The Way of the Wicked by Ellery Adams

Author:Ellery Adams [Adams, Ellery]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Beyond the Page
Published: 2014-09-28T04:00:00+00:00

12

Following her visit with the Colonel, Cooper called an emergency meeting of the Sunrise Bible Study. Savannah led a couples group on Wednesday, so they were unable to congregate right away, and since both Quinton and Bryant had professional commitments on Thursday, they couldn’t meet until Friday evening. Nathan suggested they share a meal at Cracker Barrel because their unusual conversation was unlikely to be overheard at the noisy eatery.

Quinton and Trish were contentedly established in two of the rockers on Cracker Barrel’s verandah when Cooper arrived. Having come straight from work, she was still in her Make It Work! uniform and felt underdressed in comparison to her friends. Trish looked like a coiffed cardinal in a bright red suit, white blouse, and black heels, while Quinton was elegantly attired in a checked blazer, a royal blue button-down, and dark brown pants. An ironed handkerchief peeked from his front jacket pocket in four perfectly folded points.

“Aren’t you dapper?” Cooper smiled at him. Trish wiggled her fingers in greeting but then returned her attention to her mobile phone.

“I told you, dear.” Trish turned her body away from Cooper and Quinton. “I’ll reschedule when I have time. It’s probably just a calcium deposit or a cyst. Anyway, I have two open houses this weekend and I’m closing on the Bowers house and the Markus estate tomorrow.” She frowned. “Just get the girls to their piano lessons before they’re late and let me worry about my doctor’s appointments.” She said good-bye and put her phone away with a sigh.

Cooper and Quinton exchanged uncomfortable glances and were relieved to see Bryant and Nathan appear at the end of the row of rockers.

Bryant bowed gallantly and helped Trish from her chair. “You should take his advice, milady,” he said. “If you’re talking about a lump then there’s no time to waste.”

Trish opened her mouth to issue a curt reply, but before she had the chance, a car pulled into the handicapped space right in front of them. Savannah emerged from the passenger seat, her cane clicking on the asphalt as she stood up, still holding on to the open car door.

Jake was at her side in a flash, ready to guide her onto the porch. “Thank you for driving me, Pearl, I’ll see you Monday.” Savannah waved at her housekeeper and held out her arm to Jake.

The group entered the restaurant, wading their way through spinner racks of candy, Halloween decorations, and old-fashioned toys toward the hostess station. By some miracle, they only had to wait fifteen minutes for a table.

“I’m going to get the Country Boy Breakfast.” Jake rubbed his work-worn hands together with glee. “Three eggs, pork chops, some grits, Sawmill gravy, fried apples, hash-brown casserole, and buttermilk biscuits. That should keep me until morning.”

“There’s always the chocolate pudding pie if you have room,” Quinton said.

After their hostess had seated them at a large wooden table in the corner of the dining room, Cooper flipped to the menu’s breakfast page. “Jake, you’ve got me craving pecan pancakes and bacon.

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