Diners, Dives & Dead Ends by Terri L. Austin Read Free Book Online Page B

me?”
    To be honest, it never
occurred to me.  I was so used to handling things on my own, I never thought of
calling anyone for help.  Besides, what if the two men were watching my apartment? 
I didn’t want Roxy in their crosshairs, too.
    Ma pursed her lips, causing
her wrinkles to deepen.  “Did you call the police?”
    “No, this guy made it seem
like a bad idea.  But I am going to report Axton missing.  I’m just not going
to mention anything about this guy.  That’s the right thing to do, right?  But
what if it isn’t?  Oh my God, what am I going to do?” 
    “Okay, honey,” Ma led me to
the nearest chair, gently pushing on my shoulder until I sat.  “No more coffee
for you.  Now, do you have any idea who this man was?”  She pulled out a chair
next to me and plonked her bony butt on the edge of it.  She put her hand over
my knee, which was bouncing like a jackhammer.   
    “I don’t know.  I don’t know
who he is or what he does, or how he knew everything about me.  I have to find
Ax.”  I reached out and grabbed Ma’s hand.  “And I haven’t heard from him since
Monday night.  I’ve racked my brain, but I don’t know where he could be.”
    “It’s going to be all right,
Rose.  Axton’s probably just hiding out somewhere.” 
    I shook my head.  “Where?  I
know where Axton goes and what he does.  What if he’s…”  I couldn’t even bring
myself to say it, but it had been circling my brain since last night.  What if
Axton was lying out there, hurt and unable to get to a phone?  What if he was
dead? 
    “No, Rose,” Ma said
forcefully, squeezing my fingers.  “He’s just fine, do you hear me?  He’s fine. 
You have to believe that.”
    “Okay.”  I wanted to believe
it.
    Ma glanced out the window at
the line of people standing outside the door.  “Why don’t you go home today, honey?”
    “I’m too wired.  I need to
work.  I need the money.  And I can’t go back there until I get a new lock.”
    Roxy, uncharacteristically
quiet, bit her lip.  She looked worried.  And if Roxy looked worried, that was
saying something.
    I cleared my throat, got up
from the table, and put a smile on my face.  “You know what?  It’s going to be
fine.”  Neither Ma nor Roxy appeared convinced.  “Really.  Just fine.  I’m
going to find Axton.  End of story.  See?  I have a plan.”  I had no idea what
that plan would entail, but those were just details.  I moved to the door and
flipped the open sign.
    I don’t think in the five
years since I’d worked at Ma’s I had ever been quite so speedy.  I felt like I
was on fast forward.  I forced myself to be cheerful to customers as I whirled
around filling coffee, taking orders, helping Roxy and Ma get their food out. 
My tips had never been so good.  But it didn’t last.  Before noon, my
caffeinated high crashed and left me cranky.  When a customer sent back his
omelet for the second time, I nearly burst into tears.
    Ma stood next to me at the
kitchen pass through with a carafe of coffee in her hand.  “Roxy and I will
finish here.  She said you can go to her place and get some sleep.  Ray will
come by your apartment later and put on a new lock.”
    “Bu—”
    “I’m not asking you, Rose,
I’m telling you.  You look like shit warmed over, toots.”
    “Gee, thanks.”
    “Just telling it like I see
it.  Now get out of here.  I’ll take that jackass his omelet.”
    “Okay.”
    Roxy came up behind me, took
my elbow, and ushered me into the kitchen where she took her apartment key off
her key ring.  “Take a shower and try to get some sleep.  You can change, too,
if you want.  Sweats and stuff are in the third drawer of my dresser.”
    I got a little teary. 
“You’re a good friend, Rox.”
    She rolled her eyes.  “Jeez
Louise, you are one hot mess today.”  She spun on her heel and left the
kitchen.
    I went to the pantry and
pulled the syrup box off the shelf.  I dug out