Bring Your Own Poison Read Online Free Page B

dishwasher before dropping off her purse down the hall. She made a last quick check of her makeup in the mirror there. Deciding that she looked fine, she returned to the front of the restaurant. She paused behind the counter to survey the room.
    Only a couple tables and three stools at the counter were occupied, and Ruby obviously had everything under control up front. “What do I need to do for the party?” Wanda Nell asked Melvin.
    â€œNot much,” Melvin said. “It’s been pretty slow this afternoon, so I think I’ve done everything that needed doing. You can double-check me, though.”
    Wanda Nell nodded. Melvin was thorough, but sometimes he missed a few things. She might as well have a look.
    She paused near the end of the counter to speak to one of the regulars. “Hey, Junior, how’re you doing?”
    Junior Farley, his plump face creased into a grin, said, “Howdy, Wanda Nell. I’m doing about as well as can be expected, I guess. How’re you?”
    â€œI’m fine,” Wanda Nell said. “You need anything?”
    â€œNaw, I’m okay,” Junior said. “Little Miss Ruby there’ll take care of me if I need something.” He beamed at the girl who blushed and turned away.
    Suppressing a smile, Wanda Nell continued on her way to the restaurant’s back room. Junior was pretty shy with women. He had been dating someone for a while, but Wanda Nell heard the woman had dumped him. Now it looked like Junior was mooning over Ruby. He was a nice man, but he was a bit too old for Ruby, Wanda Nell thought. Junior had to be her age, if not older, and Ruby was barely twenty. She was smart enough to handle the situation, though, and Wanda Nell wasn’t going to interfere. Junior would probably be too chicken to do anything anyway.
    Melvin had shut off the back room and tacked a notice on the door that the room was reserved for a private party from seven-thirty until ten. Wanda Nell opened the door and slipped through.
    Melvin had rearranged the tables and chairs to form a big square in the middle of the room. She counted twenty-five chairs there. This was going to be a pretty good–size party. Next she inspected the bar setup Melvin had provided. He had hired a bartender for the night, and the guy should be arriving around seven to get ready.
    As Wanda Nell examined the rest of the room, she discovered the only thing Melvin had forgotten. There were no ashtrays on the tables, and Wanda Nell knew they would be needed. At every other bachelor party she had ever worked, the room quickly turned smoky. She went back up front to find ashtrays and to remind Melvin to take care of ventilating the room as much as he could.
    Business remained slow for the next hour, and Wanda Nell relieved Ruby for a while. She would be working the front while Wanda Nell took care of the party. Ruby had offered to help her, but Wanda Nell didn’t want the girl having to deal with rowdy men who had been drinking more than was good for them. She could handle them just fine, and Melvin would never be far away if she needed him.
    At six-thirty on the dot, Wanda Nell looked toward the front door to see Jack Pemberton coming into the restaurant. She moved forward with a smile to greet him, but she halted when she saw the expression on his face.
    Her heart did a flip-flop. Something bad had happened, and Jack was coming to tell her about it. For a moment she couldn’t breathe.
    Jack came up to her and reached out a hand. “What’s wrong, honey? Are you okay?”
    â€œWhy are you asking me?” Wanda Nell demanded. “What’s wrong with you? Did something happen to one of the girls? Or T.J.?” Her heart thudded in her chest.
    Jack shook his head. “No, they’re all fine. Sorry if I scared you.”
    Breathing more easily, Wanda Nell said, “Then what on earth is wrong? The look on your face about scared me to death.”
    Jack scowled.