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Earl retreated to his table, where Decker watched him and the woman named Nancy talking and snatching glances at him. He picked up his menu and waved the waitress over after he’d made his decision. She was in her thirties, tall and skinny. A young man was behind her. She introduced him as Daniel, a trainee. He looked to be in his twenties, with dark hair and sharply defined features. He smiled shyly and then watched the waitress, his order pad held out like hers.
When Decker ordered, she smiled and wrote it down. “That’s a lot of food.”
“Well, I’m a lot of guy,” replied Decker.
Daniel laughed along with the waitress.
When his meal came, he ate it methodically, all the while looking around the restaurant. When Earl and his friend left, they did not look in his direction, for which Decker was glad. He was not adept at these moments. Things he could say before his brain injury were impossible to get out now, even if the underlying emotions were inside him. Or else he would blurt out the wrong thing and make everyone uncomfortable.
Mary divorcing. So that was the explanation for her odd behavior. He felt sorry for both Earl and her. Yet he felt sorriest of all for Sandy. He would like to talk to Mary about it but was afraid he would just botch it.
He finished his meal and ordered a cup of coffee. Whenever the door opened, a chilly wind leaked into the space. He would have to get a heavier coat if he was going to stay here much longer. He wasn’t that far removed from the days when the only clothes he had were the ones he was wearing.
As he was drinking his coffee, a voice said, “Why do I think you’re not really here for the food?”
Decker looked up to see Captain Miller standing next to his table. He was dressed in a suit, but his necktie was loosened. He might have just come from work.
He sat down across from Decker.
Decker said, “I saw Earl. And his lady friend, Nancy.”
Miller slowly nodded. “Okay. Then you know.”
“I know they’re getting divorced. And I heard his side of things. Not Mary’s.”
“Then you need to ask Mary for her take, if you want to. I suggested that to you back at the police station. So, any startling revelations come to you about this restaurant since you were here last?”
“The coffee still sucks.”
“Anything else?”
Decker looked around the mostly empty space.
“Why does Rachel Katz still own it?”
