16. Betty's Diner

Chrissy's little trick fools everyone... almost.

“Would you like a piece of apple pie for desert?” the waitress asked Sheriff Karl Horst as she gathered up the dishes from his roast beef and mashed potato dinner at Betty's Diner.

“Did Betty bake it herself?” he asked.

“This afternoon,” she answered.

“Then I'll have a slice for sure. Betty's apple pie is the best in the county,” he said with a wink and a smile.

Karl Horst missed going out on patrol like the old days when he was a deputy. His duties as sheriff usually kept him behind a desk doing administrative work all day. But on the rare occasions that he was able to finish up his office work early he would go to the motor pool and sign out a cruiser and patrol the roads like old times. On those days he usually ended up at Betty's diner for dinner. He sat at his favorite table by the window and watched the traffic go by as he ate.

His cell phone rang as the waitress set the pie down in front of him. It was Mueller, one of his deputies. “They're on the move, Sheriff,” he said.

“Who's on the move?” asked Horst.

“That woman and her kid,” answered Mueller, “She turned her phone back on. We picked up the signal at that general store over by Billy Groover's warehouse. Then they turned north on Route 17. We're headed that way now.”

“North on seventeen? But that means they're headed for the county seat. Why would they go that way? And why would she turn her phone back on? She knows we're tracking it.”

“Beats me. Maybe she turned it on by accident. We've got two more cruisers coming from the other direction to head them off. And Groover's boys are on their way, too. They're not getting away this time.”

“See that they don't!” said Sheriff Horst sternly, “She's already made fools of Groover's idiots. Make sure that she doesn't make fools of you, too.”

“What do we do with them when we catch them?”

“Turn them over to Groover's goons. Whatever happens to them after that is none of our concern. Keep me updated. And make sure you don't use your radios. We want to keep this off the record.” He disconnected.

A feeling of disquiet came over him as he ate his pie and thought about what Mueller had just told him. Why were they headed north on Route 17? It didn't make any sense. And why did that woman turn her phone back on? Was she up to something? She was a shrewd one. He stared out the window thoughtfully as he ate his pie and wondered.

He suddenly stood up so fast that he knocked his chair over. The rest of the patrons turned and looked with surprise as he watched a woman on a motorcycle go zooming past the diner. He threw his napkin down on the table and shouted, “Goddammit!!”

He grabbed his hat and rushed for the door. “Sorry to dine and dash!” he yelled to Betty on his way out, “I'll pay you later.”

Betty glanced up from her crossword. “Whatever,” she muttered with a dismissive gesture.

Author's Note

Suggestions and constructive criticisms are always welcome.

Reviews

[Tina Kline]

Good chapter. Things just might be getting a little 'hot' now!

[Craig2591]

Thank you.

[N. Van Avery]

Your story is certainly getting interesting!

[Craig2591]

Thank you.

[Nienor Niniel]

Oh dear, now it's a one-on-one battle...Chrissy vs. the Sheriff. Who's gonna win?

Nice way to start with a peaceful diner dinner and then transition to a launch for the next chapter.

[Craig2591]

Thank you very much.