Page 24 of So Bleak

The hostess took a step back. “I’m so sorry, Marcus. I—”

“What the hell is sorry? Sorry is bullshit. Get these assholes out of my kitchen! And make sure their fucking dog goes with them!”

His voice rose in pitch as he spoke, and Katie began to shake. Faith wondered exactly what their relationship was and what the dynamics of that relationship might be. Turk must have felt a similar discomfort because he stepped protectively in front of Katie and growled at Marcus.

“You can leave, Katie,” Faith said, keeping her eyes on the irate chef. “We’re going to speak with your boss.”

“Like hell!” Marcus thundered. “I’m trying to run a kitchen! I have a service to run right now, and you come in here and bring a dog into my kitchen? Fuck you! Get the hell out of my restaurant.”

“Chef Delaney,” Michael began, trying for a diplomatic approach. “We’re investigating—”

“No,” Marcus interrupted. “No, you want to talk to me? Call and make an appointment. You don’t just barge into my kitchen and tell me what to do. I say what to do in my kitchen.”

“Not at the moment,” Faith said, choosing a somewhat less diplomatic approach. “We’re investigating the murders of Eleanor Crestwood and Harold Grimes. Both of them ate in your restaurant roughly a week before they were killed.”

“So Eleanor and Harold are dead? Good. Eleanor was a bitch, and Harold was a fat loser. Neither of them understood the cuisine, and they tried to tell me that my food is no good? They wouldn't know good if it bit them on the ass. Now please, fuck off out of my restaurant and let me make food for my paying customers, all right? All right.”

He turned around and pointedly ignored the agents. Faith had dealt with her share of vulgar suspects before, but Marcus’s foul mouth combined with his arrogance was causing her to see red. She struggled to keep her tone professional but allowed herself to sound more authoritative.

“Marcus, we need to talk to you right now. I don’t care that it’s in the middle of service. You’re a person of interest in a multiple murder investigation, so you need to put your utensils down now and come with us.”

Marcus continued to ignore them. Katie looked anxiously at the agents and said, "Maybe you should wait outside. I can pour you some drinks, and Marcus can join you after the lunch rush."

“No,” Marcus called with his back still turned. “Fuck after the lunch rush. They can call me and work with my schedule. I deserve respect in my own restaurant.”

Michael sighed. “Marcus, come on, buddy.”

“I’m not your buddy.”

Michael smiled tightly. “Okay, come on, dipshit. You know how this ends. We’re armed FBI agents with a dog. You’re going to come with us. The only question is whether you come willingly and talk to us in your office or in handcuffs to have a conversation at the precinct."

Marcus lifted a finger in reply.

Michael nodded. “All right. Sounds good.” He stepped toward Marcus. “You’re being detained for questioning in the murders of Eleanor Crestwood and Harold Grimes.”

“No, I’m not detained,” Marcus replied, still not turning around.

“Marcus,” Katie said worriedly.

“Katie, get out of here,” Faith said sharply.

Katie jumped but didn’t comply.

“Let’s go,” Michael said, reaching for Marcus’s left arm.

“No, I’m not detained. I’m not detained, fuck you!”

As soon as Michael touched the chef’s arm, Marcus whirled around, slashing with a kitchen knife. Michael jumped back, narrowly avoiding the blow. Katie screamed, “Marcus! Stop it!”

Faith drew her handgun and aimed it at the chef. The other cooks began to shout and protest, but when Turk barked, they drew silent and backed away warily.

“Smart move,” Faith told them. Do me a favor all of you and leave the kitchen. Katie, for the final time, that means you.”

“No!” Marcus shouted. “No! You can’t come into my restaurant and threaten me!”

"We're not threatening you," Michael said, hands up raised to either placate Marcus or defend against another attack. "We're trying to talk to you. You’re threatening us.”

“Actually,” Faith corrected, sidestepping to get a better aim on Marcus. “You’ve assaulted my partner. So you’re not detained, you’re under arrest. Put the knife down.”

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