Kee Patterbee - Hannah Starvling 01 - The Chef at the Water's Edge (5 page)

Louie blushed at the memory and nodded. “That she did,” he added. “Jules used to tease me like that.”

“It is such a pleasure to meet you. We must have dinner soon so you can tell me all your stories about my aunt. I miss her so much,” Jazlyn replied.

“Of course. I miss her, too. I will never forget her. I doubt anyone who ever met her would.”

Buster stuttered. “Excuse me for butting in, but could I be so bold and ask you to sign an autograph for my mother?” he said to Jazlyn.

Jazlyn was all smiles, and Hannah noted that she seemed pleased that handsome Buster asked.

“Let me do something for you a little better than that,” she quipped. “Follow me up to the studio? I have some press photos there that I can sign … for your mother.” She was looking straight at Buster. There was no denying the instant chemistry between the two. “I can show you … all, around my studio.”

“The studio? You’ve got to be kidding!” Buster exclaimed, exchanging an excited look with Louie. “I’d love to!”

“Wow,” mused Hannah to Cate. “She’s nice.”

“Yeah, well, Buster kind of has that effect on women,” Cate noted with a half-grin.

“Well, in truth, the estate belongs to Asa, now that poor Julia is gone. But seeing as your ‘mother’ is such a fan, it’s the least I can do,” Jazlyn responded with a laugh. “Anyway, how will I find out where such a handsome man comes from? Come on. We can take the shuttle car up.”

The ride over to the studio did not take long. Within a few minutes, they had reached the main entrance to the complex, bypassing the crowded front iron gates to the studio. They stopped once to answer the directions of the guard. After acknowledging Jazlyn, he waved the group along.

Hannah glanced over at Louie to see how he was doing. He seemed lost in thought. Thinking that this was not easy for him and wondering why he did not bow out of this trip was something that mystified her.
Was the shock at seeing Vera too much? Enough to push him over the edge?
She questioned, and then decided to herself to keep an eye on him over the next few days.

The small electric vehicle came to a stop before a massive, multi-story, red brick building. Jazlyn piped up, “Welcome to the studio, which I call home sweet home.” She waved them along, adding, “There are three complete apartments upstairs. There was nothing available close to the studio when I started, so Uncle Asa offered it to me.”

“Isn’t she amazing?” Buster whispered as they all walked toward the entrance. “I mean, she seems so down to earth.”

Hannah looked over at Cate, who grinned, and said, “Sounds like you got a thing for her already.”

Buster smirked. “If by ‘thing’ you mean I think she’s fine, then yeah. I got a big thing for her. “

Hannah rolled her eyes. “Men.”

As the small group entered into the massive structure, Jazlyn led them toward a large, arc-shaped desk manned by a guard in a uniform. He stood as the group approached and nodded as he waved them on by. “Miss Jazlyn,” he said in a deep, rough voice. Jazlyn smiled as she passed by. “Malcolm.”

Before they reached the door behind the guard, it opened and Vera stepped out. At first, she looked taken aback, but her face changed to a look of annoyance. She then gave Jazlyn an irritated glare.

“We meet again,” Jazlyn said. She was grinning less than smiling, Hannah considered.

Vera nodded at Jazlyn but ignored Hannah, Buster, Cate, and Louie as she walked out of the building. Following her every step with his eyes, Louie confessed, “Her likeness to Jules is … amazing.”

Hannah took the chance to jump on Louie’s comment and pry for information. Trying not to be obvious, she glanced around in every direction but Jazlyn’s, before asking, “Was Julia close to Vera?”

Jazlyn nodded. Looking back to the young woman, Hannah judged her expression to be somewhere between jealousy and envy. “Yes. She took a personal interest in Vera and groomed her from the beginning. At some point, she became her benefactor, but for the life of me, I never knew why. My aunt had a public persona, and a private one. A peculiar one at times. Vera was part of the latter. Now she works here helping to manage things. Uncle felt it was something that Julia would want, so he honored her. When my aunt died, he found a place for her here. She’s still adjusting, a year after the fact.”

Hannah thought she detected a note of sarcasm in Jazlyn’s voice, but she was not sure. “Now, who’s ready for a tour?”

“If it isn’t too much trouble,” Louie answered. “My magazine has asked me to write the details of the company that Julia and Asa created from the ground up. Any access to the inside of Julia’s life would make a much better story.”

Hannah watched as Louie waited for Jazlyn’s decision. This would be his crowning glory if he were able to pay tribute to Julia now, given how he had known her long before she went to Paris.

The smile that beamed from Jazlyn gave away her decision before her words. “I can arrange whatever access you need. I think Julia would have liked you to do the honors. Follow me. “

Jazlyn led the group through the same door Vera had exited. “This is the office floor,” Jazlyn explained, pointing to several entryways. “We call it the ‘cube farm,’” she added. Hannah detected a hint of superiority in her voice. A glance over to Cate revealed that she had the same idea. A large glass window allowed an open view inside, where many cubicles were visible. Workers darted in and out, performing their various duties. “Wow,” Buster said. “I didn’t know it took so much to run a studio.”

“This is nothing,” Jazlyn answered. “You should see our Atlanta office. That’s where the majority of Karas, Inc., businesses operate out of. We also have offices in New York and Dallas.”

Buster smiled as he turned to look at Jazlyn. “But your office is here, right?”

“Yes. Just down the hall, next to my Uncle. Come on. I’ll show you.”

Jazlyn led the group to two offices that were furthest away from the front of the building. Approaching, she pointed to two massive oak doors. “That’s Uncle’s,” she said. She then pointed to a single oak door. “Here’s mine.” She then opened the door for all to see. It was typical of an office but had touches that, Hannah assessed, served the purpose of making it Jazlyn’s, and Jazlyn’s alone. A framed degree from culinary school. Pictures of her with various other celebrity chefs. A brass trophy composed of a hand thrust upward holding a spoon. Hannah walked over and read the plate, which said, “Second Place: Quinonna Recipe Cook Off.”
Not bad, but not perfect
, Hannah thought to herself..

“Let’s move on,” Jazlyn said, as she noticed Hannah at the trophy.

As they exited, Cate whispered to Hannah, “Not one single picture of Julia in the room. Her Uncle was in various photos. But not one of her aunt. Interesting, huh?”

Hannah looked back toward the room. “Interesting,” she replied.

As they continued their tour, Jazlyn showed them two studios. In both, three cameras pointed toward the kitchen counter island. Huge monitors hung from the ceiling above each, which Jazlyn explained were Teleprompters. Above these, there was an open grid of studio lights. As the group looked around, Buster appeared confused. He stared at each set. Both rested against different color back drops. The back wall of one was green, the other one blue. “This is the set?” Buster inquired with curiosity. “I thought there would be a full kitchen. And what’s with the background?”

Again, Jazlyn produced a charming smile that Hannah noted appeared whenever Buster spoke. “New technology. Uncle had everything updated and revamped. We will digitally insert the rest of the kitchen. On green days, no wearing green. On blue days, no wearing blue. Otherwise, you won’t show up!” she stated with a short laugh while looking at Buster.

Cate leaned over once again to Hannah. “I may be marrying into culinary royalty by relation,” she quipped. Hannah let out a furtive giggle before she covered it with a fake cough.

Jazlyn introduced the group to the director, and the different technicians around the studio. She then led them back into the outside hall where a multitude of photos lined the walls. One was a picture of Julia and Asa standing on the studio steps on their wedding day.

“I remember this,” Hannah said. “They got married on the set. She made the cake and everything leading up to the day. It was huge. First time anybody had ever done anything like that.”

“That was Uncle’s idea,” Jazlyn said. “Speaking of my Uncle…” Looking back down the hall. “There he is now. Would you like to meet him?”

“Of course,” Louie said in a strained voice.

All eyes followed her over toward the man who had helped Julia get to the top of the culinary world. As he approached, Hannah noted details about the man, making mental notes, which she clicked off like a list in her head. Sharply dressed, per
his station. Fit. Impressive, with a confident, determined posture and walk. Appears around 5’10”. Deep blue eyes. Graying, thick but short-cut hair. Focused. Attuned to his surroundings.
Hannah followed Asa’s gaze. He focused on Louie. He apparently disapproved of the interloper.

Stopping before the group, the man looked around at the group before speaking in a deep, rich voice. “Greetings.” He then turned to Jazlyn. “I was unaware we had guests today.” His tone was calm but restrained as he continued. “I would have hoped to have a proper welcome for an old friend of Julia’s.” With that said, he let his eyes look at Louie. “I recognize you from Julia’s description … and from all the photos. But I’ve never had the actual pleasure.” He then extended his hand to Louie.

Taking it as offered, Louie smiled in a somewhat awkward manner. “No, we haven’t. But long overdue, wouldn’t you say?”

Hannah read the two men’s body language as that of silent gladiators. All put forward a face of cordiality but under the surface, there was tension that was almost palpable.

Jazlyn interjected herself into the situation but held a nervous, uncomfortable smile. “This was just an impromptu thing. I met them over at the media tent and recognized Mr. Woolridge.” She reached out and drew her Uncle in to hug him. “And I knew you were busy, so … but please, don’t let us change your schedule,” she said, stepping back but hanging onto one of his hands. Hannah watched as, within seconds, his body relaxed. He gazed down into Jazlyn’s eyes with clear devotion to her. Once again, Cate whispered to Hannah, “Somebody’s got somebody wrapped around her little finger. Man. I bet she gets away with murder around him.” Hannah bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud at her friend’s joking innuendo, but considered the possibilities of it. She watched with fascination, studying the emotions that flittered across Asa’s face. In a short span of time, he had gone from a man trying to intimidate and guard his territory to one willing to agree to the wishes of his niece. This led her to wonder about the extent of the relationship. She did not have long to consider the possibilities before Asa interrupted her thoughts with his booming voice.

“All right, then, I’ll leave you to your short tour. But remember, you’ve got a lot to do before tomorrow.”

Both Hannah and Cate caught the emphasis. He then leaned down to kiss Jazlyn on the cheek. “I’ve got to run into town. I have a meeting with the mayor, the governor, and then some journalists at the town hall. Everyone wants something today. I’ll be late. Good luck with the run.” Asa turned to the group. “If you will all excuse me.” With a brief nod, he turned and headed toward his office. Reaching the massive oak doors, he opened both sides to enter and disappeared through the center.
Power play
, Hannah thought to herself.

“He’s something, isn’t he?” Jazlyn said in a near-cooing voice as she led the group in the opposite direction.

“Yes. Something,” Louie whispered to Hannah as Buster and Cate walked ahead with Jazlyn. “I think I may have stirred the beehive a bit.”

Hannah nodded in agreement, but said nothing. Security cameras were everywhere. She had the feeling that whoever was watching monitored every movement with scrutiny. She made a concerted effort not to peer up at every camera they passed so as not to draw attention to her suspicions. She had no particular reason to believe this. There was nothing to affirm her theory. These two facts alone made her feel all the more disturbed.

As the group moved along the way to their next stop, Louie continued his quiet accusations. “The biggest mistake of Julia’s life was marrying that man. If it weren’t for him, she might still be alive,” he insisted.

Hannah measured Louie’s words. Granted, Asa was a force of nature. He was impressive, powerful, and aware of both facts. A man who had absolute control over every aspect of his world. That much was clear. Though he had not been welcoming, Hannah had seen nothing that suggested he would hurt Julia. She was, after all, an asset and a moneymaker. It would be interesting to know if the two were as committed to each other in private as they were in public.

Nevertheless, Hannah could see Louie’s jealousy boiling over. Asa had taken Julia from him. There were old wounds here. This type of pain never heals in the presence of the person who Louie perceived as causing it. He would not approve of any man for Julia, other than himself. Thus, his advice would prove jaded and not helpful in the investigation.

Making their way down a long corridor, Jazlyn came to a stop before a large door. The words ‘Studio One’ stenciled in black on the outside stood out. “I would ask that you please be careful not to touch or move anything. We’ve preserved everything just as it was,” she said as she opened the doors and led everyone inside.

“Uncle decided to keep Julia’s original set as it was when she was alive. We’re opening tomorrow’s show with an opening shot from here, then changing to digital using the new set. Uncle feels it will be cathartic for the old fans. It pays homage to Julia and then moves on to me.”

“Smart,” whispered Cate to Hannah, both of whom were looking over the original kitchen. “Lure ‘em in with the original look, then move on. Sort of shock treatment.”

“Umm,” was the affirmation that Hannah gave. She focused on everyone’s place in the operation, running everything through cycles in her mind.