Chapter 9
9
J ace stared at Marco. "What are you doing to keep her safe?"
"I've gotten Mitch De Mario involved."
Jace nodded. "That's good. What has he done so far?"
Marco looked at her and nodded. Though her voice sounded shaky, she replied. "He has taken my car and hidden it. He gave me another one to use in the meantime. He fixed my kitchen window, and he has cameras in and around my place to monitor activity. And timers on my lamps."
Jace nodded. "Okay. I have security here. I'll ramp it up though. I'll have a few more cameras installed outside watching our employee cars. And I'm going to put a couple of cameras in here to monitor deliveries. I just called The Meat Shop and they're bringing over a new shipment for tonight. We'll haggle over the damages and who pays for what later."
Marco nodded. "Okay."
"In the meantime..." Jace turned to Theresa. "Stay inside. If anyone comes in that makes you uncomfortable, let me or Marco know right away."
Theresa's eyes met his and they stared at each other for a long while. She finally replied to Jace. "Okay."
Jace nodded. He started toward the door to the restaurant but halted. "And stay with Marco."
He left instantly.
Theresa still looked into his eyes. "What does that mean?"
"He means staying with me is a good idea."
"Oh."
He nodded. "You good?"
She bit her bottom lip once more. "I think so."
"Okay. Let's get ready for the lunch crowd."
She nodded, picked up a tray of salt and pepper shakers, and exited the kitchen. He turned the burners on the stove to heat the griddle and began pulling ground beef from the cooler to make patties for lunch. Soon the other waitstaff came in, Kaysen and Kelsey and they helped Theresa out front. He managed things in the kitchen. He liked it this way for lunch. Tonight is when he'd have helpers in here and the dishwasher. The kitchen got busy and loud at dinner time.
Theresa seemed to settle in as lunchtime came and went. Business as usual was key. He was happy to see her begin to relax a bit but knew it wouldn't last. He understood the pressure she was under.
Theresa entered the kitchen and snapped an order onto the order board he used. He grinned at her and received a smile in return.
"You doing okay?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
"Good." He nodded and plated an order.
He looked into her eyes. They were beautiful eyes, but right now they drooped slightly. Her shoulders weren't as straight as they usually were. He stepped closer to her and dropped his voice. "Are you sure?"
Her eyes flicked to his. "I am. I guess I'm just tired. I feel like I've been awake for days."
He nodded. "Stress. You'll be safe tonight and hopefully, can get a good night's sleep. That will change things for you tomorrow. Today has been a long day and it's only two o'clock right now."
"Yeah. I guess. I felt this way when I left Maine. Always looking over my shoulder. Always waiting for the next shoe to drop."
The back door opened, and Theresa jumped. He whispered, "It's okay. I believe it's the steak delivery for tonight. If you don't want to be here while they deliver, go to the office and chat with Margo for a few minutes. I'm sure by now Jace has filled her in."
Before Theresa could respond, the kitchen door opened and both Jace and Margo entered. Jace moved directly to the delivery person who wheeled in a dolly with three heavy boxes on it.
Jace didn't wait for him to get fully in the door. "I want to know what happened this morning."
The driver's eyes grew round as he stared at Jace's tightened jaw and dark eyes that brooked no argument. "I don't know. I delivered. It must have been one of your..."
"It wasn't. No one was here but me until Marco..." Jace looked his way, then back to the driver. "Came in and found the damaged packages."
The driver stuttered a few words out then his eyes watered and his shoulders dropped. "Someone paid me to do it. I needed the money and he offered me two hundred dollars. I couldn't pass it up."
"Who!" Jace's voice grew louder and Marco moved toward the driver.
"I don't...don't...know."
Marco's anger rose but he recognized the man's complete fear. He took a deep breath. "How did he pay you?"
"C...c...cash."
"Let me see it."
The driver's hands shook as he reached into his pocket and pulled out two one-hundred-dollar bills. He held the shaking bills toward Marco. He gently took the money and held the bills up to the light in the kitchen. He moved them back and forth to see if the blue security ribbon changed with the movement.
He looked at Jace. "They're real."
Jace nodded and Marco handed the driver the bills.
Jace said, "If he approaches you again, I want you to tell me. I want to know what he asks you to do."
"Okay."
Marco shook his head. "What did he look like?"
"He had red hair. Taller than me."
Marco turned toward Theresa and Margo who stood watching. Theresa nodded as her chest rose. She blew out a breath and swallowed.
Margo put her arm around Theresa and squeezed her. "We'll do everything we can to keep you safe."
"I know you will. Thank you."
Marco moved to the stove and began cooking the new orders that had come in. Jace took care of the driver and told him if anyone asked questions about what happened after he slashed the packages, he was to say nothing happened and they ordered more food. Nothing else. And if he was hired again, he was to come directly to Jace or Marco and let them know.
As soon as the kitchen door closed behind the delivery driver, Marco stepped to the door and turned the lock. Anyone else delivering today would need to knock.
He stared at Theresa as he moved back to the stove and nodded. She nodded in return and mouthed, "Thank you."
His heartbeat increased. He rotated his head as he turned the burgers on the grill. He was getting too close.