Page 36 of Wild Escape

"Bullshit. He comes in here every day."

"Like I said, this was the first time I’ve seen him in a month."

"Where is he staying?"

"I have no idea."

"You two are friends, aren't you?"

"Look, I don't know if I’d call him a friend. He's been coming into this bar for the last five years. I know him pretty well. But I’m close with all the regulars. I guess I’d call the regulars friends, but that doesn't mean I know anything about the intimate details of their lives."

He was deflecting.

"Do I need to remind you that aiding and abetting a fugitive makes you an accessory after the fact. Dane is wanted for murder."

His eyes narrowed at me. "I didn't aid or abet anybody. I poured him a drink. I'll pour you a drink if you pay me. Hell, I'll pour anybody a drink, as long as they are of age.”

"What's your name?"

"Rick."

I dug into my pocket and slapped a card on the bar counter. "You hear from him again, you call me. If you don't, I'll put you behind bars.”

I was pissed. I didn't particularly like it when people shot at me. That, combined with the kick to the nuts, had soured my mood for the evening.

I stepped back outside and hustled toward the Porsche.

My mood suddenly got worse.

18

The handcuffs dangled from the steering wheel of the Porsche.

Daphne was long gone.

I clenched my fists and grumbled a few obscenities.

The rotor blades of Tango One thumped overhead, searching for the fugitive. A squad car pulled into the parking lot, lights flashing.

I hustled across the lot to talk to the deputies. I told them what happened and asked them to search the area after giving them a description of the scumbag.

I neglected to say anything about Daphne. I would never hear the end of it from the sheriff. I was determined to get her back before anybody knew she was gone.

That wasn’t exactly the proper protocol.

Maybe I was being a little too optimistic about getting her back.

After the officers left, I searched for Daphne’s social media profile. It's amazing how much information you can glean about a person from what they post.

Daphne hadn’t made a recent post for obvious reasons. Prior to her arrest, there were plenty of photos of her and a friend out having drinks, wearing skimpy bikinis on the beach, enjoying the good life on a yacht. Her friend Shelby was tagged in the photos. Shelby was an attractive woman with raven hair that kissed her mid-back and enough curves to be dangerous.

I searched Shelby's information through the online portal and got her address. She had a prior DUI, and her occupation at the time was listed as a bartender at Turtles.

I called Isabella. "I'm in a bit of a situation."

"Now what did you do?"

I gave her the details.