Crêpe Murder: Book 4 (A Patisserie Mystery with Recipes) by Harper Lin Read Free Book Online Page A

mean, what do you know about this guy? Where is he from exactly? What was his upbringing like?”

    “Look, Damour, you’ve done enough so far. Now if you want me to find Sophie as soon as possible, let me do my job.” He headed out the door, and then turned around before he closed it. “And don’t forget to forward me Emily’s contacts.”  

    Cyril didn’t even offer to drive her back.  

CHAPTER 8
    “Want a drink?” Ralph asked. “You look like you need one.”  

    “Maybe a glass of water, please.”  

    Ralph obliged, putting the glass before her on the kitchen counter.

    “They’ll find your friend. Like the inspector said, the last girl came back alive.”  

    “But she was beaten. God, how could I be stupid enough to trust this guy and his lies?”  

    “How could you have known? Don’t be too hard on yourself.”  

    Ralph was looking at her with a certain tenderness. He was cute in his scruffy way, but she had a boyfriend. And the way he looked at her said that he was definitely interested. Clémence drank the water and stood up.

    “Thanks for all your help today, but I better be going.”  

    “No problem. I’m here if you ever need any help. I promise the next time you see me, I’ll be in a suit and tie.” He winked at her. “Just give me advanced notice.”  

    Clémence couldn’t help but smile. “Sure thing.”  

    Outside, the bright sun contrasted with her sense of doom. The first thing she did was call Arthur.  

    “ Coucou, cherié ,” he answered. “What’s up?”

    She explained everything that she’d learned that morning. “Did you know about this?”  

    “No. I don’t think Theo knows either. He’s going to be really upset when I tell him.”  

    “Cyril won’t tell me anything else about Juan’s potential identity. I want to speak to Madeleine. Theo too. Can we all get together to talk somewhere right now?”  

    “Of course. I still can’t believe Sophie actually got kidnapped. I’ll call Theo and I’ll call you back after we make the plans.”  

    “Sophie’s apartment is probably being searched for clues right now,” she said. “But how about Madeleine’s place, wherever she lives? I want to meet there if she agrees.”  

    “Okay.”

    Clémence’s headache got worse. Anger rose to her chest. Juan! She had to get this guy. What kind of slime would woe girls, toy with their hearts, and kidnap them for ransom? This was some psychopath.

    She went inside a Monoprix to calm herself down. It was hot outside and the store was air-conditioned, which cooled her a little. She couldn’t think when she was angry or stressed out, so she had to relax. It was also almost lunchtime. She was hungry, so she grabbed a salad and a bottle of organic pineapple juice, and sat in the cafe section of the store.  

    After she took a few bites of the chicken salad, her stomach felt better. She was able to think more rationally. What did she know so far? The kidnappings started happening two years ago. The first attempt was on an Austrian heiress. While Cyril didn’t give the details, he’d said enough. She took out her smartphone and typed in “Austrian heiress kidnapping” in the search engine. Sure enough, a few newspaper articles appeared about the thwarted attempt.  

    One of Mia von Koromla’s bodyguards was able to fend off two kidnappers in the heiress’s estate late in the evening. Gunshots were fired and one of the kidnappers was shot in the arm before both masked men fled the scene. Mia has now been taken to an undisclosed location. She has round the clock security.  

    The prime suspect is Mia von Koromla’s boyfriend, Victor Osuna, who claims to be from a noble Spanish Family. After the kidnapping incident, Osuna disappeared without a trace. Police say he used a fake alias; his true identity has yet to be revealed…

    Mia had dated him for three weeks. He had plenty of time to scoop out her home, take pictures, and make note of the alarm