Chocolate Cream Cupcake & Murder (A Dana Sweet Cozy Mystery Book 3) by Ann S. Marie Page A

badly needed a new roof. This catering project was a huge contract and Mr. Renaldo had also requested that the café provide all the desserts catering for the wedding.  A huge event.
    Dana knocked on the golden-brass door knocker and almost immediately the door opened and a tall, lean man answered. She guessed by his neatly pressed black and white uniform that he was the butler.
    “You’re the fourth delivery of the day,” the butler said in a thick British accent. He then stifled a yawn. “It’s so unprecedented to have early morning deliveries. You’ll forgive me but I’ve been up far too early this morning. Right this way.”
    He led her down a long hallway and she couldn’t help but notice the shiny marble gold-colored floor. She couldn’t help but notice the delightful renaissance feel of the place. The furniture and artwork must have cost a huge fortune.
    The walls were all a bone white color and created quite a relaxing ambiance. The long winding staircase in the grand foyer had expensive-looking oak wood banisters.
    Imagine living in a place like this. It looked more like a grand museum or art gallery than a house. She noticed the tall cathedral ceiling with a diamond chandelier hanging from the top.
    “Oh, right,” Dana said, as she just realized that Cozy Cupcakes had already had some cakes delivered. “The café had some pastries delivered earlier today. Sorry if we woke you.” Though she didn’t think they were that early.
    “Oh, no. I’m not talking about normal delivery hours. Master Renaldo received yet another delivery at an unforgiveable time, far too early in the morning.” The man rolled his eyes. “Really now. At 6:00 a.m. this morning when most normal creatures are rightfully asleep. It’s Saturday morning for goodness sake.” The chatty butler just rolled his eyes.
    “Six o’clock in the morning for a Saturday delivery?” Dana replied, incredulously. “You’re right. That’s very early for a delivery, especially on a Saturday.” She wondered what sort of delivery an eighty-year-old businessman would have had so early. Even international deliveries started from eight o’clock in the morning, usually. Unless it was a personal delivery.
    “Well, at least you didn’t wake me up. The delivery man was banging on my door so loud at the servant’s quarters. I nearly jumped out of my skin. Rude. Well, at least you’re a pleasant face.”
    “Thank you.” Dana was left dumbfounded. What else was she to say?
    It was already 12:00 noon. She had to head back to the Café soon to help Katie and the rest of the Cozy Cupcakes team. They already had one sick call this morning. Seemed like a bug was going around with the change of season.
    When the cafe received a call that Mr. Renaldo didn’t think the cupcakes were enough, she immediately had Inga, the café’s wonderful Russian baker, whip up another batch.
    “If you need anything, I’ll be in the study getting Master Renaldo’s chair ready and the fireplace lit.”
    “His chair? Fireplace?”
    “Oh, yes. Master Renaldo always spends time sitting by the fireplace in the study. He needs to have fresh firewood every day with no exceptions. He has his favorite mahogany-colored leather chair with cow-hide trim, as he’d always make it a point to tell everyone, just in front of the fireplace where he reads his paper then just sits and stares into the fire to get answers. I thought you already heard about his ritual.”
    “His ritual?”
    “It’s all over the papers. In fact, he made no secret of it. The press were on it like butter syrup on pancakes. He told them he made his best deals that way and made money with it. It’s a weird ritual really, but he swears, it’s what made him his fortune. Like the answer is always in the fire. He glares at it for a while and answers appear.”
    “How interesting.”
    “Yes, it is interesting. It’s very interesting that you’re the only one who doesn’t know that about Master Renaldo.