For Better or Hearse by Laura Durham

Author:Laura Durham
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: HarperCollins

Chapter 19

“This is a disgrace!” The distinctive disdain of the French accent carried from where Jean St. Jean stood examining a table of desserts on the other side of the ballroom. “Mon dieu! Who put the tartlets on a mirrored tile?”

Kate took a baby step back out into the hallway before I caught her by the arm and pulled her into the room. The large ballroom was filled with rows of tables draped in white cotton cloths, and matching napkins stood in fan folds on the white base plates. Each table had the same low glass bowl of red and gold flowers. This party definitely had the feel of a corporate event.

I dragged Kate behind me as I weaved my way through the maze of tables to where Jean stood muttering to himself at the dessert display. He wore a pristine white jacket over dark billowy pants and a tall chef’s hat perched on his brown wavy hair.

He jumped when he heard us behind him. “Who are you?”

“Just party planners,” I responded, hoping he would assume that I meant we were the party planners for this event. Not a lie, I reasoned to myself. An omission.

“Of course.” He gave a curt nod of his head. “I am Jean St. Jean, the pastry chef for the Fairmont Hotel. I was merely inspecting the work of my subordinates before the party begins.”

“We’ve heard wonderful things about your work.” I nudged Kate. “Haven’t we?”

“Absolutely.” Kate bobbed her head eagerly. “The Fairmont is known for having some of the best chefs in the city.”

Jean St. Jean gave a smug smile. “It is nice to be recognized for one’s excellence.” Boy, this guy was full of himself.

“Such a shame that you lost the real culinary genius in the hotel, though.” I shook my head and didn’t take my eyes off St. Jean.

His smile disappeared and his eyes flashed with anger. “They’re saying that Henri was the genius? Idiots.”

“Well, he was the head chef, wasn’t he?” Kate asked in an innocent voice.

“Not because of culinary skill, I assure you,” the pastry chef fumed. “The man didn’t have as much talent in his entire body as I do in my little finger. The only ideas he ever had were ones he stole from others.”

“Did he steal your ideas?” I pressed.

“He stole from everyone. If any one of his chefs had an idea, Henri claimed it as his own and took the glory.” St. Jean slammed his hand down on the dessert display, and the rows of tiny truffles began to roll around.

This guy had some impulse control issues.

“So he wasn’t very popular among the other chefs?” I caught a truffle as it headed for the edge of the table.

St. Jean laughed derisively. “We don’t miss him, if that’s what you mean to ask.”

“Were you here the day of the murder?” I said, knowing full well that he had been.

“Of course.” He turned his attention back to the dessert table. “I created the wedding cake. Such a pity the guests never saw it.

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.