Page 34 of The Tycoon

“Let’s grab a table.This is a seat-yourself place.The waitress will come by with coffee.

Their server wore a white polyester uniform and a black apron with two huge pockets.She had bright-red hair and lipstick to match.But from the bags and dark circles under her eyes, Regan guessed she was in her fifties and not getting enough sleep.

“Hi, Cole.Your usual?”The waitress set a cup in front of him and filled it from the pot in her hand.

“Yeah, Shirl, the usual.This is my friend, Regan.”He looked at Regan.“This is Shirley Baxter.She’s been working here for as long as I’ve been coming and that’s a good ten years.”

Shirley set a coffee mug in front of Regan.“Nice ta meet ya, hon.We’re a pretty down-to-earth kind of place.We make good food and a lot of it for a good price.Do you know what you want?”

“I’ll have the chicken fried steak and eggs, over medium, and don’t skimp on the gravy.Oh, and hash browns not country potatoes.”

Shirley grinned and jutted her chin at Cole.“I like her.Maybe you should keep her around.”Then she frowned.“Better than that snotty-nosed witch you were here with last time.”

Cole’s cheeks blazed red.

Regan had to swallow a laugh, and it was hard to do.

He huffed out a breath.“Yes, she was a mistake all around.I should have known better than to become involved with someone who hated horses.”He looked over at Regan.“What about you?Where do you stand on horses?”

She didn’t want to end up like the nameless witch, but she needn’t have worried, because if all she had to do was like horses, she had it made in the shade.“I love horses.We had one for a summer when I was a teenager.His name was Joker, and he was all white.Uncle Keet called him a white palomino.I don’t know, if that was correct or not.”

Shirley filled Regan’s cup.“Sorry, I can’t spare more time, but duty calls.”She swung away and refilled cups all the way to the kitchen.

“She’s amazing.”Regan still looked after the whirlwind of a woman.“Absolutely amazing.I wonder where she gets all her energy.I couldn’t do her job for any amount of money.”

“Shirley makes good tips.When I come to eat, she makes even better.”

Regan shook her head.“Even so, I couldn’t do it.She does it like she loves it.”

“She does.She owns the place but still works the breakfast shift every day.And she fills in for anyone who calls in sick.”

“I hope I have that much energy when I’m her age.”

Cole unrolled his silverware and placed the paper napkin on his lap.“So do, I.She’s doing it all by herself.She’ll burn out that way if she doesn’t look out.”

She followed Cole’s example and placed her napkin on her lap.Occasionally, she forgot her manners.A leftover habit of eating out in the field, sometimes with nothing but fingers.

Shirley came back shortly with their meals.Everything was as good as Cole said it would be.

“So tell me about this oil platform.”

“Sure.I’m very proud of it.The platform is one of the biggest in the Gulf, with room for 192 employees and currently, we’re at full employment.According to human resources, we have a waiting list of people who want to work for me.”

“Why do you suppose that is?”

“Because I have nice accommodations, I pay well, and have good benefits.”

“I can see that.”She looked at their empty plates.“Are you ready to go?”

He drained his coffee mug.“Yes, I’m ready.”

“Let’s go.I don’t like the idea of you being in such a large crowd as we were when we came here.”

“I don’t believe I’m in danger when in a crowd.Too many witnesses.”

“And too many different stories will be told.Each one will have a different perspective of what happened and in the long run will be of no help to police.”

“All right.I hadn’t thought of that.”He left a generous tip, and they walked back to the apartment.

Regan kept alert for any danger, but the walk was instead quite pleasant.

Once back in the apartment, Cole called for Sean, who they met in the basement parking garage.

They first went to the police station and gave their statements.

The trip to the airport where his helo was sheltered was about twenty minutes.They had spent longer with the police than she had anticipated.Noon had come and gone before they were able to leave.She wondered what their day held for them.What would happen when they reached the platform?Would she be able to protect Cole?If the rig had been sabotaged, how safe would he really be?