The Sweetheart Deal. Syndi Powell

      He entered Rick’s diner and saw the mayor leaning on the counter as he chatted with a guy on one of the stools. Adam took a seat several stools down from him and perused a menu, even though he’d already made up his mind what to eat. Rick walked down the counter and put a glass of ice water in front of him. “Haven’t seen you in here since high school.”

      “There’s a time for everything.” He put the menu down. “I’ll get the cheeseburger platter with a diet pop.”

      “Good man.” Rick wrote the order down on a pad, then took Adam’s menu and placed it back on the stack near the register. “I’ll go put that in for you.”

      Adam noted the other man at the counter. He had longish dark hair and a beard, but he looked familiar from his high school days. The name rested on the tip of his tongue, but it eluded him. Rick set a plastic opaque cup in front of him with his drink. He followed Adam’s gaze. “Jack Novakowski. I believe he was in your year at Lake Mildred High.”