Sunrise Island Mysteries: Books 1-3 by Blythe Baker

Author:Blythe Baker [Baker, Blythe]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-05-31T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Samuel was alone in the kitchen when we got there, sitting on a three-legged stool at a long, granite island that ran the length of the kitchen. Everything in the room was shiny and industrial. White cabinets, stainless steel appliances, white and black tiled floor. It looked like a restaurant kitchen, not one you’d find in someone’s home. Three-fourths of the back wall was windows looking out on the sprawling back lawn, which looked more like a pond at the moment. The storm was dumping torrential amounts of rain, and I was beginning to wonder whether Shep would be able to make it out to the mansion before morning.

“Where’s the butler?” Mason asked.

“Richard? He went to the bathroom,” Samuel said.

Richard. Right. It probably wasn’t polite to refer to him as his job title.

“Is there anything I can help you with?” Samuel asked.

I’d originally come into the kitchen to talk with Richard, but I realized now that it would be more beneficial to have a sense of his movements throughout the evening before talking with him. That way I’d be able to call him out if he were lying.

“Actually, yes,” I said. “We just have a few questions for you.”

Samuel looked at each of us in turn, his eyes suddenly nervous. “Okay…?”

“Did you know of anyone in the house who may have had a problem with Mr. Baines? Perhaps a work or personal dispute?” I asked.

Samuel furrowed his brow and rubbed at his smooth chin with a thumb. “I couldn’t really say. Up until today, my only contact with Mr. Baines was over the phone to iron out the catering details. Mr. Baines only hired me for the party tonight.”

“Oh, so you aren’t a full-time chef here?” Mason asked.

“No, no. Just a caterer.”

“How did Mr. Baines come to hire you for the party tonight?” I asked.

“I left a flyer in his mailbox,” he said. “I’m a pretty small operation, so I have to do a lot of legwork to secure jobs.”

Mason turned his head to the side, a question clear on his face. “I live just behind Mr. Baines and I didn’t receive a flyer.”

Samuel nodded. “I saw that this house was quite large and very near completion. I was hoping whoever lived here would be the type of person to throw a house warming party, and the kind of person with enough money to spring for a caterer. If I had enough money, I’d litter the entire island with flyers. However, as it is, I have to be selective.”

Mason nodded. “Fair enough. My house isn’t as big or flashy as this one.”

“Very few houses are,” Samuel said with a laugh.

“But Richard is a full-time employee of Mr. Baines?” I asked, refocusing the conversation.

“Yes. Well, he was,” Samuel said, looking down at the checkered floor, his head shaking sadly.

“And you didn’t notice any animosity between him and Mr. Baines?”

Samuel paused. “Well, like I said, I’ve only been around for one day. But no, I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary.

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