by Tina Kashian
Lucy sat upright at the name. “The bike man next door to the restaurant?”
Every summer, Mr. Citteroni’s bike shop rented a variety of bicycles to tourists. Ever since she was a kid, she’d heard stories that he had mob connections in Atlantic City, and his many businesses were how he laundered money.
“He wants the property,” Raffi explained.
“Why?” Lucy couldn’t fathom what Mr. Citteroni would do with it.
“He wants to open a high class Italian restaurant, but he’s not the only interested buyer,” Raffi said.
“A local woman wants to convert Kebab Kitchen into a diner,” Emma said.
“Another Jersey diner? The state is loaded with them. And Ocean Crest already has the Pancake Palace,” Lucy said.
“Don’t forget that Azad’s interested,” Angela announced.
There it was again. His name.
“Why would he want it?” Lucy asked.
“Azad graduated from culinary school and is working as a sous chef for a fancy Atlantic City restaurant. He wants to buy Kebab Kitchen and keep it the way it is.”
Of course, he did. He was perfect. Hand-picked by her parents. He’d started working as a dishwasher for the restaurant when he was in high school. He’d soon worked his way up to busboy, then line cook, and had earned her parents’ respect. Not to mention their hopes of a union with their younger daughter. The pressure tightened in Lucy’s chest.
She glared at her parents. “What will you do if you retire? Where will you go?”
“We’ll stay in Ocean Crest. It’s a peaceful place,” Angela said.
Raffi waved his hand toward the window and a view of the calm ocean and blue sky. “After all, what bad things happen here?”
photo credit: Tom Smarch Photography
About the Author
TINA KASHIAN spent her childhood summers at the New Jersey shore, building sandcastles, boogie boarding, and riding the boardwalk Ferris wheel. She also grew up in the restaurant business where her Armenian parents owned a restaurant for thirty years. She worked almost every job—rolling silverware and wiping down tables as a tween, to hosting and waitressing as a teenager.
After college, Tina worked as a NJ Deputy Attorney General, a patent attorney, and a mechanical engineer. Her love of reading fiction for pleasure helped her get through years of academia. Her law cases inspired an inquiring mind of crime, and since then, Tina has been hooked on mysteries. Tina still lives in New Jersey with her supportive husband and two young daughters. And yes, they eat baklava and spend summers at the Jersey shore. Tina loves to hear from readers. Please join her newsletter to enter free contests to win books, get delicious recipes, and to learn when her books will be released at www.tinakashian.com.
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