Read Murder on the Half Shell (A Red Carpet Catering Mystery Book 2) for Free Online Page B

causing any problems during service. Have you tried locating their phones?”
    Detective Williams shook his head. “We aren’t able to track either phone, which is unusual. It appears they’ve both been turned off, or the batteries are dead.”
    “If they decided to go somewhere together for the weekend and they didn’t want their parents to find out, they could have just turned them off to avoid being found,” Penelope said, hopefully.
    “Maybe,” Detective Williams said with a note of skepticism, staring at his notepad. “Teenage girls and their phones, though…Miss Sutherland, how did the girls come to work for you?” He glanced up at her.
    “I put an ad on Craigslist, an open call for servers who could work flexible hours but nothing permanent or full-time. I just needed a couple of people to fill in for two or three hours here and there when we have a larger service. They came to meet me together and I hired them on the spot. They’re sweet girls, and good students, according to their parents. Florida doesn’t require me to get work permits for underage hires, but I had them bring me written permission agreements. I remember both of them were signed by their mothers. I can get their employment information for you, those permissions and the hours they’ve worked.” Penelope glanced over her shoulder and saw that Jeanne was filling two mismatched mugs for Max and Arlena, coffee for him and hot water for her.
    “That would be helpful, Miss Sutherland,” Detective Torres said, pulling a card from her front pocket. “You can email everything to me.”
    “Sure. I’ll do it as soon as possible,” Penelope said.
    “Can any of you think of anything else that might be helpful?”
    Penelope and her chefs all shook their heads. Then Penelope said suddenly, “I saw Sabena’s mom Saturday morning at Rose’s beach shop on Ocean Avenue. She hadn’t heard from Sabena and couldn’t reach her on the phone.”
    Officer Williams flipped back a few pages in his notebook and nodded, then made a quick note and closed it. “Thank you for your time. We might be in touch again, so please stay available.”
    “We’re all here most of the time,” Penelope said. “A captive audience on the island.”
    “That’s why it’s strange two girls could just up and disappear,” Detective Torres said sharply.
    “And you’re positive they didn’t head over to the mainland, lose track of time in Miami or something like that?” Penelope asked.
    “Unfortunately no one remembers seeing them together or separately since Friday. There aren’t any cameras on the ferry, but there’s one in the mainland terminal. We’re still reviewing the footage, but so far there’s no sign of either of them,” Detective Williams said. “They’re officially missing persons, critical missing because of their age.”
    Penelope bent Detective Torres’ card lightly between her fingers, glancing down at it. “Of course, if there is anything we can do…any of us,” she motioned to her two chefs, “let us know. I hope they turn up soon.”
    The detectives excused themselves and left the restaurant, stopping to say something to Jeanne at the hostess podium. As they approached the door, a couple entered. Penelope guessed they were Rebekkah’s parents from the worried looks on their faces and the resemblance between Rebekkah and the woman.
    “Were you able to tell them anything helpful?” Penelope asked, glancing back at her chefs.
    “Someone told those detectives Sabena and Rebekkah were drinking at the party,” Francis said. “But I swear, Boss, I only saw them drinking water, nothing else.” Quentin and Francis both looked relieved that the detectives had left, and a little queasy.
    Penelope flicked her eyes towards the door again, and saw the couple talking with the detectives, a nervous Jeanne wringing her hands and listening. “Did you see the girls leave with anyone after the party?” she asked Francis.
    “Last I saw, they