The Killing League

29.

Nicole

“Okay, first person to come up with a great entrée featuring mountain lion as the main ingredient gets a big bonus,” Nicole said to the kitchen staff at Thicque.

They’d all heard the story of the attack, and had been cracking jokes all afternoon.

“Grilled cougar with a side of Nicole’s soiled undergarments,” Paolo Gerrar said, a big grin on his face.

Nicole laughed and walked out to the dining room. She noted with no small amount of pleasure that the tables were already put together, fresh flowers had been delivered minutes earlier, and a beautiful soft light filled the space thanks to the sunlight seeping through the gauzy linen curtains.

Nicole felt great about her team. Even though the restaurant had only been open for a short time, she felt they had gelled as a unit, playing to each other’s strengths and compensating for any weaknesses in technique, knowledge, or personality.

They had found a nice rhythm and worked together virtually hiccup-free, save for one waiter whose sense of humor had ruffled the feathers of more than one customer. Entertaining guests was one thing, pissing them off by being too much of a smart ass was something entirely different. She had fired him immediately.

“Hey Boss!” Anthony Toffol, her sous chef, called out as she started inventory on the wine selections.

“Yeah,” she said. He stood with the door to the kitchen open. Nicole smelled the olive oil, garlic, onion, rosemary, shallots, paprika and black pepper that were being used in various incarnations.

“Someone dropped off a card for you,” he said. “It was under the door when I opened up — it’s over on the receptionist’s table.”

“Okay, thanks,” she said. She finished cataloging the vintages she wanted to highlight for tonight’s courses, then walked to the front of the dining room. Rather than a formal podium, Nicole had set up a small antique table where the hostess received guests.

Nicole glanced over and saw an envelope. She walked over, picked it up and looked at the front. There was a little symbol on the front, like a shield of some sort, with two letters.

KL.

She opened the card and a small slip of paper was inside.



Dear Nicole,

Congratulations on the success of Thicque! It sounds like a wonderful place to enjoy good food and renew bonds with old friends! Based on your success, I am happy to let you know that you have been accepted as an official member of KL. I know this holds no meaning for you, but I assure you in the very near future it will. I look forward to seeing you in person again and watch as you slice, dice, chop and julienne the way only you can!

Sincerely,

The Commissioner

She looked at the symbol below the message. It was the same “KL” inside a shield. How weird, Nicole thought. Probably some kind of online restaurant guide that offers coupons and specials to area restaurants. They would want Thicque no doubt to pay some hefty upfront fee in exchange for being listed in this KL. Maybe it stood for Kitchen List. Or something cheesy like Kalifornia Luxury. Who knew?

Nicole dropped the card into the trash.

What a weird message and a weird logo. It didn’t even look like a symbol having to do with food or dining.

The way the “KL” was inside that goofy shield made it look like a sports team or some kind of football league.

Whatever it was, Nicole had no intention of participating.