Chapter Nineteen

The next morning found Danna and me doing our cook-and-serve dance as we always did, except we both wore Santa hats, instead of her usual scarf and my usual ball cap. Supplies were dwindling, but that was fine, since we were going to be closed for the next eight days. We ran out of sausages at a few minutes before nine. Danna wrote it on the Specials board and then drew a big red X through the word. I did make up a fresh double batch of biscuits when those ran low. Flour, eggs, and butter didn’t go bad, and I always had a ton on hand.

Now at nine-thirty, I watched Buck come in at his usual slow pace. Was this finally going to be the verdict on whether Jed was poisoned or not? Did he have lab and autopsy results in hand, at last? He gave a little wave and headed back to his favorite two-top, available because we were only moderately subscribed at the moment.

The next time Danna approached the kitchen, I said, “Swap out? I need to talk with Buck.”

“Sure.”

“By the way, did you learn anything from your grandmother?” I asked her. I’d forgotten to earlier.

“No, she was busy. But Josie said she would come in for lunch and you can ask her whatever you want.” Danna grinned. “She’s a hoot. You’ll like her.”

“I love the name.” When I had a daughter, Josie was definitely high on the list of names I would consider. I smiled to myself, picturing being married to Abe and starting a family.

I changed out of my grease-splattered cooking apron into a fresh one and grabbed an order pad. It took me a while to get to Buck, though. A gentleman over here hailed me for more coffee. That lady asked for her scrambled eggs to be drier. A mom needed another milk for the one her toddler had spilled, despite my serving it in a cup with a tight lid and a paper straw. I also brought a wet rag and several dry ones to clean up the mess. I finally arrived at Buck’s table, where he sat frowning and poking at his phone with an index finger nearly long and skinny enough to double as a chopstick.

“Good morning, Buck. Dare I ask?”

“We got some results, but it’s kind of a crazy mixed-up bag, Robbie.” He set the phone down with a frown.

“What do you mean? Was Jed poisoned or not?”

“Welp, didn’t find no evidence of toxins in Greenberg’s body. So, no, he apparently wasn’t poisoned.”

Huh. “At least that’s information, right?”

He bobbed his head once “But the lab ain’t done with the chocolate mixes yet. Turns out, some of them tests take a while to react or some such thing. I don’t know laboratory science from Adam’s off ox, ’course, so I just gotta believe the experts.”

“But if Jed didn’t ingest any poison, why does it matter?”

Buck regarded me. “Because we could still nab somebody for attempted murder. Like O’Neill. The wife, of course. Or, in theory, you.”

“Me?” I screeched in a whisper, cranking my eyes open to maximum.

“Look. I know you wouldn’t have done such a thing, but you did assemble them mixes, am I correct?”

I nodded as I set my fists on my hips. “I would never do something like that, Buck, and Howard wouldn’t, either. He’s a good man.”

“I know, I know. We got higher-ups to satisfy, though, and the court system, too, as you’re well aware.”

“And what about the ice on the sidewalk?” I asked. “Is Oscar looking into why it was icy despite zero precipitation for the last couple weeks?” I kept my voice low, but even I could hear the ire and impatience in it. “And is he checking who knew—besides Willa Mae—that Jed walked that way every single morning? His wife told me he was a creature of habit, that he always followed the same route.”

Buck pressed down the air with one hand. “Calm yourself down, now, Robbie Jordan. All in due time. And speaking of time, I got a hole in my stomach bigger than the Grand Canyon, and if I don’t eat a triple breakfast right quick, I won’t make it back to the major powwow at the station at eleven. Any chance you could scare me up some food?” He smiled with a hopeful look.

“If you’ll tell me what the big meeting is.”

“You know.” He pulled his mouth to the side. “Oscar. My boss. The staties’ commander. Madame Mayor. Heck, maybe other mucky-mucks. They want this thing solved yesterday. Can’t blame ’em, really. It’s near Christmas.”

“I’ll bring you breakfast.” I blew out a breath. “You want to pick or you just want a bunch of food?”

“A bunch of food. Thanks, hon. You’re the best.”

I turned away. Right now, I was feeling a lot more like the worst. Jed hadn’t been poisoned. That was good. But the fact that nothing was really solved made me queasy. As I headed to the kitchen area, I realized Buck hadn’t mentioned what I’d texted Oscar about Karinde saying she wished she’d killed Jed. I almost turned back to Buck’s table, but kept on going. I didn’t want him going all hangry on me. I’d mention it when his food was ready.

“Any three breakfast plates for Buck, Danna, please,” I said when I reached the grill. “Whatever we have the most of. He didn’t seem to care except he needs to eat a lot and then leave.”

She lowered her voice. “Did he tell you something upsetting? Things looked a little dicey between you and him.”

I nodded. “You could say that.” Four women stood. One waved their check like the group was eager to pay and leave. “Tell you when I get a chance.”