Jennifer L. Hart - Southern Pasta Shop 02 - Murder À La Flambé by Jennifer L. Hart Read Free Book Online Page A

bunch."
    I narrowed my eyes at the hated high school nickname, which always came out sounding like the guys called me "Little Shit." "Mind your own business, Rudy, before I go call your wife and tell her you're out drinking and carousing. Where does she think you are right now anyhow? Working late at the office?" The last part I tagged on for my boyfriend's benefit.
    A chair scraped along the floor as Jones got to his feet. "Andrea, let's talk about this outside." He reached for me, but I stepped back, stumbling on an uneven floorboard.
    "I am in the middle of a conversation, Malcolm."
    Lacey rolled her eyes. "Come now, Andee. Let's, how you say, bury the ax?"
    "It's hatchet, " Winston Marsh corrected helpfully. He had the worst case of halitosis I'd ever encountered, and Lacey actually coughed as he breathed on her.
    "Maybe we should go." Donna tugged at my other elbow, trying to pry me away from the gathering throng.
    "There's no hatchet. I just want to know what you're doing here in my hometown." Jerking my arm out of Donna's grip, I leaned down to get in Lacey's face. I guess I didn't know my own strength though, because Donna stumbled and would have gone down, except she fell against the back of a nearby patron. He, in turn, dropped his drink over the head of the man sitting behind Lacey, who came up swinging.
    Directly at Jones.
    "Fight!" Someone yelled a second before the free-for-all started. Chairs scraped against the wooden floor. The sound of angry shouts and breaking glass drowned out the guy singing "Why Don't We Get Drunk" (and screw).
    "See what you've done!" Lacey shoved me. "You must always cause trouble."
    "Me?" Righteous indignation made me shove her back.
    She made a grab for my hair, but I was scrappy, and I ducked out of her hold and sank my shoulder into her stomach. She let out a satisfying oof but managed to grab hold of my shirt. It ripped. I staggered, and we went down in a tangle of flailing limbs.
    A sudden report from a shotgun overpowered the noise. Judy was on the bar, the double barrels of a sawed-off pointed at the hole in the roof above my head. Anger flashed in her eyes, and the emotion was directed at me. "Take your bad juju up out of my place, yous. Before I call da law."
    "Too late!" another male voice called and was drowned out by wailing sirens. "Five-o."
    The bar patrons scattered like roaches.
    I scanned the remaining faces but saw no sight of Jones. "Malcolm?" I called out.
    Lacey scrambled away from me, her hair wild, dress rumpled, eyes ablaze. "You are completely insane!" she panted.
    The sheriff strode in, followed by half a dozen deputies.
    "What happened?" Kyle was at my side, helping me to my feet.
    I didn't answer him, too busy looking at the destruction around me. "Donna? Where are you?"
    "Here," she rasped. She'd crawled under a nearby table to keep out of the fray. Her blue eyes were round, but she appeared unhurt.
    "You okay?" I asked to makes sure. "Have you seen Jones?"
    "I'll live," she muttered.
    "Will someone tell me what the hell is going on here?" Kyle yelled.
    "She attacked me!" Lacey wailed. The running mascara added to her victim's air.
    I lifted my chin in defiance. "What a crock! You shoved me, remember?"
    Kyle turned to Judy. "You want to press charges?"
    Judy's eyes narrowed, but she shook her head. "No, as long as they agree to pay for the damages."
    I nodded, but Lacey wasn't satisfied with that. Thrusting a finger at me, she spat, "She assaulted me! You must arrest her!"
    Kyle put his hands on his hips, his expression grim. "I'm taking you both in for disturbing the peace. Maybe some time in jail will cool those hot heads."
    He couldn't be serious. "Kyle, you know I wouldn't have just gone off and hit her." Even if she'd deserved it. I'd only been defending myself and staking my claim on Jones. Wasn't my fault if I was better at it than Lacey.
    He moved in closer and lowered his voice. "What I know is that you smell like a distillery and were caught up in