By Julie D’Aloiso
This is the fifth chapter in our fictitious story called Secrets Under The Sizzle set in Treeville Ohio. Did you miss the previous chapters? You can find them here.
Five years prior….
In the depths of The Steak Place’s kitchen, Executive Chef William Masters, better known as Butch, diligently prepared his signature steak dishes. With his stout frame and unparalleled skill with meat, he had quickly become a beloved figure among the restaurant’s patrons. However, there was more to Butch than his culinary talents and moniker.
On this particular evening, the kitchen was quiet, a far cry from its usual lively atmosphere. Butch relished these moments of solitude, finding solace in the quietude that followed a hectic day. As he meticulously attended to his overnight dry brine for the steaks, his mind wandered towards a conversation he needed to have with Jeff, one of the owners’ husbands.
Unbeknownst to Butch, Jeff stumbled into the kitchen, his unsteady steps echoing on the worn stone floor. Under the influence of alcohol, his presence went unnoticed by the focused chef. Sensing an opportune moment for a private discussion, Butch seized the chance to address an urgent matter with Jeff.
“I’ve noticed an unusual amount of money being withdrawn lately,” Butch began, his tone filled with concern. “If these transactions aren’t related to the restaurant, I’ll have no choice but to bring this to the attention of the sisters.”
Jeff’s face contorted with a mixture of anger and fear, his controlled facade unraveling in an instant. Chaos erupted within the kitchen as a knife whizzed across the room, sending an eerie symphony of crashing sounds reverberating through the space. A bone-chilling scream pierced the air, revealing the deep-seated emotions at play.
With trembling hands, Jeff fumbled for his cell phone, desperately dialing Bob, another key figure in this unfolding drama. Urgently, he screamed at Bob to rush to the restaurant as swiftly as possible.
Unbeknownst to Butch, his attempt to address the secret that weighed heavily on Jeff’s conscience had set in motion a chain of events that would forever alter the course of their lives. As Bob raced towards The Steak Place, the ramifications of this confrontation loomed ominously, promising to reveal hidden truths and test the bonds of loyalty and trust.
– – – – –
Jeff’s childhood was far from idyllic. Jeff’s parents toiled long hours at a factory in a neighboring town, resulting in limited time for familial connection. Furthermore, strained relations between Jeff and his parents were exacerbated by the suspicion surrounding the tragic loss of his twin sibling when they were just 12 years old.
Despite these hardships, Jeff’s determination propelled him forward. He managed to secure grants and scholarships, enabling him to attend Graham College. It was at this institution that he would cross paths with the sisters who would later become integral figures in his life.
However, another twist of fate awaited Jeff. Shortly before his college graduation, he received unexpected news – his parents had perished in a car accident on their way home from work. While they may not have amassed significant wealth, their wise decision to invest in life insurance meant that Jeff inherited a substantial sum of money upon graduation from Graham College.
– – – – –
Bob stumbled onto the scene, clearly under the influence. He had lingered at the Thirsty Bluegill until Jeff’s call interrupted his revelry. Both Bob and Jeff had been enjoying their time there, but Jeff decided to leave when Bob started getting a little too cozy with one of the waitresses. Sensing his friend’s growing appetite, Jeff opted to head back to the restaurant for a bite to eat.
After Bob’s initial shock at the sight of the chaotic scene in the kitchen, he turns to Jeff, his voice trembling, and asks, “What do we do now with… with the body?” Jeff, wearing an unsettling calmness, responds, “We had already purchased new flooring, I believe it’s time to get these renovations started earlier than expected. We’ll bury him beneath the new floor, and remember you will keep your mouth shut if you know what’s good for you”.
Read on. Chapter 6 is here.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
