Page 23 of The Chef

Besides, now that the complex was awake, Char didn’t have to feel guilty about making noise.

Karl didn’t have any trouble reaching the bananas three shelves high, as Char suspected, and once he was done in the pantry Char retrieved his bag of shelled walnuts. Shelled cost extra but saved so much time it was worth the expense. He measured out what he wanted and put them in a separate bag, then took out his metal mallet and started slamming it into the nuts in abang bang bangthat would definitely be audible in the bedrooms. Once the nuts were in tiny pieces, he set them aside.

Batter for muffins was incredibly easy. Once it was ready, he split it into two separate bowls. First, he commandeered a large portion of the washed and dried raspberries, chopping them smaller and mixing those into one bowl. He removed the rolls from the oven and replaced them with the first batches of raspberry muffins. He moved on to the banana walnut next, as Karl made progress with peeling and squishing bananas, mixing in the nuts and bananas to the other half of the batter.

By the time the last batch of muffins was in the ovens, he was ready to start cooking pancakes. Char did take a few minutes to cube the melons—wishing he had a sous chef he trusted to cut near-identical sized squares—and then focused on heating up the griddle and oiling it. Karl finished with the bananas, and then he and the other two helpers went out to start setting up the room, turning on lights and plattering cooled bread for the serving area. Char mixed the three bowls of ingredients together with his fork, happy with the resulting pancake batter, then started pouring circles onto the griddle.

The morning passed quickly. Char was busy studying the bubbles forming in the cooking pancakes to ensure he flipped them at just the right moment, but every time a new group of diners entered the room, he glanced up to see if Jensen was with them.

As the initial rush began to abate, Jensen finally strode into the room. However, rather than grabbing a plate, he headed to the side of the kitchen and waved Char over. Char slid a spatula underneath the cooking pancakes, gauging whether the bottoms were as toasty brown as the tops. They were, so he quickly transferred them over to a platter, which one of his helpers whisked away to replace the nearly empty one in the serving area. Char turned the heat down on the griddle, wiped his hands on his apron, and headed over, hopeful Jensen would be able to help him solve the mysteries of both his visitors.

Chapter Thirteen

“I’VE GOTTEN WORDfrom Fen,” Jensen said, his voice low so it wouldn’t carry. He had turned his back to the rest of the room so no one could read his lips either. “His mission was successful, so he’ll be back tonight.” Char grinned, very happy to hear that, but then Jensen continued. “Fen…er. He wanted me to tell you they were able to heat the mac and cheese last night and it was delicious. Used an entire line in the missive, too,” he added, grumbling.

“He was able to heat it!” Char breathed out, ecstatic. Fen was returning safely and he had liked Char’s food!

Jensen abruptly stopped grumbling, looking at Char sharply for a moment before letting out a sigh.

“Anyway,” he continued. “I expect him to be back in time for dinner. Don’t do anything special, since we’re supposed to pretend he was never away on a secret mission.”

“Right,” Char replied.

His dinner plans were for semi-deconstructed chicken pot pies, which were normal enough. Start with a roux on the stove. Add in milk and spices, particularly a lot of sage. Then shred chicken breast poached in stock from one of Char’s bouillon cubes. Add in partially cooked vegetables and stir together. Pourall that into massive baking dishes and dot the top with chunks of uncooked biscuit dough. Once baked, the biscuits expanded to create the illusion of individual portions.

“I was thinking of making chocolate cakes anyway. Since my cold box is currently stuffed full with raspberries, I’ll do a raspberry coulis. Nothing too fancy, and as long as we only tell Fen and his group they’re celebration cakes, no one will ever know.”

“Sounds delicious to me,” Jensen replied, swallowing saliva reflexively. “I’ll make sure to tell Fen you made the cakes for him.”

“Thanks. And thanks for letting me know he’s coming back soon.” Char took a deep breath and let it out. “I had two visitors this morning,” he said when Jensen looked at him curiously. Jensen immediately scowled.

“Who?” he snapped, somehow managing to keep his voice low even as anger threaded through it.

Char shook his head. “I have no idea. I noticed some food had been moved around in the pantry and was heading over to check the cold box when a person offered me rather a lot of money to agree to work for their master.”

“Wait. Someone moved around food in your pantry and then tried to hire you?” Jensen asked, his quizzical expression saying he was trying to figure out what Char was explaining.

“I think I had two separate visitors,” Char said, trying to explain clearer a second time. “The first was sometime overnight. They were only tall enough to reach the lowest shelves in the pantry and the cold box. I was wondering if children are allowed in the complex.”

“Generally no. There is a small section on the exact opposite side of the complex from here where high-level leaders canchoose to live in houses with their immediate families, and a school and such to serve for any children. But you’ve got to be at Fen’s level—a commander—or higher to be eligible. The kids generally stay around there, although occasionally one will get lost and wander around. Never heard of one pilfering food before. What about the person who offered you money? Can you describe them?”

“No.” Char shook his head. “They purposefully stood in the shadows, and it was before five this morning, so the sun hadn’t risen yet. They were wearing all black and might have had something covering their face too, but I couldn’t tell.”

“And they offered you money?”

“‘Riches beyond belief’ were the words they used. Said I’d never have to work another day in my life or step into a kitchen again.” Char scowled, running his hands down his apron in proprietary pride.

Jensen snorted out a laugh. “Offering you a new kitchen would have been more effective.”

Char sighed pointedly in exasperation, although he did offer a grin for the joke. “After I refused, they said they would return for my answer, and if it wasn’t what they wanted to hear threats would be next.”

Jensen was quiet for a few long moments, frowning as he presumably mulled over Char’s words.

“I’m assigning you a bodyguard,” he said finally. “Someone who isn’t distracted by washing dishes or food prep, one whose only job is to make certain you’re safe. That should help with the unwelcome visitors threatening you until your newness and connection to Fen has time to blow over. I’m not certain what to do about the food thief though.”

“Tell me about Karl,” Char requested first, trying to get as much fact to support his supposition before telling Jensen his idea.

“If Karl had stolen food, he would have taken from higher shelves,” Jensen replied immediately.

---