Page 7 of Luna & Andres

She walked over to the window between the back of the counter and the kitchen. "Two cows between two wheats with everything and a side of deep-fried potatoes!"

"I heard 'em just fine!" called back an older gentleman. He stood at the hot grills with his back turned to us.

"Then why aren't they done yet?" she snapped.

"We didn't order everything," Red spoke up.

The woman turned and scoffed. "If it ain't everything than it ain't worth it," she retorted.

Red smiled and shrugged. "Hard to argue with that."

I leaned my elbows on the counter and took in the sights. The other tables and stools were empty. There were only two exits, one at the rear and the front door.

The woman leaned an elbow on the counter and studied us as I had studied the diner. "I know all the faces around here, and I never saw yours before. What brings you around this dump?"

"Are you snooping again, Matilda?" the older man scolded her.

She glared at him. "I'm just trying to be friendly, Jeff, so shut your pie-hole and make some more of them. We won't have enough tomorrow."

The man turned to us and waved his greasy spatula at Red and me. He punctuated his words with a downward swing that flung bits of grease across the floor in our direction. "Never get married to a troll on a full moon. She'll never give you a break between Blue Moons."

"You got your raise, and you asked," she reminded him.

"We actually came here looking for a friend," I spoke up.

Matilda turned to me with a raised eyebrow. "What's the name?"

"Mortale," I answered.

Jeff's eyes flickered to Matilda. She frowned and shrugged. "Can't say I know it."

"Are you sure?" I persisted.

She narrowed her eyes. "Are you two cops?"

I shook my head. "No, but-"

"Then what right have you to be bothering my customers?" she snapped.

One of the corners of my mouth twitched up. "Then he was here?"

Matilda straightened and glared at me. "Listen here. I don't know what you want, but-"

"We just want to talk to Mortale," I swore.

The woman's eyes flickered to Red. She jerked her head at him. "And him?"

"I'm here to make sure it stays a talk," he assured her.

"Then that's all I wanted to hear. You two get out of here right now," she ordered us.

I placed my palms on the diner counter. "But-"

"No buts." The woman jabbed her finger at the door. "Out."

"But our hamburgers aren't done," Red reminded her.

"You're not getting them, and I'm not charging you for anything, so get out before I call the real cops," she warned us.

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