The Corpse with the Pearly Smile by Cathy Ace

Author:Cathy Ace [Ace, Cathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: female sleuths, Tahitian crime fiction, Welsh crime fiction, traditioanl mystery
Publisher: Four Tails Publishing Ltd.
Published: 2024-10-07T18:29:08+00:00

Tasting

When Fleur and I got back down to the bar, there was still no sign of an ambulance, and there was no sign of Eloise or Nadine either. I guessed they’d gone into the kitchen, so went there myself; despite my reassurances to Fleur, my plan was to try to get to the bottom of the situation that had arisen between the Trembley-Martins and Vaiarii Teriimana for my own peace of mind. The situation that the couple had described had bothered me…in more ways than one.

I walked into what appeared to be an empty kitchen, only to be surprised when Eloise popped up from below a counter with a giant stainless-steel bowl in her hands. We both registered shock, then she said, “I know it seems heartless, but I have to get on. Me standing about in the bar wasn’t helping anyone, and there are people coming who’ll expect there to be food ready for them, so I’m attending to that. Nadine’s gone back to our rooms to get herself changed so she can help with serving. It’s going to be a lot for Annette to cope with on her own, and Nadine can turn her hand to most things.”

I decided to jump right in. “Like defending your honor, for example?”

Eloise began dumping ingredients into the bowl in front of her. “What do you mean?”

I could tell by her tone that she knew exactly what I meant, so added, “When Vaiarii Teriimana threatened you.”

Eloise started bashing away at whatever was in the bowl with the end of a rolling pin. “He didn’t threaten me. He was making a play for me…making filthy suggestions. Then he grabbed my bum, and I screamed.”

“And Nadine came running? Laid into him?”

“She didn’t even ask me what had happened. Didn’t have to, I suppose. She could see that I was upset. She’s my wife; wouldn’t you expect her to defend me?”

“Of course I would. However, if my husband had heard me scream and came around a corner to see me huddled against a wall with a man standing beside me, I’m not sure that his immediate reaction would be to start hitting the man.”

Eloise paused, her rolling pin at rest. “It’s…different, for us. Bud’s a man himself – he might feel he could reason with another man, get him to walk away just by using words and the threat of…something more. It’s not that easy when you’re two women. Men…stand their ground. Won’t back down. And, in any case, Nadine’s a bit…”

I chuckled, I knew what Eloise meant. “Yes, she does tend to leap before she looks, doesn’t she?”

Eloise went back to her merciless domination of the contents of her bowl. “She does, but that’s a part of why I love her. We’d only been together a few months when she gave up everything to move when I got a better job. And she’s done that several times, since. She’s not fearless, though – that would suggest she’s foolish. No, she understands there are risks, but does things that need to be done anyway.

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