“Wow. This is a lot of stuff. You must’ve had some FBI computers fall off a truck.” It’s a poor attempt to make a joke. I’m nervous. I can’t help it.
“Are you some kind of cop?” she asks, continuing to stare at things scrolling across the screens that I can’t even begin to comprehend.
“No, I’m not.” I shake my head.
“Brayden vouched for you, so that means something, him putting his ass on the line. I hope you realize that.”
“I appreciate his willingness to help me out.”
“What’s your deal?”
I decided to give it to her straight.
“I’m a reporter, but that’s not why I’m here. My sister, the girl in the video, went missing.”
“I remember hearing the story on the news. Didn’t they give up the search?”
“They did. But I know there’s more to it.”
“You sure about that? If you’re lying, and you’re here to do some kind of exposé on the MC, God have mercy on your soul.”
“You have my word. I just want to find Linda.”
“See those numbers there?” She points to a line of digits on the screen. “This shows me there is no owner for the Samsung phone that texted you the information. It was live a day before first contact with you and now it’s gone. Must’ve been a burner. It’s never good when you’re analyzing a copy of a copy, but I have enough equipment here that I was able to clean it up pretty good. Let’s see what we got.”
She taps hard on the enter key and the video plays across the two screens. She chews on her bottom lip as she analyzes the recording. “Brayden!” She yells for him and in about thirty seconds he comes walking through the door. “Take a look at this.”
“Fuck me!” Brayden says through gritted teeth. “I knew something was off about him. Just look at the way he smiles when he walks in and turns right there. It’s almost as if he knew he was being taped and played it up for the camera.”
Next, she zooms in on the man and I note the stamp on his hand. I recognize it right away. “There. That stamp. It’s a mark from Wilbur’s down off Second. Wonder if that’s a regular hang out for him?” I muse.
“I don’t know, there’s only one way to find out,” Brayden says.
He takes off like a bat out of hell. I turn to go after him and Router stops me.
“Let him go. He’s pretty twisted up about something, and I’ve learned it’s better to back off and let them work shit out. What do you say, while we wait for the rest of this to process, we go out and I introduce you to Chef? He’s a great old cat who loves to feed us.”
“Sounds good. I could eat,” I reply.
“Hey, Chef,” Router yells, “I was just hoping me and my new friend, Lizzie, here could get you to whip something up for us.”
“Glad to hear that. It’s not often I have the pleasure of cooking for two special ladies.
He goes back into the kitchen, and in a few minutes
we hear the buzz of a blender and sounds of things being chopped. “You’re in luck,” Router says. “Everything Chef makes is a masterpiece.”
My mouth’s already watering from the smells in the kitchen. My eyes can’t believe the plate he sets in front of us.
“This is delicious.”
Every glorious bite reminds me of home. “I haven’t had any of those since my mama used to cook them for Sunday suppers.”
“Good to hear,” Chef says. His smile is so warm and big it touches his eyes. “It’s my goal to make everyone feel at home when I make my meals.”
“Please know that you totally succeeded here. Thanks again. What do I owe you?”
“Nothin’, just make sure this isn’t the last time I get to see your face around here.” Cook’s words catch me off guard. I’m not sure how to respond.
“Don’t worry, Cook, it won’t be; not if Brayden has anything to say about it.” Router looks sideways at me and gives me a crooked smile, a challenge. Her look says it won’t be my last time. I hope she’s right.
135
Brayden
I was happy we were able to get some clues after visiting with Router. Between the earlier slap from Lizzie, and the crazy shit I’m feeling for her and can’t do a damn thing about, someone was going to pay. Maybe I shouldn’t have been such a hothead, but that’s who I am. I refuse to apologize or change that for anyone. Mate or no mate.
Anytime a woman got under my skin, my plan was to get her in under me or over me in my bed. Usually one good fuck was all it took to scratch the itch away. It didn’t take a crystal ball to see we wouldn’t be sleeping together anytime soon. Hitting the highway or going on a run was the most effective way to clear my head. It had been a while since I shared my bed. Never with one who had fueled me with equal parts of lust and anger.
I purposely left my cut at the warehouse. I’m going fishing and hope to pull in a big one. I pull up to Wilbur’s and take a look at the parking lot. I see one of them foreign flashy jobs from Korea and know that fucker is here. I hang back, waiting until my backup arrives before going in, not that I need it. But this mission is about information, and I know a public place isn’t the ideal location to conduct an interview.
I step inside the door and look around. I spot him in a matter of seconds. This mother’s sitting up at the bar; acting like he’s the
