The Professor (McMurtrie and Drake Legal Thrillers #1)(31)

At a little after 8 on a Thursday night in mid-February, the place was basically empty. A couple of rugged-looking gentlemen wearing jeans and heavy jackets sat drinking coffee at the counter, and there was a middle-aged couple at one of the tables. Rick and Dawn were the only other patrons, which suited Rick just fine. He knew Wilma Newton would be less likely to talk if there was a crowd.

“So you really think this is gonna work?” Dawn asked, raising her eyebrows and looking around. Rick had spent the drive briefing her on the case and the reason for the meeting with Ms Newton. To his relief, Dawn had easily grasped the big picture, asking good questions, to some of which Rick didn’t have an answer. But to his chagrin, Dawn had agreed with Frankie that he probably should’ve called ahead.

Only one way to find out, Rick thought, trying to look confident as a large buxom woman walked around the counter towards them. Is that her? he wondered. As she got closer, his gut told him no.

“What can I get for y’all?” She had short, curly red hair and teeth a dark shade of yellow.

“I think I’m gonna need a minute, maybe some water to start off with,” Dawn said in a friendly voice.

“And you,” the large woman asked Rick.

“Coke, please.”

“All right, I’ll be back with your drinks in a jiffy.” As she turned to go, Rick noticed a more attractive-looking waitress pouring tea into a glass at the table where the middle-aged couple sat. Is that her? This time, Rick’s gut was inconclusive.

A couple of minutes later, the large red-headed waitress was back, drinks in hand. “Now what can I get y’all to eat?”

Rick had barely looked at the menu, but knew what he wanted. Dawn nodded at him to go first.

“I think I’ll have a cheeseburger and fries,” Rick said, smiling at the waitress.

“You want that burger with everything?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“How about you, honey?”

“I think I’ll have the same thing,” Dawn said, closing her menu.

“Ma’am, I was wondering,” Rick led in, feeling his heartrate speed up. “Is there a Wilma Newton working here tonight?”

“Who wants to know?” the woman replied, a suspicious look on her face.

“Just a couple of folks from Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In the neighborhood and wanted to speak with her. She used to live nearby.” None of what Rick said was a lie, but he still felt a little guilty. And anxious. Maybe I should have called...

The waitress maintained her suspicious look and didn’t move from in front of their table. She then turned her head towards the table with the middle-aged couple.

“Hey, Wilma!” she yelled.

The attractive waitress Rick had noticed earlier looked up.

“Come over here. Got some folks from Tuscaloosa that want to see you.”

As she walked over, Rick realized that she wasn’t as young as he’d originally thought. Several lines ran down her forehead, no doubt the result of a hard life. Her hair was cropped off about midway down her neck, and like their waitress she wore the Sands uniform.

“Hi, there,” Wilma said in an unsure voice.

“Ms Newton, my name is Rick Drake and this is my co-worker, Dawn Murphy. We’re from Tuscaloosa.” Rick smiled. “We were wondering if you might have a few minutes to talk with us.”

Wilma Newton looked at them, her expression curious. The other waitress also continued standing in front of them, looking back and forth from Wilma to Rick and Dawn.

“Everything all right, Wilma?” she asked. Ms Newton continued to look at Rick and Dawn, sizing them up.

“Yeah, no problem, Judy. Listen, why don’t you let me take this table. These folks being from Tuscaloosa and all.”

“Well, all right,” the other waitress replied, hesitating, before walking away.

Once she was out of earshot, Wilma’s expression hardened and she glared at Rick. “I guess you folks want to talk about the wreck.”

“Well, actually...” Rick began, but was quickly cut off.

“I already told the newspapers everything I know about it. I got nothing else to say. Now if you’ll excuse me.” She walked off and disappeared behind the front counter and into the kitchen. Rick took a sip of Coke, wincing at Dawn.

“Still think not calling ahead was a good idea?” Dawn asked, a playful smile on her face.

Rick just shook his head. “I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe not. But let’s give her some time. If she’s our waitress, she’ll have to bring the food out and then the check after that. We’ll get a couple more cracks at her.”

“Hope those go better than that,” Dawn said, now laughing.

“Well, I didn’t have much help from my new partner. Why don’t you give it a try.”

“Really?’

“Why not?”

A few minutes later, Wilma Newton reappeared carrying two plates.

“Cheeseburger and fries,” she said, placing one of the plates in front of Dawn. “And the same thing,” she continued, setting the other plate hard on Rick’s place mat, making a rattling sound.

“Sorry,” she said, throwing a dirty look at Rick that said not really. Before either of them could say anything, she was gone, walking back behind the counter and turning on the sink where some dirty dishes had piled up.