She took a deep breath. “Okay,” she said, ashamed at how shaky her voice was. “I'll just go home, I suppose.”
Her voice caught on the last word, and, horrified, she felt her eyes fill with tears. Nick pushed his chair back and stood up, coming around the desk to lay a hand on her shoulder.
“Don't be ridiculous,” he said. “I'm not going to kick you out of here and expect you to spend the day all by yourself after what happened. Let's go get coffee, then we can pick up some takeout for lunch and come back here and eat with your aunt and uncle in their room. I hate having to do this, Autumn. If it was up to me, and if I wasn't risking the residents here getting pulled out by their relatives, I would just ignore everyone who doubts you.”
“I know,” she said. “I'm sorry. I don't mean to cry. It's just one more thing, on top of everything else, and it’s too much.”
“Come on,” he said. “Let's go get coffee. You'll feel better with some caffeine and good pastries inside of you. Food always brightens you up.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
* * *
The next few days were hard. Without work, Autumn realized just how little she had to fill her time. She took a handful of long walks with Frankie, cleaned the house far more deeply than she ever had before, went shopping, and spent more time with Alicia. At first, she had hoped that the case would be solved quickly, but she was still being forced to stay away from work by the next Monday. Wondering what would happen if Leo's death was never solved, she began to feel a gnawing panic. She was glad when a phone call from Alicia interrupted her simple lunch.
“Are you free today? Bonnie and I are going to head to the book sale at the library, if you want to come.”
“Sure,” Autumn said, trying to disguise the relief in her voice. “Just tell me when we’re meeting, and I'll be there.”
Both Alicia and Bonnie were avid readers, and though Autumn enjoyed completing the occasional book, she tended to spend more of her time watching television. Somehow it was easier for her to get into the visual aspect of TV shows than it was for her to get deeply involved in a book. Still, she figured she might be able to pick up some old cooking books, and she would enjoy spending time with her friends, regardless.
The Asheville library was a small building near the park in the center of town. Autumn parked next to Alicia's car and got out, looking around for her friends. She spotted the two women by the library doors and made a beeline for them.
“Hey,” Alicia said. “How are you doing?”
“I've been better,” Autumn said with a sigh.
“Still no word from the police?”
“Nope. I have no idea what's going on with the case. Nick thinks it's still too soon for me to come back to work, so I'm stuck doing nothing.”
“I don't know,” Bonnie said. “It doesn't sound too bad to me. You get to spend your time at home, but you're still getting paid. I would love that.”
“Maybe it would be different if I had an exact date that I would be able to go back to work. I just can't help but wonder what will happen if the case is never closed and Nick never decides that it's okay for me to start working again without raising a panic. I don't want to have to find a new job. I love cooking. I love everything about Asheville Meadows. I just keep kicking myself for ever going on the interview.”
“Don't do that,” Alicia said. “There's no way you could have known what was going to happen. I think it's good that you took the chance and reached for your dreams. You still might get the position, you know. I doubt the restaurant will close down because of this, especially if the police end up determining that it was an accident.”
“I don't want the position anymore,” Autumn said. “I just want to go back to work at Asheville Meadows. I know I'm happy there, and I won't have to think of Leo's death every time I go to my job.”
“I think you're being dramatic,” Alicia said, putting her hands on her hips. “You always wanted to work in a restaurant, Autumn. This is an amazing opportunity. You know, people are going to die at the nursing home eventually too. What are you going to do then? If the restaurant owner offers you the job, I think you should take it. I don't want you to settle for something short of your dream just because you are afraid of change.”
Autumn stared at her friend, at a loss for words. As always, Alicia had a point, and she wasn't afraid to say it.
“I think you should do whatever will make you happiest in the long run,” Bonnie said. “Where do you want to be in five years? When you envision the future, are you at Asheville Meadows, or are you at a fancy restaurant? Dreams can change. If you're happy where you are, and you don't feel bored there, then I don't see why you should leave. As long as you enjoy what you're doing, why change it?”
Both of her friends had good points. Autumn sighed, not wanting to think about all of it just then.
“Let's go in and look for books,” she said. “If we don't hurry, all of the good ones will be gone.”
Alicia and Bonnie didn't let her off the hook that easily. After they were done purchasing their books from the library sale, the three of them went to the coffee shop to talk and compare their purchases. Autumn had picked up a couple of cooking books, including a healthy low sodium, low-fat book that she thought she might store in the kitchen at Asheville Meadows. She realized, staring at the cover, that she had bought it without even thinking about her current work situation. Some part of her seemed confident that she was going to go back there.
“I love these sales,” Bonnie said. “I got two bags of books for ten dollars. Hey, Autumn, do you want to trade with me? I'll sit at home all day and get paid while you do my job. That's probably the only way I'll be able to get through all these books before the end of the year.”
Autumn chuckled. “Somehow, I don't think the mayor's office would be okay with that trade,” she said. “At least it would give me something useful to do, though. I'm going stir crazy.”
“You need a hobby,” Alicia declared. “Something besides cooking.”
“Like what?” Autumn asked.
“I have no idea. That's up to you. You could start doing crafting with me. Maybe if I have someone helping me, my little business will finally take off.”
“My creativity begins and ends in the kitchen,” Autumn said. “I can't paint or knit worth anything.”
“Well, that's not much help,” Alicia said. “Maybe the restaurant will call you soon, then you can quit moping around and get to work.”
Autumn sighed again. “I told you, I don't think I'm going to take the job even if it is offered. Besides, I wasn't even the best applicant. Leo –” she broke off. Leo was dead. Without him there, she very well might be the best applicant.
“Leo was the best?” Alicia asked, raising her eyebrows. “Do you think one of the other people might have killed him, so they could get the position?”
“It's possible,” Autumn said. “I have a feeling that's what the police think happened.”
“Does that mean you might be in danger?” Alicia wondered. “I'm sure you were one of the best there, besides him. If you get offered the position, you might be a target for the killer.”
That was something that Autumn hadn't thought of. She felt goosebumps on her skin. “That's just another reason for me not to accept the job,” she said. “Following my dreams isn't worth getting killed for.”
“I can't argue with that,” her friend said. “Maybe you're right. If they don't solve the case, I think you should stay far away from that restaurant. You need to be careful. If something happened to you, I don't know what I would do. I've never lost a friend before, and I don't want to start now.”
After that, the conversation turned to lighter subjects. Autumn knew that Alicia had spooked herself by talking about Autumn possibly being a target. All the talk of death had caused Bonnie to be unusually quiet, and Autumn herself was left to ponder the fact that she might be in danger.
When her cell phone rang, she was almost glad of the interrupt
ion. The number was an unfamiliar one, but it was local. Feeling a spark of hope that it might be the police, she excused herself from the table and got up to answer it.
“Hello?”
“Autumn? This is Audrey Blake, from the restaurant.”
“Oh, hi,” Autumn said. “Have you heard from the police yet?”
“Yes,” the other woman said. “They called here just a few minutes ago. They have finished going through the evidence, and I'm able to open the kitchen again. You and the other applicants are also welcome to come back and get your stuff.”
“That's wonderful,” Autumn said. “Does this mean that they have solved the case?”
“I don't think so. I think they just have everything they needed from the kitchen. I'll be at the restaurant in about two hours. If you want to stop by then, you're welcome to.”
“I’ll be there,” Autumn said. She was eager to get her purse, along with all of the makeup and knickknacks that she had in there, back, and she also wanted another chance to talk to Audrey in person. She wanted to know more about what the police had said to the other woman. If they were getting close to solving the case, then that could only be good news.
CHAPTER EIGHT
* * *
“All of your stuff is still in the kitchen,” Audrey said. “Kiki is back there to make sure nothing gets messed up – not worse than it already is, at least. Beatrice is here already, and Calvin should be arriving soon.”
“Thanks,” Autumn said. “I'll hurry.”
She hadn't expected the other applicants to be there, though she should have guessed that they might have all gotten the same call from Audrey. While she was eager to talk to the restaurant owner, she wasn't so eager to talk to the other applicants. If one of them had killed Leo, then she didn't want to be anywhere nearby. I'll just be quick, she told herself.
She made her way to the kitchen and let herself through the swinging door. Kiki greeted her when she walked inside. “Everything is about where everyone left it,” she said. “The police moved a few things around, but the mess isn't too bad. Just grab whatever is yours.”
“Thanks,” Autumn said. “How are you doing? This must be hard for everyone who works at the restaurant.”
“It is,” Kiki said. “We've all been questioned a few times. We –”
She broke off as the sound of a commotion reached their ears. Someone was arguing in the dining area Autumn had just left. Curious, she pushed the swinging door open and saw two police officers standing in front of Audrey.
“You said you were done with the kitchen,” Audrey was saying angrily. “I don't see why you want to go back in.”
“We need a sample of your sesame oil,” the officer said. “We have a warrant –”
“Fine, go ahead,” Audrey said angrily. “But don't make a mess. I just got done tidying up.”
Autumn stepped back as the police walked toward the doors. They pushed open the swinging door and stepped into the kitchen, seeming surprised to find her and Beatrice there.
“Sesame oil?” one of the officers asked Kiki. The sous chef led them to the pantry. The remaining officer looked between Calvin, Beatrice, and Autumn.
“Is one of you Autumn Roth?” he asked after a moment.
“I am,” Autumn said, puzzled. “Why?”
“I guess we're killing two birds with one stone,” he muttered. “We are going to need to bring you down to the station for questioning. If you come with us willingly, it will be a lot easier than if we have to pick up a warrant.”
“Of course I'll come willingly,” Autumn said. “Just let me grab my bag.”
A few minutes later, her purse in hand, she found herself in the back of a police vehicle. Audrey, Kiki, Beatrice, and Calvin had all watched her go. It had been one of the most embarrassing moments in Autumn's life. She had no idea what the police wanted with her. Out of everyone at the restaurant, she was the only one that she knew for a fact was innocent.
At the police station, she was led to a small room with a sturdy table and three chairs. She took a seat and put her purse on the table, glancing up at the slowly ticking clock on the wall. It was five minutes before she heard a soft rap on the door, and someone came into the room.
“I'm Detective Wendel,” he said. “I'll be handling the case from here on out. Do you know why you're here?”
“I don't have any idea,” Autumn said. “They just told me that I needed to come back to the station with them. What's going on?”
“A week ago, you were at Blake’s Steakhouse applying for a job, is that correct?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said. “I'm sure you already have that on record. I was questioned right after Leo died.”
“We do,” he said. “I just want to make sure everything is clear. Could you tell me what dishes you made during the working part of the interview?”
“I made a salad with a white wine vinaigrette dressing, pesto chicken with mashed cauliflower, and a chocolate lava cake.”
“Could you tell me the ingredients you used in the mashed cauliflower dish?”
“Cauliflower, salted butter, black pepper, salt, and some shredded Parmesan cheese. I also added a small amount of cream cheese to improve the texture.”
“Did you add any oils?”
“Oils?” Autumn asked, confused. “Like olive oil? No.”
“Could you explain why we found sesame oil in your cauliflower dish?”
“Sesame oil?” Autumn blinked at him. Suddenly the odd flavor she had noted in the cauliflower dish made sense. She had hardly thought about it at the time, but now that the detective had pointed out to her, she knew that she had recognized the flavor.
“Did you know Mr. Dodd?”
“I already told you, I didn't know him at all. The first time I met him was that day. Why would there be sesame oil in the mashed cauliflower?”
“That's what we're trying to figure out,” the man said. “Tell us about your current job.”
“I work at Asheville Meadows, the nursing home.”
“Are you happy there?”
“I love it there,” she said firmly.
“Why were you looking for a different job, then?”
“I've always wanted to be a professional chef. My friends convinced me to try out for the position. If I didn't get it, I would just go back to working at Asheville Meadows. It wouldn't have been a big deal. I wasn't even sure if I would take the position if it did get offered to me.”
“I think that's about it,” the man said, frowning as he made marks on his notepad. “First though, could you tell me if anyone else had access to your cooking?”
“Everyone did,” Autumn said. “We all walked around and looked at each other's dishes, then the applicants left the kitchen while Kiki and Mrs. Blake judged them privately.” She suddenly remembered seeing Beatrice almost knock the cauliflower dish off of the counter. Before she could mention it to the detective, he had changed the subject. “Who would be best to call if we wanted to speak with someone at your current job?”
“Nicholas Holt,” she said. “He's the director of Asheville Meadows.” With a twinge of worry, she remembered that she had been asked not to work temporarily. “I'm taking a leave of absence from there,” she admitted. “It didn't start until after Leo's death, though. Nick was getting concerned calls from some of the relatives of the residents there and asked me to step down until the case was closed.”
“I appreciate your honesty,” the detective said. “I think that's it. You're free to go. If you think of anything else that might be relevant, give me a call directly. Here's my card. My personal number’s on the back.”
“Thank you,” she said. She hesitated a moment, then took a deep breath. “Am… am I a suspect?”
“Ms. Roth,” the detective said, “as of right now, everyone who was in that restaurant the day of the murder is a suspect.”
CHAPTER NINE
* * *
The police brought her back to the restaurant, where, e
xhausted and wanting nothing more than to talk with her friends, Autumn found Beatrice waiting by her car.
“Oh, good,” the other woman said. “I was hoping they would bring you back soon. What did they say?”
Autumn tensed, frowning. “I'm not sure if I should say anything,” she said. “The police probably want to keep the details about the case private.”
“Oh, did they tell you not to talk to anyone?” Beatrice asked.
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