The Diva Steals a Chocolate Kiss (25 page)

Dear Sophie,

I’ve told my daughter-in-law that I can’t sleep if I eat chocolate at dinnertime. Now she’s trying to trick me by saying she used carob. Hah! I know the difference because I’m the one who is up all night. My family makes fun of me when I won’t eat her desserts. Help!

—Who Did My Son Marry in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota

Dear Who Did My Son Marry,

Show this to your son. Chocolate contains caffeine. Dark chocolate has more caffeine than milk chocolate. In addition, the theobromine in chocolate is a stimulant. Tell your daughter-in-law that white chocolate is your favorite. There’s no theobromine and very little caffeine in it.

—Sophie

I walked into The Laughing Hound through the front door and hurried to the outdoor garden. Never in my life had I been so late checking to be sure everything was set up.

I burst through the doors, alarming a few early bird guests who already milled around with drinks in hand. The tables were set with white cloths, light green napkins, and centerpieces of dahlias in shades of red and gold. Lights hung on long strands overhead, to be turned on as the sun fell. Passersby peered over the brick and wrought iron fence. I wasn’t surprised. The outdoor dining patio was charming.

I greeted the guests, but as soon as I could without drawing attention to myself, I fled for Bernie’s office. Nina and Mars had made themselves comfortable. Marla, wearing her waitress outfit, paced the floor.

“Everything set?” I asked.

“You bet,” said Mars. “You just have to keep your cool.”

“Me? No one will even notice me. It’s all up to Marla now. I’m going out to mingle. If you need me, send Nina.”

I hoped Mars and Nina would keep Marla calm. When I returned to the dining patio, I spotted Nonni, as adorable as always. She toddled over to me.

“You find killer of Arnie yet?”

“Nonni, it looks like it was Randy.”

“Randy?” Her hand flew to cover her mouth. “To protect his Coco.”

“You knew about that?”

“You think Nonni is blind?” She shook a gnarled forefinger. “It was wrong but Mitch is such a . . .”

“Rooster?”

Nonni laughed aloud. “Look,” she said, pointing. “Dan has accepted Kara. They put old problems behind them.”

Indeed, Dan appeared to be introducing Kara to some of the winners. Stella was with them, but she seemed a little bit unsure of herself.

Relief flooded her face when she saw me. She hurried
toward us. “Nonni, you wouldn’t believe what a nice boyfriend Sophie has, and handsome, too.”

“I gather Alex is representing you?”

“Now that Arnaud’s tie has been found, we’re not sure that he’ll need to. So far I haven’t been charged with anything.”

Nonni wrapped an arm around Stella’s waist. “Stella is good girl.”

Cheryl swooped in on our conversation. “Did you hear, Stella? We’re cousins!”

“What? I don’t have any relatives.”

“Oh baby, you do now. A whole huge bunch of them who all want to meet you!” Cheryl beamed at her.

I wandered away as they tried to figure out exactly how they were connected.

Coco and Mitch had arrived. I felt a pang of guilt. After tonight, their lives would change in ways they hadn’t anticipated.

In due course everyone sat down to eat. My heart thundered in my chest so hard that I was afraid everyone could hear it.

Wolf slid into a chair at the table where Mars and Nina were seated.

The appetizers arrived. No sign of Marla.

The pressure of waiting was terrible. Not even the sight of pink and orange blossoms on the shrimp crostini distracted me. Who could eat at a time like this?

I tried not to watch Mitch but it was hard. He looked so comfortable that it disturbed me. If Marla had eaten those chocolates, no one would have known that Mitch had poisoned her. Or if she had run away and kept her mouth shut about it all, he would have continued living the high life. He nearly got away with murdering Randy.

The waitstaff picked up the appetizer plates and started serving the entrees.

Marla carried in Mitch’s steak and set it down in front of him. He didn’t even notice her. She leaned over very slightly. Even from a short distance I could hear her ask, “Could I get you another Scotch, sir?”

Mitch froze for a second. He turned slightly to look up at Marla, his shoulders twinging with the slightest jerk. She just stared at him.

“No, thank you.”

She took a step back but continued to watch him.

Mitch leaned toward Dan, at the next table. “Hey, I think I got your steak, buddy. Mine is overcooked.”

Dan acted like Mitch was confused. “Sorry, I’ve got the correct dinner. I’m having the swordfish.”

“What’s wrong, Mitch?” asked Coco.

“Overcooked. The steak. It’s overcooked.”

“Just send it back.” Coco turned and lifted her hand. “Marla! What are you doing here?”

“Moonlighting.”

Coco studied Marla for a moment, obviously confused. She nudged Mitch. “Did you see Marla?”

“I did.”

“Marla, could you bring Mitch another steak, please?”

“Of course. It would be my pleasure.”

Everyone else started eating, except for me. I was entirely too nervous.

Marla took her sweet time returning with Mitch’s steak. “How’s this, sir?”

“Thank you.”

“Perhaps you’d try a piece so we can be sure?”

Coco frowned at him. “What’s going on? You don’t like this one, either? For heaven’s sake!” She reached over and cut a slice of the filet. “It looks wonderful.”

Mitch hastily knocked her fork out of her hand and tipped the plate so his food slid off it.

“Mitch!” cried Coco. “What’s with you tonight? I’m so sorry,” she said to the waitstaff who rushed to clean it up.

Wolf, seated next to Mars, leaned over to confer with him.

Marla waited until the mess had been cleaned up before she brought Mitch another plate. “I hear the mashed potatoes are to die for.” She took two steps back and waited.

Mitch reached for his glass and drank the last little droplet. Anyone else would surely have requested a refill. He eyed his water but reached for Coco’s and drained it.

Most people were finishing their entrees by that time. While Mitch’s behavior seemed logical for someone who feared Marla might poison his food, I doubted that it was enough evidence to make a case against him.

He fidgeted like a kid. If he paid any attention to the people around him, I couldn’t tell. He appeared to be deep in thought.

I was about to blow a gasket. He must have worn gloves when he broke into my house and stole the chocolates. None of the other mystery chocolates had been poisoned. Mitch must have inserted the poison. That would to be easy to do with a syringe. Who would notice the tiny hole it left? Just thinking about it made me glad he was squirming now.

I noted that Mitch grabbed a dessert plate from a tray and sat down with it. No sooner had he done so than Marla whisked it away and repositioned a new dessert plate before him.

Mitch excused himself and stood. He walked to another waiter. I couldn’t hear him, but the waiter nodded.

Mitch returned to his seat, looking pleased with himself.

But it was Marla who delivered the drink and dessert to Mitch. He closed his eyes momentarily, and his jaw tightened. He rose again, grabbed Marla’s sleeve and propelled her inside the restaurant.

Wolf and I were right behind them. Wolf held out his arm to stop me. We could hear Mitch whispering on the other side of a partition.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“What’s the problem, Mitch? You haven’t eaten a bite.”

Mitch let out an ugly chuckle. “I was going to say that you would live to regret this, but you won’t. There’s no place you can go that I won’t track you down. Do you understand me?” he hissed.

Coco joined us. I held up a finger across my lips in a signal to be quiet.

Mitch continued his tirade in a low voice. “You thought you were so smart coming here tonight with all these people to protect you. Well, you know what? They’re going home. And then you will be all alone. And when you least expect it—”

“What? You’ll send me more poisoned chocolates? Don’t you feel
any
remorse for killing Randy?”

“I didn’t poison him, you did. You’re the one who gave him the chocolates, you idiot. Besides, you did me a favor.”

“A favor?”

“Sure. Randy knocked off the old man for me. When you murdered Randy with those chocolates, you took care of the only person who could link me to Joe’s death.”

Coco gasped and covered her mouth with her hand.

Uh-oh!
I was going to be in huge trouble with Wolf! Mitch really had wanted to kill Joe!

Mitch’s tone changed. It was sickeningly sweet. “We’re halfway there, baby. I’m in charge of the company now. We just have to wait awhile, let things settle down.”

“Baby? You must think I’m really stupid. You tried to kill me! That could have been me instead of Randy. What did I do to you?”

“It wasn’t about you. Don’t you get it? With Randy gone, you were the loose link. You were the only one who could ruin things for me with Coco. I’m nothing without her. I can’t lose Coco. Without her I don’t have Amore. Without Coco, I cease to exist—no company, no house, nothing. Everything has to happen in logical order. Just bear with me, baby. Eventually, Coco will have an accident, I’ll be in charge, and then we can be together. But I need you to keep quiet, darlin’.”

Coco pushed past Wolf and me. “Marla,” she cooed. “I’m so glad to see that you’re all right. With Daddy missing, I was afraid something awful might have happened to you, too. And by the way, I’m putting you in for a substantial raise. You deserve it.”

And then we heard a painful crack and a groan.

Wolf and I pressed to the other side in time to see Mitch bend over in pain. “My dose! You broke my dose!”

Coco massaged her knuckles. “Man, that hurt. But it was worth it. That was for my father!”

Wolf, after grumbling something about dealing with me later, handcuffed Mitch and escorted him from the restaurant.

Coco bowed her head and sniffled. “I can’t believe he killed Dad. It’s my fault. I brought him into our family.”

I had to coax her to return to her guests. She cleaned up her tears, and we went to our seats as though nothing had happened, except Coco invited Marla to sit next to her where Mitch had been.

Coco clinked on her glass and stood up. “I apologize for the absence of my father. I know he would have loved to be here with us tonight.”

Her voice stayed firm and didn’t break. I was so proud of her.

Vince rose from his seat. He pulled off the glasses and ponytail wig, and peeled off his fake nose.

Coco stared at him in horror, which quickly changed to joy. “Dad?”

Kara jumped to her feet. In no time at all, Joe’s family surrounded him, and the rest of us applauded.

Joe took the floor. “I would like to apologize to all of you, and especially to my wonderful family. My little disappearance was for an undercover examination of Amore Chocolates. I was stunned and deeply pleased to find such fabulous and dedicated people working for us. We will be making a few changes but they will strengthen Amore, and it will be better than ever. I’m sorry for putting my family through such anguish, and I hope they’ll forgive me.”

He raised his glass in a toast. “Here’s to all of our contest winners. Thank you for making our sixtieth anniversary so very special. May you never run out of chocolate!”

Dear Sophie,

My wife refuses to bake chocolate cakes because she says they’re too much for just the two of us. I think she should freeze half, and we’ll eat the other half, but she maintains that you can’t freeze chocolate cake. Is she pulling my leg?

—Hungry in Freeze Fork, West Virginia

Dear Hungry,

Most chocolate cakes and brownies freeze very well. Don’t bake them again, just let them come to room temperature. Don’t tell your wife, but some brownies are even better semi-frozen. They make excellent midnight snacks!

—Sophie

Coco ordered champagne, which probably made Bernie very happy. Guests lingered at their tables over coffee, champagne, and dessert. Coco visited every single table and took the time to sit down and talk with her guests.

I moseyed over to Nonni. “Do you feel better now that you know Joe is safe?”

She screwed up her face and clutched her hands together under her chin. “I am so worried about Joe.” Then she laughed so hard her frail shoulders shook. “I know all the time,” she admitted. “I make a pretty good actress, yes?”

I assured her that she did.

“Two days from now, you come to Joe’s house, and I teach you to make real tiramisu, Nonni’s way.”

“It’s a date, Nonni. How is Bacio? Is he staying home?”

“He is so happy to be on the lap of Joe’s wife again. Bacio brings her comfort. She feels much better now that he is back.”

I lifted my forefinger and pinky in the air as she had a few days ago. “How about the curse?”

Nonni hugged me. “No more curse for the Meranos! Now that we have our Kara back, the curse is gone.”

Joe walked over to hug his mom.

“There’s one thing I don’t quite understand, Joe. Why now? Why did you plan this during the big anniversary celebration?”

He placed an arm around his mother’s shoulders. “Two reasons, really. I wanted to see how my family would react. Who would show leadership? And the second but probably most important reason was I hoped my absence would make the news and bring Kara home. It was a long shot, but all I really wanted in the world was to have my daughter back.”

I watched Kara laughing with Lori across the room and wondered if Kara would stick around. After all, she had made another life for herself in Colorado.

As if reading my thoughts, Joe said, “We have made room for Kara in our hearts again, and she will take her
rightful place at Amore—if she wants it. I learned things about my family that I never would have known if I hadn’t gone undercover. I thought Dan didn’t have it in him to run a business. I knew he was talented. And I appreciated his amazing artistic abilities but somehow, I thought that meant he wasn’t interested in running Amore Chocolates. But he rose to the occasion. He’s just like my father. Strong, honest, and kind. During my absence, he handled Amore and his sister Coco with a natural skill that I never knew he had. And he took care of Nonni.”

Coco joined us just in time to hear her father say, “My sweet Coco. I was so mistaken about you. No one could ask for a more dedicated daughter. When you thought I was missing, you moved heaven and earth to find me, but you never dropped the ball at Amore. You kept everything going. The interviews and cooking demonstrations never stopped for a moment. I think you may have been surprised by your own resilience and strength. You will follow me as the next CEO of Amore Chocolates.”

“Who was responsible for the inferior chocolates?” I asked.

“Mitch. In a way I think he meant well. He changed to a lower-cost chocolate supplier and added some cheap ingredients. It made our bottom line look good, but we would have lost our reputation. Fortunately, it didn’t go on very long. First thing tomorrow morning, we’ll be pulling the boxed chocolates and changing the formula back.”

Stella, Dan, and Kara joined the conversation.

“The only thing that bothers me is we’ll probably never know why Randy killed Arnaud,” said Dan.

“For love!” said Nonni. “Because he loved Coco and was afraid to lose her.”

Stella sucked in a deep breath. “Nonni’s right. I was talking with Randy at the tasting when Arnaud joined us. I’m sorry, Coco, but he asked where Kara was. No one ever mentions her, so he caught our attention. And then he
boasted, ‘I slept with both sisters . . . back before they looked like old cows.’ He was laughing about it and said something about seducing you both again. I think Randy was as sickened by him as I was. We were kind of alike, Randy and me. We were outsiders who were embraced by your family. Not just at Amore but in our personal lives. Both of us would have done anything to protect you. He wasn’t going to let the man who ruined your lives come back into them again. He didn’t want to lose you to that worm.”

I managed to pull Kara aside for a moment. I didn’t want to embarrass her or cause problems in front of her family but there was one thing that still bugged me. “Kara, I saw you at the Honeysuckle B and B the night that Joe went missing.”

She looked horrified.

“You were in town before Marla ever called you. Your dad’s disappearance wasn’t the real reason you came to Old Town, was it?”

Kara glanced around as if checking to see if anyone would overhear. “I’m just getting my family back, Sophie. I would appreciate it if you didn’t share what I’m about to tell you. I’ll probably confess to them in my own good time but it might throw a big kink into the reunion if they knew the truth.”

She studied the floor. “I figured out that Arnie had become Arnaud and read about his new store opening here in Old Town. He was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Because of him, my entire life turned upside down.”

Kara raised her eyes to meet mine. “I’m not saying I didn’t cause some of my own problems. I can’t go back and undo anything. I have to live with that guilt for the rest of my life. I came to Old Town to confront him face-to-face. I wanted to look into his eyes and let him know what evil he did to me and my family. Arnie always got away with everything. He was like a tornado, moving on and leaving devastation behind.” Kara chuckled. “I liked to imagine that I would
punch him in the nose. I knew that I wouldn’t, but I liked to dream about it. I came here to face my past.”

A lot of people slept better that night with the knowledge that Mitch was safely in police custody. Marla collected her cat from a friend and went back home to her own place. Nina drove Mars back to my house, and I stayed until the bitter end, when the very last guests had gone back to the hotel.

In the morning, I forced myself out of bed at eight o’clock anyway. After a quick shower, I stepped into a cool blue sheath dress, and zipped it up. Sandals, earrings, and I was ready to wrap up the Amore anniversary events. I paused in the kitchen, where Mars made coffee without the aid of his crutches.

I was about to ask him to feed Mochie, but my sweet kitty was already chowing down on something. “Back soon,” I assured him as I fled out the door.

I heard him yell, “Bring breakfast!”

Old Town puttered to life. Cars crowded the streets, and people hurried to work. Taxis and limos idled in the hotel driveway, ready to whisk people to the airports and train station.

The entire Merano family had made the trip to the hotel to say good-bye to their guests. Even Nonni and Kara walked around the lobby, thanking everyone.

Joe pecked me on the cheek. “Thank you for all your help, Sophie. I’m afraid I put you through the wringer.”

“I’m just glad the anniversary was a success and that you’re alive!”

“It was a huge success. Frankly, I know people who paid more for one wedding than we paid to host all these folks. And it was worth every penny. We can already see an increase in sales of our baking chocolates as a result of the TV appearances and demonstrations that Coco arranged.” He paused. “And I would have paid
anything
to have my Kara back.”

“She seems happy.”

“I suspect we’ll have some rough patches ahead, but that’s all part of being a family. We’re Meranos. We’ll make our way through it, come what may.”

Lori Speer and Cheryl Maiorca were a bit tearful at having to part. “This was the best vacation ever!” said Lori. “Well, except for the deaths, of course. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. Cheryl and I are making plans to get together again.”

“Maybe on a cruise,” said Cheryl. “You should come!”

“I think it would have to be a mystery cruise to keep the two of you entertained.”

“Hey, did you hear about Stella? Dan, come over here,” called Lori.

Oh no.
Dan strolled over.

“Was she arrested?” I asked.

“Only Mitch was arrested,” said Dan. “You won’t believe this. Stella got a call at five in the morning from the lawyers who handle Célébration de Chocolat’s legal matters in Belgium. It seems they insisted that Arnie write a will. He has only one heir, Stella Simpson.”

“He wouldn’t pay her support. Didn’t even bother to meet her, and yet he left her everything?” I asked.

“I guess he didn’t have anyone else. He alienated everyone he ever met.”

“My new cousin is loaded,” laughed Cheryl. “Can you believe it?”

Over the next hour, the Amore contest winners departed. The Meranos took off, but not before Nonni reminded me to come by to learn to make tiramisu.

On the way home, I picked up more food than we could possibly eat. Savory pesto and ham tarts, a spinach salad with bacon and onions, strawberry cinnamon buns with a sugary drizzle that made my mouth water.

But when I reached my house, Alex and Wolf were helping Mars out the front door. “What’s going on here?”

“Natasha has something to show me,” grumbled Mars.

I left the food in the kitchen, attached Daisy’s leash, and followed the guys to Natasha and Mars’s house, expecting to see a couple of very modern bathrooms.

Natasha waited for us, her makeup and hair perfect. She wore impossibly slender gray trousers with a matching silk blouse that made me feel positively frumpy.

Mars lurched around the side of the house to the back. Natasha had torn out the small windows on the basement level, dug down to create a patio, and installed glass doors. She opened them wide.

Inside was the ultimate man cave. A huge TV occupied one wall. Seating that looked too cushy to ever leave faced the TV. New shelving and a fabulous desk in the corner marked Mars’s home office. Lights shone down on a highly polished bar with brass fittings. Nearby, a game table with a felt top awaited players.

Natasha floated to the game table. “It has a dual function. There’s a wood top that turns it into a conference table.”

The three men gazed around the room.

“Well?” asked Natasha.

“I would never go upstairs,” said Alex.

“Why would you need to?” asked Wolf.

“Mars! Say something!” Natasha wove her fingers together anxiously.

“It’s incredible. It almost makes up for breaking my leg.”

“Almost?” Alex turned to Natasha. “Feel free to break
my
leg anytime.”

“Why, Alex!” Natasha giggled as though he had made a pass at her.

“It’s amazing, Natasha,” I assured her. “Who wouldn’t love this? You outdid yourself.”

Mars reached out to hug Natasha.

It was a grand gesture on her part. Mars always complained about everything in the house being for Natasha, decorated in her style, with her preferences. She had given over almost the entire basement to him.

“Will you come back home now, Mars?”

“Is there running water?”

“I go to all this trouble, and that’s what you ask?”

“Is there?”

“Soon. I promise. Probably this afternoon.”

“Okay. I love my man cave. It’s better than anything I could have imagined.”

“There is some bad news, though.”

Uh-oh. I could see Mars tensing up.

“I didn’t get the chocolate shop.”

I had to bite my upper lip not to laugh. It was all a matter of perspective. Mars was probably trying not to show his glee, as well.

“Célébration de Chocolat?” asked Alex.

“Yes. I understand they’re planning to open the store after all.”

“Stella’s already busy,” I said.

Wolf frowned at Alex. “She inherited it? What about the slayer laws?”

“That sounds horrible.” Natasha wrinkled her nose.

“It just means you can’t inherit from someone you murder,” said Alex. “But Stella didn’t kill Arnie. If they find Randy’s fingerprints or DNA on that tie, and I believe they will, then I think she’s home free.”

“Sophie, did you bring food home? I’m starving!” said Mars.

We trooped back to my house, picking up Nina and Truffles on the way.

But when Mars disappeared through the front door, Wolf tapped my shoulder.

“I’m not coming in, but I wanted to have a word in private.”

I knew it would happen. It had to be said. I closed the door and waited for him to chew me out.

Wolf looked down at his shoes. “I’ve been pretty lucky in my relationships.”

No! I didn’t want to hear this!

“I think—”

I seized his hand. “Let’s not go there.” I dropped his hand quickly lest I give the wrong impression. “What’s the point? We did what we had to do—to protect Joe. Nothing more. I’m really sorry for interfering with your investigation. Truly, I am. I understand fully that I could have put Joe in jeopardy. I don’t even want to think about what could have happened. I’ve learned a big lesson.”