A Death at Bay View Hotel: A completely addictive English cozy mystery novel (A Jemima Jago Mystery Book 5) by Emma Jameson

Author:Emma Jameson [Jameson, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781837901913
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2023-08-23T16:00:00+00:00

13

A FRAUD, A WITCH, AND A MISSION OF MERCY

“You expect me to allow poisoned food in my kitchen?” The Bay View’s chef de cuisine glared incredulously at Jem, hands on hips. “The culinary staff is already being maligned by idiots who believe in a Mad Poisoner”—she infused the words with a remarkable nasal emphasis—“and now you want to give them a reason to be afraid?”

“They’re already running scared,” Jem said. “Between what happened to Sergeant Hackman and what happened to Lemmy, most of the guests seem to have shifted to a liquid diet. Which they’re supplementing with packets of crisps. I really don’t think you’ll have many takers in the dining room tonight.”

“It’s true,” Gregory told the chef. “When I went out to look at the storm, I passed the gift shop. The pegboard of crisps and energy bars is cleaned out. Even the candy is gone, apart from some wine gums and ring pops.”

“Guests of this hotel would rather eat crisps than my food?” Aghast, the chef de cuisine glared at the Bake Off contestants who’d filed in behind Jem, each carrying a boxed dessert. “Non. Find another place. If you try and store them here, you’ll find them left in the rain. Like that song, ‘MacArthur Park.’” She let out a ringing hon-hon-hon.

“Wow.” Pauley, the last of the group, entered the kitchen carrying Clarence’s black and gold box. She gazed at the chef for a few seconds, saying nothing. Slowly, she approached the haughty figure in her towering white toque, until they were mere inches apart.

“Hello.” Pauley tilted her head to one side. “And your name is…?”

“Rose-Fleur Legrendre. Chef de cuisine.” Rose-Fleur lifted her chin. “Graduate of L’Atelier des Sens, s’il vous plaît.”

“Is that so? Well. I see you’ve met my friend, Jem Jago. My very best friend. Also, a graduate of St. Mary’s School. Go Lionfish. Jem needs you to store this evidence in your freezer. And your answer is…?”

“But of course,” Rose-Fleur said almost meekly. “Gregory, assist them. I need a cigarette.” Turning on her heel, she entered the scullery. This time, Jem noticed, she didn’t open the door just wide enough to slip inside. She banged through carelessly, stalked past the dishwashing apparatus, and burst through the door at the other end.

“What was that?” she muttered to Pauley, who only shook her head.

Storing the evidence only took a few minutes. Gregory found a roll of blank stickers, wrote POISON in black marker on each, and as the entries went into the freezer, he gave each a sticker and tucked them in an out-of-the-way place.

“Will the evidence be safe here?” Pauley asked.

“I think so. I usually leave the freezer unlocked all day, but from now until the police collect these, I’ll keep it locked,” Gregory said. He seemed far less nervous than he had when Jem first questioned him alongside Sebastian Minting. “Won’t be an inconvenience since we can’t expect much demand for dinner or breakfast.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” Pauley said. “Bad enough we’re all trapped here without WiFi.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.