Free Disturbing the Dead by Sandra Parshall

paper napkin.
    Holly bit into the cheeseburger. Chili leaked onto her fingers, but she didn’t seem to notice. She stuffed two french fries into her mouth and gulped cola through a straw.
    Watching, bemused, Rachel recalled Tom’s warning about Holly’s lack of polish. The girl had plenty of enthusiasm, though, and Rachel would take that over social graces any day.
    The jukebox fell silent, and as if on cue, men rose from stools and shuffled toward the exit. When the door opened, a draft of cold air brushed the back of Rachel’s neck.
    She dared to look around, hoping the source of Holly’s uneasiness had departed. A handsome, long-limbed young man with black hair remained at the counter, deep in muted conversation with Rose. As they talked, both of them stared at Rachel and Holly. The man caught Rachel’s eye and flashed a wolfish grin.
    She snapped her head around. “Who is he?” she whispered to Holly.
    Holly answered quietly, “My cousin. Buddy Shackleford. His daddy and mine’s brothers. I didn’t think he’d be here this early. He must’ve come in to meet a…a customer.”
    Shackleford. Another member of the drug-dealing family. But Holly wasn’t a Shackleford. “I thought your last name was Turner.”
    “It is. My daddy never married my mama.” Blushing at this admission, Holly dragged a french fry through catsup and pushed the result into her mouth. She said while she chewed, “Captain Bridger’s lookin’ for my daddy. He worked for my Aunt Pauline. The police’ve always thought he killed her.”
    Oh, dear God. Holly’s father was Troy Shackleford. Did Tom know? Rachel didn’t believe his overdeveloped protective instincts would allow him to suggest that she hire the daughter of a murder suspect and drug boss. What was she going to do? She couldn’t walk out on Holly, tell her the job wasn’t available after all. The girl was sweet and eager to please, and she wanted the job so much.
    “Hey, ladies.”
    The voice made Rachel jump. Buddy Shackleford ambled to their booth and grinned down at them. “Holly, you gonna introduce me to your pretty friend?”
    Holly wiped chili from her hands with a paper napkin and didn’t acknowledge him. He slid into the booth beside her, bumped her hip and forced her to move over. “Holly’s downright rude, don’t you think?” he asked Rachel. “I’m Buddy. What’s your name?”
    His gaze crawled over her and left her feeling slimy. She would not surrender so much as a scrap of herself to him. “Mary,” she answered. She caught Holly’s surprised look and quick smile before they vanished behind an expressionless mask.
    Buddy chuckled, a nasty little sound. “Is that right? You got a last name?”
    “Smith.”
    His eyes narrowed. “And where’d you come from, Mary Smith?”
    “Somewhere else.”
    “Mary, Mary, quite contrary,” he said in a mocking singsong. “I got to look out for my little cousin, you know? What do you want with Holly?”
    “That’s between her and me.”
    “Leave us alone, Buddy!” Holly pleaded.
    He turned a murderous scowl on her. “Shut your fuckin’ mouth till I say you can open it again.”
    Holly scooted into the corner of the booth, arms wrapped around her waist, head lowered.
    Watching Holly cringe made Rachel want to hit him. This guy was in a league with Perry Nelson. Where did scum like that think they got the right to push other people around? “Look,” she said, her hands curling into fists on the table, “we’re not bothering you. And we didn’t invite you to sit down.”
    Cold eyes bored into her. “I’m gonna ask you one more time. What do you want with Holly?”
    “I’ve already answered you. That’s between her and me.”
    A long moment passed. Rachel held his stare. When Buddy spoke, his voice was soft. “Well, Mary Mary from somewhere else, I think you just wore out your welcome. You’re leavin’ now.” He slid from the booth and stood over her.
    Holly sat rigid, her eyes