Kee Patterbee - Hannah Starvling 01 - The Chef at the Water's Edge (20 page)

Once they had settled down away from a few people eating in the area, Vera stared at Jazlyn. Her expression was intense. It gave Hannah the impression that Vera might at any moment throttle her rival. After an uncomfortable few seconds, Vera expressed herself in no uncertain terms.

“I know who they are.” Indicating to Louie and herself, she continued. “We asked them to look into Julia’s death. And after some preliminary study, they have reason to believe her accident was a murder.’’

There was another long moment of silence.

“Murder?”

“The medical examiner confessed to tampering with the evidence, to hiding the real reason for your aunt’s death. It’s enough to reopen the case,” Hannah explained.

Frowning, Jazlyn took in a breath. “For a year now, I’ve resisted thinking about that night,” she said with a sad expression overtaking her face. “But somewhere deep down inside me, I’ve always felt something was off about it. My aunt could be mysterious at times. Dramatic even. Prone to reacting in strange ways. She was quirky. I think that’s why the public loved her so much. But the way she died…” Jazlyn paused and shook her head. “It made no sense.”

Once done, Hannah told Jazlyn the real reason for Cate, Buster, and her being at the festival. Doing so, she released some details of the case. At the same time, she withheld others. She remained unsure of the young woman’s place in Julia’s life and death.

“I understand you were at a party that night. Do you remember who you were with?”

“A lot of people.”

“Can anyone confirm that you were there?”

Jazlyn shifted, and the look on her face suggested that she was reluctant to answer.

“Jazlyn?” Vera pressured.

“I met with Uncle.”

Buster coughed, and Jazlyn responded. “Not like that! Look, I was at a party. He called me to meet him. He had something to discuss. That’s when he told me he wanted me to take over the show. I met him, then went back to the party, and stayed the rest of the night. When I got home, the police were just arriving.”

Tears welled in Jazlyn’s eyes as she recalled the moment she found out about her aunt’s death. Hannah was unsure if her words were the absolute truth or a total fabrication. Either way, they came across as genuine.

“It broke my heart. Uncle’s, too. Don’t pay attention to any of that tabloid gossip you might have heard. He worshipped her.”

Jazlyn again wiped tears from her eyes before asking, “Do you think it’s true what Jack said to me? That people are going to think I murdered my aunt?”

Hannah motioned for Buster to get Jazlyn something to drink. He furrowed his brow but followed orders. She then answered, “I’m sure there will be questions as soon as it’s made public that the case has reopened. Does that concern you?”

“A little. Not that I have anything to hide. But given the generosity of my pre-hire contract and the nature of my private affairs…”

At that moment, Buster returned and handed Jazlyn a bottle of water. He held a look of uncertainty on his face.

“Look, I know what most people think of me. I’m a free spirit. And I’m not ashamed. I live in the moment, and I can live with that. Tabloid or otherwise. But I don’t want people to think I would harm Julia. I wouldn’t. I just wouldn’t.”

Cate raised one eyebrow. Her tone hinted of sarcasm when she asked, “Was Julia aware you were going to take her place? I thought Vera was to be the next in line to takeover.”

“No, she didn’t,” Jazlyn admitted and then looked to Vera. “I’m sorry, Vera. Asa has his own reasons and who am I to say otherwise.”

Vera said nothing but acknowledged the response.

As the four women lapsed into silence, Louie motioned for Buster to follow him away. “Let’s just go get some more food,” he said. “Give the ladies a moment.” Buster agreed and with that, they disappeared back among the tents.

“Are pre-hire retainers normal for television work?” Hannah questioned. “I’m not so familiar with how it all works.”

Without hesitation, Jazlyn answered, “Not of that size. But Uncle Asa is kind. He knew the reason I was visiting Julia and him was because I was broke. I had nowhere else to go. I had just graduated, and I guess he thought Julia needed a break. But she didn’t mesh with my choices sometimes. And with all the rumors flying around, Uncle was in a tough spot. He needed me out of the house, but there was no way he could win in doing so. If he tossed me out, it would look irresponsible and condemning. If he gave me a place to live, everyone would accuse him of keeping me. So he gave me a job and enough money to live well. To keep up appearances as the heir to her legacy. And he was angry with you, Vera, because you had gotten so close to her, and she had cut him out.”

“The night Julia died, something convinced her to leave the house and head out to the lake. Something she just wouldn’t do. Any ideas why she would?”

“I’m not sure. She did get a phone call just before I went out. I know it upset her.”

“A phone call.” Hannah weaved her hands together and pointed her index fingers to her lips. It was another quirk indicating her intrigue. “She didn’t mention from who?”

Biting her lip, Jazlyn shrugged. “I wish I knew who it was from,” she murmured. “But Julia wouldn’t tell me. I just know it upset her. I figured it had to be Jack. They always fought over everything. All the time. But in the week before, it had been worse. He even argued with her earlier in the day. But it ended with the usual accusations. But he came by at some point later to drop off some papers and apologize, as always.”

“Was their relationship always so contentious? Cate inquired.

“As long as I can remember. They had a running feud of sorts over her contract. He had trapped her into a lousy deal years ago and made sure it was iron clad. I can tell you this much. It must have been lucrative. Not even Asa could buy him off.”

As Jazlyn continued on about Miller, Hannah absorbed all the information. She started to piece together a picture of him within the complex web of Julia’s relationships.

“When they argued, they would insult each other,” recalled Jazlyn. “And he often said she couldn’t leave him because if she tried, he would kill her. Stuff like that. But Julia wasn’t fazed by his threats. She knew she was his meal ticket.”

To Hannah, Miller sounded like a conniving manager, a businessman who controlled Julia through a bad contract. He sought dominance over Asa via that relationship with the man’s wife. And she understood why a dirty businessman would want such a contract. The money involved was enormous. But she found his attempt to dominate Asa suspect. If it was just about the money, then Asa could have bought him off. “Every man has his price,” Hannah considered to herself. “And Asa has enough to meet Miller’s without flinching too much.”

Hannah soon found herself contemplating the meaning of Miller’s strange behavior.
If it were a vendetta, then what could have brought it on?
she asked herself. Then it hit her. Control and vengeance. Miller wanted both because it was his means of being with Julia. Without them, he would lose her. His actions went beyond greed. “Miller was in love with Julia,” Hannah concluded.

Cate looked up from her tablet where she was taking notes. “We knew about the contract. But I never heard of it being that aggressive. You seem to know him pretty well. Could he have just reached the end of his patience, lost it, and killed her?”

“Do I think he murdered Julia?” Jazlyn contemplated, then answered, “No. He often said things in the heat of the moment. But Julia could hold her own, that’s for sure.”

Hannah looked to Cate. “Makes me curious why the police didn’t look more into this case,” Cate agreed.

Hannah was about to ask a few more questions with Jazlyn when there came a loud noise from behind. She turned just in time to step out of the way of Xabiere, who came bursting into the tented area. He grabbed Jazlyn and looked her up and down. His actions were enough to tell Hannah that his interest went beyond friendship. Jazlyn’s stunned look spoke just the opposite. It told of fear and unease.

“Are you all right?” he demanded.

Jazlyn pushed herself away and put her hand up as a sign for Xabiere to step back. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Hannah watched the unfolding exchange with extreme curiosity. She wondered about the extent of the relationship. Was Xabiere just another of her many conquests? Or had it been at all intense at one point? How did each of them perceive it? “How is it these two had a relationship at all?” she asked herself.

Xabiere looked at the two women and then attempted to reach out for Jazlyn. Again, she stepped back. The frustration on his face became obvious, and he exclaimed, “I saw you leave and you seemed upset. It concerned me.”

Jazlyn drew her face in, both frowning and disbelieving. “And you came here. What? Are you following me now?” ‘

“No.”

“Then why are you here?” she yelled.

Thrown by Jazlyn’s accusation, it was Xabiere’s turn to take a step back. Hannah could almost see the cogs of his mind turning as he tried to squirm his way out. “Like I said. I saw you leave upset. When I got out the door, you had taken one of the carts and headed toward the tents.”

Jazlyn stared him down. She then turned to Hannah and Cate. “Could I have a moment?” Hannah could tell that what she was asking for was for Cate and her to step away, but not so far as leave her alone with Xabiere. Having agreed, they stepped from just under the tent at the far corner away from the two. It was just far enough to give an air of space yet close enough for Hannah and Cate to hear the majority of the conversation.

“First of all, I had an argument with Jack. Second of all, it’s no longer your issue. Last, if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times. You and I, it was nothing. It meant nothing. It wasn’t anything.”

Xabiere stood indignantly but continued to press Jazlyn for answers. “He’s trying to control you, isn’t he? Just like he did Julia. Drive you to suicide.”

Cate put her hand on Hannah’s shoulder and squeezed. “How did he know it was suicide? The public thinks it’s an accident?”

Not looking away from the conversation they were witnessing, Hannah said, “A very good question.”

“Just drop it. Like I said, it’s no concern of yours.” Jazlyn turned toward Hannah and Cate, but Xabiere grabbed her arm and spun her around. Hannah and Cate bolted toward the pair to intervene. Jazlyn jerked herself free and stepped back to find the two standing beside her, facing down Xabiere. By this time, he was flush with anger and yelling for all to hear. “Are you two still together? Are you in love with him?”

“What if we are?” She stunned him with her frank response. Hannah considered the statement as one made in the spirit of spite. Whether it was true before, she was unsure. But as of a short time prior, she knew that it was not ongoing.

It was clear that Jazlyn’s word had stung. Xabiere’s voice lowered and sounded piteous. “You know I care for you, Jazlyn. I love you. I would do anything for you. Even if it cost me my life. You know that. So I will wait. I will be patient until you are ready for me.”

“That’s never going to happen.”

“It will. In time. I can assure you of that,” Xabiere replied with arrogance showing. He gave Hannah and Cate one last sharp look and left.

“Are you all right?” Hannah asked Jazlyn?”

Shaking her head while shrugging her shoulders, Jazlyn watched where Xabiere had exited. “I don’t know. Between him and Jack and you two…” She threw a hand up and walked away in a direction opposite of Xabiere.

After a moment, Hannah pulled out her cell and checked the time. “Almost time for Hym to talk to Miller. We need to get going.”

Hym slid a Styrofoam cup of coffee in Jack Miller’s direction. He made no attempt to reach for it. Instead, he crossed his arms and asked, “What are they doing here?”

Hym looked over to Hannah and Cate. “They’re working with me on this case.”

“Fancy that. I thought they were with Food Critic. I suppose Louie Woolridge works for you as well.”

Hym smiled. “It’s a small town. I’ll take what help I can get. Now, we had the opportunity to talk to the medical examiner, Lin Niu before she passed away.”

Miller pressed back into the chair. “Niu’s dead?”

“Just this morning. Possible suicide. But we’re looking into it given recent events. It’s obvious that you knew her.”

Miller did not flinch nor miss a beat. “Yes. She handled Julia’s death. I got to know her then.”

“She signed an affidavit stating that you coerced her into modifying the autopsy report. Is that true?”

“Regrettable. But yes.”

“Regrettable?”

“Well, it’s obvious you know the truth. Soon the public will as well. And the entire reason for preventing the release of the real reason for her death will be for naught. So, yeah. I bribed her.”

“Because of her murder.”

Upon hearing Hym’s accusation, Miller shot straight up in his chair. “Murder? What? No! Because she overdosed. I didn’t want the public to find out. It would ruin her squeaky-clean image. Bad business.” Miller paused and looked at Hym, Hannah, and Cate. “Murdered?”

Hym leaned back in his chair and considered Miller’s reaction. He came to the quick conclusion that he either did not know or was an Oscar worthy actor. “You can see how this looks. You had the records changed that gave the true reasons for her death.”

Miller was in a near state of panic. He shifted in his chair as Hym pressed on. “You interfered with an ongoing investigation into her death.”

“Yes. Her death disturbed me and I was thinking like a businessman. I tried to protect her good name and, of course, her causes.” Jack interjected.

“What was your relationship with her?”

“I was her media manager.”

“Did you have a romantic relationship?”

Jack’s face changed to one of disappointment. “In the beginning, I wanted more with Julia, that was no secret. I realized that it was never going to happen after she met her husband and married him.”

“Was there a physical relationship at any time?”

“Never.”

Upon occasion, Hym scribbled down some notes on a small notepad. He never looked up while asking, just after a second or two had passed. It was intentional. The pause allowed suspects to feel the so called ‘heat’ of the interrogation.