Down Home and Deadly Read Free Page A

punctual and never goofs off.”
    “I hired him already. You can stop the streaming reference message.”
    “Did you call Lisa about him?” I asked as I considered my next move.
    “Didn’t think I needed to with you here,” Carly said, edging her checker close to being able to jump mine. “Especially since he was honest about her firing him.”
    I frowned and pushed my black playing piece out of harm’s way. “Did he say what reason she gave?”
    Carly shook her head and countered with another move. “Just said she fired him for no good reason.”
    “Sounds like her.” With Lisa on my mind, I shoved my checker hard without really thinking.
    Carly reached across, jumped over two of my checkers, and scooped them up.
    “Wait a minute!” I protested. “I wasn’t paying attention.”
    “When you play on my porch, you should always pay attention,” she said facetiously. “Welcome to the Down Home Diner.”
    *****
    “Jenna.”
    I spun around with the dishcloth still in my hand.
    Carly, her dark hair curling around her sweaty face, beamed at me from the kitchen window. “Can you snag the garbage when you’re done?”
    “Sure. Why not?” I wiped the crumbs from the counter into my hand and waggled my fingers over the trash can. Across the room, Harvey patiently showed Marco how to clean the salad bar at the close of the day. I pushed the kitchen door open with my shoulder. “Carly, if success can be measured by garbage, I’d say your grand opening was a resounding triumph.”
    Carly looked up from stirring a large pot of tomorrow’s soup of the day she already had simmering over the burner. “You think so?”
    I washed my hands at the stainless steel double sink .
    “She’s right.” Alice reached across Carly and salted the soup. “ Harvey took it out not twenty minutes ago.”
    Carly put her hand on Alice ’s. “I already salted it.”
    “I know you did, honey, but just not enough for bean soup. Beans absorb salt like little sponges.” Hearty shakes of salt punctuated each word.
    Carly tossed me a pleading look over her shoulder. That old saying about too many cooks spoiling the broth was definitely proving true during this transition period of old diner owner to new.
    I gathered the handles of the black plastic bag and cleared my throat. “ Alice , thanks to that last rush of police officers we had an hour ago, most of the pie is gone. But there are a few pieces left in each pan. What do you do with those?”
    Alice glanced out at the pie counter. “Wrap up individual servings and sell them at breakfast. I’ll take care of them.” She headed toward the door. “I still don’t know about this idea of giving away pie,” she said over her shoulder.
    When the door swung shut behind the older woman, Carly sighed. “Thanks for rescuing me.” She opened a drawer and dropped the saltshaker into it. “Why did I think it would be a good idea to accept their offer to help me out for a while?”
    “It was a good idea. Besides, in a few weeks this place will be all yours.” I lifted the plastic bags, one in each hand, and slipped out the back door. The door slammed loudly behind me. I stepped off the back porch into the orange glow of the quiet alley. Whoever invented guard lights deserves a Nobel Prize. Or at least a free piece of pie.
    I duckwalked to the D umpster , balancing my burdens. “One, two, three, heave.” I threw one garbage bag into the green Dumpster, then let go of the other one. It went flying over the trash bin and landed with a thud. A small noise made me jump.
    “Shifting trash,” I whispered and tiptoed around to retrieve the bag.
    I squinted at the darker area behind the D umpster then put my hand out to touch the warm hood of a small sports car I hadn’t even seen. Why would it be parked here , completely hidden by the huge double Dumpster? The owner took the thing about not wanting to risk having anyone hit his door in the parking lot to a whole new level. I stretched to