Sifting for Suspects Read online

  Sifting for Suspects

  A Macaron Patisserie Cozy Mystery

  Cindy Bell

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Also by Cindy Bell

  About the Author

  Chocolate Hazelnut Macaron Recipe

  Copyright © 2016 Cindy Bell

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and locations portrayed in this book and the names herein are fictitious. Any similarity to or identification with the locations, names, characters or history of any person, product or entity is entirely coincidental and unintentional.

  All trademarks and brands referred to in this book are for illustrative purposes only, are the property of their respective owners and not affiliated with this publication in any way. Any trademarks are being used without permission, and the publication of the trademark is not authorized by, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owner.

  Created with Vellum

  Chapter 1

  The aroma of chocolate and hazelnuts filled the air. As she tapped the side of the sieve the fine cocoa powder fell into the bowl. With swift whips of a spatula, the mixture became a rich chocolate batter. Her sister peered over her shoulder and shook her head.

  “Lucy, that looks fantastic. I never get it to the perfect consistency like you do.”

  “And my ganache is never as rich as yours. We make a good team, Chantelle.” Lucy smiled at her older sister. The dark curls that clustered around her face reminded her of the color of the chocolate in the bowl.

  “Yes, we do.” Chantelle began to pipe some of the ganache onto the chocolate hazelnut macaron shells they’d baked earlier. “Just wait until Mom tries these, I bet this will finally meet her standards.”

  “I don’t know, you know what she always says.”

  Lucy rolled her eyes and the sisters recited their mother’s favorite line together, “It’s not a true macaron if it’s made in America.”

  “Morning darlings.” Jacqueline walked into the kitchen and smiled at her daughters. “What are you two laughing about?” She had her eldest daughter’s dark hair, with looser, longer curls.

  “Nothing.” Lucy grinned and took a swipe from the bowl of ganache before she set it in the sink. She sucked the sweet taste from her fingertips and sighed. “It still feels so good to have the freedom to eat again.”

  “You mean you don’t miss Derek at all?” Chantelle kissed her mother’s cheek, then began applying the tops of the macarons.

  “I wouldn’t say at all. I had at one point hoped that he might finally be the one, but I don’t miss the way he constantly pointed out the flaws in my diet. Being healthy is one thing, being a fanatic is quite another.” She brushed her wavy, blonde hair back behind her shoulders and studied her sister and her mother as they stood side by side. Jacqueline and Chantelle could have been mistaken for sisters. Lucy on the other hand, took after her blonde, blue-eyed American father. More than once when she was with her sister and mother people would question whether Lucy was adopted. However, she was nearly the mirror image of her father, long and lean with the bone structure of his English heritage. Chantelle was plump and curvy like her mother, and nearly a foot shorter than her younger sister. Lucy always admired the feminine shape of her figure, and considered her slenderness to be plain in comparison.

  “Any man that won’t eat a macaron is not a man at all.” Jacqueline wagged her finger. “I warned you about that one.”

  “Yes, I know you did, Mom.” Lucy shook her head. “But he is a good man, we were just too different. When I wanted to snuggle and watch a movie, he wanted to go for a run. When I wanted a slice of pizza, he wanted quinoa.”

  “The right man will come along, Lucy, and surprise you.” Jacqueline winked at her.

  “Actually, I think I’m done looking.” Lucy washed her hands in the sink and dried them with some paper towel. “It’s time I focused more on my life as it is, instead of what I think it should be.”

  “That’s a very good way to look at it, sis.” Chantelle carried the tray of macarons over to the box they would be packed in. “Take this wedding we are catering today. Sure they’re happy enough, but life continues on no matter how happy you are, and the true test is whether you can weather it. Like Noah and I have. If he wasn’t such a good match for me I’m sure we wouldn’t have been together this long.”

  “And yet, you still don’t marry him.” Jacqueline clucked her tongue. “I’m sure Greg would appreciate having a father figure in his life.”

  “Mom, he does have a father figure in his life.” Chantelle frowned. “Just because Noah and I aren’t married, that doesn’t mean that he hasn’t been a father to Greg. Besides, Noah has never asked. He doesn’t believe it’s necessary for us to have a piece of paper.”

  “Who’s talking about a piece of paper?” Jacqueline fluffed her own dark curls. “I’m talking about the dress, the music, the vows, the mother of the bride dress that is still hanging in my closet.”

  “Mother!” Lucy laughed. “You never should have bought that thing.”

  “Two daughters, two daughters and not one wedding!” She sighed.

  “Now that’s not fair, Larry and I were married.” Chantelle began to stack the macarons in the box.

  “You eloped, that didn’t count.”

  “I beg to differ.” Chantelle laughed. “It was a beautiful ceremony, and you wouldn’t have come even if I invited you.”

  “You were too young! Only twenty. Far too young.”

  “You were nineteen when you married Dad.” Lucy wiped down the counter near the oven.

  “Yes, I remember.” Jacqueline sighed. “And though I loved your father dearly, and still do, I was far too young to be married.”

  “No matter what, we’re all living our lives the best we can, and that’s all that matters. I love you, Mom.” Lucy kissed her mother’s cheek and walked out into the little shop where they sold an assortment of macarons. As she crossed through, her heart skipped a beat, and her head spun just enough to make her grab the edge of the counter. “Something’s wrong.” Her eyes widened as her heart fell back into its normal rhythm and her head cleared. The door to the patisserie swung open and a man who looked to be in his forties stepped inside. His dusty, gray suit paled in comparison to the shelves of colorful macarons and the bright blue paint that covered the walls. She locked eyes with him and her heart skipped a beat again.

  “Lucy Grant?” He paused in front of the counter. From the expression on his face she knew that he wasn’t there to buy a macaron.

  “Yes?”

  “I’m afraid I have some troubling news for you. Are you alone?”

  “No, she’s not.” Chantelle stepped up beside her. “Is there a problem?”

  “You’re dating Derek Nichols?” He looked back at Lucy.

  “I was, we broke up a few weeks ago. What is this about?” She gripped the counter as her head spun again.

  “Derek was found dead this morning in his bathroom. I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “Dead?” Her eyes flew wide open as her
heart raced. “But how? He’s incredibly healthy.”

  “It’s an open investigation, but I can tell you that there was alcohol involved. From what we can tell he slipped as he put his hand into the shower to turn it on. He was fully clothed, but by the open shower door.”

  “No, I’m sorry, sir, but that’s just not possible.”

  “Why not?” He held her gaze.

  “Derek never touched alcohol, not even wine, not a drop.”

  “Perhaps he was heartbroken over the breakup? Not to say that it’s in any way your fault. But people have been known to act out of character when they are upset.”

  “I doubt that.” She frowned. “He’s the one that broke up with me. I mean, we both agreed it was the right decision, but he’s the one who brought it up.”

  “There was alcohol on his breath, on his shirt, and a spilled bottle on the floor beside him. Maybe he regretted his choice. Sometimes we don’t know people as well as we think.”

  “I guess not.” Lucy stared at the counter. Beneath the spotless glass were several layers of macarons. No matter how much she pleaded with Derek he refused to try even one. It always bothered her that he wasn’t interested, as she was so grateful for the opportunity to earn a living while working with family in a business that they all loved. Now she realized it didn’t matter that they argued over it. The little tiffs that weighed down their relationship didn’t matter either. If she’d known each time she argued with him that he would die not long after, would she have let the little things go?

  “Ms. Grant.” The detective rested his hand on top of the counter. She saw his fingertips leave little smudges on the surface. That’s what he’d just done. Smudged her life, with a tragedy that couldn’t be explained.

  “Yes?” She looked up at him, her blue eyes misted with tears.

  “We haven’t been able to locate his phone and it looks like it has been turned off. Did he have a special place he kept it? Or did he mention losing it?”

  “No, he usually charged it by the bed, but he didn’t do that until he went to sleep at night. His whole life was on that phone. All of his client’s details, exercise programs. All of his sales appointments and the specs on new exercise equipment that he planned to sell. All of his business contacts are on there, too. He wouldn’t have just lost it. If it’s missing then maybe someone took it.”

  “Who would take it?” The detective narrowed his eyes.

  “I’m not really sure.”

  “Did he have anyone angry or upset with him?”

  “There were always a few customers that weren’t happy with their purchases. Sometimes they would call and leave nasty voicemails for Derek. They expected the machine to give them results even if they didn’t use it as often as they were supposed to.”

  “I’m not sure not getting washboard abs is a good motive for stealing someone’s phone.” The detective smiled.

  “No, maybe not.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I can’t believe he’s gone. Or that he was drinking. It seems impossible.”

  “It’s never easy to find that someone you care about isn’t the person you thought they were.”

  “What if you’re wrong?” She frowned. “What if it wasn’t an accident?”

  “It was clearly an accident. There will be an autopsy conducted however, to make sure that the death was accidental. I can update you with the findings from that if you would like.”

  “Yes, I would. Anything you find out that you’re able to share. I would appreciate that. I am certain that there is more to his death than meets the eye.”

  “The tests will tell.” The detective nodded. “We did find a business card for a Lance Nevet near his body. We’re looking into that connection.”

  “Oh, he works with Derek. They are also quite good friends,” Lucy said.

  “Okay, I’ll have a chat to him.” He nodded. “I’m sorry to bring such bad news.”

  “It must be difficult for you to do this kind of job.” She studied him for a moment, then reached into the display case. She packaged him a small box of macarons and offered it to him. “On the house.”

  “Oh, thanks.” He took the box and offered her an awkward smile. “I’m sure they will be delicious.”

  As he turned and left, Jacqueline stepped out of the back room to join her daughters.

  “I’m so sorry, Lucy, you must be so upset.”

  Lucy rubbed her hands together and watched as the door swung closed. “To be honest I’m more confused than upset. I know that I should be grieving for Derek, but I can’t, knowing that something is not right about how he died.”

  “Like the detective said, you don’t always know people as well as you think.” Chantelle brushed her sister’s blonde hair back behind her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “And there was nothing you could have done.”

  “But I did know Derek. I knew him very well, and I know he would never drink.”

  “If that’s what your instincts tell you then you’re probably right my darling. Always trust your intuition.” Jacqueline rested a hand on one shoulder of each of her daughters. “Perhaps we should close up early. We have the wedding to cater, and we will all need a bit of time to process.”

  “No, it’s okay. I’m okay.” Lucy took a deep breath. “I just want to continue on with our day as normal. It’ll be the best way for me to get through it.”

  “If you say so.” Jacqueline and Chantelle exchanged a glance but neither argued.

  “I just need a moment.” Lucy excused herself to the bathroom and closed the door behind her. Only then did the tears begin to flow. It wasn’t as if she thought that had he survived she and Derek would have reunited, it was that he was a good man, a man she knew very well, who no longer had the chance to be part of the world. The more she tried to convince herself that he got drunk and slipped, the more certain she was that someone had killed him.

  Derek treasured life in such a fierce way that it attracted her to him, despite him being far more muscular and into healthy eating and exercising than the type of men she usually dated. His zest and dedication to his own body inspired her to be more aware of her own. As a result she’d slimmed down and become more active. But none of that mattered. He was gone, and there was no way to bring him back. However, she couldn’t allow him to be buried as a drunk who slipped and fell. He was a dedicated and passionate man, that someone decided to snuff out. By the time she left the bathroom she was less heartbroken and more determined to make sure that the truth was discovered.

  When she emerged from the bathroom her mother and sister were waiting for her.

  “Maybe you should go home for the rest of the day, Lucy. This is a big shock.”

  “It is, but I’d rather not go home.” She looked into her mother’s eyes. “I think the best thing I can do is keep things as normal as possible.”

  “Are you sure?” Chantelle frowned. “You aren’t too upset?”

  “I’m upset, but I’m okay. I want to get the delivery to the wedding, and then after that we have the meeting with the Country Club to discuss catering for the golf tournament. I need to be there for that, since I’m the one that set up the meeting.”

  “But if you aren’t up to it, we’ll understand.” Chantelle hugged her. “You don’t have to be so strong, sis.”

  “It’s really not about being strong.” She hugged her sister back. “It’s about keeping myself distracted. I’m sure when I go home, I’ll have nothing to think about but Derek. At least this way I’ll be able to put that off for a few hours.”

  “All right.” Jacqueline nodded. “I’ll work on the paperwork while you two are at the wedding and be sure to text me the details of the deal at the country club. Don’t let them low ball you.”

  “We won’t.” Lucy kissed her mother’s cheek. “Love you.”

  “Love you too, precious. I’m sorry you have to deal with this.”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  Lucy walked away before she could see her mother and sister ex
change a look of concern. Once the van was loaded up Chantelle took the wheel, and Lucy settled in the passenger seat. She gazed out the window as they drove from the suburb to the city. The wedding was to take place in a huge old church, one that Lucy had admired since she was a little girl. She loved the way it towered up against the sky and the stained glass windows that speckled its façade. To her young eyes it looked more like a castle than a church. Chantelle pulled the van around behind the church and parked beside some other catering vans. They unloaded the three tier displays first and carried them inside to set them up. The wedding party rushed around getting every final detail right. Lucy set up the displays not far from where the cake would be.

  Once the macarons were inside they carefully arranged them on the shelves. She and Chantelle had been doing this for so long that they didn’t even have to discuss placement. Even when they were little girls they helped their mother in the patisserie, and on small catering jobs. Though life had pulled them apart for a little while, as Lucy traveled, and Chantelle started a family, they’d always reconnected no matter the distance. Now that she was home again with her family she felt a great comfort in just being close to them as she processed the news of Derek’s death. It was hard to present the happiness that was expected at weddings when her mind was focused on Derek. No, they never would have gotten married, but he would have married someone. He would have been happy, and successful from how his career was taking off. Maybe even famous in weightlifting circles. He had no reason to drink, not that he would even if he did. The fact that the detective seemed convinced he’d been intoxicated when he died, rattled her deep inside. Not Derek, never Derek. Chantelle stayed close to her until they had finished setting up.

  Once they were finished at the wedding they went to the meeting at the Golf Club. Lucy felt as if she was in a daze as she went through the motions, but at the end of the meeting they had come to an acceptable agreement to supply macarons for the golf tournament.