Thin Crust Killers

by Chris Cavender

  As I cleaned the back while Maddy and the two guys worked on the front, I kept wondering if one of Hank’s private investigations had contributed to his death.

  Maddy came back as I was sweeping, took one look at me, and asked, “Okay, you’ve been staring off into space ever since you got back from Hank’s house. Did something happen there? Tell me, Eleanor. What’s wrong?”

  I tried to hide my frown. “Not a thing in the world. Don’t you have a big movie date tonight?”

  “Bob had to cancel it. He’s got to be in court early tomorrow, so I let him off the hook. Why, did you have something in mind?”

  “Why don’t you send Greg and Josh home, and then we’ll talk.” I might rope my sister into my outrageous idea, but I wasn’t going to involve my other two employees.

  Maddy, with a slight hint of nervous laughter in her voice, asked, “You’re not going to fire me, are you?”

  “Of course not. That’s absolutely insane, even for you.”

  “Well, I just figured, you know, that I let you down tonight. If you need to let me go, it’s okay. I understand, I swear I do.”

  I dropped my broom and took her hands in mine. “Maddy, you know that I couldn’t run this place without you, and what’s more, I’m not even sure I would want to. As long as the doors of the pizzeria are open, you’ve got a job as long as you want it. Okay?”

  “Okay.” She let out a sigh of relief. “Now that I’m still gainfully employed, what are we going to talk about?”

  “Murder,” I said.

  Five minutes later, Greg and Josh were gone, and the pizzeria was clean.

  Maddy asked, “Do you want to go talk at my place? I can make popcorn or something.”

  “Well, we can’t stay here,” I said. “If folks see the lights on, they’re going to expect pizza.”

  “My place it is,” she said. “You can follow me, unless you want to stay all night. You’re welcome to do that, you know.” Sometimes we did that, switching back and forth, whenever one of us needed someone close.

  “I’d love to, but Steve’s picking me up at the house in the morning. I’ll take a raincheck, though.”

  “Any time, and you know it. What does Steve want?”

  “I have no idea, but I don’t want to think about him right now. Let me follow you to your place, and then we’ll talk about my theory. I’ve got to warn you though, it’s really out there.”

  “Come on, you know me better than that, Eleanor. Those are my favorite kind,” Maddy said.

  “I’ll see you there,” I said as I got into my Subaru and waited for her to pull away from her parking spot in back.

  As I followed her to her apartment, I kept trying to come up with ways to tell her what I suspected, but by the time we arrived, I wasn’t any closer than I’d been from the start.

  She waited until we were inside, then Maddy started in on me. “I’m dying to know this crazy idea of yours.”

  “It’s going to sound so lame,” I said. “I’m beginning to think I should keep my mouth shut until I have something that actually resembles a clue.”

  “I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you tell me anyway? Then we’ll both laugh about it and come up with something else,” Maddy said. “Come on, don’t leave me hanging.”

  “Okay, but I warned you. First off, did you know that Hank was doing some private detective work on the side for Bob?”

  “He mentioned it to me a few times. Why?”

  I couldn’t help but question why my sister hadn’t shared that particular tidbit with me, but that was a discussion for another time. “I’m wondering if the bank robbery was staged to kill Hank, and not to take any money.”

  Maddy frowned. “But the bandit got money, right?”

  “Sure, but it could have just been a bonus. What if Hank saw something he shouldn’t have when he was working as a private detective, and someone had to shut him up? What better way would there be to do it than to kill him in the middle of a bank robbery? Who would suspect that?”

  “Not Kevin Hurley, you can bank on that,” Maddy said. “Sorry, that’s a poor choice of words.”

  “So, is it totally crazy?”

  Maddy appeared to consider it for a few moments before she said, “No, in a skewed way, it makes perfect sense. I’m just not sure how we’re ever going to find out if it’s true.”

  “I’ve been thinking about that too, and I think we need to talk to his daughter, Karen. If Hank told anyone in the world anything about what he was up to, he would tell her.”

  “Eleanor, should we really be bothering her with all she’s got going on in her life right now?”

  “If her dad was murdered, she’d want to know.”

  After a second, Maddy nodded. “It’s settled, then. We’ll go talk to her in the morning.”

  “After I have breakfast with Steve,” I said. I saw my sister’s quick grin before she could dampen it. “Maddy, don’t go over there without me. I mean it.”

  “What? Me? Why would I do that?”

  “I see that look in your eyes. Promise me.”

  Reluctantly, she said, “I promise, okay?”

  “Okay.” I stifled a yawn, then said, “I’d better head home. I’m beat, and I have to get up early tomorrow for this breakfast.”

  “You could always cancel on him,” Maddy said.

  “You and I both know I can’t do that,” I answered. “Good night, Sis.”

  “Good night, Eleanor. Call me as soon as breakfast is over. I want to know what Steve wanted.”

  “You think he has an ulterior motive on his agenda?”

  “From what I know about the man, you can bet on it,” she said.

  “Good morning,” I said as I headed out on to my front porch the next morning before Steve could knock on the front door. “I’m ready to go if you are.”

  “What’s the rush?” Steve asked. “I’d love to see the place.”

  “I’m kind of pushed for time today,” I said, though it was not strictly true. I just didn’t want Steve parading around my place and commenting on the hard work Joe and I had put in together on the house. I was overly sensitive about any criticism anyone might have, and knowing Steve, he was bound to find fault with something.

  “Come on. Please? It would mean a great deal to me, Eleanor.”

  I couldn’t bring myself to say no, so I stepped back inside.

  “Just for a minute,” I said as he followed me in.

  Steve looked around, and I watched his eyes as he took it all in. Rubbing a hand on the polished quarter-sawn oak banister, he said, “You two did an amazing job.”

  “It was mostly Joe’s work,” I said.

  “That’s not the way I heard it. From what he told me, you more than pulled your weight in the remodeling. He loved this place.”

  I didn’t need him to tell me that. “We both did.”

  “I’m surprised you stayed after what happened,” Steve said after a moment.

  “Is that a dig?” I could feel the hair on the back of my neck start to bristle.

  “No, I think it’s great. I just figured there would be too many memories here for you to move on with your life.”

  “Why on earth would I want to do that?” I asked. “Every time I look around, I see a thousand things that remind me of him. As far as I’m concerned, it’s the best place in the world for me.”

  Steve nodded. “I can see that. I didn’t mean anything by it, Eleanor. The only thing my brother loved more than this place was you.”

  The conversation was getting a little too personal for my taste. “If we’re going to beat the second breakfast rush, we’d better get going.”

  “Brian’s has a second breakfast rush?” he asked, looking clearly amused by the concept.

  “The first rush is from folks who have to get to work by eight or eight thirty. After that, the retirees start coming in. It’s hopping most of the morning.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  As we got to the curb, I looked at h
is car. It was an old Chevrolet sedan that had seen its share of better days, say in the seventies. Two or three shades of green covered it, never really matching, and the front right tire was in serious need of tread.

  He must have noticed my assessment of his transportation. “I know it’s not much, but it gets me where I need to go.”

  “Can you really afford to pay me that money?” I asked. “If you need it, I’d be glad to give it back to you.”

  “Come on, I’m going to buy a new car before I head back to California. I made enough in Raleigh to go back in style. I just haven’t had the opportunity to upgrade yet.”

  I had my doubts it would make it to the restaurant, let alone to a car lot where he could trade it in. “Why don’t I follow you? That way you don’t have to bring me back here.”

  “I don’t mind chauffeuring you around town,” he said as he opened the passenger-side door.

  There was no gracious way to get out of it, so I got in. It was a little more comfortable than it looked, which wasn’t saying much. At least I was wearing jeans. I would have felt ridiculous sitting there in a dress.

  As he drove toward the diner, I said, “I can’t believe you made it all the way from California in this car.”

  “She’s better than she looks,” he said. “Instead of cosmetics, I spent the money on the engine. Looks aren’t really that important to me.”

  Without thinking, I said, “They’re a little important.”

  Instead of being offended, Steve started to laugh. “I always envied you that.”

  “What, a sense of style?”

  “No, of not being afraid to say what’s on your mind.”

  “Sometimes it’s a gift,” I said, “but mostly it’s just a curse. So, when are you heading back home?”

  “Trying to get rid of me already?” Steve asked, his grin clearly forced.

  “It’s not that. I was just making conversation.”

  Steve nodded. “Sorry, I can be a little touchy at times, but I’m working on it. I plan to stay in town for a few more days, and then I’ll take off. I love North Carolina—I always have—but California feels like home.”

  “It’s good to have a place where you belong,” I said.

  “Like you and Timber Ridge. I admire you for that. There are way too many ghosts here for me.”

  “I like being surrounded by good memories,” I said.

  “Then you should be one happy camper here.”

  We got to the diner, and I was happy to see that the parking lot was nearly full. I would have looked like an idiot if it had been deserted, after bragging to Steve about how crowded they stayed.

  Steve whistled softly when he saw the lot. “You weren’t kidding, were you?”

  “Not about food. Never about food.”

  “Then let’s make our way inside and see if we can wrangle ourselves a booth.”

  I followed him out of the car, popping out quickly before he could walk around and get my door. For some reason, I wanted him to see that I was a strong, independent woman, as if running my own restaurant wasn’t enough. There was something about Steve that made me want to keep him at arm’s length, and I wasn’t fighting the inclination.

  Once we were inside the door, Brian smiled broadly at me, but then he frowned when he saw who I was with.

  “Steven,” he said curtly.

  If Steve felt the sudden iciness, he chose to ignore it. “Brian, how are you? It’s great to see you.”

  He shrugged in reply, then said, “A booth just opened up in back. I’ll send Cynthia to take your order. Take it easy on her; today’s her first day.”

  “Maybe we can catch up later,” Steve said.

  That got another shrug, and we headed to the open booth. A girl in her twenties was bussing the table, and her nametag attested that she would be our server today.

  “Give me one sec, folks,” she said as she wiped down the table.

  Steve suddenly brightened when he saw her. “A woman as beautiful as you shouldn’t be clearing tables.”

  Cynthia blushed as I shook my head in disgust. Steve might have changed some over the years, if the cash I got from him yesterday wasn’t counterfeit, but it was pretty clear he still considered himself a ladies man.

  Cynthia finished, then said, “If I don’t, you won’t have a place to have breakfast.”

  “We wouldn’t want to take the chance of being seated out of your section, now would we? If that happened, I’d have to admire you from afar, instead of taking you in up close.”

  I swear I could almost hear him panting.

  Cynthia seemed to be buying it, though. “I’ll be back with menus in a second.”

  “Hurry back.”

  After she was gone, I said, “Come on, are you actually hitting on our waitress? She’s at least ten years younger than you are.”

  “What can I say? I’ve always been attracted to beauty. Besides, what could it possibly hurt? It’s all in good fun. I’m just a harmless flirt, Eleanor.”

  “I don’t know how harmless it is,” I protested.

  “I’m sure she knows I’m just playing around.”

  I spotted Cynthia talking to two other waitresses and pointing in our direction. “I’ve got a feeling you could be wrong there.”

  Steve turned around in the booth, and when he saw them looking at him, he winked and waved, something that caused Cynthia to blush yet again. “She’s having fun with it, too.”

  It was clear that Steve wasn’t going to stop, so I decided to change the conversation. “Why didn’t you tell me that Brian wasn’t a big fan of yours? We could have had breakfast somewhere else.”

  “Honestly, I thought he’d be over it by now. It happened in high school. Some people just can’t let things go and move on.”

  After it was clear that he wasn’t going to go into any more detail than that, I asked, “That’s all you’re going to say?”

  “There’s really not much there worth talking about.”

  Cynthia showed up twenty seconds later with a pot of coffee, two ice waters, and menus. I noticed that she filled Steve’s mug first, but I didn’t mind, as long as she didn’t forget me entirely.

  He thanked her, then looked at the menu. “What’s good here? Is there anything you’d recommend?”

  I was under the impression he’d been asking me, but Cynthia spoke right up. “The western omelets are great. That’s what I had for breakfast.”

  “Then I don’t need to look any further, do I? Eleanor, should we make it two?”

  I was about to decline out of sheer stubbornness, but that was exactly what I’d been planning to have myself.

  Being as gracious as I could manage, I said, “Why not?”

  “Thanks, Cyn,” he said as he handed her both menus.

  After she was gone, I said, “Her boyfriend’s not going to be too pleased with you.”

  “What makes you think she has a boyfriend?” Steve asked.

  “Would you like to bet on it? Look at that guy scowling at you at the bar.” I’d noticed a young man with broad shoulders glaring in our direction, and whenever Cynthia neared us, his demeanor intensified.

  Steve looked where I’d directed, offered the guy a friendly wave, then said, “Maybe you’re right. I’ll take it down a notch.”

  “Or two,” I said.

  “Or two,” he agreed. “I’m curious about something, Eleanor. Do you plan on running the Slice forever?”

  “I never really thought about it,” I said, honestly curious by the question. “Why do you ask?”

  “Come on, I know that it was Joe’s dream to open a pizza parlor, not yours.”

  “What can I say? I’ve grown to love it myself over the years, and I’ve got Maddy helping me, too.”

  “Your sister has never been all that fond of me, has she,” Steve said.

  When I didn’t bother denying it, he asked, “Don’t you have a comment?”

  “Not that would add to the conversation,” I said.


  Steve laughed again, and I could hear hints of my husband’s in it. It almost made me want to amuse him just to hear it again.

  In a few minutes, our omelets came, and I wasn’t all that shocked to see that Steve’s was substantially larger than mine, though I doubted that had been Brian’s intent. When Steve toned down his smile toward Cynthia and didn’t comment more than saying thanks, she left the table clearly a little deflated.

  “Now you’ve broken her heart,” I said.

  “Make up your mind. I can be charming or not, but it’s a little hard being both,” Steve said casually as he started eating. “It’s tough to tone it down part of the way.”

  We were in the middle of our breakfast when Art Young walked in with two older women. I waved, and he excused himself and came over to our booth.

  The second Steve saw him, his face was suddenly drained of all of its blood. “Mr. Young, it’s good to see you.”

  “I’d heard you were back in town, Steven.” There was no reprimand in his voice, but it was clear nonetheless that he was scolding my brother-in-law in the politest way I’d ever heard.

  “I’m sorry, sir, I just got back. I meant to come by and see you.”

  “You should do that, and soon,” he said, making it clear that it wasn’t a request, but an order. With that finished, Art turned to me. “Thank you again for your telephone call yesterday.”

  “I owed you at least that,” I said, curious about what I’d just seen, but afraid to ask either one of them directly.

  “You continue to surprise me, Eleanor, and that’s not a feat easily accomplished these days. I’m in your debt yet again.”

  “Honestly, it’s not that big a deal.”

  “To me, it is,” he said. “Enjoy the rest of your meal.”

  After he was gone, I asked Steve, “What was that all about?”

  He looked at me incredulously. “I was just getting ready to ask you the same thing. How do you know him?”

  “He likes pizza,” I said, not wanting to get into my friendship with the man.

  “Be careful, Eleanor,” he said softly. “He’s a bad man to have as an enemy.”

  “But a good friend,” I replied.

  “Then you should be a little more choosy about who you are friends with.”