Kee Patterbee - Hannah Starvling 02 - The Gourmet Who Kept Diamonds in the Kitchen (15 page)

There was a silence.

“I’m joking. I’ll be fine. I got Al, Buster, family, and you, my sister. Trust me. I have everything I need. Love you, sister. Hi to that man of yours. Night.”

After they hung up, Hannah settled
back with Hym. For the first time, the two shared a bed, albeit exhausted, and sleeping with their clothes on.

The last words that drifted through her mind before she succumbed to the sandman was,
“Gran’s gonna have a field day with this.”

*****

The phone rang in Hannah’s room, a prearranged wake up call. She rolled to the side of the bed and looked at her cell.
6:45. I hate this job
. Yawning, she rubbed her face and blinked. Something comes next. What comes next? Three loud door raps came from the hall. It startled her to wake. She scooted from beneath Hym’s arm and made her way to her room through the connecting door. She again looked at the cell. 6:50.
Coffee. Breakfast.
She staggered to the door and swung it open, and then stepped back. Expecting to see Ducky, instead she saw the smiling face of a young woman. Even half asleep, out of instinct, Hannah sized the woman up.
Late teens, early twenties. Short black hair. Dark skin. Medium weight. Small stature. 5’0” or thereabouts. Dark eyes and lips. Pretty. East Asian descent.
She glanced at the woman’s nametag.
Madhu
.

“
Good morning, ma’am, your breakfast.”

Hannah waved her
in and pointed to where to leave the cart. She retrieved a few bills from her purse and gave it to the woman. “Is Ducky off today?”

“
No, ma’am, he called in sick. Will there be anything else?”

Hannah declined and the attendant turned t
o exit. She noticed the woman gave the room a quick once over on the way out. After the door closed, she peered around the room. She wondered if the woman was checking out the state of the room for hotel purposes, or was she looking for something in particular. The smell of the coffee hit her nose and interrupted her contemplation. Taking in the aroma, she commented aloud, “Girl, get a grip. Not everyone is a suspect.” She staggered into the next room to wake Hym.

Waiting in her room as he showered and dressed, she prepared her coffee per usual and took the time to order extra food for Hym. She
considered the day ahead, all the while eyeing the door.

After eating, she showered and dressed. She slipped into her short mauve business dress and broke it up with a wide, black belt. Mauve pumps and her usual trademark hat concluded her outfit. Che
cking herself out in the mirror first, she stepped out of the bathroom to present herself to Hym.

Looking her over, he said,
“I love it. So, what are you doing today, who are you tailing, and what can I do to help?”

Hannah leaned in and gave Hym a long, deep kiss. Pulling back, she looked him straight in the eyes.
“I’m judging, tailing no one, and you, sir, can stay off the leg and get better. I have plans for you, mister, and you in a leg brace are not part of them.”

“
Ooh, sounds interesting. Would Gran approve of them?”

Hannah stood tall over him. She put her hands on her hips and gave
a mischievous grin, adding a wink for emphasis. One more quick kiss and she headed toward the door.

“Are you kidding me?” Hym called after. “Just like that?
You’re going to leave me, a poor, helpless, crippled man on that note? All alone, cold, and waiting.” He gave an impish smile and added, “Are you trying to drive me crazy?”

As she pulled the door closed, she peeked back around the edge. With an
equal grin, she said, “That’s the general idea.” She pulled the door shut and moved next door to Gran and Papa Jay’s door.

“
I need the two of you to do a favor for me.”

“
Name it, Sweetness,” Papa Jay responded.

“
Could you call Janine?” Hannah gave Gran the number. “Check in and see how Elias is doing. I’m kind of worried. I don’t think she or her father have left once.”

“
Not good, given her condition. Maybe we should stop in and insist on them stretching their legs,” Papa Jay said.

Gran agreed. Hannah hugged both her grandparents.
“This was supposed to be a vacation for y’all.”

Papa Jay crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.
“What makes you think it isn’t? All this running’ around, hiding under beds, and chasing down clues, Scooby here’s in heaven.”

Hannah waited for her grandmother
’s usual, sarcastic retort, but nothing came. The elder Starvling just smiled and agreed.

“
Can’t argue. This, it’s like a theme park for us gumshoes.”

“
One other thing, do you think you could check on Hym every now and then? I’m supposed to be a guest judge today. I could be doing anything. Don’t want to get caught up and not buzz him, even though he’s just next door.”

“
Of course, dear. We heard you two talking this morning. Morning after breakfast?”

“
If by morning after, you mean falling asleep with our clothes on in his bed, then yes, morning after breakfast.”

Papa Jay shook his head in disappointment. Hannah found relief in the fact that he stared at Gran and not her.
But Gran wore a disappointed expression. She put one hand on her hip and shook the other in her granddaughter’s direction.

“
That’s not how it’s done. We need to have the talk again.”

“
The only thing she needs for you to do is to dial back that great grandmother-o-clock of yours, woman. Sheesh.” Papa Jay hugged Hannah. “I’ll do you one better. I’ll drag Hym along. Keep his mind off you for a bit. You can concentrate knowing he’s taken care of. How’s that?”

“
Thank you.”

“
If you’re lucky, you get the fish room. Just avoid that one with peaches.”

“
Straight from Satan’s derriere. Got it. Love you both.”

Hannah made her way back downstairs via the stairwell and
then over to check with the event coordinator.  The older woman with silver hair drawn into a bun at the back of her head drew a bony finger along a clipboard and stopped. She glanced up at Hannah through old style, horn rimmed glasses. As she eyed the top hat, she stated, “Pâtisserie régional.”

The news pleased Hannah. The thought of judging local cookies and cakes
whetted her appetite. After inquiring about the room, she headed down the event room hallway. Halfway to her destination, she ran into Vera, who was none too pleased. She held up her assignment card. “Local seafood,” she commented with a displeased face. “You?” Upon viewing Hannah’s card, the heiress shook her head. “Madeline and you, lucky.” Hannah noted the hint of sarcasm and jealousy in her friend’s voice.

After a brief exchange, Hannah agreed to catch up with Vera at some point.  She excused herself to make it to the judging table on time and headed off down the hall. Along the way, she puzzled over the fact that Madeline and she drew the same category. The restaurateur had embellished upon her relationship with Elias. She feigned a passing knowledge of Hannah when Ducky reporte
d her as an admirer. Now, to be saddled with her a second day as a fellow judge seemed too much to be mere coincidence.
What does she want though, Hannah puzzled? And what does she know?
She decided that regardless of the situation, she could use it to her advantage. The watched would become the watcher.

After one brief stop to give Critic a bit of love and a hidden snack, she found
the exhibition room and entered. Hannah spotted Madeline and gave a forced greeting.

“
We meet again,” Madeline said.

“
Indeed. If this keeps up, I’ll think you are following me.” Hannah brought forth her best, cheesy smile. She wanted to unnerve the woman and to see where it would lead. Watching Madeline, she waited for a reaction. A subtle move that would suggest something. She found herself disappointed when nothing came forth.

Hannah was on the verge of trying another tactic when a voice called out to her.

“Hannah Starvling,” boomed a deep, rich, French laced voice. She turned and saw a man standing, arms wide as if awaiting a hug.
Tall, black male. Dark skin. Welcoming smile. Joyful eyes. Greying at temples. Deep set, brown eyes. Sixties.
Realizing who the man was, she smiled. She moved to hug him, but halted as two larger men beside him bristled. The man waved them back and they relaxed, as Hannah moved forward. “Ambassador Salomon,” she said as he wrapped his arms around her.

After releasing her he said,
“It gives my heart great joy to see you here.”

“
You too, sir.”

“
Please, you know better. You may call me Felix.” He leaned in and whispered as he thumbed to his guards, “But don’t let them hear you. I don’t let them use that name.” He smiled and turned to his guards. “Gentlemen, this is Hannah Starvling. She once saved my life. For that, I will be forever in her debt.”

Hannah smiled. She introduced Madeline to the man and they shook hands. Hannah then responded,
“I was unaware that you would be here. How is your wife?”

“
Oh, how do you Americans say, fat and sassy?”

Hannah and the ambassador laughed, as Madeline issued a slight
grin.

“
No, no, she is most fine. So kind of you to ask. I will relay that to her. It is most unfortunate, but she could not attend with me. Perhaps next year, but this year, I come in support of my nephew. He is representing our nation in the international field tomorrow. Today, he is judging beside you.”

Hannah grinned.
“A chef? Wonderful.”

“
Ah, there he is.” The ambassador waived his arms, and Hannah and Madeline both turned to see a man approaching. A man Hannah was all too familiar with.
Samori
, she recalled to herself.  She assessed him against the physical description of before and the new information.
Late twenties. African. Ivorian. A chef. Handsome. Large eyes. Appear chocolate brown. Head shaven. Medium height. Slight frame.

As he approached, Hannah noticed that the man never smiled, but held a solemn, steady gaze.

“Nephew, this is the woman I have told you of so many times. Hannah Starvling. Hannah, please allow me to introduce you to my nephew, Samori Drogba.”

Hannah offered a hand and
Samori returned the same, dipping his head in a slight courtesy bow. “Ms. Starvling. I have indeed heard much of you.”

“
Nothing bad I hope.”

Samori
gave a slight smile, but said nothing. Hannah thought back to their first encounter and wondered had he seen her on the day of Elias’ fall. Then she considered their second encounter in Elias’ hotel room. She and Gran overheard his conversation with a person whom she suspected to be Dahlia, only later to find out that was the name of a yacht. A flood of questions assaulted her mind.
Why the intense expression at Elias’ accident site? Why were you there? What were you looking for in the room? And again, who was on the phone with you?

The ambassador interrupted Hannah
’s thoughts. “Well, I must be off. I have a meeting across the border and must make my way there. Nephew, I stopped by to wish you good luck tomorrow and to remind you of what I said.”

Hannah watched with curiosity as
Samori nodded.  She observed an unexpressed but visible understanding between uncle and nephew. Salomon and Samori shook before he once again opened his arms to extract a hug from Hannah. She obliged and he said, “We must all have dinner soon. My nephew is mastering the art of a specialty food, the truffle. Perhaps we could have him prepare some for your pleasure.”

Upon hearing this, Hannah turned her head to
Samori. “Truffles, a rather expensive specialty.”

Once again, Salomon cut in.
“Ah, but I have a French connection. Being an ambassador does have its little perks. I must go, bBut please, Hannah, consider my offer. Nephew, watch over my good friend.” With that, the ambassador and his guards left the room.

Hannah watched the man exit before turning back to
Samori. “You look familiar to me. Are you traveling the circuit? Attending a lot of festivals?” she inquired, attempting to establish a connection between Elias and him.

Samori
glanced her over. “I have not. This would be my first.”

First.
Hannah considered the information. She never heard the name Samori Drogba before a few moments prior. Now, he stood before her, an acting judge at one of the world’s largest food festivals. Judges were sought out for various reasons. Madeline was a restaurateur and businesswoman, and at one time was a prominent pasta chef. In culinary circles, she was a mover and a shaker. Hannah specialized in pastries and pastas. She also carried her reputation as a culinary detective. Elias’ reputation centered on his expertise in truffles. Vera held skills in French regional. She also oversaw the most popular cooking show in America, as well as in several other countries. Every judge had a reputation for something, but Samori was an unknown. All she knew about him came from her perception of him at various times and locales. His presence at Elias’ accident. Her encounter with him in her friend’s room. And now, her introduction to him through his uncle.
His uncle. Salomon. Well-connected. Influential. Was that who he spoke with in the room
, she asked herself? Once again, she twisted her nose to and fro, unaware of her action. Samori’s voice brought her back.