Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91990 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 460(@200wpm)___ 368(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
I take orders, give refills, moving quickly through the rows of my section. When I finally reach the table of five, they all turn to look at me.
Which is creepy.
But a slow smile spreads my lips when I realize who they are. It’s been a while since I’ve seen them.
One of them glances at my name tag. “Karen Canady?” he asks, a slow smile creeping up.
“Yeah. How’d you know my last name?” I ask.
They seem homegrown and country bred. Just backwoods enough to be brutal and bold, yet refined enough to where you know they’re also clever. If you pay attention, that is.
“You’re the employee of the month,” the blond says as he gestures above his head to my row of endless pictures. “Apparently, you’re always the employee of the month. Underachieving in life, Karen?”
I flash my smile again.
“You guys need refills?” I ask instead of answering.
The one closest to me pushes his coffee cup toward me, and I top it off, as another says, “Your name sounds real familiar, though it took me a minute to place it,” one says, but…the words sound like bait instead of truth.
My gaze flicks up, and I literally bat my lashes. “Oh?”
I top off another coffee, and start filling water glasses as he answers.
“Yeah. Actually, I think I heard it the first time about a month ago. You see, we’re passing through on our way to our family’s hunting lodge, and I came through last month to see if I could get any answers about our brother.”
“Mmm,” I murmur as I narrow my eyes.
“Your name came up.”
“Oh?” I ask again. “Maybe I could help. I know most everyone in town, so strangers stick out.”
I don’t like the grin he gives me. Too obvious. Maybe they’re not too clever.
“Oh, and do you know this guy?” Troy…er…I mean the blondish-redhead says…with zero finesse.
It’s easier to feign unfamiliarity when you don’t think of people you know with names.
“His name is Collin Smith. He’s our youngest brother. Ever seen him?” he asks, pushing the picture and name at me.
I don’t react at all. My features remain exactly the same as I slowly feign interest in the photo.
“Hmm…he does look familiar,” I say as I study the blond in the photograph.
“But I can’t say if I actually remember him or not. When did you say he came through?” I go on.
Five hard looks meet mine when my gaze swings up, and not one of them looks impressed with my acting skills. To be fair, my awesome skills only get used when I want to use them.
“Thing is, fella at the pawn shop says he remembers him hanging around this diner all day when we told him there was a girl in town that caught our brother’s attention. He knew without a doubt it’d be you,” he drawls, his eyes raking over me.
“Definitely Collin’s type,” another chimes in.
“That fella also said you worked a double that day, and Collin stayed in your section for fourteen hours. That’s a lot of time to forget, don’t you think, Ms. Canady?”
I find it annoying that they neglect to mention the ‘anonymous tip’ they got that told them to go see Perry Waters.
Old, reliable Perry Waters and his nosy people-watching and meticulous note taking. I bet he pulled out a journal, happy to help them if he could.
I hate it when girls wring their hands, but I wish I could do it right now.
“Well, my memory isn’t quite so good. It’s actually not that uncommon for out-of-towners to spend most of the day in here. Free wifi, free refills—as you boys have certainly taken advantage of, from what I hear.” I wink at them, sticking with the small-town charm thing. “The food is good, the coffee is the best in town, and the pie is something people write home about. If you’ll excuse me, I need to see to the other customers.”
A hand clamps down on my arm before I can pick up my coffee pot, and my gaze flicks to the bastard gripping it much tighter than necessary.
“Hate to be a bother, Miss,” the guy says without an ounce of sincerity, “but when our parents died back ten years ago, they left us in charge of our little brother. He’s about your age,” he goes on. “What are you, twenty-one? Twenty-two?”
I just smile tightly.
“As I said, I don’t quite remember him. Faces come and go, and I don’t have the ability to commit them all to memory.”
“I asked your age, sweetheart,” the guy says, moving a little closer as his hand tightens on my wrist.
My eyes lock on his, and I hold his gaze.
This day will be very interesting before it’s over. It’s been a long time since I had an interesting day. Didn’t realize the adrenaline rush could feel this good.
“Everything okay over here, Karen?” Deputy Warren asks, coming close enough for me to see the coffee cup in his hand from my peripheral as he stands close to me.