The answer hit him as he drove along Elm, heading toward the thruway.
He passed the familiar sign and spun a U-ey into the parking lot. There were a couple of cars there. He turned off the engine and asked himself if he wanted to do this, giving himself a chance to back out. The little voice, the one that always got him in trouble, answered, Why the hell not?
Everyone’s gotta have turkey on Thanksgiving!
Hauck hadn’t heard from her since his last time here. He knew his warning to Vega had worked.
He pulled open the wood door and stepped inside Annie’s restaurant.
A vase of hydrangeas in a vase brightened the entrance.
Hauck caught sight of her through the open kitchen. She was wearing a white chef’s jacket, her hair tied up in a blue kerchief. She was dotting a plate of pie with a flourish. She looked up and did a double take as she saw him.
He waved.
A waiter in a white apron came up to him apologetically. “I’m sorry, but we just finished for the night.”
“That’s okay,” Hauck said. He looked toward the kitchen. “I just came by to say hi.”
Annie smiled back through the window, shrugging widely as if to say, What’s going on…?
The waiter, seeing they knew each other, said, “Sure.”
There were only a couple of tables filled. Each looked like they were finishing up. Hauck took a seat at the bar.
A short while later Annie came around, removed her kerchief, and shook out her short black hair. “So you’ve finally come by to give me that protection, Lieutenant…”
“Happy Thanksgiving,” Hauck said.
“Happy Thanksgiving to you. I don’t have to be worried, do I?” She feigned a look of concern. “You’re not expecting some kind of holiday attack here, are you?”
He shook his head and laughed. “No.”
“Whew. You don’t look like you’re exactly dressed for duty, so okay, I’ll bite. What does bring you in?”
Hauck shrugged. “How about some turkey?”
Annie screwed up her brow. “Turkey?”
“I don’t have it wrong…It is Thanksgiving, isn’t it?”
Annie laughed. “You may not believe this, Lieutenant, but you may have picked the one restaurant in America that doesn’t actually serve turkey on Thanksgiving.”
“You’re joking.” Hauck shifted around and glanced at the sparsely filled restaurant. “You, um, may want to rethink that plan next year.”
Annie arched her brows. “And I see you’ve brought your stand-up routine too. Tell me, you think anyone really looking for a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving would end up coming here?”
“I did.” Hauck shrugged foolishly.
Annie looked at him. “Don’t you have a family to go to or something? Didn’t I see a couple of kids on the desk when I was in your office?”
“A daughter.” Hauck nodded. “She’s with her mom. In Brooklyn.”
“My son, he’s with my folks back in California.” Annie sat next to him on a stool. “Two peas in a pod, huh? So you’re looking for turkey? What a traditionalist.” She said, “Gimme a minute to look around. I’ll see what I can do.”
A short while later, she came back with a neatly arranged plate that smelled sensational to Hauck.
“This is only because you did such a kick-ass job of getting those people off me,” she said. “Turkey quesadilla, with peppers and a tomatillo coulis. A side of root vegetable ratatouille. We had some sitting around to use in salads for lunch. Maybe not exactly what the pilgrims had in mind…”
“It’s great.” Hauck smiled, digging in. “Thanks.”
“Not so shabby, huh?” Annie took off her jacket and apron and had on jeans and a tight-fitting tee. She had a cute, pixie-like figure and a smile like a Caribbean sunset now that it was free of worry. “Mazel tov. So now I’ll bite…What exactly are you doing here?”
“I told you, I live nearby. I wanted to come in and try the place.”
“So you decided on Thanksgiving? At seven thirty?”
Hauck cut into his quesadilla. “It was an impulse. And this is great, by the way…”
“Tough order.” Annie rolled her eyes. “Turkey on Thanksgiving…”
She pulled up a stool. Hauck ordered a Belgian Duvel beer and Annie took a sauvignon blanc. “I don’t mean to talk shop,” she asked, “but I heard on the news you still haven’t caught those people.”
“No.” Hauck took a sip of beer and they clinked glasses. “Cheers.”
“Cheers. Well, whatever magic you did worked. I haven’t seen hide nor hair of any bad guys since.”
“How’s the Bridgeport clientele holding up?”
“A little soft.” Annie smiled. “Ran out of red bandanas. But that’s okay.”
He coated a forkful of turkey in the sauce.
“Try the ratatouille.” Annie nudged him. “It’s a ten.”
“Anyway, the good news is,” he said, “I’m not sure you’re gonna need to get involved any deeper. When we’ve got someone in custody, you can come in and take a look at a lineup. You won’t have to testify. Just a deposition will do. You shouldn’t have to worry about having to get up on a stand.”
“I appreciate that, Lieutenant.”
They talked for a few more minutes while Hauck finished. She asked about his family. Hauck told her that he was divorced. He didn’t mention Norah. She said her son was nine. Jared. Back in California. Hauck didn’t probe.
“It’s a little complicated. I hope to have him here soon. Truth is, I haven’t always made the best choices.”
“No monopoly on that,” Hauck said.
Annie nodded. “No. I know. I had a restaurant back in the wine country that fell apart. The guy I was married to, he did some things. Both to me and the business. I lost everything. I had to give up custody. I had to show them I was on my feet, which was why I was such a head case not to get involved. I’m hoping to bring Jared here in December.”
“Good for you,” Hauck said.
Behind them, the two occupied tables got up and went to the door. Annie wheeled around and thanked them both. “Happy Thanksgiving.” She waved. “See, satisfied customers all around.”
Her staff had started breaking down the kitchen. Jason the waiter went around and collected the table settings.
“I think I’d better go,” Annie said. “I promised I would break down the kitchen tonight. Only way I could get any of them to come in.”
“I understand,” Hauck said. “You were an angel. How much is all this?”
“Oh, come on.” Annie waved. “How can I charge you? After coming to my rescue. You can bring your whole department in. Christmas, maybe?”
Hauck laughed. He drank up the last of his beer and got up. “Christmas.”
“Question,” Annie said.
“Shoot.”
“What is it you go by when you’re not called ‘lieutenant,’ Lieutenant?”
“‘Detective’ generally works.”
Annie stared back, not sure if he was teasing.
Hauck grinned from the door. “You can also try Ty, too!”