Hot Stuff by Don Bruns

child.”
    Looking up, he raised his voice.
    â€œYou are private investigators, gentlemen. It’s what you do. You put yourself in jeopardy by the nature of your work. I’m simply moving the process along.”
    â€œStill,” I said.
    James took a step back, surveying the small office. “What’s with the red tool chest?” he asked.
    Never the one to be confrontational, I knew he was thinkingof the ramifications. The entire kitchen staff now thought he was the heir apparent, but James was deflecting the situation. Bringing up the toolbox. And of course, it was the first time either of us had been in the office of an important chef.
    â€œKnives.” The chef stood up, coming around the desk.
    Five drawers of knives.
    â€œAny other questions?”
    We were silent.
    â€œKnives?” James had touched on something the celebrity chef was proud of.
    â€œSome I won in competition, some were gifts from other chefs, some I have used in past restaurants. There are thirty-seven knives in those drawers. Thirty-seven pieces. They are important to me. Those steel blades are the tools of my trade, of any chef’s trade.”
    I held up my hand. “Chef,” I was almost comfortable with the title, “I’m on record as saying you’ve really compromised James and his position. We may have some second thoughts about our position here.”
    â€œSecond thoughts?” He chuckled. “You’re being compensated, Eugene. Quite well, I believe, considering I have no proof you will turn up anything beneficial. And I’ve explained to you we need believability in your friend’s position. I thought this was a professional relationship. But it can be negated. Think about this. Talk it over. If you want to quit, let me know by the end of the shift.”
    Bouvier walked to the door. Turning to us he said, “Be safe, gentlemen. It’s a tough world out there.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

    â€œI didn’t tell him about the setup guy.”
    James and I were walking back to the kitchen, Bouvier having exited the building. A little pep talk, a casual threat, and he was gone.
    â€œWhat about the setup guy?”
    â€œOh, he’s the guy who puts the salt and pepper on the table, flowers, tablecloths, and—”
    â€œI know what a setup guy does, Skip.” James frowned and looked down his nose at me. “Mikey somebody.”
    I was impressed. James was actually paying attention to the staff.
    â€œWell, I’m talking to him this afternoon, Mikey Pollerno, and he says something about Amanda having a boyfriend.”
    â€œYeah? A boyfriend? I believe she needed a mate. Felt incomplete without one. My opinion.”
    â€œI understand. But the way Pollerno said it, it was like having a boyfriend was a possible link to the murder. And then he shut down. He was finished talking. So I kept prodding him, trying to get more information.”
    â€œMmmm.”
    â€œAnd he insinuated that she was an overachiever.”
    â€œWhat does that mean?”
    â€œHe suggested he thought you might be taking over, and if that was the case, he wondered if you were a self-promoter. He wanted to know if you promised more than you could deliver. I didn’t give you away. Although sometimes maybe you do promise more than—”
    â€œAnd?” James said it sternly. “What’s your point?”
    â€œCome on, roomy, he was telling me that this girl you used to date was a prima donna. She was positioning herself where she didn’t belong. That’s what he said. He wanted to know if that’s the way you were going to be.”
    â€œReally? What does that have to do with me? All I remember is she was cloying. She was all over me.”
    â€œYou are all about girls being over you.”
    He nodded. “Yeah, yeah. You think you know me so well. But clingy girls don’t do it for me, Skip. I don’t want to even say this because I