by Cindy Bell
“Sure, come on in.” She unlocked the door and allowed Georgina to step in behind her before she locked it again. “It’ll take me a few minutes to get it ready.”
“No problem, I love the smell of coffee brewing.” She settled at one of the small tables and pulled out her phone.
“Did you want some macarons, too?”
“I’d better not. I’ve already been told I need to slim down for the show.” She sighed. “I’m a chef, am I not supposed to enjoy the food I make?”
“Yes, that seems a little crazy to me.” Lucy smiled. “Besides, you look gorgeous.”
“Well, thank you. I just hope the viewing public will think so, too.”
“I’m sure they will.” Lucy went through the process of starting the coffee then began the opening procedures. By the time the register was ready, the coffee was done. She poured Georgina a mug and carried it over to her. “I imagine you are excited about the show.”
“So very excited.” She grinned. “What’s not to like about my future exploding in front of my eyes? It’s amazing. I never thought I would be so lucky.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks. I only wish that Hugo was here to see it. That would certainly shut him up, wouldn’t it?”
“I guess.” Lucy lingered by the table. “But wasn’t he the one that was going to star in this show?”
“Yes, he was. But obviously, after what happened, they needed a replacement. You know what they say, silver lining.”
Lucy bit her tongue and chose not to mention that there was no silver lining for Hugo. It surprised her a little that Georgina was so calm about the murder.
“It’s good that you have this to distract you. I have to admit I’m still pretty shaken up over everything,” Lucy said.
“Me too.” Georgina nodded.
“It’s scary to think that a murder took place in the same building where you were.”
“Where we all were.”
“Yes, you’re right,” Lucy said. “I mean, it could have been any of us really.”
“No, it couldn’t have.” Georgina shook her head, then sipped her coffee.
“You don’t think so?”
“No, of course not. Hugo made someone angry. Or he had it coming for some other reason. The rest of us are all normal people, we don’t have enemies, we don’t make people so angry that they snap. So no, I don’t think it could have been any of us. Someone targeted Hugo, I don’t doubt that at all.”
“But who? I mean he wasn’t the kindest man, I get that, but murder?”
“I think you’re dwelling on this too much. It’s the detective’s job to figure it out, not ours,” Georgina said as she walked towards the door.
“I understand.” Lucy turned towards the back.
Georgina frowned and walked back towards the counter. “Lucy?”
“Yes?” She turned back to look at her.
“Do you want to know what Hugo was really like? When the cameras were off, and no adoring fans were around?”
“Sure.” Lucy walked back towards her.
“Here. I’ll let you see something that I wasn’t going to share with anyone. But I think you need to view it, maybe it will give you some peace of mind and help you to let all of this go,” Georgina said.
“Okay.” Lucy quirked a brow and sat down in the chair beside her. Georgina held up her cell phone so that Lucy had a clear view of it, then pressed play. A video sprang to life. Lucy recognized Hugo right away, but it took her a moment to realize who the other person was. “That’s Sophia.”
“Yes, it is. This was our first meeting about the celebrity classes she wanted to host. Can you hear it?” She pushed the button on the side of her phone to turn the volume up. Lucy’s stomach twisted as she heard the abusive language that poured out of Hugo’s mouth.
“You’re not going to tell me how to run my class, understand me? You’re nothing but a washed up wanna-be, and you should be grateful that I even agreed to do this.”
“Hugo, there’s no need to get so upset. I’m just asking that you not use the class as a sales pitch for your dessert sauces.”
“Why not? Are you afraid that will stop them from buying your pathetic attempt at sauces?” He laughed, a high-pitched inciting laugh, that made Lucy’s skin crawl and she wasn’t even in the same room. “Give it up, you’re never going to be anything more than you are right this second. The only reason you’re still going to have a cooking school is because I bothered to show up.”
“Keep quiet!” Sophia shrieked and slammed her hands down against the table in front of her. “You don’t get to just push people around like this! You don’t!” She slammed her hands again. The video cut off.
“That’s when I stepped in, because I thought Sophia and Hugo were about to get into a fist fight.”
“Wow.” Lucy stared at the final frame on the screen which displayed Sophia’s infuriated expression. “Did you show this to the police?”
“No.” She turned the phone off. “And I don’t intend to. I don’t like to get involved in things like that.”
“Still, I think this is some clear evidence.”
“Lucy, I know that you mean well, but honestly the less contact you have with the police, is always for the better. If you start saying too much, they start looking at you like a suspect. Besides, Sophia is a sweetheart, I’m sure she had nothing to do with this. She’s not the only person that Hugo has pushed to the edge, that’s for sure. You should have seen Lauren’s epic meltdown at the last contest he judged. Not that it wasn’t warranted. Look, I’ve said too much again. Anyway, thanks for the coffee. I’d better get to hair and make-up before they decide I’m too old to improve.”
“I’m sure they wouldn’t say that.” She smiled at her. “You’re beautiful, Georgina.”
“Thanks. How much for the coffee?”
“Just enjoy it.” Lucy refocused on opening the patisserie, and within minutes the first rush of customers came in. Even in the chaos of pouring coffee, boxing macarons, and ringing up orders, the memory of the video plagued her. It was evidence that Sophia could certainly get that angry. When it quietened down she checked her phone again to see if Annaliese had texted her back. With no new messages, she grew uneasy. Was it because her suspicions were unfounded? Another rush of customers pushed the concern from her mind. By the time her mother came to take over the afternoon shift, she’d replayed the video in her mind hundreds of times.
“Hi sweetie.” Jacqueline entered with a flourish, and promptly placed a brand new Bonsai tree in the middle of the counter. “Something to bring us luck.”
“Wow, it’s great, Mom.” Lucy smiled as she looked at the tree. “Do you know how to take care of it?”
“I watched a few videos, but it might take a little more than that.” She pulled on an apron and glanced around. “How was the morning?”
“I know it’s a mess, sorry. It was very busy, plus I’ve been a little distracted.”
“Don’t worry about it, we can get it tidied up in no time. What’s bothering you?”
“Mom, your intuition…”
“Is nowhere near as strong as yours, remember?”
“I don’t know about that, but do you ever feel pulled in two different directions? Sometimes I just know things, and there’s no question, but lately, I feel like I’m spinning around in circles.”
“We don’t always know things so clearly, especially if there is a friend or family member involved, that can make things cloudy. Also, if the subject matter is something you have strong feelings about, that can make it difficult to see clearly as well. Do you want to tell me what it’s about?”
“My instincts are telling me one thing, but all of the evidence that’s piling up is telling me another, and the worst part is my instincts aren’t giving me an actual answer.”
“So you know who you don’t suspect, but you don’t know who you do suspect.” Jacqueline smiled. “Is that it?”
“That’s it.” Luc
y sighed and wiped a sponge across the counter to mop up some coffee that spilled. “I guess I’d feel a bit more confident if I had any clue who did this to Hugo.”
“Maybe you’re not meant to know, honey. You’re not going to get the answers to everything.”
“But the visions, and the dreams.” Lucy swallowed hard. “They’re so intense. Why would I be having them if I wasn’t meant to know something?”
“Sometimes dreams happen because our emotions are in upheaval, they’re not always messages.”
“Yes, I know that, but this doesn’t feel like that.”
“Well, only you can decide what to trust and what not to. However, you do have to be careful. It’s very easy to slip from intuition to obsession.”
“Is that what you think has happened?” She cringed. “Maybe it is.”
“Are the police any closer to having a suspect?”
“Possibly. I don’t know for sure. I don’t want to bother them too much. Annaliese is kind to me, but I don’t want to get her in trouble by asking too many questions.”
“And her brother?”
“What about him?”
“I hear you had a date with him last night.”
“How did you hear that?” She gasped. “Ugh, it was Chantelle wasn’t it? And it wasn’t a date!”
“Dinner at a restaurant, it’s a date.”
“No, we specifically went as friends. Honestly, I’d really rather not talk about it.”
“Hmm, that might be a problem.”
“Mom, you can’t expect to know every little detail of my life. If there was anything to tell, I would.”
“Lucy.”
“Mom, seriously, it was absolutely mortifying. In fact I butt-dialed him.”
“Well, that explains a lot.”
Lucy froze at the sound of a familiar voice just behind her. Then she slowly turned to face Jack.
“Hi.”
“Hi.” He smiled. She couldn’t bring herself to smile in return.
“So you didn’t delete the message?”
“I’m sorry, I know I said I would. But I needed to listen to a new message and it started playing first and after how quickly you left yesterday, I was curious. So I listened to it, all of it.”
“All of it.” She closed her eyes as her cheeks burned. “Great.”
“It was very entertaining.” He rested his hand on the counter not far from hers. “Nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“Seriously?” She looked at him. “Maybe you didn’t hear the whole thing.”
“Oh, I think I did.” He leaned a little closer with a smile that spread even further across his face. “You’d better not kiss me, all right?”
“Oh no!”
“On a first date, Lucy? Really? I thought I taught you better than that!”
“Mom!” She looked over at her with wide eyes. Only Jack’s laughter broke the tension.
“I’m sorry, I’m just having some fun. Really, it was no big deal, Lucy.”
“Yes, it was.” She shook her head. “You must think I’m a complete fool.”
“No, I don’t think that at all. Actually, if you have a minute to talk, I would appreciate it.”
“Sure, go ahead.” Jacqueline wagged a finger at her. “But behave yourself.”
“Stop!” Lucy rolled her eyes as she stepped around the counter.
She led him to one of the tables near the front window, then paused beside it.
“I really want to apologize for that message.”
“Lucy, please forget about it. It’s nothing to worry about. But I am here for a reason.”
“Okay, what is it?”
He pulled out a chair for her, then sat down across from her. “I mentioned to Annaliese what we talked about last night. She couldn’t tell me much about the case. But it’s been on my mind.”
“Mine too. I can’t be absolutely certain, but I think that Sophia was wearing different clothes when she found Hugo.”
“Have you told Annaliese?”
“No.”
“Lucy?” He looked into her eyes. “Why? You have important information, that might help the case.”
“I’m certain that Annaliese already knows about the clothes. Even if she doesn’t, I don’t want to accuse Sophia without solid proof.”
“If you suspect that Sophia changed her clothes, then I think that means she is a pretty solid suspect.”
“Sure she is, which is the problem.”
“Why?” He shook his head.
“Because she just doesn’t strike me as a killer.”
“Oh.” He tapped his fingers on the table. “Perhaps she hides it well. Some people seem calm on the surface, but underneath they have a strong temper.”
“Yes. Maybe she does.” She bit into her lip as she recalled the video. “So do you think they are going to arrest her?”
“I don’t know. I have no idea what evidence they have, and whether it’s enough to make an arrest. But I do think you should consider telling Annaliese what you suspect.”
“Maybe. I think I want to talk to Sophia first.”
“Be careful, Lucy. If she is a killer, you could be in danger.”
“Don’t worry, if I’m in danger I’ll know it, right?” She winked at him. He frowned.
“If you reveal your suspicions she could panic.”
“Maybe there’s some kind of reasonable explanation for it, but I’m not sure what it would be.”
“I’m not either.” He tried to meet her eyes. She made a point of avoiding his gaze. “Think about talking to Annaliese.”
“I will. Thanks Jack. Thanks for coming by.”
“I’ll let you know if I hear anything.”
“Okay.” She stood up as he did, and walked him to the door. As he left she tried not to think about what she’d said on that message. If he was still willing to talk to her then she guessed it wasn’t as bad as she thought. Still, it revealed a side of her that she preferred to keep to herself.
“What’s happened?” Jacqueline touched her cheek. “You’re so pale.”
“I think I might have information that might make Sophia the main suspect in Hugo’s death.”
“Sophia? I know there were reasons all along to believe that it was her, but it’s still surprising to me.”
“Honestly, it is to me, too.” Lucy frowned. “Something just doesn’t feel right.”
“It’s never easy to suspect someone you know.”
“I guess.”
“Why don’t you head home? I can finish up here this afternoon.”
“Are you sure? What if it gets busy?”
“Your dad is coming by later to help me with moving some things around. If I need help, he’ll be here.”
“Okay. Thanks Mom.”
“Try to take it easy, sweetheart. Times like these can be so draining.”
“Yes they can.” She hugged her mother, then gathered her things.
Chapter 12
As Lucy left the patisserie and got into the car she intended to drive straight home, but when it was time to turn left, she turned right instead. She’d been to Sophia’s home a few times to help with charity events and to bring supplies to and from the school. She told herself that she’d just drive by, just to see if she was there. However, when she saw her car in the driveway, she couldn’t resist. She parked behind it, and walked up to the door. As she knocked, she tried to think of the best way to ask her about her clothing, without it seeming as if she suspected her. Sophia opened the door and the moment that Lucy met her eyes, guilt flooded through her. This was a woman she considered to be a friend. Did she really suspect her of murder?
“Lucy, it’s so good to see you. Come in, please. Are you okay?” She frowned as Lucy stepped past her. “You look a bit upset.”
“I’m okay.” Lucy managed a smile. “Could we talk for a minute?”
“Sure.”
“I wanted to show you the picture that Chantelle took. I know you said you might want it
for the school brochure.”
“Oh yes, I forgot all about that.” Sophia sighed as she sat down on the couch and patted the seat next to her. “Let’s take a look.”
Lucy sat on the edge of the couch and pulled up the picture. She held it out for Sophia to see.
“I remember thinking what a beautiful blouse you had on.”
“Yes, it’s one of my favorites.”
“Would you mind if I got another picture of it? I’d love to try to find the same shade for a dress for myself, but this picture is a little too shadowed to do it justice.”
“Oh, no.” Sophia shook her head.
“No?” Lucy’s body tensed.
“I’m afraid I ruined it. Towards the end of the day I made myself a cup of coffee to try to give myself a boost and instead of drinking it I spilled it all over my blouse. Luckily, I had a change of clothes stowed at the school. You know in case of cooking accidents.” She laughed.
Lucy tried to keep a straight face as her mind spun. “So what did you do with the blouse?”
“I threw it away. I was so upset I didn’t even want to think about it anymore.”
“You didn’t consider taking it to the cleaners?”
“No.” She quirked a brow. “I didn’t think there was much hope for getting the stains out. I was covered head to toe, I even threw out my pants. Why are you so interested in my blouse?”
“I’m sorry, it was just so pretty on you.”
“I’m sure I can find something similar. To be honest, I’m kind of glad it’s gone.”
“Why?”
“It would remind me of the day Hugo was murdered and I would probably remember what happened to Hugo every time I put it on. In fact, I don’t think I want to use the picture for the brochure. I would honestly rather you delete it.”
“Oh, okay.” Lucy narrowed her eyes. “I should probably be going.”
“Lucy, are you sure you’re okay?” She reached out and touched her forehead in a motherly gesture. “You seem ill.”
“I’m all right, thanks.” Lucy stood up.
“Don’t forget, delete that picture. I’d rather not see it hanging on the wall in the shop.”
“Okay, I will.” She studied Sophia for a moment. “If you need to talk, you know how to reach me.”