Miss Nobody

Chapter 6

THE NEW CHEF

Morning Day 2

Jonny looked hot as ever standing between the new tables in the restaurant. Dressed in head-to-toe black.

I tried not to stare directly at him, even though he was leading the employee meeting that morning.

"We have some new policies here at the Lodge. Look over them and sign them on your payroll app." Jonny looked around the room, his eyes stopped on me. He smiled slightly before looking back at his notes.

Jess noticed him smiling at me, a smirk played across her face.

I blushed and sank a little into the newly installed booth.

Cherry was sitting next to Jess at a new, round table, sniffling and wiping her nose with a soggy tissue. Her eyes were bloodshot and stuck on a spot on the newly polished wood floor. As if she was afraid to see her grandfather's body still lying on the ground.

I wish I could go back in time. I should have kept to myself. Stayed away from Chef, maybe then he'd be sitting here with us, pulling tiny flowers from Cherry and Jess's ears like a Magic trick. They'd both roll their eyes but tuck the little flowers in their hair. Chef was a good man and I let my curse get to him. Now he's going to make me pay by drowning me.

"A new Chef has been hired," Jonny announced to the few employees of the Lodge. There were fewer of us as winter crept closer and the warm months turned frigid. The newest employees wouldn't be here until the snow fell. The town would be full for the winter season like usual and the Lodge should be at capacity. I couldn't imagine the winters would be the same without Chef here to entertain his guests.

Cherry, Housekeeping, looked at Jonny. "Already?" She sobbed.

Jess, Front Desk, put her arm around Cherry's shoulders.

"The Lodge has obligations to meet and the taxes they pay to this town keep it afloat so we will remain open." Jonny, Boss Man, gave Cherry a consoling look. "You have time off if you need-"

"No." Cherry interrupted. "I want to keep working," she said quietly.

Jonny nodded. "The new Chef-" He looked at his watch. "-should be here any minute."

A tall, dark-haired man entered the restaurant area where we were having our meeting. The newly purchased tables and chairs had been rearranged. Management's attempt at erasing Chef's death under our feet.

"Keiran." Jonny shook the man's hand.

"Mr. Zantana. Thanks so much for giving me this opportunity." Keiran, New Chef, smiled.

"Chef suggested you to us a while back. We didn't want to replace him so soon but-" Jonny trailed off and glanced at me.

Keiran followed his gaze. "Chef taught me a few of his tricks when I dated his granddaughter. I'll stay away from the mushrooms for a while though." He winked.

I blushed and sipped my soda through the straw. Jonny had brought the fizzy drink to me while we waited for everyone to arrive. I had been yawning and he said it would help keep me awake.

"We never had any problems before-" Cherry's eyes darted to me. "-she showed up."

"Speak of the Devil," Keiran said quietly and sat next to Cherry with a silent chuckle.

"Jane was poisoned just as much as your Grandfather. She's lucky I found her when I did. I'm sure all the vomiting she did cleared out whatever it was or she'd be dead too." Jess smiled and looked over at me. "You've recovered so quickly."

"Or maybe she poisoned herself to cover up killing my Grandfather? People build a tolerance to things, maybe you've been taking a little every day?" Cherry continued her accusations.

"That's enough Cherry," Jonny told her sternly.

I shrugged. "It's okay, I know how this looks. I would be suspicious too but why would I kill my friend? What would my motive be?" I looked at Cherry.

"Maybe you wanted to marry him and take all his money?"

"Then why would I kill him before we got married?"

"I don't fucking know, I'm not a detective." She crossed her arms and sat back against her seat.

Ben and Roman tried to suppress their laughter next to me. They were the first ones to arrive at the meeting and Jonny introduced us, letting me know, again, that I could go to them for anything.

Jonny shook his head and tried to hide his smirk behind the papers. He cleared his throat. "Let's move on with this so we can all be on our way." He continued with his updates. "Hours will be different, we won't be doing breakfast anymore and will be switching over to Keiran's specialties, main courses, and desserts. So you all get to sleep in but we will be open later in the evenings."

Ben, Maintenance, yawned next to me and filled his small coffee cup from the carafe of coffee left on the table. It was probably cold by now but Ben didn't seem to care. He counted out six packets of sugar and dumped them in.

Roman, Host, pushed his elbow into Ben's side, aghast at the number of sugar packets.

Jonny continued, "we will be installing cameras in all public spaces. Other than that we will be operating as normal."

"Thank god," Ben whispered and stood with a big stretch.

Jess walked up to Jonny and put her hand on his forearm. A flirty smile on her face, she turned her back to me. They probably did sleep together. I couldn't imagine any man denying Jess. He's safer if he stays away from you.

Cherry and Keiran chatted. Cherry giggled.

I snuck out quietly and headed to the laundry room. At least they gave us twenty-four hours to grieve his death. I rolled my eyes. At least you're not in jail. Yet.

I cried off and on all day in the privacy of the laundry room. I hoped they didn't put any cameras in here. I sighed. Maybe it was a good idea, if someone was trying to kill me. First my accident and coma, now poisoning, and apparently, sleep-walking. I tried to force my memories knowing full well it would give me a headache. If someone didn't kill me soon, I'd end up doing it for them.

The dryer buzzed and I walked to its summons. The lights flickered. Everything went dark. I couldn't see my hands in front of me and I froze in place. Cold chills ran up and down my spine. The tiny hairs on my neck stood on end. I smelled the damp mold, the old sour laundry.

A thick shadow in the corner caught my attention. A green glow illuminated the laundry room but the corner with the shadow had no glow. It was dense and solid. The sour smell clogged my nostrils and I couldn't breathe. I suffocated on the stench.

A piercing ring brought the lights on and the machines whirled to life. I squinted trying to figure out where the loud ringing was coming from. A phone. It sounded muffled and I followed the noise to the stack of fluffy white towels. I lifted a few up and saw Chef's cell phone hidden in the folds. I almost grabbed it. Don't get your fingerprints on it. That will make it look more suspicious. What was Chef doing out here? I wish I had a way to call Jonny. I stared at the phone, now silent, on the white towel.

"You really need to get a phone, Miss Doe." The Sheriff's voice startled me and I lowered the towels over the phone quickly. Fuck.

He stepped into the laundry room but stayed close to the open glass doors.

I turned toward him. "Did you have more questions?"

The phone rang again.

"I thought you didn't have a cell phone?" The Sheriff glared at me.

My heart pounded wildly.