Assault and Batter(48)
“Then why did you say it was?” a nearby customer asked.
“Am I going to have trouble with you, Cliff?”
“No, ma’am,” Cliff said quickly. “No trouble at all.”
“Good,” Trish said before she turned back to us. “I have to keep my eye on him constantly,” she said with a smile. “Now, are those for me?”
“They are,” I said as I held the box forward.
“Even though it’s not my birthday?”
“Even then,” I said.
“Excellent,” she said as she took the box and lifted the lid. “Wow, these look fantastic. You shouldn’t have, but I’m really glad that you did.” She slid the box under the cash register station and then waved a hand toward the diner. “Sit wherever you’d like.”
Grace and I found an empty table in back and jumped on it before anyone else could. Trish’s diner was a popular destination for folks in April Springs, and it was always nice to be able to find a table, though never guaranteed.
“Now before I get my hopes up, we’re actually going to get to eat this meal, right?” Grace asked.
“I’m not making any promises,” I said with a grin, “but I think we’re good.”
“Excellent,” Grace said as Trish approached the table with two sweet teas.
“I thought I’d go ahead and get you started, just in case you two are short on time.”
“Did you already put our order in, too, Trish?” I asked as I laughed.
“Two burgers and fries. Was that wrong of me?” she asked.
I looked at Grace, who smiled back at me as she nodded. “Sold.”
“Good. I knew that I could count on you both.”
“I’m not sure how much of a good thing it is that we’re so predictable,” Grace said. “We might lose our reputations for being mysterious and inscrutable.”
“Your secrets are safe with me,” Trish said. She glanced over and saw Rick Westwood standing at the register and looking impatient.
“I’ll be right there, Rick,” she said to him.
“I don’t have all day, Trish,” Rick said in exasperation.
“Tell you what. Today’s meal is on me,” she said.
Rick knew her too well not to recognize a trap when he saw one. “What’s the catch?”
“Next time you come in, you pay whatever I decide is right,” she replied.
Rick seemed to think about it for a second, and then he answered, “On second thought, I’m not in any hurry at all. You be sure to take all of the time that you need.”
Trish’s grin was infectious. “Wow, what a good decision that was.”
I said, “You’re terrible; you know that, don’t you?”
“He loves it, and so did everyone else in earshot. If I ran every time somebody wanted me to, I wouldn’t have a second’s peace.”
“Maybe so,” I said, “but I couldn’t get away with that at the donut shop.”
“You never know until you try,” Trish said.
“I don’t have your guts,” I replied.
“That’s not it. You’re plenty brave enough. I think it’s that you don’t want to lose any customers.”
“And you’re not afraid of that?” Grace asked.
She laughed. “Where is Rick Westwood going to have lunch if he doesn’t come here? He’s sure not going to grill up his own hamburger at home.”
“You sound pretty sure of yourself,” Grace said.
“I’m sure enough.” She glanced back at Rick, who was standing patiently there and not making any eye contact with Trish at all. It appeared that he was just passing the time of day as he stood patiently at the register. The fact that he had a ten in his hand and one of Trish’s bills in the other didn’t even seem to be a factor.
“I suppose I’ve made him wait long enough,” Trish said. In a lower voice, she added, “He did a good job waiting. Maybe I’ll give him a discount.”
“Won’t that ruin your reputation for being tough?” I asked her.
“Do you honestly think he’d have the nerve to tell anybody?” she asked with a laugh. “Your food will be out soon.”
We both watched her walk up front to the register and take care of Rick. After he was gone, Grace turned to me and asked, “Any ideas about which suspect we should talk to first?”
“It’s a toss-up in my book. I’m leaning toward Frank, but George thinks that we should focus on Reggie Nance instead.”
Grace looked surprised. “Since when did George start consulting with us again?”
“It wasn’t like that,” I explained. “He came by to check up on me, and while he was here, we discussed the case.”