Death of a Wicked Witch. Lee Hollis
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said, reading the business card that had just been handed to her. She glanced up at the pretty woman with long curly blond hair wearing a pink halter top and studded jean jacket, who stood in front of her desk at the Island Times office, a large carryall tote bag slung over her shoulder. “What kind of business is this?”
“Food truck,” the woman said, smiling.
Hayley’s face lit up. “I’ve always dreamed that one day we’d get another food truck in town! We’ve only had one for the longest time! Are you planning to be open all winter? Because I’ll tell you, we are desperate around here for someplace to get a decent lunch during the winter! Practically every restaurant closes down once the summer tourists leave!”
“Well, I’m going to give it a go, but I guess it depends on how much business I get. But I’ll try to stay open at least through the New Year.”
“I’m sure you’ll do just fine, especially once word gets around. Now, do you want to place an ad?”
The woman nodded. “Yes, I want to raise awareness as soon as possible and be up and going before Halloween. I was hoping to get an ad in for tomorrow.”
“Unfortunately we’re about to go to press with tomorrow’s paper so I’m not sure I can get it in on time, but I certainly will make sure it’s in Friday’s edition.”
“That will be fine. I scribbled down what I’d like to say on the back of the card.”
Hayley turned over the card and read the woman’s ad copy. Wicked ’Wiches . . . Our Subs Are Pure Magic. “Cute, but it doesn’t say where people can find you.”
“That’s because I’m still waiting on my permit to set up shop down on the town pier. In the meantime, I’m just going to go where there is enough space to park my truck until someone kicks me out.”
“I promise the police won’t make you move if you give them a few of your wicked ’wiches on the house. I know the chief personally. He’s my brother-in-law.”
“It’s always good to know people in high places,” the woman said before extending a hand. “I’m Trudy Lancaster.”
Hayley shook it. “Hayley Powell. Pleasure to meet you, Trudy. So tell me, besides delicious sandwiches, what else do you serve?”
“I’ve got a full working grill so I also do hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, all the comfort food staples, but my specialty subs are my best sellers. I have a Tokyo Sub with roast beef and honey wasabi mayo, a Texas Turkey with barbecue sauce and grilled onions, my Hawaiian’s popular with ham and cheese, pineapple and teriyaki sauce...”
“My mouth is watering already,” Hayley moaned.
Trudy leaned over Hayley’s desk and gave her a conspiratorial wink. “Tell you what, Hayley. You work your magic to get my ad in for tomorrow, and I’ll go out to my truck and bring you back my top-selling jalapeño cheddar chicken meatball sandwich.”
Hayley’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. She quickly checked the clock on the wall. “Deal. Done. Go. I have, like, two minutes to make it.”
Trudy turned and hightailed it out of the office as Hayley furiously tapped the keyboard of her desktop computer. By the time Trudy returned with a delectable-smelling savory sub wrapped in yellow paper, Hayley had successfully managed to place Trudy’s advertisement.
Hayley eagerly reached out for the sandwich and Trudy playfully withheld it from her. “Did you make it?”
“With about two seconds to spare!” Hayley said, grabbing the sandwich and gleefully unwrapping it. “It smells wonderful!”
Trudy folded her arms, anxiously waiting for Hayley to try her creation.
After taking a big bite, Hayley moaned orgasmi-cally. “Oh, Trudy... Oh... Wow...”
“Glad you like it,” Trudy said, beaming.
Hayley chewed and swallowed and then wiped the sides of her mouth with a napkin Trudy had provided with the sandwich. “I have a strong feeling we’re going to be fast friends.”
“Good, because my husband and I just moved to town a few days ago and we barely know anyone.”
“Well, I know pretty much everybody in town so I can change that. What brought you to Bar Harbor?”
“My husband, Ted, is a minister and he’s been hired to take over at the Congregational church.”
“I had heard rumors Reverend Staples was thinking about retiring, but I never thought he would get around to actually doing it.”
“Ted is going to observe him for a few weeks before he officially takes the reins,” Trudy said, watching happily as Hayley took another big bite of her sandwich, closing her eyes and moaning some more.
Hayley tried to speak, but her mouth was so full she couldn’t, and she had to wait until she could chew enough to swallow again. “I’m sure you and Ted have a lot to do having just moved here, but once you get settled, maybe we can plan a dinner with you, Ted, me and my husband, Bruce—”
Trudy’s eyes lit up. “How about tomorrow night?”
“That soon?”
“Like I said, we don’t know anybody and I’m starved for good wine and good conversation.”
“Well, I can guarantee good wine. As for the conversation, you’ll just have to wait and see how Bruce and I do.”
Sal Moretti barreled into the front office from the back bullpen, his nose sniffing, and bellowed, “What’s that smell?”
“Sal, this is Trudy Lancaster. She and her husband—”
Sal ignored her and zeroed in on the sandwich lying on Hayley’s desk. “What is that?”
“A sandwich,” Hayley said, smiling at Trudy.
Sal rolled his eyes. “Yes, I know that, Hayley, but where did it come from?”
Hayley gestured toward Trudy. “Trudy brought it in. She just moved to town and she owns a food truck.”
Sal’s face brightened just as Hayley’s had at this welcome news. “Where is it?”
“Parked right outside,” Hayley said, chuckling.
Sal pushed past Trudy and looked out the window. “I’ve been wishing for years we’d get another food truck in town besides that rude Cloris Fennow’s with her stale bread.”
“See, Trudy?” Hayley said, grinning. “Your husband may be the new minister, but you’re the one who is answering everyone’s prayers.”
Sal reached for his wallet in the back pocket of his pants and pulled out a twenty. “Do you make Italian grinders?”
Trudy nodded. “With my very own homemade Italian dressing.”
“With extra pepperoncinis?” Sal asked, almost drooling.
“Coming right up!”
Sal pumped her hand and finally offered her a smile. “Sal Moretti, nice to meet you.”
“Trudy Lancaster.”
“Now make it quick, Trudy,” Sal said, back to his usual gruff self. “I have to leave here by five to interview a town council member and I don’t want to be rushed eating my sub.”
Sal turned his back on them and marched back to his office without saying another word.
Hayley shrugged. “I swear he will grow on you. Eventually.”
Chapter 2
If Hayley thought she had an immediate connection with Trudy Lancaster when they had met at the Island Times office a day earlier, it paled in comparison to Bruce’s instant bonding with Trudy’s husband, Ted.