Read Online 3 Service for Two by Kate Kingsbury - Free Book Online
Authors: Kate Kingsbury
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aware of that, Baxter. That’s why I want to read it.”
His eyebrow twitched, but he merely gave a stiff nod of his head. “I will be happy to lend it to you.”
Satisfied, she put the book back on the shelf. “I presume you will be attending Dr. McDuff’s rescheduled funeral in the morning?”
“Yes, madam. I shall be pleased to accompany you, if you wish.”
“That would be very nice, Baxter. Thank you. I will be ready shortly before eleven.” She turned to leave, but he stopped her with a polite cough.
“Excuse me for asking, madam, but I was wondering if you learned anything more about the matter with the menu?”
“No, I’m afraid I didn’t.” It was Cecily’s turn to frown. “I questioned both Michel and Mrs. Chubb. I didn’t tell them why, of course, but neither of them has talked to anyone about the menu. In fact, Michel was quite offended that I should even consider the possibility.”
“If I may say so, madam, Michel gets offended rather easily.”
Cecily smiled. “Yes, he does, I have to agree. But in this case I admit he was justified.”
“What does the constable think about it?”
“I haven’t told him. In the first place, it could have nothing to do with the murder at all. And in the second place, if it does, I want to know the connection before I tell the police anything.”
A gleam appeared in Baxter’s eye, a look that Cecily knewwell. “If I’m not mistaken, madam, that could be construed as concealing evidence. A criminal offense, I believe?”
“Not,” Cecily said firmly, “unless it has been established as evidence. And we won’t know unless we establish that fact ourselves, is that not so?”
He stared at her for several moments, appearing to turn over suitable rejoinders in his mind. Having apparently failed, he said in a resigned voice, “I trust you will observe the proper procedures when attempting to establish such a fact?”
Cecily grimaced. “Why, Baxter, you know very well you can trust me to follow proper procedures. How could I not with such a stalwart observer constantly at my side?”
“I am only fulfilling my promise to your late husband, madam. Somewhat unsuccessfully, I’m afraid, which isn’t entirely my fault.”
She studied his hurt expression for a moment, then relented. “You are quite right, Baxter. I’m sorry I’m such a burden to you. I will do my best to be less adventurous, though I can’t promise. Sometimes things happen to me without my provocation.”
“If I might say so, madam, it might help if you allowed events to take their proper course instead of attempting to resolve them yourself.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “Someone has to take the initiative. People are mistrustful of the police; they will tell them nothing for fear of being involved. Whereas they know me, and will talk to me.”
Baxter smoothed a hand over his thick dark hair, a gesture that always betrayed his tension. “With whom are you proposing to discuss this business of the menu?”
“I haven’t decided yet. If we are to discover more about this bizarre case, however, I do think it might be helpful to talk to Bernie Briggett, the boy who discovered Dr. McDuff’s body.”
Obviously realizing the futility of argument, Baxter sighed. “Would you like me to talk to him, madam?”
Cecily shook her head, pleased with her small victory. “No, thank you, Baxter. I shall pay a visit to the family to inquire about the boy’s health, which will give me an excuse to bethere. I would like you to talk to Joe Salter, though. He was at the scene when Dr. McDuff was pulled from the pond. Perhaps we could learn something useful from him.”
“Very well, madam.”
Looking at his unhappy face, Cecily said quietly, “I don’t like the thought that someone from this hotel could be involved in murder, Baxter. But if there is a connection, I want to be forewarned, so that I might know how best to protect the Pennyfoot name. That is my primary
His eyebrow twitched, but he merely gave a stiff nod of his head. “I will be happy to lend it to you.”
Satisfied, she put the book back on the shelf. “I presume you will be attending Dr. McDuff’s rescheduled funeral in the morning?”
“Yes, madam. I shall be pleased to accompany you, if you wish.”
“That would be very nice, Baxter. Thank you. I will be ready shortly before eleven.” She turned to leave, but he stopped her with a polite cough.
“Excuse me for asking, madam, but I was wondering if you learned anything more about the matter with the menu?”
“No, I’m afraid I didn’t.” It was Cecily’s turn to frown. “I questioned both Michel and Mrs. Chubb. I didn’t tell them why, of course, but neither of them has talked to anyone about the menu. In fact, Michel was quite offended that I should even consider the possibility.”
“If I may say so, madam, Michel gets offended rather easily.”
Cecily smiled. “Yes, he does, I have to agree. But in this case I admit he was justified.”
“What does the constable think about it?”
“I haven’t told him. In the first place, it could have nothing to do with the murder at all. And in the second place, if it does, I want to know the connection before I tell the police anything.”
A gleam appeared in Baxter’s eye, a look that Cecily knewwell. “If I’m not mistaken, madam, that could be construed as concealing evidence. A criminal offense, I believe?”
“Not,” Cecily said firmly, “unless it has been established as evidence. And we won’t know unless we establish that fact ourselves, is that not so?”
He stared at her for several moments, appearing to turn over suitable rejoinders in his mind. Having apparently failed, he said in a resigned voice, “I trust you will observe the proper procedures when attempting to establish such a fact?”
Cecily grimaced. “Why, Baxter, you know very well you can trust me to follow proper procedures. How could I not with such a stalwart observer constantly at my side?”
“I am only fulfilling my promise to your late husband, madam. Somewhat unsuccessfully, I’m afraid, which isn’t entirely my fault.”
She studied his hurt expression for a moment, then relented. “You are quite right, Baxter. I’m sorry I’m such a burden to you. I will do my best to be less adventurous, though I can’t promise. Sometimes things happen to me without my provocation.”
“If I might say so, madam, it might help if you allowed events to take their proper course instead of attempting to resolve them yourself.”
She wrinkled her nose at him. “Someone has to take the initiative. People are mistrustful of the police; they will tell them nothing for fear of being involved. Whereas they know me, and will talk to me.”
Baxter smoothed a hand over his thick dark hair, a gesture that always betrayed his tension. “With whom are you proposing to discuss this business of the menu?”
“I haven’t decided yet. If we are to discover more about this bizarre case, however, I do think it might be helpful to talk to Bernie Briggett, the boy who discovered Dr. McDuff’s body.”
Obviously realizing the futility of argument, Baxter sighed. “Would you like me to talk to him, madam?”
Cecily shook her head, pleased with her small victory. “No, thank you, Baxter. I shall pay a visit to the family to inquire about the boy’s health, which will give me an excuse to bethere. I would like you to talk to Joe Salter, though. He was at the scene when Dr. McDuff was pulled from the pond. Perhaps we could learn something useful from him.”
“Very well, madam.”
Looking at his unhappy face, Cecily said quietly, “I don’t like the thought that someone from this hotel could be involved in murder, Baxter. But if there is a connection, I want to be forewarned, so that I might know how best to protect the Pennyfoot name. That is my primary
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