Spoiled Rotten by Mary Jackman Read Free Book Online Page B

was next. I stuck Daniel’s resumé in the scanner, made a copy, and handed him the original.
    Winn slipped it into his briefcase and looked at me, waiting for goodness knows what. I began wondering if he was single when he finally broke the spell.
    â€œHow well did you know Mr. Vieira, the deceased, Ms. Walker?”
    â€œI didn’t know him. I saw him sometimes when I was shopping in his store, but never socially.”
    â€œMaria D’Agnole was an employee of his. Did you know her?”
    â€œWe were acquainted. Is that important?”
    â€œI’m trying to get a background. She was the one who found the packages along with, ah, the other things.”
    â€œWhat other things?”
    â€œCan’t give out details as yet. Some things only the killer and the police know.”
    â€œHow’s she doing?”
    â€œSome initial shock was to be suspected. She’s recovering at home. I thought you might shed some light on her personality, and while you’re at it,” he said, leaning toward me in his chair, “I was hoping you might tell me where your chef is.”
    â€œI don’t know where he is. No one has seen him.” It was my turn to lean forward. I leaned forward to meet his gaze, two could play his game. “Why are you asking me about Maria? Do you think she killed him?”
    â€œWe’re conducting a thorough investigation and your co-operation would be appreciated. If you don’t mind …” He pulled out a notebook and read flatly, “Ms. D’Agnole was asked by her boss to open the store that morning as he had a personal matter to see to. A cabbie dropped her off at the rear entrance in the lane behind the store. It was very early, still dark out, and nothing else open in the lane except for the bakery. The driver remembers, ‘The smell of fresh bread seeping into the car.’ He was worried about her since she was alone and watched her until she was safely inside.
    â€œA homeless man, who bedded down in the store’s doorway, heard a scream, and when he looked in the window, saw her lying on the floor inside. Ms. D’Agnole hit her head on the glass display unit when she fainted.” He closed his notebook and under his breath I heard him mutter, “I think I would’ve, too.”
    The detective looked up and waited for me to speak.
    I had nothing. “So?” I said.
    â€œIs it possible your chef was having an affair with Maria?”
    â€œHow on earth did you jump to that conclusion?”
    â€œThe initials W.W. were written in the victim’s own blood. I believe someone was trying to — as they say in the movies — point us in a direction. We are trying to establish a motive for the murder, maybe jealousy.”
    â€œI don’t think he knew Maria or anyone else from Superior Meats. Daniel left the orders on their answering machine and they were delivered the next day. Since there was a minimum amount required for delivery, I sometimes went in to pick up the odd item. To my knowledge he never did.”
    â€œWhen we questioned the store’s staff about your chef, they said they knew you from shopping in there, but didn’t recall your chef’s name. Yet when we showed them his driver’s licence photo, they immediately recognized him. Recently, on separate occasions, he had been seen talking to Mr. Tony in his back office. None of them overheard their conversations or knew what it was concerning. What do you think of that?”
    â€œI have no idea what he was doing.”
    â€œOne of the staff there mentioned you were on friendly terms with Maria D’Agnole.”
    â€œI’m a friendly person. There’s a coffee shop next door to Superior Meats where the staff take their breaks. I often grabbed a muffin in there and chatted with the girls. Maria was a little distant with the others, but she was always nice to me. She often sat by herself and I’d join her.