A Roux of Revenge Read Online Free PDF Page A

where Sage was lining up plates andrapidly buttering slices of toast. “You need any help in there?” she called to him.
    He looked up and smiled. “Nah. I’m fine. Sophie’s stopping by again today, and she’ll give me a hand.”
    Lucky was relieved to hear they’d have a little extra help this morning. She hadn’t expected such a crowd, but she wasn’t complaining. Less than a year ago the Spoonful had been facing bankruptcy whena body had been found behind the restaurant and Sage himself had been arrested for the crime.
    During the winter months Sophie worked as a ski instructor at the Snowflake Resort at the top of the mountain. Her off season schedule was light. But Lucky knew that in a month or so, Sophie would be far too busy to stop in at the Spoonful and lend a hand.
    Lucky jumped involuntarily when platescrashed to the floor. She scanned the room. Janie stood at a table by the front window. Her face was bright red. She apologized to her customers and rushed toward the kitchen to replace the order. Lucky could tell she was horribly embarrassed.
    “I’m sorry,” she whispered as she passed by the counter. “It just slipped out of my hand.”
    “Don’t worry about it,” Lucky replied. “I’ll clean up.”She glanced over the counter. Everyone was set for a minute or two. She followed Janie into the kitchen and grabbed a dustpan and broom and a wet cloth. She hurried back to the table, apologized to the couple who sat by the window and quickly cleaned up the spilled food and broken china. As she carried the debris to the dustbin in the kitchen, she passed Janie, rushing her order back. Janie’s facewas blotchy and red. She looked on the verge of tears.
    Lucky returned to the counter and refilled several cups of coffee. She cleared away dishes from patrons who were preparing to leave. She wondered again if most of these people were working at the Harvest Festival in some capacity. They all seemed to be on the same schedule. Once the rush died down and only a few stragglers remained, Luckypeeked through the hatch and spotted Janie in the kitchen. Lucky pushed through the swinging door and approached the girl, who stood at the worktable, slicing tomatoes. “Janie, it’s all right. It was just a couple of dishes. It’s nothing.”
    Janie had been crying; Lucky was sure of it. She glanced over at Sage who diplomatically pretended not to notice.
    Lucky took her hand. “Come into theoffice with me?”
    “No. No. I’m all right, Lucky. Really, I am.”
    “You don’t look all right. Come on.” Half pulling on Janie’s hand, Lucky led her down the hall and into her small office.
    Janie’s eyes were rimmed with red. Lucky gently pushed her into a chair in front of the desk and sat across from her. “Something’s wrong. Why don’t you tell me what it is?”
    “I’m real sorry I droppedthat dish and right in front of those two customers.”
    “This isn’t about the dish.”
    Janie swallowed. “You’re right. It’s just . . . I saw him again. That man.”
    “The same man? The one you saw yesterday? Where?”
    “Across the street. Watching the Spoonful again. When I looked up, I could’ve sworn he was staring right at me.”
    “I think I’m going to have a talk with that guy. I don’tlike the sound of this.”
    “Well, that’s not the only reason I got so upset. Not really. Although it was kinda creepy. But there’s something else.” Janie paused for breath. “Yesterday . . . when I got home . . . I mentioned it to my mom—you know, how I’ve noticed this man a bunch of times around town. It seems like I’ve seen him wherever I’ve been.”
    “I’m sure she’s concerned for the samereason I am.”
    “Well, that’s just it. Not really. She got mad. She started grilling me about where I was and what I was doing. She was really angry at me, Lucky.” The tears started to flow again. “And I don’t know why. It was like I did something wrong. And I didn’t.”
    Lucky