The Bitter End (Street Food Cozies Book 12) by Gretchen Allen

Author:Gretchen Allen [Allen, Gretchen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Summer Prescott Books
Published: 2023-05-07T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 8

“Why are you on the houseboat and not at the fair?” Rhonda asked Billie an hour later. “I thought you needed to be there.”

“Asher and Dillon are both there,” Billie said. “I’m handling an issue with a manager of one of my food trucks.”

“You mean you’re trying to prove she didn’t commit arson?” Rhonda said.

“That’s not exactly what I’m doing,” Billie said. “It is what I hope to do, and I’m doing it on the houseboat so no one else is around to overhear me.”

“Well, I was calling to let you know what I heard,” Rhonda said. “The brass from the coffee company just arrived in town.”

“That’s understandable,” Billie said. “I’m not a bit surprised that they’re here.”

“Them being here isn’t the problem.” Rhonda sighed. “My insurance agent told me that the corporate guys are pretty adamant about putting this story behind them as fast as possible.”

“Did they say that to him directly?” Billie asked.

“Well, they asked him to push me to sign a gag agreement about my store,” Rhonda said. “They want me to legally promise that I won’t speak to the press about anything.”

“They’re trying to control the information,” Billie said. “But why?”

“Probably because it’s bad press for them,” Rhonda said. “Losing a manager in a new store before it opens could arouse a lot of suspicion about their operation.”

“I’m not sure I see how, but that doesn’t really matter,” Billie said. “It does make me think there might be added pressure from the company to sweep this under the rug, though. That might not be good news for Keisha.”

“You really don’t think she’s the one responsible for any of this?” Rhonda asked.

“Let’s just say that I have my doubts,” Billie said. “I have to let you go so I can find out more. I have a call on the other line from a reporter I need to speak with.” She quickly ended the call with Rhonda and clicked over to the incoming phone call. “This is Billie Halifax.”

“Ms. Halifax, Miguel Smith here. I got a message that you wanted to talk to me.”

“Yes, and thank you for returning my call,” Billie said. “I’ll be as brief as I can. You worked for a paper in Miami a couple of years ago, correct?”

“Until about six months ago,” Miguel said. “It was an online publication, though. What are you asking me about?”

“Do you remember the story of the young woman at the coffee place who poured hot coffee over her manager’s head?”

He answered with a chuckle. “I absolutely remember that story,” Miguel said. “What about it?”

“I employ the young barista in the story as the manager of a coffee truck,” Billie said.

“Sweet! I’m glad to hear she landed on her feet,” Miguel said. “That was almost a rotten deal for her. If it hadn’t been for the in-house security cameras, it would have been her word against his. You should know that the guy she did it to was bad news.”

“Why didn’t you name the manager in your story?” Billie said.

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