Free Last Diner Standing by Terri L. Austin

turn at the desk, a tan cat pounced on Roxy’s feet and made figure eights between her legs.
    “Cats love me,” she said, reaching down to rub behind its ears.
    When I stepped up to the front desk, I asked to speak to Roshanda.
    A young woman about my age glanced over her shoulder. “She’s really busy.”
    “I’ll just slip on back. I only need to talk to her for a second.” She didn’t stop us as we darted behind the desk.
    I opened a door and was hit with howls, hisses, and whines.
    Cages lined opposite walls. Dogs on one side, cats on the other.
    A woman in pink scrubs and a short, blond afro sped past us. “Who are you?” She reached into one of the dog cages and pulled out a trembling pug.
    “I’m a friend of Janelle’s. I need to talk to you about Sheik.”
    She hooked a leash to the dog’s collar and strode toward the front of the office. “Walk with me.”
    For a second, I didn’t know if she was talking to me or the dog.
    I ran to catch up. “You’re the one who called Janelle and told her that Sheik was throwing money around. Why did you do that?”
    She stepped through the door. “Puddles? Owner of Puddles?”
    A woman in red slacks and a silk blouse came forward. She leaned down and scooped up the shaking dog. “How’s my Puddlewuddles? How’s my boy?”
    “He’s doing better. Doc says feed him soft food and keep an eye on him. If the symptoms come back, take him to the emergency animal clinic.” Roshanda spun and sidestepped her way around me.
    “I called Janelle because I know she’s struggling. If Sheik got a hold of some money, she deserves her share for those kids.” She walked back down the hall and I trailed her.
    “But how did you find out Sheik had money in the first place?”
    She glanced over at me with a raised brow. “Crystal called me, raising hell. Wanted to know where Sheik got the money and demanded half. I told her to blow it out her skinny white ass.”
    In the back room, Roxy stood next to the cat cages, rubbing the chin of a calico. “Where do you think Sheik got the money?” she asked.
    Roshanda stopped and put her hands on her hips. “Who are you girls?”
    “I’m Rose, that’s Roxy. We’re trying to help Janelle. She was arrested, you know.”
    She sighed. “I know and I can’t help but feel responsible. I told her about Sheik and the money. I should have kept it to myself. And no, I have no idea where he got it. But he borrowed three hundred dollars from me last month, and I need it back.”
    “What about his girlfriends?” I asked.
    She walked over the cat cages and opened a door. She whisked a black kitten out and stroked its fur. “I’m not sure. Sheik is like a tomcat, dicking around where he shouldn’t be. I try my best to stay out of his love life. I’d need some kind of scorecard to keep up with him, and frankly, I’m just not that interested.”

    It was close to six by the time I got back to my apartment. I dug out my notebook and started making a list of questions. Top of the list, where did Asshat get that money? Also, why did he have photos of Sullivan hidden in his toilet? If he was following Sullivan, why?
    Then I made a list of the players and a little description of each. Muffler Man, Marcus Walker, had been a wash. But Janelle said he was shady. I wondered what she meant by that. I added Freddy Libra, because he owned the club where Asshat spent his money. I still needed to talk to Chicken Licker, as well as Little Donnell, Asshat’s brother.
    I chewed the end of my pen and tried to decide if anyone else made the cut when my phone rang.
    “Rose, this is Sondra, Janelle’s cousin. Damon’s sick.”

Chapter 8

    Twenty minutes later, I pulled into her driveway with supplies. When Sondra opened the door, she looked exhausted.
    “Thanks for coming. Damon’s been throwing up for the last two hours.”
    Sherise and two little boys huddled around the too loud TV. I followed Sondra through to the kitchen and set the grocery bag