Murder on a Silver Platter (A Red Carpet Catering Mystery Book 1) (17 page)

Chapter 30

Arlena and Sam cuddled on the couch in the library that evening, Penelope and Randall sitting in the flanking chairs in front of the fire. Zazoo dozed in the corner of the couch, exhausted from his traumatic day.

“No matter what happens,” Randall said, “my baby girl is safe. That’s the most important thing.”

Arlena sighed. “Safe and out of a job, most likely.” She looked up at Sam, who had his arm draped over her shoulders. “But if it weren’t for Sal and
Remember the Fall
, I wouldn’t have met you, so I suppose it’s all been worth it.”

“Everything is going to work out fine, babe. Sal’s not going to call it off. I bet he just needs some time to cool down.”

“I don’t know. He was pretty angry,” Arlena said. “I’m so embarrassed that it’s all because of me, and that all of those people are out of work.”

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Randall said firmly. “That Ralston idiot—”

The doorbell rang and they all turned their heads towards the doorway. “I’ll get it,” Penelope said, easing up slowly from her chair.

Joey stood on the front porch, looking tired but also relieved.

“Joey, come in,” Penelope said.

“Thanks. I have some information that I wanted to tell you in person. I hope you don’t mind me stopping by,” he said, stepping into the front hall.

“Not at all.” Penelope led him to the kitchen, stopping by the library entrance to tell everyone that Joey was there.

Penelope slid onto one of the kitchen stools and Arlena took the one next to her, folding her hands in her lap.

“I’ve finished questioning Frederick Fitzgerald and we’re investigating his relationship with Brett Ralston,” Joey began. “Freddie says Mr. Ralston encouraged him to harass Arlena, and in return he promised to produce a script Freddie was writing. So far Mr. Ralston is denying any arrangement being made, but we found texts and calls between the two of them daily for the past few weeks.

Arlena shook her head and looked at Penelope. “I can’t believe that man,” she said.

“Freddie admitted to tampering with your makeup, causing your allergic reaction, says Ralston told him exactly what to do. He also sold pictures of you to the tabloids, and he followed you, posing as one of the paparazzi.”

Penelope suddenly remembered the group of photographers surrounding their limo and the angry tattooed fist pounding the window.

“And of course there was the golf cart incident, and the break-in here,” Joey continued. “He was getting more desperate. He hadn’t been able to scare you off and time was running out on your film.”

“He admitted to everything?” Penelope asked.

“He’s admitted to all of the harassment of Arlena. But he won’t admit to having anything to do with Holly Anderson…claims he knows nothing about her death, except for the news reports. We’ve connected Holly to Brett Ralston, his number shows up in her phone records and she sent him a few emails suggesting she’d be a good stand-in for Arlena, which went unanswered. But since Freddie was taking orders from Ralston, and he’s unable to account for his whereabouts on the night she was killed, I think it’s safe to say it’s only a matter of time before we connect him to her murder. We’re running his DNA against what was collected from her body now.”

“I can’t believe we worked every day with a murderer,” Penelope said, shaking her head. “And for a movie?”

“Believe me, I’ve seen people killed over much less. This Ralston guy was promising Freddie the world. He’s a nineteen-year-old kid who thought he saw a ticket to fame. Talking to him, I don’t think he imagined it would get as far as it did.”

“Thank you, Detective,” Arlena said. “I appreciate what you’ve done for us during all of this.” She stood up from her stool and headed back to the library with Sam, who’d joined them in time to catch the last of the conversation.

“Joey, I have to thank you too. This has been a terrible time, but you somehow made it survivable.”

“It’s nothing. Look, Penny, I want to let you know I’m embarrassed by the mess with Officer Jenkins. I don’t want you to think that I somehow—”

“It’s nothing,” Penelope interrupted. “I should have made sure you were available before I pursued anything—”

“I am available,” Joey interrupted.

Penelope looked at him hopefully. “Someone might disagree with you. You know, your tan, possessive friend.”

Joey sighed and unbuttoned his jacket, moving around the island and taking the seat next to Penelope. “It’s my fault she feels that way.” Joey paused for a moment then said, “Here’s the thing. I hired her to be my trainer, so we worked out a lot, went for runs together. I asked her to eat with me afterwards a few times. I didn’t mean anything by it, just as friends.”

Penelope listened to him, welcoming the familiar warm feeling she got whenever he was near.

“It’s my fault I didn’t make things clear from the beginning. She started getting too familiar, especially at work. I told her a few times to tone it down, but she couldn’t spend time with me at the gym without thinking that meant we were dating.” Joey looked up at Penelope and then back down at his hands.

“And then I saw you again after all these years and something clicked. I haven’t been in too many relationships but I thought with you…” he trailed off. He took Penelope’s hand in his and continued, “I invited her over one night to explain it all to her. That I was interested in someone and I couldn’t train with her anymore, that she had the wrong idea about us and that I thought it would be better if we didn’t have any contact outside of work.”

Penelope leaned back against the stool and searched his face.

“I’m sorry she decided to take it out on you, Penny. I didn’t tell her how I felt about you or mention your name. I didn’t even know how you felt about me before that night.” He lowered his voice. “But I wanted to find out.”

Penelope leaned in quickly and kissed him on lips. He leaned forward on his stool and kissed her back, shifting around to face her.

When they separated again she said, “I like you too, Joey.”

“Pen,” Randall called from the library, interrupting the moment.

Penelope sighed quietly. “Yes, Mr. Madison?”

“Champagne! Sal called and the movie is back on. Two more days and you’re a wrap. Stubborn old man changed his mind.”

“I guess we’re not fired,” she said to Joey. “Would you like to stay and join us?”

“That’s great news, but I can’t.” Joey stood up and held out his hand, helping her down from her stool. “I have to get back and look into the charges against Mr. Ralston. I’ve scheduled a call with a detective out in LA.”

“In that case I suppose you should get back to work,” Penelope said, hiding her disappointment.

“But I’ll call you tomorrow, if that’s okay,” he added quickly.

“Of course,” Penelope said, brushing his cheek with her fingertips. “This job will be over by the weekend, and then I’ll have some downtime.”

“I’ll look forward to that,” Joey said, bending down to kiss her again.

Chapter 31

Penelope pulled up to the Marco’s house that Sunday afternoon with her whole team loaded in her Range Rover. She turned around to look at her three chefs in the backseat. “This is the last big day. It’s been a rough shoot, so let’s put on an amazing party and kiss it goodbye.”

Francis grinned from the passenger seat. “It will be good to see the back end of this one.”

“You said it,” Penelope said. “Let’s keep the chatter in the kitchen to a minimum. We’re in the boss’s house so no gossip about the set or anything that went on before.”

They all agreed. Once inside, Penelope set them up in stations in the four corners of the kitchen. Their duties were very similar to the ones on set and Penelope knew her crew would adjust well to the new space.

“Hey guys.” Charles pushed his way through the swinging door from the dining room.

“Everyone, this is Charles. He manages the house for the Marcos,” Penelope said. The crew waved to him from their stations.

When prompted, Penelope assured Charles that everything was on schedule. She and her crew wore their white starched chef jackets over black and white checkered pants and short white toques. Penelope had asked them to wear their more formal chef gear as opposed to the jeans and t-shirts they wore under their coats on set. They were throwing an elegant party, after all, and she wanted them to look their best.

Penelope glanced out the kitchen door and noticed delivery men carrying long tables in through the barn door. “It’s supposed to snow, but not until we’ll be getting ready to go.”

“I heard about the storm coming,” Charles said. “I don’t think it’s going to be too much where it will cause us any problems.” He headed back out to supervise the table delivery.

Paige came through the swinging door then and stopped short when she saw the activity in the kitchen. “Oh, wow, you’re here already.”

“I hope that’s okay,” Penelope said.

“Sure. I know we agreed one o’clock. I lost track of time.” Paige walked over to the freezer and pulled out a bottle of vodka, pouring some into the empty glass in her hand. She glanced guiltily at Penelope as she took a sip. “These things always set my nerves on edge. But this helps.” Paige tilted the glass at Penelope and threw it back, drinking it all in one gulp.

“I know what you mean,” Penelope said, turning back to her team. She went over to Francis who was seasoning the roast beef and suggested he place fresh rosemary under the twine he had wrapped around it. “We’ll carry over the rosemary and garlic to the roasted potatoes, too.” When she looked up again Paige had disappeared out the back door.

The entire cast and crew attended the wrap party. Penelope and her team, along with Charles, helped serve the meal in the barn from a long station in the back of the room. The food had come out smoothly, and Penelope was happy that everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Sal and Paige faced their guests from a long table in the front of the room. They reminded Penelope of a proud bride and groom. Sam and Arlena sat beside Sal and Randall and the pretty redheaded actress he’d been seeing were at the other end next to Paige. About halfway through dinner, Sal tapped a spoon on his wine glass to get everyone’s attention.

The conversation died down and Sal stood up, wine glass in hand.

“I want to thank each and every one of you for your hard work on this project,” Sal began. “I have to admit, I didn’t know if we were going to make it.”

Nervous laughter rippled through the room.

“But somehow we did. This story is a special one to me. I discovered it many years ago and I worked hard to get the screenplay written, right in this building as a matter of fact.” Sal pointed at the ceiling and his office above. Paige poured herself another glass of wine as her husband spoke.

“Sometimes the things we love the most take time. But they’re worth it in the end.
Salute
,” he said, raising his glass.

“
Salute
,” the crowd responded from their seats.

Penelope and her crew sat in the kitchen, finally eating their dinner, the party well underway out in the barn.

“Good job, you guys.” Penelope forked a piece of roast into her mouth.

“Thanks, Boss,” Francis said. “Do you know what’s up next for us?”

“I meant to tell you guys. We got two responses out of the three bids. One’s a job in Manhattan, three months long that starts two weeks from now. And the other is in California. That one starts in a little over a week and it’s a nine-week job.” She looked at each of them, waiting for a response. “What do you guys think? The money is about the same. Getting the trucks out to California would mean we’d have to drive out a few days early.”

“Springtime in New York?” Francis shrugged. “Sounds good to me.”

The others nodded.

“I was thinking that too. When I get back tonight I’ll send our acceptance,” Penelope said, loving that she had the whole spring locked up with a job close to home. And Joey.

Penelope glanced out of the kitchen window and noticed the snow had started falling, thick and wet. Someone was moving slowly towards the house, slipping here and there on the path leading to the barn. She stood up and opened the door when she realized it was Paige coming up the walk. Penelope stepped out to help her up the steps, which were now slick with snow.

Paige looked up, surprised to see Penelope right next to her. “Penelope,” she slurred. “Everything was wonderful.”

Penelope guided her into the kitchen, brushing a few flakes from her shoulder. Paige immediately went to the corner cabinet and pulled out a bottle of wine. “Gimme a glass, will you?”

“We just brewed some fresh coffee, Paige,” Penelope said, cutting her eyes at Francis. “Would you like some?”

Paige cackled heartily. “Maybe later. Right now I’ll take that wine glass I asked for.” She put her hand on the counter by the door to steady herself.

Francis glanced quickly at Penelope who shrugged behind Paige’s back. He took a glass from the other side of the kitchen and walked it over to her.

“Thanks,” she said sleepily, filling it and leaning against the counter to drink.

Penelope’s phone buzzed in her coat pocket and she winced. She didn’t want Paige to see her talking on the phone, especially if it was a personal call. “Excuse me,” she said and stepped into the dining room. Pulling her phone out, grinning to herself when she saw Joey’s name.

“Hey.” She spoke quietly, glancing through the window in the door at her staff in the kitchen. She could see Paige talking with them as they finished eating dinner.

“I’m good. Glad to hear your voice,” Joey said. “You still working?”

“We’re coming to the end. Just have to serve coffee and dessert and then clean up,” Penelope said. “Then I’m off for two weeks until my next job starts.”

“Next job? You know what you’re doing already?” Joey asked.

“We’ve decided we’re going to take a job in the city, so I’ll be close by.”

Joey sighed in relief. “That’s awesome news. I was afraid you’d be leaving for some far off location right when we were getting to know each other again.”

“No, I’ll be here for the next few months at least. I’m looking forward to spending some of that time with you.”

“Me too. And I’m looking forward to wrapping up this case.”

“So how’s it going? Any news with Holly and the DNA?”

“That’s one of the reasons I called. I’m going to have to get an elimination sample from you.”

“From me? Why?” Penelope asked, alarm pricking her stomach.

“Don’t worry. It’s just that the only DNA we found on her was from a female. You had contact with the body when you found her. If it’s yours, we know that we’ve got to start looking for another way to prove our case against Freddie.”

Penelope sighed. “Should I come by tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow works. Sorry, Penny, but this will really help. I’ll get to see you, so that’s something.”

“No offense, but I can think of much better places to meet than the police station.”

Penelope looked back through the window. Paige was pouring more wine. Penelope couldn’t imagine how she was going to feel tomorrow.

Joey chuckled. “That’s true. I’ll make it up to you. How about dinner tomorrow night?”

“That sounds wonderful,” Penelope said. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I should get back in the kitchen.”

“See you tomorrow, Penny Blue.”

When she got back in the kitchen, Penelope saw that Charles had come through the back door with a wobbling stack of dinner plates, his hair and jacket covered in snow.

“Oh Charles, you’re soaked,” Paige shrieked loudly, surprising everyone around her. “Just think, two days from now we’ll be in a place where it never snows.”

Charles gave Paige a polite nod and continued to the sink. Francis jumped up from his seat to help him stack the dishes on the counter.

“I hate the damn snow,” Paige slurred from the corner, her voice lowering again. “I can’t believe we have to live in a cold snowy state like New Jersey. It’s so glamorous and romantic. And at my in-law’s tiny house on top of it.” Paige spoke to no one in particular as Penelope and her crew busied themselves around her, clearing down their stations and cleaning the kitchen.

“If we’re really lucky we’ll get a blackout like we did last time. How’s that for modern life? The minute it starts snowing the lights go out,” Paige said bitterly, sipping her wine.

Charles walked quickly over to Paige and took her wrist in his hand, his expression concerned. “Mrs. Marco, maybe you should go lay down for a while. It’s been a long day.”

“When did the lights go out?” Francis asked.

“The last time it snowed,” she said, glaring at Charles. She struggled to pull her hand from him but he held it tighter.

“I live in town and we were fine up there,” Francis said, stretching cling wrap over bowls filled with salad greens.

“I think you should go lay down,” Charles said again, attempting to take Paige’s wine glass from her. Penelope turned and watched them from the counter, surprised at Charles’ forcefulness towards Paige. Up until now she’d only seen his good natured side, and thought of him as someone who would never challenge his employer.

Penelope’s spine straightened and a wave of cold nausea rolled through her stomach. “Sal said the power stayed on up here. We lost ours for a few hours out in Glendale…” Penelope trailed off when she saw the look of panic on Paige’s face.

Paige threw her wine glass at the wall and pushed Charles aside, lunging for the knife block that sat on the counter next to her. She pulled one of the long chef knives from the block and waved it drunkenly near his face, causing him to back up from her. She spun and waved it in a wide arc at the rest of the room. Everyone froze, shock rooting them to the spot.

“Paige, what are you doing?” Penelope asked cautiously.

“You knew it was me,” she said, waving the knife at Francis. He looked at Penelope with an expression of confused fear.

“Knew it was you? What do you mean?” Penelope asked gently. Charles eased away from her along the wall toward the back door.

“Ask him, he knows,” Paige said, waving the knife again at Charles.

Penelope looked at Charles but he was watching Paige. The knife appeared to be too heavy for her wrist, which wilted the longer she tried to hold it up. The back door swooshed open and Sal entered, followed by Arlena.

“I’ve been saving this bottle for a night like—what the hell?” Sal stopped when he saw Paige waving the knife around. Arlena locked eyes with Penelope behind the kitchen island and Penelope silently urged her to stay calm.

“You. It was you too,” Paige slurred.

“What? What the hell has gotten into you? Give me that.” Sal moved toward Paige and attempted to take the knife from her, but she backed up and swung it wildly at him, slicing his hand, which started bleeding onto the floor.

“Paige!” he yelled, staring at his bleeding hand in disbelief.

Penelope reached into her chef coat pocket and discretely pulled out her phone. Hiding it below the countertop, she swiped it open and texted Joey the message PAIGE MARCO 911.

Paige started shouting, but her words ran together and it was unclear what she was saying. Penelope saw her crew shifting around uncomfortably, unsure of what to do.

Sal approached Paige again, holding his bleeding hand out to her. “Paige, listen, give me the knife. Let’s talk about this.”

“Talk about what? About your pet project that
you
discovered? That
she
is starring in?” Paige waved the knife at Arlena with renewed vigor. “You know I gave you that book, that I loved it. That it would have been a perfect project for me. But you kept me out of it, waited too long so I’d be too old. I know how you think.”

Sal raised his voice. “I told you a million times. I don’t want my wife in my movies. I won’t allow my wife in a movie where she’s going to be in bed with another man. How many times do I have to tell you that?”

“The worst mistake I ever made was marrying you,” Paige spat at him. “You were supposed to make my career but you ended it. And no kids…no kids because I wanted to act. Actresses make terrible mothers, that’s what you said.” Her shoulders shrank and Sal moved away from her, looking around the room at everyone’s stunned faces.

“Paige.” Penelope eased towards her. “What happened the night the lights went out?”

Paige sighed and propped her elbow on the counter, still holding the knife in her limp hand.

“All I wanted to do was ask her,” she nodded at Arlena, “to not do my movie. This was
my
movie. So I went to your house to ask you nicely to go away.” She looked at Arlena and tears began to slide down her cheeks.

“I had a few drinks to get my nerve up and drove over to your house in all of that snow. It was so dark I couldn’t see anything. But I saw you, outside of your house, out in the driveway.”

“That wasn’t me,” Arlena said quietly. “That was my sister, Holly Anderson.”

“No, it was you,” Paige said, laughing. “Don’t tell me it wasn’t you. Remember, I turned you around and asked you to please, please go away and tell Sal you changed your mind about the whole thing? I told you…tell Sal you had found something else. I needed you to understand.”

Penelope moved closer to Paige, who seemed to be losing her grip on reality as the story went on.

“But you screamed at me. Told me I was crazy, called me a crazy drunk. So I hit you,” Paige said.

Sal shook his head. “Paige, what have you done?”

“Then you fell and hit your head on the driveway,” Paige continued. “I dragged you back to the car. I knew I shouldn’t have hit you. I was going to drop you off at the hospital, but you weren’t breathing. I panicked and pushed you out onto the side of the road. And I drove home.”

“She was just a kid,” Arlena said. “A girl who never did anything to you, you crazy bitch.”

Paige scoffed at Arlena, and for a moment seemed to forget she was holding the knife. Penelope took a chance and moved two steps closer to her while she was distracted. Francis inched up behind Penelope subtly, realizing that sudden movements wouldn’t be the best idea around the unstable woman.

Out of the corner of her eye, Penelope saw flashing lights approaching through the kitchen window.

“I can’t believe you would do this to me, you useless…” Sal began.

Penelope gave him a harsh stare, willing him to be quiet. She took another step closer to Paige.

Paige suddenly realized how close Penelope had gotten and her body became rigid. She sprang and waved the knife wildly at Penelope, bringing it down through the air in a large arcing motion towards her head. Arlena screamed and Penelope ducked away at the last minute, feeling the knife’s blade graze across her shoulder. Paige swayed drunkenly on her feet and Penelope saw her chance, lunging towards her and pushing her against the counter. She grabbed Paige’s wrist and squeezed as tight as she could until she heard the knife clatter onto tiles between their feet. Sal rushed up from the other side and grabbed Paige in a bear hug, pinning her arms to her sides, the blood from his hand running down Paige’s sweater.

The back door opened and a police officer stepped inside, his gun drawn and aimed at the three of them. “Everybody freeze,” he directed.

“Look, Sal, the police,” Paige said drunkenly. “What are they doing here?”

Joey spoke through the car window to the officer, instructing him to take Paige Marco into custody. After the car drove away with Paige secured in the backseat, Joey walked through the snowy backyard past all of the lingering partygoers towards Penelope. She stood on the back steps of the kitchen, her arms wrapped around herself against the cold, the shoulder of her chef coat and her t-shirt underneath sliced open. He climbed the steps and looked through the hole catching a glimpse of the thin cut across her shoulder, now held together by three butterfly bandages. He pulled her into a gentle hug, breathing warmly on her neck.

“Penny, thank God you weren’t hurt,” he said gruffly.

“I’m fine. I’m glad you got my text.” She smiled up at him. “And figured out what I meant.”

“Me too,” Joey said, releasing her but keeping his hands on her upper arms. “We’re going to have to get statements from you and your guys. Should be pretty easy to bring charges against Paige for Holly’s murder since she confessed to it in front of half a dozen people.”

“We’ll do whatever you need,” Penelope said. “Everyone is still waiting inside. Sal’s going to have to get stitches, I think, but he’s refusing to go to the hospital until he talks with you.”

“How is everyone else doing?” Joey asked.

“I think everyone is in shock. I’m just glad Paige didn’t hurt anyone else,” she said, glancing down at her shoulder. “Randall and Arlena are devastated. They can’t believe Holly turned out to be family and they never got a chance to know her.”

“This all seems pretty senseless,” Joey said.

Penelope looked up at him and her eyes became glossed over with tears. Suddenly her legs didn’t feel like they would hold her up anymore. She leaned into Joey’s chest as tears slipped down her cheeks. She watched one of the uniformed officers begin to clear the yard of party guests and a few curious neighbors who had gathered on the sidewalk to get a better look at what was happening.

“Hey, how are you doing?” Joey asked, rubbing her back.

Penny thought for a moment. “It’s so sad that Holly had to die for something that seems so pointless. Nothing about her death makes any sense.”

Joey pulled her close. “I know. These things never do.”

Penelope nodded in his arms, but wasn’t ready to look up at him yet.

“Let’s get inside. It’s freezing out here,” Joey said softly.

Penelope took a shaky breath and sighed, pulling away from him and finally feeling strong enough to look into his eyes. “I’m ready.”