Murder in the Pearl District (Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Series Book 5) Read Online Free

European cheek kisses.
Donatella turned to Kelly. “You must be Kelly Reynolds. Sophie speaks so highly
of you, and I appreciate your coming to Portland to help Sophie out. I’m really
looking forward to tomorrow’s dinner,” she said in a soft voice with a
noticeable Italian accent.
                “Mrs. DeLuca, it’s a
pleasure to meet you,” Kelly said, extending her hand. “I’m one of your biggest
fans. I have all of your cookbooks and use them frequently in my coffee shop. I
realize my little coffee shop in Cedar Bay is nothing like this large and
beautiful restaurant, but many of your recipes have found their way onto my
menu.”
                “Good food is good food
no matter where it is served. I would love to stay and talk, but I’m having a
few issues in the kitchen that require my attention. Buon appetito, and
I’ll see you at 6:00 tomorrow evening.”
                “I can’t imagine trying
to run a restaurant like this. I know how much it requires just to run my
coffee shop. Not only is this much bigger, but I don’t have to deal with fine
dining, wine, and a large number of employees. I’m sure there are also guests
who probably consider themselves to be far more important than the ones I serve
in our small town.”
                “Yes, that is true. Dede
has told me just when she gets the kitchen help all working as a team, there
will be a problem with a supplier or a guest or someone who has had too much
wine and needs to feel important by finding fault with a bartender or server.
She said it’s always something, and yet even with all of that, there is very
little turnover among her staff. I recognize almost everyone, and I believe
that says something about the owner.”
                They ate the rest of
their dinner and talked of this and that. The busboy had just cleared their
table when Stefano placed a limoncello drink in front of each of them.
“Compliments of Mrs. DeLuca. This is a digestif drink that is traditionally
served after an Italian meal. It is Mrs. DeLuca’s favorite.”
                “Thank you. It looks
wonderful. And I must tell you the clam linguine was probably the best I have
ever had,” Kelly said. When Stefano had left the table she said, “Sophie, I
need to use the restroom. Where would I find it?”
                “It’s down that hall past
the kitchen. At the end take a right. You can’t miss it.”
                Kelly stood up and began
walking down the hall. When she was halfway down it, she heard raised voices
coming from behind the door that led to the kitchen. She recognized Donatella’s
voice speaking in an obviously angry tone of voice. “I don’t care what you
think. That is not how I want that dish cooked. I will not have my dishes
changed or altered in any way, shape, or form. If you want to stay on as sous
chef in my restaurant, you will cook the dishes exactly as I tell you, not how
you think they should be cooked. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
                “Is that a threat? Are
you telling me that if I don’t cook something your way, you’ll fire me?”
                “Take it however you
want, but I will tell you this, if you want to continue your position as the
sous chef at Mangia! Mangia! you will cook every dish exactly as I want it
cooked. I don’t want to have this discussion again.” Her voice faded as she
evidently walked away.
                Kelly then heard the
muffled words “Ti odio” angrily repeated several times by the person who
had been speaking with Donatella. She had no idea what the words meant, but
from the man’s tone of voice, she knew they weren’t words of love or
friendship. Although Sophie had told her everyone loved Donatella, from what
she had just overheard it seemed like there was one person who didn’t.

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