Revenge of the Chili Queens

by Kylie Logan

  “Have you told Martha and Rosa yet?”

  He gave me a wink. “They’ll find out tomorrow at the big Miss Consolidated Chili shindig. That’s when I’m presenting each of them with a dozen roses, a heartfelt apology, and a whopping big check for all their troubles.”

  “You’re not a crook!” Of course I knew this deep down in my soul, but it never hurts to have these things confirmed. A wave of relief washed over me and I sighed. “I’m so glad. And it means you didn’t have any reason to want to keep Dom quiet. You didn’t kill him!”

  Jack laughed so hard, he had to stop and catch his breath. “You didn’t really think I did, did you?”

  “Well, I thought John Wesley Montgomery might have. Before I knew he was you. Or you were him. Or whatever. I know you wouldn’t do a thing like that.”

  “But that doesn’t help your investigation much, does it?”

  “How did you—”

  “Well, give me some credit there, girl! I’ve been following you around for days trying to find the right moment to talk to you. I’ve seen what you’re up to. You just promise me you’ll be careful.”

  “You know I will.”

  “And I know you’re smart and as tough as a boot, too. You’ll figure out this here little mystery.”

  I hoped he was right, but at that moment, I didn’t really care about who’d killed Dom and who tried to kill me as much as I did about what Jack was up to. We’d never had secrets from each other, and I’d grown up knowing I could talk to him about anything. Still, butterflies filled my stomach and I gulped a breath for courage.

  “You sold out,” I told him.

  He made a face. “I did. Like I said, the board of Consolidated came a’courtin’ and there was only so long I could resist. They said they wanted my chili expertise. They said they wanted my marketing genius. And the paycheck . . . well, heck, Maxie, I didn’t think I’d ever see anything like it in my life.”

  “But canned chili!” I shivered.

  Jack laughed. “Right now, it’s regular ol’ canned chili, but believe me, darlin’, I’m going to change all that. Besides . . .” He drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “After all those years on the road with the Showdown, I was thinkin’ that I wanted to leave you two girls more than just a food truck full of peppers.”

  “You’ve already done that,” I assured him.

  I knew I’d missed his smile, but it wasn’t until that exact second that I realized just how much.

  “I’ve left you a love for chili and life on the road,” he said. “I’ve left you recipes and stories. Now you’ll have an inheritance, too. Who cares if the money comes out of a can! I’m finally going to be able to take care of my two girls.”

  CHAPTER 19

  By Sunday afternoon, I should have been exhausted. We finished up the last of the fund-raisers over at Alamo Plaza on Saturday night, and even though my feet hurt and my back ached and it was late by the time I got back to the RV, I didn’t sleep a wink.

  How could I after what happened?

  Sylvia, it should be noted, tried to play it cool about the return of our dad. Not that I believed her cucumber attitude for a minute. When it comes to Sylvia, it’s hard to recognize the signs of excitement since she’s so darned reserved anyway, but I knew what to look for. She had a cup of coffee with me when we got back to the RV. And a chocolate cupcake. Sylvia and chocolate? Oh yeah, I could tell that like me, she was walking on a cloud.

  We talked until the wee hours of the morning, speculating about everything from what would happen to the Palace now that Jack had returned to how he’d turn Consolidated Chili around, and I had an extra chocolate cupcake just for the heck of it and because there seemed no better way to celebrate.

  I don’t think I’d ever been giddy in my entire life. Not until that night, anyway. Sure, I was still a little confused as to how my father—ever the rebel and always a believer in the joys of small business ownership—could have sold out to a big, bad corporation. But that, I told myself, was a problem for me to consider another day.

  For now, all that mattered was that Jack was safe and well. He was back.

  And yes, I was giddy.

  My euphoria carried into the next day as we wrapped up our final afternoon at the San Antonio Showdown. The Chili Chick had an extra kick in her step that day, and who could blame her! I danced to attract customers to the Palace. I danced to celebrate chili in all its varieties and all its glory. I danced because for the first time in months, my worries didn’t weigh heavy on my heart. The last thing on the day’s agenda was the Miss Consolidated pageant, and once that was done, we’d take a well-deserved night off, then head to New Orleans and the next Showdown, and when I wasn’t driving the RV, something told me I’d still be dancing. Just for the hell of it.

  And if by the time we pulled up stakes and left town I hadn’t managed to find out who killed Dominic Laurentius?

  In spite of the stifling afternoon heat, a chill like the touch of icy hands tickled its way up my back. It sure would be nice to put this case to bed, I reminded myself. Just like it would be nice to find the low-down snake in the grass who’d tossed me in with that rodeo bull.

  But call me crazy; right about then, my heart was so light and my spirit so buoyant, the case was the last thing on my mind.

  “Nice dancing, Chick!” Apparently even Nick noticed the extra kick in my step, because when he walked over to where I danced outside the Palace, he was smiling. “You’ve been at it all day. Shouldn’t you get some rest?”

  “Don’t feel like resting.” I shuffled and kicked and, just for good measure, spun around with my arms out at my sides. “I feel like flying!”

  Nick knew why. I’d told him as soon as I got out of the limo and back over to our tent in Alamo Plaza. After all, Jack said that thanks to his contract, he was forbidden to reveal his true identity to anyone, but that didn’t mean I had to keep the news a secret. Besides, I’d only told Nick, Tumbleweed, and Ruth Ann, and they weren’t going to spread the news, anyway.

  As for Gert Wilson . . .

  I’d made a quick stop at Gert’s setup before I donned the Chick costume, and though I didn’t tell her how I knew what I knew, I did let her know I knew it. I also told her that I understood that she’d been sworn to secrecy and that we’d talk later. When I left her, she was smiling, so I guess that didn’t exactly put the fear of God into her.

  “Don’t wear yourself out before the pageant tonight,” Nick said when I was done spinning and came to rest in front of him. “If they’re short a beauty queen, maybe you could be Miss Consolidated Chili.”

  Since I was lost inside the Chick costume, he missed the face I made as well as my crossed eyes. “Not interested in a sparkling tiara or a sash. Got everything I need!”

  Nick moved in close, the better to peer beyond the mesh and into the costume. “Everything?”

  The Texas heat was nothing compared to the sizzle generated by his smile. “Well, now that you mention it—”

  “All right, you two. Break it up!” Sylvia rolled down the aluminum window on the front of the Palace. “It’s time for the pageant, and Maxie, I’ve got to believe that’s not what you’re planning on wearing.”

  She was right.

  And I was late.

  I told Nick not to move a muscle and zipped into the back door of the Palace so I could change out of the Chick and into my street clothes and met him back outside in record time.

  “I can’t wait for you to meet him,” I told Nick as we headed for the main building where the pageant would be held. “But you’re going to have to call him Mr. Montgomery, remember. At least while there are other people around.”

  “I remember.”

  Hard to believe, but when we got to the pageant, there were plenty of other people around. Ginger and Teddi were at the front of the line, dressed as elegantly as any of
the contestants would ever be. Ginger was in a pale blue gown with a plunging neckline and a diaphanous skirt, and Teddi . . .

  I took a careful look just to make sure she hadn’t pulled a fast one on me when he walked away from Tatiana’s.

  True to her word, no gold lamé for Teddi. This afternoon, she looked splendid in a mid-calf-length white dress adorned with giant red poppies, a red picture hat, and matching heels.

  Martha and Rosa were there, too, chatting it up with the people in the crowd around them.

  “People actually come to watch these things?” I wondered out loud.

  “Hey, beautiful girls showing off their legs and their talents.” Nick grinned. “What could be wrong with that?”

  The good news was that because the pageant was sponsored by Consolidated Chili, security was being handled by Tri-C and the fairgrounds and Nick didn’t have to work. He was free to be an audience member, just like me, and we took our seats along the aisle about halfway back in the auditorium. The red velvet curtain was down, and right in front of it was a gigantic Consolidated Chili can surrounded by bouquets of pink and white carnations.

  “Nobody knows tacky promotions better than Jack,” I said.

  “It’s probably one of the reasons they hired him.” Nick made sure to keep his voice down. “Promotions and publicity translate into sales.”

  A few minutes later, the lights in the auditorium dimmed and music filled the air. James Faragut walked out from behind that giant chili can and welcomed everyone to the Miss Consolidated Chili pageant.

  “That’s him.” I elbowed Nick. “He’s the one from the video, remember?”

  Nick squinted. “It could be.”

  “It is. I remember him from the video. He’s the one with the big—”

  “Shh!” From the row in front of us, Sylvia shushed me.

  When she turned back around I made a face at the back of her head. “He’s the one,” I grumbled, but I doubt Nick heard me. On Faragut’s signal, the red velvet curtains whooshed open, the music swelled, and all seven of the Miss Consolidated Chili contestants paraded in. The crowd burst into applause.

  “See, swimsuits.” His gaze was on the stage and the leggy women who graced it when Nick elbowed me. “I told you there were reasons people came to these things.”

  Maybe he was right. Like everyone else in the audience, I settled back and tried my best to enjoy myself.

  After the parade of swimsuits came the first round of chili trivia.

  Tiffany—Miss Texas Chili Pepper—missed two answers out of the five questions she was asked. Miss Texas Triangle—Bindi Monroe—missed one. The other girls were pretty much clueless.

  I knew every answer.

  “You’re pretty proud of yourself, aren’t you?” The auditorium lights came on for intermission and Nick smiled my way. “Maybe you should be up there competing.”

  “I don’t think so.” I popped out of my seat and grabbed Nick’s hand. “Come on,” I said. “I know he’s backstage.” Notice I was being careful and didn’t say who I was talking about. “I can’t wait any longer. I want you to meet him.”

  “Now?” Nick got up, but only because I was already out in the aisle and still hanging on to him. “Won’t he be busy? There’s lots going on and—”

  “Never too busy for me,” I assured him, and of course, I was right.

  Backstage, we located John Wesley Montgomery in a small room off the main stage where he wouldn’t be likely to be seen by anyone from the Showdown, and when the door was closed behind us, I gave my dad a hug.

  “Enjoyin’ the show?” he asked Nick. “Plenty of pretty girls out there.”

  “There are, but you see, sir, I—”

  “Sir!” Jack threw his head back and roared. “Now that’s going to take some gettin’ used to. So . . .” He gave Nick a knowing wink. “You were about to tell me, son, about how you weren’t really lookin’ at all those girls because you’ve only got eyes for Maxie here.”

  Nick grinned. Which is the only reason I didn’t slug him when he said, “Maxie’s not exactly my type.”

  “But . . .” Jack egged him on. “You were gonna say that even though she’s not your type, she’s the sort of woman that just worms her way into your heart, whether you want her to or not, right?”

  Color touched Nick’s cheeks. “I’m pretty sure that’s what happened.”

  “Well, from what I can see, it looks righter than hen’s feathers to me. That is . . .” Jack looked my way. “If it’s what Maxie wants.”

  I never had a chance to answer. That’s because from out in the hallway, I heard Eleanor Alvarez’s voice. I opened the door just in time to see her come sweeping through the backstage area barking orders.

  “I need those girls out here now!” Poor Eleanor struggled between projecting a note of authority in her voice and keeping it down so those on the other side of the red velvet curtain couldn’t hear. “They need to be lined up before the curtain goes up.” When no one jumped, she looked at the nearest stagehand and waved a hand backstage. “Go!” she ordered. “Get them! And get that useless director, too! Where is she? Isn’t this her job?”

  He did. Within a minute or so, a line of evening gown–clad, giggling beauty queens hurried onto the stage. They were followed by the middle-aged woman whose job it was to direct the logistics of the show, looking even more frazzled than she had when I watched her work at the rehearsal.

  Eager to see how the whole behind-the-scenes thing worked, I told Jack we’d see him later, and Nick and I trailed into the wings. From that vantage point, I was nearly blinded by the twinkling of sequins and beads.

  But even that didn’t equal the flash when Eleanor waved a hand and blue sparks shot from that gigantic sapphire ring of hers.

  “The curtain’s going to go up in just a few minutes,” she told the girls. “So let’s make sure you all look your best. Stand back. Now turn to the left. Now to the right.”

  “Turn to the left. Turn to the right.” I followed her direction as I repeated what she’d said.

  “What are you mumbling about?” Nick asked.

  I waved away the question.

  But then, I was a little busy feeling amazed.

  “Come on.” He put a hand on my shoulder. “Let’s get back to our seats while the auditorium lights are still on.”

  “I’ll be . . . I’ll be right there. Going to find a ladies’ room.” I lied, and once Nick was out front, I took a quick look around, racing through the maze of backstage corridors, hoping to find the dressing room.

  “Looking for something?”

  I hadn’t planned on running into Eleanor Alvarez so early in my search, and when we nearly crashed into each other in a narrow hallway, I skidded to a stop.

  “Just looking for the dressing rooms,” I told her. Completely true, since I’d hoped to make it there before she got back so I could rummage through whatever she might have left there in search of clues. “Tiffany borrowed my blusher.” Not so completely true, but Eleanor didn’t need to know that. “You know the girl’s as dumb as a box of rocks. Just thought I’d get it back before—”

  “You can do better than that, can’t you?” Eleanor’s smile was angelic and tinged with just the slightest bit of pity. “Tiffany would never use your blusher. Number one, because I suspect you buy your makeup at the drugstore and she has far better taste than that. Number two, the color would be all wrong for her.”

  “Like that brownish lipstick she’s always wearing!” I shivered like it actually mattered. “I told the girl to go pinker, but like I said, box of rocks.”

  Eleanor stepped to her right. It was a casual enough move, but I couldn’t help but notice that because of it, she completely blocked the hallway.

  “What are you really up to?” she asked.

  “Not a thing.” I stepped forward, but she didn’
t give way. “I just wanted to look around. You know, to soak in some of the glamour of the—”

  She laughed. “I really don’t think so. You weren’t going to do something you shouldn’t do, were you? All the girls left their purses in the dressing room. I can’t believe it, Maxie! Should I . . . Do I need to call security? We’ve got our money and our credit cards in our purses. We all need to protect that.”

  “And you’ve got a reputation to protect, too, right?”

  She tossed her head. “Really, I don’t know what you’re talking about. My reputation is—”

  “As pure as the driven snow.” I took a tiny step to my left, nearer to where Eleanor stood looking as gorgeous as ever that day in a trim black suit. I’d never realized just how much she towered over me until that moment. “That was the idea, right? To keep your reputation nice and squeaky clean.”

  “I don’t need to do anything. My dear, late husband—”

  “Yeah, yeah. Blah, blah. Your dear late husband was what, like a hundred years older than you? And when he died, he left you a pile of money, didn’t he? He bought your way into society, and I bet you’re willing to do anything to make sure nothing ever upsets that applecart.” I managed another careful step to my left just as Eleanor stepped forward to further block my path.

  “Whatever you think,” she said, “it isn’t true. And your crazy lies . . . well, you could never prove them.”

  “Pretty much. Except for that ring of yours. And the DVD. You know, the one I took from Dom’s apartment the night I was there.”

  “You? What were you doing at that poor man’s apartment?”

  “The same thing you were doing there, I imagine. I wanted to have a look around and see what the police missed. You wanted to make sure there was no incriminating evidence left behind. By the time you got there, there wasn’t. See, I took that DVD with me.”