Tainted Tokay Read Free Page B

he did, all about the liquid gold that trickled down the languid slopes o f Mount Tokaj.
    That had been several weeks earlier—before someone smashed in Alexandrine’s face. Although he knew Virgile would take good care of her and Cooker & Co., he didn’t feel right about leaving.
    â€œWhat’s wrong, darling?” Elisabeth asked as they headed to the airport.
    Benja min harrumphed.
    â€œYou’re such a worrywart. I talked to Alexandrine. She’s shook up, but she insisted that you not concern yourself. Virgi le’s with her.”
    Elisabeth leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.
    â€œThink of what awaits us,” she said. “The proud Buda, the boisterous Pest, the stalls of paprika, the Herend porcelain, the sweets at the Gerbeaud café. How long has it been, sweetheart, since we’ve had a geta way like this?”
    Benjamin relaxed a little and cleared his throat. “I see we even got a new set of luggage. Was that rea lly necessary?”
    â€œOh, don’t be a curmudgeon. Wait until you see the clothes I bought. There’s a little lacy thing that I think you’ll es pecially like.”

5
    A s soon as they arrived at the Hotel Sacher in Vienna, Benjamin called Alexandrine, but she didn’t answer her phone. He left a quick message telling her he was thinking of her. Then he called Virgile.
    â€œSo?”
    â€œShe’ll be in the hospital for a few days, boss, and won’t be able to work for more than a month.”
    â€œWhat’s the extent of the damage?”
    â€œThe attack was brutal. Her brow’s fractured. Her nasal septum’s broken, and her optic nerve may be injured. The doctors think she might need reconstru ctive surgery.”
    Benjamin pictured her delicate and perfectly shaped nos e and grimaced.
    â€œHas she talked to the police?”
    â€œYep. She gave them a short description of the man. Late forties, square face, short hair, crooked teeth. That’s all. She said he seemed to have it in for her. He called her names and hit her hard several times. Then he grabbed her purs e and ran off.”
    â€œOdd.”
    â€œWhat ’s that, boss?”
    â€œThat’s a lot of violence for a purse snatching. Where did it take place?”
    â€œIn the Allées des Tourny p arking garage.”
    â€œIt’s a busy place. There must be cameras. Check with the police and make sure they’re lo oking into it.”
    â€œUm, boss, do you think the police will want me to tell them how to do their job?”
    â€œCall Inspector Barbaroux. H e owes me one.”
    â€œDoesn’t he work homicide? This is j ust a mugging.”
    â€œJust a mugging?” Benjamin could feel his blood pressure rising. “How can you say that? This is Alexandrine we’re talking about!”
    Benjamin ended the call without saying good-bye. He took a few deep breaths, straightened his jacket, and joined Elisabet h in the lobby.

6
    B enjamin found Elisabeth in the grand salon. Her simple beige dress accentuated her slender frame and classic good looks, and she looked effortlessly chic in her go-with-everything trench coat, Hermès scarf, and buckled low-heeled pumps. Elisabeth smiled and took his arm as he cast his eyes over the luxurious banquettes and marble pedestal tables laden with sweets. Clearly, the sin of gluttony was a virtue here.
    â€œYou did promise there’d be no mention of the word ‘diet,’ right?” Benjamin whispered as they sat down at their table.
    â€œIt is hard to resist a Sachertorte with all that decadent chocol ate, isn’t it?”
    â€œEspecially with a dollop of whipped cream. Turning it down would be sacrilege.”
    Elisabeth looked him in the eye with a gaze that caused Benjamin’s heart to skip a beat.
    â€œOkay, no diet, but only if you keep your part of the deal.” She leaned over and nu zzled his neck.
    Benjamin Cooker, the staid half-English