Murder in the Pearl District (Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Series Book 5) Read online

  Kelly spent a few minutes studying it and then looked at Sophie. “This sounds wonderful, and I think you were very wise not to try and compete with Donatella by preparing a traditional Italian meal. A platter of several kinds of cheese with nuts and fruit is a perfect appetizer and everyone loves baguettes. We can slice them right before we serve it. French onion soup is always a welcome addition to a meal, a salad from your garden, coq au vin, and although you have chocolate mousse listed for dessert, may I suggest something different?”

  “Of course. What are you thinking of? By the way, although I have the ingredients for everything else, I do need to go to the bakery tomorrow and get fresh baguettes, so I can get whatever you need.”

  “The dinner is fairly rich with the French onion soup with its crusted crouton and cheese topping and also the coq au vin, the French dish of chicken and vegetables that’s swimming in a rich gravy type of sauce. I noticed you have a lime tree in your yard, and I saw there were a number of limes on it. I have a recipe for a terrific frozen key lime pie that’s very light, and I think it would be a nice way to end the meal. Would that be all right with you?”

  “Absolutely. Let me know what you need for it, and I’ll pick it up when I get the baguettes.”

  “I’ll nose around your kitchen this afternoon while we’re getting ready. You probably have everything, but I want to double check. Other than the limes, I’m sure your kitchen has pretty much all the standard ingredients I’ll need.”

  “Perfect. Let’s get started.”

  CHAPTER 3

  Kelly and Sophie spent the next several hours setting the table, arranging the glasses, and selecting various different wines which they placed on the sideboard, making decisions about timing, serving, and all of the other things that go into hosting a successful dinner party.

  “Kelly, don’t worry about doing the dishes tomorrow night. I’d like you to join us when you can. I have someone coming in early the day after tomorrow to clean up everything. I want you to just walk away from the inevitable mess that will be in the kitchen.”

  “I’d love to meet your guests, but I’ll have to see how it goes. It’s been my experience that if anything can go wrong in the kitchen, it probably will. Having said that I’ll make a promise to you, I’ll do my best to make sure you and Donatella enjoy your special evening. Speaking of her, I’m very curious about Donatella. I looked her up on the Internet and browsed through several cookbooks she’s written, but I didn’t find any personal information about her. Being a close friend of hers, I’d love for you to tell me a little about her.”

  Sophie was quiet for a moment, evidently deciding how much she should tell Kelly about Donatella. Finally she spoke, “Dede, that’s what her close friends call her, is a very private person and with good reason. She was married to a man she loved very much, but he couldn’t handle her success and divorced her. He married a woman who is very happy to have the man in the relationship be the center of attention.

  “After the divorce, Dede borrowed heavily to finance Mangia! Mangia!, and it’s become enormously successfully.” Sophie took a deep breath and continued, “The tragedy of Dede’s life is that her daughter by her ex-husband suffers from a severe developmental disability. She will never be able to live by herself or attend a regular school. Francesca is fourteen now, but unfortunately she only has the mind of a three year-old. It is a very sad situation. Her ex-husband has remained a good father to Francesca, taking her a day or two a week, but he can’t afford to help with the round the clock nursing care and other things Francesca requires. She’s a very sweet little girl with the body of a young woman but the mind of a small child.” She shook her head from side to side with a sad and forlorn look on her face.

  “Francesca is absolutely the single most important thing in Dede’s life. That is why she works so hard. She has to pay for all the special care Francesca requires and believe me, caring for her is enormously expensive. She does not want anyone to know about Francesca and guards her daughter’s private life like a mother lioness.”

  “Well, that certainly explains why I couldn’t find out anything about her. From the photos I saw, Donatella is quite beautiful. Is there presently a man in her life?”

  “Yes. She has been seeing Mitch Ramos for a year or so. You’ll meet him tomorrow night. He’s the owner of the television station that is producing Dede’s show, Dining with Donatella. I like him, and I think their relationship has become quite serious. She told me he’s the first man who has shown a willingness to accept Francesca for what she is. That characteristic is extremely important to Dede. I’ve never had children, but I can certainly understand her feelings.”

  “Something you said interests me. The man she is seeing is the one who owns the television station which will produce her new program. How lucky for her!”

  “Yes,” Sophie said, “She had never thought about having a television program even though it seems like there’s a cooking show being broadcast every time you turn on the television. When people found out Mitch was seeing Dede, they suggested he hire her to do a cooking show. That’s how it all came about. Some people think the reason that Dede started seeing him was so she could get her own cooking show, but that simply is not true. Chef Pierre DuBois, who owns Le Toque restaurant, has been telling anyone who will listen that he was the first one to approach Mitch about a cooking show, but Mitch turned him down and instead, gave the show to Dede.”

  “I’m not familiar with his name. Is he a well-known chef in the area?”

  “Yes, certainly here in Portland. Obviously he is French, and he is a very good chef. I think the reason Mitch didn’t have him do the show is that Pierre is very pompous, and the people who know him well, even his own staff, don’t like him. I hear he has a very bad temper and is a very jealous person.”

  “Well, I’m sure Donatella’s show will be a huge success, and thanks for telling me about her daughter. My heart goes out to any parent who has to struggle with raising a child that suffers from a severe handicap. I’m really looking forward to meeting her.”

  “You will love her. Everyone does. Her staff idolizes her, and she has fans all over the world. I’m honored to call her my friend.”

  “She’s probably just as honored to have you host this celebration dinner. I’ll make sure to do you proud.”

  “Kelly, I never doubted it. That’s why I wanted you and no one else to rescue me when my caterer cancelled on me.”

  CHAPTER 4

  “I hope you don’t mind, Kelly, but I always let Amelie have the run of the house when I’m gone. I have a good security system, but I think she’s far better than it is.”

  “Rebel will be fine doing the same. One look at those two dogs, and anyone who might be thinking about entering this house would back out as fast as they could. I’ll be ready to go once I feed him and let him out.”

  It was a warm August evening in Portland as dusk slowly turned to darkness. The streets were filled with people taking part in the “Gallery Art Walk,” a monthly event when the art galleries in the Pearl District stayed open until 10:00 and served wine and cheese to the gallery guests. It had become a very important night to the art community with many of the galleries making the majority of their monthly sales on those nights.

  As they crossed the street, Kelly saw the words “Mangia! Mangia!” written in bold gold letters on a canopy over the entrance to Donatella’s Italian restaurant. “Mrs. Marchant, I’m so glad you’re able to join us tonight,” the handsome young Italian doorman said.

  “I couldn’t ask a friend of mine to come to Portland without treating her to dinner at Mangia! Mangia! You know it’s my favorite restaurant.”

  “Mrs. DeLuca is in her office. I know she’ll want to see you.”

  “Thanks, Tony. I’ll tell Carlotta to let her know I’m here.”

  As soon as they walked into the restaurant a beautiful young Italian woman greeted Sophie. “It’s good to see you, Mrs. Marchant. Please, follow me. I saved y
our usual table for you.”

  “Thank you, Carlotta. I’d like you to meet a friend of mine, Kelly Reynolds. This is her first time here.”

  “In that case we definitely want to make her dining experience with us unforgettable. We’ll try even harder than usual,” Carlotta said, gesturing towards a table located along the far back wall of the restaurant. As she handed them menus, she said laughingly, “Mrs. Marchant, I’m probably wasting this menu on you. I’m sure you could recite it forwards and backwards.”

  “I’m sure I could, but even so, I still like to look at it. Every time I come here I promise myself that I will order something new and different, but I never do.”

  “Enjoy. Stefano will be your waiter tonight. Ah, here he is. I’ll check back with you later, and I’ll let Mrs. DeLuca know you’ve arrived.”

  When Stefano had left after taking their wine order, Kelly said, “I’m dying of curiosity. What do you usually order? It all looks so very, very good.”

  “I think you will find that everything on the menu is wonderful. Even though I always order the same thing, I have been known to take a bite or two off of my dinner partner’s plate, but done so purely in the name of research,” she said laughing. “I can’t get past the stuffed squash blossoms, clam linguini, the vegetable platter, and for desert, tiramisu. I know the traditional Italian meal has five courses with a main course following the pasta course, but my stomach simply can’t take in that much food. I’ve learned this is perfect for me. And what looks good to you?”

  “I’m going to have the bruschetta with sautéed mushrooms and clam linguine. If the vegetable platter will feed two, I can share it with you, and I’m also going to have the tiramisu.”

  “You won’t be disappointed, I promise.” She looked up at Stefano as he placed their wine glasses on the table and they gave him their orders. “Thank you, Stefano.”

  Kelly looked around the restaurant and found it hard not to compare the warm inviting brick walls, the gleaming silverware, and the crisp white tablecloths to her small coffee shop with wood siding located on the pier that jutted out into Cedar Bay. While fine art from the local galleries in the Pearl District graced the walls of Mangia! Mangia!, in her coffee shop the only things gracing the walls were historical photographs of the city’s past. Fresh flowers in crystal vases had been placed on each table in the restaurant and the soft light given off by the candles on each table made every woman beautiful and every man handsome.

  Even with all of this, I still have a better feeling for my coffee shop and the people who come there. I know them all, and I deeply care about them. They’re like family to me. From the looks of the people in here, they probably wouldn’t feel at home and enjoy Kelly’s Koffee Shop. Their loss. I have to admit that while this is lovely, I’m homesick for Kelly’s Koffee Shop.

  They were halfway through the antipasto when a beautiful dark-haired woman who Kelly recognized from her photos as Donatella DeLuca approached their table. “Sophie, how good to see you.” Sophie stood up and they exchanged the traditional European cheek kisses. Donatella turned to Kelly. “You must be Kelly Reynolds. Sophie speaks so highly of you, and I appreciate your coming to Portland to help Sophie out. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow’s dinner,” she said in a soft voice with a noticeable Italian accent.

  “Mrs. DeLuca, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Kelly said, extending her hand. “I’m one of your biggest fans. I have all of your cookbooks and use them frequently in my coffee shop. I realize my little coffee shop in Cedar Bay is nothing like this large and beautiful restaurant, but many of your recipes have found their way onto my menu.”

  “Good food is good food no matter where it is served. I would love to stay and talk, but I’m having a few issues in the kitchen that require my attention. Buon appetito, and I’ll see you at 6:00 tomorrow evening.”

  “I can’t imagine trying to run a restaurant like this. I know how much it requires just to run my coffee shop. Not only is this much bigger, but I don’t have to deal with fine dining, wine, and a large number of employees. I’m sure there are also guests who probably consider themselves to be far more important than the ones I serve in our small town.”

  “Yes, that is true. Dede has told me just when she gets the kitchen help all working as a team, there will be a problem with a supplier or a guest or someone who has had too much wine and needs to feel important by finding fault with a bartender or server. She said it’s always something, and yet even with all of that, there is very little turnover among her staff. I recognize almost everyone, and I believe that says something about the owner.”

  They ate the rest of their dinner and talked of this and that. The busboy had just cleared their table when Stefano placed a limoncello drink in front of each of them. “Compliments of Mrs. DeLuca. This is a digestif drink that is traditionally served after an Italian meal. It is Mrs. DeLuca’s favorite.”

  “Thank you. It looks wonderful. And I must tell you the clam linguine was probably the best I have ever had,” Kelly said. When Stefano had left the table she said, “Sophie, I need to use the restroom. Where would I find it?”

  “It’s down that hall past the kitchen. At the end take a right. You can’t miss it.”

  Kelly stood up and began walking down the hall. When she was halfway down it, she heard raised voices coming from behind the door that led to the kitchen. She recognized Donatella’s voice speaking in an obviously angry tone of voice. “I don’t care what you think. That is not how I want that dish cooked. I will not have my dishes changed or altered in any way, shape, or form. If you want to stay on as sous chef in my restaurant, you will cook the dishes exactly as I tell you, not how you think they should be cooked. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  “Is that a threat? Are you telling me that if I don’t cook something your way, you’ll fire me?”

  “Take it however you want, but I will tell you this, if you want to continue your position as the sous chef at Mangia! Mangia! you will cook every dish exactly as I want it cooked. I don’t want to have this discussion again.” Her voice faded as she evidently walked away.

  Kelly then heard the muffled words “Ti odio” angrily repeated several times by the person who had been speaking with Donatella. She had no idea what the words meant, but from the man’s tone of voice, she knew they weren’t words of love or friendship. Although Sophie had told her everyone loved Donatella, from what she had just overheard it seemed like there was one person who didn’t.

  CHAPTER 5

  The next day flew by for Kelly and Sophie, both intent on making the upcoming dinner party for Donatella a success. As the hour of 6:00 approached, Kelly put the finishing touches on the cheese platters, while Sophie changed clothes and prepared to greet her guests.

  Three hours later, Kelly removed the frozen key lime pie dessert plates from the dining room table, stacked the dishes for the kitchen help Sophie had hired to clean up in the morning, and put the last of the food away. As she walked into the dining room, she was met with a round of applause. Stunned, she looked at Sophie. “Please, Kelly, join us. I introduced you to everyone earlier, but we want you to know how wonderful the dinner was. I speak for everybody when I say thank you.”

  Donatella stood up. “Kelly, that was one of the finest meals I’ve ever had.” She turned to the other guests, “Please join me in toasting Kelly Reynolds. I know I speak for all of us when I say I wished we lived closer to Cedar Bay so we could eat at Kelly’s Koffee Shop. Now I see why Sophie spoke so highly of you and was so confident that you could fill in for her caterer. Thank you for making this one of the best nights of my life!”

  A handsome man with greying temples was seated next to Donatella. Sophie had introduced him to Kelly earlier in the evening. He was Mitch Ramos, the owner of the television station and the man Sophie had mentioned was very close with Donatella. He stood up and raised his glass. “I would be remiss if I didn’t toast the woman everyone in the United States will be talking about a
fter tomorrow’s television debut of Dining with Donatella. I know I speak for all of us when I say how excited we are for the inaugural show.” He turned to Donatella, “Dede, here in American show business there is an expression that means ‘do well.’ We say ‘break a leg,’ and that’s what we all wish for you, metaphorically speaking. I know the show will even surpass the amazingly favorable media buzz it’s already received. And now I think it’s time to end this evening. I don’t want the star of the show to have bags under her eyes from staying out too late. Ladies, gentlemen, I think it’s time to leave.”

  When the last guest had left, Sophie turned to Kelly and said, “I can never thank you enough. Everyone had a wonderful time, and the food was incredible. You really are a very talented cook, and your frozen key lime pie was a perfect way to end the dinner.”

  “Oh, thank you, Sophie. I’ve never done anything quite like this. You never told me specifically where the recipes came from. They really were good.”

  Sophie smiled sheepishly. “I told you they were mine, cherié, and each one was created by me. I love to cook, but I’ve never had the confidence to prepare and serve a meal to a large group of friends. I like to experiment when I’m cooking for myself. I pretend I’m cooking for a large number of people and they love my food. I know, it’s très silly, but it’s my little secret.”

  “Well, if you ever want to cook for a crowd of people, you’ll always have a job at Kelly’s Koffee Shop. Those were excellent recipes, plus what I liked about them was they were fairly simple. I’m sure everyone thought each item on the menu had been slaved over for hours. Very well done.”

  “Merci. You must be very tired, I know I am. Dede invited us to be her guests at the filming tomorrow at 10:00 in the morning. After that I thought we would spend a little time in the Pearl District, exploring. You mentioned on the phone that you had always wanted to see it. I hope you’ll spend tomorrow night here at my home and then go back to Cedar Bay the next day.”