Free Kee Patterbee - Hannah Starvling 02 - The Gourmet Who Kept Diamonds in the Kitchen by Kee Patterbee

travels. After a brief consideration, she found the specifics eluded her at the present. She was certain even a small amount equated to valuable. Elias often carried large amounts, enough to serve exclusive dining events up to one hundred. He mentioned planning on preparing some for a special dinner in honor of the primary judges. There were fifty primary judges. He was going to be a judge, alongside her. Each judge could invite up to three guests. This meant a total of two hundred potential guests. While talking to the gourmet earlier in the week, he told her that the recipe he planned called for two ounces per serving. The sleuth tried to calculate an amount in her head. Two hundred guests times two ounces, equals four hundred ounces. Sixteen ounces equals a pound. Elias’ special truffles sell for $3600 a pound. Hannah’s eyes shot open. The number she came to caused her to stammer, even in her mind. He’s carrying over $90,000 in truffles.  
    Hannah eyed Ducky once more. The amount Elias carried was enough to pay for a lot of the young man’s hoped for education , if he’s telling the truth about wanting that . She then played out a scenario in her head. He knows or finds out about the truffles. Sneaks in after he sees him leave. Elias returns. They scuffle. Ducky pushes him out the door. He trips on the frame and goes over the balcony. A possibility?  
    “ Ms. Starvling? Are you okay?” Ducky asked.
    The would-be chef ’s question caught Hannah off guard and brought her back to the conversation.
    “ Oh, I’m sorry. Did I drift off? Still tired I guess.” She finished off her muffin and peeled the banana. “To answer your question, I’m just trying to work out how and why anyone would want to hurt my friend.”
    “ You don’t think he…” Ducky gestured a fall with his left hand.
    Left handed, Hannah noted. She added this to previous observations of the young man favoring the sinister appendage .
    “ I suppose it’s possible, but I doubt it. You seem to be in the know around here. What’s the scuttlebutt?”
    Ducky twisted and made an uncomfortable face. It did not quite read as guilt to Hannah, but spoke of unease on the subject. Still, she waited for a response.
    “ Well, that he fell. That’s what the police assume. At least that’s what they told my manager, but they’re still looking into it. It seems there was a fight going on at street level at about the same time he took the fall. Theory goes that he heard the commotion, ran toward the window to see what was happening, tripped on the door seal and went over the edge.”
    “ What do you think?”
    Ducky smiled as he rose. “I think I better go before I lose a job I can’t afford to lose.” He turned and headed toward the door but stopped. He turned back to look at Hannah. “Just leave the cart outside the door when you’re done. And for the record, from what I’ve read about him, Mr. Babel didn’t seem the type to get excited over street fights, unless, of course, it was about truffles. Call me if you need anything, Ms. Starvling.” With that, Ducky exited and shut the door behind him.
    Hannah once more considered Ducky. The young man knew a lot more than the average hotel worker did. In truth, she compared him to herself at that age. Curious. Observant. Ever present. Although only six or eight years younger than herself by her estimate, he showed a great many similarities. He’d make a great detective , she decided. But what is his true path? Student? Criminal? Something else? How does he fit into all this? Does he even play a part?
    Hannah rubbed the bridge of her nose and let go of a deep breath. She determined that it would behoove her to keep an eye on Ducky. To date, the only thing that brought him to her attention was a knack for being where he was needed. That, and being present at situations she was looking into. She wondered if she might be ‘jumping the gun’ as Papa Jay would say. It was not beyond her to do so, as