Heaven, Hell, and Earth

Chapter 56

Niffty was just tickled pink when she met Alastor and Angel. The minute she heard Charlie mention friend to them, she instantly approached their table and introduced herself. She went on and on, about how long she had been eager to meet them, recalling how Charlie had spoken to her about her friends and family many times. Of course she never disclosed the whole truth about them to her, nothing about the paranormal side of them and the agency. Just their personalities and the good times she had with them.

"Well I am so pleased that you two are just as delightful as Charlie described you." She said serving them re-fills on coffee. "You know, you two should see the way her eyes justly ight up whenever she speaks of you. You all mean everything to her."

"Really?" Alastor said.

"Mmm-hmm. Which makes me wonder why she's never invited you over here before."

"Our jobs keep us very busy." Alastor said.

"Oh? What do you do?"

"We're private investigators. Careers like that require a lot of secrecy and low profiles."

"I see."

"So Charlie's told us that this place means a lot you Miss Clark."

"Oh please, call me Niffty. And yes it does." she sighed, looking around the diner fondly. "I practically grew up in this diner, bed and breakfast. I know most people think an old fashioned establishment like this should be condemned and remade into something more modern but this is more than just a business to me. It's my home. My childhood. And my grandmother's legacy. I couldn't bear to part with it."

As she spoke one customer, a very dirty one who had been sucking through as many sugar packets he could get, attempted to sneak in behind the register while Niffty's back was turned.

"And that's why." Without turning around, she picked up a fork from the table and just as that low-life was about to swipe the key to the register, she shot that fork right into his hand.

"Ahhhh!" He screeched in agony.

"I won't allow any filthy cockroaches to spoil it." She still didn't turn around. "That was a warning Greg. Try it again, and your remains will become a new ingredient in my barbecue recipe."

The man called Greg ran out of there clutching his hand and screaming.

"Lady, you're psycho!"

But Alastor liked this woman. She was charming, hospitable, a good conversationalist, and she had a strong backbone behind that sweet face of hers. No wonder Charlie enjoyed working for her.

"You know I'm hosting a party next week, a decades themed party. One where the guests dress in a style of clothing from a different decade from the past, there will be dancing and singing and plenty of food. Would you two like to come?"

"Oh I'd be delighted." Alastor said.

"Sounds fun." Angel said. "Is there going to be booze at this shindig?"

"My party will have influences from the 1920's and the 1960's, of course there will be booze." She chuckled.

"Here we are!" Charlie came out carrying the boys's order. "One Cajun style chicken sandwich and a spinach omelette with a side of strawberry yogurt."

She set the plates of food in front of them. The food was so much better than what the boys were expecting. From what they had often heard Blitzo and the Hamiliton couple complain about, cheap restaurant food was just terrible. It was either too greasy, didn't have enough flavor, or was overcooked. But Niffty's food was sublime. Cooked and flavored to perfection, every step had been taken to follow the exact preferences and tastes of each customer. She and her chefs were always considering the customer. Made many wonder why it was under threat of going out of business?