A Pizza To Die For - A Pizza To Die For Part 21
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A Pizza To Die For Part 21

The kitchen door opened, and I half hoped that David was returning.

When our chief of police walked in, the disappointment on my face must have been noticeable.

"Wow, I've had warmer greetings when I was serving arrest warrants," he said.

"Sorry. I was expecting someone else."

A little of the old Kevin Hurley slipped through his hard exterior when he said softly, "He's a lucky guy."

I wasn't sure that he even realized that he'd said it aloud, and I wasn't about to ask him about it. "What can I do for you, Chief?"

"I told Josh I needed a pizza to go," he said. "Don't tell me he forgot to tell you about it."

He had, but I wasn't about to admit that to the young man's father. "I was just starting it. Pepperoni and ham, right?"

"That's what I like," he said. "How long is this going to take? I was hoping it would be ready to pick up."

"Good things come to he who waits," I said with a smile.

"Okay, but that doesn't answer my question, does it?"

"Eight minutes," I said. "You're at the head of the line."

"Mind if I wait here?" he asked.

"Be my guest," I said as I threw his pizza together in record time.

As I worked, he sighed loudly and I couldn't help noticing it.

"Troubles?" I asked "Like you wouldn't believe," he admitted.

"If you want to talk about it, I'm right here." Our relationship had been full of contradictions since the first day we'd met in high school, but I knew that Kevin didn't have an easy life, though much of that was his own fault. He'd married Marybeth because she'd been pregnant with Josh, and they'd never had a smooth path since.

He looked tempted by the idea, but then suddenly changed his mind. "Sorry, I can't do it, no matter how much I'd like to."

His cell phone rang, and I heard one side of a heated conversation. I could imagine his caller as I listened to Kevin's responses.

"No, not yet. Because I'm not ready to, and I don't need the help. Trust me, the state police aren't going to be able to do anything that I can't. I'm sorry you feel that way." After he hung up, he said, "Goodbye."

"It sounds like Nathan's getting impatient with you."

"You have no idea," he said, and then caught himself. "How did you know that was Nathan Sizemore?"

"It's not rocket science, trust me," I said. "Have you considered calling them in for backup?"

"I'm giving myself until November fifth," he said. "After that, they're welcome to the whole mess."

"Why the delay?"

He frowned at me as he answered, "You know as well as I do why I'm waiting. If I ask for help before the Halloween Blowout, that's all folks are going to be talking about. I can't afford that, not so close to election day."

"That's right, you're running again," I said. His signage was nearly nonexistent, as was his one opponent in the race, a man named Jerry Klein who was known around town to lie even when the truth suited him better. "Do you honestly think Jerry has a chance against you?"

"Don't ever underestimate what will sway the voters," he said. "Sure, I'd love to make an arrest before Election Day, but not asking for help from the state police is the next best thing in my book."

"Would you feel that way if Judson was a Timber Ridge native?"

He bristled at the suggestion. "Everyone gets equal treatment and protection in my jurisdiction."

"I didn't mean anything by it," I tried to say, but he started to walk out in anger.

"Have Josh call me when my pizza's ready," he said as he started for the door.

"Come on, Kevin."

He just shook his head as he left. I had to wonder if what I'd said had struck home with him. There might be two levels of justice in Timber Ridge, and he might not even be aware of it. I tried to imagine if the victim had been Shelly Steele or Amanda Lancaster, people well known and beloved in our little community. Having the victim come from out of town had to have colored his point of view a little, whether he was aware of it or not.

Three minutes later, the chief's pizza came out of the oven, and I boxed it and cut it immediately. Carrying it out front, I hoped I could catch him outside before he got too far, so I could apologize again.

I never expected to find him still in the Slice, and being openly berated by a woman I'd never seen before in my life.

Chapter 12.

"You need to find his killer," the woman shouted. She was pretty in an understated kind of way, with a figure that was even curvier than mine. At the moment, all eyes were on her. I could see that my customers had lost all interest in their food in favor of the floor show she was providing.

Our illustrious chief of police looked trapped. "We're doing everything we can, ma'am."

"Well, clearly it's not enough," she said loudly.

I approached them and handed Kevin his pizza. "Here's your order, Chief."

He looked almost happy to see me as he shoved some money in my direction and said, "Thanks."

"I'm not finished with you," the woman shouted.

"Sorry. I have to run." And that's just what he did, sprinting out of the dining room at full speed.

I half expected the woman to follow but, instead, she slumped down in an empty booth and began to cry softly.

Maddy started to join me, but I waved her away. Even though I knew that my sister wasn't crazy about the idea, she got my motion and took my place in the kitchen so I could talk to this woman. I knew Greg and Josh would pick up the slack out front without being asked, so I had some time to spare her.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Nancy," I said softly as her crying began to ease.

She looked at me, clearly startled. "How do you know my name?"

"It's not hard to figure out," I said, happy that I'd guessed correctly. "You must be under a lot of stress right now."

"You can't even imagine it. Nathan is being so nice, but that Gina is a real shrew to be around. She doesn't believe the baby is Judson's, and she's the reason he broke it off with me in the first place. She told him that I was beneath him, someone unworthy of his love. Can you imagine anyone saying something so harsh?"

I had no problem envisioning it. "It must be tough being around her."

"She's constantly taking shots at me," Nancy said. "I loved Judson, and I know in my heart that he loved me."

"But I heard he was engaged to someone else," I said softly.

She looked at me as though I'd slapped her. "Lacy White? What a fraud. Judson never loved her. Sure, she's nice to look at, but there's nothing inside. That has to count for something, right?"

"It means everything to me," I said, "but some men are hard to figure out."

Nancy bit her lip. "He would have come back to me, especially when he found out that I was pregnant. I just know it. Someone robbed me of my chance for happiness, and this sheriff isn't doing anything to find the killer."

"He's not a sheriff; he's the chief of police," I corrected gently.

"I don't care if he's the grand high marshal," she said with a bit of irritation in her voice. "I just want him to do his job."

"Do you have any ideas who might have killed Judson?" I asked Nancy. It might be good to get her take on the murder while I had her there, and if I was preying on someone when she was vulnerable, I was doing it for a cause that she claimed to be championing, herself.

"I can't imagine anyone killing my Judson," she said, softly beginning to whimper again. "He never hurt anyone in his life."

I doubted that, but it wasn't the most opportune time to point that out. "I'm sure you must miss him."

"It's as though my heart has been ripped out," she said.

"Can I get you something to eat?" I asked.

"I couldn't even look at food. I've lost my appetite entirely."

"But you're eating for two now," I reminded her.

That brought another wave of fresh tears. Nice touch, Eleanor. Make the pregnant lady cry, though I couldn't see any signs that she was with child, at least not yet. With her frame and size, it would be months before she started to show enough for people to notice. I decided to keep that little tidbit to myself.

She started to stand, and I did as well, as I asked, "Can I have one of my waiters see you home?"

"No, I need the exercise, and the cold air might be good for me." She stopped before she left and added, "Thank you for your kindness. Besides Nathan, you've been the sweetest person I've met in Timber Ridge."

I'd been pumping her for information, but evidently she hadn't noticed. "Take care of yourself," I said.

After she was gone, Josh joined me. "I don't care what you think, but I don't like that woman."

"Because she was yelling at your dad in public?"

He dismissed that with a wave of his hand. "No, it's the way she walked in here gunning for him. I have my own problems with the man, you know that as well as anybody else does, but she never even gave him a chance to explain himself."

I was surprised to see Josh defending his father, knowing how many difficulties the two had experienced over the years, but it was refreshing to witness. Maybe Josh was finally growing up and learning to separate the man from the office.

It would be good for both of them if they could work it out, and sooner would be better than later.

Things were mostly quiet for the rest of the night, and fifteen minutes before we were due to close, I sent Greg and Josh home, much to their mutual delight.

I was in back preparing the pizza David and I were going to share when Maddy walked in.

"The front's clean," she said, and then she noticed what I was doing. "Sis, you read my mind. Put extra cheese on it, would you? I'm starving."

"Sorry, but this one is to go," I said as I finished adding the toppings. "I'm taking it home with me."

Maddy pouted for a second. "You seriously aren't going to share that with me? Come on, have a heart."

"It's for David," I said, waiting for the onslaught of whoops of joy from my sister. I had braced myself for it, and was surprised when she appeared to take it in stride, as though I'd announced that I'd just changed long-distance carriers.

"Don't you want to know what's going on?" I asked her.

"No, I think it's nice," she said.

"We're going to share it on my front porch as soon as I leave here," I said, pushing her even further.

"Yes, I got that. Have a good time."

As I slid it onto the conveyor belt, I asked, "Maddy, did I do something wrong?"

"No, not that I know of," she said.

"Then why are you acting this way?"

"What way is that?" I knew that I wasn't mistaking the cool tone in her voice.

"Sis, look at me." I took her hands in mine so she couldn't avoid me. "What's going on?"

She just shook her head, but I wasn't about to let go.

Finally, Maddy said, "I'm happy for you, Eleanor, believe me. I just don't want to see you get hurt."

That thought had never occurred to me. "Seriously? Do you believe for one second that David Quinton would ever cause me pain?"

"I don't know. Is he moving back to Timber Ridge?" she asked.

"No, not that I know of. He's extended his stay here, but that's just until he finds a replacement for the branch manager here in town."

"Then he's going to hurt you when he goes back to Raleigh. You've had more than your share of pain. Think about how it's going to feel when he leaves after you've finally started to chip the ice off your heart. I'll be here to help you get over it, you know you can always count on me, but that doesn't mean I'm looking forward to seeing you get hurt, and the more you see him, the greater chance there will be of that happening."

I didn't understand her reaction at all. I knew my sister cared about me, but sometimes the way she showed it drove me crazy. "Maddy, I thought you wanted me to see him."

She nodded, and I saw a tear creep down her cheek. "When he lived in Timber Ridge, he would have been perfect for you. But a long-distance relationship is not going to work. You're married to this pizzeria, and he's got an important job there. It's not like you two are going to see each other on a regular basis."