Hollie hummed to herself as she bustled around the kitchen getting all the ingredients ready. She was always at the diner at least two hours before they opened for the day.
Joe had told her that she could come in when the diner opened, but Hollie wanted to help Joe get everything ready for the day. Joe and Maria usually came in early to make sure everything was in place. The breakfast crowd could be crazy, so once they opened, they wouldn’t be able to take a breather until late morning. Lucy usually came in just a few minutes before opening time because she had to drop her kid off at school. But there was plenty to do in the kitchen, and Hollie knew that Joe could use a helping hand.
Joe was taking a pack of sausages out of the freezer. “You know, Hollie, you don’t have to...” he began.
Hollie knew what he was going to say. She waved a hand and gave him a sidelong glance. “Joe, you’ve been telling me that I don’t have to come in so early for the past few days. I know I don’t have to, but I want to. I’m glad to be here. This is my dream job. Cooking is my passion. I love what I’m doing. Kyle likes going to the workshop early as well, so he drops me off on his way to work.”
Joe chuckled. “You are the best cook we’ve ever had! I am so glad Maria hired you.”
Two mugs of strong, black coffee sat on the counter. Joe picked up his mug and clinked it loudly against hers.
“All right then. Fuel up, Hollie,” Joe said, slurping his coffee.
Hollie raised her coffee mug and took a satisfying swig of aromatic coffee. “This is good stuff,” she said.
“The best,” Joe answered, draining his cup. “It’ll put hair on your chest.”
Joe took both their empty mugs and went to rinse them in the sink. “Hey, I’m going to make some sandwiches for Maria. We usually sit at the last booth and have our breakfast together before we open for business. Join us, kiddo. It’s nice to watch the town wake up.”
“I...” Hollie looked at the half-chopped ingredients and glanced at the clock.
“Don’t worry. We have more than enough time to get ready. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, young lady,” Joe said sternly.
Hollie laughed and nodded. “Okay. Thanks, Joe.”
Joe assembled a large plate of sandwiches and sauntered to the swing doors that led out to the diner. “Come on, Hollie,” he urged.
“I’ll be right out,” Hollie called out. “You guys go ahead.”
She finished dicing the onions and tomatoes, and put them neatly into separate bowls. She washed her hands and turned to the clock again. The diner would open in about forty-five minutes.
“Ten minutes,” Hollie said aloud. She would sit and eat with Joe and Maria and be back in the kitchen in ten minutes. That would give her enough time to get everything ready before they opened for business.
Hollie stepped out into the diner and looked around. The lights were off, and the faint morning sunlight threw shadows around the diner.
As Hollie stood in front of the counter, a sense of unease slithered through her. She couldn’t see Joe and Maria anywhere.
Joe had told her that they always sat in the last booth, which was tucked away behind a wall at the corner of the diner. She wouldn’t be able to see them from the counter.
But why didn’t they switch on the lights? And why was it so quiet? Joe and Maria were always laughing and teasing each other, but she couldn’t hear their voices and laughter at all.
Hollie stepped out from behind the counter and stared at the entrance of the diner.
The sign was still flipped to “Closed”.
But the glass door was slightly ajar.
Hollie froze. “Joe? Maria?” She could hear the rising panic in her own voice.
She heard a muffled sound from the end of the diner. “Maria?” Hollie called.
Hollie thought she saw a dark-clad figure behind the wall and gasped in shock.
But before she could make another sound, someone came up to her from behind her and clamped a gloved hand over her mouth.