The Ghost Rock Cafe by Miller Chinle

Author:Miller, Chinle
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Yellow Cat Publishing
Published: 2011-05-19T00:00:00+00:00

20

Larry was sitting in a booth opposite Millie when Bud walked into the Ghost Rock Cafe. He had on a ball cap with the words, Property of Dino-Noble Explosives, embroidered on it. Bud wasn’t sure if it referred to the hat or to Larry.

“Millie,” Larry was saying, “I bet this place was something else before the freeway ruined everything. I bet you had some interesting characters come through—cowboys, California hippies, old prospectors, all kinds of people—before it was all ruined.”

Millie replied, “Yup, it was something else, for sure, cause it didn’t exist before the freeway came through. There wasn’t a highway here, Larry.”

Larry looked surprised. “Then why the heck does it look so old and dilapidated? The freeway hasn’t been here that long.”

“Maybe it’s because someone we both know isn’t keeping up on their part of a deal,” Millie answered, referring to their trading rent for work agreement.

Bud sat down next to Larry. He wanted to be able to see Millie’s face.

“How’s work going, Bud?” Larry asked.

“Fine. I’m about to declare the Swasey case closed. I think he was probably killed by an animal, after looking into things more closely.” Bud saw Millie flinch.

“You sure about that, Sheriff?” She asked. He thought she seemed suddenly distant.

“Not one-hundred percent, but pretty much sure,” he answered.

“Well, I gotta get back to work.” She seemed irritated, and stood to leave.

Bud was now pretty sure Millie hadn’t killed Joe. If she had, she would’ve been happy that he was closing the case, not miffed. But who knows, maybe she was a good actress.

“It’s OK, Millie, sit back down.”

She sat back down, looking puzzled.

“Millie, are you sure about not having seen Joe for a couple of days? Are you sure he didn’t come over and get a burger?”

“I thought you just said you were sure Joe had been killed by an animal.” She paused. “As for him not coming in, I would stake my life on it. I was worried about him. I was about ready to go over to his place myself and check on him when Todd found him instead.

“Millie, that hamburger was fresh. I’m thinking maybe it was planted, but I can’t figure out why. At first I thought it might be poisoned, but that wasn’t the case. And if Joe hadn’t been over here for two days and was already dead, he couldn’t have eaten it.”

Bud paused, then asked, “Do you recall anyone else buying a take-out hamburger the day Joe was found?”

“Everyone did, the whole crew of geology students, except one girl, who’s a vegetarian. They all had take-out burgers for lunch. It could’ve come from any one of them.”

“What about Professor Cole?”

“He had a hamburger, too, everyone did, except the one girl.”

“How about any tourists, or anyone you know who just stopped by?”

“No, most people are ready for a break and want to eat here.”

Larry interrupted, “I did. You forgot me, Millie. I ordered a hamburger to go, remember?”

“Did you kill Joe?” Bud asked, only half-kidding. At this point, he was beginning to suspect anyone and everyone.

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