Fry Another Day by J. J. Cook Read Free Book Online Page B

nodded. “Zoe Chase? I’m Detective John McSwain of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Could I have a few moments of your time?”

SIX

    â€œSure. I guess.” I shrugged nonchalantly, but my heart was pounding. “What’s this about?”
    â€œI looked at the list of food truck owners involved in the race and noticed that you and Reggie Johnson were the only two from Mobile. Were you acquainted with him?”
    â€œOnly in the way that we’re both food truck vendors. I didn’t know him personally.”
    â€œWhat can you tell me about him?” He wrote down everything I said.
    What could I say?
He smelled like old grease and looked like he’d been in too many fights? That he played dirty tricks on me to get better vendor spaces?
    None of those things seemed right to say considering that Reggie was dead.
    â€œI didn’t know him well. When I was researching food trucks to start my own, I had one of his hot dogs. It was okay.”
    The detective finished writing and glanced up at me. “Anything about his finances? Was he a gambling man? Did he have a family?”
    â€œI think you should use your resources to find out if Reggie Johnson had a family.” Miguel came around the corner of the food truck where he’d obviously been listening.
    â€œWho are you?” Detective McSwain asked him.
    â€œMiguel Alexander. I’m Miss Chase’s attorney. I’m also from Mobile, if you’d like to question me about Mr. Johnson.”
    â€œMiss Chase doesn’t need an attorney.” The detective gave me a dirty look, like I had called Miguel for help. “I was only asking a few
friendly
questions about the deceased.”
    â€œIf you have enough
friendly
answers, Miss Chase needs to drive to Columbia for the next part of the race.” Miguel’s tone was polite but firm.
    â€œThat’s fine. I guess neither of you knew Mr. Johnson very well. I won’t take up any more of your time.” He nodded to me. “Miss Chase.”
    We watched him walk away.
    â€œDid I miss anything important?” he asked.
    â€œNo. At least I don’t think so. I couldn’t tell him anything about Reggie—at least anything he’d want to hear about him. Reggie wasn’t a very nice man, but his hot dogs were pretty good.”
    He smiled. “I don’t think he wanted to hear that.”
    â€œThat’s what I mean. You must be right about the police suspecting Reggie’s death wasn’t an accident. I was thinking before about who might want to kill him. If it was another vendor, maybe they knew him in Mobile.”
    â€œUnless it was another vendor in the race and they wanted to eliminate some of the competition.”
    â€œI guess that’s true.” I bit my lip. “I felt a little bad not telling him about hearing Reggie argue with Alex in his truck. Do you think I should tell him?”
    â€œI don’t think we should even consider that idea, or any other idea that pertains to Reggie’s death. We’re here to win the race, right? Let’s concentrate on that.”
    He was right. I let go of the questions that had wandered into my mind.
    â€œAre you driving to Columbia now?” I asked him.
    â€œI am. I’d like to get the supply part out of the way in Charlotte in case you have something difficult to find.”
    â€œThere shouldn’t be any problem. I don’t make complicated food for the Biscuit Bowl.”
    â€œI guess I’ll see you down there then.”
    I smiled at him, wishing I didn’t feel so sweaty and full of grease. I smelled like biscuit bowls and bacon. Not a bad combination, usually. “Thanks again for being here, Miguel.”
    â€œI’m having a good time, Zoe. That’s what vacations are all about, right?”
    â€œYou used your vacation time to be here?” I felt bad about that.
    â€œActually, I haven’t had a vacation