The Christmas Walk Caper by JB Michaels

Author:JB Michaels [Michaels, JB]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JB Michaels

Chapter Nineteen

Millie walked with confidence into the hot kitchen of Fanucci’s. There were stainless steel counters, cookware, and appliances everywhere, and a red tile floor to mask all the fallen marinara sauce. A full staff of cooks toiled away at the many orders that needed fulfillment.

“Who are you? Dear God, are you with that idiot wannabe cop? You can’t be back here,” Michael bellowed.

“Mike, I don’t know if you remember me. I played softball with your sister. I’m Millie Paderson.” Millie pulled her hand from her jacket pocket, and a fast dissipating cloud of dust billowed. She put her hand out for him to shake.

Michael walked closer and into the dust cloud to shake her hand. He closed and rubbed his eyes. He opened them back up and didn’t shake her hand. “Oh wait, yes, Millie. Sofia’s friend. Now I remember. What is going on here? Hang on, let me get a drink of water.”

Michael turned away and looked to a nearby sink.

Millie held water in a scotch glass in front of her. “Here you go.”

“Oh…how…thanks.” Michael grabbed the glass from her and drank it fast.

He downed the water mixed with more of Becca’s truth concoction.

“Now, Mike, Patricia passed away this morning. Tell me about your negotiations with her for the Tiny Wanderer.”

“Order’s up!” a cook yelled to a server.

Michael looked distracted by that but then focused his energy on her. “I made her the best offer I could. I even bested Lacy’s offer, but she chose to go with Lacy’s because she didn’t like the plans I had for the property.”

“Which were?”

“I wanted to open up a themed Italian beef quick service restaurant with Gordon Artese, the real estate guy in town. She didn’t like that and was supposed to sell to Lacy’s today. Is she really dead?”

“Yes, she’s really dead. Just seems very suspicious—”

“Stop right there. I have no idea why I am telling you all this. Was I pissed about her turning me down? Yes. Very pissed. I would never murder her. That’s ridiculous. Now can I get back to work? I have a restaurant to run on one of the busiest weekends of the year.” Michael was very demonstrative and used his hands the whole time he spoke his truth. He then went to take another drink of water only to find the glass disappeared from his hand.

“Thanks for your time, Mike. Say hi to Sofia for me.” Millie walked out of the kitchen.

Mac waited at the edge of the bar in a sea of people waiting to be seated in the main dining room.

“What happened?” Mac put out his hands in anticipation.

“He talked.”

“How did you get him to talk so quick?”

“Magic.” Millie blew right past him to the doors.

Mac followed. “Funny. No, for real. What happened?”

The cold night air hit Millie’s face, and she took a deep breath. “He didn’t do it. He admitted frustration but didn’t kill Patricia.”

“How do you know he wasn’t lying?” Mac nearly stumbled with his cane.

“He wasn’t lying. His sister was one of my best friends in high school.

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