Simon and Ralph drove to the restaurant to interrogate the chef, Garland Grimble, one more time. It was the middle of the day, the lunch crowd was just getting fed.
Simon recalled every single detail afterwards. How they entered the restaurant’s kitchen. How Garland Grimble took off on seeing them—not a word, no attempt to play cat-and-mouse or insist on his innocence, he just ran. In his fright the man threw pots and pans and cutlery behind him to slow them down. Simon stumbled and almost fell. Ralph didn’t even slow down. Grimble ran out through the back door, across the little backyard and towards the promenade—the restaurant was famous for its view on the river.
Ralph, closer to Grimble because of Simon’s encounter with a sizzling hot, greasy frying pan, caught up quickly. The two me
