Second Grave on the Left Read Free

documentary on babies being born underwater. “Smart-ass.”
    That was uncalled for. “Speaking of my ass, we need to have a long talk about your impression of it.” We walked to the counter. “Skinny? Really?” The retro diner was decorated with round turquoise barstools and pink countertops. The server strolled toward us. Her uniform matched the light turquoise on the stools. “I’ll have you know—”
    “Hey, there.”
    I turned back to the server and smiled. Her name badge said NORMA .
    “Would you girls like some coffee?”
    Cookie and I glanced at each other. That was like asking the sun if it would like to shine. We each took a barstool at the counter and nodded like two bobbleheads on the dash of a VW van. And she called us girls, which was just cute.
    “Then you’re in luck,” she said with a grin, “because I happen to make the best coffee this side of the Rio Grande.”
    At that point, I fell in love. Just a little. Trying not to drool as the rich aroma wafted toward me, I said, “We’re actually looking for someone. Have you been on duty long?”
    She finished pouring and sat the pot aside. “My goodness,” she said, blinking in surprise. “Your eyes are the most beautiful color I’ve ever seen. They’re—”
    “Gold,” I said with another smile. “I get that a lot.” Apparently, gold eyes were a rarity. They certainly got a lot of comments. “So—”
    “Oh, no, I haven’t been on duty long. You’re my first customers. But my cook has been here all night. He might be able to help. Brad!” She called back to the cook as only a diner waitress could.
    Brad leaned through the pass-out window behind her. I’d expected to see a scruffy older gentleman in desperate need of a shave. Instead, I was met with a kid who looked no older than nineteen with a mischievous gaze and the flirty grin of youth as he appraised the older waitress.
    “You called?” he said, putting as much purr into his voice as he could muster.
    She rolled her eyes and gave him a motherly glare. “These women are looking for someone.”
    His gaze wandered toward me, and the interest in his expression was nowhere near subtle. “Well, thank God they found me.”
    Oh, brother. I tried not to chuckle. It would only encourage him.
    “Have you seen a woman,” Cookie asked, her tone all business, “late thirties with short brown hair and light skin?”
    He arched a brow in amusement. “Every night, lady. You gotta give me more than that.”
    “Do you have a picture?” I asked her.
    Her shoulders fell in disappointment. “I didn’t even think of that. I have one at my apartment, I’m sure. Why didn’t I think to bring it?”
    “Don’t start flogging yourself just yet.” I turned to the kid. “Can I get your name and number?” I asked him. “And that of the server on duty before you as well,” I said, looking at Norma.
    She tilted her head, hesitant. “I think I’d have to check with her before giving out that information, honey.”
    Normally I had a totally-for-real laminated private investigator’s license that I could flash to help loosen people’s tongues, but Cookie dragged me out of my apartment so fast, I hadn’t thought to bring it. I hated it when I couldn’t flash people.
    “I can tell you the server’s name,” the kid said, an evil twinkle in his eyes. “It’s Izzy. Her number’s in the men’s bathroom, second stall, right under a moving poem about the tragedy of man boobs.”
    That kid missed his calling. “Breasts on men are tragic. How ’bout I come back tomorrow night? Will you be on duty?”
    He spread his arms, indicating his surroundings. “Just living the dream, baby. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
    I took a few moments to scan the area. The diner sat on the corner of a busy intersection downtown. Or it would be busy during business hours. The dead silver screen star with the fedora kept staring at me, and I kept ignoring. Now was not the time to have a conversation