Four men got out of a blue Chevy sedan in the parking lot and headed to the docks, wondering who all the people already there were? Standing at the steps Spencer met them at the edge of the dock. He held out his hand for them to stop. “Security, what’s your names?”

“Fuck you, you’re no security I’ve ever seen before. Get out of my way.” The big tall guy started up the steps.

I was positive in his line of work Spencer had got into a few fights. I wasn’t too sure he and the others were capable of handling the four men who looked like fighting was a past time. When I walked out onto the docks the guys all got big eyed. “I’m Jodi, Nova’s twin sister. I have been looking for her. Have any of you men seen her?”

“Fuck bitch, you look just like her.” The tall guy spit out.

“That answers my question doesn’t it? You have seen her. Any idea where she might be? We were supposed to meet here this morning. I’ve been hearing rumors she left yesterday.”

Before they responded, a well designed, over endowed, petite, long haired, honey blonde walked over and sat down on the edge of the dock. I had sensed her earlier and was hoping she was assigned to the kitchen, bar, dining room or possibly clean up. Nope, not my luck. I was praying these four guys didn’t do anything stupid, such as bulldoze past Spencer. Kitcha might have been petite, she loved a brawl more than anyone I had ever met. She was also a dirty fighter. These four could end up with broken arms, legs, fingers, missing an eye, teeth, ear, and handfuls of hair. She seldom killed anyone but she sure messed them up where a hospital visit was necessary. Possibly long term. Personally I thought she was psycho. But then who am I to be calling names?

“Hey guys, I wanna play.” Oh yeah, she also had that breathless bedroom voice most guys talk about but never hear themselves.

All the guys turned to look at her. “Say cheese.” She held up a camera and took a half dozen rapid pictures of the four men.

Surprise, disgust, and then mean ran across the talk guy’s face. “Give me that camera, blonde.”

Oh shit, this was going south in a big hurry. I stepped up beside Spencer. “Mister, leave it alone. You’re in an open space. She has every right to take pictures of whatever or whoever she wants.”

“Not of me she doesn’t. Give me that camera.” He was reaching for her.

Jumping down off the dock I landed between Kitcha and him. “Back off.”

He pulled back to slug me. Leaning back, his swing missed my face. Grabbing his arm, I pulled and twisted it at the same time. He stumbled forward off balance. Reaching up behind his head I pushed his forehead into the dock. It wasn’t hard but I wasn’t easy either. He would be addled and have a big pump knot on his forehead. He sat down on his butt holding his head, trying to clear it.

Glancing behind me Kitcha was already off the dock ready to turn the other three into mangled bodies. “NO! NOT HERE!”

“I wanted to play.” She pouted.

“Another time.”

The other three looked like they were ready to mix it up with two women. Spencer, Ken, and the other two men looked ready to come off the docks. “EVERYONE STOP!” I was surprised when everyone did stop.

“Guys, you have been warned. As of yesterday, you were terminated. You are no longer allowed to be on the property of Eve’s Hanging Garden Club. Your paycheck will be mailed to you in two weeks if you give me your names.”

“You can’t fire us.” One of the three was glaring daggers at me.

“I didn’t Brent did. I’m enforcing the decision since I’m the new manager. If you would like to dispute that decision…, here I am.” I motioned to Spencer. “Guys, stay out of this. Kitcha, you too.”

More vehicles had pulled in while we were engaged. There were nine more men crowded around trying to figure out what was up? What the hell was going on? I strongly suspected one of the men who first showed up texted a message which got passed around. While stupid was trying to make up his mind, I shouted to the others. “You have been fired as of yesterday. You no longer work here. Your last paycheck will be mailed to you in two weeks. Spencer has a list of names on his clipboard. Give him your name, address, and go home. Those names not checked means that person wasn’t showing up for work. No paycheck will be mailed out to them.”

Most of them realized their days of scamming the club was at an end and a last paycheck might be necessary. They started lining up to give Spencer their names. The tall guy had got over his bruising. He and his three hard case friends were still thinking about beating the holy shit out of the rest of us just on principle. After all, they owned the dock up until this morning.

Turning my head part way toward Kitcha as I kept my eyes on the four guys, I asked. “How many of them do you want for yourself?”

Her eyes gleamed as she rubbed her hands together. “All of them.”

It was double funny because by the smirk on their faces, the four thought it was a joke. A petite five four girl couldn’t possibly harm one much less all four. They turned a mutant loose on me, turn about would be fair. Kitcha might have been small, she could throw a harder punch than any of these guys ever could. She was also lightning fast, stronger than a bear, and almost indestructible. Toss re-gen in her bio just for fun. I was positive I never wanted to get tangled up with her. The government had a name for those who had similar abilities, although each one in that class had different strengths and abilities. They called them Super Nova Mutants. They could be male, female, petite like Kitcha or more like the huge, hulking six foot six muscle bound guy. It was human nature to believe all Super Nova Mutants were the six foot something masculine guy. Those like Kitcha weren’t supposed to be a part of that mutant gene.

They were still trying to decide if they wanted to fight or not when Joe Bryant pulled into the parking lot. He looked shocked to see the woman Bolt had killed standing on the dock. He stared for over a minute before walking up to where he was next to the four. “What is all this?”

“Everyone has been laid off. Several men were caught stealing last night along with others the past several days.” I motioned toward the men still giving Spencer names.

“What do you mean laid off? Who said we were laid off? I’m security at this place. No one has been stealing anything around here.” Joe pulled out his phone and started punching numbers. He looked puzzled and started punching more numbers.

I could only guess he was trying access the security system and it wasn’t responding. An involuntary smile touched my lips. “Mr. Bryan if you wish to receive a final paycheck I suggest you give Spencer your name. And then remove yourself from this property and do NOT come back.”

He started up the stairs to the dock. “I have personal things in my office and I WILL retrieve them as they are mine.”

The first four took that as a go and started up behind him. Kitcha was instantly in front of Joe. When he reached the top step she pushed up and back on his chest. He went over backwards into the guy behind him which caused the second man to fall into the one behind him. Until all five were lying on the ground in a pile.

She turned her head and gave me the innocent little girl look, which she had down to a science. “I think they slipped.”

They were untangling themselves. Joe and the others stood up. “Why you little bitch. I’m gonna kill you.”

‘Oh shit! Wrong word’. I knew Kitcha would go postal on them if they attacked her. Shoving her back, I stepped out in front of her. “Guys let it go. You were warned. If you have personal items here you will be allowed to collect it at a later date. Call back after this week and a time can be set up. You will be escorted on and off the property. If you persist in escalating this situation someone is going to get hurt.”

Pointing to one of the security cameras I knew they hadn’t been put back online yet. Joe didn’t know that. I figured the others were too dumb to realize it either. “I believe we all know how those things work, or don’t work. They seem to show only what the operator wants them to.” Of course it was a hint to the guys we could make those cameras show anything we wanted them to with proper editing.

They had stopped and were looking at the camera. The tall guy glanced at Joe. “Do something and I’ll kill the bitches.”

“Shut up, I can’t. They changed the codes and have me locked out.” Joe was ready to admit defeat in this round.

He glared at me for several long seconds. “I thought Bolt killed you. You won’t live past a second time. You are so dead.”

“Are you admitting Bolt killed my sister?” I was hoping his ego would nail the coffin shut on them admitting to being an accessory to murder.

He looked doubtful. “Sister? That other bitch was your sister? I guess Bolt can come back and get a two fer.”

Nailed it shut. These guys were living on borrowed time as far as I was concerned. Kitcha wasn’t a serious killer, I was. My problem, there were so damn many of them I was going to need a disposal service to get rid of the bodies afterwards. “Tell this Bolt guy I’ll be waiting.”

They all turned and were walking back to their vehicles. Tall guy leaned over toward Joe at the car thinking they were out of hearing range. “She’ll be toast is what she’ll be. Call Jack and have him contact Bolt. Kill everyone on the dock, none of our men are there now.”

Okay guys this gets better and better. I now have a Jack somebody to look up. If a Jack shows up on any of those cell phones we have been collecting, I am going to do a little midnight calling. I love my job!

Spencer had taken the last name and ran down the list. “Not everyone showed up for work. There are ten names missing counting the five who just left without signing in.”

“I guessed as much. I’m betting those missing five are ghost employees with someone clocking in more than their own name and drawing a double paycheck. How in the hell did this place get in such bad shape?” I pointed to the security camera. “Get a crew on that immediately. You can’t use the system that was here. I ripped it apart last night. It was locked up. I figured Joe would be erasing data as soon as he showed up. He can’t now of course. I destroyed the system to get to the drives.”

“Give Kitcha a list of those names you collected.” A smile spread across her face as I turned to look at her. “They are all yours as long as it isn’t here and it doesn’t lead back to this place. Be discreet.”

“Nova…? Jodi?” Spencer was looking from Kitcha to me and back.

I flashed him a predator smile as I licked my lips. “You of all people should know not to underestimate or try and judge what you are looking at.”

Kitcha gave him an innocent little girl smile. Then she capped it with a giggle as she batted her eyelashes, blushed, turned her head away, and looked back at him coyly out of the corner of her eyes. Then she turned her head to look straight at him. The smile disappeared, her eyes turned blood red, her pupils became vertical slits, her lips pulled back to expose upper and lower fangs. She licked her lips. “Nova said I could play with them.”

“Oh My God!” Spencer stared. He had heard the name they called those like her. He had also heard the stories told about them. Up until now he had only met one predator and she was so kind and loving it was hard to think of Jenna as such. Now here on the dock were two, Nova and Kitcha. Did they hunt in packs? Were there more now? Kitcha wasn’t a Huntress. There was no real definition of them but as a catch all phrase they were called Demons. Kitcha gave off vibes she was well seasoned, the same as Nova.

“tweet” I gave a whistle to get everyone’s attention. “I didn’t invite Kitcha here but I’m glad she came. I probably have heard all the same tales as all of you have, about those like her. She’s really a sweetheart. As far as I know she has never hurt anyone she likes. She looks after those she considers a friend. If any of you men can get up the courage to ask her for a date, you are likely to find she is one of the funniest dates you ever had. I have double dated with her and I gotta warn you, don’t take her where any brawls are likely to happen. She would be in the thick of it before you could stop her.”

Kitcha put her finger up to her check and smiled that little girl innocent smile she did so well. “awwww”

I clapped my hands. “Okay, people, we are on limited time from here on out until we get past all those who wish to shut us down. Clean up this place. Empty shipping pallets get stacked on the edge of the dock. The maintenance closet is a bloody mess. Take everything out of it, take a high pressure steam cleaner and hose it down. Lots of elbow grease and make it sparkle. New supplies, mops, brooms, rags, paint, brushes, rollers, drop cloths, everything needed to get this place clean is…,”

I looked at Spencer. “What time is it? I seem to have misplaced my watch.”

He glanced at his wrist. “Ten after five.”

“Okay, delivery of high pressure washers, steam cleaners, cleaning gear, should be here about now. We can start by dragging everything not nailed down over to the edge of the dock. This place is going to start looking new before we are finished. When it’s clean it gets a new coat of paint. A professional crew is coming in to do the majority of that tomorrow evening.”

“I need to check and see how they are coming on the walk in and the other coolers. Where are those two refers which were supposed to be here? Spencer, there are two semis which are supposed to provide refrigerated trailers while we clean up the coolers. Have them back up to the docks when they show up so we can start moving the food from the coolers to the trucks. There will be two more semis which are empty. They will be for all the stock in the storage rooms.”

I was headed for the kitchen when something else came to me. I turned back to Kitcha. “A semi with motorized…, I guess you could call them golf carts with a bed. They are for moving things and will fit in the hallways. You direct their operations. Utilize them the best you can. Assign one each to the walk in freezer and walk in refrigerator to move everything from there to the semis when they get here. The kitchen will need one assigned to it to fetch when the cooks need something from the semis after everything gets moved.”

“I hope this works. It has to work. This place has to look brand new and fresh to get by the inspections coming at us.” I headed to the kitchens wishing all the equipment and supplies we needed were already in the trucks and backed up to the dock.

=======================================================

Closing in on eight o’clock, trucks were arriving. Other personnel who worked at the club and were assigned to clock in at eight were told to go home. Spencer and Ken were busier than hell tracking delivery trucks and drivers. Some delivery trucks were no show which I suspected had been alerted by now things had changed at the club. They didn’t want to get caught delivering and taking it out again. Provided the goods were in their trucks to start with. Some of those had to be nothing more than invoices stating a delivery which wasn’t even on the truck. God what a mess!

=============================

Standing next to Kathy in the dinning room with the morning shift waitresses, she introduced me. “Ladies, this tall girl standing next to me is Jodi our new manager. She has been hired to keep this place open. As many of you may have heard or guessed we had problems with inventory shrinkage among other things.”

Dorothy leaned over toward Laura, “Inventory shrinkage?”

“Stealing.” Laura responded.

Dorothy put her hand up to her mouth. “Oh! Yeah, that fits.”

Kathy nodded and continued. “As I was saying, Jodi is here to find and fix our problems. She informed Brent earlier she is the boss. I can assure you, Brent didn’t question that statement. I think he was intimidated by her height. She’s taller than him.”

A couple of the women laughed.

Kathy turned to look at me. “Jodi, the Garden Club is yours. Make us proud.”

I looked over the gathering. Marco was there with there with the waitresses. “Ladies, Marco, I’m the new manager of this establishment. There are no new rules but the ones you should have been following from day one. Everyone smile and be extra pleasant around the guests. Bring your best beauty to the job. Want to complain looking pretty to keep your job is discrimination? Leave now and go file your complaint with the labor relations board.”

“You’re wearing jeans and a sweatshirt.” Came from the back.

“Yes I am, JoAnn. The reason is, I have been working my unhuh off on the dock, the kitchen, and in the storage rooms.” I knew I was dirty and grimy. “As soon as this place comes together I will be wearing a dress and heels everyday I’m not down on my hands and knees scrubbing underneath equipment, cleaning out the grease traps, or rodding the sewer lines, I will try to look my best. Although I could wear a dress and heels for those jobs if it was necessary. I will also be in here waitressing from time to time.”

I held up my hand before the protests started. “Those whose tables I wait on won’t miss their tips. They will still belong to the waitress whose table I happen to serve. I will take over Marco’s job from time to time. He gets to keep the tips he missed also.”

That got a few chuckles from a couple of them. At the moment most of the girls were not happy campers getting lectured to by a new manager who looked like anything but management.

“Ladies, this is an upscale restaurant, club. Whether you like it or not, you are part of the picture this restaurant projects. You will be pleasant and look your best to every customer who enters the door. Smile whether you feel like it or not. Do not come to work looking like something the cat dragged in. I notice some of you didn’t put any effort into putting your best face on this morning. Maybe you don’t know how. That will change. Every waitress will be sent to Joan’s Beauty Parlor before the week is up. It will part of your work schedule. Everything will be paid for by the club. Kathy made up a list of names. That list is by the cashier’s table. Four of you go after you get off work. If you can’t make it tell Kathy and she can substitute another girl and reschedule you for another day.”

“Any questions?”

“Someone mentioned new uniforms. I can’t afford a new uniform right now.” Sallie looked around at the others to see if any of them had the same problem.

“This restaurant is starting fresh. So yes, new uniforms are necessary. New uniforms will be furnished by the club. You won’t be paying for them. You will get three uniforms. Any extras you have to buy yourself. Credit can be made where a little is taken from your paycheck each week until it is paid for.”

“Any more questions?”

=============================================================

By ten customers started coming in for dining. The temp help we had working in the dinning room was shifted to the barroom, kitchen, and docks. The dinning room wasn’t cleaned and polished to a new shine by any means but we were gaining on it. Tonight after midnight the professionals would move in to remove, replace molding, trim, tables, chairs, cabinets, flooring, paint the ceiling, take down the fixtures and replace them. Tomorrow the dinning room would look and smell brand new. The painters were using Estay Armor Enamel, instant dry paint. They painted it on, turned on the ultraviolet lights, and moments later the paint was as if it had been drying for weeks. Better than that, it was enamel tough and super easy to clean.

The cash outflow was going to be close to half a million before this place was brought back up to where it was once again ‘the place to dine’. Provided we managed to get past the inspections, Kathy needed to take out several ads showcasing the Garden Club as a place for family and business meetings.

There were a lot of secrets being installed in this place. Brent and Kathy had been informed about the semi backed up to the side of the dock. Preparations were being made, nothing was unloaded. I expected every dirty trick in the book to be used by those who had been bleeding this club. I was going to do my best to be one step ahead no matter what they tried. Of course health and fire inspectors would be their first try. Underage allowed in the club would fall into that same category. Those are the easiest. Provided that didn’t work they would be reexamining every permit issued, including going back to zoning and building codes. Again, provided that failed they would sic any mutants they had on a leash at us along with sabotage. If they couldn’t have the club than nobody could. Would they try poisoning the food before it was delivered? Brent needed to shift to new delivery companies as I figured all the old ones were tainted. I’d inform him. I was sure Spencer could give us references on who Brent could trust.

A light came on. I’m so slow at times. I could smell if the food had been poisoned but I couldn’t spend all my time on the dock checking each delivery. I knew who could though. Crystal usually had a general idea where certain mutant’s might be at any given time. If the government ever got their hands on her a lot of mutants would die after they tortured the information out of her. I’d give her a call and see if she could notify Scooter I could use her for a few months. The girl was an elf. Any thing anyone had ever heard about them was mostly true. She wasn’t running second in beauty to the Enchantress.

As good as I am with scents, Scooter could make me look like I had sinus congestion. I swear that girl could smell a bumblebee fart a mile away. She hated civilization for that very reason. Society literally stinks to put it bluntly. If I could talk her into coming I’d put Kitcha on the dock with her. Scooter would attract men like flies to honey. She wasn’t a fighter and she could be hurt. She had re-gen capabilities which I didn’t want her to need if she was helping me. Those security cameras, Spencer said were coming, better be top notch. It was a given Scooter would pull in a few who didn’t understand no. If necessary, Kitcha would beat the holy…., out of them as she gave them a lesson in understanding English. And a lawsuit would probably be the result. Our defense had to be on memory chips without any blank spots in between. Man grabs girl. Man ends up in hospital.

I sighed as I wished for the days when I could run a sword through them or put an arrow in their heart and be done with it. Life was so much simpler back then.

=========================================================

I missed the number of days it would be before I figured we would be under attack by those who wanted the club back or destroyed. By day five when I left the suite at four AM, yes I was twenty four/seven at the club now, I was dressed in jeans and blouse to make the rounds before personnel started showing up. Kathy’s office was where I scanned the security tapes for the past twenty four hours to see if anything looked amiss. Spencer’s team had the new security cameras up. I could literally spot a fly landing on a pallet on the shipping dock those things were such high resolution. There were forty two of those things placed around the club and restaurant. Brent and Kathy had to come up with eighty thousand to pay for all that. It was worth every single penny. Besides what looked like a couple common thieves trying to break in the back at around two AM before the alarm scared them off, I didn’t catch anything.

The dock and the kitchen came alive a few minutes before five. One delivery truck backed up to the dock with fresh shrimp, fish, crab, and other seafood. Captain Jack’s would always be our first delivery of the day from now on. We had already changed our sea food supplier along with most of the others. Our menu offered ‘fresh seafood’ and that was what our patrons received. Dave was delivering some of what was caught and brought in last night to the packers and restaurants like ours.

The driver was opening his cargo doors. I waited for him to finish. “Morning Dave.”

He stopped, turned and looked. “Morning Jodi. You’re looking beautiful this morning.”

“Thank you. Keep me in the loop if your boss or anyone tells you to change routes.” I handed him an envelope. “Give that to your employer. If they change drivers on us I will refuse delivery until I have a chance to check out the driver’s past employment.”

He nodded. “Jodi, word among delivery drivers is, the Garden Club is going down. Rumor only mind you. Expect the Health Inspector and Fire Marshal surprise inspection at your busiest time today. Probably around noon or a little later. If not then probably the evening crowd around seven or eight.”

Dave looked around to make sure it was only him and me. “Keep some men real close to them, Jodi. I’ve heard some bad things about them. They break things and claim codes weren’t up to par.”

“Thanks Dave, have you said anything to anyone else?”

He shook his head.

“Okay, I’ll keep it in mind. Now careful with your mouth and don’t go repeating anything you hear to anyone else. You will end up in a dumpster or at the bottom of the ocean. The Fire Marshal and Health Inspector aren’t the only bad asses out there. They have a ton of friends who desire the same thing. They hear you’re repeating stories about them they won’t hesitate to make you disappear. It has already happened to several others who worked here. One wrong word, the wrong person hears it, you’re dead. Do you understand? More importantly do you believe me?”

His eyes and the scent he was giving off indicated he was in mild shock and slightly afraid. He nodded yes.

Ryan came out with a pallet mover and an empty pallet. The empty was put in Dave’s truck. The fresh seafood pallet was wheeled into the walk in cooler. At eight Sue would check the pallet to see what was brought and put a flyer insert in the menus to reflect the fresh catch of the day. The club was beginning to jell into a smooth organization again. By this time next week the parking lot and side walks would be steam cleaned and high pressure washed before they were repainted. This club was going to look brand new again. It was all the detail work, not just a fresh coat of paint on the walls, that would do the trick.

It was time to check up on Pete and his crew. I really wanted him moved to the evening dinner crowd. His talent was only partially utilized on the morning and noon dinners. That time of day wasn’t the time for relaxing, socializing the same way people do after work at the office is finished. From the business meetings where money flowed for food and drink to impress potential clients or bosses; to the relaxing family or friends get together, the evening crowd spent more money and expected more for the money spent. Pete would be able to provide whatever our customers desired and more. After reading up on his past, I figured Pete was the best chef out there on any continent.

Jeff and Kay were placing fresh uncooked buns on the trays. Alice and Debbi were working on the fresh pies. Everyone was busy. I could sense an emotion of pride and determination in the kitchen. What a change from a week ago when no one cared and they only showed up for the paycheck.

“Pete, we might get a surprise inspection by the fire marshal today.” I walked over to watch him decorate a cake. Some of his cakes were a work of art.

He nodded as he rotated the cake and painted sugar flowers on it. “We’re clean. Ovens, range, exhaust vents has been checked over by the service guys three times this week, Nov…, Jodi. The fire suppression system had the same going over.”

He pointed with his decoration gun to the wall by the back hallway. “They even added two auxiliary fire extinguishers just for giggles. They are code but not necessary to the kitchen. Those men Kathy called in to bring us up to code must have an idea what this place is facing.”

He grinned. “Your galley is Bristol, Captain.” He gave a mock salute.

That got a laugh out of me. “Thank you for the report Master Chef. And for your info, I served on a naval vessel. To a man, the crew would have reenlisted if you had been cook on that ship.”

He looked surprised. “You’re kidding? You served on a naval vessel?”

“It wasn’t a U.S. ship. Keep it under your sailor’s cap.”

The smile touched his eyes. “Is there anything you haven’t done?”

“It’s a big world. The things I haven’t done are thousands of times more than what I have. Men, bless their hearts, like to hear the tales of battles and wars. Women want to hear about the Kings, Queens, nobility, dresses, balls, and parties.”

Sighing, I looked around the kitchen. “Living for awhile wears on the soul. I’m tired, Pete. Tired of seeing the evil in the world and realizing no matter how hard I try I’ll never stop it. Sometimes, late at night when I can’t sleep, I wish it was me on the losing end of some of those battles. If Bolt had tried a little harder. If Spencer and the others hadn’t been watching…,”

Pete pulled me in and wrapped his arms around me in a bear hug. “You seem invincible to all the rest of us. It’s easy to forget you’re human like us. Your strength gave me the courage to get hold of my own life again. If you will let me, I’ll return the favor. You need someone to lean on, an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, someone to guard your back? I’m here.”

He eased his hug. I pushed back. “Thanks Pete. I want you to shift to the evening crowd and Rundal shift to the morning shift. He’s good but not excellent. I have a couple others in mind if he doesn’t want to trade places.”

“Names?” Pete looked at me with questions in his eyes. “Rundal, isn’t going to move. He will never get up on time in the mornings. He hates mornings.”

“Jill Quisenberry, is one. Beatrest Cupper is another.”

“Heard of them. Haven’t met them. Both if you can get them and Rundal quits. Five to twelve isn’t a two chef schedule. If this place blooms like you think it will, a short order cook filling in the hole in the middle will no longer work. Both women are Master Chefs in their own right. I would be pleased to work beside either one of them.”

“I’ll have Kathy contact them and see if they are willing to come on board. It will have to be on a promissory commission. This place is bleeding money like a government handout. Won’t be able to pay them what they are worth to start with.” I was almost positive we would never be able to hire either woman, much less two.

“Tell Kathy to give me some numbers she can work with and the phone number of the ladies. I’ll call them. Sometimes we cooks have a language of our own. They will listen to me as they might not listen to Kathy. Think about it. As well known and as good as they are, they probably get offers to change jobs every week.” Pete waited for an answer.

“I’ll tell Kathy to get on it.”

“Nova…, Jodi, one other thing. If one of them agrees to come, advertise the hell out the fact. Their reputations are well known by the public. They will be a big drawing card. Tonight tell Rundal you’re shifting him to mornings. He’ll think you can’t afford to lose him and he will threaten to quit. Accept his resignation when he offers it. I’ll split my shift and come in the morning to get things started. Then I’ll go home until four, come back and pick up the evening shift.”

“You can’t…”

Pete reached out to put his hand on my lips to stop me. Of course I wasn’t there. That reflex reaction. He laughed. “I said I had your back. I meant it. One of your waitresses is a trained chef. JoAnn got burned out several years back and quit the kitchens. Lack of support, everything that went wrong was her fault. Which wasn’t true. She cared too much. It ate her up so she quit. Bring her back into the kitchen. I’ll guide her until she gets her emotions back and believes in herself again.”

As nine o’clock rolled around I made one last pass through the whole place to check and make sure things were still holding together. We were still on track. Passing through the kitchen I stopped. Something…? “EVERYONE STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING AND DON’T MOVE!”

Pete looked up in surprise along with everyone else wondering what now? I pointed at him. “You and only you move, turn the exhaust fans off.”

By now Pete knew something was wrong or Nova wouldn’t stop all of them. He walked over to the hallway door and flipped breakers shutting down the fans.

Starting to my right I was slowly walking and moving my head left to right. At times with my eyes closed. Pete barked at one of the men by the mixer. “She said don’t move. That means you also.”

The guy stopped moving away from the mixer. I was closing in as I circled the kitchen. When I got close to the mixer I had found what I was searching for. Looking at the man, he was giving off the smell of fear along with the other scents I chased down.

Looking him in the eyes I shook my head. “If you run it will give me an excuse to break a few limbs.”

“Pete, turn everything back on. Your help can get back to their jobs.” My focus
on the man in front of me never wavered.

“You heard her. Everyone pick it up.” He walked up beside me and waited.

I kept my eyes on the man. I remembered his name was Jeb. “Pete what is the dough in that mixer used for?”

He looked over into the bowl. “That would be our next batch of buns, bread, bread sticks, wafers, capons.”

“Put it in the garbage bag and don’t let anyone touch that dough with their bare hands. There are full length, industrial heavy, latex gloves in the janitor’s closet. Everyone who gets close to that bowl before it is cleaned and washed again will be wearing them. Make sure that bowl and paddle are extra clean before they start another batch. When it’s clean scrub it another ten times.” I reached out and wrapped my hand around Jeb’s wrist before he bolted. “You and I are going to have a talk.”

I pushed him backwards. “March up to the offices.”

“Nova?” Pete was looking at me.

“It isn’t spread around. Only what is in the mixer needs to go into the trash bag. Don’t let anyone touch it without gloves until it has been cleaned”

I reached into the bowl with my left hand and got a glob on my fingers. “Unless our friend here wants to eat some of it.” I held it out toward his face.

His eyes went wide. He was shaking his head as he locked his mouth shut.

“Pete make sure no one touches or ingests any of that. Make that bowl and bread hook sparkle before you put it back in operation.”

After tossing what was in my hand back into the bowl I gave Jeb a shove. “March!”

At the door he tried to yank his wrist out of my hand and run. I pulled him around me where he smacked into the doorframe. Stunned he fell to the floor on his butt. Reaching down with my right hand I wrapped up a handful of shirt in my fist and yanked him to his feet. I pulled him in where I was in his face, his feet off the floor. “Try that again and there won’t be a third time.”

Kathy looked up in surprise as we marched into office.

“Call Brent in here, get out your camera.” I pushed Jeb down into a chair.

“You can’t do this to me. I know my rights. This is abuse. I’ll sue the pants off this company and that includes you, bitch.” Jeb was starting to protest.

“Talk all you want. Say anything you like. Your soul belongs to me now.” Giving him my best ‘you’re mine’ look, I licked my lips as my fangs extended. “The cat cornered the mouse and lunch is about to be served.”

His eyes grew to the size of dinner plates, a wet spot formed in the chair, and he screamed. Which timed just right with Brent walking in the door. Brent stopped dead in his track to assess the situation, fight or flight?

Reaching out, I yanked Jeb to his feet. Which may have been a mistake. Pee wasn’t the only thing leaking out of him. “Empty your pockets onto the desk.”

Kathy had her camera up.

Change, keys, billfold, several business cards, and a vial ended up on the desk.

Brent started to reach for the vial. I slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch that. It had poison in it and on it. He wasn’t careful and got it on his hands. He’s already dead. Whoever gave it to him put a slower acting poison on the outside to take care of any witnesses.”

“Would you like to talk? It would make it easier if I had names. Either way I’ll find those who put you up to poisoning those in the restaurant. When I do, what I’ll do is only told by a few souls in whispers.”

“Dagger was…, is his name. I was told to meet him at a bar. He told me the Committee said if people got sick no one would come. The restaurant would have to close.” Jeb looked at the vial and then at his hands. “No one said anything about anyone dying.”

“Who is in that Committee! How much they pay you!”

He looked around. “I can’t tell you that. They will kill me.”

“How much?”

“Ten grand.”

“Jeb, I’m sorry. You’re dead already.”

“YOU CAN’T KILL ME!” He looked at Kathy, Brent, and then me.

“I won’t have the chance. You’re dead and don’t know it. I can smell the other poison on the vial and on your hands. You might have lived another ten hours if you hadn’t got some of what was in that vial on your hands. It is a little faster working than the one they intended for you. Honestly, I feel sorry for you because you were stupid and greedy. In this case a fatal error. For a few pieces of silver you sold what little you had left of your soul.”

His face was looking flushed as his hands started turning red. He plopped back into the chair. “I feel hot.”

“Jeb, you’re leaking blood into your system. There isn’t a cure. Let me be your revenge. Who is on that committee?”

“arn…,” He slumped over in the chair.

“Stupid and greedy!” Brent, you and Kathy, out and don’t touch anything. Call Spencer, we need a discrete hazmat crew to clean and bag this mess. Oh HELL, never mind, I’ll take care of it myself. Give me about thirty minutes and no one will know besides us. Otherwise this gets out and the health dept will shut this place down while they send in their own hazmat crew. I guarantee they wouldn’t let us open back up. Dust in the air and on the floor would be called unknown toxins without ever reaching a lab. This was a win win for those who paid this idiot. Even if he never got a chance to poison the food, when he collapsed in the kitchen it would start a chain of events. Ambulance arrives, takes him to ER, everyone who touches him gets sick or dies. Leads back to us and again hazmat and we are closed for good.”

My fangs were out and I was licking my lips. “I hate these people! GO! LEAVE! I’ll take care of this.”

Forty minutes later I carried four garbage bags out and put them in the trunk of my car. The swivel chair broken into pieces along with the mop and rags I had used in one bag, a body in the other. The third bag had all the dough Jeb had mixed the poison into. His personal items in a forth bag would need to be neutralized before I allowed anyone else to touch them. The poison he brought in was nasty shit guaranteed to kill everyone who touched or took a bite of anything the dough was made into. Some of it had gone airborne or I never would have smelled it. Only a few microns and it wasn’t enough to make anyone sick. What was on his hands and outside of that vial was what first got my attention. Jeb was a walking dead man from the moment he made a deal with Dagger.

I still hadn’t received word Scooter would help. Of course she wouldn’t send an advance notice. She would show up if she was coming. I could use her help. Jeb never would have made it into the kitchen with that vial if she had been here. She would have smelled it almost as soon as he got out of his car. Again, I wished she was here as I shut the trunk deck. Tomorrow was trash pickup day. I’d make it several miles away ahead of the trash truck and dump the bags. Like Bolt planned on getting rid of me. A lot of ill secrets got tossed in those big dumpsters.

It was about twenty minutes later after a super scrub and shower in that NASA shower system in the suite, I put on a golden lame’ dress with a really low scoop neckline. I wondered if Brenda realized she was copying the low necklines of fourteenth century dresses? Probably not since the hem was an inch above my knees. I added five inch gold stiletto pumps with an ankle strap. I added an ankle bracelet to my left leg and then removed it. It didn’t work with the strap. Looking in the mirror, Joan’s magic makeup was wearing off. I added an over coat to my lips with a soft peach liquid lipstick, emphasized my eyebrows and long lush lashes. Call me old fashion I still liked a soft earth tone for my eyelids. Brought out the edge of my eyes with eyeliner for that diva look. Did a basecoat with an impossible to tell ultra light suntan lightly brushed on, and blended in a touch of blush on my high cheekbones. Joan was good. I figured I could match her in makeup tricks despite her magic. Especially since I had a few centuries of practice she didn’t. Mine didn’t stay on and look good for days. Hers did. Oh well, can’t have everything.

After adding a multi strand gold necklace, diamond bracelet, diamond chandelier earrings, on loan from Brenda which I had to poke holes in my ears for, I was almost there. I headed for the restaurant, my own diamond encrusted gold band on my wedding finger. Eva had been hired for the morning Maitre d’ which was the original job Kathy hired me for. I met her at the door ten minutes before ten. “Ready? Let’s see how this day works out. We might get a surprise inspection by the fire marshal. After some other things that happened this morning, I’d be surprised if the health inspector didn’t show up also.”

“We’re good Jodi. There are so many of your friends here it would take more than they could muster to put the shaft to Brent and Kathy. Oh, by the way, while you were scrubbing the dirt off, Scooter showed up. Her and Kitcha are taking care of the dock and kitchen.”

Shaking my head, I could only hope those who wanted to shut down the Garden didn’t have a mutant who could sense other mutants. I didn’t want anything to happen to those who heard there was a party and came to help. If I had to call them something, I’d say they were associates as we weren’t really friends. The truth be known, from the smell they gave off, I made some of them nervous. Except for Kitcha, none of them were predators. And I wouldn’t really call Kitcha a predator. In my opinion, she was overly aggressive is all. I had helped each of them out of a tight spot one or more times. I figured they were returning a favor they didn’t owe. Not that I really minded having help but it put them in danger being close to me. More so than they normally were that is.

The morning went really smooth which I figured it might. Right at twelve fifteen when the restaurant was loaded with noonday lunch crowd, the health inspector showed up. A rotund little man, he was waving his badge around to give many of our customers a look at the shiny metal he had in his hand. “HEALTH INSPECTOR!”

“Is this the normal way for you to begin your inspection?” I had been waiting behind Eva and stepped up in front of him blocking most of the view our customers had of this ass waving his badge.

He looked up at me. With my heels I was more than a foot taller than him. “And who are you? I’m here to inspect this place for health violations.”

“You are welcome inspector but right in the middle of our noon lunch crowd? And what is with the screaming and waving your badge around? Your inspection has nothing to do with our customer base. I will file a formal letter of complaint with the Texas State Department of Health along with sending them a copy of the video.”

Luckily the attorneys for the club had been notified and we had one of them dinning with us at that moment. I waved her over. Turning around I pointed to a security camera across the room focused on the entrance. “As the manager of this club I am going to assign two of our legal staff to accompany you on your inspection tour.”

“I protest. My inspection can not be hindered in any way.” He looked across the restaurant at a table where four men were seated.

One of them shook his head as his eyes swept the diners around him.

By this time the two women joined us. “Inspector, this is one of the attorneys for our club, Rhonda Clark. The other lady, Margo Kirk, is one of her employees and is going to document your visit.”

Margo held up a video camera and smiled.

“I can not allow this. You are impeding my inspection. I refuse to let you follow us.” He was getting red faced and starting to spit his words in his frustration.

“We won’t impede your inspection, Mr. Kinor. We are only going to accompany you and your associate, Mr. Dunmore. I already requested all the rules and regulations pertaining to health inspections from the state office. Everything WE do is above board.”

Rhonda slapped some papers in his hand. “That is a copy of the state laws and rules on health inspections and…, Judge Harrison’s court order allowing legal staff, restaurant staff, and or any appointed persons to accompany any state inspections of this restaurant and club, known as Eve’s Hanging Garden Club. You will also find it includes the legal location of said club and all related properties.”

“I’ll call the state bar association and have your license.” Kinor was sputtering even more now.

“Be my guest. Would you like for me to give you their number?” Rhonda was smiling.

“Let’s get this over with.” He headed for the kitchens knowing he would find enough health violations there to shut this place down in minutes.

As soon as they left I headed for the security office. Spencer was there looking at the monitors. “That health inspector is really off his feed after you sic Rhonda on him. I’ve seen people pissed before. He’s furious.”

“Un huh. Did you catch him looking over at those four men at table thirty-nine? They were the advance team hoping to be witnesses as everyone in the restaurant became sick. I want faces and names.”

“Got it.” Spencer panned several cameras in the club to focus on table thirty-nine. They were leaving. It didn’t look like any of the food or drinks had been touched.

Not taking the time to undo the straps on my heels I ripped the shoes off my feet and ran from the security office into the dinning room. The table was in Freda’s area and she was headed that way to buss the table. I didn’t care what anyone thought as I ran through the dinning room, reaching Freda just as she was reaching out to clear the table.

Grabbing her arm I pulled her back. “No, I’ll take care of it.”

She was shocked as she turned to look at me. “but…”

One of the kids from another table was reaching for the desert still untouched and left behind. “NO!” I shouted at him. For a second I thought he was going to challenge me before he returned to his own table.

My attention back on Freda I shook my head. “My responsibility, I’ll take care of it.” I smiled at the people around us as I pushed Freda away. “I’m late and she was taking care of my table. I’m sorry for the confusion and any embarrassment I caused. I promise the rest of your meal won’t be as entertaining.”

Eva came over. She didn’t say anything but leaned over close to me. I whispered in her ear. “Get someone to bring a tablecloth to cover this table. Bring me a rolling cart. I need another tablecloth to cover the cart after I clear this table and put everything in the cart. Ask Scooter to step in the dinning room for a second. She doesn’t need to come over here. I only want confirmation.”

“I’m on it.” Eva headed back to her station by the entrance.

I was watching the entrance to the kitchen when Scooter stepped into the dinning room. She had a stocking cap on her head hiding her ears. She looked at me, and nodded her head. She was gone that quick. Even if any of our diners noticed her I doubted they would have thought mutant as quickly she came and went.

Ten minutes later the table was cleared, a reserve sign was put on it to keep anyone from sitting there and I had that rolling cart out on the docks. Scooter was standing over a dozen feet away. I pulled out a plate and moved it around under my nose before I looked up at Scooter. She shook her head. The second plate was a repeat of the first. The third plate something wasn’t right. I slid the vegetables off first follow by the individual foods. The plate was empty and the smell was still there.

“Damn! They intended for anyone picking up the plate to get sick and then those in the scullery when they picked it up. This was their backup if Jeb didn’t make it to work and do his job.”

I looked across the docks where Spencer and several of our people were watching. “Get me names. This isn’t going to stop as long as they don’t have to pay a price for trying. Make sure there are no copies or electronic trails that can be traced back to the club or anyone here.”

Kitcha smiled from ear to ear. “Oh yeah! Party time. If I wasn’t already here I’d pay good money to be allowed to come.”

Spencer looked at her as if she was crazy. This whole situation was going to get really rough and she was anticipating enjoying it? He had only heard or read about mutants like these. It was then he understood how uninformed he had been most of his life. Nova attracted some very deadly people, both bad and good. A shiver ran down his spine as he realized she truly was, The Huntress.

Looking at Kitcha I nodded in agreement. She had a lot more free time than I did as she was only guarding Scooter when she was on the docks during delivery. “As long as none of it leads back here to the club, the ones you find are all yours.”

“Give Kitcha a list of those names.” I glanced at Spencer. He nodded in agreement.

“We can take out the pawns until the world looks level. Only when the king is put in checkmate and removed is the game over. I want a list of those at the top. A committee was mentioned by Jeb before he died. Give me a full report on each name in that committee. I want to know what they have for breakfast and what they consider extra curricular activities.”

As bad as I hated asking for help, I needed it. This would take too long to go at it the usual way. I had a job here which didn’t allow much free time. Scouting the prey, analyzing their weak points so nothing pointed back at me when they ‘accidentally’ died took time. Sometimes months. They intended to kill people at the club to get control again. I was positive if that didn’t work they would take it to the next level and destroy the club through fire or a bomb. They set the rules and I intended to play by their rules, no holds bared. They had no idea who they were up against and had miscalculated. Never ever piss off a Huntress no matter who you are or how much you own or control. I don’t care for any of their wealth or ill gotten goods. Only payment in kind will satisfy me.

I needed to contact Crystal and ask her if Vanessa Gibbons was still alive. It has been over thirty years since I last saw her and she was aging like normal people. Not all mutants have expanded life cycles. Sometimes the reverse was true, they aged quicker than normal. It wasn’t only because government was killing us whenever they found us either. Vanessa gathered data like a sponge when she got close and focused on a location or person. Some called her The Shadow. If she was still alive and agreed to come, she could give me virtually every single weakness and strength in any security system she got close to. No matter how good one is, mistakes happen. I didn’t want my own mistakes to become fatal.

Almost an hour later, everything was bagged and trashed except the plate with the poison. That plate and the vial Jeb had on him was bagged and going overnight mail to Delkla Labs in Pennsylvania for testing. I wanted to know what kind of poison I was dealing with from those who were trying to sicken or kill everyone, who manufactured it, and who distributed it in the Houston area.

Heading to the office, I found Kathy. “I need another pair of heels.”

She looked at my nylons and bare feet. “Dare I ask?”

“Emergency. I needed to reach one of the dinning tables before Freda or any of the others touched it. Really hard to run in heels.”

She nodded. “I agree. Curiosity is killing me. Why did you need to run and what happened to your heels?”

“Some of our clientele left poison at their table when they decided to leave. Anyone bussing the table was going to get contaminated. That isn’t counting those in the scullery who picked up the plates to stack them in the dishwasher.” I shook my head. “Kathy, I’m reneging on my promise. This has to stop. The only way it is going to stop is if they feel the pain themselves.”

“Nova…,” She sighed. “What about the heels? What size do you wear?”

“Eight.”

“I hate you! I wear an eight and half and I’m six inches shorter than you. Use the credit card I gave you and I’ll okay the purchases.”

“That would be great if I still had it. Bolt canceled it for me.”

“That was my company credit card. I’ll get us both another one. In the mean time I guess we do it the old fashion way and go back to using cash.” She opened up her drawer and took out four hundred dollars. Go to Neda’s Fashions which is six blocks east of here. She will have the style and heel you like.”

Kathy got a smirk on her face. “That first day you came into my office wearing sneakers, jeans, and a blouse, I’m beginning to understand why. You’re harder on clothes and things than a five year old on the playground.”

Health inspector Kinor was looking at the man on the other side of a huge desk. “I wasn’t able to do anything. They had two women follow us. I wasn’t able to get the rat droppings out of my pocket and scatter them around the storage room. One of them was recording everything. It wasn’t possible to spread the salmonella either. I flagged twenty six violations. Their damn attorney said she was going to contest all of them. They have that place so damn clean it’s going to be hard trying to shut them down on health violations. Especially when they have someone bird dogging over my shoulder every step.”

Craig put his elbows on the desk and put his palms together. “You were supposed to shut the Garden down. Perhaps you’re being overpaid?

“You forget I’m inspecting nine other food handling restaurants and clubs. I’m worth more than I’m getting paid in order to keep the money flowing back here.” Kinor was disgusted he was doing so much for the committee and he wasn’t appreciated for his efforts.

Craig leaned back in his leather chair. “Why aren’t they getting sick and dying at that club? That guy Jeb, Dagger paid off, has anyone seen or heard from him? We paid Dagger enough to leave us out of it so there wouldn’t be a trail back to here. I wonder if our money is wasted on both of you?”

“I haven’t heard anything. Ask Dagger since she was the one who contacted him and set it up. No one in that club looked sick as far as I could tell. Jeb must have took the money and run. Some of these things takes time. You’d be wise to not piss either one of us off.” Kinor knew he was irreplaceable.

“He didn’t go far if he did run.” Craig gave a snort as he recalled how Dagger mentioned there was poison on the outside of the vial as well as inside. It was possible Jeb took too long and died before he made it to work.

Kinor smiled as he got ready to tell of his backup plan. “I told Jerritt to pick up some poison from Dagger and leave it on the silverware. Anyone touches it will get sick and die. We should be hearing from your EMT guys pretty soon. I’ll go back as soon as the bodies start coming in and shut that club down.”

Craig nodded in consent. “Always good to see the rest showing some initiative. I should have sent Emmit with you. They wouldn’t have been able to dog the Health Inspector and Fire Marshal at the same time. I didn’t expect you to fail us. Make sure you stay on top of those health violations you wrote up. How many days did you give them to straighten up the violations?”

“The minimum I could, three days.”

“For all twenty six violations?”

“Yeah.”

“Good, go back in three days and shut them down for not correcting the violations. By the time they appeal to the state to open up again they will be history. Word gets around. Any of the others think of doing the same thing will give it up.”

============================================================

Kathy answered the phone, it was Rhonda’s number. “The Garden Club.”

“I managed to get in and see Dale Weathers, in Austin. You remember me telling you he was head of the Texas Department of Health. I showed him the video and the violations Kinor tagged The Garden with. He, himself is coming up to look at The Garden tomorrow. He didn’t say much of anything but if he is personally coming then you can bet your lucky dime heads will roll.”

“Rhonda, are we good? I mean you were there with Kinor. Will we have any problem staying open?”

“Kathy, you hired me for one reason. I’m good at what I do. I’ve clashed with Kinor before as he hit some of the others with BS violations. You did this one right. It’s better to be proactive rather than reactive. You’re going to get off cheap compared to what it cost those others. We won’t have any problem with getting a passing grade on health codes. Hon, I would go so far as to say I wouldn’t pass out if I had to eat off the floor in your kitchen. That new manager of yours is a treasure. She has your place glistening better than new. You better hang onto her forever if you can.”

Kathy’s heart sagged before she was able to catch her breath and answer. “Yes, I know exactly what you’re talking about. She has a job here as long as she wants.”

“Okay, gotta go. I’m driving back tonight. I’ll be there tomorrow when Dale shows up to do his own inspection. I want to make more video of Dale’s inspections. Don’t worry, The Garden is going to pass with flying colors. I think after this Kinor can start looking for a new job.”

“Thanks Rhonda, drive safe. Rhonda, hire some guards to follow you home and go into your house with you when you get back. That Treasure of a Manager we both think the world of says we are dealing with people who are leaving bodies in their wake. I’m dead serious, hire security now. The club will pay the expense. Be a whole lot cheaper than breaking in a new lawyer.”

“Kathy…,”

“No I mean it. One in the car with you, and a car following. I don’t think you have any idea how evil these people are. We know of two instances where they tried to poison the diners and our workers. It has only been a couple days when Bolt, I’m sure you know the name and have heard what he can do, killed one of our managers, Nova.”

Kathy heard a sharp intake of breath over the phone.

“Police…,”

“No one is talking. Those who saw it won’t say anything. They are scared to death of Bolt themselves. Get some protection, now! I wish I had thought of it sooner before you headed to Austin.”

Kathy had a thought. “Just a second, I have another idea.”

She picked up the desk phone and called Spencer. Minutes later she had the answer she was seeking. She picked up her cell phone again. “Rhonda, our security guy is going to call some people he knows in Austin. Where are you at?”

“I’m at the State Health Department.”

“Stay in the lobby. Don’t leave until Spencer’s friends get there. I’ll let him know. Rhonda, I’m not trying to frighten you. I want to keep you alive.”

“I didn’t know Bolt had killed one of your employees. I’ll stay put until the security arrives. Kathy, thank you.”

Kathy hung up and gave a sigh of relief. Rhonda was a good lawyer. Replacing her would take weeks. She wondered if Nova had considered the same thing?

Two men showed up to escort Rhonda home. One rode in the car with her, the other followed close behind in an SUV. Close enough if anyone tried to maneuver in between them they would know it was an attempt at Rhonda. It was an uneventful trip back to her home and she began to think she should have refused Kathy’s guards.

She had got to know him on the long drive and acknowledged Jim beside her as she pushed the control to raise the garage door. “It was nice having company but it sure wasted your time. You staying overnight or you and your friend driving back?

We’…,” The windshield exploded in a hail of lead from an automatic rifle.