Murder at the Gallery: A Northwest Cozy Mystery (Northwest Cozy Mystery Series Book 6)

by Dianne Harman

  When they were almost finished eating, Susie discreetly closed the sliding doors, and DeeDee knew she was cleaning up in the kitchen.

  “I’ll get out of your way,” Susie said, when they were done and she had cleared the plates away. “Dessert’s in the refrigerator. Good night.”

  “Thanks, Susie,” DeeDee said, smiling. “Tonight was perfect.” She looked across at Jake. “And thank you. Let’s get married sooner rather than later.”

  Jake’s face turned serious. “I’d like that too,” he said. “But first, there’s something I need to run past you.”

  DeeDee grew solemn too, while Jake told her what was on his mind. “A good friend of mine, Alex, who served in the Marines with me, has asked a favor of me. He’s a private investigator, and he wants me to help him out in his business for a while. I wanted to talk to you about it before I gave him my answer.”

  “I don’t see any problem with that,” DeeDee said, “if that’s what you want.”

  “It’s not that simple. Alex lives on the East coast, in Connecticut. His wife is terminally ill with cancer. He has three young kids, and he wants to be there for them as well as take care of his wife. It would mean that we’d leave Bainbridge Island and go there to live. No one can say how long his wife’s got. The doctors have told him it could be weeks, or maybe months.”

  DeeDee sat in silence while she thought about this turn of events. She looked over at Jake, his earnest face eager for her response. The answer came to her quickly, without any angst or doubt crossing her mind. “Of course we have to go,” she said, knowing that Jake would never desert a friend in need. “But what about your business here on Bainbridge Island?”

  Jake’s face broke into smile. “I’ve thought about that. I think I know someone who might be able to cover for me. I haven’t asked him yet, because I wanted to talk this over with you first.”

  DeeDee giggled. The champagne had gone to her head. “Do I know this person? Is it—”

  Jake nodded.

  “Al De Duco,” they said in unison.

  “I think he just might do it,” DeeDee said. “What a genius idea.”

  Jake hesitated. “What about Deelish? I don’t want your business to suffer as a result of this either.”

  “That’s easy,” DeeDee said. “Susie is more than capable of looking after Deelish while we’re gone. I’ll ask her tomorrow, but I’m sure it won’t be a problem.”

  She raised her glass once more to Jake. “To us. I can’t wait to be DeeDee Rogers.”

  EPILOGUE

  The tinkle of a bell sounded above his head as Colin James pushed open the heavy door of the Germain Plein Air Art Gallery in Pioneer Square. It was a sunny afternoon, and after his regular visit to The Daily Grind, Colin had just been to his third session with the relationship psychologist his friend Ben had told him about, and whose office was downtown.

  He looked around for a few minutes before a young woman greeted him. “May I help you, sir, or are you just browsing today?”

  Colin turned to the woman and smiled. He remembered what the psychologist had said about him needing to open the lines of communication with women he met. A smile was as good an opener as any. He wasn’t intending to flirt with the woman. He was just doing the homework June, his psychologist, had given him. He had to speak to a new woman every day, even if it was just to ask directions or talk about the weather.

  “It’s a lovely day, isn’t it?” Colin said, and the woman looked at him strangely. When he’d first glanced at her, he’d thought she was plain-looking, but there was something attractive about her that he couldn’t quite put his finger on. Maybe it was her green eyes, or her rosebud lips. Whatever it was, he found himself wanting more time to find out.

  “Feel free to browse. Let me know if you need anything,” the woman said. “I’m Renee, and I’ll be in the office.” She nodded towards a fabric panel at the back of the gallery.

  “I’m Colin,” he said, not wanting her to go. “I heard the owner of this gallery died a little while ago. I was sorry to hear that, as I’ve bought several pieces from him in the past. He was always very helpful.”

  “That’s right,” Renee said. “It was a terrible tragedy. I’m looking after things while the business is in transition. Mr. Germain’s wife has moved to France. I’m not sure if she will be keeping the business, or selling it. At the moment, I don’t think she knows herself.”

  “I see,” Colin said, noticing that Renee had perfect ears. They were small, and flat, not sticky-out like his. “There’s something I want to ask you. Do you know if fakes were ever involved in the paintings sold here?”

  Renee took a deep breath and nodded her head. “I’m sorry to have to say the answer to that question is yes. When Mr. Germain was alive, that was the case. We don’t know how many paintings were involved, or even which ones, but the person who was involved with Mr. Germain has been charged with criminal fraud. He’s also the same person who has been charged with murdering Mr. Germain, and no doubt he will be going to prison for a very long time.”

  “I think I may have been sold some fakes,” Colin said, watching Renee’s face fall. “Is there any way to get the originals, since that’s what I paid for?”

  “No, I’m sorry. You should bring them in,” Renee said, “and we’ll get them checked for you. Mrs. Germain said she will compensate anyone who has been affected by the fraud committed by her deceased husband. She didn’t know anything about it, and is upset beyond belief about the situation. We both are. I had no idea either.”

  “Don’t worry,” Colin said. “It’s not your fault. I’ll drop by again next week, if that’s all right. Do you work every Wednesday afternoon? I have an appointment nearby on Wednesdays, so I could come back about the same time.”

  “Yes,” Renee said with a shy smile, and Colin thought her teeth alignment was delightful. He would have to ask June about what to do next.

  “Okay, good. Thanks. Bye.” He turned to leave, but something made him stop in his tracks.

  I like this woman, he thought, and I don’t need June’s guidance on what I should do next. As a matter of fact, I think she would be happy with what I’m about to do.

  “Renee, would you like to go out for dinner with me?”

  “Why yes, Colin, I would like that very much.”

  RECIPES

  SOUPE AU PISTOU

  Soup Ingredients:

  1 ½ cups white beans

  2 qts. water

  1 large onion, chopped

  6 large garlic cloves, minced

  Bouquet garni: Three sprigs of fresh thyme and parsley. One bay leaf. Tie together with twine.

  1 tbsp. olive oil

  2 leeks, white and light green parts only, sliced

  1 14 oz. can diced tomatoes

  2 cups green cabbage, shredded

  2 large carrots, diced

  2 celery stalks, diced

  1 medium sized zucchini, diced

  ½ lb. green beans, trimmed and broken into 1” pieces

  ½ cup small pasta shells

  2 tsps. Herbes de Provence

  Salt and pepper to taste

  Pistou Ingredients:

  2 garlic cloves, halved, green shoots removed

  2 cups fresh basil leaves

  ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

  ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

  Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

  ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese for garnish

  Directions:

  Soak the white beans in 6 cups of water for 6 hours and drain. Blanch the green beans in boiling water for five minutes and transfer to a bowl of ice water. Drain and set aside.

  Place the white beans, along with 2 quarts of water, in a large soup pot and bring to a boil. Add half the onion, half the garlic, and the bouquet garni. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes.

  Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet. Add the remaining chopped onion and a generous pinch of salt. Cook ove
r medium heat, stirring, for five minutes. Add the leeks and the remaining garlic. Stir together for five minutes. Add the tomatoes, along with the juice from the can, to the mixture and cook, stirring, for fifteen minutes. Stir this mixture into the soup pot. Add the remaining soup ingredients with the exception of the green beans and bring back to a low simmer. Cook, covered, for an hour. Add salt and pepper to taste.

  To make the pistou, mash the remaining half of the garlic with a generous amount of salt with a mortar and pestle or with the back of a heavy spoon. (Sometimes I just chop it very fine. The addition of the salt makes this easy.) Using a food processor, grind the basil until it’s the consistency of a paste. Add the garlic to the mixture and then add the olive oil 1 tablespoon at a time. Stir in the cheese. Put into a bowl.

  After the soup has cooked for an hour, add the pasta and cook until al dente (Italian for firm to the bite. You don’t want it mushy.) Taste for seasonings and adjust if necessary. Stir the green beans into the soup and cook for five minutes. Ladle the soup into bowls. Add a spoonful of the pistou on top of each soup serving and let your guests stir it in. Pass the Parmesan cheese for sprinkling on the soup. Enjoy!

  BEST EVER TWICE-BAKED POTATOES

  Ingredients:

  4 medium size baking potatoes

  ¼ cup butter

  ¼ cup cream or half and half

  ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

  4 slices bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

  1 bunch green onions – finely chop only the green parts

  Salt and pepper to taste

  2 tbsp. cooking oil

  Aluminum foil

  Directions:

  Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Heat the butter and cream together in a small saucepan over low heat. Rub the potatoes with the cooking oil, prick with a fork, and place on a baking sheet covered with aluminum foil. Bake the potatoes for about an hour or until soft when gently pressed. (Use a baking mitt, so your fingers don’t get burned!) Cut the potatoes in half, lengthwise.

  Carefully scoop out the pulp of each potato and place in a large bowl. Shells should be relatively free from pulp. Mash the potatoes (I really think using a hand masher is best) with the butter and cream mixture until it’s the consistency you like (some people like it creamier than others). Stir in the cheese. Spoon the mixture back into the potato shells, piling high. Top with the crumbled bacon and green onions. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

  LACINATA KALE SALAD

  Ingredients:

  10 – 12 leaves lacinata kale (also called Tuscan kale)

  6 baby carrots

  1 Japanese cucumber

  1/3 cup shredded Manchego cheese

  Juice from 1 lemon

  ½ cup toasted pine nuts (I toast then in a small frying pan for about 5 minutes. Don’t let them burn. It’s easy to do.)

  ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

  Directions:

  Peel the carrots and cut off the ends. (I just run a knife along the sides of carrots. Seems a lot easier than using a kitchen paring device.) Parboil the carrots in boiling water until tender when pierced with a fork. Remove, allow to cool, and slice into ½” pieces.

  Wash the kale and remove the spines from each leaf. Slice into thin pieces and add to a large salad bowl. Diagonally slice the cucumber and add to the bowl along with the carrots.

  Dress the salad with the lemon juice and olive oil. Toss and add the Manchego cheese and the slivered pine nuts on top. Plate and enjoy!

  NOTE: Kale is considered to be one of the healthiest things you can eat!

  WARM FIGS, GOAT CHEESE, AND HONEY (APPETIZER OR SIDE DISH)

  Ingredients:

  16 walnut halves

  1 tbsp. light brown sugar

  1/8 tsp. salt

  1/8 tsp. ground cinnamon

  3 tbsp. goat cheese (If you prefer a milder cheese, use Mascarpone)

  8 fresh figs, halved lengthwise

  2 tbsp. honey

  Parchment paper

  Directions:

  Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Combine the walnuts, brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a small heavy-bottomed skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until the sugar melts and evenly coats the nuts, about five minutes. Remove from pan, making sure that the nuts are separate from each other. Cool.

  Spoon a heaping ½ teaspoon of cheese onto each fig half and place on a parchment paper lined rimmed cookie sheet. Bake the figs for 4 minutes. Transfer the warm figs to a serving platter. Place a candied walnut on each fig half and drizzle honey over the figs. Serve and enjoy!

  RASPBERRY BROWN SUGAR TART

  Crust Ingredients:

  7 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

  1/3 cup sugar

  1/3 tsp. vanilla extract (Don’t use imitation. Use the real stuff!)

  1 cup plus 1 tbsp. flour

  Pinch of salt

  Filling Ingredients:

  ½ cup sugar

  2 large eggs (I prefer jumbo.)

  Pinch of salt

  ¼ cup flour

  1 tsp. vanilla extract

  ½ cup butter, unsalted and diced

  2 6 oz. containers of fresh raspberries

  9 ½” tart pan with removable bottom

  Baking rack

  Directions:

  Crust:

  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees, positioning a rack in the center of the oven. Using a fork, mix the melted butter, sugar, and vanilla together. Add the flour and salt. Stir until incorporated. Transfer mixture to tart pan and press dough evenly onto the sides and the bottom of the pan. Bake about 18 minutes. Dough will puff slightly. Transfer to a baking rack and cool.

  Filling:

  Mix the eggs, sugar, and salt in a medium size bowl. Add flour and vanilla and whisk until smooth. Cook the butter over medium heat in a small heavy saucepan until it becomes a deep nutty brown, stirring often, for about six minutes. Don’t let it burn. Remove from the burner and allow to cool for five minutes. Add the butter to the sugar mixture and blend.

  Arrange the raspberries close together, pointed ends up, in concentric circles, on the bottom of the cooled crust. Carefully pour the butter mixture evenly over the berries. Place the tart on a rimmed cookie sheet and bake about 40 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool the tart pan on a rack.

  When ready to serve remove the sides of the tart pan. Cut into wedges, serve and enjoy!

  NOTE: This can be made 1 day ahead. Refrigerate until about half an hour before serving.

  *****

  I'm giving away FREE paperbacks. Find out more at www.dianneharman.com/freepaperback.html

  ABOUT DIANNE

  I live in Huntington Beach, California, with my husband, Tom, a former California State Senator, and my boxer dog, Kelly. My passions are cooking, reading, and dogs, so whenever I have a little free time, I am either in the kitchen, playing with Kelly in the back yard, or curled up with the latest book I'm reading.

  Her other books are available below:

  Amazon: Blue Coyote Motel

  Amazon: Coyote in Provence

  Amazon: Cornered Coyote

  Amazon: Coyote Series

  Amazon: Kelly’s Koffee Shop

  Amazon: Murder at Jade Cove

  Amazon: White Cloud Retreat

  Amazon: Marriage and Murder

  Amazon: Murder in Cottage #6

  Amazon: Murder in the Pearl District

  Amazon: Murder and Brandy Boy

  Amazon: Murder in Calico Gold

  Amazon: The Death Card

  Amazon: Murder at The Cooking School

  Amazon: Murder & The Monkey Band

  Amazon: Murder at The Bed & Breakfast

  Amazon: Murder at The Secret Cave

  Amazon: Murder in Cuba

  Amazon: The Blue Butterfly

  Amazon: Trouble at the Kennel

  Amazon: Murdered by Words

  Amazon: Murdered by Country Music

  Amazon: Murder at th
e Big T Lodge

  Amazon: Murdered in Argentina

  Amazon: Murder on the East Coast

  Amazon: Murder at the Clinic

  Amazon: Murder at the Polo Club

  Amazon: Alexis

  Amazon: Trouble at the Animal Shelter

  Amazon: Murder in Calistoga

  Amazon: Murder on Bainbridge Island

  Amazon: Murder & The Movie Star

  Amazon: Murder in Whistler

  Amazon: Murdered by Plastic Surgery

  Amazon: Murder in Seattle

  Amazon: Murder after Midnight

  Amazon: Murder in San Francisco

  Amazon: Murder at Le Bijou Bistro

  Amazon: Murder at The Courthouse

  Amazon: Murder at The Gallery

  Please feel free to follow me on these social media sites:

  Website: http://www.DianneHarman.com

  Blog: http://www.DianneHarman.com/blog

  Email: dianne@dianneharman.com

  Twitter: @DianneDHarman

  Google+

  Facebook Author Page (Thriller)

  Facebook Author Page Cozy Mystery

  Amazon Author Page

  SURPRISE!

  MURDER AND MEGA MILLIONS

  Sixth Book in the High Desert Cozy Mystery Series

  Available for pre-order: http://getBook.at/MEGA

  She picked the winning numbers. She won millions. Is that why she was murdered?

  But who did it? Melissa’s no-good uncle or her ex-con brother who she hasn’t seen for years? Could they both be prime suspects? And what about her maid and her abusive husband-to-be? Is being known as a prominent philanthropist or antique collector a reason to commit murder? Yes, Palm Springs, California, is like a different world to most people, but is it different enough that ego justifies murder?

  And are the rich really that different than you and me?