Read Emily Kimelman - Sydney Rye 05 - The Devil's Breath for Free Online

big man, his smile unpracticed, his suit not quite in style, faced the camera across a table, brandy snifters in front of them. “ Defry was an instant hit, they had plans to expand rapidly into casinos and resorts, including locations in Las Vegas, Palm Springs, and New York.”
    My stomach tightened at the mention of New York. “While there were rumors that the two men had a fiery relationship, they could have easily been dismissed as tabloid fare until last week when a fire hit Defry setting off the course of events that brings us all here today.”
    A little dramatic, I thought.
    Antonio squeezed the controller, changing the image on the screen. An open oven, matte black with soot damage spreading out from it like a starburst, darkening the pristine stainless steel countertops and hood which reflected almost white under the bright light of the crime scene photographer’s flash. It looked collapsed, ruined, like an explosion, not just fire, had raged within.
    “The fire marshal is saying that the grease trap was not cleaned properly. The kitchen’s logs are missing but according to staff we’ve interviewed, Hugh was obsessively tidy.”
    “Are you suggesting it could have been sabotage?” I asked.
    Antonio turned to me, his deep brown eyes unreadable in the dull light. “Yes, that is one of the leads we are following.”
    I felt Mulberry looking at me and glanced toward him as the picture on the screen changed again. Mulberry returned his attention to the screen and I watched his profile for a moment, checking for tension in his jaw, tightness around his mouth, but saw no signs of upset. I played with one of Blue’s ears and looked back to Antonio.
    “The fire began at the beginning of dinner service with an explosion that miraculously did not injure anyone working in the kitchen. The built-in suppression system failed, allowing the fire to rage unchecked for more than five minutes during which Hugh ordered his staff to evacuate the restaurant and then, using a fire extinguisher he kept in the kitchen, put out the fire himself.” Antonio turned back to his audience, his voice lowering. “The fire chief said it was a foolish, but brave move that most likely saved thousands in property damage and possibly the lives of people in the upstairs apartment. Mulberry, Edwards, and I agree that this is key evidence of our client’s level head and respect for human life.”
    I looked down at Blue and found his eyes closed and breathing even. On the edge of sleep, I thought.
    “The fire department showed up seven minutes after the alarm sounded and took over fighting the fire at that time, though from the men I spoke to it was mostly out before their arrival. However, they double checked everything, spending approximately an hour and a half on site. Long enough, certainly, to see the fight that took place between our client, Hugh Defry, and the victim, Lawrence Taggert.”
    I looked up as the screen changed again to show Hugh and Lawrence toe-to-toe on the sidewalk in front of Defry . Hugh was in a chef’s outfit, black and white checked pants, and a soot-stained white smock. Taggert wore a suit that rose up as he pushed his finger into Hugh’s chest. His palms out and posture leaning back, Hugh looked down at the smaller man with an expression of surprised anger. “This photo was taken by one of the paparazzi who often hang out around the entrance of Defry,” Antonio said. “Their confrontation was short and then Taggert returned to his car and left.”
    “According to witnesses, Defry sent the rest of his staff home and waited until he could get back into the restaurant. He thanked several of the firemen personally and, once allowed back inside, called contractors leaving messages about getting the kitchen fixed.”
    “Defry thinks he left the restaurant around 9 and received a phone call from Taggert soon after asking him to come over. Defry claims that Taggert said he wanted to apologize. Defry remembers