The 2014 R.L. Mathewson Chronicle Collection by R.L. Mathewson Page A

grocery stores, always had and always would, he reflected with a satisfied sigh as he popped the cupcake in his mouth. There was just something special about a grocery store that drew him. Even as a child a visit to the grocery store had enthralled him. While his cousins used to bitch and whine about being dragged to the grocery store, he’d gone willingly.
                  More than willingly.
                  Where else could he simply walk around, enjoying the cool air, the scents of freshly baked goods, the tantalizing sight of freshly cooked rotisserie chicken, and enjoy free samples to his heart’s content as he considered all the delicious possibilities that the food spread before him held?
                  Nowhere.
                  Well, except perhaps at a club like Sam’s, BJs or Costco, but since he was on a lifetime ban at those places, he liked to pretend that they didn’t exist. Granted, he was also banned from every grocery store within a fifty-mile radius including this one, but that was neither here nor there.
                  “Would you like another sample, sir?” the woman asked with an encouraging smile.
                  “Yes, I believe I would,” he said, forcing himself to grab the chocolate mini cupcake closest to him and ignore the rest of the delectable treats calling his name since drawing attention to himself was the last thing that he wanted to do.
                  “They’re on sale at the bakery department, a dozen for $2.99,” she said with a conspiratorial wink as she gestured for him to take another cupcake.
                  “Thank you,” he said, returning her wink with one that was guaranteed to get him another free sample.
                  So, when she gestured for him to take another cupcake he wasn’t surprised, but the man donning a white baker’s apron and carrying a fresh platter of mini cupcakes definitely surprised him.
                  “Oh, my God……….,” the vaguely familiar man gasped when he spotted Jason as the tray in his hand suddenly dropped, sending mini cupcakes bouncing in every direction. “Th-they told me that you were banned.”
                  “Charlie?” the woman hawking the mini cupcakes said with a worried frown, pausing mid-gesture for Jason to take another delectable treat. “Is everything okay?”
                  Shaking his head frantically, Charlie stumbled back, muttering, “Bradford,” over and over again, looking seconds away from passing out. Deciding that it was probably time for him to leave, he returned his attention to the tray and reached for a cupcake only to find the tray gone.
                  “What…..where’s my tray?” the woman asked, searching frantically around her cart as Jason stepped back and blended into the crowd that was now forming around them.
                  As soon as he was free of the small crowd, he turned around and headed towards the “Do Not Enter” sign where he knew his cupcakes and the little traitors that had stolen them were hiding.

Part V
                  “Where are the boys?”
                  “Hmmm?” Trevor murmured absently, shooting another nervous glance over his shoulder.
                  “The boys?” she asked, shifting another quick glance over her shoulder, still wondering where Jason had snuck off to so fast and if she should be worried.
                  She nibbled on her bottom lip as apprehension coiled in her stomach, but just as quickly, she shrugged it off. It would be one thing if Jason had disappeared without a word at a restaurant, but they were at a grocery store. There wasn’t much he could do here to get in trouble besides trying to use expired coupons, she mused with another shake of her head as she focused all of her attention back on her