Murder to Go (The Heights Bed and Breakfast Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by Susan D. Baker Read Free Book Online Page A

tell the chef to make you the
daily specialty. It’s on the house. I can’t wait to read your review of the
Foxtrot Cafe.”
    “But
I didn’t come to review you either,” Carolyn insisted.
    Beatrice
stopped in mid-step. She regarded Carolyn. Then she came closer and dropped her
voice to a murmur. “I know you didn’t. You came to ask me about Porky Tenboom’s
murder, didn’t you?”
    Carolyn
blushed. “I only wanted....”
    Beatrice
laid her hand on Carolyn’s arm. “That’s okay. I understand. You don’t have to
explain it to me. I’ll tell you right now, I was cooking here with my staff the
day Porky was murdered. I never left the restaurant. My staff can vouch for
that.”
    Carolyn’s
shoulders sagged. “Oh.”
    Beatrice
ushered her into the restaurant. “Sit down. You look like you need a good
meal.”
    Carolyn
sank into her chair, and Beatrice disappeared. A moment later, she set a
steaming plate of pasta marinara with sausage and a basket of bread in front of
Carolyn and sat in the chair opposite her. “Eat up. It’ll put a smile on your
face. By the way, we make the sauce from scratch and the sausage is handmade.”
    Carolyn
swirled her fork, wrapping it with noodles. The instant the savory smell
entered her nostrils, her mouth watered. Her cares evaporated, and she glanced
across the table at Beatrice. “Thanks for this. This pasta looks fantastic”
    Beatrice
waved her hand. “I used to eat at your restaurant all the time. Karl was the
best cook I’ve ever met. I only wish I could do something to help him out.”
    Carolyn
stared down at her plate. “You can’t imagine how much stress this situation has
put on my family.”
    Beatrice
nodded. “I’m sure it has. I heard about all the guests leaving. Everyone is a
bit on edge. How can I help?”
    “I
can’t think of anything,” Carolyn murmured. “I came here hoping to reveal you
as the murderer, but I’m glad you have an alibi. I only wish Karl had one.”
    “If I
hear anything,” Beatrice told her, “I’ll be sure to let you know.”
    “Thanks,”
Carolyn exclaimed. “Thanks again for everything.”
    “It’s
the least I can do,” Beatrice replied as she stood up. “I’ve been waiting a
long time to meet you. I would give anything to have you review my restaurant.”
    Carolyn
looked around. “I would love to. I could do it right now, if you’re comfortable
with that.”
    “I
have a better idea,” Beatrice told her. “Why don’t you come around for my
chef’s tasting menu? I have it every Saturday, and it would give you a more
complete picture of my menu. I even include a bunch of specials, so you can see
everything I have to offer.”
    Carolyn’s
eyes widened. “Wow, Beatrice. You really have your ducks in a row.”
    Beatrice
smiled. “I try to. It always pays to have an option on display for those times
when people like you come around and want to tell everybody what a fantastic
restaurant I have here.”
    Carolyn
laughed out loud. “In that case, I would definitely love to review you. I’m
sorry I never heard of you before today.”
    Beatrice
waved her hand. “Don’t worry about that. You’re famous. I'm just a little old
restaurant owner on a remote lake in the mountains. You can't expect to have
heard of everybody.”
    “I’m
hardly famous,” Carolyn replied. “I’m just a food blogger.”
    Beatrice
gasped. “Just a food blogger? No way! You’re so much more than that. You’re
kind and honest. You're everything Porky Tenboom was not. People would post a
link to your blog with their response to his reviews and say, 'Don’t take
Porky’s word for it. Just look what this blogger had to say about my
restaurant.' You give so many people encouragement. I guess no one ever told
you before, so let me be the first. You don't know what your blog means to
people like me trying to make it in this business.”
    Carolyn
stared at her. “Really? I never knew that.”
    “Don’t
you ever think about stopping your