Chocolat Chaud Murder

by Harper Lin

  “Is that why you killed Jennifer too?” Clémence asked.

  “Jennifer was on Adine’s side. I thought she suspected me because she was the only one who knew that Adine was using my designs. When I went to talk to her, she didn’t think it was me, but she was serious about closing La Belle. This store is practically my home, and Jennifer, who wasn’t even here most of the time, thought she could just close it down! Well, I showed her.”

  “You were practically running the store,” Clémence said. “So you thought with Jennifer out of the way, you could take over.”

  “Yes. I had plans. I would’ve done a way better job than those idiots. Even though I didn’t go to fashion school or have money like they did, I could have made La Belle the massive success Jennifer always wanted it to be. If only she could have seen that Adine was washed up. How could she not see how good I was? Sure, I had some satisfaction in seeing my dresses made and having the customers pay ten thousand euros or more for some of them, but Adine got all the credit. Adine, Adine, Adine!”

  “How did you even do it?” Cyril asked. “Weren’t you on the sales floor?”

  “I took a break between appointments. Perrie was out for lunch, so it was my chance to speak to Adine alone. She said she was going to stop using my designs, and that she had no intention of revealing to anyone that I’d helped on her past collections. I got so mad that I grabbed the nearest thing I could get my hands on, and I hit her. She had no intention of helping me with my design career. It was all about making her look good. She wasn’t supposed to die, but I couldn’t help it. She deserved it!” Eva laughed bitterly. “And with Jennifer gone, I would’ve designed the collections and managed the store, and neither of them would have gotten in the way.” Eva continued to cackle as Perrie and Berenice exchanged worried glances.

  “Well, I’m sorry, Eva,” Clémence said. “You’re going to jail for a very long time. It’s a shame, because you are so talented. I won’t be wearing your dress on my wedding day, no matter how beautiful it is.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Not only were Clémence’s parents world-renowned bakers, but they were also mean chefs as well. Their Christmas Eve meal was a feast, to say the least, and they wouldn’t let their children help one bit.

  “You don’t even want me to help with the salad?” Marianne asked in the kitchen.

  “Absolutely not,” Madame Damour said. “You have little ones running around.”

  “That’s okay. Clémence is running around with them.”

  “Or trying to keep up with them,” Clémence called.

  “And you need some rest,” her mother said. “Go lie down.”

  “Maman, I’m pregnant, not ill.”

  Clémence was so happy that her brother Henri and sister Marianne were home. Henri and his wife, Ella, had two children, five-year-old David and two-year-old Helen. Helen was already speaking in sentences. They certainly had a lot of energy, and Clémence had to make sure they weren’t bumping into the furniture. The Damour apartment wasn’t all kid friendly.

  Marianne and her husband, Michel, had three-year-old fraternal twins, a boy and a girl. They certainly had more energy and were running around the living room. Clémence kept a close eye on them because there were a lot of fragile vinyls on the lower shelves, and the twins took an interest in them until she distracted them with ring around the rosie.

  Marianne was four months pregnant, so at least their parents would be distracted by the new arrival soon and get off Clémence’s case about reproduction when she hadn’t even tied the knot yet.

  “What’s it like to give birth?” Clémence asked.

  Marianne laughed. “You always ask me, and you never like the answer.”

  “Is it that painful?”

  “It’s different for everyone, but for me, it was the worst. I can’t explain it. You’ll just have to experience it yourself.”

  “Looking forward to doing it again?”

  “Well, in the moment, it’s horrible, but when it’s over, you know it was worth it.”

  “What about a baby being in your body?” Clémence asked. “Is it weird to have a human growing inside of you?”

  “At least it’s only one this time,” Marianne said. “Surely, it’ll be easier this time than the last. Sometimes, I get weird cravings, or my body feels too hot, or I get dizzy, but it’s all part of the experience. Like I said, you’ll find out when you get there.”

  Clémence sighed. “I’m going to be an adult soon, aren’t I?”

  Marianne laughed again. “What? You already are an adult.”

  “It feels like only yesterday we were playing together in Romainville and learning how to spell at school. I can’t believe it’s been years since I graduated from college. Now, I’m getting married? Thinking about having kids? It’s crazy!”

  “It’ll be a fun ride,” Marianne reassured her. “At least you’ve had your fun. You got to travel, work, make friends. You were single for a while too, so you could stand on your own two feet. I got married right out of college, so I couldn’t do that.”

  “That’s true. I’m lucky. And so are you.”

  “Oh, of course. I don’t regret marrying Michel and having kids for a second. At least we traveled and had fun before we had kids. Now, whenever we go anywhere, we travel with so much stuff.”

  “I’ve seen your luggage,” Clémence said. “I don’t know how you do it.”

  “You learn how to juggle. The only luxury is alone time.”

  “I’ll have to tell that to my friend Celine. She’s single and doesn’t always enjoy it.”

  “Tell her to appreciate it while she can. Everywhere I go, I have little ones following me around, this baby in my belly, and a grown man who’s as excited about a trip to the patisserie as the kids are.”

  “That sounds sweet,” Clémence said.

  “It is.” Marianne smiled. She shared Clémence’s smile. For a while, as children, Marianne and Clémence looked like carbon copies of each other, but Marianne kept her hair long, usually tied in a loose bun, and she was taller and thinner, with a longer face.

  “When are you going to tell me the sex of the baby?” Clémence asked.

  “I don’t even know,” Marianne said.

  “Really?”

  “I want it to be a surprise. I’ll only know when he or she comes out.”

  “I think that’s what I would like to do when I have kids,” Clémence said.

  Marianne winked at her. “So you will be having children, then?”

  “Stop.” Clémence groaned.

  After a delicious family dinner, everyone was too stuffed to eat dessert, even the children. Clémence had brought Damour’s limited edition Christmas treats, including gingerbread, candy cane macaroons, and eggnog éclairs.

  The family settled on coffee and hot chocolate after the meal. Clémence offered to make it for everyone. Her sister was allergic to dairy, so she made Marianne’s hot chocolate with almond milk.

  “Clémence,” Henri said. “Are you still helping the police solve cases?”

  “She just helped with one a few days ago,” their mother said. “It’s a long story involving a wedding dress boutique.”

  After some urging, Clémence told them everything. “Eva would’ve been a great designer. Too bad she was a murderer.”

  “You’re right not to buy that dress,” Ella said. “Sad to hear it’s closing down, though. I had a friend who bought a dress from there.”

  “When did you start helping the police?” Michel asked.

  “Oh, by total accident,” Clémence said. “Ever since I found the gardienne’s dead body downstairs when I first came back from my travels.”

  “That must’ve been a rude welcome-home surprise,” Michel said.

  “Tell me about it.” Clémence had been trying to get the gardienne to warm up to her, but instead found the woman’s cold body on the floor. The Damour macarons had been poisoned.

  “Clémence did find a dress, thoug
h,” her sister said. “Even though she wouldn’t show it to me.”

  “You’ll have to wait to see it at the wedding.”

  “Who’s the designer?” Ella asked.

  “Marcus Savin. He’s a friend of mine, and he doesn’t usually design wedding dresses, but he offered to design one for me for fun.”

  The doorbell rang. It was the bell from the kitchen door. Clémence stood to get the door, and Miffy trailed after her. The twins did too. She opened the door to see Arthur grinning shyly.

  “Who’s that?” her niece asked.

  “That’s Arthur,” Clémence said. “He’s going to be your new uncle soon. Uncle Arthur. Say hi.”

  “Hi, Uncle Arthur,” the twins said in unison.

  “Hi,” Arthur replied with a grin. Before he could say anything else, the kids ran away.

  He laughed. “Merry Christmas, Clémence.” He kissed her on the lips then gave her a box. “It was hard to find a present for the girl who has everything.”

  “You shouldn’t have.” She opened it. It was a framed photo of Arthur smiling, posed with a fist under his chin. He’d had it taken professionally.

  Clémence laughed. “As if I won’t be seeing plenty of your mug when we move in together.”

  “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

  “Where’s my real present?”

  “I’ll give you your real present tomorrow.”

  “Come in and meet the family. We’re having hot chocolate.”

  Arthur came in. “You know, I always used to be able to smell your kitchen.”

  His family lived on the third floor, but he kept a small room on the roof to exercise his independence. “When I used to come downstairs, I would smell whatever it was that you or your family were making.”

  “Were you jealous?”

  “I would be if our chef wasn’t so good.”

  “Have you eaten?” Clémence asked.

  “I’m so full.”

  “Room for dessert?”

  “Always.”

  “Good, I have Damour goodies for you.”

  “You’re coming over to see my family later on, aren’t you?” Arthur asked.

  “Of course I am,” Clémence said. “We’re going to need a bigger place if we ever invite all our family together under one roof.”

  Clémence giggled, imagining her family and Arthur’s together. Arthur had six siblings.

  “The place would be a madhouse,” he said.

  She closed the door behind him and took Arthur’s arm. Together, they walked into the living room to be with her family.

  Read Sweets and a Stabbing, the first book in The Pink Cupcake Mysteries. A new divorcée starts selling her delicious cupcakes from a pink food truck, to the chagrin of her ex-husband. Can she be a single mom, run a thriving business, and solve strange murders in the quirky town of Gary, Oregon? Each book includes cupcake recipes! Buy the first book now or read an excerpt at the end of this book.

  See all the books in The Patisserie Mysteries here.

  Be the first to hear about 99¢ new book release sales by signing up for Harper's Newsletter.

  Recipe 1: French Hot Chocolate

  Inspired by the hot chocolate recipe from the famous Café Angelina in Paris, this dark hot chocolate recipe is intense, rich, and decadent.

  * * *

  Makes 2-4 cups

  * * *

  Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

  • 2 teaspoons powdered sugar

  • 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, at least 70% cocoa

  • Giant bowl of whipped cream, for serving

  * * *

  In a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisk together whole milk, heavy cream, and powdered sugar until small bubbles appear around the edges. Do not allow the mixture to boil.

  Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in the chopped chocolate until melted, returning the sauce to low heat if needed for the chocolate to melt completely. Serve warm, topped with lots of whipped cream.

  Recipe 2: Healthy Hot Chocolate

  Makes 2 cups

  * * *

  Ingredients

  • 2 cups almond milk

  • 4 teaspoons raw cacao

  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup

  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • Pinch or two of sea salt

  * * *

  Combine all the ingredients into a saucepan. Stir over high heat for three minutes.

  About the Author

  Harper Lin is a USA TODAY bestselling cozy mystery author.

  When she's not reading or writing, she loves hiking, doing yoga, and hanging out with her family and friends.

  For a complete list of her books by series, see her website. Follow Harper on social media using the icons below for the latest insider news.

  www.HarperLin.com

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  A Note From Harper

  Thank you so much for reading the last book in the Patisserie Mysteries. If you were entertained by Chocolat Chaud Murder, please recommend it to friends and family who would enjoy it too. I would also really appreciate it if you could write a book review to help spread the word.

  You might also enjoy my other dessert cozy mystery series:

  • The Cape Bay Cafe Mysteries: When Fran moves back to her idyllic beach town to take over the family café, she also develops a knack for solving bizarre murders. Each book includes special recipes.

  • The Pink Cupcake Mysteries: A new divorcée starts selling her delicious cupcakes from a pink food truck, to the chagrin of her ex-husband. Can she be a single mom, run a thriving business, and solve strange murders in the quirky town of Gary, Oregon? Each book includes cupcake recipes.

  • The Emma Wild Mysteries: a 4-Book holiday cozy series about a famous singer returning to her small Canadian town.

  I also have 2 other fun mystery series:

  • Secret Agent Granny: 70-year-old Barbara is a sweet grandmother—and a badass ex-CIA agent.

  • The Wonder Cats Mysteries: three witches and their magical cats solve paranormal murder cases in the mystical town of Wonder Falls.

  If you want to be the first to hear about new book releases and early bird specials, sign up for my mailing list.

  I’m also on Facebook, where I’ll be holding giveaways, sharing recipes, and posting about what I’m reading at the moment.

  If you’d like to buy mugs, tote bags, posters, T-shirts, and more products featuring my book covers, please visit my Zazzle Store.

  Follow my Pinterest boards to see the locations and inspirations behind each book.

  You can also connect with me on Goodreads.

  If you’d like to get in touch with me directly, you can email me at harperlinauthor@outlook.com. I would love to hear what you think about the books. Do also drop me a note if you happen to catch any mistakes. While each book is edited and proofread by professionals, errors can still slip through sometimes. As an indie writer, I want to provide readers with the smoothest read possible.

  Last but not least, visit my website for my blog and a complete list of all my books, organized by series.

  Thanks and much love,

  Harper

  Excerpt from “Sweets and a Stabbing”

  The truck to Amelia’s right was the Turkey Club. They served huge, Henry VIII turkey drumsticks that made the area around their truck smell like Thanksgiving. To the right of the Turkey Club was the Burrito Wagon.

  As Amelia strained her neck to look past the Turkey Club to the Burrito Wagon, she saw a very large man wearing cowboy boots that came to fine points that curved slightly upward. Tattoos were common in Oregon, but that man’s seemed a bit overwhelming, as they covered his arms and crept up his neck, almost all the way up his bald head.

  “Yikes. No one’s going to complain about the food over there,” Lila mumbled. “That’s the
kind of neighbor to make friends with.”

  Just as Amelia was about to look away, a small lady in a dress and Nikes came around to the front of the Burrito Wagon and patted the large man on the back.

  “Hey, I know that lady.” Amelia straightened up.

  She grabbed one of her raspberry-chocolate cupcakes that was large enough for two people, slipped it into a hot-pink paper boat with a piece of wax paper over the top, and headed over to the Burrito Wagon.

  “Mrs. Vega!” Amelia called as she tried to balance her cupcake while maneuvering around an ocean-sized rain puddle.

  The old woman turned around. Smiling broadly, she waved. “Señora Harley! Hola.”

  “Hi.” Amelia panted, a little out of breath. “It looks like we’re neighbors at home and at work.” Proudly, Amelia pointed to her big pink truck.

  “Ay, that’s your truck? It’s beautiful!”

  “Yeah. And here, this is for you.” She handed her the cupcake. “To help your morning coffee go down.”

  “Oh, you’re so sweet. Gracias. Thank you.” She looked at the big brute adjusting the awning over the window. “This is my nephew, Matthew Rodriguez.”

  He turned around and gave a quick smile as he reached out a plump, beefy hand that engulfed Amelia’s completely.

  “Hello,” he said quickly and went back to fixing the awning.

  Amelia wanted to stare to try to figure out what the elaborate, scrolling letters said on his neck but found her manners, nodded in response, and looked back at Mrs. Vega.

  “You come by after closing and take home meal tonight for you and the kids. Two burrito feed you guys for three days.” Mrs. Vega let out a laugh as she patted her nephew on the back.