Yeah, that sounded like him.
“I get hungry, but just for other things,” he said, knowing Gene knew what he meant.
He grinned.
“I love you, EJ. Don’t you dare change,” he said. “I got me a hot, horny man. I won this game,” he said, gleefully.
Ethan laughed.
“Same,” he admitted. “I love you, too, big guy. I like how I caught a bear. I’m never letting him go.”
Hallelujah.
Gene hoped not.
“Let’s go interview and eat a steak. This bear needs some protein before someone’s eating more meat later.”
Blackhawk laughed.
“Subtle. I like it.”
Gene winked at him, and the two men got out of the ride to head across the street to the pub. It was semi-dead in the parking area around it, but it was only early evening.
The night was young. Then again, the town might be slow due to the memorial for Ivey Slee still going on.
Heading in, they were met by a young woman at the hostess table just inside the doors.
“Hey! Welcome to Dante’s. Bar or booth?” she asked, picking up two menus.
For a‘pub’it was more a restaurant inside.
“Booth,” Gene said, reading her name off the tag she was wearing. “If you have one, Molly,” he said.
Molly smiled and had them follow her into the dining area. It was empty in there, but the bar had a few people at it, enjoying some cocktails.
“I thought it would be busier,” Gene said, making chitchat as he got the lay of the land.
Molly put menus down.
“In about three hours, it will be crazy. By ten, it’s at its worst, and then, it calms down before we close at two.”
Gene reached into his pocket and pulled his badge out as they sat down.
“Molly, we need to talk,” he said.
She saw the badge and didn’t even flinch.
“Is this about Megan?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Can you sit for a few and talk to us?” he asked. “We want to do this in the least intrusive way for your business.”
She nodded.
“My dad owns the place. He’s in the kitchen. After we talk, I’ll get him for you. We’re all willing to help. All of us are really broken up about what happened to Megan. My dad is struggling with the guilt of not walking her to her car.”
Yeah, they bet.
