Murder in the Pearl District (Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Series Book 5) Read Online Free PDF Page B

it?”
                “I don’t know. I’ve not
met either one of them. I imagine Detective Masters will tell him. I gave the
detective her ex-husband’s name, and I’m sure they will find his phone number
in the house. I don’t have it.”
                They each sat quietly at
the kitchen table for a few moments, trying to think of a reason why someone
would want to kill the popular chef.
                “Kelly, I have no right
to ask this of you. Actually, I’m going to ask two things of you. First of all,
the restaurant needs to stay open. If it closes for even one night, that will
be like a death knell for it. I’m wondering if you would run it for the next
few days.”
                “You’re kidding, right?
I’ve never worked in a large restaurant, much less overseen it. I’m sure the
sous chef could handle it.”
                “No. Dede was having some
kind of trouble with him. She recently mentioned to me that he wanted to do
things his own way, and he and Dede had argued about it. Please, just for a few
days. I’m sure your Sheriff Mike would understand, and it would provide a
little extra time to get Francesca situated and let people know nothing is
going to change at the restaurant.”
                “Well, I’ve never done
anything like this, but I have to say I’m intrigued. Tell you what. If Mike
doesn’t have an objection, I could probably stay for a few days. Of course,
that’s also contingent on making sure it will be all right with Roxie, who’s
managing Kelly’s Koffee Shop for me while I’m gone. You said you were going to
ask two things of me. What’s the other thing?”
                Sophie took a deep breath
and began to talk in a slow and deliberate manner, choosing her words
carefully. “Kelly, when Jesse, a man who I was deeply in love with, was
murdered, you were the one who solved the crime. I know your husband is the
sheriff and found out many things related to the crime, but you were the one
who put two and two together. As a favor to me, and I know I have no right to
ask this, would you please try to find out who killed Dede? She was my best
friend. I want to know who killed her and why.”
                “Sophie, I’m not a
professional crime solver. Portland is a big city, and I imagine there will be
lots of police and detectives involved in this, all far more knowledgeable
about crime than me.”
                “Please, please. They
don’t know her. You know me and through me, you met her. You cooked what was
probably her last meal. That has to mean something. Please try to see what you
can do. I have a feeling you can help, and my feelings are usually right.” She
began to cry softly and looked at Kelly with a pleading look in her eyes.
                Kelly sighed deeply.
“Well, if I’m going to stay here and help with the restaurant, it probably
would make sense to see if I can find out anything about her death, but only
under one condition.”
                “What is that?”
                “You have to promise me
you won’t breathe a word of this to Mike. He doesn’t like me to get involved in
murder cases, and he worries about me if I do.”
                “I understand. You have
my word. I won’t say a thing to him.”
                “Good. Now I have a
request of you. You’re a far better cook than you led me to believe. I want you
to be with me in the restaurant. We’ll do this together, working as a team.
Remember, you told me you often pretended a large number of people would be
eating the food you prepared. Well, now they actually will be.”
                For the first time in the
past several hours, Sophie smiled. “I think I would like that, and it would
make me feel I was doing something for Donatella. She gave me so much in
friendship and introduced me to many of the wonderful people who