Chapter 10

“Hey, don’t get so excited. I’m just havin’ a little fun, okay?” She looked over at Dante appreciatively. “He’s a big boy, he can handle it, can’t you…?”

“Hey, Dante,” Fate said, interrupting the waitress’s flirtatious words. “What’s your pleasure? You want coffee, tea, or would you rather have a soft drink?”

“I don’t know…a Coke, I guess.”

Fate looked up at Roxanne, and said, “Two Cokes, a couple of hamburgers with all the trimmings, and a side order of sautéed mushrooms.”

“You love them mushrooms, don’t you?” she teased as she was writing.

“Can’t live without ‘em.”

“Hey, Charlie! Burn two, take ‘em through the garden, and pin a rose on ‘em. Add two orders of Frog Sticks and give me a mystery in the alley.” She looked over at the counter person, and called out, “Shoot from the South, Lorna, on the double.”

“Two Atlanta Prides coming up,” Lorna answered, and began filling two glasses with ice and Coke.