I make a phone call to Will at the library.
“What’s up?” he answers.
“I need you to come to The Bistro and order something and eat it in the dining area. And…bring some friends. Call Sebastian and anyone else who you think might come.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Just do it. Please. The sooner the better.”
Will sighs. “Okay.”
It’s times like this when I’m grateful to have Will for a best friend. Within an hour The Bistro is packed. Will brings over half the library staff, including Sally. Sebastian is here too along with the receptionist from St. Perpetua’s. Mom has brought her entire bridge club, and Dad’s golf league just walked through the door.
Sarah and I fill orders as fast as we can. We have to call Jill to come in extra. Even Brittany has pitched in. She’s got on an apron, and she’s running around the dining area refilling everyone’s coffee. I know it’s because she’s trying to make a good impression on Tara, but it’s still nice of her to help.
I head down the hallway that leads to the pantry to grab some more supplies when I run into Sally, which is odd because this area is off limits to customers.
She looks flustered. “I just realized I’ve been here at least half a dozen times and I’ve never gone to the restroom. Can you point me in the right direction?”
Ouch! The little hairs on my neck feel like they’ve been electrocuted. Sally has definitely been to the bathroom here before, but why on earth would she lie about it? It seems silly to lie about something so benign. Maybe she’s one of those persons who have no sense of direction and she’s embarrassed to admit it.
“You’re not the first person to get lost. It’s on the other side of the dining area, next to the dolphin mural.”
“Thanks, Lucy!”
I get the supplies from the pantry and am about to restock under the counter when I spot the big Armandi’s delivery truck pull into our parking lot.
My heart starts thumping wildly.
It’s officially show time.
Chapter Seventeen
Sarah takes over at the counter so I can run back to the kitchen to greet Mike. I wave from the door and motion for him to park along the back.
He brings in a pallet filled with flour. “Hey, Lucy,” he says all friendly. It’s disgusting how a person can be so evil yet seem so innocent. But I can’t let on how I really feel about him.
“Boy am I glad to see you.”
“Sorry I couldn’t get here earlier, but I had to work you in. I had a pretty big route this morning. Rocko says you got bugs in your flour?” He heaves two big bags up on my counter. “He feels lousy about it. Called the supplier first thing this morning and chewed him out.”
Oh dear. After this is over I’m going to have to send an apology letter to our supplier. I should probably send along a dozen of my apple walnut cream cheese muffins too. That always seems to make everyone happy.
Paco runs into the kitchen, takes one look at Mike and wiggles up to him practically begging to be petted. “Hey, pooch.” Mike crouches down to scratch him behind the ears. Paco responds by licking his face. If only Paco could see into Mike’s dark soul. I thought my dog was more intuitive than this. Apparently, Paco’s skills only work on dead people.
“I appreciate you coming over,” I say carefully.
“Not a problem.” He refills our pantry with more of the flour bags that he pulls out from the delivery truck. I turn my back, pretending like I’m busy giving him plenty of opportunity to wander over to the dumpster to leave his signature clue.
When he’s done, he offers me the invoice. The words NO CHARGE are stamped in big
red letters at the bottom of the paper, but I can’t sign this because of course, this isn’t the supplier’s fault.
“We need to redo this invoice. We insist on paying for the flour.”
“The invoice stays as is. Rocko says he’ll shoot me if you don’t sign.”
Oh boy. The whole family is deranged.