AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah, it didn’t come back alive after sitting in rice overnight. I’m hoping it just needs a little more time to dry and that it’s not permanently dead.”
“Sorry you came out for nothing.”
“Actually, this would be a good day to do inventory.” A hated task that we usually did on the weekends when the part-timers were working the front.
“Are you sure you’re up to it? I’d be lying in bed for a week if I’d been a witness to a murder spree.”
More like he’d be on the phone with everyone he knew, but then again, Enzo liked people. Me? I preferred a book. I’d reached the ripe age of forty-two, and the few friends I had either moved away to places less expensive than Toronto or had started popping out babies. In other words, we grew apart, and I didn’t find replacements for them. Why bother? I enjoyed my own company. I didn’t answer to anyone. And for the few times I found myself lonely, I hit a bar called Cougarville, where the ratio of guys to gals looking to get laid made it easy to find someone who could give me an orgasm, and even easier to walk away. Their smarmy attitude reminded me why I never bothered settling down with someone.
Did I sometimes envy those posting happy pics of couple vacations and anniversaries? Yes. But not enough to truly put myself out there dating. I found it too demoralizing.
“I can handle the inventory if you need to go do stuff,” I offered, even as I hoped he’d stay. I might want to pretend I’d not seen monsters last night, but the fact remained: something violent did happen and I no longer felt safe.
“I’m going to clear out that junk cabinet under the register.” Enzo shuddered. “If I scream, bring the Raid.” We kept a large canister due to his spider phobia.
“You could always spray first?” I suggested.
His nose wrinkled. “And go around reeking of it bug spray? No thanks. I’ve got a hot lunch date with the barista on the corner.”
A guy half Enzo’s age, at least. But then again, my boss didn’t look anything close to fifty, given his hair remained jet-black. Me? I had straw-colored straight hair, also with no grays, but no one ever mistook me for being young.
We both went to work, me in the back with a tablet where I counted the stock and entered it, Enzo in the front, making more phone calls and talking animatedly in a mixture of Italian-English.
When the door chimed, I heard him call out, “Sorry, we’re closed today.”
A deep voice replied, “Hi, I’m Detective Williams. I believe one of your employees might have been a witness to the events of last night.”
I could practically feel Enzo’s excitement. “You mean Sadie? Yes, she was. Poor thing. I’m so happy she wasn’t murdered. I would have been utterly devastated. She’s such a sweet girl.”
I wasn’t, but I enjoyed the praise.
“Do you know how I can get in touch with her? I’d like to ask her a few questions.”
“I sure do. Oh Say-dee!” Enzo sang my name loudly, and I debated running out the back door.
Dumb. I wasn’t in any trouble. The detective wanted to ask some questions. Might as well answer them and send him on his way.
I exited the back room to see the detective from last night, his suit now wrinkled and his jaw dark with bristle as if he’d not been home to sleep, shower, shave, or change. No doubt the thing to blame being the number of bodies he had to process. His ragged appearance didn’t detract from his good looks, though.
As I emerged, Enzo made introductions. “Sadie, this is Detective Williams. He’s here about last night.”
“Hi.” I held my hands in front of me and tried to not fidget. How should I act so I didn’t come across looking guilty?
“Do you mind if I ask you some questions?” Detective Williams queried, eyeing me with the most beautiful green eyes. Striking when combined with his tawny complexion and dark hair cut short.
“Of course.”
The detective turned to Enzo. “Excuse me, Mr…”
“Call me Enzo.” My boss leaned forward eagerly. “What can I do for you, Detective?” Only Enzo would flirt with someone investigating a murder.
“Would it be okay if I asked to have some privacy with your employee? It won’t be for long.”
I swear my boss almost said no, but he glanced at his watch. “You know what, it’s almost time for my lunch date. I’ll be back in an hour or so. Be gentle with my Sadie.” He waggled his fingers at me as he headed for the door, and he mouthed something I didn’t understand but figured probably had to do with jumping the detective’s bones. Enzo was very much a casual relationship kind of guy, and he struggled with the fact I really had no interest in getting laid on a regular basis.
The door shut before the detective said anything else. “So you were here last night.” Stated, not asked.
“Yes.” And then because it would be dumb to lie, “I was here for the whole—” I paused as I looked for a word that wasn’t rude to the dead. Fiasco? Madness? Massacre? I settled on, “Tragedy.”
