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  PRAISE FOR THE SPICE SHOP MYSTERIES

  Assault and Pepper

  “A potpourri of spices, a mélange of murder—Pepper and her crew serve up a tantalizing mystery and a fragrant treat for the senses.”

  —Connie Archer, national bestselling author of the Soup Lover’s Mysteries

  “There’s a savvy new amateur sleuth in town, and her name is Pepper Reece. Assault and Pepper is a smart blend of zesty characters, piquant spices, and scrumptious food. Set against the intriguing Seattle backdrop, this well-plotted whodunit is the perfect recipe for a great read.”

  —Daryl Wood Gerber, national bestselling author of the Cookbook Nook Mysteries

  “Leslie Budewitz writes her new Seattle Spice Shop Mystery, Assault and Pepper, with a dash of humor and a half-turn of charm that will leave readers smiling.”

  —J. J. Cook, national bestselling author of Fry Another Day

  “An iconic Seattle setting, a smart and capable heroine, and a spicy investigation . . . what mystery reader could want more? Budewitz combines it all with effortless finesse.”

  —Victoria Hamilton, national bestselling author of the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries

  “Parsley, sage, rosemary, and . . . murder. Assault and Pepper, the scintillating first book in Leslie Budewitz’s new Spice Shop Mystery series, will add zing to your reading.”

  —Barbara Ross, author of the Maine Clambake Mysteries

  PRAISE FOR THE FOOD LOVERS’ VILLAGE MYSTERIES

  Death al Dente

  “Seldom does a new author hit all the right notes in a first book, but Leslie Budewitz does. Convincing characters, a believable plot, the right dash of romance, and a deft use of words all come together to create a seamless and satisfying read.”

  —Sheila Connolly, New York Times bestselling author

  “Small-town charm and big-time chills. Jewel Bay, Montana, is a food lover’s paradise—and ground zero for murder! A dizzying culinary delight with a twisty-turny plot! I’m totally enamored of Leslie Budewitz’s huckleberry chocolates, Shasta daisies, and Cowboy Roast coffee.”

  —Laura Childs, New York Times bestselling author

  “An intriguing sleuth who loves gourmet food, family, and her hometown, plus recipes to die for distinguish a delectable mystery.”

  —Carolyn Hart, New York Times bestselling author

  “The first book in a delicious new series. Leslie Budewitz has created a believable, down-to-earth heroine in Erin Murphy, who uses her sleuthing skills and the Spreadsheet of Suspicion to catch a killer. The supporting cast of characters, from Erin’s mother, Fresca, to her cat, Sandburg, are charming. I’m looking forward to my next visit to Jewel Bay.”

  —Sofie Kelly, New York Times bestselling author

  “Clever, charming, and completely yummy. Leslie Budewitz cooks up a delectable mystery! A tempting concoction of food, fun, and fatalities that will have you racing through the suspenseful pages . . . then heading for the kitchen to try out the irresistible recipes. More please!”

  —Hank Phillippi Ryan, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity award-winning author

  “The first in a new series is strong enough to stand outside the confines of its genre . . . This is Budewitz’s first novel-length mystery, and it’s a good one . . . engrossing and satisfying.”

  —Fresh Fiction

  “Always love finding a new author and a brand-new series. Well, let me tell you, Leslie Budewitz does not disappoint. This was a delicious read that I finished in one sitting. There were plenty of red herrings to keep the plot moving. I loved the main characters and can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Leslie, hope you are busy plotting and writing so I will not have to wait long. There are some very yummy recipes included, too.”

  —MyShelf.com

  “Yummy . . . With the eccentric people that make up the rest of the cast, this book is enjoyable.”

  —RT Book Reviews

  Berkley Prime Crime titles by Leslie Budewitz

  Food Lovers’ Village Mysteries

  DEATH AL DENTE

  CRIME RIB

  Spice Shop Mysteries

  ASSAULT AND PEPPER

  THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP

  Published by the Penguin Group

  Penguin Group (USA) LLC

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014

  USA • Canada • UK • Ireland • Australia • New Zealand • India • South Africa • China

  penguin.com

  A Penguin Random House Company

  ASSAULT AND PEPPER

  A Berkley Prime Crime Book / published by arrangement with the author

  Copyright © 2015 by Leslie Ann Budewitz.

  Penguin supports copyright. Copyright fuels creativity, encourages diverse voices, promotes free speech, and creates a vibrant culture. Thank you for buying an authorized edition of this book and for complying with copyright laws by not reproducing, scanning, or distributing any part of it in any form without permission. You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.

  Berkley Prime Crime Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group.

  BERKLEY® PRIME CRIME and the PRIME CRIME logo are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.

  For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,

  a division of Penguin Group (USA) LLC,

  375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.

  eBook ISBN: 978-0-698-14053-0

  PUBLISHING HISTORY

  Berkley Prime Crime mass-market edition / March 2015

  Cover illustration by Lesley Worrell.

  Cover design by Ben Perini.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The recipes contained in this book are to be followed exactly as written. The publisher is not responsible for your specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision. The publisher is not responsible for any adverse reactions to the recipes contained in this book.

  Version_1

  For Lita

  Let others debate whether variety or humor is the spice of life.

  I know it’s friendship.

  Acknowledgments and Historical Note

  A writer setting a story in a real place must ask indulgence from readers who know and love it. I have attempted to be as accurate as possible, while portraying a city in flux—as they always are—the city where I imagine Pepper Reece and her friends at work and play.

  The removal of Seattle’s Alaskan Way Viaduct—the elevated highway above the waterfront—and its replacement with a tunnel began in 2012 and is scheduled for completion in 2016. At this writing, proposals are being considered for a south entrance to the Market on the site once home to the Municipal Market, destroyed by fire decades ago. But nothing ever happens exactly as planned, so my portrayal and the city’s evolution may not be perfectly in sync.

  The Spice Shop occupies the Garden Center Building. To keep the herbs and spices safe from heat and light, I have replaced the large plate windows along Pine Street with clerestory windows and given the shop a side door—both changes not likely to be approved in real life, given the Market’s listing on the National Historic Register. While most of the Market is owned by the city and managed by the Public Development Authority, a few buildings remain in private ownershi
p, including this one, although not on these pages. At this writing, all Market shops mentioned are still in business in the locations described. Alex and his restaurants are fictitious; sadly, so are Café Frida and the Diego Lounge.

  The Market was saved from urban renewal by Seattle voters, led by the Friends of the Market and visionary architect Victor Steinbrueck. His Market Sketchbook remains a treasure. I have also drawn inspiration from Soul of the City: The Pike Place Public Market by Alice Shorett and Murray Morgan, and An Insider’s Tour of the Pike Place Public Market by Michael Yaeger, illustrated by Sarah Clementson.

  As a college student and later as a young lawyer, I shopped and ate in the Market weekly, but there’s no substitute for inside knowledge. Thanks to Mercedes Yaeger of Market Ghost Tours for sharing her insights and experiences as a child—and adult—of the Market. Her book, Seattle’s Market Ghost Stories, is a treat. Thanks also to the other merchants who chatted with me, and to Emily Crawford of the PDA and Detective Renée Witt of the Seattle Police Department for answering questions. Of course, I made the mistakes all by myself.

  For Pepper’s loft, I added upper floors to the Pittman Automotive building at the corner of Union and Western, which currently provides rooftop parking on Western and houses an antiques market on the Alaskan Way side. For spicy detail, Pepper and I both refer frequently to The Spice and Herb Bible by Ian Hemphill and The Spice Bible by Jane Lawson.

  Lita Artis and Ken Gollersrud provided critical ground support and hospitality. Thanks to Lita and to Katherine Nyborg for reading a draft and sharing their perspective as longtime residents of the Emerald City.

  My writer friends, at home and away, gave me their ears, examples, and encouragement. It’s a pleasure to work with other professionals—and a joy to propose an idea they instantly love, as both my agent, Paige Wheeler, at Creative Media Agency, Inc., and my editor, Faith Black, at Berkley Prime Crime, did. Thanks to Robin Barletta at Berkley Prime Crime for jumping into the project with enthusiasm, and to all of you for helping bring this magical place to life—and ink.

  And as ever, thanks to Don Beans, aka Mr. Right, always willing to wander any Market street or alley, eat any food, and talk about it all the way home.

  Inventory—Aka the Cast

  THE SEATTLE SPICE SHOP STAFF

  Pepper Reece—owner

  Sandra Piniella—assistant manager and mix master

  Tory Finch—salesclerk and artist

  Zak Davis—salesclerk and musician

  Reed Locke—part-time salesclerk and college student

  Kristen Gardiner—part-time salesclerk, Pepper’s oldest friend

  THE FLICK CHICKS

  Pepper

  Kristen

  Laurel Halloran—restaurant owner, caterer, houseboat dweller

  Seetha Sharma—the newest member

  Gabe Halloran—Laurel’s teenage son and honorary member

  MARKET MERCHANTS, RESIDENTS, AND FRIENDS

  Angie and Sylvie Martinez—aka the orchard girls

  Yvonne Winchell—grows the best flowers in the Market

  Jane Rasmussen—founder and former owner of Seattle Spice

  Doc aka Damien Finch—the mysterious newcomer

  Sam and Arf—a man and his dog

  Jim and Hot Dog—Sam’s friends

  Marianne Finch—Damien’s wife

  Ken Griffey—Damien’s partner

  Alex Howard—restaurateur Pepper may or may not be dating

  Fabiola the Fabulous—graphic designer

  Keyra Jackson—Tory’s sculptor friend and neighbor

  Jen the Bookseller and Callie the Librarian—Pepper’s former law firm employees

  Vinny—the wine merchant

  SEATTLE’S FINEST

  Officer Tag Buhner—on the bike beat, Pepper’s former husband

  Detective Cheryl Spencer—homicide

  Detective Michael Tracy—homicide

  Contents

  Praise for Titles by Leslie Budewitz

  Berkley Prime Crime Titles by Leslie Budewitz

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments and Historical Note

  Inventory—Aka the Cast

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Recipes and Spice Notes

  One

  An herb is a fresh or dried leaf. A spice is a dried plant part—a bud (cloves), bark (cinnamon), root (ginger), berry (peppercorns), seeds (fennel), or even stigma (saffron). The same plant may provide both—fresh or dried cilantro leaves are the herb cilantro, while the dried seeds are the spice coriander.

  “What does autumn taste like? How does it smell?”

  Even as I asked, the questions seemed utterly ridiculous. This was already shaping up to be one of those glorious September days in Seattle that make you think the weather will never change, that the sky will always be a pure cloudless blue, the leaves on the trees a painter’s box of green, the waters of Elliot Bay calm and sparkling.

  I’ve lived here all my forty-two years, and I still get fooled.

  But as the owner, for the last ten months and seventeen days, of the Seattle Spice Shop, it was my job to think ahead. Fall would be here in less than a week, by the calendar. And by my nose. I really could sense the difference right about this time of year. The annual run on pickling spices for the last cukes would soon give way to cider mulling mixes. And before long, our customers would be asking for poultry seasoning and scouting for Christmas gifts.

  “The taste,” I repeated to my staff, gathered around the butcher block worktable in our mixing nook, “and smell of fall.”

  Sandra fanned herself with a catalog from the kitchen shop up the hill and peered over the top of her reading glasses—today’s were leopard print. “Fall, shmall. It’s seventy-six degrees out.” Spot-on to most Seattleites, but my assistant manager is one of those native Northwesterners who thrive in a narrow temperature range. Anything above seventy-two and she sweats; below forty-five, she shivers. And complains, cheerfully. A short, well-rounded woman of sixty with smooth olive skin, pixie-cut dark hair, and lively chocolate brown eyes, she came with the place, and I say daily prayers of gratitude that she stayed.

  “Apples,” Zak said. “Applesauce, apple butter, spiced apple cake. Plums in brandy. Plum pudding. Fruitcake.” Zak had been my first hire after I bought the shop. Six-two and almost thirty, with muscular shoulders, he’d seemed an unlikely candidate for employment in a retail spice shop in Seattle’s venerable Pike Place Market. But I’d been desperate and he’d been earnest. And he pleaded for a weekday job so he could rock the nights and weekends away with his band.

  Plus he’s my ex-husband Tag’s best friend’s nephew, and I hav
e to admit, Tag Buhner isn’t always wrong about people.

  “You have fruit on the brain,” Sandra said. “Been flirting with the orchard girls again?”

  Zak blushed, a sweet look at odds with his shaved head, fierce dark brows, and black goatee.

  The orchard girls, two sisters with shiny black hair, full red lips, and curves in all the right places, had caught the eye of every straight man under thirty-five in the Market since they took over the family fruit stand this past summer. Their looks and the location of their stall—they usually draw a prime spot across from us on Pike Place, the Market’s long, cobbled main street—guarantee plenty of attention.

  That their fruit is the freshest and their jams the tastiest doesn’t hurt.

  “Our tea is the essential fragrance of the Market year-round,” I said, pointing my pen at the ornate brass electric teapot that resembles a Russian samovar. We’d just resumed serving the hot black Assam tea spiced with cardamom, allspice, and orange, although the iced tea dispenser would stay out a few more days.

  “That, and fresh fish.” Zak had recovered from his embarrassment. The fish merchants near the Market’s main entrance put on a comedy routine to rival the Marx Brothers’, tossing whole coho salmon like softballs, teasing customers, and welcoming both locals and wide-eyed tourists to the heart and stomach of Seattle.

  Zak filled his mug, emblazoned with a Z, and snatched a hazelnut cookie from the box. It wouldn’t be a staff meeting without treats from the French bakery.

  “We need three or four new blends,” I said. “For our home cooks. Zak’s zeroed in on the harvest aspect of fall. But I’d like something to rub on those fish, or a slow-cooked chuck roast. To warm up the salty mist and stave off the chills, until we get into the familiar tastes of Christmas.”

  My staff turned thoughtful, summoning their own ideas of fall. They say the sense of smell is the most intimately linked of all our senses to memory, and I believe it. One whiff of a familiar scent, even one we haven’t encountered in years, can transport us to a time and place long forgotten, even before we consciously recall the memory.