Finally. The mortgage for the diner is paid off. Whoopee!!! I deserve a drink. Two drinks. Who knew how satisfying this would be. After worrying all day, every day, during those early years, lying awake at night wondering if I was going to be in business next week, next month. Here I am. The owner of Big Al’s Diner completely free of debt. And with a little stashed away. Well, more than a little. I still find it amazing no one questioned the cash Big Al’s raked in. That was a smart move. Of course, Al taught me that. Hide it in plain sight.
Now what?
Vicky’s been bugging me to make a will and now that I know the diner is going to be profitable, I probably should. Who gets Big Al’s?
Not my cheating husband. I’m not leaving that dirtbag anything, let alone the diner. He’d sell it, take the money, and move to Florida with one of his skanks. Or worse, let one of his girlfriends run the diner. What did I ever see in him? No way he’s getting Big Al’s.
Aubrey? If she wasn’t married to a gambling addict, she’d be the logical choice. She’s been working at the diner for a long time. And she’s my daughter. She probably expects to inherit, but I hate her entitlement attitude. She’s had it since she started working here in high school. Her and her friends all thought the diner should pay for their clothes and makeup and pizza and movies. It still ticks me off that she steals from the drawer every day. I wonder how much she’s stolen from me over the years. Leave the diner to Aubrey? I don’t think so. Instead of helping her husband control his addiction, she’ll give him whatever he needs. No. Not Aubrey. But I will leave something to my grandchildren.
Andrew? I’d love to leave the diner to him. Except for the fact that he and Michelle live in Indy. Michelle can be whiny, and the commute will get tiring, and his rooftop wine bar is doing so well. That’s because he’s there every day, all day, just like me and my diner. Andrew would never be able to give the diner the time it needs. He’d have to hire a manager, someone trustworthy. Wonder how Aubrey would like that? I love my daughter, but she can be a witch. That reminds me. I need to check on the moonshine recipes. I’ll head to Vicky’s as soon as I’m done.
Maybe I should leave the diner to Vicky. She doesn’t know a thing about running a restaurant, but she does know how to run a business and she certainly doesn’t need the income from the diner. She could hire someone to manage the diner and have Stacy continue managing the moonshine business.
This is harder than I thought.
Cracks Beneath The Surface, A Jhonni Laurent Mystery Book 2
Genre: Police Procedural
Release: October 2024
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link
The ice is melting—but what will it reveal?
Spring has sprung, and Easter festivities are underway in Field’s Crossing, Indiana. The annual egg hunt is a huge success, thanks in no small part to Lisa DuVal, the owner of Big Al’s Diner who dyed all of the eggs. But when Sheriff Jhonni Laurent discovers Lisa’s body in her catering van later that day, the happy holiday quickly sours, and Laurent begins a murder investigation.
All are shocked at the reading of the will when it’s revealed that the diner will be inherited by Lisa’s best friend—not by her daughter, which raises Laurent’s suspicions. While working to find the killer, Laurent uncovers some unsightly secrets that Lisa’s family had been concealing. Could they be involved in something shady?
As the investigation begins to take shape, it seems that the melting ice will reveal more than the first buds of spring. And when another body is discovered, Laurent must work quickly to determine how the two crimes connect—and who could be behind it all.
Perfect for fans of J. A. Jance and C. J. Box
About the author
Mary Ann Miller currently lives in Florida with her husband, where she is working on the third novel in the Sheriff Jhonni Laurent series. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northern Illinois University and earned a paralegal certificate with Roosevelt University. Miller is a member of MWA, ITW, and Sisters in Crime and when not writing, can be found reading poolside or hosting family and friends fleeing the cold winters of the north.