Eat, Drink and Be Wary by Devon Delaney

Author:Devon Delaney [Delaney, Devon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington
Published: 2020-06-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

“I’ll meet you guys for dessert,” Pep said. “I’m still full from the massive brunch Dad and I had. Maybe also from the kimchi megaburger I begged you to make me an hour ago, too.” Pep handed Sherry her car keys.

“That’s fine. See you later.” Sherry knelt and ruffled Chutney’s neck fur. “And would you mind giving this guy his dinner in about a half hour? Thanks.” Sherry shut the door behind her before Pep had a chance to answer. As soon as she was outside, she caught a whiff of the towel-wrapped envelope. She pinched the corner of the bundle between two fingers and walked it to the outdoor garbage can around the side of the house. “Good riddance, you smelly thing. It was time to replace that old towel anyway.”

As she returned to the front of the house, Sherry caught sight of Eileen, across the street, attempting another leash lesson with her cat.

“He’s doing well, wouldn’t you say?” Eileen called out.

Elvis Purrsley was lying down on the sidewalk, tail lashing back and forth furiously.

“He’s taking a little rest.”

Sherry swallowed a giggle. “You’re the cat whisperer, for sure.”

“Heard about the cook-off contestant’s murder. Do you think the hobby’s safe? I mean, people can take competition to the extreme when big money’s on the line. Not everyone is as talented as you. Killing the competition may be the only solution. You know, last man standing wins?”

“I hope it’s just a coincidence the deceased man was in the cook-off.” Sherry was unwilling to muster the energy to refute Eileen’s assertions. “Who knows? You might be on to something, Eileen. Thanks.”

“My pleasure, dear. Glad to help. Have a nice evening.” Eileen tugged on the leash. The cat replied with a yawn.

When Sherry arrived at The Hunger Dames, she considered parking on the street, but the sign along the curb was ambiguous as to whether she’d be ticketed after 6 PM. What came to mind was last week’s mayoral editorial in the town newsletter. The subject was revamping parking restrictions. Would a stricter set of regulations give Leila, the meter maid, increased ticketing potential or aggravate potential local shop customers to the point of shopping elsewhere? Augustin’s constituent response was strongly in favor of relaxing parking regulations.

As a result, new signage was issued in multiple locations. The problem was, the hours the signs listed as no parking and short-term parking, versus off-hours parking, overlapped and cancelled each other out. Sherry had worked with the mayor long enough to recognize the ambiguity was his way of leaving the decision making to Leila, parking meter monarch for many decades. Small towns had their own way of governing, and Sherry was resigned to accepting what others might see as an annoyance.

Not wanting to risk a ticket, the cost of which was also notoriously open to fluctuation, Sherry made her decision. Headlights glaring through her rearview mirror urged her to act quickly. A U-turn later, she steered the car into the parking lot. The headlights followed closely behind.

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