Murder Most Finicky by Liz Mugavero Page B

for the class. But anyway, he was very sweet. One night I stayed late. I was having trouble with my lemon meringue pie. We got to talking . . . and the rest is history.”
    â€œWhy did he teach the class if he didn’t want to?”
    â€œMaybe he needed the money, or was doing someone a favor. I didn’t ask,” Caitlyn said. “Honestly, I hadn’t heard of him as a fancy chef or anything, so I didn’t know.”
    â€œSo he lives here?”
    â€œNo. He lives in Boca Raton. With his wife.” She made a face. “He spends a semester or two here, but I think he had plans to be here more because of the restaurant.”
    Good grief. Caitlyn had always known how to do drama well. “Okay,” Stan said again. “So Kyle’s married, you’re married—I’m just stating the obvious,” she said when Caitlyn opened her mouth in protest.
    â€œOur marital statuses are not the point. The point is that other chef got killed and now Kyle is missing.”
    Stan’s body tensed, going on high alert. “How do you know about anyone getting killed?”
    Caitlyn sighed. “He told me. He called me after it happened. While you were waiting for the police. He was pretty upset.”
    â€œWas he afraid? Did you get the sense he thought he was in danger?”
    â€œI don’t know. He was . . . upset. In shock, I think.”
    Hopefully not because he killed Pierre and was trying to figure out how to cover it up. Stan pushed the thought away. “So why do you think he’s missing?”
    â€œBecause . . .” Caitlyn glanced furtively around the café, gauging the hearing distance of the few other customers. “We were supposed to meet last night and he never showed up. That’s not like him.”
    â€œWhat time were you supposed to meet?”
    â€œTen. He figured that would be enough time to get done with everything. He said he really wanted to see me.”
    â€œWhere were Michael and Eva?”
    Caitlyn’s eyes dropped to the table. “Michael’s traveling. The nanny lives in, so Eva’s no problem.”
    â€œWhere were you going?”
    â€œWe were meeting downtown. We’ve been finding new places to meet, not going to his apartment much lately.”
    Stan sat up straight. Of course. If Kyle spent that much time here, he needed a place to live. “Where’s his apartment? Have you checked there?”
    â€œHe has a place right near the river in Providence. I called, but no answer,” Caitlyn said. “I didn’t have time to drive all the way to Providence. My nanny had a doctor’s appointment this morning. I don’t have a key anyway. But I’m telling you, something’s wrong.”
    Something was definitely wrong. Pierre was dead and Kyle’s absence screamed either guilty or . . . “Why don’t you have a key?” Stan asked.
    Caitlyn shrugged. “He had to get the lock changed last month. Like I said, we haven’t been spending time there lately.”
    â€œIt’s his place?”
    â€œWho else’s place would it be?”
    Stan didn’t answer that, but she wondered if Sheldon might be financing this venture also.
    â€œKrissie. I need to find him.” Caitlyn looked desperate.
    â€œDo you think he’s in trouble because you haven’t heard from him? Or is there another reason?”
    â€œAre you kidding me? Someone killed his buddy. Why wouldn’t he think he was in trouble?”
    â€œThey were buddies?” Kyle hadn’t given any indication he and Pierre had been close in that whole half hour she’d spent with him.
    â€œWell, if they’re spending the weekend together I figured they were,” Caitlyn said.
    â€œNot necessarily. I’m spending the weekend with them and I don’t know any of them. I’d never even met the dead guy.” That image of Pierre in a pool of blood flashed through her mind