“Can you let me do my job?” He mopped at his forehead with his handkerchief. “At least this time? I’m about done working with the hodgepodge of people over in that security trailer. Everyone thinks they’re a big dog, and the territory marking is getting a little out of hand.”
Angie felt her lips curve into a smile. She’d wondered how the joint task force would be working, and Sheriff Brown had just answered her question. “Anyway, Miquel’s just a jerk.”
“So, it was you and Felicia and who else?”
Angie sighed. The sheriff wasn’t giving up. “Sarah Fenny. So, you all don’t have any leads as to who killed David?”
His head popped up from focusing on his notebook. “Who said he was killed?”
“He’s dead. And everyone and their dogs are here investigating. That wouldn’t have happened if it was just a heart attack.” She sipped her tea, considering her next words. “Besides, I talked to Ian.”
“That boy. He needs to learn not to run his mouth.”
Angie was about to tell Sheriff Brown if he hadn’t told Ian in the first place, she wouldn’t have learned anything. But she thought better of it. “Poison is a scary way to die.”
“Maybe the killer just wants to scare people off. Please don’t spread this rumor. I’m sure you don’t want people panicking and not being able to have a good time.”
“Maybe that’s what the killer wants.”
He ran a hand over his head. “I don’t understand. What does he want?”
“For people to be scared. Maybe someone doesn’t want the fair contest to continue. Or at least not here.” Angie glanced around at the prime development land surrounding her. She wouldn’t put it past some shady developer to want the land, come hell or high water. “You might want to look into developers who are interested in buying the land. If Garden City had to lay off police officers, maybe they’re looking for a way to raise some capital.”
He stared at her, then wrote something down. “Tell me again why you went into cooking rather than law enforcement?”
The backhanded compliment made her smile. “I’m good with details. And wondering why.”
Matt stuck his head out of the trailer. “We’re ready to taste-test if you are.”
Sheriff Brown waved her away. “We’re done for now. Just be careful. Don’t take any shiny apples from old women.”
“I would almost think you cared.” Angie stood, taking her iced tea with her.
“My nephew likes having you around. I love my nephew. You do the math.” He finished off the tea and handed her the glass. “I’m going to hang out here for a few minutes and make some calls.”
“Works for me.” Angie paused at the stairs leading into the trailer. “I will be careful. Not only for me, but for those two in there. I kind of like having them around.”
“Well, let’s just hope this is an isolated incident. The easiest answer is that David Nubbins had an enemy who decided to get him out of the picture.”
* * * *
After the competition, which Angie felt they nailed, she found Ian sitting at the table where she’d left his uncle hours ago. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to make sure you were okay. And to get another corn dog. Man, those things are addictive. And you can’t get a good one except during this one week.” He stood, nodding to Matt and Hope. “How did it go?”
“Great!” Hope rolled her shoulders. “The milkshake was amazing, and with the alcohol, it just had a power punch. I know we’re going to win.”
“That’s exactly what you said last night,” Matt reminded her.
She shook her head. “No, last night I said our corn dogs were awesome. We didn’t make corn dogs today.”
“That’s not what I meant, and you know—”
Angie interrupted the two. If there was only one piece of evidence that showed she’d turned the kitchen staff into a kitchen family, it was the way these two fought like brother and sister. “Now, children, Mama loves you both. Let’s go grab something to eat. I’m buying.”
They found an empty table at the Baptist Church’s tent, where they were frying onions to go on top of hamburgers. Ian and Matt stood in line waiting for food while Hope and Angie saved a table.
Hope yawned. “I can’t believe how much work this is. I thought going to school and working a night shift was brutal. This is crazy, and it’s fewer hours.”
“It’s the heat. Even with the air-conditioning on high, we need to keep hydrating ourselves. Make sure you keep your water bottle full.” Angie leaned back in her chair. “You’re doing great. When do you graduate?”
“Next May.” Hope smiled, looking off in the distance like she could see the finish line. “And the week after that, my folks are taking me on a cruise. Can you believe it? We’re flying to Florida, getting on a boat, and relaxing for seven days.”
“Sounds like heaven.” Angie rubbed the top of her shoulder.
Hope frowned. “I mean, if I can get the time off. I don’t want you to think I won’t still want my job.”
“Of course you can have the time off. But I think your job will be over as soon as you graduate.”
Fear filled her eyes. Then she nodded. “I understand. You’ll probably want to hire another student for the dishwasher job.”
Angie could see the wheels turning in Hope’s head. “Darn right. I mean, I can’t have you doing dishes when you’re supposed to be a chef, right? I think, though, we’ll get a freshman so the kitchen doesn’t get filled up with trained chefs too fast.”
“Filled up?”
“If I hire you as a line cook, and then the next student does as well as you do, I’ll have to hire them too. Then we’ll have way too many cooks in the kitchen. And you know what they say about that.”
Hope took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a minute. “I thought you would fire me, not promote me.”
“Why would I do that?” Angie leaned back as Ian set a plate filled with a too-large burger and a matching pile of crispy fries.
“Because she’s totally annoying and needs to go out into the world to find out that things aren’t really as cushy as they are working for you.” Matt set Hope’s plate down and then shoved five or more fries in his mouth. He made wavy movements at her. “Fly little bird. Fly.”
“Stop being mean.” Hope took a big bite of the burger, then leaned over and breathed on Matt’s face. “Here’s onion breath for you.”