Joyce jerked her head around and looked at Milton with her mouth hanging open. She let out a gasp that was so sharp, it sounded like somebody was letting the air out of a tire. “Say what?” she wheezed. I nudged him with my elbow. When he glanced at me, I shook my head. “Milton, what did you mean by that?” Joyce asked.

“Nothing. Come on, ladies,” he mumbled as he parked the truck across the street from the restaurant. He piled out before she could say anything else.

When Joyce got out, there was a confused look on her face. But she didn’t question Milton again as he ushered us across the street. “Good Lord. There must be two dozen folks in the line waiting to get in,” she wailed. I sensed some tension in her tone, and in the awkward way she was moving. She was walking on them high heels of hers like she was stepping on eggshells. “We’ll probably spend more time standing in line than we will eating.”

“Don’t worry. I know somebody that works here, so we can bypass the line.” Milton started inching his way in as soon as we got to the door. I hoped that the same waitress we’d spoke to before about Odell was working today. If she wasn’t, he was so well-known in Hartville, I knew we’d be able to get the same information from one of the others. One thing was for sure, we wouldn’t leave this town until we had accomplished what we’d come to do.

CHAPTER 37 - MILTON

CHAPTER 37

MILTON

THE PEOPLE WAITING IN LINE TO GET INSIDE PO’ SISTER’S KITCHEN was grumbling and giving us dirty looks as I brushed past them. One joker cussed and tried to block my path. I went around him, guiding Yvonne and Joyce along like sheep to slaughter.

When we got inside, the smell of fried fish, greens, hush puppies, and every other thing I liked to smack on, made me wish we really was going to stay for supper. After everything was over and done with, I’d bring Yvonne back some day to enjoy some of the scrumptious food these folks served.

“My goodness. It sure smells good in here,” Joyce commented. If she was still bothered by what I’d said about Odell in the truck a few minutes ago, she was hiding it good. “I can’t wait to sink my teeth into some of that fish. Do they give big portions, Milton?”

“Yup. I guarantee when you leave here, you won’t never be the same again.” When I added a snicker, Yvonne kicked the side of my foot and gave me a stern look.