by A. J. Carton
“Based on Vera’s knowing you’d seen it, Emma,” he added, “I was also pretty sure the painting was in danger of disappearing if we delayed. Judge Kennedy, my golf buddy, thought so. Turns out he has a Thiebaud too. The Boston Cremes lithograph from the ‘70s. I’d love to get my hands on one of those. He issued a search warrant and made sure the police got over to Vera Vasiliev’s townhouse double quick. The property manager let the police in.” Dex rocked his hand back and forth and winced. “Probably shouldn’t have done that but, since she voluntarily confessed to the murder, it probably doesn’t matter.”
Boy, Emma thought. This guy really likes to hear himself talk.
“The point is,” Dexter concluded, “they found the stolen painting valued at I don’t know how many hundreds of thousands of dollars, and sent the police to arrest Vera for grand theft as soon as she left the restaurant last night. Of course, they didn’t have to wait because of you, Emma.”
He smiled. “All of which is just a long way of saying thanks!” Dexter checked his watch. “Whoops. Gonna be late for that settlement conference. In another matter, of course.” That said, he turned and walked out the door.
The crowd in the room had started to thin. Emma had talked to almost everyone. Finally, it was Lexie and Barry Buchanon’s turn. They stood together at her bedside to convey their thanks, as well. Barry spoke first.
“Emma,” he said. “I can’t begin to thank you enough. Or to convey how much we owe you. Especially considering the way I behaved at first. The things I said about you, about your sauce.” He shook his head. “I’m ashamed. So, first of all, though I doubt you will need more publicity, we have already ordered your book, Dining with the Stars, to sell in the Buchanon Vineyards’ gift store.”
“And second,” he continued, “Lexie and I,” he reached out to grab his wife’s hand, “are commissioning a new cookbook from you that features food pairings with our wines.” Barry smiled. Emma could almost see him buffing his fingernails on his chest. “I’ve already thought of a title.” He paused for effect. “We’ll call it What a Pair! Good, huh! I talked to our winery’s publisher about it already. He thinks it’s brilliant.”
Emma had to try hard to keep from laughing out loud.
“Thanks!” she replied. “Super title!”
Lexie spoke next. “Honestly, I don’t know where to begin, Emma. Between you and Julie.”
She turned to Emma’s daughter. “You saved my life, Julie. Literally. Last week when Vera had me by the throat? I thought I was dead! I know you were the person who pulled her off.” Lexie shook her head. “I don’t think I ever thanked you properly for that. So,” she paused, “as far as we at the winery are concerned, you are it. You’re the only person handling our publicity from now on. And we’re recommending you to every other vintner in Sonoma County. In the world,” she corrected herself.
Then she turned back to Emma. “Julie saved my life. But, face it, Emma, you saved my reputation. Hard as it is to believe, I have enemies. Right here in Blissburg. Some people spread horrible rumors that I was somehow involved in Natasha’s death. Like I was jealous of her or something ridiculous like that. Well, thanks to you, Emma, those rumors are dead. Buried. And I don’t have to worry about them anymore. That’s a big personal debt I owe you. Gosh,” her eyes teared up and she leaned down to give Emma a hug and a kiss, “I don’t know why, but I feel like you’re my mother, or something. You’re just so wonderful.”
As Barry led Lexie out of the room, she was still crying.
Finally, only Julie, Piers and Jack were left.
Now it was Emma’s turn. She motioned Jack closer to the side of her bed.
“Early this morning,” she began, “one of the doctors here told me that I had a very close call last night. And that a certain old codger saved my life. That’s a serious debt, Jack. What do I do?”
Julie and Piers had stopped talking when Jack approached Emma’s bed. They heard what Emma said. When she called Jack an old codger, Emma saw Piers wince.
“Don’t worry about it,” Jack said.
At first it seemed like that was all he had to say. Then he shot Emma a sidelong glance and smiled. “OK. I’ll tell you what you do owe the old codger. It’s simple. All he wants is,” he hesitated. “All he wants is the chance to get to know you a little bit better.”
Emma smiled. She knew that coming from Jack Russo that was a very big compliment.
THE END
Please Review
If you liked A Saucy Murder, please leave a review at the end of the book.
About the Author
A. J. Carton grew up in San Francisco eating her grandmother’s Bolognese cuisine. She now resides with her husband and children in Sonoma County, California where she enjoys writing about food and drinking the local wine.
Contact the Author
A. J. Carton would be delighted to hear from you. You can reach her at:
[email protected]
Follow the Author
Please visit A. J. Carton Books
More Sonoma Wine Country Cozy Mysteries
To order Plum Gone, the second book in the Emma Corsi Sonoma Wine Country Cozy Mystery series, click here.
Updates About Future Books
Please click the image below to sign up for updates on future Emma Corsi Sonoma Wine Country Cozy Mysteries. Note that we NEVER share your email address with ANYONE.
Copyright
A Saucy Murder. Copyright © 2014 by A. J. Carton. All rights reserved.
Fiction Disclaimer
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely accidental. All of the events, organizations and characters used in this story are fictional and/or solely the product of the author’s imagination and invention.