Spoiled Rotten by Mary Jackman Page B

asked.
    â€œAfter I got to know him better I did.”
    â€œAnd why would Albright be ruined and not Tony? Couldn’t the meat be traced back to his company?”
    â€œHe had it all planned. He bought several cases of sirloin from another supplier. By the time the Ontario Food inspectors had completed their analysis and traced the origin, the convention would be over and the damage would be done to the councillor’s good name. It was his responsibility to see that the show ran smoothly. It was his baby. He talked city council into hosting the cattle show in addition to the traditional Royal Winter Fair, which would follow later next season. He volunteered to organize the show to prove his dedication to the project. And if the authorities investigated the source of the problem, which nowadays they most certainly do, then Tony would make sure the finger pointed at Albright.”
    â€œI didn’t think politicians usually got personally involved with the food handlers. Why would he look bad?”
    â€œAs chairman, Albright was able to grant Superior Meats the contract to supply every food operator in the convention building with product. That included booths, restaurants, and staff meals for four days and three nights. In return, he got a share of the sales commission. Not bad for over a thousand pounds of meat and considering the price per pound Tony would charge, the mark-up would be ample. I don’t think he’d want anyone to know he fixed the contract.”
    â€œHow much money are we talking about?” Andy asked.
    â€œA lot. Tony’s company would provide bacon and sausages for breakfast, cold cuts, hot dogs, and hamburgers for lunch, plus expensive specialty beef cuts for the big sit-down dinners. At 300 percent mark-up they could split thousands of dollars.”
    â€œAlso,” I added, beginning to agree with his theory, “more important than the money, don’t forget the honorary position Albright held. I’m assuming he would be in attendance for most of the meals and so would the press. If he was starved for publicity, like most politicians, this show was a means to enhance his public figure. He could use the success of the show to gain public support. A lot of dignitaries would be in attendance on the opening morning. Albright’s future was at stake.”
    Daniel hung his head. I didn’t want to push him and looked around the kitchen. Compared to the small, pristine, formal living room he tried to run from earlier, this room was spacious, warm, and well-used. A full pantry was tucked under an old staircase that probably led to the bedrooms upstairs and a wall of dried herbs and flowers filled the shelves of a gigantic yellow painted hutch standing against the wall. The kitchen cupboards and counter were old and needed refinishing, but the appliances were state of the art. An eight-burner Garland double oven stood at one end of the room and a side-by-side, glass-fronted commercial reach-in refrigerator stood kitty-corner to it. This woman liked to cook. Our simple but exquisite meal was proof that she could.
    Finally, I said, “This is serious business. Someone killed Mr. Tony and tried to murder his wife, too.”
    Daniel looked as if he might jump out the front door again.
    â€œCalm down,” I told him. “Whatever you tell me you are going to have to tell the police. Better organize your thoughts now.”

chapter six
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    A ndy helped Meriel with the dishes and I helped Daniel pack his bags. Upstairs in his sister’s guest room, he concentrated on the task at hand without looking at me. He had more to tell, I was sure of it. When we returned to the kitchen he asked us all to sit down at the table.
    â€œRemember Twister’s?” Daniel asked his sister.
    â€œThe first place you worked as chef?” Meriel asked.
    â€œYeah, I was taking over for a previous chef who had disappeared without giving notice. I didn’t know