Smoked (The Alex Harris Mystery Series) by Elaine Macko

bordering an area where outdoor tables were now stacked. Very inviting, was my first thought. The sign on the window said The Natural World . I walked over to the door. There was a sheet of paper stuck to it and I took a closer look. A phone number was listed and then in bigger, bolded letters someone had typed Closed until further notice .

 
     
     
Chapter Fourteen
     
     
    I took a step back and moved over to the window. I cupped my hands up to my eyes and looked through the window. No lights. No people. I went back to the door and jotted down the number and then walked back to my car.
    Now what? Why was the restaurant closed? Did the blog have anything to do with it? I started to punch in the number on my cell phone but then stopped? What was I going to say? I thought about this for a few minutes and then punched in the number again, this time letting it go through. It rang twice and was answered by a woman.
    “Hello. My name is Alex Harris and I just stopped by your restaurant and noticed—.” Before I could get the next words out the woman on the other end started talking quickly.
    “Oh, wonderful, yes, you can come by right now. Where are you? Do you have a pen? Get a pen. I can give you directions.”
    I did as I was told, jotted down the woman’s address and told her I would be there shortly. I sat in my car looking at the phone. Well, this was easier than I thought. I preferred face-to-face interrogations. Listen to me. Did I really think of myself as a private investigator? No, of course not, but that was no reason to let the woman who had been on the other side of this call think I wasn’t.
    I started the car and drove to the turnpike. Three exits later, I left the turnpike and wound my way through a modest subdivision of older homes. I found the one I wanted and parked in front wondering what this woman I was about to meet thought I was here for? Surely she couldn’t know I was a neighbor of a woman who had written a blog about her restaurant and did she even know about the blog? Not everyone spent their day scouring the Internet for the latest postings.
    The front door opened and a woman who looked to be in her forties stood there waving at me. I locked my car and walked up a brick path to her home.
    “Hi, hi, come on in. Alex, right? I’ve got a fresh pot of coffee. Can I get you a cup?”
    “Would you happen to have tea?” I asked. The front door opened directly onto a living room. It was nice and neat but along with the neighborhood, the inside was also modest.
    “Sure. Of course. You just sit down and I’ll be right back. I’m Carol, by the way. Carol Corliss.”
    She hurried down a hall and I sat down in a straight-back chair next to a fireplace. On a small table next to me was an assortment of family photos. One was of Carol, a man I presumed was Mr. Corliss, and two boys who looked to be in their late teens.
    “Here you go,” Carol said five minutes later, placing a cup of tea on a coaster on the table. “So you’re looking to go into the restaurant business or do you already have a place?” She took a seat opposite me on the floral sofa. “It’s really a great location for a restaurant and business has been booming. That’s part of the problem. I don’t have a moment for myself anymore and with two kids and my husband’s new job, it just became too much for me to handle on my own. All the equipment is installed and we can negotiate a price for that as well if you don’t already have your own. The restaurant dining room is fully furnished with all new tables and chairs, custom-made drapery and high-end carpeting. Really, we spared no expense at all when we opened. If you’re not going to throw your whole heart and soul into it then why bother.” She finally took a breath. I studied her for a moment and despite her talkative, friendly demeanor, Carol Corliss looked sad. Almost heartbroken.
    I took a sip from the cup I had been holding and then placed it back on the coaster.