Murder Spills the Tea by Vicki Delany

Author:Vicki Delany [Delany, Vicki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2022-03-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

As we still hadn’t heard if filming would continue, Rose and I decided to resume full breakfast service at the B & B, and the following morning at six o’clock, I was back in the kitchen, putting the coffee on and getting baking ingredients ready while Éclair settled herself under the table.

Simon came in, said good morning, and helped himself to coffee. “No news from the TV chaps?”

“Nothing. I texted Josh last night to ask, but he said the studio hadn’t made a decision yet. I get the feeling he’s getting as frustrated as I am. Although, I have to admit that judging someone’s feelings from a one-line text isn’t all that reliable.”

“Do you need a hand?” He indicated the sausages I’d laid on the counter. “Looks like the full breakfast is on today.”

“It is,” I said. “Thanks for the offer, but Edna will be here soon.”

“Then I’ll be off. All this lovely sunshine is doing my plants a lot of good, but it’s doing the same for the weeds, and I plan to get stuck into them with a vengeance before the day gets too hot.” He gave Éclair a pat, me a wave, and left, greeting Edna on his way out.

“Someone complained to the TV network about the judges staying here at Victoria-on-Sea,” I said to Edna as she greeted Éclair before slipping on her apron. “They said it gave Tea by the Sea an unfair advantage in the competition. Do you know anything about that?”

“It just so happens that I do. The paper received a letter to the editor saying that very thing. Frank didn’t print it, as one, it’s a private affair, and two, the paper doesn’t print anonymous letters. Frank told me because it had to do with this place. I meant to mention it, but then other developments took precedence.”

“Understandable,” I said. “It was anonymous?”

“Anonymous, meaning Gary Powers didn’t print his name at the bottom, but he might as well have. He writes to the paper regularly, complaining about something or other, such as the placement of hanging baskets on the stretch of sidewalk near the bakery. Often his letters are signed, though the ones criticizing the mayor or town council are not, but it doesn’t much matter. Frank knows Gary’s writing style by now. Even before he married Susan, the guy was a pest. Does it matter?”

“Probably not. I was just wondering, that’s all.”

* * *

Breakfast service passed uneventfully, and I was hoping to get away early when Edna told me Claudia D’Angelo had taken a seat in in the dining room.

“Do you think she’d mind me talking to her?”

“I can’t say,” Edna replied. “She’s on her own and not expecting anyone to join her. Josh was down about an hour ago, and I haven’t seen Scarlet, but she doesn’t always come in for breakfast. Claudia’s having coffee and only wants cereal and fruit this morning.”

“I’m sure a quick hello from a fan wouldn’t be amiss.” I took off my apron, untied my ponytail, and ran my fingers through my hair.

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