Page 60 of Death of a Grill Master

“Mrs. Dunphey!” Hayley yelped as she jumped back onto the sidewalk. “Are you out of your—”

“Oh, hi, Mona!” called Mrs. Dunphey, waving cheerfully from the driver’s seat. She was ninety-three, wore enormous sunglasses, and steered like a woman possessed by speed and limited depth perception.

Hayley approached the window. “Mrs. Dunphey, you nearly mowed me down.”

“I have perfect, twenty-twenty vision.” She sniffed. “And that’s a lovely blouse, Mona. You’ve lost weight.”

As she hit the gas, Hayley shouted after her, “I’m not Mona! And maybe it’s time for an eye test!”

The Buick puttered off, turn signal blinking for three blocks straight.

Shaking her head, Hayley crossed the street and slipped into Drinks Like A Fish. Zane was already mid-explosion at the back table, facing Kylie and—Hayley’s stomach tightened—Chase Wingate. Chase had one arm slung over the back of Kylie’s chair, the other nursing a pint of some overhyped craft beer. He looked like he owned the place.

Zane hovered menacingly over them. “You’re seriously slumming with Prince Trust Fund here?”

Kylie sighed. “Zane. No.”

“I thought we were—”

“We’re not anything,” Kylie snapped. “We ended things. Ages ago. And I moved on. Why can’t you?”

Chase raised his glass. “Look, beach boy, don’t get your scuba tank in a twist.”

“You don’t care about her,” Zane spat. “You want what Hank had—and now he’s conveniently out of the way.”

Kylie rolled her eyes. “Zane—”

“You think I don’t see it?” Zane’s voice was rising. “You’re using him. And he’s letting you. That’s what you do, right, Kylie? You follow the money.”

Kylie didn’t flinch. “And yet you’re still obsessed with me. What does that say?”

Zane flicked his wild eyes toward Chase. “And you—you’re not fooling anyone. You think nobody sees through your smarmy act?”

“I’m just here enjoying a drink with a beautiful woman. Why don’t you go pretend you’re in Point Break somewhere else?”

Hayley tensed, ready to intervene. Zane stepped forward, eyes blazing.

“You killed him, didn’t you?” Zane spat. “You wanted Kylie for yourself, and so you got rid of Hank.”

Chase’s smile didn’t budge. “Prove it.”

“Unless …” Zane’s jaw flexed. He glared at Kylie. “Unless you’re in on it, too.”

Chase laughed. “Now, that’s entertaining.”

Without warning, Kylie picked up her drink and splashed it in Zane’s face. “Don’t you ever say that to me again.”

Zane recoiled, sputtering, fists clenched.

Hayley tensed. This was about to go sideways.

Chelsea appeared out of nowhere like a referee in heels. “Hey there, Captain Wet Wipes,” she said brightly to Zane. “You planning to order something? Or are we loitering with intent?”

Zane threw down a napkin, turned on his heel, and stormed out of the bar.

As he left, Chelsea looked over and spotted Hayley. “You okay?”

“I’ve been better,” Hayley said.