The Tainted Course by Diane Weiner

Author:Diane Weiner [Weiner, Diane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cozy Cat Press
Published: 2019-07-25T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

Emily and Henry hadn’t eaten at the inn since the night of Faith’s murder. They were seated at the table next to the one they’d shared with Faith and her girls, making Emily feel a little out of sorts. She considered asking Coralee if they could move to another table, but Maddy didn’t seem bothered and she preferred not to call attention to that night.

Henry said, “I’m getting the pot roast. You girls going to go carnivore? Just one night…”

“Dad, that’s not even funny.”

“You don’t know what you’re missing.”

Emily said, “I saw a vegetable frittata on the menu. I’m going to have that with a salad.”

“And I’m in the mood for a veggie burger. Settled,” said Maddy.

Coralee came to the table. “Glad to see you back here. Business has started to pick up.”

“I’m glad. Isn’t that Summer I saw going into the kitchen?”

“Yes. She and Arturo are both working today. I’ve got him cutting veggies in the back. Are you sure the frittata is enough for you for dinner?”

“I’m not super hungry.”

Henry said, “Maddy is a finalist in the school science fair.”

“That’s great, honey. Starting the Cat Café, winning the science fair…you’ll be snapped up by any college you want to attend.”

“I still have another quarter and then two more years before I’m there. After dinner I want to see the new kittens that were dropped off.”

“They’re adorable. It’ll be hard for you to resist bringing one home with you.”

Emily said, “I don’t think Chester would welcome the competition.”

“Your food will be here shortly. Enjoy.”

Emily hadn’t thought about Maddy leaving them for college.

“Maddy, do you want to go out of state for college?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it yet.”

Henry said, “Depending on what you want to major in, you’ll go to the best place you can get into. I’m thinking Ivy League. Harvard isn’t too far away.”

“If I don’t get high enough SAT scores, will you bribe the head of the admissions committee for me?”

“You won’t need it. Besides, I doubt I have a big enough bank account to cover what it would take to influence their decision.”

The food came quickly, as promised. After dinner, Maddy headed upstairs to the cat café, and Henry motioned for Emily to follow him.

“Let’s go around back and peek in the window.” Henry led the way. “He’s chopping vegetables. Wait, now he’s taking off his apron. I think he’s going down to the cellar.”

“We can access the root cellar through those big doors in the ground. I hope they’re not locked.” She pulled the handle. “It’s open.” She led the way down the concrete steps. She coughed from breathing in the heavy, damp air. With each step it was darker and more difficult to see. She felt a spider web graze her arm.

“I hear something. Shh. Arturo.” Henry’s eyes had adjusted to the dimness. “He’s got an armful of food and he’s shoving it into a garbage bag.”

“He’s stealing food from Coralee?” Emily accidentally bumped into a metal shelf, causing cans to fall off.

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