His boss had been one of the latter. The employees had called him Fat Bastard.
Harvey Legend was that kind of guy. Big, beefy and full of self-importance, he yelled at three of the servers while he was on his way to see Matt. His attitude didn’t seem to fit the tone of the place, since the restaurant was elegant—white-clothed tables, wine and water glasses, a selection of flatware at each setting. He recognized public officials at several of the tables, and various people involved with government.
A hostess had gone to get Legend for Matt; he waited in a handsome foyer with a hardwood reception stand and a plush carpeted floor.
Legend arrived, shook hands with Matt and seemed pumped up about the FBI coming to see him. Matt had the feeling that the guy thought Cathy Crighton was finally worth something because she’d brought the FBI to his door.
“When, exactly, did you see her last?” Matt asked.
“Like I told the police, it was about five weeks ago. She showed up late on her last night here and I told her not to come back if she wasn’t on time for her next shift. She didn’t show, and I figured she knew I meant it. I didn’t think about her again,” Legend explained to Matt. “I’ve said all this to the cops who came here, but I don’t mind going through it again.”
“What about her last paycheck?” Matt asked, ignoring the man’s self-righteous manner.
“Still on my desk,” he said with a shrug. He frowned, looking past Matt, and shouted at one of the young women heading toward the kitchen. “Sue! There should be water on that table by now!”
“Yes, Mr. Legend,” she said, flushing and glancing awkwardly at Matt. He offered her an understanding smile as she hurried on.
Fat Bastard, oh, yeah.
“Her paycheck?” he repeated.
Legend sniffed. “It was only for three hours. She got in late, and her last night was the first night of the pay week. Like I said, it’s on my desk.”
“It didn’t occur to check on her when she didn’t come to get it?”
“Hey, I’m not child services for adults,” Legend said defensively. “I left her a message, but she never came in. The check’s not for a lot of money. Our hourly wage is minimum. The tips here are good, though, and the waitstaff does very well.”
“Did you know anything about her personal life?” Matt asked.
“Not me. She wasn’t here that long. She was an okay waitress—not great, but okay. She was bad about showing up on schedule. And I never had her close the place. Wasn’t sure I trusted her with a bank.”
“What about customers? Did you ever see anyone watching her? Did she have any regulars?”
“I don’t encourage the same waiters or waitresses to serve the same people all the time. As you can see, we get an elite clientele here, most of ’em political. Better to keep politics out of the kitchen, I say. So, no special customers.”
“Is there anyone here who could give me some information about her personal life?”
“Sue. Sue Gaffney.” He nodded toward the smiling brunette, who was coming from the kitchen just then.
“Perhaps you’d be so good as to have someone else handle her tables for a few minutes?” Matt asked politely.
“Absolutely.” Legend went on to summon Sue and yell at other members of his staff. Maybe his yelling was considered a mark of affection.
Unlikely.
The brunette came rushing from the dining room, looking a little flustered. He realized that her eyes were moist despite the fact that she was distracted.
She offered him her hand and then drew it back, apologizing. “Hollandaise sauce. I’m sorry. And I’m so sorry about Cathy. She really was a sweetheart.”
Sue obviously meant it.
She shivered suddenly. “And what happened to her—it’s so terrible!”
“Very, and of course we want to put away the person who did this,” Matt assured her. “Listen,” he added, “I need your help. There’s no family to turn to. Was she seeing anyone? Did she say anything to you about anyone bothering her or following her or even looking at her too long?”
Sue shook her head. “Cathy was open and giving and sweet. And yet she was shuffled around like a used sweater when she was a kid. She still had faith in people, and she loved being here. She wasn’t seeing anyone. She hadn’t been here long and was just getting on her feet. She was going to take part-time college classes. She hadn’t decided what she was going to major in, but she was going to learn about government and eventually get involved in some way. She was really wonderful!”
Matt produced a business card and handed it to her. “If you think of anything at all, please call me. You never know what little thing might help. Do you know if there was anyone she waited on exclusively? Did she like any particular customers? Hate any customers?”