The Death of a Celebrity Chef Read online

  Cate crossed her arms. “What happened?”

  “A hasty agreement a year ago to withhold certain information.”

  Hannah nodded, thinking this is huge. “Go on.”

  Niu stared at Hannah. “I never meant for this to happen. The police felt it was an open and shut case. I did it to preserve her dignity, so I changed... changed my report. The toxicology.” Tears welled in her eyes.

  Neither Hannah nor Cate moved or said a word. Instead, they listened.

  “There were barbiturates in her blood stream in a high dose. I was going to report it as an accident while attempting suicide. All the signs were there. Stress. Rumors. A public life. Every day her private self was exposed in all the papers and magazines. The press humiliated her almost every day. It is a normal reaction sometimes.”

  “So, you covered it up?”

  “Yes, he convinced me that she was gone, and there was no reason to dirty her reputation now. So, I removed the part about the suicide.”

  “And that’s how you got all this,” Hannah indicated by a point of a finger around the room.

  Niu’s face flushed with shame. “This came after. His insurance, I suppose. I didn’t ask for it, but I took it all the same.” She looked up to the ceiling as if a thousand-pound weight lifted from her shoulders. “I did the deed for good reasons. It never occurred to me that it was murder. Not after the tox screen results came in. It seemed so cut and dried.” Pausing, she looked between Hannah and Cate. “What makes you think she was murdered?”

  “A witness has come forward and new evidence was uncovered that will force an investigation. They’ll have to exhume the body.”

  Niu moved back to her chair and sat. “I told myself I did it for the good of her family and for those that loved her. For her fans, you know. She was more than a chef. She was a beautiful hero to so many hungry people through her nonprofit food programs. She donated her time and her good will.” Niu trailed off as she shook her head in disbelief. “And I gave her misguided justice.” She looked around the room in disgust. “This… this is my reminder, my shame. Hard as that may be to imagine, I hate every bit of it.” She produced a meek smile. “I suppose I should thank you. No matter what comes, whatever happens to me, I’m glad it’s out there.”

  “I believe you, but I’ll need you to confirm with the police that it was Asa Karas that bribed you to alter your report.”

  Niu sat up with a look of surprise on her face. “No.”

  Hannah and Cate looked at the doctor with quizzical expressions.

  “It was Jack Miller.”

  Chapter Eleven

  After finishing with Niu, both Hannah and Cate returned to the car in silence. Once inside, they sat for a moment to reflect on what had occurred.

  “Okay,” Cate expressed, “that was interesting. Where does it leave us?”

  Hannah rubbed her temples. “With more questions than answers. So many pieces to this puzzle. My head hurts.”

  Cate rummaged around and produced aspirin for her friend.

  “Thanks.” She uncapped her bottled water and swallowed the pills before continuing. “Well, first things first, we need a motive.”

  “It could be the same as Niu’s reason for changing the report, to maintain her dignity. Or, it’s more probable that he thought he would lose money, maybe millions, if it came out she committed suicide.”

  Hannah disagreed. “I don’t see that. I think he would stand to make more. I’m sure he owned a piece of everything associated with her name. If she died by suicide, he’d be up for books, movies, talk show circuits, re-runs, and rehashes.”

  “Maybe, but given how controlling Asa is, how much say would he allow Miller to have? Not much, I’m guessing.”

  “True, but there had to be a reason he wanted the drugs hidden.”

  “Could he have killed her?”

  Hannah had not considered the possibility. “For what reasons? The altering of the report suggests that for whatever reason, he had more to lose by her death by drugs than to gain. She was, as Mr. Borg said, his bread and butter.”

  Both women paused to contemplate before Cate started the car, rolled down the driveway and onto the street. “So, what do we do, confront him?”

  “I don’t think so, not yet. Even if we released the information to the police or the press, he’d claim the same as Dr. Niu. That he was protecting her memory. No, we’re still missing pieces.”

  “Let me guess. You have an idea where to find them.”

  “Not per se, but I know where we may find some,” Hannah responded.

  There was a long pause before Cate broke the quiet. “Well, are you going to leave me hanging here?”

  “We’re going after that safe.”

  “The safe on the old set with the security camera that’s bolted to the bottom of a drawer in a hidden compartment. The one that’s locked with no key that we know of? That safe?”

  “Yup.”

  Cate rolled her eyes. “Well, this is going to be an interesting day. I hope you are a safecracker.”

  “Not on my resumé, but I’m sure we need to find a way into that box.”

  “I’m sure you’ve thought of that key on Julia’s necklace. The one she had on the night she died.”

  “I did, and I’m sure that’s it, but Asa has the necklace. Thus, the key. I bet he doesn’t even know what he has.”

  “So, ideas?”

  “Well, the way I see it, we can either break into Asa’s place and face possible jail time…”

  “Next.”

  “We find Vera and see if she knows what is in it. Julia didn’t trust Jazlyn. I bet Asa is unaware of what the key went to, but she trusted Vera. Maybe she confided in her.”

  After a short drive back to the studio from Dr. Niu's estate, the women found it quite a challenge getting to where Louie's RV was parked in the media area. There was a huge line of cars and vans, and Cate determined security was already closing off the area. “See if you can get Louie on the phone. Maybe he can work some magic and make sure we can get in.”

  Hannah made the call and Louie said he would do what he could. He needed to make a few phone calls. Waiting for him to call back, Cate turned to Hannah. “So. What is your honest take on him?”

  Although the question threw Hannah a bit, it was not unexpected. Cate was her best friend and she could never hide anything from her. Cate always could read her. “Like a book,” she would often quip.

  Hannah let out a sigh. “I like him, I do. But I can’t trust him, not as far as this case goes. He’s too close to it. He was in love with Julia. That compromises him. I know he’s your friend. I hope I can think of him that way, too, but I can’t, not yet. I hope you understand.”

  Cate nodded. “Honey, I do. In fact, I count on you to see things like this. Buster and I, we love that man. He’s always been kind to us. He and Pop served together before he went off to school in Paris. Same as Julia. They were close. When Mom got sick, he came and watched over us. Cooked for us every day until she came home. Stayed around as she drifted away. I will always love him for that, but the truth is the truth. When it comes to Julia, he’s not stable. And when it comes to Louie, Buster and I wear rose-colored glasses. You do what you have to do. That’s what you are here for.”

  Cate’s words relieved her. Cate’s mom was ill for some time. She remembered Louie came while Hannah was away during the winter with her parents. Although she had heard of him, she had never met him until they arrived the few days earlier.

  In a short time, Louie buzzed back. He informed them he had arranged everything. Although the area was now closed, the guard would allow them in. All they needed to do was give him a call when they got close. Reaching the secured area, Cate gave the guard their names. He pointed out the area where the Food Critic RV was and passed them through. Hannah called Louie, and he met them as they arrived.

  “Welcome to the madhouse.” He threw his arms into the air and bore a big smile. “And imagine, the main event
isn’t even under way.”

  Cate took it all in. “Still think we can get into the show?”.

  “Can’t say for sure.” He handed them two passes with thin neck cords. “But these will help.”

  Hannah looked around as she slipped the cord around her neck. “So where is Buster?”

  “With Jazlyn, I’d imagine.” Cate’s face soured somewhat. “She is going to be hard for him to shake loose.”

  “Like a leech, that one,” Louie suggested.

  Cate grinned. “Ooooh, well played, sir, well played. What’s the time of the show’s taping?”

  “Oh, this isn’t a taping. It’s going live.” He pointed over toward the stage. “But they’ll do a sound and lighting check first, test the set changes, etc.”

  “They’re doing it here? Outside? That’s rather… different, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, a last-minute thing. It was one of Asa’s ideas. He wanted to get as large an audience as possible to launch the show. When he saw how many people were coming, being the consummate Barnum that he is, he figured, ‘The studio’s so small. Why turn so many away when I can make a bigger stage?’ He turned a negative into a positive. I gotta give him his props. He’s one hell of a business man.”

  Cate and Hannah took in all the fanfare as workers set up chairs before a large platform stage. The area itself was under a large, improvised, green covering that extended around three sides. Monitors were at the stage edge, and several cameras were set to capture every angle of the kitchen mock up.

  “This must have cost a fortune to do on the spur of the moment,” Hannah observed.

  Louie scratched his face over his day-old beard growth. “Yeah, well, I wouldn’t feel too sorry for the guy. He’s got it in spades.”

  “I can see that,” Hannah concurred.

  As the lighting technicians were folding up their ladders, Jazlyn walked out onto the set. She cleared her voice and spoke for the sound checks.

  Louie, Cate, and Hannah watched for a moment as the crew tested various levels. “She’s going to look great on camera,” Cate decided.

  Louie watched. “Did you think Asa would revive the show without being assured of that? He’s got too much invested.”

  As they continued to look on, a young woman with a clipboard approached Jazlyn and motioned toward the rear of the stage. Hannah could make out that whatever she said pleased her, and she exited in the direction indicated. Without looking away, Hannah addressed Louie. “Can we wait here until Buster returns? We all need to talk.”

  “Sure. Something new?”

  “Just some things that I need to share and something needs doing. Do you know where we can find Vera?”

  “Not at the moment. I imagine she’s up in the studio, away from the limelight. I’m sure Buster still has her number from yesterday. Give him a call and have him call her.”

  Cate removed her cell and began to dial. She stopped as Buster appeared heading in the group’s direction. His face was drawn in to a near scowl. He passed the group by without hesitation.

  “Something wrong, cuz?”

  “I’d rather not discuss it.”

  “All right, but can you call Vera and have her meet us at the RV? If she feels safe,” Hannah called out with some hesitation.

  Buster halted and turned. A look of irritation crossed his face. “Sure, why not.” Even though upset, he pulled out his cell and dialed. He struck the digital keyboard with enough force that Hannah was uncertain whether he would break it. While waiting for Vera to answer, he walked out of earshot of the group.

  “Wonder what that’s all about?”

  Cate watched her cousin as he kicked at the dirt with his sneakers while he spoke with Vera. “Oh, I could venture a guess.”

  A short time later, he returned to the group. “She’ll meet us at the RV in fifteen minutes. Let’s go.”

  As Buster headed off in the wrong direction Louie called after him. “Dude, RV's this way.” He pointed toward backstage. Buster turned to see everyone making the turn at the far end of the set. He winced and waited for what came next as his friends started around the back of the staging area, and stopped dead in their tracks. After a hesitant pause, he headed over to them and saw what they were seeing. It was something he had seen a few moments earlier. On the opposite side of the rear of the stage, Jazlyn was leaning against a frame post. Pressed against her, locked in a passionate kiss was Jack Miller. So involved were the two, they never noticed the stunned faces locked onto them. Cate lifted an eyebrow and shot Hannah a look of surprise.

  “Not… a… word,” came Buster’s voice from behind. When everyone turned to look at him, he wore a look of disgust. He turned and left once again in the same direction as before. Everyone followed suit. It was obvious to all the day was going to be an unpredictable one.

  After arriving back at the RV, Buster made his way to the back. It was clear to all he needed space and everyone provided him with it. Meanwhile, Hannah and Cate made tea for the meeting, and settled down to wait for Vera. It was not long until she knocked on the door.

  After an exchange of pleasantries, the conversation was under way. Hannah first spoke of her meeting with Alexander Borg. Vera, Louie, and even Buster listened in silence as she explained his suspicions about Julia’s death. How he believed she had died before falling into the water. The lack of all-round cooperation. The pressure he felt to close it, and his gut instinct something was off on the medical examiner’s reports. After that, she took Vera by the hand and looked her straight in the eyes. “This next part may be hard to hear because of what we found out, and because of what it could mean.”

  Vera took in a breath and steadied herself. “Okay, tell me.”

  “Cate and I went to see the medical examiner today. There was a cover up of sorts.”

  Vera’s eyes widened, and she gulped in anticipation.

  “Her name is Dr. Niu, and she altered the toxicology report and just performed a cursory external exam on the body.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Julia had extensive external bruising along the side of her face. It should have indicated to Niu to perform a full autopsy to see if there was more extensive underlying damage. But she just did a visual inspection.”

  Vera looked down at the floor and pulled her arms up to hold herself. “I don’t… I still don’t…”

  Hannah sighed and paused to find easier words, but none was forthcoming. All she could manage was, “Julia could have died from the impact of hitting the post rather than drowning.”

  “Then it was an accident?”

  “Perhaps, but we still have to weigh that against something else, another cause.”

  At this moment, Vera and Louie became focused on Hannah’s words. She tried to choose them with care, but realized there was no real way to do this, so she blurted them out. “Niu changed the toxicology report to hide the fact that her system showed high levels of barbiturates in her system. Enough that had she not hit the post, she still would have died.”

  “What?” Louie bellowed, “Barbiturates? Are you saying she…”

  Vera shook her head in disbelief. “No,” she repeated, “No, no, no.”

  Both Vera and Louie’s shoulders sagged, and a gamut of emotions played across each of their faces. Hurt. Anger. Disbelief. Despair. As the man who so loved Julia fought back the tears that threatened to erupt, Vera gave into her pain and sobbed. She had been sitting next to Louie and collapsed against his shoulder. Hannah, Cate, and Buster waited in silence for the painful, awkward moment to pass. It was a long time to come. Louie assumed a distant, far off look. “No, she wouldn’t have done that. That was against everything she believed in. Something else happened. Somebody did this to her.”

  “Vera, did you know her to take pills of any kind?”

  “She took them to help her sleep. During their fight, I heard Asa say something about them making her paranoid.”

  Louie’s jaw dropped. “She always had trouble sleeping, but she
never took anything. At least not, like that. She always drank tea, herbal stuff. She insisted on it. She hated pharmaceuticals. What you’re suggesting is… not Julia.”

  Cate tried to get Louie to look at her. When he relented, she gave her best sympathetic face. “People change, Louie. You haven’t been around her for years. Her life was a hot mess and full of unknown pressures.”

  Louie looked at Cate with anger in his eyes and answered in a cold, methodical, and emphatic voice. “She... would not… do this.”

  The case was not even closed, yet one of Hannah’s fears was playing out before her. Louie refused to acknowledge even the possibility Julia might have been something unrecognizable. The revelation of drugs in her system and possible scenarios surrounding her death dealt a stunning blow to the man. While his voice echoed with stubborn defiance, his face was lost in bitter agony and conflict. She determined she had to restore some order to the situation.

  “Look, I said it would be hard, and it is, but all it means is that there is more to this than meets the eyes.”

  Wiping the tears from her eyes, Vera sat up. “Why would this doctor, this medical person, keep this from us?”

  “Someone convinced her that it would be better to maintain Julia’s dignity,” explained Hannah.

  Louie’s brow furrowed even further. “Asa?”

  “No, Jack Miller.”

  “Mr. Miller?” Vera questioned. “Why?”

  “Still working on that,” Hannah confirmed.

  “I’ll tell you why.” Louie pointed at Hannah. “Because he poisoned her. That’s the explanation. He killed her and covered it up by paying off the examiner.”

  Hannah looked at him with a stern expression. “You’re out of line, Louie.”

  By this time, Louie flushed with anger. His voice rose from accusatory to near rage. He jumped to his feet, yelling, “Am I? You’ve been running around playing investigator, asking questions, looking for answers. Now that you have them, you won’t act on them? You’re getting off on all this. You need it to keep going. Well, to hell with that and to hell with you!” He started toward the front of the vehicle, but Cate blocked his way with halting hands. He stopped, fist clenched, but took no immediate action. Hannah tried to calm him down.