Dangerously Dark, page 29
And this time, I really meant it.
Eighteen
Leaving Portland for good didn’t mean leaving right away, though. I had time before my flight to go on a short field trip.
“Pretty good view, right?” I asked Danny the next morning, standing at the stone retainer wall at the Vista House, high above the Columbia River Gorge on a promontory called Crown Point. We’d driven out the historic old Columbia River Highway to see the views—and to decompress from all the murder. “I love it out here. There’s something about being above it all that’s so freeing—especially after everything that’s happened.”
Danny stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets and braced himself against the springtime breeze. I knew he’d rather have been hiking through the gorge or exploring all the waterfalls—including the most famous, Multnomah Falls—but we’d had to make certain concessions today. He squinted, peering at the view.
“Yeah. It’s nice.” My protection expert glanced behind us at the Vista House. Its Art Nouveau sandstone exterior looked oddly at home amid the windswept gorge. Inside, the place was full of marble and brass, with opalescent art glass windows and period details. But Danny wasn’t looking for any of that.
I studied the wide, winding Columbia River Valley, drawn to the green hills, craggy rocks, and acres of evergreen trees. I might spend most of my time in kitchens and confectioners’, but I like to get out and encounter the wilderness now and then.
“If I’d come out here while all the drama was going on, it might have given me a different perspective.” I breathed deeply. “Back at Cartorama, it was easy to get carried away.”
“You had reason to get ‘carried away.’ This time.”
Danny was right. There really had been a murderer at the cart pod. I really had had a part in catching him, too.
Tomasz. He’d come to Portland and created the perfect community—at least for him. Once Declan had threatened the Cartorama “family,” though, Tomasz hadn’t been able to forgive him. He’d felt too betrayed by Declan wanting to sell out.
A brief perusal of Declan’s emails from the Prodigy Group had confirmed Declan’s interest in profiting from a cut of the cart pod property sale. But that wasn’t a crime. He certainly hadn’t deserved to die. I figured that Tomasz and Declan had argued in the back room at Muddle + Spade before he’d died. That would explain Declan’s phone being there. He’d probably dropped it, then accidentally kicked it beneath the shelves.
After the police had examined it, I’d returned it to his parents. I figured they would have wanted it. They had.
“I can’t believe Carissa was just using Declan for his contacts all along,” I said, making myself keep talking before I started feeling too melancholy. “I didn’t know she’d become so ambitious. She’d always been so nice to me, back in the day.”
“She was trying to use you, too,” Danny reminded me. “And your expertise. There was a reason she invited you to her engagement party weekend. Carissa was hoping you could hook her up with your chocolate-whispering peeps and help her franchise Churn PDX, just in case Declan’s contacts didn’t do the job.”
Unwillingly, I nodded. Carissa was still in the hospital, being treated for the injuries she’d sustained after being forced to drink Tomasz’s deadly cocktail of liquid nitrogen. I’d narrowly escaped similar injuries myself. Carissa had been in a lot of pain. She was lucky to have survived. Recuperating might delay her ice-cream dynasty for a while, though, I knew.
I hoped that forced delay gave her a chance to examine some of the things she’d done, like manipulating Declan and scaring Janel. Maybe Carissa would make better choices in the future.
Speaking of Janel . . . “Janel suspected Carissa all along, you know,” I told Danny. “She knew Declan was alive when she left him after their argument that night.” That’s what Austin had told me, at least. Janel’s prognosis had improved, but she was a long way from chitchat. “Janel saw Carissa in her car outside the cart pod. We know Carissa had been leaving after overhearing Janel’s fight with Declan, but Janel thought Carissa was just arriving. She thought Carissa had rigged the trailer on purpose and had come that night to make sure Declan was dead.”
Danny made a face. “No wonder she taunted Carissa with all those Declan’s Dozen costumes on the tour.” He shook his head. “Remind me not to piss off any short, stocky blondes, okay?”
“As if I’m going to get involved in your love life.” I studied the gorge below us, watching the tiny-looking cars navigate the old highway. “Janel thought that reminding Carissa how much she knew about Declan might shake loose a confession.”
“Hmmph. Carissa was way too frosty for that.”
“Well, we know that, but Janel didn’t. Neither did Austin.” He’d been helping Janel investigate. That’s why he’d run interference for her on the first night of the Chocolate After Dark tour. It was also how he’d come to fall for Janel—how he’d urged her to continue investigating. “If not for Austin, Janel might not have taken that plastic wrap to the police.”
Grudgingly, Danny nodded. He looked at the Vista House again. He looked at me. “I still wish you hadn’t confronted Tomasz the way you did. Someday, learn to wait for me, okay?”
“Hey, I didn’t know there’d be any trouble,” I said in my own defense. “Tomasz was really good at seeming normal. In fact, he’s probably one of the most charming people I’ve ever met.”
I hadn’t been the only one who’d been affected by Tomasz Berk, either. Austin had let Tomasz talk him into refusing to refill the liquid nitrogen tanks for Declan on that fateful night. He’d told Austin that he needed to “stand up” for himself with Declan. He’d known that such a move would force Declan into the trailer alone, where Tomasz could enact his revenge.
Likewise, Janel had let Tomasz talk her into “stalking” Declan. He’d kept her going by saying that he had “inside information” from his good friend—saying that Declan was “tormented” by his engagement to Carissa . . . and secretly wanted Janel, instead. Janel hadn’t been any crazier than any other jilted woman, I’d realized belatedly. She’d simply had her feelings whipped into a frenzy by a master manipulator: Tomasz.
He’d been setting up Janel to take the fall for Declan’s murder the whole time, knowing that she’d look guiltiest.
I’d almost fallen for it, too. I was still sorry for that.
Making it a clean sweep, I knew now, was Lauren. The pierced and tattooed temptress of Cartorama had not been stepping out on Danny with that tall, dark, handsome stranger.
“You’d probably say the same thing about Lauren, right?” I elbowed Danny, grinning. “She’s pretty charming, right?”
“Now that I know she’s not looking over my shoulder for the next guy, sure,” Danny agreed, giving away the bare minimum.
We’d discovered that Tomasz had gotten to Lauren, too. He’d learned of her closeness with her brother, Will (aka the tall, dark, handsome stranger with whom she’d been slipping away during the chocolate tours) and of Will’s own struggling culinary-tour business. Tomasz had encouraged Lauren to spy on Declan’s tour and report back to Will with hints for his own business.
I thought Tomasz had done it just to drive a wedge between Lauren and Danny, because Danny hadn’t been part of the pod. As with me, Tomasz had advised Lauren to “steer clear” of my friend. He’d warned her that my security expert was “bad news.”
As with me, Lauren hadn’t taken that advice to heart.
Deliberately steering me away from Lauren and matters of the heart, Danny jutted his chin. “So, what are your plans now?”
I wasn’t sure. “I think it’ll be a while before I feel another yen to settle down anyplace.” I smiled, letting Danny know I wasn’t taking my nascent urges for hearth and home too seriously. “For now, my priority is going back to work. I asked Travis to look up some juicy consulting gigs to divert me.”
I’d given my financial advisor the rundown on everything that had happened in Stumptown—plus a few sincere compliments to thank him for all the work he’d done to help. I wanted to keep Travis on my side. I was buttering him up for a future visit.
I hadn’t given up on the idea of meeting him face-to-face. Not by a long shot. But for now, I just wanted to temper some chocolate, troubleshoot some bittersweet soufflés or cookies or cakes, and forget about murder for a week or two. At the least.
“What are you going to do?” I asked Danny. “Back to L.A.?”
He gave a noncommittal sound. “I might stay here for a few days.” His gaze wandered back to the Vista House—just as a tall, curvaceous, flirtatious brunette emerged. Lauren, of course. She’d insisted on showing us her ‘hood. She was the reason we’d come to the Columbia River Gorge at all. She waved. So did Danny. His smile broadened. “I think I can keep myself busy.”
I didn’t doubt it. I guessed this was how it was going to be between us for a while. Me, jetting off to the next international destination to make sure the world’s chocolates were just as scrumptious as they could be. Danny, using my murder-related pit stops as a means to hook up with hot women.
It was just like my brawny longtime friend to capitalize on the situation. Danny was nothing if not opportunistic.
And, of course, chronically late. But I was used to that.
“You know,” I hypothesized as I watched Lauren navigate the pathway in her high heels, “sooner or later, one of these women is going to want to keep you around longer than a few days.”
But Danny only shrugged. “That won’t matter. I won’t do it,” he said. “What I want isn’t in any one of these cities.”
“Right.” I knew him too well. My wiseass tone said so. “What you want is in all of them. You don’t fool me, Jamieson.”
“I was never trying to fool you.” His gaze met mine, serious for a minute. In a second, Lauren would catch up to us; then we’d be off to tour the rest of the gorge. Afterward, I’d be off to PDX—the airport this time, not the city. “Take care of yourself, okay?” Danny said. “You’re not unbreakable, you know.”
“I will if you will.” I couldn’t stay serious. Not with the wind in my hair and another adventure looming. I wanted to leave and I wanted to stay. But most of all, I wanted to say, “That’s exactly the same thing Travis told me when I called him this morning—that ‘unbreakable’ business. That’s a pretty funny coincidence, right? You and him having the same take on things?”
The same take on me, I meant. But there was no point rubbing it in too hard. Feeling cheered up, I gave Danny a saucy look and headed away, off to view the vista from another vantage point so I could give him and his new lady friend some privacy.
“Harvard and I are not the same!” Danny called after me in a husky, aggrieved tone. “We’re completely different.”
Didn’t I know it. But before I got too wrapped up in either one of them, I had some Theobroma cacao to troubleshoot and some gridskipping exploits to enjoy. Because after what had happened to me in San Francisco and now in Portland, I was beginning to suspect that my unusual talents went way beyond chocolate . . . all the way to helping bring down killers. That was big.
From here on out, though . . . I was focusing on chocolate, I reminded myself. Period. I didn’t think there was anything that could tempt me away from that sensible stance. But I didn’t want to consider it too hard. Because if there’s one thing I know about life, it’s that chocolate is better than vanilla. And two is better than one. And exceptions are always the rule.
Okay, that’s three things. I never said I was meticulous.
With chocolate, I’m methodical. With everything else?
I was learning to be. That was a start.
From the other side of the promontory, I gestured to Danny and Lauren. “Hey, let’s go!” I yelled. “I’ve got things to do!”
Then I led the way to Lauren’s Subaru and reluctantly slid into the backseat. Next time, I promised myself, I was definitely going to be the one doing the driving.
Recipes
CHOCOLATE UN-CINNAMON ROLLS
8 tablespoons melted butter, divided
cup brown sugar, packed
5 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
teaspoon plus ½ teaspoon salt, divided
1 cup mini chocolate chips
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1¼ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1¼ cups buttermilk
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
GET READY: Preheat oven to 425°. Grease a 9-inch round baking pan with 1 tablespoon of melted butter; set aside.
MAKE FILLING: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, cocoa powder, and teaspoon salt. Stir in 1 tablespoon of melted butter until the mixture is like wet sand. Stir in mini chocolate chips, then set aside.
MAKE DOUGH: In a large bowl, stir together 2½ cups flour, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and remaining ½ teaspoon salt. In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk and 2 tablespoons melted butter. Add the liquid to the dry ingredients and stir until the liquid is absorbed (the dough will look shaggy), about 30 seconds. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead until just smooth.
SHAPE ROLLS: Sprinkle clean countertop with remaining ½ cup flour, then pat out the dough into a 12- by 9-inch rectangle. Brush the dough with 2 tablespoons melted butter, then sprinkle with the chocolate filling, leaving a ½-inch border. Press the filling firmly into the dough. Using a bench scraper or metal spatula, loosen the dough from the work surface. Starting at a long side, roll the dough, pressing lightly, to form a tight log. Pinch the seam to seal. Roll the log seam-side down and cut it evenly into 8 pieces. Place 1 roll in the center of the prepared pan and then place the remaining 7 rolls around the perimeter of the pan. Brush the rolls with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter.
BAKE ROLLS: Bake until the rolls are light golden brown, 23 to 25 minutes. Cool 2 minutes. Use an offset metal spatula to loosen the rolls from the pan. Wearing oven mitts, place a large plate over the pan and invert the rolls onto the plate. Place the greased cooling rack over the plate and invert the rolls onto the rack. Cool about 5 minutes before glazing.
MAKE GLAZE: In a small bowl, stir together confectioners’ sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle over baked and cooled rolls. Enjoy!
NOTES FROM HAYDEN
Do you like cinnamon rolls, but wish they packed a little more oomph? Try these chocolate-filled rolls, instead! If you don’t have mini chocolate chips, you can roughly chop regular chocolate chips or chunks into smaller pieces. If any filling escapes while you’re rolling up the dough, just tuck it back in or sprinkle on top. These rolls don’t have to look picture perfect to taste perfectly delicious!
NOW NOW NOW CHOCOLATE SUGAR TOAST
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
½ teaspoon cocoa powder
tiny pinch flaky sea salt (optional)
½ tablespoon butter
1 slice good bread
GET READY: In a small bowl or ramekin, stir together sugar, cocoa powder, and (optional) flaky sea salt. Set aside.
Make the toast via your preferred method: toaster, toaster oven, grill, or broiler. Butter toast, then sprinkle evenly with sugar-cocoa mixture. Serve hot!
NOTES FROM HAYDEN
Okay, this twist on standard cinnamon-sugar toast is (admittedly) one of those treats you hardly need a recipe for. But it’s useful to have in your back pocket when you need a chocolaty nosh fast (now now now).
The quality of the bread and butter is everything here, so spring for the good stuff! If you opt for the flaky sea salt, try natural Maldon brand. It’s easy to find in most grocery stores. Or get fancy and try a vanilla bean flake salt from an artisanal purveyor (like Jacobsen Salt Co. in Portland).
CAN’T MISS HOT FUDGE SAUCE
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1½ cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons light corn syrup or golden syrup
¼ teaspoon kosher salt or flaky sea salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
GET READY: Place chopped chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Have a lid or plastic wrap ready to fit the bowl.
MAKE SAUCE: In a microwave-safe medium container, combine heavy cream, corn syrup or golden syrup, and salt. Microwave until just simmering, about 3–4 minutes.
Carefully pour hot cream mixture over chopped chocolate. Immediately cover and let stand 5 minutes. Add vanilla extract, then stir until hot-fudge sauce is smooth. Enjoy!
NOTES FROM HAYDEN
Everyone needs a go-to hot-fudge sauce, and this is mine. You can use any kind of good-quality chocolate for this: bittersweet, semisweet, even milk chocolate. Or be a rebel and try very good quality white chocolate for a blond version! (In that case, look for cocoa butter listed first among the ingredients, to be sure you’re getting an excellent product.)
This hot-fudge sauce will last for up to a week if kept carefully covered in your refrigerator. Your mileage may vary, however—mine never lasts that long!
This sauce will thicken when cold; just rewarm it gently to restore its silky, luxurious texture.
