“Boss, can we talk outside?”
We stepped into the alley behind the kitchen.
Luis hesitated.
“I’ve wanted to tell you something for months.”
“What is it?”
“You need to see how Kyle treats customers who look like they don’t have money.”
I waited.
“He and Madison, the new hostess, turn people away even when tables are empty. Sometimes they seat older customers beside the bathrooms and deliberately ignore them.”
My stomach tightened.
“What about the free-meal jar?”
Luis looked at me sadly.
“Frank, Kyle removed it months ago.”
I stared at him.
“What?”
“He said it made the place look cheap. There was nearly three hundred dollars inside. He claimed it went into the restaurant’s general funds.”
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
Luis lowered his eyes.
“I tried. I called you in March. You said you were busy and would call back.”
I couldn’t remember that conversation.
He continued.
“Afterward, Kyle warned me not to contact you again. He said someone my age wouldn’t easily find another job.”
