Hector moved to leave the freezer, looking like he was going to do just as he said, but I pulled him back.
“Wait, stop. We’re not closing the diner,” Isaidadamantly. Hector looked like he wanted to argue, but I was faster. “We’re not closing, Hector. Whoever left the note is probably long gone by now. Waiting until after the rush isn’t going to hurt.”
“But—”
“I don’t want to be a burden.”
The simple statement stopped him in his tracks. He let out a long sigh, but nodded in the end.
“Thank you,” I said softly. I knew he was worried about me and trying to protect me, but I appreciated him understanding my need not to feel like I was making his life more difficult.
“We should get back out there.” Just as the words left my mouth, the walk-in freezer’s door opened, and Becca appeared with worry on her face.
“Everything alright?” she asked and glanced between Hector and me.
Hector looked at me and let me take the lead. There still weren’t a lot of people who knew about the situation. I’d met up with Sam for lunch the other day to tell him what was going on. He was horrified for me, which was to be expected, and promised to help me keep an eye out.
With my permission, he told the others, who had all visited the diner to tell me privately that they had my back and would do their best to help catch the guy.
Maybe it was time to tell Becca too. I’d gotten to know her well from working with her, and I trusted her.But not right now, when people were still waiting for their food.
“Yeah, it will be,” I answered her. Knowing that I had people on my side, watching my back, made it feel like things really would be okay.
We all returned to work. Hector went back to making the food, and Becca and I braved the dining room full of curious gazes. Nobody complained about our sudden disappearance, but there were some worried inquiries shot our way.
I knew part of it was them being nosy townsfolk, hoping to catch the latest news, but I also had no doubt that they cared. That was just how small towns were. There were definitely downsides to everyone being in your business, but it was a small price for community, at least that was what Aunt Polly had always told me. She thrived on small-town life. Though I guess I wasn’t too different from her.
When I reached Mae’s table, she pulled my hand into hers and patted the back of it. “You let me know if you need anything, okay, dear? If I can’t help, I’ll send my son over,” she said seriously.
I laughed and thanked her. Her son Ryan was dating Jones and already knew about the situation. Based on her reaction, I doubted he’d told her what was going on.
The rest of the morning rush finished with me going between helping up front and assisting Hector in the kitchen, at least as much as I could.
I wasn’t the best cook, and there were a lot of things I couldn’t help with in the kitchen. Hector was in his element cooking, but by the end of the rush, even he looked worn out. Maybe he was able to handle doing everything himself in the past, but things were different now with business picking up at the diner.
I’d try again to convince him to hire another chef. I knew he wasn’t reluctant because of the money. He’d tried to increase my wages again for the second time this year, so if he had the funds to do that, I’d rather he hire another person to make his life easier.
While Becca and I finished cleaning up and resetting after the rush, Hector ran upstairs. It wasn’t long before he was back downstairs with a piece of paper that he taped to the front door before locking it.
Becca stopped her napkin folding, stood, and placed her hand on her hip. “Will you boys finally tell me what in tarnation is going on here?”
Hector and I exchanged gazes. I let a smile slip at seeing Hector have someone his age call him “boy,” although it seemed neither of us was going to correct her.
“We’re closing for the rest of the day,” Hector stated. He gazed toward me, asking for permission, and I nodded. “Have a seat, Becca. There’s something we need to tell you.”
Chapter Twelve
HECTOR
Becca was in disbelief when we told her about Atlas’ stalker. She thought we were pulling her leg at first. I didn’t blame her.
A stalker in Kither Springs? It was unheard of. The last major crime that happened here was my assault on the officer. And even with my already-terrible reputation, the residents still had a hard time believing someone from town had actually been arrested until they saw it with their own eyes.
When Becca finally realized we weren’t pulling her leg, she grabbed Atlas into what could only be described as amama-bearhug, enveloping him until only his head was visible from beneath her arms. Atlas looked both suffocated and like he really needed that hug.
A knock came from the front door, and the three of us whipped our heads around. The glass door revealed Clay in his police uniform.
As soon as I let him inside, people walking by cast curious glances our way. Their curiosity brought them to our doors, but I already had it locked. I also pulled down the blinds for both the glass door and all the large windows so nobody could see inside.
