AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes. I assume she was here to inspect the town’s reservoir, or maybe the landfill.” He paused, as if considering his words. “And, of course, the local businesses. I wanted to check out the meatpacking plant.”
The bearded man gave a sage nod of his head. “That’s where I’d start. Everyone knows Burke runs a shoddy business.”
“Shoddy?” Kaden prompted.
The man waved a gnarled hand. “There’s been a dozen workers injured because he doesn’t care about safety, and I heard there was talk of shutting the plant down when they found rats on the property a few years ago. Nasty.”
Kaden kept his tone casual. “I tried to drive out there on the back road, but I was turned away by a guard.”
Rex shook his head, his expression one of disgust. “Yeah, I heard Manny saying he was hired by Ryan Burke to keep people away from the gun range.”
“Bullshit, if you ask me,” the bearded man muttered. “That’s a public road.”
“When did Burke ever care about anyone but himself?” a thin man with an impressive nose and a bald head chimed in.
Kaden hid his surge of satisfaction. He wasn’t the only one who found Burke to be a first-class prick.
“He doesn’t sound like the most popular guy in Pike.”
“He doesn’t even live in town, but everyone around here bends over backward to kiss his ass,” Rex groused.
“What kind of ass-kissing?” Kaden prodded.
Rex shrugged. “There were rumors going around when he first opened the plant that our taxes paid for the swimming pool he installed when he built his fancy new house over in Grange. And I know for a fact it was our taxes that built him a new lagoon and parking lot and replaced his roof after part of it collapsed.”
Kaden considered his words. It was one thing to use incentives to lure a new business to town, but it seemed excessive to continue handing out tax dollars.
“Why?”
Rex shrugged. “It’s tough times for the local dairy farms and God knows there’s no new businesses moving in. The meatpacking plant is about the only place to work. I suppose the local officials are afraid if Burke leaves, this town will collapse.”
Kaden wasn’t convinced. Okay, there might be some ass-kissing to keep the meatpacking plant in Pike, but building a new parking lot and replacing the roof? That was above and beyond the call of duty.
“Is the mayor included in the local officials?”
Rex nodded. “Erickson and Burke are thick as thieves.”
“Yeah. And Judge Armstrong. They’re all golfing buddies,” the large-nosed man added, grimacing, as he remembered the fatal accident that happened just twenty-four hours ago. “At least they used to be.”
“Did . . .” Kaden’s question died on his lips as the phone he’d laid on the table buzzed with an incoming text. He glanced down, his heart squeezing in fear as he realized it was from Lia.I need you. Surging to his feet, he grabbed his coat from the back of his chair. “Sorry, guys. I’m going to have to take off. Great to meet you.” He reached into his pocket to pull out a twenty-dollar bill. More than enough to pay for the pie and several rounds of coffee. “Let me get this.”
“We’re here every morning,” Rex assured him.
“I’ll try to stop by.”
Kaden forced himself not to run as he hurried from the diner and hopped into the Jeep. He even managed to drive at a reasonable speed. He wasn’t going to be any help if he crashed before he could get to the store. But once he pulled into the alley, he barely remembered to put the Jeep in Park and shut off the engine before he was charging toward the back door. He cursed when he discovered it was locked and fumbled to find the spare key. Once he managed to get into the back hall, he halted, listening for any sounds that might indicate what was wrong.
When he heard nothing but the pounding of his own heart, he called out, “Lia!”
There was the sound of a click before the door to the office was pulled open. “I’m here.”
“What happened?” Kaden moved to join her, his gaze skimming over her pale face. His breath lodged in his throat as he noticed the blood on her forehead. “You’re hurt.”
“I’m fine.”
“I see blood. That’s not fine.”
She wrinkled her nose. “It’s a graze.”
