Page 28 of Wild Fever

"Um, I can check with my manager. Perhaps he can go through the tickets for that day. Would you like me to get him for you?”

I nodded.

"There,” Kara said, pointing.

"Never mind," I said to the hostess.

“Oh, that’s Selene.”

I thanked her, and we marched across the restaurant, weaving around booths and through tables.

"Excuse me," I said, flashing my badge as Selene darted by with a tray of food.

She looked at me with quizzical eyes.

"I need to have a few words with you after you serve the entrées." I pointed to an empty booth nearby. "We'll be right over there.”

Selene continued on, and we ambled to the booth and slid across the bench seats. We weren’t there long before another waitress stopped by and asked if we needed menus.

"Why not?" Jack said with a smile.

The cheery waitress replied, "I'll be right back.”

She spun around and darted away.

Selene joined us a few moments later with concerned eyes. “What’s going on?”

“Have a seat,” I said. “It won’t take long.”

I motioned to the empty space next to JD. He smiled.

Selene slid into the booth, her eyes flicking between us.

"Do you remember Kara?” I asked.

Selene squinted at her. "You were in here the other day, weren't you? Lunch.”

Kara nodded.

"You served her meal, did you not?”

Selena shrugged. “It was either me or one of the runners.”

I asked Kara if she remembered what she ate.

"The buccaneer burger.”

"That's right. No mayo.”

Kara nodded.

"Did you see anyone tamper with her food?" I asked.

Selena’s eyes widened. "No. What happened? Did you get sick?” She frowned.

"You could say.”

Selene cringed. "I'm sorry.” She glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then leaned in and said in a hushed voice, "To tell you the truth, sometimes they keep food past the expiration date around here. You didn't hear that from me. You’re not the first person who's gotten food poisoning.”