Down Home and Deadly

flooded her face. “You think J.D. was waiting for Debbie? But why? I mean, he and Lisa were dating.”
    “That would explain why he was behind the dumpster. He was cheating on Lisa with Debbie.”
    Carly frowned. “That’s so cliché. Your boyfriend cheating with your best friend.”
    “Yeah. I hate to think that Debbie was doing that.”
    She shrugged. “It happens a lot, though. Now that I think about it, things are cliché because they’re common. And as far as I know, J.D. and Lisa were just dating, not engaged.”
    “Yeah, but Lisa doesn’t strike me as one who would take it so well if the man she was dating wanted to date someone else. I wonder if she knew. If she did, would she be mad enough to—” I couldn’t finish the thought. Murder is such an ugly word.
    “Didn’t Lisa meet J.D. when she went with Debbie to his grandmother’s funeral? Maybe Debbie felt like he belonged to her and Lisa just horned in. You know, maybe she felt justified. Or maybe there was nothing going on. He could’ve had a perfectly innocent reason to text that to Debbie.”
    “Yeah? Name one.”
    “Well . . . ” She thought a minute then rose to the challenge. “Maybe he and Debbie were planning a surprise party for Lisa. Or maybe he wanted Debbie’s advice about a gift he was buying for Lisa. Or maybe he was going to ask Debbie about Lisa’s husband, or . . . ”
    “Ok ay , I get it.” I slapped her arm lightly. “I think we should take this to Debbie tonight and find out what it’s all about.”
    “Jen, I’m worn out. I have three kids waiting at home. She can get it tomorrow. The messages will still be there. We can ask her then.”
    “We’ll be so busy we won’t have time. Besides, I want to know tonight.”
    “That’s you to the bone. I’ve gotta know , and I’ve gotta know now.” She grinned at me, but it was a tired grin. “I’m sorry. I just can’t go tonight.” She yawned widely, covering her mouth with her hand. “I’m nearly dead on my feet.”
    “No prob. You run on home and get some rest. You look beat.”
    As she drove off, I considered my options— w ait until tomorrow or run by Debbie’s tonight. Easy choice.
    As I pulled into Debbie’s driveway, a light in the living room went off. I parked and walked onto the front porch, clutching the phone. The motion light beside the front door came on , and I jumped then snickered at my nervousness.
    I pushed the doorbell button. No response. Since I hadn’t actually heard a chime, I decided the bell might be broken. I knocked. And waited. If I hadn’t seen the light go off as I drove up, I would have thought nobody was home. Instead, I felt sure that Debbie just didn’t want to see anyone. I squinted at the bright porch light shining in my face and glanced down at the phone in my hand.
    Didn’t want to see anyone?
    Or me, in particular?
    *****
    The conversation at every table was the same. Just one time today I would like to take an order or deliver food to someone who was talking about something besides whether or not the police were going to arrest Lisa. Anything else would do. I’d even settle for hearing about a NASCAR race. Anything but the possibility of poor Lisa going to jail. But that didn’t keep me from listening and trying to sift the truth from gossip.
    When Harvey sat Marge and Tiffany at a table in my section, I hurried over to take their order. On the way back to the kitchen, a teen was entertaining his buddies. “I heard she was a serial killer and killed at least five people.”
    At another table I heard an older woman talking about “ a ll those drugs they were using.” As far as I knew , Lisa was not a drug user. But what about J.D.? And I didn’t catch everything the woman with her said , but it was something about ‘the sins of the fathers.’ I wondered who se father she was referring to but couldn’t figure out a way to ask her without appearing nosy. Okay, nosier than usual.
    A few minut e s later, I set Marge’s salad down on the table. As I handed Tiffany her salad , I thought about the fact that she had ordered a salad when she was with Marge instead of the “ fat-filled ” burger she had ordered when she was with her m other. “I’m really worried about Lisa. Do you know if they ’re going to arrest her?”
    Marge glanced up at me. “I’ve heard several rumors, Jenna. Hopefully we’ll get a police report in time to put the truth in the paper.” She glanced at Tiffany. “But one of