THE DEAD OF JERUSALEM RIDGE
An Accidental Character
BY JEAN RABE

Nang Phan started out as a minor “throwaway” character, someone to stash in my first Piper Blackwell book that I could use solely to distribute a few clues about the murderer. But I made him a little too interesting. His backstory: Nang, unemployed and unfocused, was traveling through Spencer County when he drove into a little quick stop to buy gas … and a scratch off lottery ticket. The quick stop was for sale, the lottery ticket was for more than enough money to cover the place, and Nang took it as an omen.

He bought the shop, ditched the fast food it sold, and started offering Vietnamese dishes. Nang’s hobbies were automotive repair and cooking. He installed three small tables in the back and also offered catering.

I made him a little too interesting.

And so, he’s stuck around for four Piper Blackwell books, becoming a larger character with each outing, and turning into the main character’s significant other. I get email notes from readers asking for more Nang scenes. Next book I think I’ll have him enter one of those big cooking shows they tape in New York or LA. I watch Chopped and Guy’s Grocery Games, and so I’ve some ideas.

THE DEAD OF JERUSALEM RIDGE
A Piper Blackwell Mystery Book Four
BY JEAN RABE

Excerpt

“Hang on.” Teegan put Nang on hold and connected to the mutual aid channel for police, state police, and sheriff deputies on patrol, issuing a BOLO—be on the lookout—and repeating the information Nang had given her. “Last seen on five-forty-five heading south.”

“I have a surveillance camera,” Nang said when she came back to him. “Almost a month old. Piper talked me into putting one up after I had a few drive offs in August. I have video of the thief. Not right, Teegan. Not a lot of money, but it’s not right. It’s theft. I watched him pull in, gas up his SUV, and then get back in and drive off. I tried to run after him, that’s when I saw the bumper stickers. He put his hand out the window and flipped me off.”

“Rude,” Teegan said.

“Brazen, Teegan. That asshole … excuse my language … was brazen.”

“A lot more reports of this sort of thing lately,” Teegan returned. “Some of the guys are good at it, real pros. And SUVs swallow a lot more gas. Self-serve rural station like you have, probably didn’t know you have surveillance.”

“It’s not right,” Nang repeated.

Teegan liked Nang, and certainly liked his cooking. “I’m going to dispatch Diego. He’s on second shift this weekend. He’ll get a copy of your footage and—”

“And then what?”

“We’ll figure out who the thief is. If someone doesn’t nab him along the road, using the car information and video, we’ll take it before a judge, submit it, and get an arrest warrant.” She typed in a few more notes. “And why are you still at your store on a Saturday night?”

Nang made a huffing sound reminiscent of sand blowing. “Piper’s in Kentucky with old friends,” he said. “And my night manager called in sick. Good combination, eh? I am stuck here alone.”

“Not a fun weekend,” Teegan returned, thinking of her own situation.

“Tomorrow will be better. Piper’s dad is coming over for dinner, bringing his dog Wrinkles, so I will make extra. The pug eats a lot. No onions because Wrinkles shouldn’t have onions. I think I’d like to get a pug for myself. I’m watching the postings on rescue sites.”

“You’d spoil it with your cooking. What are you fixing tomorrow?”

“I’m going to make nom hoa chuoi and banh xeo with rice paper. For dessert, xoi la dua.”

“Sounds tasty.” Teegan had no idea what the dishes were, but everything she’d had from Phan’s Quick Stop—Phan was Nang’s family name—had been delicious. Teegan thought about the banana and peanut butter sandwich in her desk drawer. She reached for it, scrunched her nose, and dropped it in the wastebasket. Not a suitable birthday dinner. “We’ll get him, Nang, your drive-off.” Though she couldn’t guarantee that.

“Hey, Teegan, do you work tomorrow?”

“No.”

“Then join us for dinner. Yes?”

“Yes. Thanks. What time?” She’d bring a bottle of wine.

“Six.”

The next call was a fender-bender north of Rockport. Exciting night, she thought dryly.

But that would soon change.