The Case of the Artful Crime Read Free Page A

“Sorry. I know you want to keep your true identity a secret. But I know you’re Harold Brackett. The food here is really the greatest. It’s just that lately everything is going wrong. We think someone is deliberately trying to mess things up for the restaurant. You can’t believe what this person is doing—wrecking the plumbing, tearing the reservation book. I’ll bet that same person did this to your food and—”
    â€œBess,” Nancy warned. She didn’t think Shawn wanted this bad news made public.
    â€œOh, um . . . ” Bess stammered. “I just wanted Mr. Brackett to understand why—” Suddenly a glimmer of doubt flashed in her eyes. “You are Harold Brackett, aren’t you?”
    The man shrugged. “I suppose, since you found me out, there’s no sense denying it.”
    Bess looked at Nancy triumphantly.
    Carson cleared his throat. “If no one needs me, I’ll return to my lunch,” he excused himself.
    â€œSo will I,” said the doctor. “Just keep drinking cold fluids and you should be fine,” she added as she returned to her table.
    â€œMr. Brackett, I am deeply sorry about this,” Shawn apologized once again. “You can’t imagine how sorry. Please give us a second chance—on the house. I promise you this terrible prank won’t be repeated. I’ll serve your meal personally.”
    The crimson flush was fading from Brackett’s olive complexion. “I suppose I might,” he agreed, taking a sip of water. “Let’s just say I like to give new businesses the benefit of the doubt. This is a charming place you have here. Who did your decor?”
    â€œI did,” Shawn told him proudly. “With help from Loreen, our head waitress. She’s the one who served you.”
    Brackett grimaced. “Yes. I believe that was the name tag worn by the woman who delivered the fish of death.”
    Nancy noticed the red-headed waitress serving another table. For a moment Loreen looked back toward Harold Brackett’s table curiously, then returned quickly to her work.
    Loreen, thought Nancy, registering her first possible suspect. Could Loreen be the one sabotaging the restaurant? She had handled the fish after Shawn had prepared it. But what could be her motive?
    Looking at her watch, Nancy realized that her father’s lunch hour was nearly over. She excused herself and rejoined him at the table. “Sorry, Dad,” she said as she took her seat. “I thought this would be a nice quiet lunch.”
    â€œI don’t know, Nancy,” her father said good-naturedly. “You’re like a magnet for excitement. If you don’t find it, then it finds you.”
    â€œAt least you can’t say my life is boring,” Nancy answered with a laugh.
    â€œNo, I would never say that,” Carson agreed wryly. “Shawn seems to be a nice enough guy,” he went on. “I hope he can make a go of this place. The last owner couldn’t seem to make it work.”
    â€œWhat last owner?” Nancy asked. “Have you been here before?”
    Her father nodded. “Many years ago. At that time, it was a popular French restaurant called Chez Jacques. The food and service declined for some reason, unfortunately. Then Le St. Tropez opened, and everyone began eating there instead.” He glanced around the dining room. “I didn’t realize that this building was still here. I wonder when it changed hands.”
    â€œThat’s something I should find out from Shawn,” Nancy said, taking a quick peek under her fish for any signs of wasabi.
    After dropping her father back at his office, Nancy spent the rest of the afternoon thinking about the case. Whoever the culprit was, he or she was fairly bold. Spreading the hot wasabi on that fish had to have been done quickly and in a moment when no one was looking.
    At the moment, Loreen was the most