Road Test David Wickenhauser (the top 100 crime novels of all time .TXT) 📖

Jenny had been tapping on her cell phone while Hugh was talking, and she had found the place for their lunch break.

Hugh thought she was getting pretty good as a co-pilot.

The pig hauler took the exit for the travel center right behind Hugh’s truck. After Hugh made the truck entrance to the travel center he immediately pulled to the curb and waited for the pig hauler to pass him and back into a spot. Then Hugh drove to the opposite side of the parking area to find a spot to back his truck and trailer into.

“I’ve literally gotten up in the middle of the night and moved when a bull hauler or pig hauler parked next to me. Should be obvious why,” Hugh explained when he saw the quizzical expression on Jenny’s and Charlie’s faces.

Several hours later, Hugh took the exit for the Indian casino, and followed the long stretch of frontage road to the casino entrance.

“OK, girls,” Hugh said as he finished parking, pulled the brakes, and logged off of his ELD. “There’s virtually everything you could want here. A first-class hotel, showers, spotless bathrooms, a beauty shop, shopping, a fantastic buffet and, of course, gambling. Wait for the buffet until James gets here, but do anything else you want.”

Hugh had scouted the parking area when he had first pulled in, and James hadn’t arrived yet.

Jenny looked at Charlie. “Shall we?”

“You bet, let’s do it. On Hugh, right?”

Hugh handed Jenny his casino pay card. “Yup. Splurge.” He was a member of the casino, and the card would get them discounts.

Hugh never gambled. But this was one of Hugh’s and James’ favorite places to park for the night. They had enjoyed many a fantastic buffet dinner together at the casino, both during Hugh’s time of riding with James in his truck, and also when Hugh went solo.

Hugh puttered around the cab of his truck for about an hour tidying up and putting things in order. Normally, Hugh’s organizational system in the small sleeper cab required little work to keep things tidy, but having two passengers put some of it beyond his control.

He also took the opportunity to call his mom, to ask her a big favor.

After he explained what he needed her to do, he said, “And, Mom, please don’t mention it to Jenny. I want it to be a surprise.”

“I understand Hugh. I think it’s a great idea. We’ll make it perfect.”

He saw James’ distinctive truck enter the parking area, and he hit his four-ways to alert James where he was parked. Luckily, a spot was open right next to Hugh.

“Hey, buddy. How’s it going?” James said when Hugh stepped down to greet him.

“Going good. Just happy to unload my third-wheel passenger to you.”

“Where are the girls, anyway?” James asked.

“They’re off at the hotel and casino spending my money.”

“Better you than me,” James said, laughing.

“So, tell me, James. What’s the deal with you wanting Charlie to ride with you?”

“It’s no big deal,” James replied. “Just a diversion. Something different for a while. Plus, I thought we’d collaborate on trying to solve the situation you had gotten yourself into.”

“That would be a big help. But don’t forget you’ll have a target on your back the whole time she’s with you. They’ll be thinking you are me,” Hugh said.

Hugh and James went off in search of the girls. They didn’t have to go far. They spotted them sitting in lounge chairs in the hotel lobby, drinks in hand. They each had several shopping bags at their feet.

“Complimentary,” Jenny said, lifting her cocktail to show Hugh, who knew complimentary meant they had spent a lot of his money to earn a couple of free drinks.

“Shall we go eat?” James said.

The girls left their shopping bags with the front desk, and then they all walked over to the casino.

“Oh, wow! Look at this.” Jenny said when they had made their way through the casino, and had found the buffet.

“It’s huge!”

It was a large room with numerous individual horseshoe-shaped buffet stations organized around themes. For example, a prime rib station where a chef would cut off slices according to preference.

The big room held separate horseshoe-shaped stations for seafood, poultry, home-cooking featuring traditional entrees such as meatloaf and mashed potatoes, but also Mexican food, and vegetarian cuisine. Each station had its side dishes, salads and deserts appropriate to the theme.

Almost every taste had been thought of and accommodated.

Everybody spread out and loaded up, then met at a booth for four.

“I’ve been around the block a few times, and have been to a lot of buffets, but this is the best I’ve ever seen,” Charlie said.

“You should see the steakhouse restaurant,” James said.

Conversation slowed a bit as everybody dug in. One or the other of them would leave the booth to visit a different station, returning with a new loaded plate.

At the end, Hugh said, “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m stuffed and need to go back to the truck to loosen my belt a bit.”

Hugh and Jenny stood up.

“You kids go ahead,” James said. “I think Charlie and I will hang here a bit and see what’s going on in the casino.”

He looked at Charlie, and she nodded.

“Sounds good. We’ll see you later.”

On the way out Hugh asked Jenny, “You’ve got the casino card I gave you. Right? I wouldn’t want James and Charlie to make a night of it on my dime.”

Jenny showed it to him.

They stopped by the hotel front desk to pick up Jenny’s bags, and made a pit stop in the restrooms.

Back at the truck,