The Murder in Skoghall (Illustrated) (The Skoghall Mystery Series Book 1) by Alida Winternheimer Page A

see what he really thought.
    He slid his fork into his mouth, his eyelids half closed, his mouth pleasantly turned up as he began to chew.
    “ Umf .” His eyebrows dipped down and his lips puckered. He glanced up at Jess before closing his eyes. His hand shot to his wineglass. He made another sound, a sort of open-mouthed bleb , before bringing the glass to his lips.
    Jess stared at him, horrified. “Oh my God,” she said. “What’s wrong?”
    Tyler cleared his throat. “This has some…vinegar?”
    “A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. That’s all.”
    “Maybe…” he paused to swallow more wine, “maybe you mixed up your teaspoons and tablespoons?”
    “No. I’ve made this a dozen times. It’s always been good.” She stared at Tyler as he desperately downed the wine in his glass. “Let me get you some water.” Jess rushed to the kitchen and brought them both a glass.
    She sat and looked at her plate, wary of further betrayal. At last she cut into her own pepper and took a bite. If it was as bad as Tyler said, she deserved the same fate. He watched her this time. She closed her eyes tightly as she slid the fork back out of her mouth. She chewed, slowly at first, then put her teeth to work.
    She opened her eyes. “It’s fine.” She switched plates with him. “Try this one.”
    She cut into Tyler’s pepper and he into hers. “I don’t understand it,” Jess said. “The filling is mixed together in one bowl. They should taste the same.” She put a bite of his pepper into her mouth expecting it to be horrible, but it was the same as hers—perfectly delicious. Tyler tried the second pepper with the same result as before, only this time he hurried to the kitchen sink and spit it out. Jess flushed with embarrassment, her cheeks burning, her palms damp. Tyler returned to his seat and politely dabbed at his mouth with his napkin. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “I can’t explain it.”
    “You don’t have some superhuman tolerance for vinegar?” Tyler asked.
    “No. I swear…”
    “I was kidding.”
    “Oh.” Jess glanced at the offensive peppers. “I can toss these.”
    “No, you eat yours. I’ll stick with salad and bread.” Tyler smiled reassuringly at Jess, his dark eyes reflecting the flickering candles. Jess looked at the expanse of his chest, the breadth of his shoulders, and refused. He’d be ravenous with only bread and salad for his supper. She put the peppers aside and put water on to boil. They made up some pasta together so there could no question of Jess mixing up her measuring spoons. In fact, Tyler took over the sauce. Though it was a simple red sauce, Tyler’s ease and creativity showed with his selection of herbs, the splash of kalamata olive juice, and the red wine he added to the mixture. It was comfort food after the bell pepper debacle, and they both ate their fill as the room darkened with the setting sun.
    “Do you think,” Tyler asked after they had pushed their plates aside, “I could brush my teeth? I can still taste a little vinegar.”
    “Of course.” Jess directed him upstairs to her bathroom and a new toothbrush inside the medicine cabinet.
    After clearing the dishes, Jess went into the front hallway and saw Tyler turn from the landing to the lower half-flight of stairs. He seemed unaware of her and so was unguarded and as he lowered his foot to the next step. He sucked air through his front teeth, his face scrunching down in pain.
    “Did brushing your teeth help?” Jess asked.
    Tyler nodded and finished coming downstairs, this time moving quicker and smiling, though Jess knew that smile was forced.
    “How did you injure your back?” she asked when he reached the base of the stairs. “The first time.”
    “I took a bad fall,” he said. “Landed wrong.”
    “Would it help if I massaged your back? It’s the least I can do since moving my desk caused this.”
    “All right.” There was hesitation in his agreement.
    Jess hoped it wasn’t a mistake,