Away in a Murder Read Online Free Page B

hid you in the corner, but that reporter guy, Al Learner, is here. I didn’t want him to see you before you were ready to talk to him, Misty. Frank called me and told me what happened today. Besides, this way you can stake him out before he sees you.”
    “Where is he?” I asked.
    “He’s over in that corner.” She pointed to where he was sitting. “We put him in the back because he’s been mean to everyone since he got to the hotel. And every other word out of his mouth is a nasty one. I’d almost swear he was drunk, but he’s not. He’s just mean.”
    Frankie and I looked over to where Minerva was trying to point, without looking like she was pointing. Seated at a table was a man wearing a button down shirt that was probably very expensive and was definitely well tailored. His hair was impeccable, and I wondered how much gel it took to make it that way. From what I could tell, he was reasonably fit and had some muscle tone. His face however, ruined the rest of the picture. He was probably in his late fifties if I had to guess. He was good looking and had very few wrinkles, don’t get me wrong. But his face was in a scowl and that aged him. Right now the scowl was directed at his server. She was a petite but feisty young thing named Delia. She was holding her own with him. She wasn’t smiling, but she wasn’t rude either. I was proud of the way she was handling the situation.
    “Do you really expect me to eat this slop?” he yelled. As he was saying it he swept his arm across the table. This action sent his plate, his silverware and his glass all crashing to the floor. And he managed to splash food and drink not only on Delia but also on the lady at the table next to him. The man she was with stood up and yelled at Al.
    Delia was trying to talk them both down, but it wasn’t working. I could see that her face was getting red and her fists were balled up. Her tone may have been calm, but she wasn’t calm inside.
    “Looks, like I’ll be giving her a free meal,” Minerva said. She took a deep breath. “I’d better go handle this.”
    She got up and walked over to the couple who were now busily wiping food off of the lady’s silk blouse. I heard her apologize to the lady. The man said something and angrily pointed to Al.  Al then stood up and got face to face with the man. The woman was pulling at the man, sensibly trying to get him away from Al. The man must have listened to her because he turned around and started walking away. I thought it was over but, that was when Al grabbed the man by the shoulder and turned him around. Then Al screamed, “You can’t walk away from me,” and punched the guy in the face.
    It was then that security finally arrived. They grabbed Al and took him out of the room. Then they tended to the man that Al had punched. They offered to call an ambulance for the man, but he refused. I was secretly hoping they’d call the police and have Al locked up. Then the interview might have to be canceled. Oh, and because he deserved it.
    Minerva was talking to the lady in a voice so low I couldn’t hear what she was saying. She was holding the lady’s hands in hers. The lady was nodding and her face was starting to relax. Minerva was working her magic. She could take a hold of any situation and make everything right again. I envied that. Watching her I wished I could get her to teach me how to do that.
    The couple left, not quite smiling, but not looking as upset as they had been.
    After she made everything ok, Minerva walked back to our table. She did not sit down this time. “Misty, do you think you can take something off that couple’s bill? I did give them a complementary meal, but the man is really angry,” she said. “Not that I blame him.”
    “Of course,” I said. “I’ll talk to the manager on duty before I leave. Maybe we’ll even add it to Al Learner’s bill.” That was a joke. I think. Could I do that?
    “Misty, you are a wonder. Now, let me send your food