The Second Chance (Inferno Falls Book Three) by Aubrey Parker Page B
Authors: Aubrey Parker
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me after all this time.
But let’s face it. What happened with Ernie and my obligation to his estate is a convenient excuse. I told myself, when I left, that I was done with that place and everyone in it. But we both (and here, I mean me and my cat) know I’ve been fooling myself.
I pull the truck to the road’s side and search for a number. A moment later, I’ve got the phone to my face, and this dumb cat of mine is staring at me like he’s won some sort of a moral victory over my stubbornness.
“Rowr.”
“Oh, keep your collar on,” I say. “I’m just arranging for a dumpster.”
CHAPTER 8
Maya
The Nosh Pit does a lot of lunch business, but ever since it was featured on Best. Food. Ever. , we’ve never really returned to our normal state of semi-busy for weekend dinner service. When I show up after dropping Mackenzie off, my day of calm and control breaks like a dropped plate.
I’m putting my purse into a locker when Jen approaches me. She’s wild-eyed, and her usually composed hair is coming out of her ponytail in a loose fuzz.
“Oh, I’m so glad you’re here,” she says.
“Why?” I look around. “Did something happen?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary. It’s busy, and we’re short. But Ed, it’s like he doesn’t understand math. Two servers short plus a rush equals — ”
“Two short?”
Jen nods. “Yeah. Carla was on for tonight, and Ed made her come in even though she had a doctor’s note. Literally a note because Carla knows Ed won’t believe anything she says and would think she was just whining. She’s got stitches on her hand , Maya. Can you imagine that?”
I flinch a little. I’m not good with blood under the best of circumstances, but for some reason Jen’s revulsion is spot on; stitches on the hand sounds like a new kind of hideous.
“So she came in like Ed said because, well, you know how he is, and she made the mistake of actually asking to talk to him when she called rather than hiding and not answering her phone like I would. And Ed’s like, ‘You’re fine, pretty lady. Now get out there, and shake it.’” Jen doesn’t just do Ed’s voice; she actually manages to make her pixie face as ugly and grumpy as his. “And so what happens? First tray. FIRST thing she carries out, her cut comes open, and she starts bleeding. But she doesn’t notice it; she just knew it hurt, which it always does, so whatever. But the customers saw it because Carla was bleeding down her wrist, down her arm, like this, and then dripping off the end of her elbow.”
My hand goes over my mouth. Then I say, “Did she break her stitches?”
“No, thankfully. But it was like Carrie , anyway. That got Ed’s attention, when someone complained. He must have realized he was breaking the rules of, like, ten government organizations with acronyms at that point because he yelled at Carla and told her to think before doing something so stupid. Meaning: coming into work at all. Which he insisted she do. But if there’s an upside, Roxanne had to mop up the blood.”
I laugh at that, and Jen manages to join me.
“So Carla went home where she should have been to begin with. Big shock.”
“Who’s the second?”
“Abigail.”
“Where’s she? Oh, wait. It’s Saturday.”
Jen nods. “She’s at the Overlook again. Or … wait. Maybe they’re starting their tour? I don’t know.”
I scoff. If Ed had a brain, which he clearly doesn’t based on how frequently he violates sexual harassment laws, he’d have known that Abigail’s time here was at its end weeks ago. Ever since she hooked up with Gavin — and good for her; we can’t all be jilted forever — his band’s plans have added to her prospects, which had already improved the moment Danny Ross started giving her weekend shifts at the club. She hasn’t been available on Friday and Saturday nights in forever, and soon she’ll quit entirely. The idea that Ed would have booked
But let’s face it. What happened with Ernie and my obligation to his estate is a convenient excuse. I told myself, when I left, that I was done with that place and everyone in it. But we both (and here, I mean me and my cat) know I’ve been fooling myself.
I pull the truck to the road’s side and search for a number. A moment later, I’ve got the phone to my face, and this dumb cat of mine is staring at me like he’s won some sort of a moral victory over my stubbornness.
“Rowr.”
“Oh, keep your collar on,” I say. “I’m just arranging for a dumpster.”
CHAPTER 8
Maya
The Nosh Pit does a lot of lunch business, but ever since it was featured on Best. Food. Ever. , we’ve never really returned to our normal state of semi-busy for weekend dinner service. When I show up after dropping Mackenzie off, my day of calm and control breaks like a dropped plate.
I’m putting my purse into a locker when Jen approaches me. She’s wild-eyed, and her usually composed hair is coming out of her ponytail in a loose fuzz.
“Oh, I’m so glad you’re here,” she says.
“Why?” I look around. “Did something happen?”
“Nothing out of the ordinary. It’s busy, and we’re short. But Ed, it’s like he doesn’t understand math. Two servers short plus a rush equals — ”
“Two short?”
Jen nods. “Yeah. Carla was on for tonight, and Ed made her come in even though she had a doctor’s note. Literally a note because Carla knows Ed won’t believe anything she says and would think she was just whining. She’s got stitches on her hand , Maya. Can you imagine that?”
I flinch a little. I’m not good with blood under the best of circumstances, but for some reason Jen’s revulsion is spot on; stitches on the hand sounds like a new kind of hideous.
“So she came in like Ed said because, well, you know how he is, and she made the mistake of actually asking to talk to him when she called rather than hiding and not answering her phone like I would. And Ed’s like, ‘You’re fine, pretty lady. Now get out there, and shake it.’” Jen doesn’t just do Ed’s voice; she actually manages to make her pixie face as ugly and grumpy as his. “And so what happens? First tray. FIRST thing she carries out, her cut comes open, and she starts bleeding. But she doesn’t notice it; she just knew it hurt, which it always does, so whatever. But the customers saw it because Carla was bleeding down her wrist, down her arm, like this, and then dripping off the end of her elbow.”
My hand goes over my mouth. Then I say, “Did she break her stitches?”
“No, thankfully. But it was like Carrie , anyway. That got Ed’s attention, when someone complained. He must have realized he was breaking the rules of, like, ten government organizations with acronyms at that point because he yelled at Carla and told her to think before doing something so stupid. Meaning: coming into work at all. Which he insisted she do. But if there’s an upside, Roxanne had to mop up the blood.”
I laugh at that, and Jen manages to join me.
“So Carla went home where she should have been to begin with. Big shock.”
“Who’s the second?”
“Abigail.”
“Where’s she? Oh, wait. It’s Saturday.”
Jen nods. “She’s at the Overlook again. Or … wait. Maybe they’re starting their tour? I don’t know.”
I scoff. If Ed had a brain, which he clearly doesn’t based on how frequently he violates sexual harassment laws, he’d have known that Abigail’s time here was at its end weeks ago. Ever since she hooked up with Gavin — and good for her; we can’t all be jilted forever — his band’s plans have added to her prospects, which had already improved the moment Danny Ross started giving her weekend shifts at the club. She hasn’t been available on Friday and Saturday nights in forever, and soon she’ll quit entirely. The idea that Ed would have booked
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