"Hmmm...I want some chicken quesadillas. No wait...I want a Jalisco Burrito with everything on it," the blonde woman with the pink and purple summer dress had her lips pursed and her brows furrowed in concentration as she attempted to choose something off of the menu while another woman sat across from her.

Jacob, who was standing nearby, wasn't waiting on their table but he rolled his eyes anyway.

"Lisa...the burritos will make you get cellulite."

"Shut up Tiffany. I like burritos," the woman in the pink and purple dress changed her mind yet again, "Okay...I think I want the taco plate. No wait...I want nachos."

Maria, their waitress, smiled and said with a thick Spanish accent, "Would you like me to come back later?"

Tiffany looked at Maria with a curled lip, "Why would we want that? We're ordering right now. Can't you understand English?"

Maria was in her forties and learned long ago not to argue with customers, "Okay then what can I get you?"

"Okay," Lisa said, "I'm going to get the Jalisco burrito with everything in it except avocado. I'm severely allergic to avocado so none can be in it okay?"

Maria nodded, "No avocado."

Tiffany ordered the nachos and then Maria headed for the kitchen to place their orders.

Jacob was standing by the table holding the water pitcher. He had the unfortunate pleasure of listening to Lisa and Tiffany's conversation.

"Ugh I like Mexican food but I hate Mexican restaurants," Tiffany said.

"Why's that?" Lisa was eating a nacho chip.

"Because they always have illegals working in them. They don't always understand you and it's annoying."

Lisa laughed and agreed.

"Excuse me," Lisa was waving her hand at Jacob. "Hablas English?"

Jacob smiled but didn't say a word.

"See?" Tiffany asked, "I bet he doesn't understand any English. You would think he would at least try to learn English if he's going to live in America."

"Tiffany, what if he does speak English?"

"Then he would've said something by now instead of just standing there like an idiot."

"He's cute though," Lisa giggled.

"Who cares. He's probably illegal too." Tiffany grabbed a chip and began eating it. Before going to return the water pitcher, Jacob walked over to their table and asked, "¿Quieres un poco de agua?"

Both women rolled their eyes. "We don't understand you!" Tiffany said frustrated.

Jacob smiled at both of them before saying, "I'm sorry. I was asking if either of you wanted more water."

He spoke perfect English.

Tiffany turned a light color of red, "Did you hear everything I said?"

Jacob smiled, "Everything." He walked away before they could say anything else.

Jacob didn't really like rude customers like them. They were always demanding and never tipped well. He watched Maria put in the orders. He was glad she had gotten them instead of him. He didn't like Maria much either. She stole tips but no one could prove it. All the other waitresses complained about her. Jacob smiled as a plan suddenly came to him. After a few minutes, he put down his water pitcher and walked to the back kitchen. He had seen Maria helping new customers.

"Hey Jorge, do you have the order for table twenty?" Jacob asked.

"Twenty?" Jorge looked at the ticket Maria had written earlier, "Nachos and a Jalisco burrito with no avocado? It's right there," he pointed to the hot counter where dishes waited to be served. Jacob noticed that there were several orders of Jalisco burritos ready to be served. He placed the nachos on a brown serving tray. He looked around to make sure no one was paying attention and then he picked up a burrito with avocado stufffed inside. He placed it on the tray just as Maria came walking in.

"Qué estás haciendo?" Maria asked him suspiciously.

"What am I doing? I was just getting the trays ready. Orders are getting backed up," Jacob answered as he passed her the brown tray.

Maria took the tray, "I'm not sharing my tip." She walked away to serve the order.

Jacob moved back into the dining area with his pitcher of water.

Lisa took a bite of her burrito. She called Jacob over and asked for water.

"Is everything ok?" he asked.

"I'm fine. My eyes are starting to water. Is the hot sauce really spicy or something?"

"Just a little." Jacob poured her some water as she continued to eat her burrito. He never understood how people with food allergies never really noticed that they were eating a food they were allergic to until it was too late. Lisa began wheezing, "I can't breathe. I can't breathe." In her panic, she dropped dishes on the floor. Other customers began staring.

"Oh my God, her throat is closing up!" Tiffany yelled. She looked at the burrito and saw the green culprit mixed in with some cheese and sour cream.

Jacob asked, "Do you have an EpiPen?"

Between gasps, Lisa nodded. He reached into her purse and pulled it out. Tiffany was crying and Lisa was still struggling to breathe when Jacob used the EpiPen on her.

Things became quiet as Lisa began coughing. Someone had called an ambulance and Jacob could hear them coming.

Tiffany looked at Maria, "You idiot! She could've died. We said no avocado!"

Maria was speechless.

"Maria!" the owner of the restaurant shouted. He beckoned her to follow him and Jacob smirked. Maybe now their tips wouldn't get stolen.

The ambulance had arrived and Tiffany had looked at Jacob before she left. "Thank you for saving my sister."

Jacob nodded, "No problem." She looked in her purse and pulled out a couple of twenties which she shoved in his hands. "Your tip."

Jacob tried to protest but she wouldn't allow it. After they had left, he checked his phone for the time. He was supposed to meet Joelynn after the lunch shift was over. He left the restaurant to go to her apartment.

Once he arrived, he knocked on the door only to have Joelynn shout, "Who is it?"

"It's me. Open up!"

Joelynn unlocked the door and cautiously let him in.

"What's wrong with you Joelynn?"

"Oh Jacob. I'm sorry. You were right," she launched herself in his arms and hugged him. Jacob automatically hugged her back. "

"I'm always right...but what exactly was I right about this time?"

"Last night I went with Trixie and...oh God Jacob...let's just say I will never do that again."

Jacob kissed the top of her head, "Good. I'm glad you agree with me that the police need to do their job and you need to just wait for them to do it. I know you miss Eva but it's not your responsibility to look for her and get involved in all that. It's too dangerous."

Joelynn leaned back and extracted herself from his embrace, "Jacob, I'm not going to dress like a hooker but I'm still going to try and find Eva."

Jacob didn't understand, "So what happened last night?"

Joelynn gave him the rundown of her almost being attacked.

"Jesus Christ Joelynn!" he was pacing her living room.

"It was scary but I already scheduled an appointment with Dr. Spencer and in the end I was okay."

"So what Joelynn? It's still dangerous! You have to stop this nonsense right now!"

"Jacob you're not the boss of me. If I want to keep looking for Eva....then I will."

"Why are you doing this? You make no sense! If the cops are doing their jobs...they don't need your help. You're just getting in the way!"

Joelynn took offense to that. "I'm doing this for Eva. I'm not planning on doing anything dangerous anymore anyway Jacob. Stop getting mad at me."

"You sound like some kid," Jacob sighed. "Joelynn...I don't understand your need to get involved but I think you should talk to your shrink about it. It can't be healthy."

Joelynn didn't respond.

"You don't want to?" Jacob asked.

Joelynn shrugged which angered Jacob.

"Fine. I'm done trying to talk sense into you. Do what you want." He stormed out of her apartment and walked to his car. As he sat behind the steering wheel, he looked up to her apartment window.

He thought of what he could do to keep her safe from herself and a naughty smile covered his face. "Joelynn my friend...it's about time I teach you a lesson."

***