Kee Patterbee - Hannah Starvling 01 - The Chef at the Water's Edge (7 page)

“Take a look at this.” Hannah handed her the phone. “What do you see?”

Cate studied the photos for a moment but shook her head. “What am I looking for?”

“Depth.”

Cate frowned hard as she studied the photos harder. “The drawer’s deeper than the flatware organizer.”

“Uh-huh. I need a moment to get at it. Watch the cameras. Text me with your cell when they turn my way.”

“Got it.”

As Hannah continued with the illusion of taking notes and walking about the set, Hannah pretended to take photos. Once the cameras turned away, Cate sent Hannah a repeat text. The sound indicating it had come let Hannah know she had a few seconds to work. She opened the drawer, removed the flatware organizer, and set it on the floor behind the kitchen island. A second buzz from Cate let her know the camera was turning back her way. She re-positioned herself to appear as if she were examining the sink. Another text, another moment to move. Hannah saw a small, nail sized groove to the rear of the drawer bottom, pried it up, and lifted it out. Another text and another deceptive move later, Hannah glanced over the inside contents. After a few more repeat actions, she had returned everything to its proper order and once again walked over to Cate. “Time to go,” Hannah said, and the two exited the studio into the hall.

“What did you get?” Cate inquired.

“A small safe. It’s mounted to the base and has a particular lock type.”

Cate frowned. “That presents a problem. No time to pick it. No way to smuggle it out. No idea where to start looking for the key. What now?”

“Not sure yet. Let’s get the boys and make our way out. I’ve got some things to think about.”

Cate agreed. The women made their way to the studio. Then they located Louie and Buster.

“Y’all ready to hit the road?” Hannah asked through a false smile.

“I’ve been ready…” Louie countered. He pointed in the direction from which they came. “This way, I think.”

As they walked toward the front, Cate took Louie’s arm in hers. She then put her head on his shoulder. “I know this hasn’t been an easy day for you,” she said in a quiet tone. Buster then clapped a hand on Louie’s other shoulder. “Yeah, man. We sort of ran over your feelings today. Forgive me?”

Louie smiled through a hint of sadness. He pulled his arm free of Cate and then draped them across the shoulders of his friends. “It’s all good,” he assured them.

As the group opened the door to enter the front area before they exited, Vera appeared before them, her head tipped down, her brow drawn in and her lips pursed. Through her oversized, black-framed glasses, she stared. “Why are you here?”

The group turned to look at Vera. Hannah was already evaluating her body language.

Composed, but not as antagonistic as before. Observing. Contemplating. Assessing
, Hanna clicked off in her head before filing it in her mental storage.

Cate was the first to recover. She made an immediate attempt to deflect suspicion. “What do you mean?”

Vera stared ahead, unflinching. Her eyes darted between each member of the group before coming full circle back to Cate. “I’ve been watching you. This place has cameras, which you are no doubt aware of.” Looking to Louie, she said, “You, I recognize. Food Critic magazine. Julia’s old friend.” She then looked at Hannah.

“But the rest of you, you’re not journalists. Why are you here?”

“Of course we are. We’re his assistants. Interns,” Buster said, turning on his full charm, and answering in his most convincing voice.

“Interns? How old are you? Thirty?” She turned her eyes toward Hannah. “And with that hat? I do not think so.”

Buster’s face displayed sudden shock. Vera’s guess had hit hard. His vanity and pride hurt, he stammered, “Twenty-seven.” He pointed to Cate and Hannah. “They’re over thirty.”

Cate frowned. Turning to Buster, she put her hands on her hips and answered in an irritated voice. “Thirty-one, thank you!”

Vera stiffened and peered harder toward all. “How many thirtyish something interns do you know?” She then darted her eyes toward Louie. “You. Why do you keep staring at me? Do I know you?”

Drawn out of his daze, Louie shook his head. “No, Ms. ... Bessinger, was it?” He then offered her his hand.

Vera tilted her head to one side and studied the man before her. Hannah watched as the woman sized Louie up.
Cautious
, she ticked off once again.

After a moment, Vera took the offer and returned the gesture. Eased by her action, Louie provided a pleasant smile. “Pleasure to meet you.” Vera nodded, but said nothing. It was clear to all that she was waiting for an explanation, which Louie proceeded to give.

“I am here on an assignment,” Louie explained as Vera looked at him in skepticism. He then looked to the others before turning back to her. “But you are right. We are also here for another reason.”

Vera remained silent and unmoving. She watched as Louie furrowed his brow and drew in a breath before continuing. When he did speak, he laced his words with feelings of pain issued between pauses. “The truth is … I’ve always wondered about Julia’s death. It doesn’t feel right. Nothing about it makes sense. Where they found her by the water. She would not have been there. She was--”

Vera cut Louie off mid-sentence, her voice echoing with equal parts excitement, shock, and camaraderie. “Afraid of the water.”

Louie agreed. “Terrified.”

“Yes. She wouldn’t go near it without someone with her. Never.”

Louie smiled, intrigued by the sudden bond he shared with the young woman before him. “Now, that’s what I’m talking about!” he exclaimed, shaking and pointing his finger into the air for emphasis. Locking eyes with Vera, he nodded. “That’s why I’m … we’re here. It’s an opportunity.”

For the first time since they encountered each other, Vera smiled. She was bobbing her head as she took in Louie’s confession. Hannah watched as the woman’s body relaxed and the tension fell from around her. She also could tell by Vera’s reactions that she, too, had many unanswered questions. Now, she had someone to share them with. Her instant agreement also hinted that those questions been somewhat of a burden for her to carry over the past year. As such, she was ready to accept even the broadest of agreement, so long as it pointed to the common goal of finding out what happened to Julia. This even to strangers.

Vera moved forward and hugged Louie tight as tears welled in her eyes. “I was beginning to think I was alone in my suspicions.” Once she released him, she looked at him through the watery glaze. “I know something happened. Nothing about it adds up. It’s like it was all rushed and swept under the rug. Julia deserves better than that.”

Louie was beaming. Hannah could tell that it came from a mixed bag of feelings. Vera looked much like Julia. Perhaps she had been a surrogate child since she had none of her own. Maybe Louie was seeing Vera now as Julia and his offspring in the fantasy life he created but had never realized. Beyond this, she had been close to Julia. For him, maybe Vera was a stand-in for himself. Working beside her. Being there when she needed her. Creating. Seeing her every day. Now, more than anything, Vera was a compatriot in arms. She had reaffirmed his own suspicions. Julia’s end came, not by some natural means, but by something foul. But all this would have to wait. Hannah had questions herself and this case, the one she had been so eager to dismiss before, now just got interesting. She felt a tingle all over her body that she always got when a case was proving itself to be more than superficial. “Hannah Starvling,” she said, offering her hand to Vera. “We need to talk. But not here.” She then darted her eyes upward to point out the security camera. “Smile for the camera.”

Understanding her meaning, Vera smiled and shook Hannah’s hand. “Where?’

“My place, “Louie stated. “Text me when you can. I’ll send you the address.”

Louie reached into his pocket, produced a business card, and slipped it into her hand. Vera looked it over, nodded and smiled for the camera. She gestured toward the exit and walked the group to the door. As they filed past, Hannah and Louie were the last to exit. Vera whispered to both, “Give me an hour. Then send it. I should be able to make it sometime later. I’ll let you know when.” She placed her hand on Louie’s arm as he moved by. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” He squeezed her hand. “No. Thank you.” He then walked out the door as Vera stood watching.

***

Later at Louie’s, Cate watched as he paced the floor. He then checked his watch for the fifth time in as many minutes. Speaking in a fast, worried voice, he glanced toward the window where Cate stood looking out and said, “She should have been here fifteen minutes ago. You don’t think they were checking her texts, do you?”

Cate shook her head. “I doubt it. It’s clear she hadn’t told anybody what she thought. She’s just running a little behind.”

“How do you know? I mean, we are talking about Asa. You saw him. He’s a control freak. What if Julia was planning on leaving him? What about this supposed affair? What if she found out and he killed her? Or what if he had her killed? Then he would be all paranoid and stuff. Checking emails. Everything. Maybe that is why he kept her around. She was close to Julia. Maybe he thinks she knows something and is trying to find out. She could be in danger. She could be--”

“Pulling into the driveway as we speak,” Cate said, pointing out the window.

“You can relax now.” Hannah gave her new friend an assuring smile. She walked over and put her arm on his shoulder. “Listen, I realize you are hoping for some definitive answers. But let’s just take this slow, okay? She reached out, which is good. But once that feeling of not being alone wears off, who knows? It might overwhelm her. She might want to backtrack. As much love as you two share for Julia, she just might not be ready yet. She doesn’t know us, just that we are looking into the death of someone she cared for.” She then looked him square in the eyes. “It might not be just her that is in over their heads, you understand? So maybe I should do the talking.”

Louie looked at Hannah with great pain in his eyes. “I understand,” he agreed. “I am too close, I guess.”

Showing a smile of true affection, Buster interjected. “Tell you what, big guy. How about I make us dinner while you guys talk?”

“No thanks, dude. I still remember the last time.”

“Okay, well, by make, I mean I’ll have Chinese delivered. Good enough?”

They all laughed, breaking the intense tension that had built up in the room. Their moment of relief halted by three sharp raps on the door. “I’ll get it,” Cate said.

Cate opened the door just as Vera knocked again. “Oh, great. You made it,” Cate said, smiling. Come on in. Did you have any problems finding the house?”

Smiling with a twinge of uncertainty, Vera held up her cell. “Just a little. I have GPS, but service can be spotty.”

As Vera stepped inside, Cate took her jacket and placed it on the hooks Louie had mounted on the wall. Once again spying Hannah’s hat hanging there, Vera asked, “I don’t understand the hat. Or those lenses.”

Turning to look at it, Cate said. “No one does. It’s just a Hannah thing.”

Looking at Vera, Cate noticed that she had changed before coming over. Her formal business attire of earlier had given way to a much more comfortable look. She now wore a black pullover, jeans, and sneakers. Her glasses hung from the center of her collar and her hair now hung free, released from the ponytail of earlier. Cate could now see what Louie had noted. Under these changes, she resembled Julia, except for her slight accent, which escaped on occasion. “We’re all in Louie’s office.”

Cate led Vera back to the others who sat around a small table looking over papers from Louie’s file on Julia. Critic, who lay by Louie’s side, rose to meet the new arrival. Seeing the mastiff, Vera stopped and stiffened, despite the rapid wagging of his entire tail and hindquarters. Louie pointed down, and the canine followed the command to sit. “Don’t be nervous. He doesn’t bite,” Louie assured her, patting Critic on the head. Vera looked at the dog, whose tail still swished as he sat. She took a slow walk over to the animal and put out her hand for him to sniff. After a whiff, he lowered his head in anticipation of a pat or two. Instead, he received a vigorous scratch behind his ears, much to his great pleasure. “He is a true sweetheart,” she praised.

Before sitting, everyone exchanged greetings and introductions anew. Louie put on some soothing, ambient music. “Better?” he inquired of her.

“Yes. Thank you. I love this type of music. How did you know?”

“Lucky guess. It also happens to be my favorite. We were planning on ordering some Chinese. Would you like some?”

Smiling, Vera paused for a moment. “That would be nice.”

“Good. Because otherwise, Buster here has threatened to cook,” Cate said, thumbing at her cousin. Buster reached over and gave his cousin a light punch in the arm. “I may not be able to cook but I can dial with the best of ‘em. What’s everyone having?” The exchange brought about tension-relieving chuckles from all. So much so that even Critic began to bark, making the laughter last longer.

Cate, who was sitting next to her, was the first to regain control. “Oh, I needed that.”

“I believe we all did,” Hannah said, snickering one more time before clearing her throat. She took the time to study Vera. She could tell the woman was much more comfortable than she had been when she entered the room. Still, Hannah wanted to reassure her that they were on her side and working toward the same goal. “I just want you to know that anything you say, anything you want to tell us, it won’t go beyond this room. It stays with us.”

Vera looked at Hannah. Just as Hannah assessed her, she was mirroring that action. After a second, the corners of her lips turned up. “Thank you.” Hannah could tell that Vera had just judged her, and she had made the grade. Vera’s face then flashed emotions in rapid succession. Hannah detected sadness, and self-doubt.

“I’m not sure why I came,” she replied in a gentle tone. “After you said what you said...” Looking at Louie, she added, “I guess I’m just tired of feeling alone. I don’t know whom I can trust. I considered backing out.”