Pepperoni Pizza Can Be Murder (20 page)

Once he was gone, I hissed at Maddy, “Why did you ask him that?”

“I honestly wanted to know how he knew,” she said.

“Well, next time look it up online.”

Two minutes later, Mr. Pine came back out. “That countertop could use a good scouring, but I’m satisfied in my original assessment.”

“Thanks for coming on such short notice,” I said.

“It’s my job,” he said.

After he was gone, Maddy asked, “What good is that going to do us? Clara’s already done her damage.”

I handed her Pine’s report. “I’ve got a plan. Run over to Harlow Printers and have one of these blown up to about three by five feet tall. Then have him run off five hundred copies regular-sized.”

“What are you going to be doing while I’m doing that?” Maddy asked.

“I’m going to start making everything in sight,” I said.

“Do you honestly think that’s the answer? I know making pizzas soothes your nerves, but you can’t afford to start giving your stuff away.”

“You know what, Maddy? That’s exactly what we’re going to do. Now get busy, we need to nip this before it’s all over town.”

“Don’t kid yourself—all of Timber Ridge knows what happened today.”

“Then we’ll fix it before people actually believe it. Now go!”

She did as she was told, and I got busy making pizzas, sandwiches, and salads, then putting them in take-out boxes. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t keep my eye out for any more unwelcome visitors, but as the health inspector had proclaimed, we were clean.

Thirty minutes later, I had an extremely large supply of prepared food when Maddy came back from the printer. I looked at the full-sized copy and smiled. “This goes in the front window,” I said.

“I’m surprised you didn’t have the printer make up sandwich board signs for us to wear while you were at it.”

“If I’d thought of it, I would have.”

Jason Hurley came in as were planning our strategy, and as soon as he heard what we were doing, he volunteered his services pro bono.

“I can’t let you work for free,” I told him.

“You don’t have a problem with me doing it,” Maddy said.

“That’s different. You’re family.”

Jason said, “That’s how I think of you, too. I’m sure if Greg were free, he’d be doing this, too. Let’s get this food delivered before it starts getting cold.”

He took bags and boxes, then put a stack of flyers on top of the pile. As he headed for the door, I said, “Remember, explain to them that we got a clean bill of health, and the food is in appreciation of our customers who are willing to give us another chance.”

“What happens if nobody takes it?” he asked.

Maddy said, “Trust me, I doubt you’ll find many people around here who are willing to turn down free food.”

We each grabbed food and flyers, and started out on foot to distribute both. We’d fan out later and use our cars to deliver more food after we ran out this time, but for now, I wanted everyone around us to know that we’d been set up, and we weren’t about to stand still for it.

Three hours later, the supplies in my pizzeria were nearly exhausted, and so were the flyers I’d had Maddy make up. Josh, my sister, and I sat at a table in front—though not the one where Clara had been—and shared drinks and stories about our afternoons.

“I can’t believe it actually worked,” Josh said.

“I told you, didn’t I? Never underestimate the willingness of our neighbors to take free food.”

“We’re not out of the woods yet,” I said, cautioning them. “We’ll have to see how many show up for our dinner schedule.”

“They’ll come,” Maddy said confidently, “though they might be expecting more handouts from us.”

“They’ll be disappointed, then. I’ll have to tap into my emergency funds to cover what we gave away today.”

“Clara Hatcher should have to pay,” Josh said, his temper coming to the forefront.

“We’ll deal with her, trust me,” Maddy said.

I didn’t like the way that sounded. “What did you have in mind, Maddy?”

“We’re not going to just roll over and take this little stunt, are we?”

I shook my head. “Hardly. I just don’t want to do something that will get us into this any deeper than we already are.”

“She started it. We’re going to finish it,” Maddy said.

“Fine. While you’re planning and plotting, I’m running to the grocery store to get fresh supplies for tonight. It’s too bad Paul is already gone.”

“I saw him there when I went by the bakery the last time,” Josh said.

“Then let’s go ask him if he has any old bread,” Maddy said. “We’re going to toast it, anyway.”

“Okay, I’ll go ask him.”

“You shop. Josh and I will handle Paul,” Maddy said.

I was too tired to argue with her, so I grabbed my purse, made a quick list of the supplies I needed, and headed out to the grocery store. We might not have many customers tonight, and I certainly wasn’t going to turn any of them away who were brave enough to come, just because I hadn’t had the foresight to stock up on my supplies.

When I got back, Josh was waiting for me by the door, our cordless telephone clutched tightly in one hand.

I pretended to ignore it as I handed him a bag of groceries after I unlocked the door. He took them from me, then immediately put them down on a nearby table.

“Josh, if I’d wanted them there, I could have done that much myself.”

“My dad just called,” he said as he thrust the telephone out toward me. “He needs to talk to you.”

I couldn’t say I was all that surprised. “Well, he knows where to find me. If we’re going to have anything to feed our customers tonight, I have to get started on fresh dough right away. I’m pushing it as it is.” I’d run out of the dough I’d made that morning giving away our products, and I was going to have to make my quick-dough recipe if there was any hope at all of providing pizza to customers—something kind of essential in a pizza parlor.

“It sounded important,” he said, the stubborn determination strong in his voice.

“Josh, I’ll let him know you delivered the message, but I can’t drop everything and call your father whenever he demands it. If I did, I’d never get anything else done.”

“It’s about Greg,” Josh said. “Maddy’s in the back getting as much ready as she can for this evening, so you’ve got a little time. Call him,” he said as he pressed the house telephone into my hands.

I nodded as I realized that it was the only way I was going to get him off my back. “Take these into the kitchen,” I ordered him, probably being a little testier than I should have been, but I was in no mood to talk to Kevin Hurley.

Unfortunately, I knew his number by heart.

“It’s Eleanor Swift,” I said the second he answered. “I just got your message.”

“Where have you been?”

“Wow, I didn’t realize I had to check in with you every time I left the restaurant. Is that a new policy for everyone in Timber Ridge, or are you just trying to make me feel extra special?”

“You need to come to my office.” There was no tone of request in his voice at all, strictly a superior giving orders to a subordinate who couldn’t say no. If he thought that was true, it was time to dissuade him of that opinion immediately.

“Last time I checked, I didn’t work for you. That tone of voice might work for members of your police force, but it’s not going to work on me.”

“You need to fill out some paperwork, Eleanor. Let’s not make a big deal out of this, okay? But I need you to do it as soon as possible.”

“What’s it about? Josh told me it had something to do with Greg Hatcher.”

“Josh talks too much,” he said.

“Well, was he right? Does it?”

“Yes,” Kevin admitted reluctantly, from the catch in his voice.

“Is it his release papers?”

“You know better than that,” Kevin said. “I need you to swear out a complaint against him.”

I couldn’t help myself—I laughed heartily. “You’re kidding, right?” There was a long pause, and I added, “You’re not, though, are you? Have you completely lost your mind, Kevin?”

“I’d prefer it if you’d call me Chief Hurley while I’m conducting official police business,” he snapped at me.

“Well, I’d prefer winning the lottery over paying taxes, but I don’t think that’s going to happen, either.”

“Does that mean you won’t do it?”

“Most emphatically,” I said. “I refuse to put my friend and employee in jail, especially since I don’t believe he committed the crime.”

“You’re too easily duped by the people around you—you know that, don’t you?”

“I’d rather be too trusting than skeptical of everyone close to me,” I replied, adding a little too much zing to the accusation than I should have. I had a hard time keeping my temper in check around Kevin, probably because of the history between us. That same shared past most likely made him a little cockier with me than he was with other business owners and residents of Timber Ridge, so we were even.

“You’re making a big mistake,” he said.

“Good. That’s the way I like it. I’d rather fail spectacularly if I’m going to lose, anyway. That way, at least it’s memorable. Does this mean you’re going to let Greg go?”

“I don’t have much choice,” he said.

“Thanks for that, anyway.”

Kevin paused, and then said, “Don’t thank me. I’m not doing you any favors. He robbed you once, and I don’t doubt he’ll do it again.”

“You’re wrong,” I said flatly, tired of the way he assumed the worst in my employee and friend.

“Only time will tell,” he said, then hung up before I could get in a reply.

I walked into the kitchen and hung the telephone back up in its cradle.

“What did he want?” Josh asked.

“He asked me to come to his office and sign a complaint against Greg. When I refused to press charges, he read me the riot act about how foolish I’ve been acting.”

“Did you tell him it wasn’t an act?” Maddy said, smiling to take the bite out of her words.

“No, but I’ve got a hunch he already knows.”

Josh looked at me oddly. “Are you telling me you said no to him?”

“Pretty much, but I did it a lot more colorfully than that,” I said as I started a fresh batch of yeast rising in warm water. I was going to have to push the dough a little harder than I liked, but it would be acceptable, and I knew to most palates it would be fine.

“He hates when you do that,” Josh said.

“I don’t doubt it for an instant. Now, are you ready to get busy setting tables up for our customers, or am I going to have to send you home?”

He grabbed an apron, and after he tied it in place, Josh saluted me. “I’m getting right on it, ma’am. Anybody who can stand up to my dad and live to tell about it deserves at least that much respect from me.”

“I’d say I deserve a lot more,” I said with a smile. “How about you, Maddy?”

“I always merit respect,” she said as she sliced mushrooms.

“I was talking about me,” I said as I started measuring out the flour I’d need.

“Aren’t you always? Don’t you ever get tired of the same subject all of the time?”

“You’d think so, but no, not so far.”

Josh shook his head as he alternated looking at us. “I don’t understand you two one bit.”

“You weren’t meant to,” I said.

“We women are mysterious creatures,” Maddy added.

Josh decided to cut his losses and do as I’d asked. I didn’t blame him. Sometimes I had trouble following the conversations Maddy and I had, and I was often the instigator.

“So we get our happy family back,” Maddy said. “I’m willing to bet Greg comes here before he even goes home.”

“I’m not a sucker; I won’t take that bet.”

“Where does that leave us?” she said as she finished the mushrooms and started working on the green pepper slices.

“We still need to find out who killed Wade Hatcher,” I said, “but there’s a new item on the list as well.”

“If you don’t say we need to get back at Clara Hatcher, I’m going to be very disappointed in you. I think forgiveness is nice and all, but retribution’s kind of cool, too.”

“Don’t worry, I couldn’t agree with you more. One way or another, she’s going to pay for that little stunt she pulled today.”

“That’s the spirit. What should we do to her?”

“I’m not sure, but there’s no rush. I’m willing to wait until we have the perfect act of retaliation.”

“You know what they say about revenge,” Maddy said.

“What’s that?”

“It’s a dish best served cold.”

“Then we’re going to freeze her out.”

“Thatta girl,” my sister said.

I wasn’t sure how we were going to get Clara back for her little stunt, but we’d find a way.

In the meantime, it was time to concentrate on getting ready for our dinner crowd, if anyone bothered to show up.

We were busy enough, something I was eternally grateful for as the evening progressed. Clara might have done some damage to our reputation, but I honestly believed that our quick response had saved the pizzeria.

I was preparing a meat lover’s delight pizza by spreading a thick layer of sausage, meatballs, salami, prosciutto, bacon, and pepperoni on top of sauce-coated dough when the kitchen door opened.

Bob Lemon walked in, followed closely by Greg Hatcher. Greg hugged me, and then practically twirled me in the air when he came in.

“Put me down, you big goof,” I said, laughing.

He did as I instructed, and then said, “I can’t believe I’m free.” He slapped Bob Lemon on the back as he added, “This man is a genius.”

“I didn’t do all that much,” Bob said. “Eleanor’s the one you should thank.”

“Tonight there’s enough praise for everyone,” he said. “I’ve been slinking around town like an abandoned ferret, and now I’m back out into the light. I hated being on the run like that.”

“You didn’t make things any easier on yourself,” Bob said, the scolding tone clear in his voice.

“I know, I know. What can I say? I panicked. But everything’s good now.”

Bob frowned slightly. “Slow down, Greg. Just because the police chief released you on the robbery charge doesn’t mean that he still doesn’t like you for your brother’s murder.”

“You can’t upset me tonight if you try,” he said. “I’m free right now, and that’s all that counts.”