Read Online Last Diner Standing by Terri L. Austin - Free Book Online
Authors: Terri L. Austin
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twelve-year-old groupies, I forced myself to go faster, even as the muscles in my legs burned. I made it to the Honda and glanced behind me. Standing in front of her restaurant, the crazy lady shook a tiny fist at me. I crammed myself behind the steering wheel and hauled ass out of the parking lot, gulping for air, my heart beating so hard I thought it might burst through my chest.
I parked behind the diner and staggered through the kitchen door.
Chapter 7
The place was hopping as it always was at noon. I grabbed a glass of water and downed it, then tied on an apron, snagged a pad, and got to work.
After one, we hit a wall. No customers, lunch or otherwise. Roxy refilled the ketchup bottles and New Kid sat at the counter and sipped a Coke.
Hands on her hips, Ma glared at me. “Did you put out all those flyers?”
“Most of them, but the Chinese restaurant people threatened to call the police and I had to fight my way out of there.”
“That’s terrible. It’s a free country. You have every right to put out those flyers if you want.”
I didn’t want.
Roxy and I found some busy work, but after dusting every square inch of the diner and cleaning the windows, we resorted to playing tic-tac-toe with the salt and pepper shakers. It was a relief when Axton came in at two-thirty.
He hopped up on a stool and dropped his backpack on the counter. He glanced over at New Kid. “Who’s he?”
“Ma hired him to bus tables. So, what’s up?”
“Well, I found out some info on Chicken Licker.”
Roxy walked by and lightly punched his arm. “Hey, Axman.”
“Hey, Rox. I dig the threads today.” She wore a dress with a laced up bodice and extremely short skirt. She paired it with knee high platform boots. Beer garden dominatrix. Quite a showstopper.
“So what’s the what on Crystal Waters?” I asked. “Gimme.”
He pulled a manila folder out of his bag and handed it to me.
I scanned through the pages and Roxy peered over my shoulder. Two arrests for domestic assault. Her driver’s license picture wasn’t half bad—long, dark hair, tan skin, lots of creative eye makeup. But her mug shot showed a different side. Dark streaks of mascara and eyeliner had left inky trails down her cheeks and her hair had been pulled into an uneven ponytail.
I laid the pages on the counter. “Domestic assault on a former boyfriend. Another good reason why Crystal is a suspect.”
“Crystal has a past history with violence and she was fighting publicly with Asshat in the strip club before he was attacked,” Roxy said.
“After work, we’re going to drop in on her,” I said. “You want come, too, Ax?”
“Sorry, I’ve got plans tonight.”
I leaned on the counter and stared at him. “Plans? You never have plans.”
“New game comes out tomorrow— Target Terminated 2: Target Eliminated . Joe’s been sleeping in a tent in front of the store for the last two days. Told him I’d bring him dinner.” Stoner Joe was Axton’s wasted roommate. His name said it all.
“Really?” Roxy asked. “Stoner Joe is more important than getting Janelle out of jail?”
“Sorry, but I made a promise.”
I sighed. “Fine. Go play your little reindeer games. Roxy and I will do the dirty work.” I packaged up the last two donuts and sent him on his way.
Crystal lived in an upscale condo just north of Apple Tree Boulevard. A gift from her rich lover perhaps?
Roxy and I walked into the building and found her unit, 3B. I rang the bell and waited.
Roxy put her ear to the door. “I don’t hear anything. Maybe we should check it out.”
I glanced around. No one poked their head into the hall to ask what the hell we were doing. Always a good sign. “Here.” I dug more gloves out of my purse and handed her a pair.
In seconds she picked the lock and gave me a thumb’s up. We slipped into the condo and quietly closed the door.
“Nice digs,” Roxy whispered.
Very nice. Apparently stripping and sleeping with rich men made a
I parked behind the diner and staggered through the kitchen door.
Chapter 7
The place was hopping as it always was at noon. I grabbed a glass of water and downed it, then tied on an apron, snagged a pad, and got to work.
After one, we hit a wall. No customers, lunch or otherwise. Roxy refilled the ketchup bottles and New Kid sat at the counter and sipped a Coke.
Hands on her hips, Ma glared at me. “Did you put out all those flyers?”
“Most of them, but the Chinese restaurant people threatened to call the police and I had to fight my way out of there.”
“That’s terrible. It’s a free country. You have every right to put out those flyers if you want.”
I didn’t want.
Roxy and I found some busy work, but after dusting every square inch of the diner and cleaning the windows, we resorted to playing tic-tac-toe with the salt and pepper shakers. It was a relief when Axton came in at two-thirty.
He hopped up on a stool and dropped his backpack on the counter. He glanced over at New Kid. “Who’s he?”
“Ma hired him to bus tables. So, what’s up?”
“Well, I found out some info on Chicken Licker.”
Roxy walked by and lightly punched his arm. “Hey, Axman.”
“Hey, Rox. I dig the threads today.” She wore a dress with a laced up bodice and extremely short skirt. She paired it with knee high platform boots. Beer garden dominatrix. Quite a showstopper.
“So what’s the what on Crystal Waters?” I asked. “Gimme.”
He pulled a manila folder out of his bag and handed it to me.
I scanned through the pages and Roxy peered over my shoulder. Two arrests for domestic assault. Her driver’s license picture wasn’t half bad—long, dark hair, tan skin, lots of creative eye makeup. But her mug shot showed a different side. Dark streaks of mascara and eyeliner had left inky trails down her cheeks and her hair had been pulled into an uneven ponytail.
I laid the pages on the counter. “Domestic assault on a former boyfriend. Another good reason why Crystal is a suspect.”
“Crystal has a past history with violence and she was fighting publicly with Asshat in the strip club before he was attacked,” Roxy said.
“After work, we’re going to drop in on her,” I said. “You want come, too, Ax?”
“Sorry, I’ve got plans tonight.”
I leaned on the counter and stared at him. “Plans? You never have plans.”
“New game comes out tomorrow— Target Terminated 2: Target Eliminated . Joe’s been sleeping in a tent in front of the store for the last two days. Told him I’d bring him dinner.” Stoner Joe was Axton’s wasted roommate. His name said it all.
“Really?” Roxy asked. “Stoner Joe is more important than getting Janelle out of jail?”
“Sorry, but I made a promise.”
I sighed. “Fine. Go play your little reindeer games. Roxy and I will do the dirty work.” I packaged up the last two donuts and sent him on his way.
Crystal lived in an upscale condo just north of Apple Tree Boulevard. A gift from her rich lover perhaps?
Roxy and I walked into the building and found her unit, 3B. I rang the bell and waited.
Roxy put her ear to the door. “I don’t hear anything. Maybe we should check it out.”
I glanced around. No one poked their head into the hall to ask what the hell we were doing. Always a good sign. “Here.” I dug more gloves out of my purse and handed her a pair.
In seconds she picked the lock and gave me a thumb’s up. We slipped into the condo and quietly closed the door.
“Nice digs,” Roxy whispered.
Very nice. Apparently stripping and sleeping with rich men made a
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