A Roux of Revenge (5 page)

Lucky reached across the desk and retrieved a box of tissues. “Here. Blow your nose and wipe your eyes. I’m sure your mom felt bad as soon as she jumped on you. You’ll go home tonight, and she’ll apologize.”

“I guess,” Janie replied,
not sounding too sure of her mother’s apology at all.

“She will. I can’t imagine how much I’d worry if I had a young daughter and I was alone in the world. You’ll see.”

Janie sniffled and wiped her cheeks. “Thanks, Lucky. You’re the best.”

Lucky reached over and gave her a quick hug. “Stay here for a few minutes if you like. Meg and I will be fine.”

Janie nodded sheepishly. “Okay.
Just for a minute if that’s okay. I’ll be out front in a bit.”

Lucky slipped out the door and went down the hall to the kitchen.

Sage looked up. The counter was piled with chopped vegetables. “Everything okay?”

“Sure. She’ll be fine. Fight with Mom, that’s all.”

Sage smiled ruefully and returned to his work.

Chapter 7

L
UCKY FOUND
M
ARJORIE
and Cecily at the counter when she returned. Meg had already filled their order of tea and croissants while other customers had paid and left. Lucky quickly cleared away
the cups, saucers and dishes, dropping them into a large plastic bin, and wiped off the counter. She approached the sisters.

“More tea?”

“No dear, we’re fine,” Marjorie replied. “We need to get to the shop.”

“You’re earlier than usual today,” Lucky observed.

“Yes. We decided that with all these new people coming through town, we’d have a bit more business.”

The bell over the
door rang, and an older gentleman in casual clothes stepped in. He approached the counter and took a seat one stool away from Cecily. Cecily, always friendly and outgoing, smiled and said hello.

“How do you do?” he replied, smiling in their direction.

“Would you like some coffee to start?” Lucky asked the new arrival.

“Yes. I’d love some.” He checked the blackboard on the wall. “How
about a bowl of that pumpkin rice soup?”

“Sure,” Lucky smiled. “We have some very fresh bakery rolls in today too.”

“That would be great.” He smiled charmingly, first at Lucky and then again at Cecily.

Lucky noticed Cecily quickly checking her hair as though concerned about her appearance. She sat a little straighter on her stool while her sister Marjorie, on her other side, glanced
coolly at the newcomer.

“Are you here for the Harvest Festival?” Cecily asked the stranger.

“Uh, no. But I’ve heard about the festival. Is it interesting?”

“Oh yes. It’s quite fun. Lots of things for the little kids with Halloween and all, but the smaller local farms bring their organic produce and handmade goods—all sorts of things to buy.

“Do you live in the area?” Cecily chirped.

“Actually, no. I live closer to Bennington, but I like to take day trips. Now that I’m retired I have way too much time on my hands.”

“Oh, how nice. To be retired, I mean. What sort of work did you do?”

Lucky set the bowl of soup and a bread plate with a roll and butter on the placemat. She caught Marjorie giving her sister a discreet nudge with her elbow. Marjorie, the more reserved
of the two, was undoubtedly letting her sister know she was being too forward with a strange man. Cecily ignored the signal and continued to smile.

“Well, I’m an . . . I
was
an insurance investigator. In a way maybe I still am.” He smiled sheepishly. “Can’t teach an old dog and all that. Can’t really let it go.” He reached across the empty stool and offered his hand. “Joe Conrad.”

Cecily
shook the proffered hand. “I’m Cecily Winters . . . and this is my sister Marjorie.”

Joe Conrad half stood respectfully. “Very pleased to meet you both. And do you ladies live in Snowflake?”

“Yes, we do,” Cecily said. Marjorie sniffed audibly. Cecily continued, “We have the Off Broadway ladies’ shop just down the street.”

“Ah, I see. Well, you’re very lucky. It’s a lovely little town.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Cecily simpered.

Joe picked up his spoon and tasted the soup. He looked up at Lucky. “This is delicious.” He continued to sample the soup and broke open the roll. He turned to Cecily. “You know . . . I heard . . .” He trailed off. “Well, never mind that.”

“What is it? You were about to say something?”

Joe Conrad cleared his throat. “Well, I overheard a conversation
when I stopped at the market a little while ago. Something about a man found dead in a car crash. Have you heard about this?”

Cecily gasped. “No. I haven’t. Have you?” She looked at Lucky.

Lucky was privy to the information only because Nate had stopped in at the Spoonful the night before. It was his habit to drop by when the restaurant was closed to talk to Jack. Nate respected the older
man and enjoyed hearing Jack’s perspective on things. She wasn’t about to give out any details of Nate’s plans to identify the dead man. “I had heard a rumor, but that’s all I know,” she answered diplomatically.

“Ah.” Joe Conrad nodded. He seemed lost in thought.

Janie returned to the front room through the swinging door. She headed to one of the large tables and began helping Meg clear
away dishes.

Joe spoke. “I wonder if you could point me in the direction of the local constabulary? I’d like to introduce myself.”

“Be happy to,” Lucky said. “Nate Edgerton is our Chief of Police and the station is just a few blocks away at the corner of Ash Street and Green. If he’s not there, you can always leave a message for him.”

“I’ll do that. Can you recommend a place to stay
for a couple of days?”

Cecily looked at Lucky for confirmation. “Well, there’s always the Resort—the Snowflake Lodge. It’s open all year, but you might like the old Drake House better. That’s what we call it—it’s a bed-and-breakfast. Very comfortable. You can’t miss it. It’s a big yellow house with white shutters at the edge of town just before you reach the Mohawk Trail.”

“Wonderful.
That should do fine.” Joe Conrad stood. “That soup was excellent, by the way,” he said to Lucky. “I’ll definitely be back.”

Lucky smiled. “We have a fabulous chef. Come back soon.”

“Ladies.” He turned to the sisters again. “Thanks so much for your good advice.”

Cecily twittered. “Do stop in and see us at the shop.”

“I will do that. Thanks again.” Joe Conrad turned away and headed
to the cash register to pay his bill. He spoke a few words to Jack and then left.

“What a nice man,” Cecily remarked when the stranger had gone. She leaned across the counter and whispered. “And so attractive.”

Marjorie pursed her lips and remained silent.

“Yes,” Lucky said. “He seemed like a very nice man. I wonder if he’s in Snowflake for some other reason than just passing through?”

“Oh,” Cecily gasped. “Do you think he’s hot on the trail of a criminal? Is that what he meant when he said he ‘can’t let it go’?” Her eyes grew wide. “How exciting.”

Lucky suppressed a smile. Marjorie had a stern expression on her face, but Cecily had definitely found Joe Conrad fascinating.

Chapter 8

W
HEN THE LUNCHTIME
rush slowed a few hours later, and Lucky had a chance to breathe, she realized Elias hadn’t stopped in. Whenever he could, he would come by for lunch. Perhaps he had been
too busy today. But surely if Elias had already hired another doctor, his schedule should have freed up. She cast her mind back to the morning he was at the counter. A sense of unease started to form in her chest. Something had been bothering him that day. She had noticed, but he’d left so quickly she hadn’t had the chance to question him further.

“Jack.” She called to her grandfather. “I’m
taking a break. I’ll be back in half an hour.”

“Go right ahead, my girl. It’s five bells now. Should be quiet for a while.”

Lucky pulled off her apron and hung it on a hook in the hallway. The Spoonful’s aprons were yellow with the design of a steaming bowl of soup in blue. Her mother, Martha, had designed these and Lucky was determined never to change them. It was their logo, as was the
blue and yellow neon sign in the window that her Dad had created to echo the colors and design of the apron.

Lucky walked through the short alleyway that led to Broadway and turned the corner on Maple. The Snowflake Clinic was close, around the corner and next to her apartment building. When she reached the heavy glass front door, she spotted Rosemary, the Clinic’s receptionist, at the desk
with a phone to her ear. A few patients were waiting in the outer room.

Rosemary raised a hand in greeting when she noticed Lucky. She was nodding and obviously listening to a caller. She pointed Lucky in the direction of the door to the inner rooms to indicate that Elias was in his office and she should go right in. Rosemary turned away to grab a pen and started jotting down a message.

Lucky did really want to see Elias, but she also had to admit to a great deal of curiosity about the man discovered in the wreck. She tapped lightly on the office door as she stepped inside. Elias was seated behind his desk, leaning back in the chair. A beautiful dark-haired woman sat at the front edge of his desk, facing him. Lucky’s greeting froze on her lips. The woman’s position and body language
were so intimate.

“Lucky!” Elias stood, forcing the woman to move away, which she did slowly and reluctantly.

Lucky stared silently at Elias for a few seconds. She was taken aback at the scene. Nothing was actually going on, but there was no mistaking the energy in the room.

“I . . . uh . . . just stopped in to visit.”

Elias cleared his throat. “Um . . . good.” He stared at her
for a moment. “Lucky, I’d like you to meet Paula Sarens, our new MD at the Clinic. Paula . . . Lucky Jamieson.”

The two women regarded each other silently for a moment. Lucky nodded. A smile played at the corner of Paula’s lips.

Lucky broke the silence. “Very nice to meet you. Elias mentioned a new doctor would be coming. I just didn’t realize it had already happened.” She turned to Elias
with a quizzical look.

“How nice to meet you too.” The woman’s voice was husky and deep. Her smile, Lucky thought, was sleek and feline.

Elias fidgeted. He seemed uncomfortable.

Lucky turned to him, doing her best to maintain a neutral tone. “If you’re busy, it can wait. I was just curious about Nate’s discovery yesterday.”

“Oh. Yes. Well . . .” Elias trailed off.

“We can catch
up later.”

“That might be a good idea,” Elias responded.

Lucky glanced at Paula, who continued to smile. Her look was a cool survey, as though Lucky had been judged and found wanting.

“I’ll speak with you later,” Lucky replied. She turned away and headed back to the waiting room. Elias followed her.

“I’m sorry, Lucky. We can catch up tonight. I’ve just been so busy. I’ll give you
a call.”

“Yes, you do seem busy.” She did her best to keep a sarcastic tone from her voice but doubted she was successful. She forced a smile and walked through the waiting area to the front door. She didn’t bother to wave to Rosemary.

Chapter 9