Free Death of a Christmas Caterer by Lee Hollis

there?”
    Hayley lying, telling him, “Yes, everything’s great.”
    The video stopped and Sal pocketed the phone. “Satisfied, Bruce?”
    Bruce nodded. He glanced furtively to Hayley and then back to Sal. “I’m not feeling very good, Sal. I may be having a relapse.”
    He grabbed his stomach as a wave of nausea apparently swept over him.
    â€œWell, you best be getting home then, Bruce,” Sal said flatly.
    Bruce, humiliated, turned and hightailed it out the door after grabbing his coat off the rack.
    Sal turned to Hayley. “It’s okay if you want to make an issue out of this.”
    â€œHe was plowed, Sal. It was a Christmas party. These things happen.”
    Sal nodded. “Good. Let’s get back to work.”
    The phone rang as Sal pivoted and returned to his office.
    Hayley sat down behind her desk and scooped up the receiver. “ Island Times. This is Hayley speaking.”
    â€œHey, sis. You will never guess what Sergio got me for Christmas!”
    It was Randy, Hayley’s younger brother.
    â€œI hate playing this guessing game with my kids. Just tell me, please,” Hayley said, rubbing her eyes.
    â€œI was snooping around the attic, you know, peeking around to see what I could find—”
    â€œYou’re worse than Dustin,” Hayley said, laughing.
    â€œAnyway, I stumbled across this giant box wrapped in this fabulous paper with pictures of all these hot, bare-chested muscle dudes wearing Santa hats, and I thought it might be that fifty-two-inch flat-screen TV I’ve been begging for all year. But when I picked it up, it was really light. I mean, it felt like this huge box was just full of air. Well, needless to say, I was dying of curiosity—”
    â€œTell me you didn’t open it.”
    â€œI did—but very carefully. I mean, peeling that Scotch tape off without tearing the paper was no small feat. It takes years of practice. I felt like I was performing surgery.”
    â€œRandy!”
    â€œI know, I know. It’s wrong, and I am going to hell, but I just couldn’t help myself. Inside was an envelope. And opening that was even harder than the box. I had to be really careful with the letter opener, but I managed to leave enough of that sticky stuff to seal it up again so he’d never know.”
    â€œI’m at work, Randy. I need you to get to the point before Christmas Eve.”
    â€œTickets for a gay cruise! Through the Mediterranean next June! Spain, Italy, and France! Can you believe it?”
    â€œOmigod, Randy, that’s fantastic!”
    â€œDid you know about this?”
    â€œNo. You know Sergio doesn’t trust me. I tell you everything. Listen, put everything back the way you found it. Sergio is a cop. He’s an expert at examining the evidence. If he suspects you tampered with that gift, he might not give it to you.”
    â€œThat’s the same threat you use on your kids.”
    â€œYes, but Sergio’s not the pushover I am. He could actually mean it!”
    â€œYou’re right. I better go. Oh, one more thing. Can I tag along with you and your gal pals tonight for Midnight Madness? I’m closing the bar early and Sergio’s hosting an open house at the police station, so I’m on my own.”
    â€œI’m skipping Midnight Madness this year, but I’m sure Mona and Liddy would love having you join them. If I don’t get some sleep soon, I’m going to drop dead.”
    In hindsight Hayley would soon realize “drop dead” was a severely unfortunate choice of words.

Chapter 11
    Hayley left the office at the end of the day and rushed home to heat up the dishes she had prepared for Garth. Just before 6:00 P.M. , she received a text from him instructing her to bring everything over to the warehouse promptly at 7:00 P.M. to set up. He asked if she could stay and help, since he was busy cooking a Dijon pork roast with cranberries for a