Free Murder on the Half Shell (A Red Carpet Catering Mystery Book 2) by Shawn Reilly Simmons Page A

came bouncing out, white sheets draped over Rebekkah and Sabena. Penelope caught a glimpse of Sabena’s face and her heart sank when she saw the grayish tint to her skin. Penelope closed her eyes, fighting back tears as they passed by.
    After several minutes, Penelope went to Emilio and crouched down to talk to him. Detective Williams stood nearby, talking urgently with someone on his phone while Detective Torres draped police tape over the front doors of the restaurant site.
    “Penelope, please,” Emilio said to her, his eyes slightly wild. “You have to believe me. I had nothing to do with this.”
    Penelope looked at him closely, swallowing down the sour bile in the back of her throat. “I want to believe you, Chef. But the purse in your truck…and how did the girls get inside your restaurant?”
    “I wish I knew. Help me, please,” he begged.
    “I don’t know how to help you,” Penelope said, choking on the last word.
    “Please, can you do one thing for me? Take the papers from the inside of my jacket and bring them to my house. My wife Dominique is there. It’s the permits and other documents for the restaurant. I don’t want them to get lost if I’m processed.”
    Penelope looked at him doubtfully.
    “You’re the only person on this island who I can trust. And you have nothing to do with this restaurant. I’m still working on everything with the city council. I don’t want them to see all of our proposed plans yet. Please, it would be easier. I know it’s a lot to ask. I’ll owe you one, okay?”
    Penelope felt sorry for her once proud and cocky chef instructor, realizing how humiliating all of this must be for him. She also remembered how he patiently gave her special instruction in the kitchen classroom when she’d asked for help to perfect her filleting technique, coming in early on his own time to help her all those years ago. She tried to hold onto that image of him and not the one in front of her now.
    “Sure. I can do that for you, Chef.” Penelope reached inside his jacket and retrieved a thick fold of papers from the interior pocket.
    “Thanks, Penelope. And tell Dominique I’ll call. That I’ll be home soon,” Emilio said. “We’re renovating one of the old mansions on the west side of the island, house number four. Just follow Ocean Avenue until it turns into Mangrove Loop. You can’t miss it.”
    “Okay, Mr. Babineau,” Detective Williams said, finishing his phone call. “We’re taking you over to the mainland station. Let’s go.” Detectives Williams and Torres led Emilio toward the docks.
    Penelope tucked Emilio’s paperwork into her backpack, slung it over her shoulders and followed them at a distance. The midday ferry had arrived, its low horn sounding as it began to pull away from the dock and head back to the mainland.
    When she reached the marina, Penelope stopped short, her heart making a sudden leap.
    Leaning on the railing with his phone up to his ear was Joey, looking her way behind reflective sunglasses, a rolling suitcase propped against his leg. Penelope felt her phone buzzing in her backpack and quickly pulled it from her shoulders. Realizing that was silly, she walked quickly towards him and threw her arms around his neck. He pulled the phone from his ear and hugged her back.
    “What’re you doing here?” Penelope asked, pulling out of the hug and looking up into his handsome face.
    “I came to surprise you. Are you surprised?” Joey asked. “I hope you’re surprised and not weirded out. I tried to call, but…”
    Penelope kissed him then, stopping him from saying anything else.

Chapter 9

      
    “I can’t believe you’re here,” Penelope said after breaking the kiss.
    “I have this vacation time I’m going to lose if I don’t take, so I decided to come down and see Florida. And you,” Joey said, searching her face. “I called this morning when I landed in Miami. I hope you’re okay with me just showing up.” He hesitated, nervously