The Chicken Burger Murder Read online

  The Chicken Burger Murder

  A Burger Bar Mystery Book 3

  Rosie A. Point

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

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  Thank You, Reader!

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  1

  The mayor of Sleepy Creek stood on the podium in the town hall, his gavel in one hand, and his fist on his hip. “Now,” he said, to the waiting citizens. “Now, now, everyone quiet down.”

  I sat at the back of the hall—best vantage point in the place—with Grizzy practically squirming at my side. “Relax,” I said. “You’d swear it was Christmas tomorrow.”

  “Shush, shush, it’s going to start soon.”

  “Perish the thought we would miss a single second of Mayor Samson’s riveting speech.”

  Missi, who had taken her place in front of me next to her twin sister, Virginia, snorted loudly. She shared my enthusiasm for these town meetings, but then, the terrible twins had attended every single one since they’d been eighteen-years-old. They were nigh on eighty now.

  “Settle down, everyone,” the mayor called, clearing his throat. He brought his gavel down on the wooden stand, and the clacking rose above the general shuffling and chatter in the hall.

  “I don’t get why everyone’s so excited about this,” I whispered. “It’s not like…”

  “Shush.” Grizzy insisted.

  I pressed my fingers to the bridge of my nose. It had been a week since the last murder in Sleepy Creek, and, after all that high octane investigation, things had slowed down a lot. It was a good thing—I’d received my final warning from the Chief back in Boston.

  One more hint of trouble and my sabbatical would be over. So would my future as a homicide detective in Boston. But quiet was… boring. Unless I counted the incident with Maura’s cat, and the run-in with the blender I’d had the other morning—I couldn’t be held liable for spraying smoothie all over the ceiling. I’d been tired.

  “All right, now that you’re all settled,” the mayor prompted, over the last few whispers. “I’m proud to announce that we’ll be holding the Spring Food Fair as planned this year.”

  The announcement was greeted with thunderous applause. A few of the locals stamped their feet on the wooden boards.

  “Before we get into the details of our fair,” the mayor continued, raising his palm. “I would like for us to take a moment of silence to pay homage to those we’ve lost this past month. To Paul and to Haley. May they rest in peace.”

  Everyone bowed their heads and fell silent.

  I couldn’t think about Haley or Paul. Doing so excited my investigative brain, and that would only lead to trouble. After all, Paul’s death might have been linked to my mother’s cold case.

  Instead, I fixed my gaze on the mayor.

  He was tall and broad-shouldered, but his belly strained against the buttons of his plaid shirt. He was in his late sixties with graying hair and a slightly bulbous nose. I didn’t know him well, but the rumors in the Burger Bar said he was a good man. The most trusted in the town, according to Vee. Missi grew all prune-lipped at the mention of the man.

  Perhaps, because he was the guy in Sleepy Creek who had the most power. Or he’d inadvertently insulted her. An argument over an antique? Anything was possible when it came to Missi.

  She was the one who’d suggested I get a cat solely for the purpose of human body disposal.

  “Thank you,” the mayor said. “Now, I know this has been a difficult time for everyone, and that there were some in the town who thought having the Food Fair this year might be in bad taste. But Sleepy Creek is nothing without its traditions, and this is one we must continue at all costs.”

  “Hear, hear,” a man near the front called out. “Can’t let a few murders stop our celebration, am I right?” He was so tall he was a head and shoulders above everyone else sitting down, with olive skin and dark hair—balding spot in the center of his head.

  “Who’s that?” I whispered.

  “Sal from the pizzeria,” Grizzy replied.

  I hadn’t met the owner of the pizzeria, but their fully stacked pepperoni was just about the best pie I’d had in my life.

  “Now, Sal, let’s try to be respectful,” the mayor said, and smiled kindly.

  “Whatever, Samson, get to the good stuff.”

  The mayor didn’t look pleased. “Right,” he said, “you’ll notice that there’s a fair ground map underneath each of your chairs. I’ll ask you to remove it, now.”

  “This is like Oprah without the cars,” I whispered.

  Missi snorted again.

  I brought out the map, and the other citizens did too. It was a schematic of the park in the center of Sleepy Creek with plots mapped out around the fountain. The ones closest to the winding path that tracked across the grass would likely get the most attention.

  Each plot was numbered.

  “As you can see, we’ve got our layout ready for the Food Fair,” the mayor said. “Last year, we had some difficulty selecting which stall would go where.”

  A few of the others grumbled, and I raised an eyebrow at Grizzy.

  “Infighting,” she whispered.

  “—we’re going to streamline the selection process this year.” The mayor brought out a large clear plastic bowl. “Inside, there are numbers. Each person gets to pick one.”

  “Do you really think that’s fair?” Sal sprang from his seat. “What if none of the food stalls get a front row position?”

  “Oh please.” A woman stood. Mid-forties, by my estimation, with fiery red hair. Short, but stocky, looked as if she’d pack a punch. “You want the best stall spot for yourself. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about last year.”

  “What about last year?” Sal asked, in an accent that smacked of New York.

  “You got the best stall for yourself and the rest of us were left in the second row, far away from the fountain. At least, this way is fair.”

  “Dolores, if the cakes don’t sell, get out of the bakery. That’s what I always say.” Sal clicked his fingers and pointed at her.

  “Oh, you are a horrible man. Horrible, horrible man. Selfish! You want all the money for yourself.”

  “Now, now, you two, relax,” the mayor said, and banged his gavel on the stand.

  But the two glared at each other. It didn’t seem that either of them would back down.

  “You want it all for yourself,” Dolores repeated.

  “Like I said, Dolores, if nobody’s buying your product there’s got to be a reason for it. From what I hear, stale goods.”

  “How dare you!”

  A few people gasped.

  The mayor brought his gavel down twice. “That’s enough.”

  “I’m not the one who serves stinky cheese on his pizzas,” Dolores said.

  “Keep talking.” Sal made a quacking motion with one hand. “Keep talking. It’s music to my ears.”

  “Both of you sit down, immediately. If you don’t behave, neither of you will pick until last.”

  That shut them up fast. They lowered themselves into their seats again, Sal with sniff, and Dolores with a huff and a puff and a straighte
ning of her polka dot cardigan.

  “As if we haven’t had enough drama in Sleepy Creek,” Virginia said, turning her head to catch my eye. “Those two have been at each other’s throats for years. Each Spring Food Fair it’s the same. Arguments. Tears, mostly from Sal, and the comparison of sales at the end of the charity drive.”

  “They’re idiots,” Missi grunted.

  “Be nice.” Her plum-haired sister tapped her on the forearm.

  “No,” Missi said, “and you can’t make me either.”

  I grinned. The twins always cheered me up, even when I was the butt of their joke—it happened more often that I liked to admit.

  The mayor had descended from the podium with his bowl and started in the front row. He walked up and down the lines, waiting as people drew their numbers. Chatter started as people compared their stall positions. Dolores had a look on her face like she’d bitten into a rotten apple. She glanced over at Sal, and drew her tongue over her bottom lip.

  “Here you are, Griselda.” Samson held out the bowl, and my bestie reached into it and withdrew a slip of paper. The mayor moved on down the line.

  “What did you get?” I asked.

  “Number 13.”

  “Way to give me the creeps.”

  “It’s spring not Halloween, Chris.”

  “I was kidding.” I drew the map out and pointed to the number. “Nice! That’s right next to the path, across from the fountain.”

  “Wow,” Grizzy said. “That’s the best spot I’ve ever gotten. I can’t wait for the fair now.”

  “Don’t let Sal or Dolores hear about it.” Missi had turned around in her chair. “They’ll try to steal the paper from you. Or sabotage your burgers.”

  “For real?” I asked.

  “Of course.” Missi’s answer was matter-of-fact. “Those two will do anything to get what they want. Haven’t you heard about the cake-pizza war of 2016?”

  “No. Not sure I want to. Was it like a massive food fight?”

  “Basically,” Missi said. “But with guerilla tactics. Went on for months. Cakes plastered against the pizzeria, loads of ants, and then the stench of cheese outside the bakery. Took that handsome detective you’re in love with to stop it.”

  I choked on saliva. “What?”

  “The stench of cheese?” Missi asked, innocently.

  “I am not in love with Detective Balle,” I snapped.

  “Funny,” Missi replied, a twinkle in her sharp blue eyes. “I didn’t mention his name.”

  I rolled my eyes and sat back as the mayor resumed his spot on the podium. If Missi was in such good spirits because of the Food Fair, she’d be insufferable for the rest of the week. Assuming no one else in Sleepy Creek got murdered.

  2

  “It’s this way,” I said, gesturing with the map of the park. “Should be right across from the fountain?”

  “This is too exciting.” Grizzy carried our takeaway containers from the Burger Bar, one stacked on top of the other, grinning. “I can’t believe we got such a great spot for the Fair. Last year, I was two rows from the front.”

  “I’m sure you sold a ton of burgers. Who could resist them?” I walked next to my friend, down the long winding path that led through the park, under trees and past the odd pond or bench. The scent of new flowers was on the air, and I inhaled deeply.

  “A ton of burgers? Maybe. OK, yeah, we did sell a lot, but still. This will give us even more visibility.” Grizzy kept up the pace, bouncing along out of sheer excitement. “Sleepy Creek’s becoming more popular, you know.”

  “Meaning what?”

  “The tourism season is just starting. Old Belle at the Sleepy Dreams Guesthouse is already fully booked up, and so is the Sleepy Creek motel. This will draw in a lot of new customers and get people talking about the Burger Bar.” Grizzy bit her lip. “I’ve been thinking … I mean, after the twins set up their social media page, maybe I should put one up too. And a website.”

  I nearly tripped over my feet, the map of the park slipping in my fingers. I caught it before it fell. “You don’t have a website?”

  “That was a bit of an overreaction. It’s not like I just announced I don’t have an aortic valve.”

  I raised an eyebrow at her.

  “What? I’ve been watching a lot of those ask the doctor type shows on TV.”

  “I beg you to stop.”

  “My point,” Grizzy said, “is that I’m thinking, if I put a website up I’ll draw in even more customers.”

  “Build hype for the Fair?”

  “Not just that, but for the tourism season in general. Can you imagine? People traveling from all over to come taste our burgers.”

  “Ah, here it is.” I gestured to a patch of grass across from the fountain. A bench sat to the left of what would be the Burger Bar’s lot, though it hadn’t been demarcated yet.

  “It’s perfect.” Grizzy sighed and lowered herself to the bench.

  “To be fair, it’s just a patch of grass.”

  “It’s a patch of potential.”

  I sat next to Grizzy, and she handed me one of the takeaway burger boxes, smiling almost from ear-to-ear.

  “What are you so happy about?” I asked.

  “Well, what did we come here for today?”

  “Fresh air? Sunshine? An opportunity to get sprayed by the fountain? Make a wish in the waters? To burn some calories after the last week of—”

  “I don’t know why I ask you questions. You’ve always got something spunky to say.”

  “You like that about me, though.”

  Grizzy chuckled. “In moderation.”

  “Hashtag mean.”

  “Oh, don’t start hashtagging things. You know I don’t understand how it works.”

  “Good heavens, Griselda, even Virginia knows how hashtagging works and she’s nearly eighty.”

  Grizzy popped open the box on her lap then handed me one of the napkins from underneath it. “My point is,” she said, “that we came to figure out what type of burgers we should serve at the Fair. Now, Jarvis is happy to do any of them, but he did give me a quick list of what he wouldn’t like to do.”

  “And they are?”

  “He doesn’t want to do anything with eggs because that might be more difficult in large quantities,” Griz said.

  “Makes sense.” I opened by burger box and removed the delicious item.

  “And he thinks the Double Cheese Burger will probably take too much time to get right on the day. So, he came up with a solution. Take a bite.”

  I bit into the burger, and the burst of flavor traveled over my tongue. The textures were unbelievable too. The crunch of deep fried crumbing, the softness of tender chicken breasts, the crispiness of lettuce. The buns were perfect as always, light, with sesame seeds on the top, and toasted on the inside so the burger would maintain its integrity.

  “Oh wow,” I said, around a mouthful. “It’s chicken.”

  “Exactly,” Griz replied. “Nothing fancy. The humble Chicken Burger will be our little surprise for the residents of Sleepy Creek and the visitors. Jarvis thinks he can pull it off easily. And I’ve got a supplier—”

  A shout rang out nearby, and Grizzy paused, frowning. I scanned the park and spotted two people standing on the trail to the left of the fountain, facing each other.

  Sal wearing a marinara stained apron with Sal’s Pizzeria logo on the front, and…

  “Is that Nelly? From the florists’ shop?” Grizzy placed her hand over her eyes. “What on Earth?”

  Nelly had her fists on her hips. She glared up at Sal, anger burning in her usually mellow face. I hadn’t lived in Sleepy Creek for long now—just the three weeks since I’d been placed on sabbatical—but I’d never once seen Nelly angry.

  She was usually pleasant. She hated conflict and gossip and anything negative.

  “I won’t,” she said, loudly, and walked off.

  Sal followed her. “Hey, I’m talkin’ to you.”

  “I don’t
want to hear anything you have to say, Sal.”

  “Uh oh,” Grizzy said, and put her burger back in its box

  I did the same and shut the lid to protect it from an incursion of flies or bugs. I’d never been a big fan of eating stuff outdoors. “What do you think that’s about?”

  “My gut instinct says it’s got something to do with the Fair.”

  Nelly and Sal were closer, now, drawing even with our bench. Nelly spotted us and tried to dismiss Sal by coming over. But the owner of the pizzeria didn’t take the hint. He trailed after her.

  “Morning,” Nelly said, her cheeks pink. “Are you two doing well? Out for a lunch break in the park?”

  “Yes, Martin’s taking care of—”

  “I know what you’re doing here,” Sal spoke over Grizzy. “Scoping out your spot for the Fair, eh? You probably think you’ve won just because you got a prime spot, but it won’t be easy. Your food has to be good to make sales.”

  “I wouldn’t insult her, if I were you,” I said, coolly. “Or talk over her for that matter.”

  “And why’s that?” Sal cocked his head to one side. “You think I’m afraid of you, little woman?”

  What a detestable man. “No, but I do think you’re the type of man who doesn’t want to run afoul of the law.”

  “Christie’s a detective.” Nelly raised her chin.

  Sal shut his thick lips, but they wriggled, as if he had to force himself not to say anything else. “Whatever,” he grumbled. “I didn’t come to talk to you, anyway, Griselda. You and your burgers are a waste of my time.” He stomped off down the path and out of sight.

  We watched him go in silence, and I shook my head. “What was that about?”

  “I have no idea. That’s the first time Sal’s ever insulted me. We usually get on pretty well,” Griz said. “We’re not exactly in competition. I mean, people either like pizza or they like burgers or they alternate.”