Shifters: A Samantha Reece Mystery Book 1 by Jaime Johnesee (libby ebook reader txt) 📕

momentarily, unless you'd like me to hold 'em until Sam's food is ready? Shouldn't be too much longer."

"No, you guys go ahead and eat. Don't let me slow you down," I said and quickly thanked Genie for asking.

"You sure?" Quinn looked at me like a kid begging for candy.

"Positive. Kelly got you on a diet again?" The only time Quinn ever got emotional over food was when his wife restricted his intake.

"Yeah. We must have the same doctor, Genie. He's making me watch my cholesterol, too."

"Mmm. That explains the oatmeal and fruit with a big ol' plate of bacon." Her blue eyes twinkled and she pulled a stubby pencil from behind an ear and absently scratched her scalp with it.

She reminded me of a thinner and sassier version of Mrs. Claus. With her snowy white hair and flushed cheeks set on a backdrop of porcelain white skin; she was quite a beautiful lady. I'd bet any amount of money she’d been one helluva spitfire in her day.

"Well, I figure if I hold off on the pancakes and eggs, and get fruit and oatmeal, instead, then I've earned that bacon." Quinn gave us a huge grin.

"More like he's hoping when he tells Kelly he had oatmeal and fruit for breakfast, she'll be okay when he adds and a couple strips of bacon." I couldn’t help myself and chortled.

"Poor fellow. I can't imagine not eating good food and only choking down rabbit grub." Josh shuddered in mock sympathy and then ducked the balled up napkin Quinn tossed his way.

"Could always be worse, kids. Don't forget that." Genie gave us a small smile and shuffled towards the kitchen to put in my order.

"I love that woman. Wish I'd had a mom like her." I sighed wistfully.

Quinn knew how bad things had been for me as a kid and he put a hand on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. My mom was pretty damned awful, like repeatedly-sold-me-to-pedophiles-for-overnight-encounters-from-the-time-I-was-three awful.

All because she had wanted money more than a daughter. Sometimes folks don't exactly understand just how good they have it. I hated dredging up these memories. I preferred leaving my past shut away in a box deep in the attic of my mind.

Josh looked over. "Does she have any kids?"

"I don't know. She's never mentioned any. I suppose it's possible...." I looked at Genie behind the counter calling out orders and pouring coffee.

I realized that we didn't really know her. We just knew, and accepted, what she told us about herself.

"She could even have grandchildren. Hell, she could have great grandkids." Quinn seemed rattled.

We had come to this diner at least three times a week for five years now and Genie was like an old friend to us. It seemed odd I’d not given much thought about her life outside the diner. Sure, we talked about the old age home she was living in, and I asked her questions about that, about her health, even about her youth. Somehow, though, I’d never thought to ask if she had family in the area.

Mostly, we just talked about whatever she brought up. I guess I just always assumed she would share what she wanted to. She didn’t play a major role in our lives. She was our favorite waitress, sure, but we never visited her outside of the diner.

I know you can’t take the time to befriend everyone who comes into your life, but sometimes I wish I knew more about her. I vowed then to ask her more about her life and really try to get to know her better.

Chapter 3

"YOU STILL WITH US, SAM?”

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Sorry. I was just thinking."

"Careful you don't break anything."

"Ha, ha. Very funny, O'Reilly."

"Josh is going to give the priest a call and see if he'll talk with us. What's on your mind?"

"Nothing. Sounds great. After lunch let's go chat up a merchant of the Almighty."

"Merchant of the Almighty?" Quinn grinned.

"Salvation salesman?” I shrugged. “God's gabby guy? The Lord's devotional dude?"

"Funny, Reece." Josh rolled his eyes.

"Seriously, though, I'm looking forward to hearing what the good father saw. I hope the sketch comes out looking like the guy we’re hunting."

Sometimes eyewitnesses got a little confused on details. A guy with a blue shirt and red hoodie with light blue jeans can often be described as a man in black pants with a red flannel and blue jacket. It's one of the reasons that eyewitness testimony wasn't used as the sole evidence in trials.

Occasionally, if there was only witness testimony in a case, the ADA would refrain from filing charges until more evidence could be uncovered, usually by way of another crime being committed.

"I think it will,” Josh answered. “Father Richmond is a pretty sharp guy. He was even able to remember everything Grisly said while he was there. I guess that sort of thing comes in handy when you have a ton of people to pray for every day."

"Yeah, you'll forgive me if I don't trust him. Nothing against Catholics, I just tend not to trust anyone. I suppose you could say it's one of my best personality quirks." Before I could say more, or make a decision on whether or not I was going to ask Genie to dinner, she came back to the table with my coffee and Pepsi.

I know, I'm a bad Southerner. I should prefer Coke, but Pepsi just tastes better. I immediately decided against asking her to dinner. It felt like it would be wrong to ask, as if I'd be intruding on her personal life. Maybe it’s just me being silly, but that is how I felt, so I let my idea die out for the moment and simply said, "Thanks, Genie."

"You're welcome. So, are you kids going after a bad guy today?" She set a grilled cheese and fries in front of Josh. She moved on to Quinn and set his oatmeal, fruit, and bacon in front of him with a smile. Then she turned back to me