"Recipe For Murder"

Norwood & Cross, P.I. – Episode 7: “Recipe for Murder”

A celebrity chef is dead. His recipe book is missing. And somebody just turned a five-star restaurant into a crime scene.

Called to investigate the murder of Chef Dore, Nicole Norwood and Jason Cross soon discover that the victim's secret recipes and a large cash deposit have disappeared as well. What starts as a kitchen mystery quickly becomes a recipe for trouble.

Because sometimes... the deadliest ingredient is greed.

 Credits: 

Created, written, and produced by: Jody Lebel    vojodylebel@gmail.com         

Directed by: Nick Omana - nick@nickomana.com 

Project Manager and Editor: Edward Waldorph - ewaldorph@yahoo.com 

Foley/Sound Engineer: Tittoedits(@atifullah9988) 

VOICEOVER CAST: 

Narrator: Mike Coward, stocos28@gmail.com 

Jason: Max Cutler,  maxbcutler@gmail.com 

Nicole: Rachel Vega,  rachel@rachelvegavo.com

Mr. Green: Davey Jarrell, daveyhjarrell@gmail.com

Announcer for fake sponsor – Bark and Order: 

Judd Shiffler – safeministries@yahoo.com

Sal Vetchiano: Nathan Myers - nmeyers@nathanmeyersvo.com

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Jason opened the case file and promptly dropped it. Welcome back to the gritty streets of crime, caffeine, and codependency. Nicole Norwood and Jason Cross, private investigators, former spouses, and proof that opposites not only attract, but occasionally file restraining orders. She's sharp as a stiletto and twice as deadly in cross-examination. He's got gut instincts, questionable life choices, and a talent for finding trouble faster than he finds parking. Their partnership is held together by sarcasm, stubbornness, and a mutual understanding that Jason should never be left alone with office equipment. But when the city gets shady and the cases get weird, there's only one duo brave or smart enough to take them on. Shea Dory was the kind of place where the wine had five syllables, the forks had three tines, and the prices made your wallet cry uncle. You would think being a famous chef would have job security, but not when someone wants your recipes badly enough to kill you. Chef Dory, culinary genius, ego the size of a souffle, was found face down in the flower, a carving knife lodged in his back, and cash and his famous recipes were missing. They say revenge is a dish best served cold, but this was premeditated, flambed, and plated with a sprig of betrayal. Let's open the file, shall we?

SPEAKER_04 1:30

All my ears on the job. I've never been able to afford a place like this.

SPEAKER_03 1:35

Oh yes, you could. You're just cheap. There's the manager back there. What's his name again?

SPEAKER_01 1:41

Jason opened the case file and promptly dropped it, scattering papers around his feet. He stood looking dumbfounded for a moment before bending to pick them up, revealing one navy sock and one yellow one with dog faces on it.

SPEAKER_03 1:55

Mismatch socks again?

SPEAKER_04 1:57

It's not mismatched, it's a system.

SPEAKER_03 2:00

Uh-huh. And uh what system is that?

SPEAKER_04 2:03

Whatever's clean.

SPEAKER_03 2:05

Revolutionary. Shape up. The head chef here is dead, and we've been hired to investigate. This is a fresh murder. Happened this morning.

SPEAKER_04 2:15

Here it is. Found it. Uh the manager's name is Joshua Green.

SPEAKER_01 2:20

A rather disheveled man approached them, looking weary and desperate. He was accompanied by a tall, thin man in a chef's apron.

SPEAKER_03 2:28

Uh, Mr. Green?

SPEAKER_05 2:29

Yes, yes. The police told me they called you in. I'm so glad you're here. This is Mark Adams, the sous chef.

SPEAKER_06 2:36

We need to find Chef Dory's recipes and fast.

SPEAKER_04 2:40

The man is dead, and you're worried about his recipes?

SPEAKER_01 2:43

Mr. Green sank into the nearest chair and hung his head. The sous chef looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here.

SPEAKER_05 2:50

What am I going to do? I sunk all my money into this place. Tell us what happened. Chef Dory came in early today, alone. Probably at 7 a.m. like he does every Wednesday, to choose his menus for the week and prepare the food order. He always used the back door. Only he knew the security code, and that door opens right into the kitchen. He must have realized the place was being robbed and tried to fight off the thief. His recipe book is gone, along with last night's cash deposit of over $10,000.

SPEAKER_03 3:23

Who knew about him coming in alone on Wednesdays, besides you two?

SPEAKER_06 3:28

Well, he was pretty vocal. He bragged about that his recipes were so valuable they had to be kept in the safe in the kitchen. But as far as his Wednesday ritual, I don't know if anybody else knew about that.

SPEAKER_04 3:41

There's no sign of forced entry, so he must have opened the door, and the robber followed him in. Any problems or threats lately?

SPEAKER_05 3:49

The only conflict going on is the new restaurant across town. They wanted him to bring his recipes there, but he refused.

SPEAKER_06 3:56

They even offered to double his salary. I told him he'd be a fool not to go. Mr.

SPEAKER_01 4:02

Green's face hardened. He stood and faced his sous-chef, his voice cracking with irritation as he confronted him.

SPEAKER_05 4:09

He was very loyal to this restaurant.

SPEAKER_01 4:12

And they were hot for him.

SPEAKER_05 4:13

This restaurant carried his name. He would never leave.

SPEAKER_06 4:17

It could carry his name over there too, but whatever. Those recipes are the lifeblood of this restaurant. There was only one copy. And they are handwritten.

SPEAKER_05 4:30

He was talented, but so old-fashioned. Never used a computer. He kept his recipe book in that safe. Only he knew the combination. I never pushed him to make any backup copies. Not that he would anyway, he was very stubborn. Let me show you the crime scene.

SPEAKER_01 4:49

Mr. Green led them to the modern kitchen. Pots and pans and kitchen utensils littered the scene. Food bins were overturned, and all around liquid was dripping and pooling on the floor. Covering most everything was a thick layer of flour, which was disturbed in many spots as though a terrible scuffle had taken place.

SPEAKER_05 5:09

When the Sioux chef told me to hurry down here, I got here before the police and found him lying here with the Mr.

SPEAKER_01 5:18

Green had to stop and compose himself. He took a handkerchief out of his back pocket and wiped his face, which had turned an alarming shade of green.

SPEAKER_05 5:26

With the knife sticking out of his back. The police arrived shortly after. I watched them remove the body.

SPEAKER_03 5:39

What time did the stew chef call you?

SPEAKER_05 5:42

Sh shortly after eight. I can't really tell you the exact time.

SPEAKER_04 5:47

It looks like there was a struggle. Where does that back door lead to?

SPEAKER_05 5:51

The alley. We get food deliveries back here.

SPEAKER_01 5:54

Nicole and Jason took a look out the door and into the alley where they saw flower footprints leading towards the back street.

SPEAKER_04 6:01

I don't see any security cameras in here or in the alleyway.

SPEAKER_06 6:05

That's correct. We don't have any. This is a solid, safe neighborhood.

SPEAKER_04 6:10

It says on the preliminary police report that you, Chef Adams, generally arrive at 8 a.m. and you did so today?

SPEAKER_06 6:17

That's right. I was the one that found him.

SPEAKER_03 6:20

What door did you come in this morning?

SPEAKER_06 6:22

The office door, like usual. Did you go into the kitchen? No, I I could see immediately that he was dead. I didn't even go through the kitchen doorway. I saw him and the mess and called the police. Then I called Mr. Green.

SPEAKER_03 6:36

Did the chef have any known enemies? Has anyone threatened him lately?

SPEAKER_05 6:41

Not that I'm aware of. This came right out of the blue.

SPEAKER_04 6:44

Chef Adams, it's no secret that you and Chef Dory had a rocky relationship. You two have been in the newspapers more than once, battling over who actually owns those recipes. In fact, you've even been quoted as saying you wanted to open your own restaurant, but you were unable to because Dory wouldn't allow you to access them.

SPEAKER_06 7:03

Well, yes, it's true. We we fought, but I I didn't hate the man. He was like a brother to me. He taught me everything I know about the culinary art.

SPEAKER_03 7:14

Mm-hmm. You must have been sick of chopping vegetables and making sauces while he got all the glory. Did you have ambitions of rising to the top chef someday?

SPEAKER_01 7:26

Well, of course. I'd be a fool not to. Nicole took Jason into the main restaurant area, out of earshot of the two men.

SPEAKER_03 7:34

Call the police and tell them to arrest the sous-chef. Men who try to fight off a robber don't end up with a knife in their back. I think the fight was staged, and it was the sous chef who did it.

SPEAKER_04 7:46

But how did you know it was Chef Adams?

SPEAKER_03 7:49

He said he never entered the kitchen. But the flower says otherwise. He killed the chef, went back home and changed. But didn't see the flower in the back of his hair.

SPEAKER_04 8:01

He has flour in his hair? I mean, I noticed that. I was just waiting to see if you noticed. Yeah, yeah, that was dumb. If I were going to commit a crime, I wouldn't leave a flour trail.

SPEAKER_03 8:14

Jason, you once left a trail of Cheetos to your own car. Let's not pretend you're subtle.

SPEAKER_01 8:21

What they say if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Chef Adam stayed in and got burned. Shea Dory will reopen with a new chef, a new menu, and hopefully fewer corpses. As for Norwood and Cross, she's back to Ice Lattes. He's banned from the break room microwave again.

SPEAKER_04 8:42

Um, I can be subtle.

SPEAKER_03 8:44

Jason, you have a neon personality, and you leave crumbs.

SPEAKER_01 8:49

I love birds. And that wraps up another case for Norwood and Cross. And now a word from our sponsor.

SPEAKER_03 8:56

No Madame Zarana this week?

SPEAKER_04 8:58

Yeah, we can't use Madame Zarana. She's in jail.

SPEAKER_02 9:01

For what?

SPEAKER_04 9:03

Tax fraud.

SPEAKER_02 9:06

For a psychic? She should have seen that coming.

SPEAKER_01 9:09

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SPEAKER_06 9:21

Objection! He's just a puppy!

SPEAKER_07 9:24

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SPEAKER_00 10:02

Yeah, hi. This is Salveciano Esquire, returning your call about the uh incident involving the Schnauzer and the city councilman's toupee. First of all, do not speak to animal control. Not a word. They'll twist your words like a chew-rope. Capish. Second, tell Mr. Fluffles to sit tight. No public appearances, no dog park visits, and for the love of kibble, no interviews. I got a guy in pee up, but he's more of a bird person, and frankly, he panics easily. I've already filed an injunction, a restraining order, and a cease and desist on the squirrel. We go to trial Monday, or Wednesday, or whenever Judge Barkowitz sobers up. Anyway, call me back, Salveggiano Barkin'order. We bite bite. The pugs have the copier again.

SPEAKER_04 10:54

If a trench coat could talk and owed money to a bookie, that'd be him.

SPEAKER_03 10:59

Hard to say, but if I ever need a lawyer for my dog, I'm calling literally anyone else.

SPEAKER_04 11:05

You got a dog?

SPEAKER_01 11:07

Next time on Norwood and Cross P.I. A candy store reduced to rubble, a marriage on the rocks, and three suspects with motives stickier than a taffy pool. Enter Norwood and Cross. Jason's taking it hard. His favorite candy shop's gone. And he somehow got melted chocolate on his shoes and a lollipop stuck to his coat. The man's in mourning, and he wants answers. Was it a vengeful ex? A bitter business partner? Or just someone with a match, a motive, and a sweet tooth for arson? The sugar's scorched. The alibis are melting, and this case is about to go up in smoke.

SPEAKER_03 11:48

Uh he's not getting in my car, not with melted chocolate on his shoes.

SPEAKER_04 11:52

I'll let you have that one.