A Food and Wine Club Mystery Boxset Books 1 through 5

by Cat Chandler

  “Well?”

  Nicki blinked at him. “Well what?”

  Jenna coughed loudly from behind her. “As absorbing as this conversation is, I have things I need to do in the kitchen.”

  “I’ll help you, dear.” Maxie pushed herself off the sofa and crossed over to the doorway, sliding past Matt before latching onto Suzanne’s arm and pulling her out of sight.

  Jenna was close to Matt’s height, so she just stood nose-to-nose with him until he moved aside. Nicki’s good friend turned her head and winked before also vanishing down the hallway.

  Nicki put her hands on her hips and shook her head. “You didn’t even say hello to Jenna or Maxie. That was rude, Matt.”

  “So is not answering my calls.”

  “I’m sorry. Did you have an urgent assignment for me that you failed to mention in your voice mails?”

  “No.”

  Nicki shrugged. “Then there isn’t any reason for my editor to be so impatient.”

  Matt’s eyes narrowed. “How about being rude to a friend?”

  “Now that I am sorry about.” Nicki smiled and held out her hand. “But you should have told me you were coming. I have voice mail, too, you know. Truce?”

  “It depends.” Matt’s eyes shifted to the large whiteboard on the opposite wall. “What’s that?”

  “Oh, that?” Nicki waved a negligent hand and bought herself a little time by walking back to her desk and getting settled into her chair. When Matt continued to stare at her in silence, she knew the jig was up and she might as well get the lecture she was sure would be coming, over with. “The strangest thing happened yesterday.”

  Matt’s arms crossed over his chest. “How strange?”

  “Jenna had an early morning meeting at Eddie’s Diner yesterday. I think you had a hamburger or two from there when you came to the world famous ‘Art & Wine Sell Off Festival’ here last month.”

  “It’s been over three months, Nicki, and keep talking. I haven’t heard anything strange yet.” He pinned her with a hard look. “And I’m hoping it doesn’t involve any dead bodies.”

  “No, it doesn’t involve dead bodies.”

  Matt’s shoulders started to relax. “Then what does it involve?”

  Nicki cleared her throat and squirmed in her chair for a moment. Her editor, and friend, was definitely not going to like this.

  “There was only one dead body.”

  “One dead….” Matt ran a hand through his thick dark hair, leaving several strands of it standing on end. “A dead body. Tell me you’re joking.”

  Nicki bit her lower lip and shook her head, wincing when Matt carefully unbuttoned his jacket and tossed it onto the sofa.

  “When had you planned on telling me about this dead body?”

  “When I had something concrete to talk to you about.” She nodded her head emphatically at his skeptical look. “Really.”

  “How about a name? Is that concrete enough?”

  Nicki sighed. Matt rarely got angry, but it was plain enough he was rapidly working his way in that direction. “Eddie Parker.”

  That brought her editor up short. “Not the Eddie? As in the owner of the diner?”

  “Eddie Parker, the Eddie of Eddie’s Burger Diner,” Nicki clarified. “And before you ask, I’m not the one who found him. Jenna did. He was one of her clients.”

  “Well that’s something, at least.”

  “Matt!” Nicki’s eyes narrowed and she leaned forward in her chair. “That’s not funny. It was horrible for Jenna, and she’s still upset about it. So is Maxie for that matter.”

  Matt pushed his hair off his forehead, sending two more tufts into an upright position. “I realize it isn’t funny. And I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I haven’t seen you for almost four months, but we’re talking every day so it’s going fine. And then suddenly we aren’t talking, and I knew. I just knew it had something to do with a murder.” He suddenly stopped the tirade he was building up steam on and frowned. “Wait a minute. Why is Maxie upset? Was she there too?”

  “No. But Chief Turnlow wants to question myMason about where he was the night of the murder.”

  The tall lanky editor’s jaw dropped to his chest. “What? Mason? He wants to question Mason? We are talking about the former chief of police, aren’t we? Mason Edwards?”

  “He’s the only husband Maxie has, as far as I know.” Nicki’s dry response was followed by several long moments of silence.

  “That is ridiculous.”

  Nicki smiled. “Which is what Jenna said, and what I’ve been telling Maxie.”

  “Great.” Matt sat on the sofa and threw one arm along its back. “What did Mason have to say to Chief Turnlow?”

  “Um. Nothing yet.” She shrugged when Matt tipped his head to one side. “He went fishing.”

  “Who? Mason or Chief Turnlow?” When Nicki didn’t bother to answer his feeble attempt at humor, he smiled. “Sorry. Okay. When did Mason leave for this trip?”

  “The morning after the murder.”

  “And how long had he been planning for this trip?”

  Nicki wrinkled her nose. “Maybe a day or so.”

  Matt was looking grimmer with each answer. “And when will he be back?”

  “Tomorrow, or maybe the day after. Maxie isn’t sure.”

  He groaned. “So he left on a sudden and not really pre-planned trip, the morning the body was found, and no one is sure when he’ll be back?”

  “Coincidence,” Nicki stated firmly.

  “Obviously. But one that needs explaining.” He rolled his eyes to the ceiling before glancing over at the murder board. “Why don’t you catch me up?”

  Two days later Matt was sitting at the counter of Eddie’s Burger Diner, his head in his hands. Jenna was sitting next to him, slightly hunched over and holding her midriff. Both of them looked a little pale.

  Nicki glanced at them through the pass-through into the kitchen where she was standing next to the stove along with Jake, the assistant manager. She turned her head so neither of them would see her smile. It seemed they’d finally had their fill of hamburgers, and then some.

  “We’ll have a couple more for you to try in a minute or two,” she called out, holding in her laughter at the clear sound of a double groan. She grinned at Alex who was sitting at the large prep table in back of her. “I think Matt is going to throw up.”

  Alex looked over at the two miserable individuals sitting at the counter and squinted as she studied their faces. “No. I think he’s going to do the gentlemanly thing and let Jenna go first.”

  “Too bad. He’s been working me into the ground on magazine business while we waited for the chief to let us back into the diner.”

  Alex lowered her voice. “Has myMason come home yet?”

  “Maxie’s expecting him tonight,” Nicki whispered. Alex nodded and went back to reading her magazine.

  “It won’t be a big deal. Chief Edwards didn’t do anything to Eddie.” Jake Garces, the assistant manager, was standing in front of the stove, keeping a close eye on the sizzling burgers. His dark eyes lit up with humor when he looked over at Nicki. “I think your two friends are in luck. These are cooking just the right way.” He flashed a smile that showed a set of brilliant white teeth. “I think you did it, Chef Connors.”

  “I’m not a chef, Jake. You’re the chef here.”

  The short dark-haired man ducked his head. “Not me. I’m only a line cook. You’re the one who went to that fancy culinary school in New York.”

  Since she had indeed attended a very fancy culinary school in New York, one of the best in the world, Nicki inclined her head at the compliment. “But I only cook for friends and family now, Jake. So I’m not really a chef anymore.”

  “But you will be,” he insisted. “Mrs. Suzanne told me that you’re going to be giving cooking classes soon. I wish I could come. I’d like to learn some of that fancy cooking.” He flipped over one burger, and then the other two next to it. “But I’ll need to
be looking for a job first.” He nodded. “I appreciate you and Maxie wanting to keep this place open for a while. It will help us all out. But you can’t do that forever.”

  Unfortunately, that was true enough. Nicki wished she could help out more than the few weeks it might take for Chief Turnlow to track down the next of kin and get him here. That is if Roberta was correct about Eddie having a nephew. But at least there was one little thing she could do for the friendly assistant manager.

  “You come to the classes, Jake. There won’t be any charge.” She shook her head at his instant protest. “It means a lot to my friends to keep the diner going for a while, and it couldn’t have been done without your help in figuring out what Eddie put into his burger mix.”

  Jake beamed at her. “Thank you. I was happy to help. And to watch how you did all those different mixtures of meat and spices until you got it just right.” He pointed his spatula at the stove. “And those are just right. I know it.”

  Nicki leaned closer and dropped her voice. “I hope so. I think our two taste testers are about to keel over.”

  Jake laughed and slid the burgers onto buns. He held out the two plates to Alex. “These are ready.”

  Alex grinned as she juggled the plates. “They could taste like dog food and those two would swear they’re exactly like Eddie’s to get out of eating any more hamburgers.” Her grin grew even wider. “This should cure Jenna of her hamburger habit.”

  Even though she doubted that very much, Nicki nodded anyway, and watched as the doctor triumphantly swept out the kitchen door, a plate with a huge hamburger on top in either hand. While Alex delivered the next offering to their long-suffering test subjects, Nicki stood quietly and watched Jake scrape his spatula back and forth over the large flat-topped grill. Her gaze wandered over to the freezer, its door closed, its smooth metal surface giving no sign of being the scene of a murder. But it did remind her of something

  “Jake, did Eddie have a cell phone?”

  The assistant manager glanced over his shoulder. “Yeah. He kept everything on there. All his phone numbers, his bank passwords and anything else he didn’t want to memorize. But he was always forgetting to put it back into his pocket after he’d used it to call someone or look something up, so he was always forgetting to bring it with him here, or leaving it here when he went home.”

  “Do you remember if he’d left it at home the day he was murdered?”

  The cook at Eddie’s Diner for more than a decade closed his eyes for a long moment. “I think he did. He made a crack about not knowing if his appointment after work would cancel or not, because he’d left his cell at home. Why?”

  “We didn’t find one here.” Or at the apartment as far as she knew. She’d have to remember to ask Chief Turnlow about that. “Jake, do you remember ever seeing a jacket that was a gold-ish color with red trim around the neck and sleeves?”

  He grinned at her. “A gold jacket with red trim? Why do you ask?”

  “It was hanging in the freezer, and I was wondering who it belonged to. I know that isn’t much to go on, but I thought you might remember it.”

  “Not much to go on?” Jake laughed until he was almost bent over double.

  “What’s the joke?” Matt walked into the kitchen, holding his sides. He gave Nicki a weak smile. “We decided that last one was a perfect match to an Eddie’s burger.”

  “Did you?” Nicki glanced toward the pass-through. “Where’s Jenna?”

  Matt plopped onto the stool Alex had vacated and propped his head up with one hand. “She had to go to the ladies’ room.”

  “Okay,” Nicki said cheerfully. Poor Matt was gradually turning a lovely shade of green.

  “So what’s the joke?” Matt repeated. He gritted his teeth and barely managed to stifle a moan.

  Jake’s eyes fairly danced with suppressed laughter. “Nicki wants to know if I’ve ever seen a jacket that was gold with red trim.”

  Even despite what must have been the continual protest of his stomach, Matt managed a grin. “Did it happen to have anything on it?”

  “Like what?” Nicki frowned at both of them.

  “Like a football,” Jake said while Matt nodded. “Those are the colors of San Francisco’s football team.”

  “The 49ers,” Matt put in. “Ever heard of them?”

  “Kind of.” Nicki rolled her eyes at Matt before returning her gaze to Jake. “I’m from New York, and I don’t like football.

  Jake’s horrified look was met by a nod from Matt. “She really doesn’t. You’ll have to overlook that. She has a lot of other great qualities.”

  Ignoring them both, along with the whole subject of football, Nicki kept her stare on Jake. “Do you know who owns that jacket?”

  “It was Eddie’s. He wore it all the time. He was a big fan. Even bought tickets to go to one of their games occasionally.”

  “But not often?” Nicki asked.

  Jake shrugged. “They were expensive. Eddie didn’t like to spend money.”

  So I’ve heard. Nicki pondered the jacket for a minute. “Did he always keep it in the freezer?”

  Jake’s eyes flew open. “He never kept it in there. He always hung it on a hook in his office.” He glanced from Nicki to Matt and back again. “Why are you asking me this?”

  “Just something else that’s curious about this whole thing.”

  Alex walked in, holding a plastic trashcan in one hand. “Maxie wanted to let you know that those two stamp collectors have pulled into the parking lot.”

  Nicki pointed to her hand. “What are you doing with that?”

  “I’m going to escort your very macho editor to the bathroom, and this,” she held the trashcan up, “this is to be sure he doesn’t make a mess along the way.”

  Matt gingerly slid off his stool, one hand splayed out across his stomach. “Don’t do any interrogating until I get back.”

  Nicki gave him a jaunty salute as he hobbled out the door, leaning on Alex.

  Chapter Sixty

  Nicki was still drying her hands on a dishtowel when two men strolled through the front door. She set the damp towel on the counter and smiled a greeting. Sam and Ben had the same medium height, the same slender builds and nearly identical light-brown hair and brown eyes, and both looked to be on the far side of middle-aged. At a quick glance, they could have been twins, or at least brothers.

  “I’m Sam. Sam Moore. And you must be Nicki?”

  The man in the red cardigan sweater crossed the room with his hand held out. Nicki took it for a brief, friendly handshake.

  “I am. Nicki Connors, Mr. Moore, and it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  The man’s slightly crooked front teeth only added to the charm of his smile. “Please, call me Sam, since I have every intention of calling you Nicki. Small town residents never stand on ceremony.” He turned and clamped a hand on the shoulder of the man standing behind him, pulling him forward. “And this shy fellow is Ben Caulkin. He always gets tongue-tied around beautiful women.”

  Nicki laughed at the compliment and held her hand out to Ben. He also wore a sweater, only his was a much more conservative, dark-green pullover, and his eyes were a pinch deeper shade of brown than his friend Sam’s. He shook Nicki’s hand for a full five seconds, keeping his gaze on the ground the whole time. Not wanting to make him any more uncomfortable than he already seemed to be, Nicki turned back to Sam.

  “I’m glad you could meet us here at Eddie’s today.”

  Sam’s smile widened. “No one in the entire county would dare ignore a request from Maxie Edwards.” He winked at her. “Or should I say a command?”

  “Sam, be polite. Maxie’s a good friend,” Ben protested. He raised his eyes and looked at his fellow companion. “And so was Eddie.” He nodded at Nicki. “We’re happy to help any way that we can.”

  Sam added his nod then shifted his gaze to somewhere over Nicki’s shoulder. “Well, hello? Who is this?”

  Nicki looked around at Matt, who was slowly wa
lking toward them. While he was missing the usual spring in his step, she was happy to see that his face no longer showed any tint of green.

  “Feeling better?” she asked when he came to a stop beside her.

  “I may never eat another hamburger again. I’m supposed to tell you that Alex took Jenna outside for some fresh air.” Matt glanced over at the two men and held out his hand. “Hi. I’m Matt Dillon.”

  “Ah.” Sam shook Matt’s hand as he looked between the tall editor and Nicki. “As in the TV character from Gunsmoke?”

  “My mom was a big fan.”

  Sam laughed and nudged Ben in the side. “So, which one is he? The always absent boyfriend or the better choice one?”

  Nicki leaned her head back and closed her eyes. She refused to meet the annoyed stare she was sure Matt was sending her way.

  “I’m the editor for Food & Wine Online.”

  Matt didn’t sound offended, so Nicki opened her eyes to find him grinning at her.

  “And the better choice,” he added with a wink.

  “So everyone says.” Sam crossed his arms and gave Matt a quizzical look. “What’s your holdup in making it clear to the absentee one that his attentions are no longer needed?”

  “Sam, you’re embarrassing her.”

  Nicki certainly welcomed Ben’s defense, especially since her face was radiating enough heat to tell her it was probably a fire-engine red. She gave Matt a jab with her elbow.

  “Behave, or I’ll have to send you home.” She narrowed her eyes. “To Kansas City.” She looked at Sam. “Where he lives. We did have a reason for asking you to meet us here. Are you able to answer a few questions about Eddie?”

  “Of course,” Sam said as Ben added his nod. “Maxie told us you’d jumped in to help find his killer, and we’re both happy to help. Isn’t that right, Ben?”

  “Yes, we certainly are. What can we tell you?”

  Nicki pursed her lips and considered where to start, settling on the subject they’d know the most about. “I saw his stamp collection in his apartment. Did he ever show it to you?”

  Sam waved a hand back and forth. “Oh certainly. Ben and I are collectors as well, and we met with Eddie regularly to discuss stamps and show off our most prized ones.”