Dark Water: A Siren Novel by Tricia Rayburn Read Free Book Online Page A

construction site.”
    “This is Betty’s,” I said, with a smile. “The sign’s down temporarily, for renovations. But we’re open for business as usual.”
    “All the more reason to make sure people know where you are, right?”
    My face warmed. “Of course.”
    She held my gaze for a moment, then grinned. “So is the soup really as good as they say?”
    “It’s better.” I took another menu from the rack on the wall and led her into the dining room.
    “Is there a bar?”
    I slowed and glanced over my shoulder. She looked about my age, maybe a year or two older. That would put her at twenty, tops.
    “I hate eating at a regular table by myself,” she explained.“And where there’s a bar, there’s usually a TV, which is the closest thing to company I’m going to get.”
    I could relate. I’d come to Betty’s alone last year to be among people without having to talk about myself—or what had just happened to Justine. I wondered if this girl was here for similar reasons, as I showed her to the bar and gave her the remote.
    “Your waitress will be right with you.”
    “Thanks.” She took the menu and I turned away. “What’s your name?”
    I stopped. Turned back.
    “The place isn’t exactly crawling with employees. And I’m not a demanding customer, but I might come across that way if I call out, ‘hey, you!’ to get your attention.”
    She seemed friendly enough, but I still debated whether to dodge the question. It wasn’t one most customers usually asked.
    “Vanessa,” I finally said.
    She held out one hand. “Natalie. Thank you again for being so accommodating.”
    “You’re welcome.” I shook her hand. It was warm, firm.
    She focused on the television perched on a shelf near the ceiling. I headed for the kitchen to find someone to wait on her. Because she was right. The place wasn’t understaffed, considering the lack of customers, but service was definitely sporadic since it wasn’t required on a regular basis.
    “You need me.” Louis stood on the back steps, leaning against the door to keep it open and smoking a cigarette. “
Please
say you need me to do something.”
    “I do,” I said. “But for only one customer.”
    “That’s plenty.” He flicked the cigarette to the stone steps and put it out with the toe of his shoe. “You, my dear friend, are a lifesaver.”
    I was about to ask where our waitress was when footsteps ran down the staircase leading to the break area. Carla, the young waitress, flew past me in a blur of black and white and burst through the swinging door.
    “I better keep an eye on her,” I said. “Since Paige is busy with Betty and Oliver.”
    Louis was already firing up the stove and didn’t seem to hear me. The only other staff members on duty, a busboy and sous-chef, flipped through magazines on the other side of the room. No one was paying attention, but I still felt a little weird standing to one side of the swinging door and peering through the small square window.
    The exchange lasted seconds. Carla greeted Natalie. Natalie asked about a few menu items and Carla stammered through answers before writing down the order. Carla started for the kitchen again, then seemed to think better of it and headed behind the bar, where she poured two glasses, one of water and the other of iced tea, and presented both to Natalie.
    I kept watching, even after our single customer was alone again. I wasn’t sure what I expected to see—Natalie looking around to see if anyone was paying attention to her?
    She didn’t, of course. She simply sat at the bar, drinking water and flipping channels.
    I was being paranoid. I knew that, even if I wasn’t sure exactlywhy. Maybe it was because, with her supershort blonde hair, brown eyes, and long, tanned legs, she looked like the kind of girl most guys would be drawn to like magnets to metal—or men to sirens. Maybe it was because my head had throbbed—just once, and only slightly—when she’d walked through the