A Dash of Murder Read Free Page B

willing to give it a try. I had done some research and had a few ideas to present to him. Frankly, for all of the time he had spent being a fill-in Scout dad with my son, if he had asked for a kidney, I probably woul d have told him to pick a side.
    As I pulled into a slanted parking space in front of the barbecue, I watched Benny, who was standing on a ladder and hanging a skeleton in the window with a sign that said, “Yum! I need some BBQ!” He had a smiling pig painted on the door, and bright pots of flowers hung on the front porch of the building. There were also a couple of rocking chairs tourists would sit in during wildflower season, but now they were empty. Anyone wanting to sit outside in this heat was crazy.
    I rolled mentally through the suggestions I had for him. I had planned to suggest that Benny switch from plastic cups to glass, which would not only save on the environment but in the pocketbook. He could also soak the dishes first in tubs of water to save on hot water costs. I decided to tackle the menu as well to see if Benny could add some side dishes to several meals in o rder to cut down on food waste.
    The bell on the door jangled when I entered, and I smelled the oh-so-pleasant aroma of meat simmering in barbecue sauc e. Who could resist this place?
    “Hi, Betsy,” Benny said as he wobbled down the ladder. “I really appreciate your coming in this morning.” Benny’s restaurant was one of the busiest in town. He juggled running his business with taking care of his wife with a baby on the way, as well as two rambunctious boys. His family was also pretty active in the Afri can Methodist Episcopal Church.
    “Thanks for giving me the chance to return the favor for all you do for Zach.” I took out a clipboard and pen and began to walk around the restaurant. There was plenty of sun streaming in through the side windows, and I made a note that energy could be saved by rolling down the blinds in the afternoon. Looking around, I spied a framed picture near the register. Benny was standing with another man who looked vaguely familiar. They were cutting a red ribbon in front of Benny’s restaurant. Wh ere had I seen that guy before?
    “Is that the day you opened up? ”
    Benny was returning to the room after putting away the ladder. “Well, sort of. It’s the day we reopened after some financing. Seems like a lo ng time ago now.” He faded off.
    As we toured the restaurant, I wrote down a few more ideas. His wife, Celia, came out from the back dressed in jeans and a pink T-shirt with a spotless white apron protecting her clothing. She was holding her back as women who were nine months pregnant were prone to do. She looked tired as she wiped down the already impeccably clean tables.
    “Hey, Betsy.” She looked pleased to see me, and then her gaze drifted to her husband. “Lunch crowd ’s due soon,” she reminded him.
    “Yes. Well, before we get to working here, don’t forget to have Zach at the campout around noon on Halloween. Has he found a camper-friendly costume yet?”
    “Uh, we’re working on it.”
    “Okay. Just no scary-killer-in-the- woods kind of thing,” he added.
    “When’s the baby due, Celia?”
    She stood up from the table she was wiping and stretched. “Soon, I hope. Doctor Green says two more weeks. The way I feel today, it’s going to be a long two weeks.”
    “You can say that again.” It was out of Benny’s mouth before he could take it back. That was then the rag Celia was ho lding slapped flat on his head.
    “You better watch out. I just may have it sooner if only to get you to be quiet,” she said. “Look at me, Betsy. I feel like an elephant. Everything on me has swollen up this time, even my fingers.” She held up her hands, showing a line where her wedding ring probably rested up until about a month a go. She had even outgrown that.
    Benny grabbed her by the waist, “I love you no matter what state you’re in.” Then he gave her a quick but tender