A Pizza To Die For

by None

  By the time David arrived, I’d just about given up hope, at least for today.

  “How about a picnic?” David asked as he met me outside the Slice holding two large plastic bags. “I got two hibachi steak orders from Nara’s.”

  He held the bags up in the air, and his grin was infectious, as he added, “Why not? It’s certainly pretty enough out.”

  I glanced over at Italia’s, where a crowd was already starting to gather for their grand opening, though it was still ninety minutes away. “That sounds fine, but do you mind if we eat someplace besides the promenade?”

  He looked over at the new pizzeria. “Sorry about that. I would never have done this if I’d remembered that place was opening today at noon.” David frowned, and then suggested, “Why don’t we eat on one of the benches on the shortcut? I saw the decorations yesterday, and they’re really nice.”

  “That sounds perfect,” I said as I followed him. I half hoped the two benches would be taken so we could get even farther away, but, again, I was out of luck.

  We took the bench across from the mural and the stacks of hay, and David served us both.

  “I must admit, this isn’t what I’d pictured,” I said as he handed me a paper plate and a set of plastic silverware.

  “You still like Nara’s, don’t you?”

  “I really do. I guess I was just expecting you to try to impress me a little more than this.”

  He laughed. “Trust me, I’ve been dreaming about this food since I left town. Besides,” he added with a grin, “if anyone around here knows how hard you are to impress, it has to be me. Remember how much I used to try?”

  “So what changed?” I asked, unable to hide my curiosity any longer.

  He took a bite of steak, carrot, mushroom, and rice, and then asked, “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve changed, David,” I said.

  “How so?”

  “You’re more confident, and not nearly so needy as you were before.”

  I wasn’t sure if he’d be upset by my candor, but his smile surprised me. “Wow, don’t hold back, Eleanor. Tell me what you really think.”

  I felt bad immediately. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so blunt.”

  He laughed at that statement. “It’s fine. I’ve known you a long time, you don’t have to apologize to me for anything.” He took another bite, and when he was finished with it, he added, “I’ll be honest with you. Moving to Raleigh was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

  “It’s only been a few months,” I said after finishing a bite of my own. “How could that have happened so quickly?”

  He waved his fork in the air as he explained. “Try moving to a place where you don’t know a soul, and then get thrown into a job that’s way over your head. It will make you change perspectives in a hurry. It didn’t take me long to realize that I’d grown a little stale here, since we’re both being so brutally honest. Going to a new city was exactly what I needed.” He took another bite, and then added, “If I’m being honest about it, there was only one thing I missed in Timber Ridge.”

  I waved a piece of carrot at him. “Nara’s cooking?”

  He smiled. “Close, but no.” David put his fork down, and then looked at me. “I’m not trying to scare you, and there’s nothing I want from you, but the only thing I missed was you. I know I drove you away before, and there’s no chance left for us now, but it’s important to me for you to know that the only thing I regret in my life is the way I pursued you.”

  I shrugged. “You were earnest, I’ll give you that.”

  “I was a golden retriever,” he said with a laugh. “I’m sure it must have driven you crazy the way I followed you around hoping for a bit of your attention.”

  “Okay then, it’s my turn to be candid. I was probably more than a little flattered by your interest,” I admitted. It was true. I just wasn’t sure what made me admit it to him. Maybe his rush of honesty was having more impact on me than I realized.

  “But you were right to put me off. I can see that now. I fell for you, Eleanor, and when you didn’t respond in kind, I started pushing you harder. I finally figured out that was exactly the wrong thing to do, and I hope you can forgive me.”

  “There’s nothing to forgive,” I said after I finished another bite. “It’s like they say, another time, another place, who knows what might have happened.”

  “Well, it’s another time right now, and I’m certainly in another place. I know you’re not ready for anything more right now, and I respect that, but if you ever change your mind, I hope you’ll call me.”

  “Don’t tell me you’ll be waiting for me,” I said.

  He grinned as he shook his head. “I won’t lie to you. If I happen to meet someone else, it will be too bad. But if we’re both free and interested, I’d be a fool not to pursue it. And that’s the end of the sales pitch. I promise.”

  “Not so fast,” I said, closing the white clamshell container. “I can’t believe you’d be interested in a long-distance relationship with me, when we couldn’t even manage to get together when we both lived in the same town.”

  “Try me. I don’t mind driving, and my schedule’s pretty flexible. It helps having a branch office here, so just give me an excuse, and I’ll be here.” He shook his head as he laughed. “I promised myself I wouldn’t say anything today. I just wanted to enjoy your company, but what can I do? You seem to have that effect on me.” He looked down at my lunch. “Are you finished?”

  “I’m stuffed,” I said as I pushed some of the remaining rice around in the box.

  “Me, too.” As he gathered up our trash, I couldn’t help noticing again the air of confidence he had about him. This was indeed a changed man, and he was clearly still interested in me, which was a nice stroking for my ego. But Joe was still in my heart, and I wasn’t sure there would ever be room for anyone else there.

  If there was, though, I couldn’t imagine anyone better than David to find his way into my heart.

  “I’d walk you back,” David said, “but I lost all track of time, and I’m going to be late for a meeting as it is. I’m working seven days a week right now. Thanks for seeing me, Eleanor. It was great fun.”

  He leaned in to kiss my cheek, and I caught the hint of aftershave on his neck as he did. I had to admit that I enjoyed his proximity, and wouldn’t have minded one bit if it had gone on a little longer.

  As he started for the alley, I said, “If you have a chance, stop in and say goodbye before you go.”

  “I will,” David said, and I watched him walk away with a new spring in his gait.

  My, my, my, how things could change.

  I walked back to the Slice, and found Maddy, Greg, and Josh standing out in front of the pizzeria.

  “Our lunch breaks are over,” I said as I glanced at my watch. “What happened, did you forget your key, Maddy?”

  “No, it’s right here,” my sister said. “The only thing we’re missing is a single customer to serve.” she gestured to the area of the promenade in front of Italia’s. It was full of dozens and dozens of people, many of whom I recognized as our regular customers. “We can’t really blame them. Everyone wants to see what Italia’s has to offer.”

  I’d nearly forgotten about the opening, which was a true indicator of how much I’d been enjoying David Quinton’s company.

  “I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we go, too,” I suggested as I reached past Maddy and locked our door.

  “Are you serious?” she asked.

  “Why not? It couldn’t hurt to scout out the competition, and it’s not like anyone’s going to come to us.”

  I started toward the new restaurant, and the other three followed close behind. Maddy caught up with me and asked, “How did it go? Did he take you somewhere elegant?”

  “In Timber Ridge? You’re joking, right?”

  “Well, someplace nicer than the Slice, anyway.”

  “We had a picnic at the shortcut,” I said. “He’d been cravin
g hibachi steak from Nara’s since he moved to Raleigh, so we dined alfresco.”

  Maddy frowned. “Eleanor, maybe I was wrong about David. I just don’t understand it.”

  “What don’t you get?” I asked.

  She shrugged as she admitted, “I thought for sure he’d pull out all the stops on his chance to take you to lunch.”

  “The old David would have, but I’ve got to tell you, Maddy, the man’s changed.”

  My sister touched my arm lightly, and as I turned to look at her, I found her staring into my eyes. “What are you looking for?”

  “To see if you’ve changed, too,” she said.

  “No, I hate to disappoint you, but it’s the same old me,” I replied.

  “Then why are you grinning like a teenager?”

  “I hadn’t realized that I was,” I said, trying to wipe any expression from my face that might be misinterpreted.

  “Too late,” she said. “Are you going to see him again?”

  “He’s coming by to say goodbye before he leaves,” I admitted.

  Maddy deflated. “That’s it? He didn’t try any harder than that to get another date with you?”

  I considered not telling her about our conversation, but I knew that she wouldn’t be satisfied until she heard it all. “He told me that if I’m ever willing to date again, he wants to be first in line.”

  “That’s the spirit.” My sister frowned at me, and after a moment’s pause, she said, “But I’m willing to bet that you brushed him off.”

  “Actually, I left the door wide open,” I said.

  “I’m so proud of you,” Maddy said as she stopped us and hugged me.

  “There’s not exactly a reason to celebrate,” I said. “There’s a real possibility that day might never come.”

  She laughed as she said, “But there’s a chance that it might. That’s all that counts, just knowing that there’s a possibility you might say yes.”

  “You are a hopeless romantic, aren’t you?”

  “I thought you already knew that,” my sister said as we joined the crowd. “No woman gets married as many times as I have without being one.”

  “You’ve got a point.” I looked at my watch. “What time is Italia’s supposed to open?”

  A man beside me must have overheard, because he said, “They should have been open thirty minutes ago. I understand wanting to build suspense, but this is ridiculous. I wonder if there’s anyplace else to eat around here.”

  “A Slice of Delight is just over there,” Maddy said as she pointed back to our pizzeria.

  “Nope, they’re closed. I checked them half an hour ago.”

  “Try again in ten minutes,” I said, that being all the time I was going to give Judson Sizemore before I gave up on him.

  He shrugged, and I decided to let it go at that. A stage had been set up in front of the new pizzeria, and I saw that I wasn’t the only one growing impatient with the delay. The mayor was whispering with the head of the city council, and they both kept looking back over their shoulders toward the restaurant.

  I was about to say something to Maddy when I noticed Kevin Hurley mount the steps to the stage. He went directly to the mayor, whispered something to him, and then left as fast as he’d come.

  The mayor immediately took the stage, approached the microphone, and then said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m afraid that the grand opening of Italia’s has been delayed indefinitely. I’m sure the owner appreciates your support, but there’s nothing that can be done about it. Enjoy the rest of your day.” With that, he practically sprinted from the stage before a reporter from Timber Talk, our local paper, could interview him. I noticed a TV truck from WHKY in Hickory standing by, and a reporter holding a microphone as he conveyed the news to his viewers.

  There were some grumbles from the crowd, and as they started breaking up, Maddy shouted, “I’ve got great news, folks. A Slice of Delight is open right now, if anyone’s hungry.”

  There were murmurs and nods from the crowd, and several folks started off in our direction.

  “Why on earth did you do that?” I asked as I hustled back to unlock the front door and get ready to make pizza.

  “Their loss is our gain,” she said with a grin. “Why not take advantage of it?”

  I couldn’t argue with her logic. “It looks like we’re going to be busy. Why do you suppose Judson called off the grand opening?”

  “Does it matter? We’re getting some free publicity from it, and enough customers to help add to our rainy-day fund—and we both know it’s about to pour.”

  I decided to go along with Maddy’s idea, not that I had any real choice. If these folks wanted pizza, it wasn’t up to me to tell them no.

  I was making pizzas as fast as I could, with the conveyor belt full, and several more pies waiting to go through. I didn’t even have time to look up when someone came through the kitchen door from the dining room.

  “We’re nearly out of dough,” I said, “so I’m going to have to switch to what we’ve got in the freezer.”

  “And that’s my problem how, exactly?” Kevin Hurley asked as he came in to the kitchen.

  I was in no mood to deal with him at the moment. I had my hands full. “Chief, I’d love to chat, but I’ve got more orders than I know what to do with.”

  “Sorry, Eleanor, but this can’t wait.”

  I shoved a loose strand of hair out of my face. “Do you want to see me throw a fit, because I’m not far from that right now. I’ve never made so many pizzas so quickly in my life.”

  “Yeah, funny how that worked out, isn’t it?”

  I stopped and stared at him. “Hang on a second. Are you implying that I had something to do with Italia’s postponing their grand opening? What happened, did Judson lose his pizza man? Or did his wood supply fail to show up?”

  “It’s a little more serious than that,” Police Chief Hurley said.

  “I can’t imagine that I could find it in me to care,” I said flippantly.

  “You should care about this,” he said solemnly.

  There was something in his tone of voice that made me stop what I was doing instantly. “What are you trying to tell me, Kevin?”

  “The reason Italia’s didn’t open is because someone killed Judson Sizemore inside his pizzeria last night.”

  Chapter 4

  “What? How did it happen?” I asked as I nearly dropped the pizza I’d just made onto the floor. I hadn’t been a big fan of Judson Sizemore or the arrogant way he’d treated me, but that didn’t mean I wanted to see him dead.

  “I’m the one asking the questions, if you don’t mind,” Kevin said.

  “Not until you tell me how he died,” I said. “Otherwise, you’re just wasting your breath.”

  He seemed to chew that over, and then he admitted, “This isn’t for public knowledge, but he was hit from behind with a piece of firewood he used in that pizza oven of his.”

  What a horrible way to go. No matter how I felt about him, I hoped it had at least been quick. “Thank you for trusting me with that. Now, what do you want to know?”

  “Let’s cut to the chase. I understand the two of you had some very public arguments over the past few days.”

  I couldn’t believe he’d actually put any credence in them. “You don’t believe for one second that I would do anything to him, do you?”

  Chief Hurley shrugged. “I’m not in the believing business. I’m just gathering facts right now, Eleanor.” He looked around, and then said calmly, “You’ve got plenty of motive, even you can’t deny that.”

  “Just because I wasn’t thrilled about him opening his pizzeria doesn’t mean I’m the one who killed him.”

  “You didn’t get along, either.”

  I paused long enough to stare at him a moment before I trusted myself to speak again. “If I murdered everyone I ever had an argument with, the body count would be too high to measure.”

  The police chief was clearly not buying my argument. “This is
different. It could have easily buried this place forever, and we both know it. You had a great deal to lose if Italia’s did well. In fact, some might say your entire life.”

  “I don’t agree with that for one second.”

  It was his turn to look hard at me. “That’s your right.” Kevin took a deep breath, and then asked, “Eleanor, where were you between the hours of midnight and six A.M. this morning?”

  I shook my head in disbelief. Was this really happening, or was I in some kind of nightmare and couldn’t wake up? I took a deep breath to calm myself before I replied, but it didn’t do any good. This wasn’t the first time the chief of police had implied that I was involved in a murder, and I was getting tired of it. “I was home in bed, and before you even think about asking me if anyone can confirm it, we both know that I was there alone.”

  “I figured as much,” he said as he jotted the information into his little notebook. “I wasn’t even going to ask.” There had been times that I would have loved to shred that notebook into confetti, but there was nothing I could do about it at the moment. “I’m surprised you and your sister didn’t have one of your famous movie nights and sleepovers.”

  “Even that would have been too convenient for you,” I said. “I doubt you would have believed either one of us if we’d been playing Monopoly with the mayor.”

  “There you go, talking about belief again. Eleanor, since you haven’t denied your public disagreement with the deceased, would you care to help me out here and speculate on anyone else who might have wished him harm?”

  I could think of three other people, all members of my wait-staff now serving customers in the other room, but I wasn’t about to name any of them. “Sorry, I’m at a loss who might want him dead. I really didn’t know the man at all.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” he said as he flipped his notebook shut. “We’ll find them ourselves.”

  “Good. When you do, I’ll be waiting right here for an apology.”

  With a grin that reminded me so much of the boy I’d dated in high school, Kevin Hurley said, “Then you might be in for a long wait. We’ll talk again later, Eleanor.”