Kee Patterbee - Hannah Starvling 01 - The Chef at the Water's Edge by Kee Patterbee Page B

Looking to Louie, she said, “You, I recognize. Food Critic magazine. Julia’s old friend.” She then looked at Hannah.
    “But the rest of you, you’re not journalists. Why are you here?”
    “Of course we are. We’re his assistants. Interns,” Buster said, turning on his full charm, and answering in his most convincing voice.
    “Interns? How old are you? Thirty?” She turned her eyes toward Hannah. “And with that hat? I do not think so.”
    Buster’s face displayed sudden shock. Vera’s guess had hit hard. His vanity and pride hurt, he stammered, “Twenty-seven.” He pointed to Cate and Hannah. “They’re over thirty.”
    Cate frowned. Turning to Buster, she put her hands on her hips and answered in an irritated voice. “Thirty-one, thank you!”
    Vera stiffened and peered harder toward all. “How many thirtyish something interns do you know?” She then darted her eyes toward Louie. “You. Why do you keep staring at me? Do I know you?”
    Drawn out of his daze, Louie shook his head. “No, Ms. ... Bessinger, was it?” He then offered her his hand.
    Vera tilted her head to one side and studied the man before her. Hannah watched as the woman sized Louie up.
Cautious
, she ticked off once again.
    After a moment, Vera took the offer and returned the gesture. Eased by her action, Louie provided a pleasant smile. “Pleasure to meet you.” Vera nodded, but said nothing. It was clear to all that she was waiting for an explanation, which Louie proceeded to give.
    “I am here on an assignment,” Louie explained as Vera looked at him in skepticism. He then looked to the others before turning back to her. “But you are right. We are also here for another reason.”
    Vera remained silent and unmoving. She watched as Louie furrowed his brow and drew in a breath before continuing. When he did speak, he laced his words with feelings of pain issued between pauses. “The truth is … I’ve always wondered about Julia’s death. It doesn’t feel right. Nothing about it makes sense. Where they found her by the water. She would not have been there. She was--”
    Vera cut Louie off mid-sentence, her voice echoing with equal parts excitement, shock, and camaraderie. “Afraid of the water.”
    Louie agreed. “Terrified.”
    “Yes. She wouldn’t go near it without someone with her. Never.”
    Louie smiled, intrigued by the sudden bond he shared with the young woman before him. “Now, that’s what I’m talking about!” he exclaimed, shaking and pointing his finger into the air for emphasis. Locking eyes with Vera, he nodded. “That’s why I’m … we’re here. It’s an opportunity.”
    For the first time since they encountered each other, Vera smiled. She was bobbing her head as she took in Louie’s confession. Hannah watched as the woman’s body relaxed and the tension fell from around her. She also could tell by Vera’s reactions that she, too, had many unanswered questions. Now, she had someone to share them with. Her instant agreement also hinted that those questions been somewhat of a burden for her to carry over the past year. As such, she was ready to accept even the broadest of agreement, so long as it pointed to the common goal of finding out what happened to Julia. This even to strangers.
    Vera moved forward and hugged Louie tight as tears welled in her eyes. “I was beginning to think I was alone in my suspicions.” Once she released him, she looked at him through the watery glaze. “I know something happened. Nothing about it adds up. It’s like it was all rushed and swept under the rug. Julia deserves better than that.”
    Louie was beaming. Hannah could tell that it came from a mixed bag of feelings. Vera looked much like Julia. Perhaps she had been a surrogate child since she had none of her own. Maybe Louie was seeing Vera now as Julia and his offspring in the fantasy life he created but had never realized. Beyond this, she had been close to Julia. For him, maybe Vera was a stand-in