But if your brain went, you were also gone, though your body lingered and became dependent on someone else to take care of it. And that would be your loved ones’ last impression of you, even though it wasn’t really you, at least not anymore.
Decker came out of these musings in time to glance up. Through the window of the door going into the kitchen, he caught a man watching him. It was just a quick look, and then the man was gone. The only thing Decker could really observe was dark hair and a pair of penetrating eyes.
Decker, the cop, was instantly intrigued. He had spent almost his entire adult life as a policeman. Reading people’s faces, separating the bad from the good, the scared from those trying to hide something. It was not a skill he could teach someone else. It really had become almost instinctual over time. It was a million little things processed together to spit out something close to a useful deduction.
And his antennae were quivering.
He slowly eased his phone out of his pocket, turned the flash off, and, while ostensibly checking his phone screen, snapped a series of pictures of the wait staff flitting around the restaurant. He recognized the waitress from the last time he was here. And trailing behind her was the young man named Daniel, who was learning the craft of being a waiter.
When he put the phone away, he glanced over at the kitchen double doors and thought he had seen someone at the window there.
Had it been the same guy watching him?
Decker motioned to the young woman who had been serving him. Daniel had gone into the kitchen.
She came over. “You want anything else?”
“No, the food was great.”
“I’ll get your bill.”
“Looks like you’re hustling tonight.”
“Yeah, it gets a little crazy sometimes.”
“Been working here long?”
“About a year.”
“Last time I was in, you had a trainee following you around.”
“Oh, right, yeah, well, that’s how we learn the job.”
“So, you did that too?”
“No, I already had several years of waitressing experience. Only reason I got the job. But it’s kind of silly, if you ask me.”
“What is?”
“Training all these people. They never stay. Two or three months on the job and then they’re gone. I guess some people don’t respect hard work or the time and money it takes to train somebody.”
“Yeah, you’re right. That doesn’t make much sense.”
“I won’t be working here much longer, so it doesn’t matter to me. I got another job offer and I’m taking it. Better pay, and benefits.”
“Great.”
“My mother used to work here, oh, about ten years ago. She was the one who told me to apply. Pay’s not great, not that any wait job’s is, but the tips aren’t bad, especially on the weekends when the guys get drunk and open their wallets. Makes up a little for all the stupid stuff they say, but if they get handsy, and a lot of them do, I bring the hammer down.”
“Good for you. Did your mother work here long?”
“No. I mean, she wanted to. But after about a year they let her go.”
“Why’s that?”
“They never told her. Then later, a friend of hers was hired to be a waitress here. About a year after that, they let her go too. No reason.”
“That is really odd.”
“Well, it’s not my problem. I’ll be out of here. Come to think of it, I’ve been here about a year. I guess if I wasn’t leaving, they might fire me too.”
“Maybe the management has changed since your mom’s time.”
“No, it hasn’t.”
“Come again.”
“Bill Peyton is the manager now. And he was the manager when my mom was here. She didn’t like him. He was always watching everything so closely.”
“I guess that’s what managers get paid to do.”
“I guess. And the kitchen staff, they haven’t changed either all that time.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because they’re the same people when my mom was here. I told her some of their names when I first started working, and she recognized them all. They were here from when the place opened, for all I know.”
“You mean the cooks and busboys and all that?”
“Right.”
“What are they like?”
“What do you mean?”
“Old, young, men, women, Ohio farm stock?”
“All guys. And, no, I don’t think any of them are from Ohio. To tell the truth, I’m not sure where they’re from. They don’t interact with us much. Age-wise, they’re probably in their fifties.”
“Long time to be a short order cook or a busboy.”
“I guess they’re content with what they have. You get in a rut, you know? That’s why I’m getting out. And I’m taking coding classes too. I don’t want to be a waitress my whole life.”
“Hey, well, good luck with your new gig.”
“Thanks. I’ll bring your check.”
He gave her a nice tip and left.
On the way out, he looked at the plaque next to the door. It read: Manager: Bill Peyton.
He looked back into the restaurant.
He had never been a regular here. But he’d been here a few times before his life had fallen apart. He had never considered it anything special until now.
And now something that he had found at Katz’s office took on a heightened importance.
Chapter 61
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING, DECKER?”
It wasn’t Lancaster asking him this question as he looked up from the document he was studying in the small conference room at the police station.
It was Blake Natty, looking disheveled and exhausted.
“Just the nuts and bolts of detective work. Nothing personal, Natty, but you look like shit.”
Natty wiped his stubbly chin, ran a hand through his unkempt hair, and attempted to tighten the knot on his tie before giving up. He sat down across from Decker and clasped his hands in front of him.
“Fran threw me out.”
Decker sat back and slowly took this in. “What happened?”
“She found out.”
“About you and Brimmer?”
Natty nodded.
“How?”
“Some bastard emailed her pictures of us together in my car.”
“You could have just been driving somewhere.”
“We weren’t…driving.”
“Right. But she has to know what happened to Sally.”
“She does. But I don’t think it mattered. You see…” He stopped, looking nervous.
“Was Sally not the first time?” asked Decker.
“No. I screwed up…before. Fran took me back. But I don’t think she’s going to do it this time.”
“I heard Sally’s family came to take her remains.”
Natty nodded. “I wanted to go to her funeral. But I didn’t think it would be appropriate.”
“You’re probably right about that.” Decker shifted in his seat. “I’m sorry about all this, Natty.”
Natty said nothing. He just stared down at the table.