Tales of the Witch by Angela Zeman Read Free Book Online

care of Mr. Tully. You realize that Harrington’s Restaurant is on the verge of financial ruin. If they don’t stop losing money, they could close by September. They were counting on this season’s profits to save them. And until you came along, it looked like they were going to do extremely well.”
    Lizette blinked at her in stricken astonishment.
    The witch paused to explain patiently, “Darling, the restaurant business is one of the most difficult enterprises in which to succeed. Since you seem to like it, maybe you’ll be lucky enough to experience that difficulty firsthand—someday. Come.”
    “What are you going to do? What’s going to happen to me? What’s going to happen to Harrington’s, and all my friends?”
    The witch gazed at her gravely. “You must leave events in my hands, dear.”
    Lizette stared teary-eyed at the witch. “I’ve heard about you, you know. How you’re a witch an’ all. Guess if anybody can fix this mess, you can.” A second later, she took a calming deep breath. “Okay,” she said grimly. “If I have to go to jail, I’ll go. I guess I deserve it, all right. Just tell me what to do. We have to keep Harrington’s from suffering from my dumbness.”
    They returned outside, which now was showing signs of activity. The wait staff had returned, and the tables were filling with happy patrons again. Rick’s fair amiable face was dark with anger as he stood wiping glasses behind the bar, listening to Tully’s and Black Dan’s conversation.
    Tully was seated at the bar, a generous drink in his hand, still negotiating with a heavily perspiring Black Dan what he should get in return for his poisoning. The salad which had ‘poisoned’ him had been pushed aside and sat forgotten by his elbow on the bar surface. Jezebel crouched next the plate as if standing guard.
    The witch walked up to the salad, and peered closely at the wilted lettuce. The duck meat appeared uneaten, but did look mutilated, with numerous punctures dotting it, apparently having been vigorously forked in the search for that elusive key.
    Black Dan was making a final exhausted stand. To the witch it was apparent that he wouldn’t be able to withstand Tully’s demands much longer.
    When Tully spotted Lizette behind the witch, he seemed to take her presence as some kind of signal. He slid off his seat and pushed his drink away. His rubbery lips pulled back in a feral grin. “Fine. If you won’t deal, I’m calling my lawyer. I’ll close this joint.”
    Rick flung down his bar towel and said, “That’s enough out of you. That duck was okay. Harrington’s would never serve bad food.”
    Black Dan turned to Lizette, who stood timidly peeking at him from behind the witch. “You inspected this meat when it came in the other day, didn’t you, Lizette? Carefully inspected each batch?”
    Lizette bit her lip.
    Rick put in, “No, that’s the day the cop came, remember? I saw that Liz was too busy to tend to it right away, so I went ahead and stuck it in the freezer for her to get it out of the heat. But I looked it over.” He gave Black Dan a weak grin. “Sort of.”
    Black Dan stared at Lizette. “You mean you accepted delivery of this meat without inspecting it?”
    “See, what’d I tell you. I ate bad meat,” crowed Tully.
    “You don’t look sick,” growled Rick, “you just look overfed.”
    “Why you—”
    At this moment, Chef Vinnie bustled out to announce to Black Dan, “All my duck meat’s disappeared. I just looked in both freezers. Gone. Kaput! Pphhht!” He flung both arms up to the sky in angry frustration.
    Tully’s tongue darted across his lips, then he shouted, “Somebody’s hiding the evidence. You won’t get away with it! I want this place closed now!”
    “It’s obvious to me, boss, he’s just trying to give us trouble,” stated Rick. He turned to Tully, his eyes narrowed with fury. “You can’t muscle in on Harrington’s, you fat twerp. YOU probably stole those ducks.