Chasing Shadows Read Online Free Page A

waitress was nice too, but quieter and less inclined to chat.
    By the end of my shift, I was worn out. I almost hoped Lisa would tell me I wasn’t working out, but when I was getting ready to leave, she came into the kitchen, looking around carefully.
    â€œYou did okay,” she said, without the slightest sign of being pleased. “Come in Tuesday, after school, and I will give you your schedule for the next few weeks.”
    I told her thanks, but if she heard me she didn’t acknowledge it.

CHAPTER FIVE
    The first few days at work were the hardest, but by the end of the second week I was getting used to the job. Most days I even finished my work with time to spare for a few extra things, like taking glasses or bread and butter plates out to the dining room, something the waitresses usually did when they had a few free moments.
    We were all kept pretty busy most of the time. Between the lunch and dinner rushes I had piles of dishes, as well as whatever Ben needed done, while the waitresses had to clean and set the tables and do things like shape the big, soft cloth serviettes into cones and stand them upside down at each place setting.
    And then of course there was always the odd customer who’d stop in for a meal, or even just dessert, between normal mealtimes, so the place wasn’t often completely empty.
    One afternoon, Nadine came into the kitchen looking a bit agitated. “If you’re not busy in here,” she whispered, “would you find something to do in the dining area for a few minutes?”
    â€œSure,” I agreed. “I have some cutlery and stuff to bring out to the trays anyway. What’s up?”
    â€œIt’s nothing, really. Just me being overly nervous, probably. But I have this customer who kind of gives me the creeps. He comes in the middle of the afternoon some days — for coffee and pie — and he just sits there and stares at me. Normally, Lisa is around, but she’s gone to do the bank deposit or something, so I’m like totally alone with him right now.”
    â€œWell, let me just get this apron off and I’ll come help you set the tables up. By the time we get that done, Lisa should be back.”
    â€œI feel silly asking you to do this,” she admitted. “It’s not as if he’s ever actually said or done anything — it’s just that he’s so strange, staring but never saying a word.”
    â€œIt’s no problem,” I assured her. Ben waved me away when I went to explain to him that I was going to the other room with Nadine for a bit.
    â€œMy dear cousin may care
desperately
what you do every moment that you’re here,” he laughed, “but I am the sane one in the family, remember?”
    I could see right away what Nadine meant about the guy in the dining room. It was definitely a bit weird,the way he sat there, his eyes following her under big, bushy eyebrows. He watched every step she took. I wondered if he was from Little River or not, since I couldn’t remember ever seeing him before. Of course, I don’t know everyone in town.
    Lisa was a while getting back that day, but it didn’t matter. The guy finished his pie and coffee, dropped some change on the table, and got up to leave.
    â€œCome with me,” Nadine said, talking through clenched teeth, her voice low.
    I went along, even though I felt a bit foolish accompanying her to the cash register. It was good that I did, though, because she was so flustered that she couldn’t get the cash register to work. It won’t operate until you put in a key and turn it, but Nadine forgot about that and tried to ring in his purchase without the key until I reminded her.
    â€œThank goodness you were here!” she declared after he’d taken his change and gone silently out the door. “I was so rattled I’d never have remembered the key. As it was, I could hardly remember which one to use.”
    â€œWhat are