Read Online A Batter of Life and Death by Ellie Alexander - Free Book Online
Authors: Ellie Alexander
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time.”
“Well.”
“Juliet?”
“I kind of found the body.”
“Oh, no.” I could hear the concern in her voice.
“Yeah. Thomas should be calling the Professor. I just wanted to make sure you heard it from me first.”
“We’ll leave now.”
“Mom, no. Don’t cut your trip short on my account. Everything’s under control.”
It sounded like she covered up the mouthpiece. I could hear her talking to someone—probably the Professor.
“Mom, please don’t leave early because of me. I promise I’m fine. Thomas is watching out for me and the crew at Torte is helping out a ton. Really, I just wanted you to know.”
She sounded unsure. “We were planning to be home tonight anyway. You take care of yourself. I’ll be there soon.”
Chapter Nine
I returned to Torte to find Nina, Sebastian, and Linda huddled together in a booth. They caught sight of me. Linda waved me over.
“Sugar, we heard the news. Can you believe it?” She dabbed her eyes with a monogramed peach handkerchief.
Sebastian scoffed and peered out the window. “He was an idiot.”
Linda frowned. “Where I come from, we don’t speak ill of the dead.”
Sebastian ignored her attempt to chastise him.
Nina scooted over in the booth to make room for me. “Can I ask you a favor?” she asked as I took a seat.
“What’s that?”
“Now that Marco is—well—you know, not going to be part of the show. I was hoping I could use his workspace here? I can’t stand Richard Lord. He’s about as far from vegan as it gets.”
I was with her on that. “Do we even know that the show’s going to continue?”
Linda sniffed and neatly folded her handkerchief on the table. “Philip says it will.”
“Doesn’t it seem a little morbid to go on under the circumstances?” I asked.
Sebastian huffed. He tapped a package of cigarettes on the table. “Non. Chef Marco destroyed my marzipan. He drank my special imported absinthe. I think he deserved what comes to him.”
I raised my eyes. “You can’t mean that. He’s dead .”
Sebastian scowled and looked out the window. His black attire matched his attitude.
Nina twisted a hemp bracelet on her wrist and nodded in agreement. “I agree with both of you. It’s horrible that he’s dead, but he did destroy everyone’s cakes. I think he actually put butter in my vegan batter.”
Linda leaned across the table and patted Nina’s hand. Her nails, painted in pink, each had a diamond stud glued on the tips. How did she bake with those?
“Sugar, I wouldn’t put it past him. He was desperate to win. Imagine destroying our beautiful creations. I think he stole my great-grandma’s secret banana cream pudding recipe. I can’t find it anywhere.”
I wasn’t sure their assessment of Marco matched mine. While I agreed he most likely ruined our cakes, I wasn’t sure it was intentional or sabotage. More like a drunken stupor.
“So is it okay if I move in here?” Nina asked again.
“Sure, it’s fine by me, but I’m really not convinced this show is going to continue. We only have four contestants now.”
Linda offered me a syrupy smile. “Sugar, we are in very capable hands. Philip is a pro. He’ll whisk this little problem right under the rug, and we’ll be back on camera in no time.”
Being back on camera wasn’t my top priority at the moment, but I met her smile and excused myself to the kitchen. Baking might help take my mind off the morning’s gruesome event. Nina followed after me, her long flowing skirt skimming the floor.
“Where do you want me?” she asked. I wondered why she was so eager.
Stephanie whisked egg whites in the industrial mixer. She caught my eye and stared at Nina.
“I’ll need to clear off Marco’s workstation.” I motioned to the messy space. “But I don’t think I should do anything until the police have a look.”
Nina took a step back. “The police? Why would the police need to look here?”
“Because he was murdered .” I was
“Well.”
“Juliet?”
“I kind of found the body.”
“Oh, no.” I could hear the concern in her voice.
“Yeah. Thomas should be calling the Professor. I just wanted to make sure you heard it from me first.”
“We’ll leave now.”
“Mom, no. Don’t cut your trip short on my account. Everything’s under control.”
It sounded like she covered up the mouthpiece. I could hear her talking to someone—probably the Professor.
“Mom, please don’t leave early because of me. I promise I’m fine. Thomas is watching out for me and the crew at Torte is helping out a ton. Really, I just wanted you to know.”
She sounded unsure. “We were planning to be home tonight anyway. You take care of yourself. I’ll be there soon.”
Chapter Nine
I returned to Torte to find Nina, Sebastian, and Linda huddled together in a booth. They caught sight of me. Linda waved me over.
“Sugar, we heard the news. Can you believe it?” She dabbed her eyes with a monogramed peach handkerchief.
Sebastian scoffed and peered out the window. “He was an idiot.”
Linda frowned. “Where I come from, we don’t speak ill of the dead.”
Sebastian ignored her attempt to chastise him.
Nina scooted over in the booth to make room for me. “Can I ask you a favor?” she asked as I took a seat.
“What’s that?”
“Now that Marco is—well—you know, not going to be part of the show. I was hoping I could use his workspace here? I can’t stand Richard Lord. He’s about as far from vegan as it gets.”
I was with her on that. “Do we even know that the show’s going to continue?”
Linda sniffed and neatly folded her handkerchief on the table. “Philip says it will.”
“Doesn’t it seem a little morbid to go on under the circumstances?” I asked.
Sebastian huffed. He tapped a package of cigarettes on the table. “Non. Chef Marco destroyed my marzipan. He drank my special imported absinthe. I think he deserved what comes to him.”
I raised my eyes. “You can’t mean that. He’s dead .”
Sebastian scowled and looked out the window. His black attire matched his attitude.
Nina twisted a hemp bracelet on her wrist and nodded in agreement. “I agree with both of you. It’s horrible that he’s dead, but he did destroy everyone’s cakes. I think he actually put butter in my vegan batter.”
Linda leaned across the table and patted Nina’s hand. Her nails, painted in pink, each had a diamond stud glued on the tips. How did she bake with those?
“Sugar, I wouldn’t put it past him. He was desperate to win. Imagine destroying our beautiful creations. I think he stole my great-grandma’s secret banana cream pudding recipe. I can’t find it anywhere.”
I wasn’t sure their assessment of Marco matched mine. While I agreed he most likely ruined our cakes, I wasn’t sure it was intentional or sabotage. More like a drunken stupor.
“So is it okay if I move in here?” Nina asked again.
“Sure, it’s fine by me, but I’m really not convinced this show is going to continue. We only have four contestants now.”
Linda offered me a syrupy smile. “Sugar, we are in very capable hands. Philip is a pro. He’ll whisk this little problem right under the rug, and we’ll be back on camera in no time.”
Being back on camera wasn’t my top priority at the moment, but I met her smile and excused myself to the kitchen. Baking might help take my mind off the morning’s gruesome event. Nina followed after me, her long flowing skirt skimming the floor.
“Where do you want me?” she asked. I wondered why she was so eager.
Stephanie whisked egg whites in the industrial mixer. She caught my eye and stared at Nina.
“I’ll need to clear off Marco’s workstation.” I motioned to the messy space. “But I don’t think I should do anything until the police have a look.”
Nina took a step back. “The police? Why would the police need to look here?”
“Because he was murdered .” I was
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