Fiona Silk Mysteries 2-Book Bundle Read Online Free Page B

CeeCee’s sure had that. The aisles were jammed. Who were all these people? I tried to get the attention of one of the frazzled clerks. She was coping with some highly focused customers. Maybe there’s something about expensive kitchen gear that brings out the beast in us. Not even the soft scent of lavender calmed that crowd.
    â€œCan’t help you right now,” she said. “If you can come back later, I’ll check the credit card slips for a telephone number.”
    â€œI’ll be at Chez Fred for the next while if she comes in looking for it. I’d be pretty worried if I were her.”
    I slipped the clerk a piece of paper with my name and telephone number.
    â€œWill do,” she said, turning back to the pushiest customer. One less problem to worry about.
    The Chez was jammed too, but then it always is. No matter how many wonderful trendy restaurants open in the village, we locals still hang out at the Chez. There are times when roasted rosemary and exotic salads are not what we need.
    As preferred customers, Josey and I bypassed those who were waiting and scored a window booth. We ordered two poutines, which would be prepared in the kitchen, along with the Chinese take-out by the Chilean cook under the watchful eyes of the Lebanese owner.
    â€œWhat’s going on in town?” I said, avoiding eye contact with resentful folks who’d been there first. “Who are all these people?”
    â€œThey’re here for
Hot Stuff,
” Josey said. “I bet that woman who lost the wallet has something to do with it too. It doesn’t sound like she’s from around here.”
    â€œShe’s definitely not from the village. I saw some banners for this
En feu! hot
whatever. What is that anyway?”
    â€œIt’s
En feu
if you’re French.
Hot Stuff
for us. They’re here for the television show. It’s the big thing, Miz Silk. The Cooking Channel.”
    â€œThere’s a cooking channel?”
    â€œSure. On satellite TV . Everyone gets it. You don’t know about the cooking channel, Miz Silk? What about reality television?”
    I said evenly, “I
can
read, so I do know about reality television. But what does all that have to do with St. Aubaine? We don’t even have a television station. Our population is twothousand, including stray dogs. Not exactly New York or LA.”
    â€œYou really need to get satellite, Miz Silk. How do you think I keep up with what’s happening in the world? Trends and everything. Do you know there are even business report channels?”
    I shuddered.
    Josey wasn’t letting go of this idea. “But, you’ll have to buy a new TV set first. I can find you one pretty cheap. Uncle Mike knows a guy...”
    â€œNo thanks,” I said quickly.
    â€œAnd I can pick you up a dish and receiver at a garage sale. People are always upgrading. Uncle Mike can get you the cheat card, and you’ll get hundreds of channels, just like that. Everyone does it. Even if they trace your signal, the worst they’ll do is fry your receiver.”
    I blinked.
    She beamed at me. “Easy as pie, Miz Silk. Then you can move into the twenty-first century.”
    â€œI don’t think so, Josey.” Of course, I might have been one or two centuries behind, but I wasn’t foolish enough to believe I had heard the last on the satellite issue.
    She chattered on. “Anyway, the reason all these people are here...”
    I smiled. Josey really cares a lot about Marc-André. She’d be happy to hear that he’d been awake and talking that afternoon. “It’s okay. Here’s our poutine. And I have good news today. You know what...Josey?”
    Josey’s fork landed with a clatter. I was so surprised, I dropped mine too. “What?”
    Josey’s mouth hung open. I followed her gaze. It led to a young man ambling along the sidewalk.
    â€œHoly smokes. That’s...”
    I stared.