Revenge of the Chili Queens (27 page)

I knew he was teasing, but I couldn’t smile back. Not until I knew the whole story. “So if you’re developing your own chilies, why did you have to resort to stealing Martha and Rosa’s recipes?”

“You know about that, huh?” Jack cleared his throat. “I should have known a smart girl like you would find out the sorry facts. But here’s the story, darlin’, and you know I wouldn’t lie to you. I might not be the best father in the world—”

I sat up like a shot. “You are!”

Jack’s cocky smile melted at the corners. “That’s the other difference between you and Sylvia. She sees the world just the way it is. Black and white. No shades of gray for her. You look at things the way you’d like them to be. It ain’t always good from a business point of view, but it means you’ve got real spirit, Maxie. It also means you’re likely to get your heart broken more than most.”

There was a time I would have instantly thought of Edik and everything that happened back in Chicago.
These days, none of it seemed so important—especially Edik—and realizing it, I traded Jack bittersweet smile for bittersweet smile. “You are the best dad in the world.”

“And since you believe that, you’ll know I’m telling you the truth when I tell you I had nothing to do with what happened to those nice ladies, Martha and Rosa. Dom, he was working for the company long before I signed on. It was the guy who was president before me who sent Dom over there to those restaurants to steal chili recipes, not me. Dom!” Jack twitched his broad shoulders. “I didn’t trust the guy. I didn’t like the guy. In fact, after the Showdown left San Antonio next week and I didn’t need him to check up on you and Sylvia, I was all set to fire his sorry ass. So you see, sending him to steal those recipes . . . well, you know I’d never do a thing like that, Maxie.”

“But you were giving out samples and—”

“Yes, we were. But that’s because there’s no use wasting perfectly good chili, and the chili, it was already made when I found out where those recipes came from. Rest easy, darlin’.” He patted my knee. “Southwest Glory and Texas Favorite are not going into production. In fact, I had my research and development people destroy the hard drives those recipes were stored on, and all the files related to them have been shredded. My research and development people!” He barked out a laugh. “Sure does sound funny sittin’ here sayin’ things like that.”

“Have you told Martha and Rosa yet?”

He gave me a wink. “They’ll find out tomorrow at the big Miss Consolidated Chili shindig. That’s when I’m
presenting each of them with a dozen roses, a heartfelt apology, and a whopping big check for all their troubles.”

“You’re not a crook!” Of course I knew this deep down in my soul, but it never hurts to have these things confirmed. A wave of relief washed over me and I sighed. “I’m so glad. And it means you didn’t have any reason to want to keep Dom quiet. You didn’t kill him!”

Jack laughed so hard, he had to stop and catch his breath. “You didn’t really think I did, did you?”

“Well, I thought John Wesley Montgomery might have. Before I knew he was you. Or you were him. Or whatever. I know you wouldn’t do a thing like that.”

“But that doesn’t help your investigation much, does it?”

“How did you—”

“Well, give me some credit there, girl! I’ve been following you around for days trying to find the right moment to talk to you. I’ve seen what you’re up to. You just promise me you’ll be careful.”

“You know I will.”

“And I know you’re smart and as tough as a boot, too. You’ll figure out this here little mystery.”

I hoped he was right, but at that moment, I didn’t really care about who’d killed Dom and who tried to kill me as much as I did about what Jack was up to. We’d never had secrets from each other, and I’d grown up knowing I could talk to him about anything. Still, butterflies filled my stomach and I gulped a breath for courage.

“You sold out,” I told him.

He made a face. “I did. Like I said, the board of Consolidated came a’courtin’ and there was only so long I could resist. They said they wanted my chili expertise. They said they wanted my marketing genius. And the paycheck . . . well, heck, Maxie, I didn’t think I’d ever see anything like it in my life.”

“But canned chili!” I shivered.

Jack laughed. “Right now, it’s regular ol’ canned chili, but believe me, darlin’, I’m going to change all that. Besides . . .” He drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “After all those years on the road with the Showdown, I was thinkin’ that I wanted to leave you two girls more than just a food truck full of peppers.”

“You’ve already done that,” I assured him.

I knew I’d missed his smile, but it wasn’t until that exact second that I realized just how much.

“I’ve left you a love for chili and life on the road,” he said. “I’ve left you recipes and stories. Now you’ll have an inheritance, too. Who cares if the money comes out of a can! I’m finally going to be able to take care of my two girls.”

CHAPTER 19

By Sunday afternoon, I should have been exhausted. We finished up the last of the fund-raisers over at Alamo Plaza on Saturday night, and even though my feet hurt and my back ached and it was late by the time I got back to the RV, I didn’t sleep a wink.

How could I after what happened?

Sylvia, it should be noted, tried to play it cool about the return of our dad. Not that I believed her cucumber attitude for a minute. When it comes to Sylvia, it’s hard to recognize the signs of excitement since she’s so darned reserved anyway, but I knew what to look for. She had a cup of coffee with me when we got back to the RV. And a chocolate cupcake. Sylvia and chocolate? Oh yeah, I could tell that like me, she was walking on a cloud.

We talked until the wee hours of the morning, speculating about everything from what would happen to the Palace now that Jack had returned to how he’d turn Consolidated Chili around, and I had an extra chocolate cupcake just for the heck of it and because there seemed no better way to celebrate.

I don’t think I’d ever been giddy in my entire life. Not until that night, anyway. Sure, I was still a little confused as to how my father—ever the rebel and always a believer in the joys of small business ownership—could have sold out to a big, bad corporation. But that, I told myself, was a problem for me to consider another day.

For now, all that mattered was that Jack was safe and well. He was back.

And yes, I was giddy.

My euphoria carried into the next day as we wrapped up our final afternoon at the San Antonio Showdown. The Chili Chick had an extra kick in her step that day, and who could blame her! I danced to attract customers to the Palace. I danced to celebrate chili in all its varieties and all its glory. I danced because for the first time in months, my worries didn’t weigh heavy on my heart. The last thing on the day’s agenda was the Miss Consolidated pageant, and once that was done, we’d take a well-deserved night off, then head to New Orleans and the next Showdown, and when I wasn’t driving the RV, something told me I’d still be dancing. Just for the hell of it.

And if by the time we pulled up stakes and left town I hadn’t managed to find out who killed Dominic Laurentius?

In spite of the stifling afternoon heat, a chill like the
touch of icy hands tickled its way up my back. It sure would be nice to put this case to bed, I reminded myself. Just like it would be nice to find the low-down snake in the grass who’d tossed me in with that rodeo bull.

But call me crazy; right about then, my heart was so light and my spirit so buoyant, the case was the last thing on my mind.

“Nice dancing, Chick!” Apparently even Nick noticed the extra kick in my step, because when he walked over to where I danced outside the Palace, he was smiling. “You’ve been at it all day. Shouldn’t you get some rest?”

“Don’t feel like resting.” I shuffled and kicked and, just for good measure, spun around with my arms out at my sides. “I feel like flying!”

Nick knew why. I’d told him as soon as I got out of the limo and back over to our tent in Alamo Plaza. After all, Jack said that thanks to his contract, he was forbidden to reveal his true identity to anyone, but that didn’t mean I had to keep the news a secret. Besides, I’d only told Nick, Tumbleweed, and Ruth Ann, and they weren’t going to spread the news, anyway.

As for Gert Wilson . . .

I’d made a quick stop at Gert’s setup before I donned the Chick costume, and though I didn’t tell her how I knew what I knew, I did let her know I knew it. I also told her that I understood that she’d been sworn to secrecy and that we’d talk later. When I left her, she was smiling, so I guess that didn’t exactly put the fear of God into her.

“Don’t wear yourself out before the pageant tonight,” Nick said when I was done spinning and came to rest in
front of him. “If they’re short a beauty queen, maybe you could be Miss Consolidated Chili.”

Since I was lost inside the Chick costume, he missed the face I made as well as my crossed eyes. “Not interested in a sparkling tiara or a sash. Got everything I need!”

Nick moved in close, the better to peer beyond the mesh and into the costume. “Everything?”

The Texas heat was nothing compared to the sizzle generated by his smile. “Well, now that you mention it—”

“All right, you two. Break it up!” Sylvia rolled down the aluminum window on the front of the Palace. “It’s time for the pageant, and Maxie, I’ve got to believe that’s not what you’re planning on wearing.”

She was right.

And I was late.

I told Nick not to move a muscle and zipped into the back door of the Palace so I could change out of the Chick and into my street clothes and met him back outside in record time.

“I can’t wait for you to meet him,” I told Nick as we headed for the main building where the pageant would be held. “But you’re going to have to call him Mr. Montgomery, remember. At least while there are other people around.”

“I remember.”

Hard to believe, but when we got to the pageant, there were plenty of other people around. Ginger and Teddi were at the front of the line, dressed as elegantly as any of the contestants would ever be. Ginger was in a pale blue gown with a plunging neckline and a diaphanous skirt, and Teddi . . .

I took a careful look just to make sure she hadn’t pulled a fast one on me when he walked away from Tatiana’s.

True to her word, no gold lamé for Teddi. This afternoon, she looked splendid in a mid-calf-length white dress adorned with giant red poppies, a red picture hat, and matching heels.

Martha and Rosa were there, too, chatting it up with the people in the crowd around them.

“People actually come to watch these things?” I wondered out loud.

“Hey, beautiful girls showing off their legs and their talents.” Nick grinned. “What could be wrong with that?”

The good news was that because the pageant was sponsored by Consolidated Chili, security was being handled by Tri-C and the fairgrounds and Nick didn’t have to work. He was free to be an audience member, just like me, and we took our seats along the aisle about halfway back in the auditorium. The red velvet curtain was down, and right in front of it was a gigantic Consolidated Chili can surrounded by bouquets of pink and white carnations.

“Nobody knows tacky promotions better than Jack,” I said.

“It’s probably one of the reasons they hired him.” Nick made sure to keep his voice down. “Promotions and publicity translate into sales.”

A few minutes later, the lights in the auditorium dimmed and music filled the air. James Faragut walked out from behind that giant chili can and welcomed everyone to the Miss Consolidated Chili pageant.

“That’s him.” I elbowed Nick. “He’s the one from the video, remember?”

Nick squinted. “It could be.”

“It is. I remember him from the video. He’s the one with the big—”

“Shh!” From the row in front of us, Sylvia shushed me.

When she turned back around I made a face at the back of her head. “He’s the one,” I grumbled, but I doubt Nick heard me. On Faragut’s signal, the red velvet curtains whooshed open, the music swelled, and all seven of the Miss Consolidated Chili contestants paraded in. The crowd burst into applause.

“See, swimsuits.” His gaze was on the stage and the leggy women who graced it when Nick elbowed me. “I told you there were reasons people came to these things.”

Maybe he was right. Like everyone else in the audience, I settled back and tried my best to enjoy myself.

After the parade of swimsuits came the first round of chili trivia.

Tiffany—Miss Texas Chili Pepper—missed two answers out of the five questions she was asked. Miss Texas Triangle—Bindi Monroe—missed one. The other girls were pretty much clueless.

I knew every answer.

“You’re pretty proud of yourself, aren’t you?” The auditorium lights came on for intermission and Nick smiled my way. “Maybe you should be up there competing.”

“I don’t think so.” I popped out of my seat and grabbed Nick’s hand. “Come on,” I said. “I know he’s backstage.” Notice I was being careful and didn’t say who I was
talking about. “I can’t wait any longer. I want you to meet him.”

“Now?” Nick got up, but only because I was already out in the aisle and still hanging on to him. “Won’t he be busy? There’s lots going on and—”