Cook's Night Out by Joanne Pence Read Free Book Online

even paid for the auction’s publicity. How could I let it all die?”
    â€œYou can’t!” she insisted. “Everything will be all right.”
    â€œBut it’s all beyond me. I can’t handle it. I’m such a loser. Why am I even trying?”
    She walked to his side and touched his shoulder. “Reverend Hodge, how can you talk this way? Everyonein the city thinks…knows…what a wonderful, generous man you are.”
    He looked up at her. “Do you have a paper bag with you? I feel a panic attack coming on.”
    â€œStop worrying, right now!” She put her hands on her hips. “I’ll take care of the food for you. I’ll work with the other volunteers. That’s what you have volunteers for. We’ll all pitch in and do our part. It’ll come together.”
    â€œDo you really think so?”
    â€œI know so! Please, Reverend, relax.”
    â€œOkay. I’m feeling a little better already.” He pressed his hands against his chest and took deep breaths. “As soon as I can walk I’ll introduce you to Mary Ellen Hitchcock. She’s in charge of most of the details of the auction. You two can work together.”
    â€œIs she in Auction Central, down the hall?” Angie stood and picked up the coffee and pastries. “If so, I can find her. I’ll take the volunteers their coffee before it gets any colder.”
    â€œMiss Amalfi, you are such a gem.”
    Â 
    T. Simon Hodge went into his office to be alone. Angie Amalfi was a wise addition to his cadre—she had the right connections and knew food besides. She fit in with the other women like peas in a pod. They were giving him a headache, though, with their enthusiastic good cheer. One could take only so much of that.
    Right now, he had other problems to worry about, like where to store some of the goods collected for the auction.
    The door to his office opened. He looked up, covering his notes and paperwork with his arms.
    â€œOh, hello,” he said, shifting back in the chair. Hedidn’t have to hide anything from this visitor. “Is anything wrong?”
    The man opened the box of chocolates that Hodge had kept for himself and spent a moment deciding which to eat first.
    â€œWe have a new volunteer,” Hodge said. “One who knows about gourmet food. She made those.”
    â€œI saw her.” He chose a cherry cordial and bit into it. Some of the syrup oozed out of the candy and rolled onto his fingers. “She’ll be working with us a while, I hope.”
    â€œYes, of course. I didn’t realize you took an interest in our volunteers.”
    The visitor ate the rest of the chocolate, then licked his fingertips. “Did she mention that her boyfriend’s a cop?”
    Alarms went off in Hodge’s head. “You know her?”
    â€œI met her once. She probably doesn’t remember me, but I’m glad she’ll be around. She might come in handy.”
    â€œHandy?” Hodge felt his mouth go dry. “Yes, I’m sure she will.”
    â€œMore than she ever imagined. Be nice to her, Hodge.” He took another chocolate, then left the room.
    Hodge waited until he was alone. Only then could he relax enough to take a piece of candy for himself.

CHAPTER SIX
    Angie was not pleased . Paavo wasn’t even on call this week, yet he was ignoring her. If he was on call—which meant that he had to investigate any homicide that took place during his shift, either weekdays from Monday to Friday morning, or weekends from Friday to Monday morning—he scarcely had time to go home, and sometimes slept at the Hall of Justice.
    On off weeks, like this one, he was supposed to put in a nine-to-five—or six or seven or eight—shift, and afterward spend some time with her.
    But his being incommunicado for four days in a row was too much to put up with. She hadn’t seen him since the evening he’d come to her house