“Fuck you mean, do nothing?”
“What does do nothing mean?”
“I fuckin’ know what do nothing means. It’s means do nothing,” he said excitedly as Paula came in the office and closed the door behind her. “And then what do I do?”
“And then nothing. Your boss said she isn’t there to start anything, so do nothing.”
“Yeah, well, your boss gonna get us all killed,” Dennis said and hung up the phone.
AD pressed end. “Unless somebody kills her first.”
“Who gonna get us all killed?” Miss Betty asked.
Dennis was startled because he didn’t see her come in. “Rona,” he said.
“What she say?” Paula asked.
“She said don’t do anything.”
“Told you.” Paula said and started toward the door.
“Told him what?” Miss Betty asked sternly, expecting her question to be answered. Paula stopped and they both looked at Dennis.
“When Rain and them came in, I called AD and asked him what I should do. Well you know he had to call Rona and—”
“And I told him that she would say not to
do anything,” Paula said.
Miss Betty looked at Dennis. “And what did you think she should do?”
Dennis paused for a second. “I think AD need to get Danny Quinn and the boys down here and—”
Miss Betty looked terrified at the mention of Danny Quinn. He was the man that Robert used to call when he wanted to make a particularly violent and bloody statement.
“And do what?” Miss Betty’s fists hit her hips. “Commit murder … in my restaurant? Is that what you were suggesting happen?”
“No, ma’am,” Dennis said meekly.
“Yes, he did, Miss Betty.”
“Shut up, Paula. Wasn’t nobody talking to you.”
“He said AD was gonna send Danny Quinn’s psychotic ass up here and—”
“Shut up, Paula. You talk too much.”
“He was gonna bet me, Miss Betty,” Paula said on her way out of the office. “I’m going to check on the sampler platters.”
When Paula closed the door, she left Dennis to face Miss Betty alone. Her clenched fists were still on her hips, so he knew there was a lecture coming. He just hoped it would either be short or her husband, Theo would come save him.
“We are not even going to talk about you wanting Danny Quinn anywhere near this place. For any reason,” she said and pointed in his face. “Now, whether she is a welcomed guest or not, Rain Robinson is a guest in my place, and we will treat her like any other guest. Is that understood?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Now go on, get out of here and go do your job.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Dennis said, and Miss Betty followed him out of the office and went to the kitchen to check on the food.