Close to You by Kate Perry

Author:Kate Perry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: san francisco, cafe, sabotage, latte, bad boy, kate perry, nutella, laurel heights
Publisher: Kate Perry

Chapter Fifteen

“Eve Alexander?”

Eve looked up from where she crouched behind the bar, stacking glasses. The woman’s voice was too officious to be anything but a sales rep or an IRS agent.

The latter, based on her ill-fitting navy poly-blend suit. The woman even had the Grim Reaper gaunt pallor of a taxman. Her Clairol platinum blond hair was pulled tight into a bun at the base of her skull, making her eyes look stretched at the corners. If her black briefcase had still been a cow, they’d have taken it out and shot it.

Eve was tempted to say “no” and get back to restocking, but she stood up instead. “Yes?”

“My name is Victoria Stromberg and I’m from the Department of Health.”

Department of Health? Eve felt a flutter of worry, wondering if she could have possibly forgotten to renew some license or other. This was not what she needed right now. “What can I do for you, Ms. Stromberg?”

No beating around the bush for the Grim Reaper. “We received a report of health code violations, and I was sent to investigate.”

Eve shook her head. “That’s impossible.”

The woman just stared at her.

“Well, it is.” She gestured to the café at large. “I keep it spotless here.”

“Appearances don’t always live up to code,” the Reaper said primly. She set her briefcase on the counter, opened it, and took out a stack of papers. “I have reports of cockroaches as well as unsanitary restrooms.”

This was the last thing she needed right before Daniela was due to come check out the café. She rubbed her temple, trying to convince herself that she was still in bed and that she’d wake up from this bad dream soon.

“Are you alright?” Victoria asked, looking more uncomfortable than concerned.

“I’m fine.” She took a deep breath. “Tell me what I have to do to get this cleared up as soon as possible.”

“I’ll do a thorough evaluation and then based on my findings, we proceed from there.”

“Let’s get this over with.” Eve showed the Grim Reaper to the back. “I don’t have anyone here with me, so I need to stay on the floor.”

The woman hummed absently, already in her evaluating zone and making comments on her forms.

Picking up an empty cup, Eve went back to the front to pace.

Half an hour later, Treat walked in. His smile turned into a vague frown when he really looked at her. “What’s wrong?” he asked in a low voice.

It didn’t occur to her not to tell him. “Someone reported me to the Health Department. For cockroaches. I don’t have cockroaches.”

He ran a soothing hand down her arm. “Then it should all be fine, right?”

“I don’t know.” She worried her lip. “It’d be bad for business if even a whiff of this got to the public. And certainly Daniela Rossi wouldn’t want anything to do with me.”

Treat hesitated, then he carefully asked, “Do you have any idea who called in the report.”

“No.” She frowned. “But if I had to make a bet, I’d say it was the evil witch from Crumpet.

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