Two Cooks A-Killing by Joanne Pence Page B

managed to squeeze in a few words about Connie sending Minnie Petite over to ask him to find her missing “significant other,” who happened to be a 62-year-old dwarf and was also an actor.
    A strange coincidence, he had to admit, considering that Angie was surrounded by actors.
    She found it amusing that instead of a hardened murderer, Connie had him chasing a wedding-shy little person…and then she went right back telling him about Eagle Crest scenes that took place on the very sofas, chairs, and tables, or by the bar, fireplace, courtyard, and even bathrooms she was using. By the time he hung up, his ears were ringing.
    â€œI know why he’s so grumpy.” Rebecca Mayfield, Homicide’s only female inspector, interrupted his thoughts as she crossed the room to rest an arm on the filing cabinet by his desk. She had long blond hair, worn loose about her shoulders today, and a body that showed the positive effects of many hours at a gym. Her clothes were basic and inexpensive, her shoes sensible, her demeanor serious and logical. To Paavo, she was theanti-Angie—he couldn’t imagine two women more different.
    Rebecca was half in love with him, or thought she was, and had been since they’d first met. Her lingering gazes and heartfelt sighs made him uncomfortable. There was nothing he could do but ignore them.
    â€œAngie’s probably wondering if the guests would prefer aspic or confit as an appetizer,” Rebecca said with a smile. “Paavo doesn’t want to tell her he doesn’t know what the hell she’s talking about.”
    Even Luis Calderon, who rarely cracked a smile, let alone a laugh, snickered at that.
    Paavo crumpled the newspaper. “What do you guys know about the old TV series Eagle Crest ?”
    â€œHot stuff,” Calderon called.
    â€œAll I remember,” Yosh said, “is my wife used to tell me to be quiet on Friday nights so she could watch it. It was when we were first married, too. I had other things on my mind than some dumb soap on Friday night, let me tell you. I never understood what she saw in it. Some of the women were babes, but the guys were puke-buckets. I tried to watch a couple of times. She’d get mad when I’d laugh and it wasn’t supposed to be funny.”
    â€œI don’t blame her.” Rebecca snapped. “If I’d been your wife, that would have ended our relationship. I used to watch every minute of the show. Every second, in fact.”
    â€œSo that explains your wasted youth,” Yosh said.
    â€œStuff it!” Rebecca turned to Paavo. “Why do you ask?”
    â€œAngie’s not in town. She’s gone to St. Helena for a few days to work on some Christmas reunion show.”
    Rebecca gasped. “You’re kidding me. They aren’t in St. Helena now, are they?”
    â€œDid you tell her it’s April, Paavo?” Yosh said with a chuckle.
    Paavo ignored him, and answered Rebecca. “Angie’s there, so I guess the others are as well.”
    Rebecca, starry-eyed, murmured, “I can’t believe it. Cliff and Adrian, in Eagle Crest , again. Dear, sweet, hunka-hunka Adrian.”
    â€œHunka-hunka?” Calderon looked as her as if she’d lost her mind.
    Rebecca cleared her throat and turned toward her desk.
    â€œOne of the cast died mysteriously while the show was being filmed,” Yosh said. “I don’t recall the details.”
    â€œAngie’s curious about that,” Paavo said. “Of course.”
    His words brought Rebecca back. “Julia Parker, Natalie Roxbury’s niece. She was a bitch and a troublemaker, but it was really sad when she died. People were in tears all over America.”
    â€œWait a minute,” Paavo said, confused, “are you talking about a character or an actress?”
    â€œA character, but the actress died, too,” Rebecca replied. “I don’t remember her name,