Corned Beef Murder: Book Two in The Darling Deli Series by Patti Benning Page A

up getting snowed in, the extra hand- and foot-warmers would be nice if the power went out again.

     

CHAPTER TWO
    The deli didn’t serve breakfast, so she was free to take long mornings if she wanted to. It was just after ten-thirty when she got to the deli, and she took a moment to enjoy the familiar smells of spices and food and the silence that came from being the only one in the building. The little shop was like a second home to her, and she was beyond relieved that business was doing well again. In such a small town, reputation really was everything.
    After tidying up and making sure the cases in the front room were freshly stocked, she got down to the real work. She began by slicing the rye bread that had been defrosting in the refrigerator overnight, making sure that the slices were as even as possible. Next, she double-checked that they had plenty of corned beef and swiss cheese. The sandwiches would be made fresh for each customer, toasted and with just a dash of horseradish sauce.
    She started on the soup, carefully chopping mushrooms as the creamy soup base simmered. wild rice and mushroom soup was one of her favorites, and Moira could feel her stomach growl as the savory scents filled the kitchen. Even after over two years of owning the deli, she hadn’t gotten tired of eating the food that she sold there, although she did usually make one or two meals a week for her and Candice that didn’t involve soup or sandwiches.
    Even though her daughter had been the one to encourage her to open the deli, the young woman hadn’t been around much for most of the time the business had been open. She had spent two years at college to get an associate’s degree, and had only recently moved back. Moira loved her daughter, and appreciated how helpful she was at the store and at home, but she often worried that the girl only stayed in Maple Creek for her. She just hadn’t quite figured out yet how to encourage her daughter to follow her dreams without making her feel unwelcome. The familiar sound of the deli’s front door being opened distracted her briefly; a moment later, as if summoned by her mother’s thoughts, Candice walked in.
    “Wow, Mom, it smells delicious in here.”
    “Go sign in, and I’ll whip us up some sandwiches before we start getting customers,” Moira offered. “The soup won’t be done for another twenty minutes or so, but we can take leftovers home.”
    “If there are any leftovers,” Candice replied as she stored her purse and coat in the closet. “I’m pretty sure we’ll have the whole town at our doors once they catch a whiff of that. Oh, what time are you going to interview the last applicant?”
    “At one,” she responded. “Afterwards, do you want to help me go through everyone we interviewed and finally choose someone?”
    “Sure. It will be neat to have someone new around. I won’t be the rookie anymore.”
    Ten minutes to one, the last person that she was interviewing arrived at the deli. He’s early, Moira thought. He gets points for that. The young man was sharply dressed and greeted her politely.
    “Dante Williams,” he said. “And are you Mrs. Darling?”
    “I prefer Ms.,” she told him. “I’m not married.” She smiled to let him know that she wasn’t upset, and then gestured for him to follow her. They went through the door to the kitchen, where Candice was toasting a couple of slices of rye for one of their customers.
    “I’m going to start the interview now,” she told her daughter. “Can you watch the register once you’re done here? We shouldn’t be long.”
    “Sure thing.”
    “Right this way, Dante. I hope you found the place all right. If I remember your cover letter correctly, you said you were new to town?”
     
    * * *
    “What did you think of him?” Candice asked once the young man had left.
    “Well, he fits all of my requirements. He’s got a flexible schedule, good references, and he seems to know his way around food. But nearly