“It’s nice when you’ve got good employees that you can count on,” I said and glanced at the cup again. “Della, can I ask you a question?”
She nodded. “Sure. What is it?”
“It’s about Richard. I heard that he had gotten back into drugs again. You told me that he wasn’t selling drugs here at work. Is that true?” I watched her reaction to this question. I was convinced she had lied.
She frowned and sighed. “Richard had a tough life. I suspected he was selling drugs while here at work, and I let him go. But his mother asked me to give him a second chance, and he swore it would never happen again. He really was trying to get his life back on track, and I took a chance. Maybe some might have said it was a stupid thing to do, but I’m convinced he was clean those last months of this life. It’s a shame he died without being able to prove he could get clean and stay that way for the rest of his life. I didn’t want anyone to know that I knew about him selling drugs because people talk. So yes, I lied.”
I nodded. I believed her. There was nothing about her demeanor that said she was trying to hide something more. “I agree. It’s a shame. That was kind of you to go out on a limb and rehire him.”
She pursed her lips, then nodded. “My other employees weren’t happy about it, but I let them know it was none of their business how I ran my business.”
My eyes went to the cup on her desk. “What is that on your desk?” I asked, pointing to the cup.
She glanced over her shoulder and turned back to me. “That? That is the tastiest protein shake I have ever had in my entire life. That new vitamin shop over on Main Street opened up a few months ago, and I am hooked on them. They’re good for you, so how can you go wrong?”
“A protein shake?” Lucy asked, eyeing the cup. There was a dab of whipped cream on the top, and she was probably having as much trouble as I was believing that it could be good for you. “You got it at the new vitamin shop, you say?”
She nodded. “Yes. You can buy protein shakes, smoothies, freshly squeezed juice, tea, and kombucha among other things. Honestly, they have the best protein shakes. You would think that they wouldn’t be very tasty because they’re so good for you, but they’re pretty darn good.”
“A protein shake,” Lucy said, her eyes on the cup again. She didn’t sound convinced, and I wasn’t sure that I was convinced either. “We’ll have to stop in there after one of our runs, Allie.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” I said. “Do you stop by often, Della?”
She nodded. “Probably two or three times a week. They’re kind of pricey, but like I said, they’re addicting, and since it’s good for me, it’s not like I’m doing something wrong, right?” She chuckled again.
“Now that you mention it, it seems like Richard had one of those when he was at my reception.” I looked at Della, trying to read her reaction to this. A protein shake would be a good way to mask the taste of a drug, wouldn’t it?
“I think you’re right,” Lucy said, looking at me. “He did have one of those.” She turned to look at Della.
Della nodded. “Yes, he was hooked on them. Jodi and Lisa love them, too. Richard used to bring one in every morning.”
We looked up as Jodi walked out of the kitchen. She had one of those cups in her hand, and she hesitated when she saw us. She smiled. “Good morning, Lucy. Allie. How are you ladies today?”
“We’re doing great,” I said. “We were just talking about the protein shake on Della’s desk. I see you’ve got one too.”
She nodded and headed up to the front counter. “Yes, I am addicted to these things. I have them add a shot or two of B vitamins or wheatgrass juice when I get them. It’s an easy way to get your vitamins and protein in for the day.”
“Wheatgrass juice?” Lucy asked, making a face.
She nodded and chuckled. “I know, it doesn’t sound very tasty, but it’s good for you. It boosts your immunity and raises your metabolism, and who doesn’t want their metabolism raised?”
I was skeptical. I was also suspicious now. “How does it taste? Aren’t the vitamins and wheatgrass juice overpowering?”
She shook her head. “Not really. I don’t know what they do to these protein shakes, but I swear you can mix anything into them, and you won’t taste a thing. And as a bonus, they’re sugar-free.”
I narrowed my eyes at her. “You can mix anything into them, and you won’t be able to taste it?” And then I knew how Richard had died.
She nodded, smiling, and then she stopped, realizing what she had just said. “Well, I mean within reason. I can still taste the B vitamins just a bit. B vitamins have a strong taste. And maybe even the wheatgrass juice. But they are pretty amazing.” She glanced at Della, who was watching us.
“So, anything? They’ll mix in anything for you?” I asked.
She nodded slowly. “Yes, anything within reason. I mean, anything that they have there in their shop,
