Read Online A Killer in the Rye by Delia Rosen - Free Book Online Page B

me think of the bread guy in his truck.
    â€œWell, fast killin’ or slow, I told her it’s the food chain,” A.J. continued. “This snot nose never heard of that.”
    â€œWe don’t need name-calling,” I said.
    â€œIt’s okay,” Dani told me. “I called her something worse first.”
    A.J. made a parting face, grabbed her order, and left. Dani took more time gathering her plates and balancing them. She seemed to have a knack for that, at least.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she said as she worked, “but I just hate it when creatures suffer. I don’t mean, like, snakes and flies and lobsters, but cute ones. It really does break my heart.”
    The sadness in her voice, in her eyes, made me feel like I was watching a young girl say a permanent good-bye to her imaginary friends.
    â€œYou know,” I said, “maybe you should rethink the fact that you’re working in a deli. We do slice and serve a lot of meat here.”
    â€œI want to work here,” Dani said. “I’m here for a purpose.”
    â€œYou mean . . . what, exactly? Like God’s purpose? Is it part of a plan?” I wondered if I should make sure all our meat cleavers were secure.
    â€œI really have to serve these meals,” she said. “But I think maybe one reason I’m here is to make sure there’s more tofu on the menu so we don’t have to corn so much beef.”
    â€œI see.” I did, too. “Tell you what. Do some brainstorming. Come up with a few vegan dishes for the deli.”
    Dani’s eyes lost their sadness as she turned to go. “For real?”
    â€œAs real as wheat gluten duck,” I replied.
    â€œThanks, Nash. You won’t be sorry!”
    â€œAnd don’t forget open mic night!” Luke shouted from the kitchen. “We need that, too!”
    I was heading toward the deli entrance to help Thom bus the tables when I noticed an out-of-place older woman across the street. You couldn’t miss her. She was wearing a large black hat with a brim that covered half her face, sunglasses that covered most of the other half, and a tight, formfitting black dress, black tights, and black heels. At first I thought she was squinting to read our deli hours painted on the front door, but her phantom gaze seemed to fall directly on me as I moved throughout the deli. Trancelike, transfixed, as if she were a black widow spider, I opened the front door to see who it was. But when I stepped outside, a brief flare of sunlight on the glass speared my eyes; when it cleared, the woman had vanished.
    â€œSomethin’ wrong?”
    It was Thom, at my ear.
    â€œNo,” I said. “I thought . . . I saw someone.”
    â€œYou thought you saw someone?”
    â€œI thought I saw someone who was looking at me,” I said, making a hash of my attempt to clarify the situation. “Never mind.”
    â€œBoss lady, I really think you need to take some time off. And I don’t mean just a stroll down the block. I mean some time. ”
    â€œYeah, maybe,” I agreed. “After the Best in Nashville thing.”
    â€œYou don’t need to be there,” Thom said. “Brownnosing the committee isn’t going to help. Everyone will be doing it.”
    â€œI know. But I have to keep busy. Otherwise, my brain goes bang, back to the bread truck.”
    Thom shook her head. “You gotta learn to think happy thoughts.”
    â€œI’m a New York Jewish woman,” I said.
    â€œSo?”
    â€œIf you knew more of us, you’d understand what a challenge you just presented.”
    Thom shook her head again.
    â€œTell you what, though,” I said. “I’m gonna take a drive. I’m not sure if I’ll be back before closing. You got things?”
    â€œA drive where?” she demanded.
    â€œJust out,” I lied.
    â€œYou’re lying.”
    â€œI know,” I said.
    The head shaking