A Clue in the Stew (A Soup Lover's Mystery) by Connie Archer Page B

book signing tonight! How did it go?”
    “Fine, I think. It was a bit stressful dealing with all the personalities. They’re quite a bunch, but Hilary Stone seems like an interesting woman and she certainly has her fans. The street was packed with people. It went on for hours and unfortunately a lot of them weren’t able to get their books signed after waiting in line for a long time.”
    “That’s too bad.”
    “But . . . I have to hand it to her. She talked for a few minutes and then people asked questions, so she kept up the signing for close to two and a half hours.”
    “Commendable.” Elias reached across the table and grasped her hand. “You have a funny look on your face. What’s wrong?”
    “Oh.” Lucky shrugged her shoulders. “Nothing.”
    “Not likely. What is it?”
    “It’s Jack. I’m concerned about him.”
    “What’s going on?”
    “This woman . . . this Nanette. It’s revolting, Elias. She flirts with him and rubs his arm, and every time I turn around, she’s at the cash register with Jack for any excuse whatsoever.”
    “Look, maybe she just likes him. Jack is very likable.”
    “Of course he is, but he is completely smitten with this woman. He watches her all day long with this adoring look in his eye. And she’s got to be ages younger. I love Jack but I find it hard to believe she’s really attracted to him. I’m just worried that she has some other agenda. And then, she’s sticking her nose in where it doesn’t belong and telling Sage to change his recipes.”
    Elias coughed as a sip of wine went down his throat the wrong way. “Whaaa? Telling Sage how to cook?”
    “Yes!” Lucky exclaimed. “Can you believe that! I caught her telling him he should change his recipes because they’re boring. Unbelievable! The latest is she’s decided the aprons should be changed. The ones my mother designed. Over my dead body. And she’s got Jack to agree with her.”
    “I can see why you’re upset. I don’t know what to say . . . maybe give her a little time to settle in and learn how things really work at the Spoonful.”
    “I guess. I’m really trying hard to be patient. I can’t afford to lose Meg.”
    “Speaking of patient . . . how ’bout that doctor’s care I mentioned?” He smiled as he pulled her toward him and held her close. “You
are
very pink. The doctor is concerned.”

Chapter 20

    B ARRY SANDERS APPROACHED his friend’s house. He had walked down the hill from his own home on Crestline after spending the last day or so concerned about Hank. He stood, staring at the darkened house and the empty driveway. Wherever Hank had gone, he hadn’t bothered to inform anyone, not even his best friend. And Barry had no doubt that he was Hank’s best friend. He knew it was hard for other people to understand, but this behavior was so out of character for Hank and so out of the normal routine the two men had kept up in retirement.
    Barry admired Hank greatly, his education, his work experience as a newspaper writer. Barry, on the other hand, was a barely educated electrician in his working life, yet he had done well financially and was able to enjoy his retirement. But he had to admit there were things about Hank that he had never dared approach. Some dark corner of his previous life that Hank would never talk about. Barry wasn’t sure exactly what it was, or what it involved. He suspected something might have gone wrong in his career, something he might still be bitter about. But Hank had never offered to explain further and Barry was too polite to pry. Perhaps he had been dismissed from his job, or some shadow or ill luck had befallen him. Perhaps he had been impolitic and stepped on the wrong toes. Barry had no idea what it was exactly, but he could sense it. There was always some reticence when Hank would talk about his earlier life. Ultimately every conversation would end with Hank remarking that it was all water under the bridge.
    What if Hank’s car