AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What makes you think I got it from one of the two gentlemen I was with?”
“Because one of them is a Jackson Creek officer and the other runs the bookstore and is known for sticking his nose into places it doesn’t belong. Stands to reason you got it from one of them.”
My heart skipped a beat. “How many people feel that way about Nate?”
“That he’s a busybody? Most people like him, but some of the nefarious ones think he’s up to no good.”
“Like yourself?”
He grinned like a Cheshire cat as he shot a look at me. “What makes you think I’m nefarious?”
“Call it a hunch.”
His grin spread, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “People often have reputations for a reason.”
“Who are you trying to warn me about, Mr. Malcolm?”
He shot me another quick glance before turning to the road. “No one in particular. It’s a good life lesson in general.”
“Ah…” I said with a smirk. “You hand out idioms and platitudes while serving your drinks? We’re not in your bar, so why give me one on the house?”
He kept his gaze on the road. “Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?”
What was he warning me about?
“Why did you open a bar out in the middle of nowhere?” I asked, deciding to just go for it. “With no apparent ties to anyone or anything?”
“Seems you like it well enough to have shown up three times within about twenty-four hours.” One side of his mouth quirked. “And who says I don’t have any ties?”
“Then what are they?”
“Didn’t say that I did either,” he said good-naturedly.
“What brought you to Lone County?” I asked, my tone short.
“Everyone loves a good mystery, Detective. You of all people should know that.”
“I love solving mysteries, Mr. Malcolm.”
“Then you won’t find this one very interesting. I found a good deal on a piece of land with little competition and a strong demographic market.” He tilted his head toward me. “Bet they weren’t teaching that in detective school.”
“Bullshit answers?” I countered. “Actually, they did.”
His grin spread, but he didn’t respond and neither did I. When we got to the edge of town, I told him to turn south on a country road, then gave him directions until he pulled up in front of an older ranch house that was a good hundred yards from its nearest neighbors. The driveway was empty, and no lights were on in the house.
I had a very bad feeling about this.
The house was faded red brick with a white single-car garage. The bushes in front of it were overgrown, and the yard looked like Eddie had skipped the last mow job of the season last fall.
I opened the car door and got out, my gaze on the front door. Malcolm emerged from the driver’s side and moved to the front of the car.
“What’s Eddie drive?” I asked. “Where’s his car?”
“Hell if I know,” Malcolm muttered and headed to the front door. “He might not be home. Or maybe it’s in the garage?”
Or maybe Malcolm had warned him we were coming and to leave.
I glanced up at the eaves of the house. No cameras and the front door had a small, illuminated button next to it. No camera there either.
