Page 7 of Evidence of Secrets

“Ouch.”

She shouted when a ball came out of nowhere and bonked her on the head. Several people turned to look at her. So much for being incognito. Had Laura looked also? Concern fluttered in her gut. Jaimie peeked over at them. No. She and the hunk were still engrossed in their conversation.

A little boy came running over and yelled sorry as he picked up the ball and ran back to his friends.

Tomorrow, she’d be starting her new job, waitressing at Salt & Sea. Undercover. She’d already worked at another restaurant in the area, so she didn’t lie on her application saying that she was an experienced server.

Her friend was on the cusp of opening an online magazine about women in business and was excited about her subject. Covering female entrepreneurs in the area and writing about their challenges and victories while going undercover was a good way of getting a fair representation of their issues. As a freelance writer, she had several magazines she was writing for. This subject interested her a lot.

People lied to themselves, to others. The reality was different.

However, her story wasn’t the only reason she picked Laura and her restaurant. But that would have to wait. The time wasn’t right.

CHAPTERSIX

The fundraiser for the shelter was in full swing at 8 p.m. Even the damp weather didn’t hinder the number of people who turned out and opened their wallets.

“Laura, this is fabulous. The bistro looks so elegant and the food—delicious,” said Sam. Sam, Laura, and their girlfriends spent hours organizing the fundraiser and decorating the bistro. They’d hung hundreds of twinkling lights, put battery-powered votive candles around, bought flowers and put them in vases on the tables and made party favors for the guests to take home.

“I can’t take all the glory. Everyone helped. I have to say that I’m proud of my staff tonight. They stepped up to the plate, especially coming in on a Monday night when the restaurant is closed.” Laura watched as Jaimie, one of the new servers, laughed with an attendee. She seemed to have an easy way with people, and Laura was happy she fit in.

Sam’s eyes skimmed the crowd. “Everyone seems to be having a great time.” She patted Laura’s shoulder. “I’m going to check with Hailey and see how the raffle baskets and silent auction are doing.”

Hailey Knight was Sam’s sister-in-law. She owned the BookShop in town. Hailey had put together a raffle prize Laura had her eyes on. Hailey had filled the basket with best-selling books, a generous gift card, coffee for a month at Cool Beans, and other fun gifts. Not that Laura could afford to bid on the basket, but she could wish.

Laura glanced around the room.

Many employees and friends from KnightGuard Security were at the fundraiser, and Laura knew or recognized most, as well as supporters of the shelter and community members. She also noted that several women who lived at the shelter and waitressed at the bistro came. Claire Willis Harkin, Joe’s wife, provided funds for them to buy cocktail dresses for this event. Claire’s charity gave a lot of money to the shelter. Laura didn’t ask the two women she’d hired who lived at the shelter to work. That might have made them uncomfortable. However, she thought they would enjoy the affair, and it looked like they were having fun.

“Laura, these tomato tarts are delicious,” said Penny as she took another bite. Penny Chapman was the director of the women’s shelter.

“Thanks. I adapted the recipe from one of my grandmother’s. I’m working on a cookbook, and the recipe will be in it.”

“Great, save a cookbook for me. Everything you’ve done here tonight has been special. I can’t thank you enough.”

“I think the shelter is going to get an infusion of cash by the looks of things.” A wave from the kitchen caught her eye. Laura smiled and patted her arm. “You’ll have to excuse me; I’m needed in the kitchen.”

Penny nodded and walked away, but not before grabbing another tart. It thrilled Laura the recipe was so popular. The kitchen was bustling when she walked in. Wafts of garlic scented the air. Servers filled their trays with more tarts and appetizers while the chef refilled the charcuterie board with cut salamis and cheeses. Assorted miniature pastries glimmered from their three-tiered serving tower. They would go out last with coffee.

“Laura, I need to talk to you,” said Levi Martin after he finished positioning the cheese on the board. Levi was one of Laura’s first employees. They worked well together.

He walked to a corner of the restaurant, and she followed. “Laura, didn’t you order five different cheeses to go on the charcuterie tray?”

Laura cocked her head. “Yesss?”

“If I’m not mistaken, you ordered one-eighth of a wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano, goat cheese, gorgonzola, gouda, and cheddar.”

“I did. There should be about forty pounds of cheese here.”

Levi shook his head and blew out a breath. “We’re missing the Parmigiano and several pounds of prosciutto.”

Laura’s heart took a nosedive. Owning a restaurant meant even if you were watching everyone constantly, food and liquor still walked out. It was impossible to catch the thieves.

“Damn.” She tapped her fingers on the table. What she bought was the bare minimum for a group this size. Missing any of the ingredients was devastating.

“Okay then, we’ll have to stretch what we have. Add more crackers, grapes, and olives.” Laura looked at the half-filled tray, then at Levi. “We have enough olives, I hope.”

Levi nodded.

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