COZY MYSTERY: Murder At The Festival: A Cozy Mystery in the Mountains (Book 4)

by Liz Turner

  North of the building were two gargantuan outdoor swimming pools, one elevated a little higher than the other, and to the side of these was a large hot tub. Veronica could see an indoor pool right next to the tub, with huge windows to look outside at all times. It was probably wonderful to enjoy a nice warm pool or hot tub while watching the beautiful snow outside.

  On the other side of the resort was a small wharf with multiple docks leading out into a freshwater lake. It was a nice, clear body of water that was about ten miles long and six miles wide. There was a large island in the middle, and Veronica wondered if the lake had originally just been a series of mountains that somehow managed to capture enough water to form the lake while this single peak stayed above the surface. A couple of boats, both big and small, were berthed at the dock, and she could only assume most of them belonged to the resort’s customers.

  I’ll need to go boating here some time, Veronica thought. Of course, I’d need a boat first…or maybe they do day cruises? I’ll have to ask.

  Turning her attention away from the lake, she took in the embellishments of the resort itself. Most of the decorations outside involved stars and the moon in various patterns, although none of them were in constellations Veronica recognized. They probably wanted to match the décor of the resort with its name with the decorations without detracting too much from the natural starlight seen at night.

  Never had Veronica been within a mile of a place like this, let alone hired by a resort this high-end and fancy. Being a bit far off from the town of Meloda, Ohio, The Starlight Resort got its name from the wonderfully visible night sky one could see from the top of Dry Point Mountain. There was absolutely no light pollution, and each and every star and constellation was clear to see. The nights when there was a full moon were especially beautiful.

  But it wasn’t just the nighttime view that appealed to vacationers. In addition to the hotel rooms, luxury swimming pool, and extravagant restaurant, there was also a hair salon, full-service spa, sauna, massage, fitness rooms, wedding services, conference rooms, a nightclub, ski lessons during wintertime, and an elaborate arcade room for younger clients. The building’s small size betrayed the amount of activities available.

  And that’s not including anything they might do with the lake, she thought. She spotted a large cabin cruiser out on the water and cocked her head in interest. Again, day cruise. Got to do it sometime, but I’ve got other things to think about now.

  “It’s going to be okay, Chef,” Veronica’s Executive Sous Chef, Sakura, reassured her. Veronica looked at the young Japanese woman as she parked another van, carrying both cooks and cooking ingredients. “This is going to be great!”

  “I sure hope so,” Veronica said. “Imagine how great this could be for the restaurant if this catering job goes well! I just hope I don’t screw up.”

  “Relax, Veronica,” Sakura replied. She opened her arms wide to gesture to include their cook Hannah as they started unloading the van. “We’ve got your back.”

  “I wouldn’t want anyone else.” Veronica’s smile was still a little strained as she grabbed a box of ingredients and helped them carry it to the back entrance of the resort. “This is just a big deal. We haven’t done anything but small gatherings and birthday parties before now. This gig is a whole other league!”

  “That’s been bugging me actually,” Sakura admitted. “This place has a five-star rating, right?”

  Veronica entered the resort’s back door, leading to a storage area, and put down the box. “That’s what all the websites said, yeah.”

  “And it has its own restaurant, right?” Sakura set down the box she carried before following her back outside.

  “Right.”

  “So why would a place like this need a catering service brought to it?”

  “I wondered the same thing, but apparently the resort’s doing it as a special request for a regular customer,” the Executive Chef explained. “Do you know the Buckners?”

  “Yeah…well, I know of them. I’ve never actually met them.” Sakura answered. “They’re big in the hospital business. Most of them are doctors, aren’t they?”

  “That’s right. They frequently vacation here,” Veronica described as they arrived at the van. “But apparently they have some special food needs, and they are never satisfied with the resort’s restaurant service. Martin Buckner called me so we can cook for them instead.”

  “Ouch. I bet that’s a blow to the resort’s pride,” Sakura joked. “At least, it doesn’t seem to affect their five-star rating.”

  “Lucky for us the Starlight Resort is willing to let us cook here.” Veronica passed a box to another cook before grabbing one for herself. “But that’s why I’m so nervous! The Buckners are famous around town. If something goes wrong and they tell everyone they know, it could really…”

  “Sink the ship?”

  Veronica chuckled. “I didn’t want to make a pun like that for a seafood restaurant.”

  “Too late! I already did!” Sakura teased. “What have you always told me about the self-fulfilling prophecy?”

  “…Don’t make a guess that something bad will happen, because then it will,” she recited her words. “Think of something positive instead.”

  “That’s what you told me when we first met, remember?” Sakura asked.

  “When you lost in the cooking contest at the town fair because you prepared an unusual dish?” Veronica recalled. “And I was the only judge who thought it was any good?”

  “Oh thanks for rubbing it in,” Sakura pouted as she dropped the box on top of another. “Hey, I only graduated culinary school a year before that! I was still in training!”

  “I know. Why else do you think I convinced my last boss to hire you?” Veronica informed her. “I admired you for taking that risk.”

  “And that’s why you still put up with me today,” the younger woman stated with a sarcastic grin.

  “Sometimes I wonder why.” Veronica put down the box and glanced around. Most of the supplies had been moved out of the van and into the storage area. “Okay, so some of these things need to be put in a cooler, but make sure we keep our stuff separate from the resorts. And I don’t want anyone taking their ingredients either. Everything we need we have already prepared at the restaurant. We need to stay on these guys’ good side, okay?”

  There was a round of agreement and understanding, and Veronica turned to Sakura.

  “Let’s find the manager. I need to let him know we’ve arrived.”

  The two chefs left the storage area, entering through the door labeled as the main entrance to the resort. They came into the lobby, and Veronica took in their surroundings.

  If the outside of the resort was impressive, the inside was even more so. A huge, sparkling chandelier hung from the ceiling, reflecting off every shiny surface around. The floor was perfectly polished, and everything from the front counter to the small tables between the plush couches was impeccably clean. Flowers decorated the front counter, and an elaborate stone fireplace was lit, giving the huge room a cozy atmosphere.

  Sakura whistled. “Well, that might be part of the reason they have a five-star rating.”

  Veronica watched as a middle-aged man in a suit walked over to them. He stood with a stiff back, and his stride was long and purposeful. He smoothed down the front of his dark black suit and tie as he approached them. Veronica noticed that the very top of his hair was just a shade of brown off from the rest of his head, and she wondered if he wore a toupee of some kind. If he did, it wasn’t a perfect match to his natural color, which was strange considering this man clearly spent a lot of time and money on his otherwise flawless appearance.

  Sakura must have noticed as well since she put a hand up to her mouth to hide her giggle. Veronica gently elbowed her, and Sakura forced the laughter off her face.

  “Good day. You must be Miss Veronica Koche,” the man greeted, sticking his hand out for her to shake. “My name is Sandro Hoffstad. I’m the manager he
re at Starlight Resort.”

  “Nice to meet you, Mister Hoffstad,” Veronica returned the salutation, trying to be as polite as he was. “Thank you for agreeing to let us cater to your customers.”

  “The Buckners are long-time clients of ours,” Sandro explained. “And I’m sorry we have not been able to fit their nutrition needs and desires. This is the least we can do.”

  “Either way, we’re both grateful,” Veronica added. “My team has brought our ingredients, so we shouldn’t need anything from your stores. We're bringing everything in right now. Would you please show me the kitchen where we will be working?”

  “Is that why you came that way?” Sandro inquired as he turned and started walking away. “I was waiting by the front doors. I expected you to come that way.”

  “Sorry. I didn’t know you were waiting for us.” Veronica and Sakura had to jog a bit to keep up with the man’s long strides. “I thought it would be best if we didn’t get in the way of the paying customers. I figured we should be neither seen nor heard.”

  “That is appreciated. The kitchen is this way.”

  He led the two women to the restaurant, which was just as elegant as the rest of the resort. The tables were covered with what appeared to be white silk tablecloths while the tables themselves were made of some polished mahogany. The wood on the chairs was deep red in color with even brighter and plusher cushions on the bottom and back. Metal carvings of eagles and lions lined the tables and the corners of the chairs, almost like gargoyles.

  Above each table was a bright lamp in refined black and white swirls. The table settings had multiple forks, spoons, and knives, which Veronica herself set up at her restaurant, although she didn’t have a problem when someone used the wrong utensil for the wrong dish. Unlike her former employer, who was a bit of a snob, she never criticized a customer for not knowing that sort of etiquette. Many did not.

  “Now this is fancy,” Sakura said with another whistle. “I bet I’d have to pay an arm and a leg to eat at a place like this.”

  “The Starlight Resort prides itself on sophisticated but affordable service and recreation,” Sandro said professionally. “The kitchen is in the back.”

  “Thank you,” Veronica replied. “I would like to become familiar with the area so we can be just as efficient as if we were cooking in our kitchen.”

  “That’s reasonable; I simply have one request.” Sandro looked intently at the two chefs. “This restaurant will be open during the hours you are catering to the Buckners. We’re fortunate enough to have a kitchen that can accommodate two teams of cooks, but please do your best to stay out of our way. They will be working as diligently as you will.”

  “Trust me, Mr. Hoffstad,” Veronica proclaimed. “None of us mean to distract or sabotage a fellow chef. We’ll do our best.”

  “See that you do.”

  Sandro turned and left the kitchen, leaving the two women alone in the room. Sakura watched him go with a perplexed expression.

  “What’s his problem?”

  “He’s the manager of a hugely successful resort,” Veronica reminded her. “He’s probably under a lot of pressure to make sure everything’s perfect for everyone. Wouldn’t you be stressed out too?”

  “I guess so when you put it that way. You feel that stress already, don't you?”

  “You have no idea.”

  Please click here to read the rest of Murder at Starlight Resort

  Other Books by Liz Turner:

  Clean Mystery & Suspense Romance Books:

  Her Bodyguard - The SEAL

  A SEAL To Watch Over Me

  A SEAL's Redemption

  Protected By A SEAL

  A Father's Duty - A SEAL's Protection

  SEAL's for Protection - 5 Book Box Set