Kee Patterbee - Hannah Starvling 02 - The Gourmet Who Kept Diamonds in the Kitchen by Kee Patterbee Page B
Authors: Kee Patterbee
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Hannah cleared up. “But for now, that friend is in the hospital, and I need answers, so if you’ll excuse me.”
“ Of course,” Lukas said, the disappointment obvious in his voice. “Listen, I know that we cannot talk today, but perhaps I could be of some help to your investigation later.”
Hannah shifted her weight. She eyed the man with suspicion. “How so?”
“ I, too, have a background in law enforcement. My first career was as an investigator with the Swiss military. I could call you later at the hotel? We can arrange a time to meet.”
“ I don’t know what my schedule is going to be like,” Hannah said, ill at ease with his insistence.
“ I understand,” Lukas replied with another charming, sympathetic smile. “Perhaps tomorrow, or the next day then?”
Hannah felt more and more uncomfortable. Then his eyes darted around and he looked straight at her. His smile was gone, replaced with a serious look in his eyes. He looked over to Gran.
“ Ms. Starvling, could I have a moment alone with your granddaughter?”
Gran said nothing , but her eyes moved from the man over to Hannah. After a second, the culinary detective bobbed her head once in agreement. Gran agreed, but added as she pointed to a nearby booth. She spoke in deliberate, short, sentences. “I’ll be just over here. With my phone. Calling Jayland. To tell him where we are. So he’ll know.” After a brief glare at Lukas, she stepped away. Hannah caught onto her grandmother’s threat to Lukas and she was glad for it.
Once the elder snoop was at a distance, Lukas peered at Hannah. “It is imperative to me that we talk,” he insisted. “Is there anything I can do to convince you to meet with me?”
Hannah went into analytic mode. Under normal circumstances, she would have sent the man packing. She took in his eyes, his face, and his body language. There was more to his insistence than simple interest in her. It went beyond that. Something about the case intrigued him. He wanted to keep up with her, so she decide d to let him. In turn, she would keep up with him.
Still, there was more to this. Something in his face told her that he was serious. He knew something. Logic told her to dismiss him. Gut instinct said otherwise. She chose to follow the latter.
“Is there something you know? Something you’re not telling me?”
Lukas shook his head and to ok a slow look around the room. “I would prefer we not discuss anything here.” Glancing past Hannah, he seemed to see someone he recognized. “How about the day after tomorrow?” he asked with an intent tone.
Hannah was not sure what he was up to, but she could not afford missing the opportunity to find out what the big mystery was about.
“ Okay,” she agreed. “Leave a number at the reception desk. I’ll get in touch when I can.”
Lukas nodded. His face was serious before. Now, it relaxed into a nother smile. “I will schedule it. I hope everything turns out as it should with your friend.”
“ Thank you,” Hannah replied. With that, Lukas left, heading toward the exit. On his way out, he gestured to Gran, letting her know he was through.
Gran, having watch ed the whole exchange, now showed curiosity on her face. “What the heck was that all about?”
“ I’m not sure yet, but I put him off until the day after tomorrow. He seemed pretty anxious, so by then…”
“ He’ll be bursting at the seams to tell you everything. Sweet plan.”
Hannah grinned. “Should be, I learned it from you.” She leaned over and gave her grandmother a kiss on the forehead. “Come on now, let’s find our men. Burgers on me.”
“ I’ll have that fudge instead,” Gran said as the two exited the room.
Chapter 9
After finding Hym and Papa Jay in the lobby, fresh from a ride down in the elevators, Hannah suggested they grab something quick. She had something she needed carried out that afternoon. The sleuth also expressed a need to do something she would explain as
“ Of course,” Lukas said, the disappointment obvious in his voice. “Listen, I know that we cannot talk today, but perhaps I could be of some help to your investigation later.”
Hannah shifted her weight. She eyed the man with suspicion. “How so?”
“ I, too, have a background in law enforcement. My first career was as an investigator with the Swiss military. I could call you later at the hotel? We can arrange a time to meet.”
“ I don’t know what my schedule is going to be like,” Hannah said, ill at ease with his insistence.
“ I understand,” Lukas replied with another charming, sympathetic smile. “Perhaps tomorrow, or the next day then?”
Hannah felt more and more uncomfortable. Then his eyes darted around and he looked straight at her. His smile was gone, replaced with a serious look in his eyes. He looked over to Gran.
“ Ms. Starvling, could I have a moment alone with your granddaughter?”
Gran said nothing , but her eyes moved from the man over to Hannah. After a second, the culinary detective bobbed her head once in agreement. Gran agreed, but added as she pointed to a nearby booth. She spoke in deliberate, short, sentences. “I’ll be just over here. With my phone. Calling Jayland. To tell him where we are. So he’ll know.” After a brief glare at Lukas, she stepped away. Hannah caught onto her grandmother’s threat to Lukas and she was glad for it.
Once the elder snoop was at a distance, Lukas peered at Hannah. “It is imperative to me that we talk,” he insisted. “Is there anything I can do to convince you to meet with me?”
Hannah went into analytic mode. Under normal circumstances, she would have sent the man packing. She took in his eyes, his face, and his body language. There was more to his insistence than simple interest in her. It went beyond that. Something about the case intrigued him. He wanted to keep up with her, so she decide d to let him. In turn, she would keep up with him.
Still, there was more to this. Something in his face told her that he was serious. He knew something. Logic told her to dismiss him. Gut instinct said otherwise. She chose to follow the latter.
“Is there something you know? Something you’re not telling me?”
Lukas shook his head and to ok a slow look around the room. “I would prefer we not discuss anything here.” Glancing past Hannah, he seemed to see someone he recognized. “How about the day after tomorrow?” he asked with an intent tone.
Hannah was not sure what he was up to, but she could not afford missing the opportunity to find out what the big mystery was about.
“ Okay,” she agreed. “Leave a number at the reception desk. I’ll get in touch when I can.”
Lukas nodded. His face was serious before. Now, it relaxed into a nother smile. “I will schedule it. I hope everything turns out as it should with your friend.”
“ Thank you,” Hannah replied. With that, Lukas left, heading toward the exit. On his way out, he gestured to Gran, letting her know he was through.
Gran, having watch ed the whole exchange, now showed curiosity on her face. “What the heck was that all about?”
“ I’m not sure yet, but I put him off until the day after tomorrow. He seemed pretty anxious, so by then…”
“ He’ll be bursting at the seams to tell you everything. Sweet plan.”
Hannah grinned. “Should be, I learned it from you.” She leaned over and gave her grandmother a kiss on the forehead. “Come on now, let’s find our men. Burgers on me.”
“ I’ll have that fudge instead,” Gran said as the two exited the room.
Chapter 9
After finding Hym and Papa Jay in the lobby, fresh from a ride down in the elevators, Hannah suggested they grab something quick. She had something she needed carried out that afternoon. The sleuth also expressed a need to do something she would explain as
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