At Risk Read Online Free

self-serving. Before she could dredge up something to say, Rafe started running across the dining room, dodging tables and knocking over a chair. She saw him leap through the door, into the kitchen. When he emerged, he had a firm hold on one of the drummers. The guy’s eyes darted from side to side, as though searching for an escape route.
    Like the chicken, Eugenia thought.
    “Sit down,” Rafe ordered.
    “I ain’t got nothin’ to do wid this,” the man muttered, looking at Eugenia like he thought she was going to come to his rescue.
    “Then you’ve got nothing to worry about,” Rafe said.
    The man snorted.
    “I’d like to leave,” a voice called from the crowd. It was the woman who had wanted to meet a real-life zombie.
    “Sorry,” Rafe answered. “Everybody stays until we find out what happened.”
    “Who are you to give me orders,” the guy he’d dragged back into the dining room protested
    “I’m restaurant security and can make a citizen’s arrest if I have to. Sit down.”
    The man gave him a threatening look, but he stayed put.
    Rafe kept his eye on the would-be escapee as he stroked a hand down Eugenia’s back. “Hang in there.”
    “I’m trying. Someone just died in my restaurant, and I can’t help feeling responsible,” she blurted.
    His gaze narrowed. “What are you saying, exactly?”
    She flapped her arm in frustration. “Only that he came here for Calista’s ceremony. And it was obviously too much for him.”
    “It was his choice to be here. He could have had a heart attack for all we know. Or an embolism. The same thing could have happened to him at home.”
    “I guess so.”
    Rafe looked like he was going to say more, but a loud sobbing sound from nearby caught their attention. Holly was coming in the front door, her eyes wet with tears.
    Eugenia quickly went to her, and Rafe was right behind.
    “I’m so sorry,” Eugenia began.
    “It’s not your fault.” She looked outside. “Those men wouldn’t let me go to the hospital with Martin.”
    Eugenia went to the hostess station and took a tissue from the box inside, which she handed to Holly.
    The woman wiped her eyes. “Thank you.”
    Rafe stepped closer. “Is there someone who could take you?”
    She turned toward Eugenia. “Can I call my friend, Sylvia?”
    “Of course.”
    She returned to her table, retrieved her purse and pulled out her cell phone. Eugenia led her to a quiet corner to make the call and waited to make sure that the friend could come.
    When she turned back, Rafe was speaking to the other guests. “I know this has been a disturbing event, and I want to thank you all for your cooperation. We may need to ask some questions later. Please write down your name, address and telephone number.”
    “What if we don’t live in the city?” one of the tourists asked.
    “Put the name of your hotel.”
    “But I’m supposed to leave tomorrow.”
    “I believe that will still be okay, but you’ll have to check with the police.”
    Another tourist raised his voice. “You can’t keep us here if we had nothing to do with what happened.”
    Rafe turned toward him, his own voice firm. “You can leave as soon as I get your information.” He turned to Eugenia. “Do you have some paper?”
    She produced a sheet from behind the podium, and he handed it to the man next to him. “Write down your name and address; then pass the sheet around the room.”
    oOo
    When the man began to write, Eugenia breathed out a little sigh, grateful for Rafe’s presence. If he hadn’t been there to keep a firm hand on the situation, the restaurant probably would have emptied out, and there would be no way to contact the out-of-town guests.
    She looked around to see how everyone was doing. Jillian Hargrave, who had been at a table for one, was now sitting with Gertie and Martha, probably because she didn’t want to be alone in this suddenly disturbing situation.
    Eugenia walked over to the three women. It looked like the events of