Read Online Heat Vol. 5 (Heat: Master Chefs #5) by Kailin Gow - Free Book Online Page A

That ring has been running operations in France for over
fifteen years now, but they're also very strong in certain parts of Asia, like
Hong Kong, China, and a strain is branching out in the United States.”
    “Those
devils,” Eugene shouted as he shot up.
    Startled,
I looked up at him.  I’d never seen him so angry.
    “How
could they do that to me?”
    “Monsieur
Cooke, these are professional criminals.”
    “No. 
No.  You don’t understand.  These weren’t just people I picked off the street.  I
knew them.  I knew them well, in fact.  Oh, well, maybe not that Horace fellow,
but Constantine and Godfrey.”  Running his hand over his thinning hair, he
shook his head.  “I just can’t believe they’re part of a criminal ring.  I’d
have lunch with them on a regular basis.  I invited them into my home.”  He
turned to me.  “Remember that Christmas when they stopped over to bring you
gifts?”
    I
smiled, but shook my head.  “Sorry, I don’t really remember.”
    “Oh,
no matter.  I remember.  They were like family.”  His face a frightful shade of
red, he gripped the back of the sofa.
    “Dad,”
I said as I rushed up to him. “Are you all right?  Please sit down.  You can’t
let this upset you like that.”
    Waving
me away, he collected himself.  “You don’t understand.”
    “Then,
perhaps you could enlighten us,” Rial said.
    “The
older one… Godfrey.  He was more than an employee.  He was a friend of the
family.”  He turned to me.  “Your mother’s side of the family.  He knew her
personally… he knew the family.  How could he do such a thing?  How could he
betray us like that?  He was like family, and I trusted him.”
    “So
did my uncles.”
    We
all turned to the source of the voice.
    Just
inside the double doors of the sitting room stood Errol King with Leopold Lee
at this side.
     
     
     
     

 
    Chapter 8
     
     
    “ A nd who would you be?” Daniel said as he stood.
    “I’m
Errol King,” he said, taking a confident step toward the detective.  “Rial’s
brother.”
    “ The Errol King,” Darlene said as she lost all professionalism and gawked at the
famed chef.  “Now this is a treat.  You are positively magnifique .  So
handsome and suave, and good in the kitchen, too.”
    Errol
smiled politely, but the crease in his brow hinted at his lack of enthusiasm
for her fawning.  “This is Leopold Lee,” he said.  “He’s the only grandson and
sole heir to the Lee Group Holdings Company.”
    “I’ve
heard of it,” Darlene said, her eyes still filled with stars.  “A billion
dollar company.”
    Errol
nodded.
    “A
multinational conglomerate that includes various food companies, a number of
high end restaurants and I read recently about holdings in oil, technology and
media.”
    “And
hospitality,” Leo threw in with a grin.
    “All
that, and you still manage to have a successful movie career on top of it all. 
How do you do it?”  She put her hand to his forearm as if to confirm the
reality of his presence.  “I’ve seen many of your films… good action movies
with a touch of humor and a hint of romance… the perfect balance.”
    “Thank
you.”
    “And
you’re even more handsome in person.”  She turned to Daniel.  “ Mais, ce
n’est pas possible .”
    Annoyed,
Daniel came forward to greet the men.  “Please forgive my partner’s momentarily
lapse in professional conduct.  It’s not every day we meet such well known
personalities.”  He bowed slightly.  “Gentlemen.”
    The
message was clear enough, and Darlene finally resumed an air of
professionalism.
    “How
is your family involved in all this?” Daniel said to Leo.
    “Three
years ago,” Darlene said.  “The Asian ring of this group dug its claws into Lee
Group Holdings.”  Raising an indignant brow as Daniel shot a surprised glance
at her, she added, “I do my homework.”
    “Then
you already know how many millions we’ve lost because of them,”  Leo