Dianne Harman [Harman - Murder at the Truck Stop: A Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery (Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Series Book 16)

Ms. K, avoice said as Kelly walked down the aisle of her coffee shop, making sure thecustomers, mainly regulars, and the staff were happy. She was a firm believer thata happy staff transferred over into satisfied returning customers.

She turned and looked over at the young man who had spoken to her. He seemedfamiliar, but she couldnt place him.

Hey, Ms. K, its me, Jesse, the one who ate you out of house and homewhen I was growing up.

She sat down across from the young man and said, I am so sorry, Jesse, Ididnt recognize you with the beard. Thats a far cry from the young boy whoused to play baseball with my son, Cash. Im so glad to see you. Since Cash hasbeen in the Mideast, Ive pretty much lost track of all of his friends. Please,fill me in on what youve been doing since I last saw you.

Actually, thats why Im here. Cash and I text all the time. Aftercollege I got a job as a long-haul trucker and drove all over the U.S. Recently,I got married and I could see that my lifestyle wasnt going to make for ahappy ever after, so I got a new route. Happy to say that now Im home nightsand on the weekends. My wife and dog are much happier with this arrangement.

Im so glad for you. One of the things I miss about Cash being gone isseeing his friends. He had such a close circle of them, and I have to admit, Iliked having all that young testosterone around.

When I told Cash about my new job, Jesse said, he asked me to stop byyour coffee shop and say hi for him. He also told me if I came here, I had toorder the Salisbury steak with mushroom sauce and something he called a Basque cheesecake.He said those were the two things he missed most. I told him Id definitelyorder them with him in mind.

That sounds familiar. Whenever I made either one of those for the coffeeshop, I didnt dare come home without some. I see your plate is empty, so itlooks like you enjoyed them.

Cash was absolutely right. Those are two of the best things Ive had ina long time. He told me you and he text a lot, but he thought it might make youfeel better if one of his old friends stopped by.

Jesse, I cant tell you how much I appreciate you doing this. I feellike Ive just heard from Cash. Thanks. Id like to talk to you about your job,but Im afraid trucking is something I know nothing about.

Neither did I, and I have to tell you, its a whole new world. I meanthey even speak a different language. My college English major is doing nothingfor me in this job. If anything, Im having to unlearn everything I learned incollege. Sometimes I think it was a waste of time.

I doubt it. I remember that you were going to go to a community collegeand then a state college, so hopefully, youre not burdened by a huge student loan.I hear horror stories on the news all the time about the poor graduates who aresaddled with them.

No, fortunately I was able to work while I was in college and my parentshelped me out, so I dont owe any money for my education. Thank heavens. Nowthat Im married and trying to live the American Dream, Im finding that whitepicket fence and house to match doesnt come cheap. My wife works as asecretary at the cannery just outside of Portland, and were hoping well haveenough saved to buy a house by next year.

I wish you luck. I sometimes wonder how you young people do it today withthe high cost of housing and everything else. Not easy.

No, its not. To change the subject. Cash said you love to learn newthings, and he thought you might like to go on my route with me some day.Believe me, it really is a different world and pretty colorful.

Id love to, Jesse. Ive never even been in a truck, so it will be atotally new experience for me.

Okay, its pretty much up to you when well do it, but I have to warnyou, it will be early. Todays kind of a fluke in that the boss wanted me to delivera special load. Normally I wouldnt be here at this time, but he got someoneelse to take my regular route. I could pick you up here about six in themorning.

I leave Portland at four in the morning and Cedar Bay is about two hoursout. Theres a small truck stop about an hour beyond Cedar Bay where I usually stopfor a cup of hot coffee and a bathroom break depending on how much traffic Iencounter. Then its an hour from there to where I offload. When I finish unloading,I turn around and head back, so youll be gone about four hours. When would youlike to do it?

How about next week? Is one day better for you than another?

Mondays can get hectic. How about Tuesday?

Sounds good. I unlock the front door of the coffee shop at 6:00 andRoxie, my manager and long-time employee meets me here. Why dont you pick meup here at the coffee shop at 6:00 a.m.? Ill be ready, and thanks for theinvite. This really sounds interesting.

I forgot that Roxie works here. I dont see her, though.

No, she asked for the morning off. She had a dentist appointment. How doyou know her?

My boss, Pete Richards, is her brother. He had a party a few months ago,and Roxie and her husband were there. When I found out where she worked, I toldher Id practically grown up at your house. Please tell her I said hi.

Will do. Think I better get back to work. Things never go quite assmooth when Roxies gone. Thanks again, Jesse. This will be fun.

Kind of depends on whether or not you think the word murder is fun.