Free What's Done in Darkness by Kayla Perrin

brought her an order for two BLT sandwiches and fries, plus two fruit smoothies.
    â€œLunch is always busy,” she said. “And the weekends.”
    When one thirty rolled around and the crowd had thinned out, I was relieved. I’d been worried that I was going to screw something up, but all had gone well.
    â€œYou survived your first hectic lunch hour,” Katrina said, coming to stand beside me at the far end of the counter, where I was taking a moment to drink some lemonade.
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œYou’re a natural. Really great with everyone, from what I saw.”
    I smiled. Then noticed an older lady, who’d been sitting by herself and sipping a tea for about half an hour, beckon me over.
    â€œThat’s Mrs. Sturgess,” Katrina explained. “She comes in every day. Lost her husband four months ago, poor thing.”
    I made my way over to the table. “All finished with your tea?” I asked.
    â€œYes, and I’d like another. I’ll also have one of those chocolate chip cookies.”
    â€œSure thing.”
    â€œCan you warm it in the microwave? Katrina knows how I like it.”
    â€œAbsolutely.”
    I went to the counter to ring in the order. “She said she’d like a chocolate chip cookie, warmed. She said you know how she likes it?”
    â€œIt’s the same for everybody. Fifteen seconds in the microwave.”
    I found the largest cookie from the pastry display and brought it to the microwave on the counter while Katrina got the peppermint tea bag and a small kettle with boiling water. Once everything was ready, I carefully carried the items over to Mrs. Sturgess’s table.
    â€œThere you go,” I said.
    â€œThank you, dear. And whenever you’re ready, you can bring me my bill.”
    â€œOf course.”
    Suddenly Mrs. Sturgess tsked, and I looked at her with concern. “Such a shame, isn’t it?”
    â€œExcuse me?”
    With a flick of her head, she gestured to the television perched high on the wall behind the counter. It was set to an all-news channel and had no volume. “That couple in Mexico. Murdered just outside of their hotel.”
    â€œOh?” I’d been too busy trying to learn the ropes to really pay attention to the television.
    Mrs. Sturgess shook her head. “That place has become far too dangerous.”
    I looked over my shoulder, saw the photo of a smiling young man and woman in a corner of the screen while a male newscaster was speaking. The closed captioning was on, and I quickly read the summary:
    Honeymooning couple murdered in Cancun.
    â€œGosh, that is awful,” I said, and frowned slightly. “And on their honeymoon.”
    â€œTheir poor families. I lost my George four months ago, but at least it was a heart attack. The good Lord took him. It’s been hard, but I can’t even imagine how those parents must feel. Losing your children to murder.”
    â€œOh God. I know. It’s so sad.”
    â€œJade?” Katrina called.
    â€œExcuse me,” I said to the woman, and made my way back to the counter.
    â€œFigured you could use some saving,” Katrina explained in a hushed tone when I got there. “Mrs. Sturgess is very sweet, but she can go on and on.”
    â€œIt’s hard, losing your spouse. My dad was never quite the same after my mother died.”
    â€œLet’s not start on about your dad again,” Katrina said.
    Her blunt tone caught me off guard. Start on about my dad again? Is that what she thinks? That I went on and on about my loss?
    â€œI just mean,” she quickly went on, “that now is not the time to get all weepy and depressed. We’ve got a full house, and we have to remain upbeat.”
    â€œI’m sorry if you think I’m going on and on about my dad,” I said, hurt and stunned by the comment. I didn’t get why she would say that, especially since she’d talked about losing her