The Vendor II

-"Ah,...the secret is in the sauce my friend. It is an old family recipe from way back from my grandmother." Rene said with an air of self-decreed importance.

-"Surely your wife must be the excellent cook, or is it you?" Pedro asked fanning the flames of Rene's vanity.

-"Oh no, unfortunately, I am widowed. I devote all my time solely to work, although it would be great to find a good wife." Rene answered with a little smile.

Pedro sucked his gut in, and expanded his chest out. The police uniform, was becoming a tad bit too tight. He should seriously decline the lust for one more tamale. It was so good, that when the taste bus exploded on contact with the scent and delectable seasoning, it was akin to an orgasmic explosion. Well, he would just take one for later on.

-"I will take one to go. This on the house no?" Pedro said testing the temperature of the water.

-"Of course officer. I am honored that you like my tamales." Rene said, his vanity pleased.

-"I'll also take a diet Coke; I do have to watch my weight." Pedro said as he helped himself to a can swimming in the melted ice in the orange cooler.

Pedro meant to save the tamale for lunch, that had been his initial intention. Yet, a primal hunger took over to devour Rene's tamale large portions, as rivulets of the stew dribbled down his chin, and adhered to his police uniform.

Pedro had still a few hours to kill. This was a matter of import. He ran the plates of Rene's license, and drove to that address. Surely Rene would still not be back for several hours as he still had to sell all of his tamales.

Pedro arrived at a dilapidated little house with peeling paint, and a garden of junk adorning the front. Stealthily, he walked to the back to see if there was an open window around. In the back trash galore, as if he bought and sold stuff at a local swap meet. There was an independent garage in back of the house, this padlocked.

Opening the lock with a master key, Pedro peeked into the dim interior where a dust fluttered where the sun peeked from outside the dirty little window. Here Pedro surveyed several industrial refrigerators, also padlocked. A long wooden table centered the garage. Instead of wasting time looking through the food stored here, Pedro decided to brake into the main house and take inventory of the valuables stored.

He went to the living room, and bedrooms, and saw that Rene lived very modestly. He had an old analog 25" television set, a VCR player, and old furniture.

On his way out, he went into the kitchen to grab something to drink. On the industrial stove, there were two huge cooking pots. The aroma emanating from those was irresistible to Pedro. He opened the lid and pocked the large spook to retrieve a bit of stew.

He fished a human finger, devoid of a fingernail.




To be continued...