pretty intimidating. He had the wrong chick for that stuff, and he was about the find that out.
“Mrs. DeLuca,” he said, “you’re a fine lady and well-respected within this community, and I don’t want to see you or your family get hurt because of foolish mistakes.” She gave him a blank stare without saying a word. She’d learned during her sixty-eight years of life that remaining silent when someone was scolding you really messed with their psyche because the entire time, they would be wondering what you were thinking.
Sheriff Jack cleared his throat. “I have recently learned through the grapevine” . . . he paused momentarily . . . “no pun intended, that you and the grannies might try to interfere in our investigation. Your interference has to stop right here and now, because I promise you, elderly or not, we will haul all of you off to jail. So you ladies keep your noses out of the custard. This is our investigation and we’re quite capable of dealing with these crimes.” He did an about face and walked confidently in the opposite direction.
“You ain’t seen nothing yet, jerko,” she mumbled in a low voice.
Under normal circumstances, Nonna ChiChi’s was the epitome of sophistication, class, beauty, and a voice so soft, she sounded like an angel. But at the moment, she was an angel with horns. Pissing her off by trying to take her family down, was a whole other story and that’s when her high-strung Italian heritage came flying out. His confrontation only sealed the deal. As leader of the CBU, she was ready to take him on.
“That’s it!” she screeched. “Enough is enough,” she declared in her native Italian accent as she watched the police cruiser drive down the street with Nico. Getting more upset by the minute, her eyes hooded as she looked to her friends. “Are you in?”
“Damn right, I’m in,” Priscilla said, looking rather sleepy tonight since she’d come to ChiChi’s rescue in her Lazy One Red, “I’m a Pooped Bear” nightshirt, and matching brown bear claw slippers. Tight pin curls framed her face with larger pin curls at the nape of her neck. Unlike Lucinda, this was the extent of fuss Priscilla could tolerate. She was a dyed in the wool regular plain Jane. Lucinda, however, rarely left the house without her fancy clothes and full makeup in an effort to rid her image of the bony limbs and sharp edges.
“You can count me in,” Lucinda said. Wearing full makeup, including eyeliner, Lucinda never went anywhere without looking like she’d just walked off the cover of a fashion magazine. “and Mr. Puffins too,” she said hugging the pudgy ball of white fluff, “don’t you, precious?” He meowed in agreement. Mr. Puffins, was more than just arm candy for Lucinda. He was her confidant, her protector and just a damn nice cat who loved his master.
ChiChi was convinced Mr. Puffins suffered from an acute case of displaced identity because he didn’t seem to mind being a cross-dresser. As a matter of fact, he had a larger wardrobe than most young women today. Everyone in the Daughters of Prohibition figured Mr. Puffins came by that honestly with a master who dressed to the nines. Tonight, Mr. Puffins was decked out as a Sherlock Holmes lookalike, complete with monocle over his right eye and looking rather menacing. Lucinda kissed the feline’s head and Mr. Puffins gave a contented purr before burying his nose into her neck.
Word had traveled fast to the residents. More cars stopped and onlookers filled the lot while watching the sheriff and his deputies collect evidence. The medias steady flash from their cameras was like the staccato from a gun gu
aranteeing the incident would be front page news in the morning.
***
A few hours later, Nico walked into Nonna ChiChi’s home with Gabe, the oldest of the four DeLuca brothers.
“Oh my God, Nico,” the family gathered around him. “Are you okay?”
He released a sigh. “Lexi,” he shook his head, “How are we going to get out of this?”
“I don’t know, Nico, but neither one of us killed those women,” she said. “What did they tell you?”
“To turn over my passport and not to leave town.”
“I had to do the same thing,” Lexi said.
“They think we’re in cahoots,” Nico rolled his eyes as soon as the words were out. “Do you believe that?”
“They’ve got to be kidding.”
“Then the other thing that happened. My victim was a former girlfriend and just as I figured, her friends told the police I killed her on purpose.”
“What?” ChiChi said. “Are they crazy? With your good looks, you don’t need to be killing former girlfriends to get even.” She folded her arms and slammed them against her chest. “This sheriff is fooling with the wrong family.”
Turning to Lexi, Gabe asked. “I don’t even know what happened to your victim,” Gabe said. “Give us a run down.”
“The girl ordered an éclair, a big one . . . which I filled with rich pastry cream, smothered it in chocolate and brought it out to her. A short while later, I heard a gut wrenching scream and I ran out to investigate. That’s when I saw the woman on the floor with her sister crouched over her body trying to revive her. The sister said she found her in the bathroom hugging the toilet bowl. When she started asking her questions, she didn’t respond, so she gave her a gentle shake and the woman fell to the floor frozen in that same bent over position.”
St. Helena Vineyard Series: Desserts Can Be Deadly (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 1
