The Wrong Family: A gripping, fast-paced psychological thriller with an unforgettable twist by Ellery A. Kane
Author:Ellery A. Kane [Kane, Ellery A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781837904921
Publisher: Bookouture
Published: 2023-08-29T16:00:00+00:00
TWENTY-FIVE
By the time Hallie returns to the restaurant, Officer Sumner and his patrol car have gone. It doesnât bring the wave of relief sheâd expected, especially when Robert pokes his head out of his office. The wrinkle in his forehead deepens.
âIs everything okay?â he asks. âWhereâd you run off to? Officer Sumner wanted to get a statement.â
âIâm really sorry.â Hallie continues sorting through the supplies, afraid that if she meets his eyes, sheâll confess everything. âOne of the salmon was spoiled. I tossed it in the dumpster, but I couldnât get that rotten smell out of my nose. I took a break to breathe in some lake air. I hope thatâs okay.â
âGianelliâs sent me a rotten fish? Are you kidding?â
Hallie hadnât bargained on this. She stays quiet and still, hoping not to encourage him.
âItâs the third time this year.â
âThe rest were fine. Perfectly fresh.â
âI want to see that fish. âOcean to table,â my ass.â
âYou want me to dig it out of the bin?â Hallieâs panicked heart starts to race.
âDamn right, I do. I want to take that fish to Gianelli himself and slap his smug face with it. Do you know he had the nerve to raise his prices last month?â
The side door opens and Nick appears, huffing. Hallie dares to hope he can settle Robert down or at least point his frustration in another direction.
âWeâve got a problem,â Nick says.
Robert casts his eyes skyward and lets out a bear of a sigh. âGood Lord. What else can go wrong?â
âI think thereâs a homeless man living in The Grotto.â
âWhat?â Hallie blurts out, trying to cover her alarm with surprise.
âOn the way back, I saw a guy cutting through the woods on a red bike. He had a pack with him. Hallie, you said yourself that you found some burned debris in the firepit.â
âYou did?â Robert asks.
Hallie can only shrug.
âWe should probably put up a No Trespassing sign like we did last summer. The last thing we need is a bunch of folks camping out back there.â
Robert appears skeptical. But at least heâs forgotten about the salmon. âHomeless? In Incline? Thatâs unlikely. Itâs probably some spoiled kid like Logan, pretending to rough it for a night.â
âCâmon, Rob. You know better than that. Not everybody around here lives like you and Shelly. What about your dishwashers and your busboys? Your prep cooks? Miguel, the local who landscapes your yard?â Nickâs voice builds to an uncomfortable volume. One that Hallieâs never heard from him before. âWhat about me?â
An awkward silence hangs over the kitchen until Nick joins Hallie at the counter. He starts sorting through the produce arrivals, handling each box as if itâs offended him personally.
Robert stands there, looking but not seeing. His face, shell-shocked. âI donât appreciate your tone or your insinuations,â he says, finally. âI know weâve had to make some cuts in recent years, but Iâve done my best. Iâve always been more than generous with you.â
With a stranglehold on a head of broccoli, Nick nods. âAnd we both
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